Workshop - Project management (stress management)

Today we had a session with Penny all about stress management, how people feel about themselves, their confidence, anxiety and I found it really interesting how so many people can related to each other, we are all in the same boat but rarely talk about how we are actually feeling in case others don't agree.

Being stressed is feeling out of control of what is going on in your life - a big way to avoid stress is being organised, planning your time and not wasting time or putting things off when you know you have deadlines to meet.

We did an activity where by we each answered four questions and lay our answers on the table - next to similar ones. The questions were as follows:

1. What stresses you out?
2. What scares you?
3. How do you destress?
4. A negative thought you've had today?

My own answers were: 

1. How much work I have to do before the weekend
2. Presenting my work in crits
3. Neflix, sleep, eat
4. I look like shit

Here are some pictures I took of other peoples responses:

What stresses you out?

Having work pile up

9.30 starts

My procrastination catching up with me

How do you destress?

Sleep or netflix

Have a bath (wish I could do this but there's no bath tubs in halls!)

Talking to a friend

What negative thought have you had today?

I look horrible today

I skipped breakfast

I look too tired today

What scares you?

Not being good enough

Not being successful as a designer

Presenting own ideas in front of groups

From everyones' responses we choice 3 of our favourites from each question and then whittled that down even further to our overall 3 favourites. From this we created a Haku and gave it a title.

Lack of sleep

I feel too tired

I look too tired

to be productive today

This was what we all achieved, a number of Haku's on the subject of stress looking rather poetic we did abit of creative writing without even trying. I can see these being made into little postcards or quotes in a self help book for students, workers and even stay at home parents, anyone that lives a busy life.

They could be used to get the message out there that they aren't alone - perhaps printed on billboards or on the back of bus tickets advertising a self help book on stress. Or another idea specifically for students a pack you get when moving into halls, posters with thoughts on of previous first years so you feel able to talk to others about it you aren't alone. A pack containing useful information like bus routes, cheap shops and bars etc.

Reading list:

• The Stress Report - theDo lectures
• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear - Elizabeth Gilbert
• Upworthy - School Meditation rather than detention
• Deep Work - Cal Newport 

"feel the fear and do it anyway"

Thoughts on Helvetica Documentary

After watching the Helvetica documentary I am now a lot more informed on the typeface, it was developed in 1957 by Swiss typeface designer Max Miedinger. The Microsoft typeface 'Arial' is a rip off of Helvetica, a design is only protected by intellectual property for 25 years and after that can be copied with very few changes.

Main features of the typeface is the termination of all strokes on exact horizontal or vertical lines. The letter spacing is also tight in comparison to other typefaces, this gives it a dense and compact appearance. 

The typeface is widely used in branding as it doesn't have any strong characteristics and is known for being neutral therefore can be manipulated to portray the message of a company. Designers such as Neville Brody, Stefan Sagmeister and David Carson all talk about the use of helvetica in their work. 

8 Questions

5 reasons why i wanted to come to LCA

• I have always liked the look of Leeds and thought it would be right for me as a student
• After researching and attending the open day I really liked the sound of the course 
• The facilities here are really good and we have access to a lot of help
• The staff seemed really approachable and enthusiastic about their jobs
• The students I spoke to when visiting were really helpful and seemed to truly enjoy their university experience

5 things i want to learn on this course

• About typography
• Layout/ editorial design
• How to make sure your designs have context and are meaningful
• Software skills
• Hands-on skills such as bookbinding and letterpress

5 skills i have

• Working as part of a time
• Good listener
• Taking notes
• Being creative
• Thinking outside of the box

5 things to improve on as a designer

• The amount of research I do needs to increase
• Hand draw things more as a starting point
• My skills on InDesign and Illustrator
• Continuing to develop my ideas
• Taking constructive criticism 

5 methods you would use to evaluate

• What could i improve on
• What didn't go as well as planned
• If given more time what would I do differently
• What was succesful
• Am i pleased with the final outcome?

5 questions you would like an answer to

• Is the job stability really that bad
• Is it hard to set up your own studio
• Is it better to be multi disciplinary e.g. be good at things such as illustration and photography as well as graphic design
• Do i have to move to London
• Is all of the work going to be worth it

5 things which inspire you

• Seeing good design out and about
• My peers
• My tutors
• My family's belief in me
• Books

identify 10 examples of design in your field of interest