Name: Conor Elliott Cresswell
Programme: Digital Media Design (BA)
Last Updated: Sunday 7th December 2014
Personal Statement
As of now, I believe that I have a basic understand of a majority of different pieces of software in addition to specialising in some such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Throughout most of my studies, from my GCSE’s all the way through my A-Levels I have been using Photoshop for multiple tasks from creating graphic designs to editing and manipulating images. This is something I strongly feel is one of my strengths is that by having a varied range of experience in multiple pieces of software. Another strength of mine is being able to complete presentations due to having a lot of experience in presenting both in and out of my specialist area. For example, during my earlier years of Secondary School I was chosen to take part in a two day programme. This consisted of working in groups to create and present a new idea of a breakfast cereal substitute to then pitch to representatives of food market leaders such as McDonalds, Mars and Cadbury. A piece of software I strongly believe is one of my strengths is Adobe Illustrator. This is because in recent design tasks, I have been using it more and therefore I feel that this is a software i’d like to continue to specialise with. In addition to this, I feel that one of my other strengths is being able to manage my own time. In this last Semester, I’ve had 5 projects to manage simultaneously across 12 weeks and it has been a challenge for me.
One of my weaknesses still is being unable to project manage a team as well as i’d like to. This is because one of projects in the previous semester was a group project and I couldn’t seem to manage my team very well. I struggled in many places to manage their time, ensure what every member needed to do and when they needed to complete these tasks by. In addition to this, I couldn’t figure out what each of my team member’s individual strengths where. Therefore this lead to me doing a majority of the work and putting unnecessary pressure on myself when I could have delegated those tasks to other members.
Selected Previous Experiences
Activity: Creating a Flash Game for the London 2012 Paralympic Games
Date: January - April 2010
Where: Chalfonts Community College/ Pinewood Studios/ Stoke Mandeville Stadium.
During this project, I gained many different skills such as working in teams towards a common goal to presenting those final ideas to a client. In addition to this, due to the focus of the project being to create a game, once a week I would have an online class with someone from the different areas of the industry. These range from Tom Scutt, who was a senior programmer at Core Design who are most famous for the early Tomb Raider series, to Brad Borne who created the Super Fancy Pants Man flash games. Having this close interaction with real industry professionals gave me a different insight into this specific industry which is why it is one I find the most exciting.
Activity: Planning, Creating and Running an Animation Festival
Date: June 2011
Where: Chalfonts Community College/ Bucks New University
This project was something which I believe used a great variety of skills from having to present my ideas for the festival to the client, planning and creating the content as well as the overall design of the festival itself. This also allowed me an opportunity to lead on certain aspects of the design process. This was something I wish I had more time to develop however I enjoyed feeling responsible for certain aspects of the event. Another skill this project taught me was about being organized in addition to meeting deadlines. As the event was set up by students to exhibit other student’s work, we had to organize our time accordingly. This level of time management was a skill I believe I carried into my other subjects for coursework deadlines and revising for my exams.
Activity: Developing a Video Game: Project
Date: January-February 2014
Where: University of Winchester
This was a project that I enjoyed doing because it was to do with game design; something I wish to do more of in the future. In addition to this, I could focus on my main skill illustrating in different styles as my main role was to be the character designer. I began to design in Illustrator however we wanted to create a pixel-based game therefore I had to adapt my designs to be in pixel which was interesting and entertaining for me. I feel that this was my strongest project of last year as I knew my role in the group very well and could focus on what I did best.
Activity: Developing the TransMedia 15 Website and Branding
Date: September - December 2014
Where: University of Winchester
This is my most recent project, it has also been one of my most developing as it has pushed me further as a designer. This is because it has made me think about creating work for specific clients and developing a brand. In addition to this, I have been working with only one other person on this project therefore team communication has been key here. Collaborating with one of my peers has made me learn how well I can work to effectively meet deadlines.
Selected Future Opportunities
Opportunity: Continue Developing Leadership Skills
Date: 2014/15 (Second Year of Degree)
Where: University of Winchester
During this last year in addition to this semester, I have attempted to take on more leadership roles within a team. However I do not feel that I have developed enough to be a successful team leader as I still struggle to lead a team effectively as well as understand a person’s individual skills. Understanding what people’s strengths are in a team in addition to allocating specific tasks to them is a skill a good team leader should have. I strongly believe that I do not have this skill yet and would like to try to develop it further.
Opportunity: Focus on a section of Industry
Date: 2014/15 (Second Year of Degree)
Where: University of Winchester
Over the last year and a half of going through my degree, I had done many different projects and doing a variety of roles in those tasks. As I am now halfway through my degree I would like to focus on a section of the industry that I would think about going into. One of these industries is the games industry as I have written about it many times before in take-away exams and case studies. In addition to this, it is a industry I have admired and wanted to be part of for a long time. Another section would be to possibly enter web design. However web design is not something I would enjoy as much as game design.
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