Brief Writing

A refresher on design practice and what is expected was the forefront for the day, leading into a brief disassembling/writing workshop after.


The main points that were mentioned helped me to gain insight into what I need to be delivering, after a year out of the loop this gave me the relevant information needed to get some better framework.


The appropriateness of the response needs consideration to if it fits within my own strategy for this year and if the solution is relative to my own personal gains.
The quality of the response/resolution goes hand in hand with meeting the deadline, if the client likes the work you have produced yet you think it unworthy as a portfolio piece, do you take it back and redo it or just take the money and run?
Essentially all those points are asking is can I deliver a brief of a high quality and on time. 


Constant questioning of the brief and how relevant it is to the work I'm doing is something that will help in problem solving and stop the head scratching early on.
A basic framework, but still good to be refreshed on this:


What is the PROBLEM
Who is the AUDIENCE
What is the CONTEXT
What is the METHOD
               of DELIVERY




There was discussion on the rationale we are soon to finish writing which will essentially underpin the work undertaken this coming year. The body of work should be of a standard and presented in such a way that will pave my way to a career in industry.
With this in mind, I need to constantly question my work in order to create a critical dialogue with my work and myself that will inform rather than hinder what I am doing.
Another point brought up was the way that my work sits in context with selected audience(s) and how it would be placed in a reality situation, which is obviously trying to wean us off briefs that do not exist, essentially.
Next we moved onto the 3 basic frameworks for putting our work into a suitable context which could easily be a basis for the rationale writing tomorrow. (Which this seminar was obviously the precursor to.)


Creative Ambitions


I would say that my creative ambitions are generally centralised around illustration, branding and publication. I would like to extend my illustration and image making skills by making greater use of resources and materials by mixing media to gain better results.
Developing my digital skills to a much higher level, and making use of a wacom, as it would be great to get to grips with to make my illustration skills much more refined.


Ethical Concerns


At this moment in time, I would say that I am against anything to do with governmental schemes that leave independent businesses unable to function, the misuse of power to create shady corporate enterprises that compromise human rights and animal welfare.
I am unbiased toward green enterprises as statistics show it is industry that needs to correct itself if the planet is to advance into a new age and I am against the privatisation of public services as well as governmental schemes that try to bring down communities.


Commercial Desires


I would love to get my work published in journals, books, magazines and get noticed in general, as would open me up to the public which would in turn gain me interest and jobs. 
I see myself getting work in a game studio (hopefully) or some form of zine group that would be a great place to start getting myself known and my work seen.
Anything to do with self exposure would be detrimental to my professional advancement.




There is a need to define myself on all these levels in order to create a portfolio and a sufficient body of work to support my aims. Another consideration is the tone of voice in my work, will it be consistent? Will there be a visible dialogue of having humour, sarcasm, visual authority or seriousness in my work? It will become evident as I regularly re-evaluate and criticise my own work throughout the year.




Context, Function, Practice


Publishing & Editorial


Branding & Identity


Packaging & Information


Information & Wayfinding


These were the groups that were put forward to create a starting point for focussing in our rationale and in general the direction of our work from here on in.
Albeit these categories as set in stone, the statement of intent which would stem from these is not, as it will inevitably change during the course of the year.




Moving nicely into the last part of the day, which was creating a statement of intent in a very basic form, the structure given was:




A_______investigation of_______ with a focus on________


The idea is to come up with a statement that sums up our current and to-be practice in a little words as possible (10-15)


So in the session I came up with....


An illustrative investigation of scientific endeavours with a focus on composition


An illustrative investigation of type in games with a focus on editorial 


An informative investigation of world affairs with a focus on type


An illustrative investigation of video games with a focus on promotional and viral. Predominantly in digital format, but with scope to transfer into print based media.


An illustrative investigation of videogames, biking, science and current affairs with a focus on digital production, website building and print finishes.


A print-based investigation of science with a focus on typography, digital finishing, developed by hand.


Character driven, digital based illustration with a focus on videogames and science


Then after finding out that many of us were misled into thinking that this was the basic framework for our content, I came up with these smaller and more concise statements:


Editorial and print driven, focus on illustration and content.


Publishing and editorial driven, focus on illustration and format.


Content driven, publishing and editorial with a focus on illustration.


Publishing, editorial driven, focus on print and illustration.>


Content driven, branding and identity with a focus on illustration.