Assignment One Rationale

As part of the Successful Principles and Practice module I was asked to submit a selection of eight images and accompanying text for a brochure to showcase the work of all the students on the course. I decided straight away that I wanted to show a variety of work not just one specialty, such as websites for example. Multimedia, as a subject, is very broad, ranging from video production to web design. Over the past few years I have been concentrating on the specific area of Interaction Design. I believe that interaction design is the future of multimedia; it is new, exciting and challenging. Although this is my specialisation at present I am also extremely interested in other areas of the Multimedia industry, such as advertising and the use of 3D in web design. I feel that it is better for me to show a wide range of work to give me opportunities in a many areas of design.

I have chosen work from both university and college. The first of the images (see Fig. 1) is from the final major project carried out at college. This is one of a selection of posters designed to advertise a fictitious film festival. This was one of my all-time favorite projects I have undertaken in my career so far as a multimedia student. I feel this image shows my creativeness and abilities both as a designer and also technically in using design software. The second image (see Fig.2) was also selected from a range of college work. This is a comic strip designed to help promote diversity at Newcastle College; again this shows innovativeness and a good use of software tools such as Adobe Illustrator. I feel it is important to show clients and prospective employers versatility in my works as this is an important attribute to have as a designer in industry and therefore makes me more employable. Although both of these images are from earlier on in my studies than the others, I think it would be foolish not to include them as they demonstrate an aptitude for design and help to show my development as a designer.


Fig. 1


Fig. 2

The next three images in my selection are screenshots of websites I have created whilst at university. The first is of a website built to promote the Multimedia course at Nottingham Trent University (see Fig.3). I really like the colours I used in this website and I feel it has a youthful look about it which is good for the target audience of prospective students. I also like the photo used which I took myself, this shows I am always willing to try something such as photography even though it is not my specialty and I have little or no experience. The other two screenshots are from a website promoting Climate Change which I have just recently completed at university. The website is aimed at young children and I believe this shows my ability to design for a range of age groups. This is an important skill to show when applying for employment in the future, as companies want to employ a person who is versatile as a designer, rather than someone who is only able to design for particular target audiences.


Fig.3


Fig. 4


Fig. 5

The next two images are screenshots from two 3D visualizations created in my second year of university (see Figs. 6 and 7). Attempting 3D was a challenge for me as I was out of my comfort zone but after an enthusiastic effort I was very pleased with what I produced. These screenshots are a good representation of what I designed and created. Again this shows my willingness to try new things and also that I possess a range of skills in many different areas of design and software technology.


Fig. 6


Fig. 7

My final image is a screenshot from an interactive product I created that uses Phidgets (see Fig. 8). The product used different phidgets including a joystick and a vibration sensor to allow the user to create their own piece of art. This was quite an experimental project but I believe what we created was an interesting and fun way to use of the interactive tools available. Although it is not as self explanatory as the other images I have selected I feel it is a needed variation and a good talking point when people view the brochure, but it is also quite an attractive picture were it not explained.


Fig. 8

The text I have provided to accompany my images is aimed to briefly summarise both my skills as a Multimedia designer and also my attributes as a person that would attract prospective employers. I have tried to keep the text short and sharp. I have also endeavored to be persuasive and to the point as this is more likely to keep the attention of the reader and make more of a bold statement.

I feel, that as a Multimedia designer, I have an extensive collection of skills and I believe this will help me move into the beginnings of my career as it could give me the opportunity to undertake a variety of projects in different areas of the industry. The images I have chosen demonstrate my creativity, knowledge and wide-ranging skills that are important as an up and coming designer in the industry. Excluding the last image (see Fig. 8) all of my chosen images are self-explanatory as to what they are, they do not require any additional information to be given alongside which works well for the brochure as there will be a limited amount of space for each student. Multimedia design is constantly evolving and changing along with new technologies. It will never be at a constant because it has to move with the times, adapting to what people want. This is why it is important to stay versatile as a designer if I am to be successful in the Multimedia industry.

Brochure Text;
I am a passionate and determined multimedia designer. I specialise in interaction design, but also possess skills in other areas of design. I feel that my highly developed interpersonal skills, enthusiasm and motivation will give me an excellent starting point in my career. I have chosen to show my versatility and creativeness in design through a varied selection of works.