Plan for the Week
- Review and evaluate previous work and personal objectives and ambitions
- Research studios and designers I admire and explore projects they have created
- Explore the subjects that interest me and create a selection of themes to consider
What Have I Done Before?
Although I have enjoyed the projects completed throughout the MA, several stand out as possible starting points for the final module. I wanted to revisit the work that felt most personal and enjoyable, as well as the projects that encouraged further research or unfamiliar methods of making.
GDE721 – History and Futures
At the beginning of the MA, I created a series of four typefaces inspired by different aspects of my life. Two related to where I came from and where I wanted to go. For the first, based on my childhood on the Isle of Man, I constructed twenty-six individual letterforms from sticks and twine, referencing the island’s Manx Gaelic and Norse heritage. I particularly enjoyed the physical process and remain pleased with the outcome. Feedback suggested that I had attempted too much within the available time, which is worth remembering as I begin planning the final module.
Another part of the same project involved creating a digital typeface from letters produced on my typewriter. This connected with my interest in graphic design for film and television. The process was relatively simple, typing the alphabet, scanning it and digitising the forms, but the physical source gave the finished typeface a character I enjoyed. I have since returned to refine and expand it for personal and professional projects.
GDE741 – Applications and Interactions
GDE741, Applications and Interactions, included one of my favourite projects from the MA. Drawing from my experience of being diagnosed with ADHD, I created a typeface guided by aspects of attention, communication and my own daily experience. The final work felt personal and reflected some of the ways I adapt my working methods and language. Although the outcome can initially appear messy or fragmented, the research and process give those decisions context. As with GDE721, I particularly enjoyed producing the lino stamps and collage elements physically.
Thoughts
Over both of these projects and in many parts the others I have completed as well, I can pick out themes that I could look at to develop my final project, seeing which parts really inspire me and where I like to work. Some of these themes I should look for in my ideas are:
- Heritage: The Isle of Man, Manx Gaelic and Norse influences, pattern, landscape and folklore
- Physicality: Making objects and working directly with materials
- Film and Television: A subject with personal and professional relevance
- Psychology: An established personal interest that requires careful research and ethical consideration
Personal Ambitions
When thinking about my career, I am in the fortunate position of already working as a graphic designer while completing the MA. My current role involves print, typography, formatting and branding, but I would like to work in a more challenging and faster-paced production environment. Graphic design for film and television has been a long-term ambition because of my interest in cinema and the range of objects, signs and documents that need to be created for the screen. Completing a workshop with Annie Atkins strengthened that interest and gave me a clearer view of the discipline.
Branding and identity design are also long-standing interests. I enjoy the process of developing how an organisation presents itself across different touchpoints and refining ideas into a coherent visual identity. The freelance branding projects I have completed have been useful and enjoyable, although this direction feels less connected to the physical making I currently want to explore.
Although I do not intend to move into psychology as a profession, understanding how people think and respond has remained a personal interest. During the MA, I have also experienced significant periods of struggle and loss, which made me consider how design and psychology might intersect. My Neurotype project for GDE741 was the clearest example of this within my previous work.
What I Care About
Typography
For as long as I’ve been drawing and designing, this has always been based around letterforms and type, from just drawing crude block lettering as a child, to the range of projects completed for my MA that involved the creation of fonts and type. Although I have done this several times, it could be a field of exploration for this final project to bring everything I’ve learnt together.
TV & Film
As I’ve mentioned above, I have always had a love for anything TV & Film. From going to the cinema to see the latest blockbuster or finding an obscure indie film online, the production and creation of these projects has fascinated me for a long time along with the obvious enjoyment of this format of entertainment. Moving my career into TV & Film was one of my core outlooks even when I applied for this MA, using my final module to explore this further could be a satisfying way to round off my studies.
Heritage
Growing up on the Isle of Man, I was surrounded by Manx culture alongside wider Celtic and Norse influences. Although the island has close cultural and geographic connections with the UK, it has its own history, language and folklore. Now that I have moved to the UK, exploring the Isle of Man could provide a personal way to conclude the MA.
Mental Health
The more I understand my own mental health, the more interested I become in other perspectives and experiences. It remains an important subject to me and could provide a meaningful direction for the final module. However, any project involving other people’s experiences would require careful research, boundaries and ethical consideration.
