Reflection

 It is time to reflect on the work I created last term and overall on my time spend in collage. It was a very challenging time for me as I have changed my life completely, from difficult and exhaustive job as a Teaching Assistant working with SEN children I became a full time student at DMUIC. Moreover follow dreams to became qualified Graphic Designer in my age is unusual and felt weird surrounded by young people. Somehow I managed it with satisfying results. I love the time being there and I appreciate every moment and the knowledge that tutors shared with us. I learned how to create the website, how to make a mock ups in Photoshop and what is most important, how to talk about and to describe my own work. Which I am still finding difficult but I can see a small progress in my writing. It was an amazing feeling to try a life drawing again or to create my own mug in the workshops. I had a moment when I was very close to give up but luckily I didn't and I am looking forward to experience new challenges at De Monfort University.

This term I worked with the theme of "Ultimate Black" , I designed tattoos inspired by  Punk Subculture in 70's which was, personally,  an interesting journey to the past. Punk subculture was a big part of my life and that is why I am here now, because school and following rules was something what I consequently tried to avoid. It was amazing and also very difficult time in my young life, however  people that I met, teachers and friends inspired me and helped with making a good decisions. To my last  project I used many of my old drawings, I upgraded some of them by changing the language on the picture or adding small details. The project is called "Punk's not dead!".

Firstly, the stickers. Almost all of them are in circular shape with a simple punk related picture drawn inside. The colour theme of the stickers is black and white as I want them to be a simple graphic designs. One of the sticker is in rectangular shape with the words "stop war!" written in heavy bold font . I referred to the World situation for a third time, first in my previous project "The Eco Academy" where the name of the student written on the school ID were Ukrainian. Secondly by creating 3D "light" artwork for the  2D&3D Processes module.

By creating stickers I learned that I have to consider the design, shapes and chose the right stickers paper from matt ,shiny and vinyl waterproof one. And finally choice of  the printer is very important, because some of the printers are not compatible sticker type of paper and the ink would smudge off from the stickers. Moreover sticking them in the public environment such as sign post, bins, fences and walls was also a new and exciting experience for me.

Secondly, the tattoos and the logo for " 77 Tattoo Studio". I am glad that on this term I had  much more time to  think about the project and find inspirations. Interviewing Romi, the tattoo artist, was very pleasurable and stimulating experience for me. Her talent, passion, determination and fact how she fight for her dreams are incredible. The tattoo designs for "Punk's not dead" project are way different from Romi's tattoos because they are inspired by Sailor Jerry style and old school tattoo style, nonetheless there is still plenty of artists tattooing in this style. The discrepancy between their style is enormous, however some people having a stick man tattooed  next to the realistic portrait of their child. Nowadays, people mixing on their skin designs, styles and techniques of tattoo which sometimes looks like a collage. As a 3D outcome of my project I ordered a fake, temporary tattoos with my own designs and I photographed them on the model. I am happy with the results, old school tattoos looks like I want them to be, a little bit odd in random places on the model's body.  

In overall I created the logo for the Tattoo studio, three tattoo designs, the Zine cover, 9 stickers and safety pin badges. During this term I learned about the beginning of British and Polish Punk, I discovered badges making techniques, sticker printing and hand drawn Zines. It was also very interesting journey to the past and an opportunity for using my old drawings, knowledge and life experience.

Thank You!