module evaluation

This module has been one of the most challenging to date. It required a lot of dedication, time and effort. This module has given me a new perspective on research projects and shown me what it takes to answer a question that requires a lot of testing. 

The written element of this module has resulted in a strong essay that is backed up by primary and secondary research to form an argument and solid conclusion. The essay resulted in 7,300 words and although it could have been longer, this could have resulted in unnecessary writing that detracts from the main points. The essay has 4 chapters firstly forming a basis of understanding, then moving on to constructing an argument based upon existing graphic design. 

Collecting primary research was extremely useful for the written and practical side of the module. This allowed me to form arguments and base design decisions upon the research that was gathered. It granted an insight into what children really want as consumers, something I wouldn’t have been able to presume or understand without it. Some of the primary research could have been improved in parts, e.g. the questionnaire could have had a larger range of children, a more even number of boys and girls and completed by the individual away from the rest of the group (to avoid copying or influence from peers). I was not at liberty to make these decisions as the questionnaire took place in a classroom environment, so this was mostly unavoidable. 

The practical element was enjoyable and I’m pleased with the results. The production of the magazine could have been improved. A nicer stock choice for the cover could have been used (so the colours are more vivid), but the thickness and durability is fit for purpose. The binding is suitable and will bring production costs down. The design was based upon the research that was undertaken. The colours, character design and tone of voice were all based upon the results from the questionnaire and answers from designers. The magazine was tested against 4 other publications and the results were to be expected. As the practical and the essay came to the conclusion, this further gives credibility to the outcome of my project. Overall, children do prefer their respective gendered designs - but not always.

To summarise, I feel I have suitably answered the brief in creating a synthesised practical and written project that have been tested and result in the same conclusion. Improvements could have been made to the project as a whole, e.g. even more research and better planning of experiments, though due to time constraints the project was carried out to the best of my ability. The project was finished on time as I prepared and created a time plan. 

timeplan / week 15

Aims
Print and bind essay / hand in

Achieved
The essay has been bound and is ready to be submitted. All elements of the practical have been completed, alongside the synthesis, design boards and module evaluation.

synthesis

Synthesis

The aim of the written element of this module was to discover whether graphic design for children needs to be gendered to be successful. The essay discussed child psychology, colour theory, gendered design and gender neutral design, backed up by a large amount of primary research. The overall conclusion of the dissertation was that not all children’s design needs to be gendered to be successful, but children tend to prefer design that is gendered. This is due to more favourable responses being given by adults and peers (by choosing gendered design) as stereotypes are applied to children more heavily than adults. 

The aim of the practical was to produce a gender neutral publication aimed at children aged 3-5 years. The final resolution needed to appeal to both children and parents, yet still being inclusive of all genders. It was crucial that the colour scheme, typeface and themes were apt for the audience, and that parents would want to purchase the magazine for their children. Considerations needed to be taken to ensure that the content was suitable for the audience, the techniques to appeal to all genders were appropriate and whether the magazine has longevity. Extensive research was undertaken to discover what techniques should be used and how to appeal to a larger audience. Professional designers were contacted for their input and existing design was analysed which caters to all genders. 

The practical element works along side the written by creating a gender neutral publication and testing it’s success. The results gained from the testing of the practical mirrors that of the conclusion of the essay. The publication was not the favourite out of the 4 other test pieces, which show that children still prefer the designs that are gendered. The practical also includes brand guidelines which show the techniques that have been used throughout the publication. The typeface, colour scheme and characters are extremely important to the purpose of the brand. Front covers of future issues were also designed to show that the magazine has longevity and appeal and can remain gender neutral while still covering a large range of topics. 

Overall, the projects both aim to answer the question: Does graphic design for children need to be gendered to be successful? Both elements have produced the same answer; no, but gendered design is usually the most successful. 

practical / evaluation

Overall, the practical module was a success. It was able to answer the question 'Does graphic design for children need to be gendered to be successful, and the testing of the practical gave the same results as what was found in the essay.

The project met the requirements of the brief and throughout the primary research, and feedback from children has been gathered to ensure the magazine was appropriate throughout it's development. Although the magazine was not the most popular, this does not mean it wasn't successful. It does show that there is a market for gender neutral design, and that gender neutral design can be successful.

The deliverables were of a high standard and achieved what was set out by the brief. Brand guidelines and future issues were also created to show the magazine has longevity and highlights the techniques used to appeal to a broad audience. The primary research was an extremely important aspect of the project and it shaped the way the brand was designed.

To summarise, the practical element solidified what was stated in the essay. Children are more likely to choose what has been engrained in them from a very early age. Pink and blue still dominate their favourite colours. Large portions of girls prefer pink to blue, and large portions of boys prefer blue to pink. This does not mean to say that any other colour is unacceptable, but usually it will be the most popular choice. This observation is reflected in general across gender stereotypes within design for children.

practical / testing

Testing the practical was a crucial part of the brief. To test whether Pear magazine is appealing to children, they were shown 4 other magazines alongside pear and were asked to choose which was their favourite and why. The results are shown in the table below:

Overall, Pear wasn't the most successful magazine. This reflects the findings of the essay, as gendered design is still more popular. As 14% did choose Pear, it shows that there is room in the market for gender neutral design, and with changing perceptions this could continue to grow in the future.

practical / brand guidelines

The brand guidelines for Pear have been considered to show the techniques that need to be used in order to effectively create an appealing gender neutral magazine.

The guidelines cover all aspects of the magazine that are important to the brand. The typeface, colour scheme and characters are extremely important to the purpose of the brand. Within the research it was discovered that these aspects can alter whether the design is gendered or gender neutral. As the colour scheme is varying with each issue, it is important to address this within the guidelines and set rules as to what colours can be used. The scheme should be soft, gender neutral and have at least 5 different colours to ensure it's not weighted to one gender. The tyepface should be consistent throughout every issue. The characters also need to be consistent and presented as genderless so that it ensures maximum identification across a wide audience.

timeplan / week 14

Aims
Attend tutorial 5 and print practical work

Achieved
This weeks aims have been achieved. I have attended tutorial 5 and received some good feedback on my conclusion which I can apply before the essay is printed and bound. The practical work has been printed and just needs some extra details completing e.g. design boards.

practical / future issues

The covers for future issues of Pear have been designed to show longevity and that the future of the magazine has been considered. Each issue will have it's own colour scheme as the same five or six colours could loose their appeal after some time. The colours need to be soft, genderless and have a range of colours that do not weigh to either gender.

As Pear is ultimately an educational magazine, each issue needs to have an underlying theme that will benefit it's readers. The following themes are Colours, Outer Space and Bedtime. Each theme has the potential for really fun activities while still teaching the children valuable lessons. 

practical / final design and printing

After receiving feedback from peers and children, I made a few minor changes to the magazine before it was sent to print. A few additional details were placed on certain pages to make them more exciting and colourful.

The cover of the magazine was printed on double-sided thick gloss to ensure the magazine was durable yet professional looking. The inside pages were a thinner, more traditional stock but still quite hard wearing for young children who need a robust paper. The magazine is staple bound as magazines tend to have this kind of bind. It is cheap and effective, and children are less likely to appreciate more complex binds which will cost more to produce.

practical / design boards

tutorial 5

This tutorial was mainly focussed on the essay. I wanted feedback on chapter 4 and the conclusion as these sections were the ones Simon hasn't read. The general feedback was that I could be using too many quotes for information that could be put in my own words. Instead of using large quotes I should analyse and interpret the information myself.

The conclusion needs revising as currently it is an evaluation of each chapter. Instead, it was advised that I answer the question succinctly, discuss successful gender neutral design and the reasons why it is successful, then finish with gendered designs and why they are successful too. The conclusion of the entire essay is not ultimately yes or no, but rather sometimes yes and sometimes no.

The practical element is open to a lot of evaluation and discussion as lots of primary research has taken place. A body of writing needs to be included within the submission to explain the practical experiment and what the results show (separate to the synthesis paragraph).