summary of the first fda year-

as usual, I have learned more in the last year than I had ever anticipated. I finished foundation having learnt more about living in London than anything to do with art, but it has been so different this year.

basically, there're certain basic rules I realised I never knew existed until we were introduced to them continuously throughout the workshops and lectures and projects. what helped was putting everything into practice, trying stuff out for yourself and seeing how you could make it work to suit our own interests in aesthetics. also, seeing what DIDN'T work. I'm learning a lot about presentation and how to improve it through learning more about typography and graphic elements and methods, and it really helps that the tutors know what they're talking about and are enthusiastic about it all (unlike last year). being around my classmates and tutors has really helped me continuously try to open my mind to every possibility.

something I found useful last year, and this year even more so, was the importance of undertaking collaborations and projects outside of the course, especially in ones where the other person/people aren't graphics artists. working with other people is great anyway because you're not stuck in some impenetrable bubble making awful mistake after awful mistake and having no one around to tell you you're fucking it up. sharing ideas, skills and time with people has proven so valuable as a learning experience, and it's introduced me to some amazing people. sometimes my failure at time management has come back to bite me in the arse (6 projects at once NOT SUCH A GREAT IDEA PROBABLY), but something tells me I'll keep doing it anyway because it's genuinely a lot of fun, and the results so far have always been worth it. one of the things I am going to do my best to take away from the experiences is the idea that every project, no matter how small, can and has to be done to the full extent of its potential. why only go somewhere halfway if you can go the WHOLE way? it makes for so many interesting and exciting results, but it's something I feel is missing from a lot of design and general artwork that I've seen around, which is kind of sad, both for the work and the artist(s) involved.

in the future I want to continue working on developing as many skills as possible. I'm not so fond of typography but I've come to realise I have to learn how to apply it regardless, because it really is a key component of design and visual communication as much as all the other elements. just because I don't like it and it's therefore my weakness doesn't mean I can't find a way around it, a way to enjoy it. I also want to continue building experiences and relationships with people through collaborations, whatever subjects they may be.

having said all that, the main focus is still learning to organise my freaking time properly. it's been the biggest weakness and barrier, but I'm happy to say that I think I've really been working on it since last year and have improved somewhat.

thanks for everything guys! it all has been/is/gonna be amazing, I look forward to every new week of challenges and other things that keep my small attention span and general tendency to get bored/lazy well occupied...

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