REFLECTION ON MY FIRST YEAR AT UNI

After completing my first year as a Fashion Communication and Promotion student, now is the perfect time to reflect on the course and my myself in regards to the work over the past year. Back in January, I reflected on my first module, Visual Awareness in this post. Now having completed my second module, and the year I feel I can now fully reflect on my strengths and weaknesses.

The second module, Creative Networks heavily revolved around group work and you can read my post on this, here. In regards to my strengths and weakness I identified after the first module, due to the nature of the work set some were developed and improved whilst others were not required. For example, with the Fragrance Advertising Analysis I was able to express my strength and passion for graphic design and writing, but throughout the module the need for a mood board, a weakness of mine, was few and far between – and when needed a group member who was more suited to do it took the role. At times the deadline for a presentation or booklet had quite a quick turn around, creating more pressure – something I feel can be a blessing in disguise in terms of quality of work.

STRENGTHS & LIKES

I love the graphic design element in all of the work, from studying magazine layouts to recreating them and producing my own work in InDesign.

AREAS TO IMPROVE

Throughout the year, and in particular the second module, I obtained a whole range of brilliant and fascinating books, which I aim to study this summer. My goal is to not read them all cover to cover, but sit down and really delve into them, gain inspiration and apply this knowledge to future work. Making time for this is not very easy but I hope to finish my summer looking back and really see I made an effort to read more.

ACTIONS TO IMPROVE

In between work and other activities, even if for half an hour a day I will try to dedicate to sitting down with a book and indulging on it’s content. I now own a substantial range of inspiring books, from graphic design, advertising and marketing.

KEEPING THE PASSION ALIVE

I hope to visit several exhibitions in London this summer, and to also practice and develop my Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign skills, making little booklets and magazines, as well as developing some basic illustration skills.

ACTIONS TO REACH MY GOALS IN THE FUTURE
I feel like I have slipped away from books and reading, and spend far to long scrolling aimlessly on social media - even admitting how boring it can sometimes be. Going back to reading magazines and books is my current aim, as it is the industry I want to venture into.

You may have gathered by now that I'm all about the graphic design and layout of my work, I'll spend hours moving an image and a line around, a pixel at a time to trying to make it "perfect". In my feedback for my Creative Networks module you can imagine I squealed at the comment, "Visually strong with good images and infographics".

Using my blog to fulfil my passion for English and writing, receiving, "Excellent blog – really interesting, insightful, reflective, looking beyond course content to wider industry and culture – great stuff" also really makes everything I do seem worthwhile, and reminds me how lucky I am that I do what I love.