Feelings of Usefullessness

Coming into the second year of this MA, I now have to reconsider my route and the path that I will need to take to achieve this.

Last year I completed two work placements, both of which were very rewarding and helpful in enabling me to see if the choices that I made were viable, the placements have given me insight into the kind of career which I would like to pursue in the future.

My first work placement was to design a bench. using Autocad. I also worked within a landscaping department at the council and this was very enjoyable and insightful.


The bench would have been made from rolled sheet steel, unfortunately thier were drawbacks;

• too expensive to produce
• uncomfortable in the sun

The bench was made from component seats

• did not fulfil the ‘bench’ brief
• the shape of the seat made it hard to create dynamic arrangements

My second work placement, was much different. Making signs for a camp-site. This was oriented towards creating a final product. In this similarly to the other placement, I used computer programmes to achieve the outcome – illustrator, which was challenging, but eventually came to a successful outcome. The camp-site wanted a series of signs for the site, directional and toilet signs – with an arty edge.

They were handmade and original, as well as this they were made from recycled materials, according to the brief. The signs are in use now, and I made a total of 11 signs.

The process of design is different to art and dependant on approach. Design is always user motivated, which means that nothing is sacred in the way that could be considered with art and as well as that items, objects must have a reason or excuse for existing, otherwise they can be deemed useless.