PROSOPOPOEIA - EVALUATION

This brief was less of a challenge than others, but I recognise that this is likely due to the fact that I am getting very used to working with photographers on their projects and helping fulfil their vision through the publication output. I've learnt how to work out what it is they want, understand their project, its feelings and reasons and aesthetics, present to them the design progression and ensure that they are happy with changes and developments. Keeping them close to each stage ensures the project goes smoothly and quickly and that the outcome is what they want. This project also was not particularly difficult because of the minimal direction the photographer asked for. I was able to come up with a strong, simple visual quickly alongside the images from the beginning and this became a consistent motif and style throughout the whole process. As it had to have a quick turn around there wasn't much time spent on general initial ideas for the overall visual language. However as it is a small book and the importance was placed on a minimal style and the photographs, I think the overall process was successful. The experimentation around the cover design also means that there was more thought put into the more complicated and important parts of the project. 

Being asked to produce a publication of the same outcome for the photographer themselves was also interesting as it helped me recognise the difference in formatting and how layout can be adapted to the strengths and weakness of each output choice.

There was a moment where James didn't like the perfume stroke motif, but once I explained it he did. This shows the importance of explaining why a design process or style has been chosen, especially to those who are not familiar with design, as it helps engage them with the work and decisions. 

At the end of the process I realised that the title name had been spelt wrong which was really frustrating, but this showed the importance of double checking difficult words. 

Overall time management was also good. I would have liked to be finished sooner, the stickers took longer than originally planned but to get them perfect as a finishing touch was important for the presentation and for what the clients will first see when they receive the newspaper. 

1 Always keep the collab/client involved in the process and explain the design decisions 

2 Spell check during the process!!