Brief 3: Portfolio.
•May 18, 2009 • Leave a Comment
Design for my Home page.
Nik Robinson's website.
Kaori Kishi's website
Originally when considering the presentation and format of my online portfolio, I thought of using a similar style to that of my blog to create a connection through the pieces of work. However the choices of tones and colours were not available on the Moonfruit website, so that idea went no further.
It was from this point that I decided to familiarise myself with the mechanics of Moonfruit to discover how I worked and what was possible. Initially the idea of installing a Flash file into Moonfruit to provide interactivity had filled me with dread as my skills are poor, but after playing for a while it became clear that the Moonfruit provided all the tools required to produce a catalogue of easily navigable pages from which to exhibit your work and details.
Knowing the basics, I concentrated on researching the elements that make a successful website. There were a host of sites offering advice from various web design domains and the one I found most helpful was www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/03/04/creating-a-successful-online-portfolio/. Here it provided an explanation of the pitfalls and points to consider when constructing a site such as applying simplicity, ease of use, clear concise sentences and retaining clarity and focus on the topic promoting.
From developing a clearer idea of the online portfolio to construct, I looked through the online portfolios from past students to gain some additional information. There were a great variety of styles and methods students used to advertise their work. The one site that stood out for me was by Nik Robinson of the 2007 Degree show. I enjoyed the abstract simplicity he adopted of fallen ink to act as interactive points from which to navigate his work. His style stood out in a subtle, but distinctive way. It displayed an approach and imagery that I would of wished to capture, but unfortunately my skills are not yet to the standard to create this type of website. Another site that inspired the construction of my own online portfolio was that of Kaori Kishi, I enjoyed the simplicity of her site, the geometry used, the clarity it delivered in presenting her work, the brightness brought from the images and the ease in which to navigate through the different pages.
This formed a rough template for my own site, making several alterations so not to be accused of plagiarism and laziness. I retained the selection of boxed images to present past projects, but changed the format of copy and colour of background and fonts to make the site individual to me. I hope my site conveys the elements I’ve mentioned, but that will only tell come the degree show.
Moonfruit address: www.simonlapinski.moonfruit.com
Brief 1: Contexts.
•May 18, 2009 • Leave a Comment
Bodies project
Cigarette Isle project
Greyshott Square project
During this first section of our Focus II module I went on an organised visit with the Landscape architecture department to Kew Gardens in London. The main reason was to hear a talk given by David Barnes, Manager of Horticulture support at Kew to learn about the management processes employed to deal with organic waste. The opportunity also allowed us time to explore the park, its unique setting, collections of plants and attractions such as the newly installed Treetop walk. It was a fantastic day and documented in my blog under the following titles and categories:
1. Images of Kew – category Landscapes, Gardens.
2. Kew gardens – category Landscapes, Gardens.
3. Images of Kew gardens compost heap – category Sustainability.
4. Organic waste management at Kew Gardens – category Sustainability.
5. Kew: Art on Demand – category Visits and field trips.
Kew Gardens from Treetop walk.
Compost Heap at Kew.
Art on Demand.
Primer: Eat In and Relationships Module
Within this week I took inspiration from the Focus brief of integrating digital media with previous projects completed in the first year to make them available on my blog for viewing and collate them in a form which could be accepted by our online portfolio, to be constructed later in the year as done by past students. The first year projects I selected were:
1. Primer: Eat in & Relationship Module, Level 1.
2. Bodies Module.
3. Cigarette Isle.
4. Greyshott Square.
Originally these projects were presented on paper. With the aid of a blank wall, a tripod and a digital camera, I took images of the individual sheets before downloading them onto my computer. Using photoshop I was then able to make subtle manipulations of the images in preparation for recreating digital presentations through Mac Keynote.
It is hoped by providing these projects along with work from the second and third year, that it may give employers an idea of my progression of learning and communicating ideas.
Brief 4: Trajectory.
•May 18, 2009 • Leave a CommentIn trying to form an image of the various types of media that I could employ for our Degree show, I cast my memory back to previous shows for inspiration. The exhibition that stood out the most vividly was 2006, the first year of our study. Different forms of media were used to illustrate the work of students. There were models, booklets, projected images; video’s, pin-ups and digital media that for created an engaging, exiting and enlightening show. The other shows had a similar standard of work exhibiting, but for me lacked the wonder and amazement, that this was potentially what I could achieve.
It’s from these experiences that I hope to incorporate several additional forms of media to our planned set up of digitally presented projects, postcards (summarising ourselves and selected works) and projected images. I understand that with the current climate budgets are low, but I believe by adding a few extra forms of media, my presentation space will deliver a more appealing, interesting and rounded impression of my potential abilities to prospective employers.
These extra items include:
- A1 sheets to encapsulate the essence and priorities of third year projects.
- Printed booklets, which allow the reader their own time and comfort to discover the contents of essays and projects.
With my Curriculum Vitae, it had been a long time since last compiling one, so researched via the Internet for ideas on structure and the subjects to be included. This was very helpful with a vast number of sites offering advice. The address www.harper-adams.ac.uk/careers/files/cv-writing.doc, proved the most helpful, supplying simple pointers with great advice. The hardest element was forming an opening statement, which gave the reader an insight to your motivations and you as an individual, without being long-winded or sentimental. I have already completed my CV and will seek the advice of my tutors to any amendments that need to be made.
The area I need to vastly improve is my ability with software applications to manipulate images within presentations as the possibilities and outcomes can be amazing. With the projects completed and intended for exhibition, I need to restructure to include only the essential information to communicating a concept and its development and make them visually attractive to will grab the attention and convey the ability to express ideas.
With the various types of stationary available to promote ourselves to be included within the exhibition (business cards, email identities etc), I will attempt to synchronise the materials through a simple contemporary format that is personal, original in a subtle manner and hopefully conveys a level of professionalism.
Through my own poor management of time and assignments due for submission I haven’t yet devoted much time to discovering the types of complimentary forms of marketing that may help attract the attention of employers. However in the coming weeks leading to the Degree Show I will seek to explore and hopefully introduce additional marketing elements that will enhance my profile and presentation to prospective employers.
