#definingclientneeds

[sandylcurcio]

Wk 1- Defining Client Needs

     The key takeaways that will have the most impact on my experience as a graduate student are being able to connect with professionals that have similar goals that I do. Being able to reflect on the reading, assignments, and knowledge I will be digesting for my professional future. As well as learning from expert instructors who have the experience and training to guide me to where I want to be as a designer. Becoming a true master at design is my ultimate goal. Learning new technologies, techniques and methods are part of this master's journey.

    Some questions or concerns that I have about the program that may impact my future success are whether or not this program will get me at the level I need to be at within a year? Will it connect me to the right people? Will my effort and hard work go unnoticed? Will, the amount of work needed to succeed in these classes, stress me out and lead me to be resentful of the field I've chosen? Some of these are just some of my worries, and luckily I can answer most. I know that this program is something you really have to be dedicated to. The style of learning that Full Sail online does entails a lot of independent studying and its something we as individuals make of it.

    My vision and expectations of the MDMFA program are that I'm able to not only retain the information I learn but be able to apply it to my daily life to grow and expand as a designer. My expected level of commitment for this program is extremely high. This path is something I'm extremely serious and passionate about, and I plan to give my absolute all to this program. My long-range goals are to have enough experience to become a creative director ultimately and after some time open up my own agency where I can lead my own team of creative professionals.

[lexgeeart]

kyoto, japan sketches

[carawaydesigns]

Reflection: 2.4.3 Defining Client Needs

The Design Process: 

Referencing O'Grady's diagrams (O'Grady, 2009, p. 68), the design process most resembled the second diagram. While the process was not as linear as the first diagram, it was not as overlapping as the second either. The lack of extensive overlapping as seen in the above diagram is due to the design stage not moving past the prototyping stage at this point.

The design process began with research on three cities: Kyoto, Japan, Reykjavik, Iceland, and Marrakesh, Morocco. The research was conducted to better understand each cities' traditions, history, geography, and modern culture. The focus was given, by the designer,  to city features such as strength, character, and heritage. Various websites were delved into, researching information regarding each city and mind maps was created from the vast research. Words from the maps, which would translate visually, were highlighted for future reference.

One city was selected from the three to progress into concept development; Kyoto, Japan, was the chosen city. Before sketching began, research was conducted by the designer, to ensure design originality, regarding existing and previous logos for Kyoto. Sketches were created based on the highlighted keywords from the mind maps. Several iterations of sketches were completed based on Kyoto's traditions, geography, and modern culture. To further increase sketch iterations, further research was conducted by the designer,  regarding typography. Iteration of the designs was created referencing the typography research.

After the graphic designer completed several iterations, the designs were submitted for peer review by fellow designers. Peers selected several designs to be further conceptualized with various iterations by the designer. The research was again conducted to seek information and inspiration regarding the creation of various iterations of the selected designs. After the design envelope had been pushed by the designer, with more iterations of the selected designs, the designer submitted the final sketches for review by the class professor.

References:

O’Grady, J. V., & O’Grady, K. (2009, February 1). 68. A Designer's Research

      Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really

      Need. Retrieved May 22, 2018, fromhttp://ce.safaribooksonline.com/

      9781592535576/68?reader=pf&readerfullscreen=&readerleftmenu=1

Feedback / Critiques: 

The critique feedback that was received this month was valuable information.  From the feedback that was given the designs were able to flourish into a more simplistic yet elegant style.  The largest critique was regarding the number or iterations per design.  Focussing on the strongest designs from each category as viewed by those giving the critiques, the designs were given further iterations in hopes of specifying the strongest design for each logo.  Further iterations of architecture, dragons, bamboo, and manga were created.  

Prior to the critique, the initial manga designs seemed to be the strongest designs.  However, after the revisions that were created post critiques, the newer manga design now stands head and shoulders above the previous designs.  After seeing the difference further iterations can make in the design process, this is something that will be implemented in future designs.  

Taking what was learned in this course and what was garnered from the critiques, future designs will become stronger and more impactful due to the implementation of increased iterations of the strongest designs.  

Mind Map & Original Sketches:

Kyoto, Japan: Geography

Sketch Revisions: Architecture

Kyoto, Japan: Traditions

Sketch Revisions: Bamboo

Sketch Revisions: Dragons

Kyoto, Japan: Modern Culture

Sketch Revisions: Manga

[ttcox-blog]

The attached sketches are what I did for this week’s logo research assignment in my Defining Client Needs class. I’ve received some incredible feedback over the past month which will help me go further with my final logo design for the city of Kyoto, Japan. One piece of feedback that really struck me as helpful was the important of using clean, straight lines in the second stage of sketch design. I didn’t go as far as I should have with my second set of sketches, and I could have benefited from creating a more detailed version of the design and the shapes that make it up. I’ll definitely work on this and will improve drastically at my next step of the design process. 

[lbmj]

Week 1: Defining Client Needs

It is interesting, this weeks journal assignment is based on reflection for a discussion that didn’t end up happening. Which in and of itself is an important takeaway. Sometimes things happen, life gets busy, holidays come and go, work, family, personal life... happens. It is up to us to decide how to proceed when things don’t go as planned.

The live session we did have was fabulous and much appreciated. It went through this courses main project and told us exactly what to expect as we learn how to better define client needs and apply that education to the project.

I thing it is interesting that our project this month is based on a city and how to help the city attract visitors and become a recognized brand in the global market (depending on the cities strengths and offerings. I am excited to look at defining client needs in a different light, from a different angle. This is an interesting client and I think that it’s uniqueness will help open my mind to new ideas and ways to approach design and marketing in general.

[madamcourtney-blog]

Companies don’t fail because they choose the wrong course—they fail because they can’t imag- ine a better one. Unimaginative leaders reach for a vision from the ready-made rack, then wonder why their leadership has no followship. Few people feel inspired by the safe and the easy. Starbucks founder Howard Schultz put it this way: “Who wants a dream that’s near-fetched?”

The Designful Company by Marty Neumeier

[egagnemasteryjournal-blog]

Defining Client Needs - Week Four

It has always been a dream of mine to use my skills of art to form a successful career. The course, Defining Client Needs, taught by Full Sail University professor, Laura Biase, has shed light on this dream and has given me the grasp of reality that this vision reveals. There were many great tools and skills that we learned throughout our tutorials that will be excellent design tips in the future. All of the tools and skilled obtained will assess me in both my future courses and career. However, I gained more insight off of the material we covered through readings and video lessons.

First, I learned that it is critical to balance both knowledge and creativity to be successful as a media designer today. For me, I have recently had a couple brain blocks down the avenue of creativity – however I have begun to bounce back. Knowledge is what I am obtaining now as I strive towards my Masters Degree. In regards to knowledge, it is extremely important as a designer to know as much as you can about your client and their consumers. I really enjoyed the video assignment in regards to Chase Design Group. Margo Chase states “We are not speaking to designers, we are not speaking to other businesses, we are speaking to consumers in most cases and we’ve got to really connect to them on a specific level” (Chase, 1:08) This quote has truly resonated with me and it is a reminder that I really need to focus just as much on the client and their needs as my designing beliefs.

The next major concept I learned throughout the course is the importance of “WHY.” Simon Sinek spoke during the conference, How Great Leaders Inspire Action and made it a point to embed this quote into the audiences mind; “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” This concept is a major tool to remember especially when designing for companies. You don’t just want to have an attractive campaign for you client but your campaign must show meaning to draw in the new potential customers they are trying to reach. The YMCA did an excellent example of rebranding and following this concept. Their new campaign ensures to inform the community of what and why they choose to hold a strengthening impact on the community.

Finally, I gained the sense that even when planning towards a certain goal; you may not end up with the results you had originally hoped for and it is okay. I have never been one to create a sketch before starting a project, but the assignment involving creating multiple sketches and narrowing down to the best one to create a final poster was extremely eye opening. Even though my design did not come out on the screen as it had on paper, it is actually a good thing. Through trial and error experimentation, I found what truly worked for the design I had in mind. The final design, in my opinion, came out stronger than my original sketch I had created.

All in all, this course was extremely engaging at has helped me make the connection of art and business. Even though I have previously obtained a degree in Marketing, being able to apply it from a designer stand point was extremely helpful.

[egagnemasteryjournal-blog]

Defining Client Needs

Full Sail University - Master of Fine Arts Media Design Month 2: MDM525 August 3,2015 - August 30,2015