After reading my tutor’s feedback, I decided to work further on the project plan.
I found designing the plan challenging. To a certain extent, I knew what I wanted to explore and skills I wanted to develop but I could not see how to structure everything as part of a project. As a result, the first version of the plan can be a bit vague.
I put the first version of the plan in Excel and added more details about how to execute each section. I then added the time I thought each step could take and gave myself 500 hours as a target (including learning log, formal assessment…).
I modified and refined the new version many times until I started really visualising how I was going to carry out the different phases of the project. As I did that, I realised that a new structure had emerged. There are now three main sections in the plan: (1) regular sketching, (2) focus on essential skills, (3) bring everything together.
I will work on several sections of the project at the same time. For instance, I will sketch regularly throughout the course (see timeline on the first page of the plan).
As I changed the organisation, and the process started to make more sense, I also noticed similarities with the way units were designed in previous parts of the degree. I first started with specific skills and elements needed to create an illustration. I then ended with the concept of bringing everything together.
I have followed my tutor’s advice and added an explanation for my choices in the plan. I have also added a column for challenges. I will probably add more comments in that section as I progress further.
This exercise has helped me to redesign the structure of my learning log for this unit around the three main projects and I will reorganise the pages accordingly.
The main challenge has been to make choices. I also have had to be realistic in terms of my goals as I can be too perfectionist and that can stop my progression. In a sense, having defined the time I can spend on different tasks can be a good way not to lose myself in one part of the project. It does not mean that I cannot make edits if it is necessary but, if I do, I will analyse the situation and try to understand what it is not working and how I can do things differently to reach my objectives.
I have started sketching every day this week to warm up. It has been a bit difficult to start for reasons already mentioned. I have had to make a conscious effort not to try to achieve anything and just create a few sketches every day, remembering that it will get easier as I carry on. I will make some research on that subject next week. I intend to remain flexible and draw what I feel like sketching around me. At the same time, I would like to have a plan and look for sources of inspiration when I do not know where to start or if I want to explore something in particular, such as a different media or a specific subject.
My next step includes focussing on backgrounds as well as creating a glossary of terms.
I know how important it is to visualise what I have in mind in order to respond well to a brief . I have struggled in the past with some projects because I did not have a clear idea of what I wanted to achieve and how I was going to proceed. In such situations, I can end up going back and forth and not achieving much or realised that I have not really responded to the brief.
I feel that I now know what I want to do and am looking forward to following the initial steps of the plan and finding out if I am going in the right direction.
Catherine Roux Degree in Illustration 