OUIL402 End of Module Evaluation

Leeds College of Art BA (Hons) ILLUSTRATION	Level	04
OUIL402 Personal & Professional Practice 1	Credits	20
End of Module Self Evaluation

NAME	Sophie Edwards-Smith

1.  What learning have you inherited through this module and how has it impacted on your own understanding of professional practice? Consider yourself as a student at University as much as an illustrator
Through this module I’ve learned to look for inspiration and guidance everywhere. I’ve also learned to consider that there are many possible routes I can follow, and that the fact I don’t want to be an illustrator in the traditional sense doesn’t have to stop me succeeding here and in what I do. Only as this year has progressed have I begun to develop a better-rounded frame of mind, and realised that I have many skills that be utilised to good effect here, even if my practical skills aren’t of that strong a standard yet. PPP has really helped me in the latter half of this year, everything from the list-making sessions especially. This module has also encouraged me to be pro-active in the way I approach this practice, and to constantly be doing things that I find enriching, whether that’s talking to professional illustrators or reading about different practices, or simple looking through a lot of art-books. I’m gradually learning that it’s okay to still be learning, and that it’s not all about a brilliant final achievement (I blame my academic background for this, it’s a big leap to make)
2. What approaches/ types of research have you found most valuable over this module? Why did they have such an impact?
I think my main strength in this module is that I have never stopped being curious; I have used the library exhaustively this year, both for specific bits of research and just to engage with everything available to me for the sake of creative curiosity. Research and investigating has been an ongoing thing for me this year in all kinds of different ways – I took on a weeklong internship with a professional illustrator in order to get an insight into how illustration as a full-time professional practice works, I’ve travelled to lots of different galleries and exhibitions, I’ve gone to places and drawn just for the sake of drawing and loving to draw. Every bit of research I’ve done this year, both professional (for uni work) and personal has helped shape the way I see work and how I appreciate it in different contexts.
3. In what way has PPP informed the way your work in other modules and your illustration practice as a whole? PPP has helped me develop a greater understanding of the positive effects that exhaustive research can have on my work. For lots of briefs this year, especially in COP, Visual Narratives and Visual Communication, I feel that my research and the relationships I’ve developed with my subjects has actually been stronger and more dynamic than my finished products. The processes of learning, investigating and actually experiencing have been consistently more attractive to me than making final work.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your PPP submission and how will you address this in the future?  I probably could have been more conscientious in blogging things such as Big Heads. However, I stick by something I’ve said before, which is that I see no point in documenting for documentation’s sake, and that I will only invest time in things that I feel are of genuine interest or help to me. I’ve only blogged the Big Heads that have said something to me about my practice or the way I see illustration, even if I’ve attended all the talks. I’ve done as much going to exhibitions etc. as I feel I could have this year, but there’s always room to get even better at this type of research, especially now I have an idea of the field I want to move into. Not specifically a submission thing, but I think for lots of this year I’ve been too hard on myself, too doubtful of myself and insecure in the work I’ve been making, and that this, in turn, has stopped me achieving what I maybe could have done had I had a little bit more balls. This has been pointed out to me a couple of times recently, and I’ve had a bit of a change of heart. In future, I am going to make a conscious effort to be a bit braver in my work, lose my inhibitions a bit, and not be afraid to say things I do have to say.
5. What communities of practice and professional contexts do you intend to investigate further as you approach level 5? Why do they appeal to you?
The thing I’m most looking forward to investigating in the future is professional practices that would still allow me to be involved with illustration and creative practices but not actually ‘being an illustrator’. Perhaps art direction, writing for creative publications, publishing houses, or curation. I have a good idea now that I don’t want to be an illustrator, but I still want to work in a field that allows me to champion and celebrate all the amazing illustration being made out there.  I also intend to look into further education and MA courses as a possible route, as I would also be interested in tutoring. Both Matt and Kris have been a real source of help and inspiration to me this year, and I think I would enjoy and be quite good at the kind of thing they have done for us this year.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: (please indicate using an ‘x’)  5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
	1	2	3	4	5
Attendance			x
Punctuality			x
Motivation				x
Commitment				x
Quantity of work produced			x
Quality of work produced			x
Contribution to the group			x
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self-evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.