TimePlan

By working to a time plan makes it easier to focus on specific areas relevant to the project brief. This makes development more structured and efficient.

Working to an action plan gives me more discipline in completing the task and more productive in getting to where I want to be. Also by cateloging what I have done helps me look at areas of research and development I may not have thought originally thought of.

Marketing Strategies

Looking into marketing strategies made me realise that to be able to understand and develop a successful marketing plan I have to be realistic in my aims and goals. Larger companies will have more scope and funding to present and advertise their ideas than smaller companies or freelance designers.  A realistic approach to marketing ideas is required, together with knowing what areas would be better to focus on to gain more effective results.

Paper cut-out designs

When creating my designs I explored different ways of producing patterns,  paper cut- outs, which made me appreciate both the ways in which different styles can be achieved and applied by hand made designs, together with the ease of being able to create pattern designs in a more precise method in a pc programme.

I acknowledged how both methods can be combined. It also made me appreciate that there can be difficulties in the design industry, both technical and manual drawbacks, and that by being adaptable and flexible solutions can be found.

Above image from flashandmath.com. How a snowflake design can be achieved.

Flowing and rotational elements

Elements in my designs to create a sense of rhythm and movement.

Simple curves and shapes can combine together to create both a more natural but also a more complex pattern. Curves and flowing lines can create a sense of movement and rotation to the design giving  a relaxing and calming effect to what could be otherwise viewed as a busy and noisy design.  

Shapes that connect with nature

In my designs I have focused on shapes that represent and symbolize elements that occur in nature itself.

The shapes have a similar line or form that connects them to elements in the natural world ie leaves, sun, flowers, snowflakes. This interlinks the patterns with the name of the series of the designs: Balance of Nature.

Formation of leaves can have many shapes and patterns within them.

Space & Texture

I found some useful useful Design tips from

http://www.online.tusc.k12.al.us/tutorials/grdesign/grdesign.htm

Texture can be used to:

• Give a printed publication, presentation, or web page a mood or personality.
• Create contrast for interest.
• Fool the eye.
• Provoke emotions.
• Create a feeling of richness and depth.

Space

Space is the distance or area between or around things. Space separates or unifies, highlights, and gives the eye a visual rest.

Space can be used to:

• Give the eye a visual rest.
• Create ties between elements.
• Highlight an element.
• Put a lot of white space around something important to call attention to it.
• Make a layout easy to follow.
• Make type as legible as possible.

Graphic Design Tip:

White space (the absence of text and graphics) is vital to graphic design. The key is to add just enough white space so the eye knows where to go and can rest a bit when it gets there. You can control white space in the following location: margins, paragraph spacing, spacing between lines of text, gutters (the space between columns), and surrounding text and graphics.

Website considerations

There are many factors to consider when designing a website to promote yourself or your company. Looking through different websites helps to define what you like or dislike and what to include on the site.
It can be as creative as you like, with certain consideration as lots of images may slow it down. The site should reflect your business and character to engage with viewers and entice and encourage them to look further into what you are selling or promoting.