Project Evaluation

My work is arranged and ready for Submission! This feels strange as it is the Final Submission of my Degree and although it feels like I have been working on the same campaign for a long time, it has also gone very fast.

I feel my time management skills have been fairly competent throughout my time at University but have improved further in this project as the demands have felt more pressured (due to this being my Dissertation).

My people management skills have also improved through the collaboration with a Graphic Designer. I commissioned Andrew Cook to create some of the visual promotional methods for this campaign, as noted in earlier blog posts. This decision was taken by myself early on in the project, allowing me to research and communicate with various Designers and Companies about this Brief. Due to my skills lying within the research and development stages rather than the production of final outcomes, this collaboration enabled me to give all of the relevant research information to Andrew for him to create the outcomes with daily communication between ourselves to perfect the details.

In terms of Project Idea, I feel that the eventual outcome was for the best. At the start of the project, I went through a range of ideas (around 8) which turned out to be too limited or non-viable as a project. Due to this, I was getting worried that I was going to run short of time and not fulfil the campaign to my best ability. However, after some discussion with my Lecturer, I decided to go ahead with the final idea that I had. After this, I soon got stuck into organising my target audiences and then collecting my research.

The collation of Primary Research was fairly difficult as my campaign decision was the week before the February Half Term School Holidays. This left around 5 days to organise and undertake Interviews of Core Audience Teachers and Pupils in 3 Primary Schools. Otherwise, the research results would have been two weeks later, thus past the target/ideal time on the timetable given to us all by my Lecturer and critically delaying my campaign progression. I also sent an Online Survey to Primary Schools within the target districts of the 5 selected cities in which the Scheme would hypothetically take place. The responses of this were of an average uptake, around 20 responses and I emailed 200 Schools. I was expecting more responses, but people are busy and I am personally unknown to them.

The promotional methods that I chose to promote the campaign suited both target audiences (from their research responses and average daily timelines) and Disney as a brand. I was committed to reflecting the brand's tone and identity throughout as this is what would be wholly expected if Disney were to produce this scheme themselves.

The documenting of the research and development stages was easy for me as I am usually thorough in all that I do, recording every detail so the viewer/reader knows what is happening. The only part of development that I feel is lacking in comparison to what I usually produce is the 'step-by-step making' of the promotional items. This is wholly due to commissioning a Graphic Designer and them using their time to make the items and not usually do 'screen shots' of their progress. Such Designers and similar Professionals, create from scratch and finish at their final outcome with time to consider their decisions and visual changes rather than document them in 'screen shot' form. This has lead to me writing and blogging about the decisions more as I feel the need to 'show' the changes and progression. I do not see this as a negative but a difference and wholly due to collaborating with a person external to this experience.

I would like to feel that I have completed a 'package' of work, in terms of the elements of my submission all matching and emanating a similar aesthetic rooted from the brand and scheme's tone and core message of 'driving maths in a fun way'.

To conclude, I have enjoyed this project very much; as with all work, it has had its positive and negative times, with a few turmoils and stressful times along the way. I am pleased that I have had these times, as I would be worried that I was not working hard enough if I had not had them. I feel the project has developed me both professionally and personally, finalising this Degree to the best of my abilities.

Completion of the Research Folders

After reading through the project brief again and working through the Folders, I have completed them ready for submission.

Knowing me, I will look through them again, just to make sure there are no extra additions or alterations that I can make. I will do this extra check on Monday 21st (the submission date has been moved to Tuesday 22nd).

I have also checked through the other elements of the submission and I am content with these. Overall, I am very pleased with the work that I have produced and feel it is the best project that I have created so far. In a way, it is hard to imagine what I will do after this Submission as my life has revolved around 'Maths with Mickey' for the last 5 months... it is nerve racking to hand it over and then wait for the results!

Making a Tag for the Puzzle

Today I have printed my file dividers, stickers for each section, stickers to notify the viewer of this Time Log blog plus my Audio and Visual Research blog and started to read through the first two folders.

I feel it is important that the content runs similarly to how a Disney storybook is read.

I have also produced a Tag for the Puzzle that is a competition prize on the Pupils' Website. This Tag tells the viewer of the Puzzle's purpose on the stand in a very brief style. The design of the Tag was based on an earlier artwork development for the Poster. I ensured that I created the design using colours and imagery that have been used in the campaign to ensure the overall look of the Stand is coherent with the tone of the brand and scheme.

As an addition to the Primary Research section of Folder 2, I have burned the Primary Research Interview dialogues onto a specially designed CD and placed this inside.

A few research documents needed to be printed so I have also done this today and added them into the relevant sections of the folders.

Overall, this has been a very productive day and I am pleased with my progress. I feel confident that I will have plenty of time for last final touches before my Submission.

Research Folders

As planned yesterday, I have today transferred all of the research and development work into my new folders.

This took a while due to the amount of work, but I have planned my dividers and how I am going to present these.

I purchased my file dividers a while ago as I felt, and still do feel, that they suit the project as a whole. They are printable, so I can display the contents page of each folder professionally, while the coloured tabs are bright and bold, using colours from the campaign, reflecting Disney's brand tone of being colourful and enjoyable.

On the whole, I have completed the exterior view of the Folders and now need to finish the inside content for all.

Tomorrow's Plans:

• Print Dividers
• Make a Tag for the Puzzle
• Read through folder work to make sure folder work runs smoothly to the viewer

Ironing onto the Fabric Bags...

Today, I have spent most of the day ironing the Transfers onto my Fabric Bags. As a reminder, these Fabric Bags are going to hold my Research Folders on my Exhibition Stand.

I underestimated how much time this task would take. I initially thought it would take a couple of hours, due to doing a 'test' and getting the heat and application times right for the best presentation.

I bought 5 bags, as I knew I definitely needed 2 bags to hold the Folders with a third bag being used for any items which do not need a prominent position on my Exhibition Stand but may liked to be looked at if a viewer was to look underneath the table for example.

Overall, it took around 5 hours and a couple of failed attempts, but I have 3 bags which I am pleased with!

After this, I have inserted the Covers into my Research Folders and created some side border panels, displaying my logo, name, etc.

I have started to organise my plans for the Submission day next Monday, I think I am going to arrive into University around 11am. I do not yet know if we all have to be there at 4pm for the Submission Deadline so this may alter my plans in that I arrive later.

Tomorrow's Plans:

• Transfer my work into the new Research Folders
• Sort and Print my File Dividers
• Fill in any Gaps, printing, etc.

Friday's Plans:

• Make a Tag to be put onto the Puzzle
• Finish off the Research Folders
• Check through all the Submission

Over the Weekend:

• Finish all elements
• Prepare to take all of the work to University for the Final Submission

Update on Today's Progression

This morning I finalised my work and went to the Printers. I now have the Mini Report, Portfolio, Folder Covers, a Poster and Leaflets printed. I am very relieved that this is done and I am pleased with the finished articles.

I feel fine with my time management, as I have since organised my Portfolio, so this and the Mini Report are ready to submit now. I am happy with this as they are ready just under a week before the submission date. I am also a day ahead of my personal targets for each day.

In terms of what I need to do now:

• Iron my transfers onto the fabric bags
• Transfer my Research and Development work into new Folders.
• Sort and Print my File Dividers
• Fill in any gaps within the Folders, printing off documents, etc.
• Make a 'Tag' to display on the Puzzle that will be on my Exhibition Stand (This Puzzle can be won in a competition on the Pupils' Website) 
• Organise the transportation of my Submission next Monday

Iron On Transfers

After my blog post yesterday, I  prepared the 'Maths with Mickey' Logo for printing onto my Iron On Transfer paper. Along with this Logo, I would like to apply some Stars to the bags which have also been used on my Exhibition Stand, on the Folder Covers and in my Reports. This will make for a coherent overall appearance.

Today's plan:

• To finalise the Portfolio boards ready for print.
• To hopefully print out the Mini Report, Portfolio content and the Folder Covers, plus a Poster and Leaflets.
• If the above two tasks are completed, I can organise my Portfolio ready for submission and start working on the research folders (dividing sections, noting this blog address etc).

Extra visual methods

Since my last blog post, I have achieved the aims/tasks that I set myself; to finish the mini report ready for print, to create the layout of the visuals within the portfolio and make some fabric bag designs.
I have also burned the Primary Research Interviews onto a CD to include in the Portfolio.
The Research Folder and Portfolio covers have been finalised ready for print.
Also, due to having some time, I have been looking through the promotional methods of the campaign to see if any of these can be enhanced. I decided that two of the methods, the Leaflet advertising the Pupils website and the Browser App Game could have visual elements made.
Therefore, I have made the Leaflet and I am hoping to have a few versions printed to include in my Portfolio and on the Exhibition Stand.
In terms of the Help Mickey! Browser App game, I have produced a Logo which reflects Mickey and the greenery of the Amazon Rainforest. Again, this includes inspiration from primary and secondary research.