OUGD601 Evaluation

Evaluation:

Within the COP 3 module I was interested to explore how design effects peoples behaviour through persuasive methods. My aims were to understand how it is used and what techniques and methods are implemented to try and influence consumer behaviours. I also wanted to understand why these things work, as I explored the psychology behind the methods. Through the research I conducted for my essay I gained much more of an understanding and it has highlighted the strong link design has with psychology. I also began to realise what effects on society persuasive methods were having, which can be detrimental to physical and psychological health. This is why within the practical outcome I felt that it was important to highlight and raise awareness for the possible issues that could arise from advertising. The project overall has helped me to become aware of the influential power that designers have and how we can use that within society positively. The practical aimed to draw more attention and develop a further understanding of the negative impact of advertising on society. With the knowledge I had gained from the essay, how I could best drive awareness and persuade people to take notice and action against these damaging methods of persuasion.

I wanted the practical to be humorous and ironic, using ads against ads to highlight what they are really doing and at what cost to society. Doing further research in to 'Adbusters' and 'Subvertisements' really helped to inspire my practical outcome. Overall I feel that the practical outcome achieved its aims, it drives awareness with a clear message and the campaign should spark conversation through social media. The use of symbols, humour and the share-ability of the campaign should appeal to the target audience. I did find the practical outcome challenging as I wanted to come up with a really strong and humorous concept. But, I do believe I have tackled the outcome in a different and interesting way that uses the psychology researched within the essay. I think that the outcome could be further developed to create a really strong campaign, such as creating more of a pack for the stickers and how it would be mailed out and with what information. Creating more of a presence online would also help to further expand the reach of the campaign.

My essay acts as more of a discussion rather than an argument and its aim was to explore methods of persuasion and I think that it has achieved this. As it is such a broad subject more in depth analysis of persuasive methods could be done to determine the effectiveness of persuasive communication. The practical outcome uses what I have explored and learnt from the essay to positively have an effect on society.

Overall this module has been tough, it has pushed me to research, reflect critically and implement what I have learnt into a practical outcome. I have enjoyed doing the research and I am proud of what I have written for the essay. Together the practical and essay  support each other in understanding how persuasion works, with what methods and to what effect.