Amy barstow a4 landscape portfolio summary by Amy Barstow

Portfolio Summary Amy Barstow Graphic Design Year Two U1259936

Taxonomy. My aim for this brief was to create a video that represented the artefacts that I had collected over the summer for my taxonomy, I chose hem tags as they interest me due to the fact that they are always present in all your clothes but so often arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t paid attention to. I like how they can be designed so effectively whilst also being on such a small scale. I wanted to create something that I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t done before and I wanted to improve my skills and knowledge of After Effects. My design outcome was a video that I created using scanned in images of origami garments that I made by hand, they where made by scanning in the materials of the original clothing and then manipulating those printed papers into origami clothing. I then teamed them back up with the hem tags they were taken from and created a video that showed information about where I bought it from, the cost and the brand is was made by. I really liked my final outcome and I think that through this brief I was able to expand my knowledge and experience with after effects and also with paper engineering as that was a crucial part of my work. The video, in my opinion, is smooth, clear and interesting to watch, the garments are all in different style from tops to short to coats and the bright colours and patterns really pop on screen.

My Taxonomy- Development Overview.

For my taxonomy project I collected over 50 hem tags from my own wardrobe and also a few from members of my family so that I got a good range of brands and designs. They interest me because I feel that putting a brand onto it is such a hard task. To be able to make a logo legible and also make it represent the brand style with minimal amount of room is a very hard past. But somehow we can instantly recognise the brand when looking at a hem tag.

Sketchbook Work.

After looking into the history of hem tags and researching through books I was able to start experimenting with my sketchbook. I looked into the patterns in design between men’s, women’s, children’s hem tags and then looked deeper into their similarities. How they all follow trends in colour and typography and size. For example men’s are usually a lot bigger and made from thicker materials presumably to represent strength and masculinity whilst women’s where always more delicate and made from much softer materials like silk, this would represent quality and femininity.

These are some images of research that I carried out, I looked through magazines such as creative review and found articles that linked to taxonomy, about a man who has collected day to day products like washing up liquid over the years, it was interesting to see how day to day items can mean so much to people as they act as a time portal taking people back to a different time. I looked into branding of other companies and how they design their hem tags and also looked through social media for people who design and manufacture hem tags over the Internet. Here is the youtube link to the trailer of â&#x20AC;&#x153;In search of our throwaway historyâ&#x20AC;?. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qa4TXfwg6W0

Paper Engineering.

My research took me into looking at paper engineering through the work of people like Rob Ryan and looking at book about how to create anything out of paper, I saw dresses and clothing made from paper which made me think that I could construct something similar from my taxonomy of hem tags.

Here are some of the practice version of my origami. I experimented with paper types, colours and this is how I realised that whatever paper I used had to be double sided as both sides would eventually end up showing in the final folded version.

These are some of the examples of my folded final orogami garments. I scanned them in so that I could get a better quality of picture when I converted them into the video using after effects. I thought that this allowed the detailing in the patterns to show through as well as the textures of the materials.

This is the planning that I sketched out for how many of each garment I would need to create so that I had a good ration of different styles and all in different colours and patterns.

Taxonomy- Project Outcomes. These are some of the screen grabs of my final video. They show a range of different segments of the video and all the different colours, effects and also include hand drawn imagery in there that is used in the introduction segment of the video. I used found fonts of the Internet, as I thought that a font that looked hand generated would work better with the video as the crucial part was about origami.

Important Links. This is a link to my blog in which you will be able to see all my development, research and experimentations that lead me to this final design outcome. http://amybarstowyeartwo.wordpress.com And incase the MOV. document doesnt work here is the link to my youtube page where I uplaoded the video. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qSiphZ9HUtE

Data Visualisation. I had never tackled data visualization before and I did feel that at first I was a bit confused and found it hard to find a specific design style as I did have so many different option and my data was so broad. My overall aim for this project was to create something that was 3D, I wanted to use this opportunity to work in 3D rather than just digitally as I felt that data visualization is the perfect opportunity to do this and really experiment visually. I wanted to also gain a better understanding of processes like laser cutting and possibly book binding and printing. My final design outcome was a book that included text, statistics that was my data that I had collected regarding UK debt statistics and also my own images of a 3D laser cut model that I created from clear acrylic. The model is no bigger than an A4 piece of paper and no higher than 2.5 inches. The model represents the levels of debt in the UK for 12 different regions, the higher the region the higher the average debt amount for each household, through the use of payday lenders, credit cards and any other money lending, not including mortgages. I thought the model was effective but the images didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully translate when printed so I used the images within a book that I designed and hand made. I feel that the use of both text and imagery allows the data to be conveyed clearly whilst the model can also stand alone when viewed in person.

Data Vis - Development Overview.

When going through my development I realised that I had gone through a lot of different design styles before I came across the final outcome that I wanted to fully pursue. I looked into digital poster making, creating different charts using lines and colours, creating models out of paper and possibly moulding a 3D model out of plaster, I looked into circular designs that would show information by colour and segments. Final I came to the idea of creating a 3D acrylic model and then began looking into the process of laser cutting. All these different avenues finally lead me to a outcome that I am very happy with. I feel that by research and experimenting with different design styles I learnt a lot about data visualisation and all the different areas of design that it falls into.

These are examples of some of the images that I began my research with, looking into different ways of creating data visualisation but I didnt feel that this modern style that involved a lot of numbers, lines and what looked like maths, was the right style for my data visualisation projects.

Data Visualisation - Initial Secondary Research.

Here are some of the quick digital development that I started with. This was simply to generate ideas about how I could explain my data in a visual way. I really liked the Idea of using levels in the UK to visually show the height of debt literally rather than using numbers. The black circular design was something that I created from individual responces to a survey that I created as part of my data. I did like the concept but I felt that the design style, colour and ayout needed more thought.

These are some of my thumbnails drawings of something that I thought could develope into an idea. I thought about using a shopping bag, not only to represent the theme of over spending, debt and consumerism but also to represent to portions of my facts. For example a fact that involved 30% would be a section of the bag that was 30% of its overal space.

This is a design that came fro the idea of creating posters that would look at first like a shopping bag but would then get dissected into the different sections and each of those would represent a fact about the percentage of spending from the questions that I had asked in my survey. This was created after a long process of sketching out ideas and experimenting with colour and background that would really allow the colour of the bag to pop and stand out. I then created pie charts from this and also circular keys that would make the diagram easy to understand. I did like the outcome but the part that stood out to me most was the circular keys, I really liked the design of them and this got me thinking about how I could use just colour to tell the data from my survey.

After getting inspiration from the previous idea on shopping bags I came across the concept of using colour to correspond with answers to questions that I had asked in my survey I really liked this effect and did develope it to a good level after printing on to acetate and thinking about how I could display it but I found in the end that I waneted to go off into a different direction for my final piece.

Development into how I could make the 3D instalation that would represent the different level of debt in each region. I created hand drawn thumbnails that could help me see what the final piece was going to look like whilst also thinking about the materials that I could make it out of, wood, acrylic, granite, paper, tissue ect.

After going back to the idea of creating a instalation I came to this idea of using acrylic and laser cutting different sections of the UK out so that it could act as its own 3D bar chart. I got it laser cut, clued all the individual pieces together and then took pictures which I later edited so that the acrylic could stand of the paper and the shape could be seen a lot clearer.

Here are the illustrator files that I created that I would later turn into the book once it was printed. I needed to think about font and chose the font sequi because I felt that it had a modern feel to it with its usual lines and missing elements of letter out. I think that it complimented the simplisity of the book with its unique design. I think that the book needed this contrast.

Data Visualisation - Project Outcomes. After creating my 3D model I thought that these seemed to be something missing so I thought about the idea of using the images to create a hand made book, each page in this book would hold some of my previous data that I collected on UK debt. It would also illustrate what the model means and that data would be included. This book would act as a warning guide to anyone that was thinking of increasing their person debt through the use of payday lenders, overdrafts or private loans. Each page included the images that I had taken and a statistic about UK debt. I used previous designs for the print cover, experimented with acetate. The book was bound using ribbon and was printed out on card. I really like the final outcome and I feel that both my model and book will be brought to the final assessment and will act as a pair. The book acts as a kind of key to the model and shows the data as it is written down. Whilst the model gives the book more substance and meaning.

Process Outcomes. My aim for this brief was to create a packaging design for a drink company of my choice that was trying to market a new fragrance. I wanted the packaging to be realistic and to look as though the design could fit into any fragrance store and not look out of place. My drink of choice was Veuve Cliquot champagne, I thought that this was something a little bit out of the box and related to perfume nicely as both fragrances and champagne are something that you are willing to pay slightly more for the quality of the product. My design outcomes varied and I created enough design option so that I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t limiting myself to one specific style or shape or colour. The final design reflected the style and sophistication of the brand and also added a new twist, I steered away from the trademark orange of Veuve so that the product had its own identity but named it Madame Cliquot to link back to the heritage of the company that it originated from. I used light pastel colours to show the femininity of the product and also included edited images of lights that I think represented a mystical night scene or party whilst also it could be associated with the bubbles in champagne which would insinuate that the fragrance was light and fruity. I feel that my packaging design is very effective, it represents everything that I wanted my fragrance to be. I have added other design elements like laser cut initials of the fragrance of the top of the box and sealed it with a ribbon, all these things I feel give it that extra sparkle and shows attention to detail.

This is a variety of different research that I carried out, from looking on YouTube, ordering paper samples from companies like GF Smith, researching on WGSN for inspiration and looking at trends in packaging. From all this I got a better understanding of the direction that I needed to go and of the company that I was designing for.

Process Outcomes - Development Overview.

My design process for this brief was very straight, I knew the type of packaging that I wanted to achieve so I used my development as a way of educating myself on an aspect of design that I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had much experience with. Firstly I looked into the brand, found its images and how it had previously marketed and designed for its self. I looked into colour schemes, trends on patterns and styles of packaging as well as fragrance trends using WGSN. I looked into the style of typography that I wanted to use and came up with multiple versions of its name

as well as multiple designs for the box. I wanted to be sure that the box net that I had chosen worked well with the colours and design that I was going for. I made a series of digital illustrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s using illustrator to see which I would like to continue with, when I finally found the style that I liked I then narrowed down my choices on type and colour. This allowed me to then put together all my favourite aspects of different designs I had hand and digitally drawn until I found the perfect fit.

Background Edits.

Nets.

Process Outcome - Final Two Designs.

Here are my final two nets before I put the extra text that needed to be included like the, - Barcode - Information about the product -Ingredients -Stamps -Units

Process Outcome - Project Outcomes.

These are my final outcomes for my packaging design brief. I was able to print out my final outcome using thick card that was then re-enforced using shinny covering, this gave the illusion in pictures that the packaging had been printed onto professional packaging materials. I sealed it with super glue so that the box wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall apart over time. There are also other design details like the cream ribbon that is used to decorated and seal the box all the way around. This, I feel, gives it that extra special detail that would be taken into consideration when a fragrance was being professionally manufactured and designed. A small laser cut â&#x20AC;&#x153;MCâ&#x20AC;? is glued on top of the box and painted white, this is also another small detail that I think makes it seem more authentic.

Competition Brief. Cath Kidston. My aim for this brief was to create a conversational print with a strong narrative that would fit into the home and lifestyle of a woman in her late twenties as specified in the brief. I wanted to create a print that could be used over a range of products such as purses, kitchen wear, home wear and bags. My design outcomes where hand drawn images that where later digitally enhanced, they depicted a small dog doing things that you would expect a puppy to d, running, eating or playing with a ball. I feel that all the images carry the same illustration design style and the colours are subtle enough that they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too over powering. I chose three different colour ways as I thought that these colours would allow the print to transfer into a range of different products and appeal to a range of women with different style preferences. I feel that my work is very effective, all the colours compliment each other very well, the light colouring of the dog allows it to stand out from all the background colours and the inclusion of the grey bones in the background give it a touch of decoration that it was previously missing during the design stages. I feel that my illustrations are well drawn and carry a strong narrative that warrants the title of a conversational print.

Amy Barstow- Cath Kidston YCN Brief.

Trending & Primary Research

Experimental Drawings.

Sketching Continued.

Experimentations With Different Colours.

Digital Drawings.

Using My Print In Products.

Final Designs.