I had my tutorial with Lorenzo today. I knew it was going to be a bit confusing because I am a bit confused myself these days, which is not nice. The general gist was that I should be focusing in on specifics, so that my work has a goal and a clear idea of what I am to get out of the brief. For example working with hierarchy – scale, position and colour. Also aiming to progress my design techniques, such as reverse out and colour, and seeing how far I can push them.
Also I am aware that I take briefs to literally and do not think ‘graphically’ necessarily. Meaning when I am working with a particular subject or sector, do not try to literally re-create my findings, but use them as a base of understanding for the subject, then consider how understanding it in more depth can be related conceptually into my work. This is related to the start of a brief. I need to spend more time at the beginning, just an hour or so understanding what the essence of the subject.
As for writing briefs, I need to be wary to write specific details, make it focused and clear as if it were an experienced client writing it.
So now what I should do potentially is write out a list of sectors that I want to design for and then aim to produce layout work that is aimed at getting their attention, this will force me into making specific typographic and layout based decisions. If it is for a construction manual for example, rigid / sharp angular type with a layout that follows that idea would be suitable. If I were designing for something nature based be more free and gentle. Basically I need to show that I have variation. The problem I have found is that I, like most people do not really have a specific audience I want to design for. So this naturally leads me to the conclusion that I should be good at working with layout in a much more diverse way.
Also a little note. Do not take on too much live work from un-experienced clients.
