OUGD602 - Research Brief - Project Evaluation

Project Evaluation

For the research brief I found it particularly difficult to know which subject / idea to research further into as I wanted the outcome to be something that would enjoy and produce an outcome that I would be proud of. Initial ideas were perhaps too complex and vague, so it was suggested that I do it on something a little more lighthearted. I struggled to refine the subject matter down initially which I think is what made the brief take so long to get started on. Overall I struggled with not knowing what I was going to produce and defining the subject matter as something specific.

Within this project I liked the product design element of the final element and the fun and quirky concept that was developed for the outcomes. Originally the designs were to be made from concrete however this would have been a labour intensive process as the walls of the planters would have to be reinforced and the drying time was far longer than the time I would have to create the outcomes. At one point there were doubts I could make the designs out of anything that looked like concrete and that they might have to be made out of wood instead, however the technician in ceramics really helped me identify a process that would get the desired aesthetic in the time span left. Because of the processes used and the time they took this brief should have been started earlier to give me enough time to produce the outcomes, however it wasn't known at the beginning that the outcome would be as difficult to create. The use of Jesmonite was an effective substitute for concrete and was more manageable within the time span.