My next step

I am hopefully going onto study a HND in Graphic Design at Canterbury collage. The course is over a 2-year period and will prepare me for a career in graphic design. It will develop my skills across a broad range of contemporary graphics, advertising and editorial design practice. I will also learn traditional skills and combine them with the latest digital approaches to design and image making.

The course will also include Ideas Generation, Professional Practice, Critical Studies, Graphic Images and Mark Making, Typographic Design,Applications and Digital Media.

The course runs over 2 years and covers 16 modules on a full time basis.

To gain acsess onto the HND course you must have at least one of the following: 1 A Level/Advanced GCE; BTEC Nat Dip; Advanced GNVQ/VCE; or Access course - in Art and Design/Graphic Design or other relevant subject. Entry relies on a good portfolio and all applicants will be expected to demonstrate an active interest in design. Mature applicants with appropriate recent work experience are welcomed and will be interviewed to determine suitability.

Please follow the link for more information: HND Grapic Design

Amsterdam Photography

Bicycle (Amsterdam)

Last year our college arranged a 3 day trip to amsterdam were we visited a selection of galleries and sculpture gardens. The trip helped me to understand the importance of photography as a clear, well taken image can make a design look a lot better. I did not use a camera all of the time but instead i created a selection of hand drawn sketches to capture the 3D aspect of the image or sculpture. Above is a photograph of a bicycle that i took when on the trip, i feel that this is a good picture but could do with some editing at a later date.

Handmade Type

This here is my Hand Made Type, i have created the initial design using pencil and then scanned it into the Mac and the using "Live Trace" traced it into illustrator to make the necessary amendments.

Photo Experiments (Depth of Field)

Here are some of my pictures that i have taken, the "G" repersents "Graphics" as this is what i am currently studying at college and these photographs will be going towards my final piece. I really like these pictures and i feel they will work well in my final piece.

Dan Mumford

Dan Mumford is a freelance illustrator/designer/screenprinter working out of his studio in central London, Goodge street, and screenprint studio in Dalston. I really like his illustrations/designs as they are all really eye catching and powerful. His designs are all very unique and work really well.

website link: www.dan-mumford.com/blog/index.php

Applying for UCAS

I have started to apply for higher education courses in Graphic Design. I am doing this through the UCAS website. By using the course search within the website you can find a wide range of courses and universities through simply typing in a key word that relates to your desired course.

Underground Bike co. (corporate Branding)

These designs are all part of my Corporate Branding brief which was to re-design or create a brand new company and create original logos, business cards, T-shirts ect. These designs all keep to the same "splatter" theme through-out to make it noticeable to the viewer that they are all linked to the same company.

Converse Shoes (Retro Poster)

I was given a brief to create a "retro styled" poster. Through using the appropriate software it has enabled me to create a very detailed and original design that I am very happy with. I also researched into Propaganda posters and the Russian Revolution to help me get more of an insight into the styles and themes of that time period.

District BMX Log

This here is my District BMX Logo that i have created. District BMX is a local riding group that meet up regularly and travel around Kent visiting different riding spots and skateparks. I have created this logo by using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. It is a simple black and white design but i feel this makes it a very eye catching and effective piece. They are also going to make them into stickers and apply them onto t-shirts. Looking forward to seeing printed.

Unit 10 blog

Today ive created a blog for Unit 10 of my BTEC National Diploma In Graphic Design. I will use this as a way of showing my progression thought-out my second year at college and thought-out my future career within the Graphic Design industry. I will also to use it to document my progress on projects and as a reference point with suitable website links.