OUIL402 FINAL EVALUATION

1.What learning have you inherited through this module and how has it impacted on your own understanding of professional practice? Consider yourself as a student at University as much as an illustrator This module has allowed me to have a greater understanding of what illustration is and can be, as well as understanding what criteria illustration can be marked against in terns of successes and weaknesses. For example, I understand my work or a practitioner’s work can be successful in its crafting and image quality however not strong in its use of communicating it’s context. I feel I am now more confident in discussing and identifying strengths and weaknesses in my own work as I have a broader understanding of where my works sits against professional practitioners. I also feel my general knowledge and vocabulary in regards to this creative field has broadened and improved as well.
2. What approaches/ types of research have you found most valuable over this module? Why did they have such an impact?
I found during this module spending time on websites such as itsnicethat.com, tumblr and pinterest have been really helpful in keeping up to date with contemporary practitioners and generally creating a broader understanding for past and present art culture. Another approach to research I’ve found to be really useful has been visiting exhibitions, galleries and shops as I’ve stumbled upon work or practitioners that I have referenced or identified strengths in that I can apply to my own practice. The third research strategy I’ve found really beneficial has been spending the odd afternoon in the Henry Moore Institute Library where again I’ve been able to broaden my knowledge from the amazing array of art culture books they have available.
3. In what way has PPP informed the way your work in other modules and your illustration practice as a whole?
This module has allowed me to look at other practitioners and creatives and therefore to move away from just comparing my work to my peers. It has allowed me to see where my work in the future can go in a variety of contexts, for example I’m really interested in furniture design and fashion so I think over the next few years I want to start considering working towards that context. The planning for my final presentation has really made me understand my strengths and weaknesses and what aspects of my practice need to be addressed or moved away from over the next few years at university and afterwards.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your PPP submission and how will you address this in the future? I think I’ve addressed this brief well, however I feel I should have documented my thoughts after seminars and day trips more regularly. For example I do a lot of observational drawing on day trips which have really benefitted my practice, however I haven’t documented these endeavours so I feel I haven’t done as much learning as I could have done as blogging really helps me to realise and evaluate my work. Otherwise I just know whether I like or dislike something but not really understand why until I have broken it down.
5. What communities of practice and professional contexts do you intend to investigate further as you approach level 5? Why do they appeal to you? In level 5 I really want to approach and develop my skills in printing techniques further as this is something I’ve touched on briefly towards the end of this year and I have identified that this is something which makes practitioners work so successful. I also really want to keep pushing my work in to 3D work, as I’ve really enjoyed doing woodcuts and love the work produced by Charlotte Mei and Studio Arhoj.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: (please indicate using an ‘x’)  5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
	1	2	3	4	5
Attendance					x
Punctuality					x
Motivation				x
Commitment				x
Quantity of work produced				x
Quality of work produced				x
Contribution to the group				x
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self-evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.