Final Crit

I was very nervous about todays crit due feeling uncertain about the practical work I have produced so far. I came into the crit with a list of questions that would give me additional reassurance and give advice as to how I could make further improvements, to which Billie and Hana gave me some really helpful constructive criticism.

My Questions:

• From looking at my summative statement, can you grasp the concept of how I have tried to synthesise my research through the practical outcome? (please be honest)
• I feel like my practical outcome is a little underwhelming, could you suggest anything that I could improve on to give more of a 'wow factor?'
• Should I take some more professional photographs of the book? Just because the background and foreground are both white and looks kind of weird... 

6A1: Knowledge and Understanding/Critical Awareness

• Social/cultural: shows medicine developing into contemporary consumer culture
• Thought out and well developed outcome/really sensitive to the subject and primary research
• Strong key statements, can see how research has really formed your practical

6A4: Knowledge and Understanding/Innovation

• Shown in the summative statement the 'creative concerns' are outlined by what you want to achieve (the communication of advertising and consumers)
• Synthesis is really thought out. Haven't done just an 'advert', looked more into the emotive aspect.

6B1: Cognitive Skills/Problem Analysis

• There is clear development from the initial dissertation research (medicine and advertising) but developed into a personal primary research driven project that expresses feeling and personal opinion
• Maybe illustrate your problem solving and development of your book on the boards, will help show how you've come to this solution

6C1: Practical and Professional Skills/ Research

• Practical testing/roughs aren't evidenced on the boards but I'm sure you've done loads of testing!
• End product is really professional and beautiful, nice photographs and mock-ups (I need more though!)

6D1: Key Transferrable Skills

• Can see how it is self-directed, primary based outcomes which gives it a really nice personal touch
• Can tell you have managed your time, product is nicely made alongside professional mock-ups

Suggestions for Practical Work

• Mock up some of your illustrations onto billboards, these then could be their own adverts (if you want more WOW factor)
• Maybe make a sleeve for the book to present the book more professionally; though standalone is still strong

Suggestions for Presentation Boards

• Include development- there are only images of the final product
• Include reference/visual references for research?

Suggestions for Blog

• If you are not including certain development images or tests on the boards maybe make sure it is documented on the blog

General Comments

• For the photographs of book: yes maybe change the colour to a grey or the green spot colour you have used in your book. Agree that the book gets a little lost amongst the white
• For the proposed exhibition maybe have a promotional poster alongside it? Just make it plain and simple

Self Evaluation

What have you learned from this module? 

• I have learned the importance of allowing for contingency arrangements, and that things don’t always go perfectly to plan
• Discovered the importance of visual research and exploration in correlation to theory
• How visual language can be used as a powerful tool to inform, persuade and in some cases manipulate audiences
• The importance of synthesis in the context of arriving at a well informed conclusion of visual and contextual research
• Discovered a personal interest in sociology and psychology, as well as finding more of a tone of voice within my work, and more of a desired focus in terms of my practice

What could you have improved about your approach to the module?

• Taken a LESS PANICKED approach. I wish I could have worked with a greater sense of fluidity; discovering things naturally and gradually rather than worrying a LOT, failing to absorb important requirements
• Utilised time over summer more efficiently. During the break between second and third year I buried myself in library books giving myself strict instructions to read all of them before September. This obviously didn't happen. In fact, I didn't even open a single one of them. This relates to the last point in terms of taking a more relaxed approach to research. This could have consisted of visiting places, watching films and documentaries and just generally absorbing my surroundings rather than putting loads of pressure on myself in the first place
• It would have been interesting perhaps to take a more practical approach to research, as that is something that I haven't done before?
• Give myself more credit! I am always so hard on myself
• Chosen more specific areas of research; I found that I was narrowing down to arrive at a point where my research actually made sense(at critical stages within the project)which potentially prevented me from developing my work further

What actions will I take in response to the peer review session?

• Re-take photographs of the book
• Adjust presentation boards
• Finish my essay...