RSA Stamp Brief - Option B Brief B asked us to create a set of stamps that would encourage the audience to be more aware of the environment and the things they can do to help. I decided to go for this brief because I like creating work that relates to awareness and encouraging people to make a change, so I felt more motivated and I could see more potential of where I could take it. For this brief I started by breaking the question down and researching each topic individually such as water consumption, energy conservation, zero carbon housing and reduce, reuse, recycle. This gave me a better understanding of what they’re about and has helped me to gain some inspiration for themes to use on my stamps.
Energy Conservation 20 Things You Can Do To Conserve Energy •
Turn your refrigerator down. •
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Set your clothes washer to the warm or cold water setting, not hot.
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Modernize your windows. Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket. Whenever possible, walk, bike, car pool, or use mass transit.
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Make sure your dishwasher is full when you run it.
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Turn down your water heater thermostat.
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Select the most energy-efficient models when you replace your old appliances.
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Be careful not to overheat or overcool rooms.
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Buy energy-efficient compact fluorescent
bulbs for your most-used lights. Insulate your walls and ceilings.
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When you next buy a car, choose one that gets good mileage. Reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying minimally packaged goods, choosing reusable products over disposable ones, and recycling.
(Seager and Vaughan, 2009 - Accessed 24th October)
Zero-Carbon Homes
What is a zero-carbon home? A home that produces zero or even negative CO2 emissions by maximising the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy. All new houses must be zero-carbon from 2016 onwards. While such houses conjure up futuristic images, the reality is they can just as easily look the same as traditional houses. What role do renewables play in a zero-carbon home? Renewable energy technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines can mean a house generates more energy than it uses – potentially making it a “carbon negative” house. Homeowners will be paid for any green electricity they feed into the grid by the government’s Clean Energy Cashback scheme, due to launch in April 2010.
CatN, 2011 - Accessed 24th October)
Reduce • Reduce the amount of waste you create - by choosing what rubbish you throw away. • Buy only what you need - Reduce unnecessary waste by avoiding those pointless purchases. • Buy products that can be reused - Buy bottles instead of cans and rechargeable batteries. • Buy products with little packaging
Reuse Think Before You Throw Many of the items that you would normally consider as rubbish could be used for other purposes.
Recycle Recycling is an important factor in conserving natural resources and greatly contributes towards improving the environment. Recycling in and around the home can be easy when you know how. By thinking carefully about what products you buy at the supermarket and how to recycle them is the first step towards efficient recycling.
Water Consumption
Black, 2011 - Accessed 24th October
Water consumption is simply the use of water in any form for any reason. While most people tend to think of water consumption as nothing more than drinking, water is consumed in a variety of ways, with human consumption only making up a small fraction of the use. It is used in irrigation, cleaning, cooking, and even as a coolant, in some cases. Understanding how water is consumed is very important, as many geographic locations in the world routinely experience a water shortage or water distribution problem. In fact 1.1 billion individuals in developing countries have no access to clean water, and more than twice that many do not have access to adequate sanitation.
Inspiration While researching I started looking at some previous stamps for some inspiration and to get some ideas of how other people have approached this brief. Below are a few examples of ones that I liked.
These stamps were a previous RSA entry; the thing I like about these is how the whole collection of stamps is put together to create one big image. It makes you feel like you want to get the whole set to complete it. And I like the use of the bold colours they really bounce of each other and draw you to look at them.
These were another RSA entry; I love the simplicity of these ones. I think stripping back to a simple image, and limited colour palette makes them more pleasant to look at and they’re easy to understand. Also using very bold, bright colours gives them lots of vibrant energy.
These are some stamps that are sold on zazzle.com made by a range of designers. I really like these ones because I like the use of the illustrations, they add humour and they’re a nicer, light hearted way of getting the messages across.
These are a few stamps designed for the James Bond films, although there not related to the brief theme, I thought there was aspects to them I could think about when designing my stamps. For example I like the use of the type, it’s very bold so it becomes a main focus point of the stamp. But it works really well with the image and illustrates the film well.
Original Ideas From looking through my research I started thinking about the themes, I wanted to pick six different topics so I had a different one for each stamp. Some of the research that sparked the most ideas to me was the suggestions on how to cut down our impact on the environment. With this in mind I thought I could try a few stamps encouraging people to be more aware of the small things they can do in there day to day that would help. I also tried one more aimed at the impact to see if this might be an effective approach. I started by experimenting with a few different image ideas, such as simplistic, photographic, and cartoon so I could see what ones I thought worked better and would be more effective at getting the messages across.
From looking at my original ideas I realised the small suggestions were a more effective approach because they were more encouraging rather than being to negative. Also the simplistic style worked better because as they’re going on small postage stamps I thought they would engage the audience better, as they’re simple and easy to understand. For the designs I tried sticking to a limited, bold colour palette as looking through my inspiration I found these ones more engagging and they sit well together. On my designs I decided to add in little cartoon faces because I thought it would provoke an emotion and add humour.
I really liked the illustrated stamps but I’m not much of an illustrator and I thought there could still be better ways of getting the messages across. I thought about trying a bit of photography because it’s something I have enjoyed doing through out the course and with having real people in the images the audience could relate to them better. I wanted to keep them more comical because it’s a nicer way of getting across the messages, which I thought people are more likely to listen to. I started to sketch out some really basic ideas for scenarios.
Don’t buy unnecersarilly
Change to energy efficient bulb
Change to energy efficient bulb Couple of people on each others shoulders trying to reach up to change to there energy efficient bulb.
Man swinging from light as ladder falls while changing the bulb. Him and all his friends are laughing about the situation.
Someone with there shopping ridiculously piled on that he can’t even see other the trolley.
Reuse a bag
Reuse a bag
Reuse a bag Someone messing around wearing plastic bags instead of pants and shoes.
Someone wearing a bag while painting to protect their clothes.
Cut Emmissions
Lights left on in a house. Maybe could see something through the window that’s not ment to be seen and would have been avoided if lights were turned off.
Someone on a bike which is completely wrong size for them.
Using a bag as protection from rain, (maybe be two of them running to get to proper shelter and laughing) Cut Emmissions
Someone on a bike holding up a big que of traffic. People in the cars getting annoyed but he’s cheekily smiling feeling like king of the world.
Turn it off
Someone with hands full of stuff, but still tryng to turn the light off, eg with nose etc.
Save heating Wear layers
Someone with 100’s of layers on, completely padded out to avoid having to turn the heating on.
Reuse a bag
Save Water
Someone with 100’s of pots out in their garden trying to save the rain water.
Share car rides
Reuse a bag The person painting wearing the bag is completely covered in paint to show how the bag came in handy. Cut Emmissions
100’s of bikes riding together taking over the road.
Person on tip toes really trying to reach up high and the bag is rising up with them, so it’s not revealing anything but it’s getting to a point where it could be a close call.
Car full of people over exaggerating the point of sharing lifts rather than having an extra 4 cars on the road.
The first idea I went for was to encourage the audience to stop wasting water. I was thinking about having loads of pots over the garden collecting the rain to exaggerate the idea that every drop counts. One problem I was having is it wouldn’t rain. I tried a few ideas to get around this, the first was trying to use the hose to create the rain effect. I realised after it wasn’t covering enough of the pots making it clear to see where the water was coming from. I then tried to create a rain effect in Photoshop. This was more successful but a few of them look a bit grainy. It would have been better if some of the pots had more water in. I started playing around with cropping and sizing to see if I could improve some of the images and I created a few stamp ideas.
The next idea was to encourage the audience to cut down on using their heating and think about alternative methods they can use to warm up. I went for putting on more layers because it’s something easy everyone can do. I tried padding out my model in lots of clothes to add to the humour and I had her doing some general day things to create the impression it’s a normal thing to do. Some of the images worked well but a few of them she does look a little bit chunky. I think by having the vest top and shorts on top it made it clearer to see the layers. The neutrral background colours worked well because it allowed the type, the stamp markings and the person to stand out.
My next idea was to encourage people to start using alternative ways of getting from A to B other than driving. I thought I’d focus on riding a bike because it’s a much easier and cheaper alternative. I thought about having someone riding on a bike much smaller then them to add to the humour. I then had the person laughing looking like there having a really good time to make it look like a fun alternative. I was having quite a bit of trouble with the images blurring, and her losing balance on the bike so the images didn’t come out as well as I hoped. For example she didn’t engage enough with the camera and some of her expressions look a bit dramatic but I played around with them to see what I could do.
My next idea was to encourage people to think more carefully about turning off lights and electrical equipment when they’re not in use. I thought, as lights are the most common thing to get left on I’ll go with this idea for the image. I wanted to have someone carrying a load of stuff and using body parts to still try and turn the light off, to show in a more comical way that it doesn’t matter what scenario don’t forget to turn it off. Looking back this would have looked a lot better if she was carrying a lot more stuff, but I played around with cropping and sizing again and created some more stamp ideas.
I then wanted to encourage the audience to reuse plastic bags. I thought about having someone wearing a plastic bag while doing a general activity like painting to make the audience think about the other ways they can be reused which they may not have considered before. And to question how many other ways are there? I put paint over the bag to emphasis how it has come in very useful. Again I think the neutral background worked really well giving clear definition between the background and the other elements on the stamp.
The last idea was to encourage people to think more carefully when they’re shopping to avoid buying stuff they don’t need. I was going to try and stack a trolley up with a lot of stuff to exaggerate the idea, don’t buy unnecessarily. But I realised it was going to be hard to do without drawing to much attention and it might just look like someone’s buying for a lot of people. I decided to go with stacking up the trolley with one product. I thought that would make a clearer point as it’s less likely you would need a hundred of the same things and it was easier to do as I could stick to one aisle. The images came out a little bit dark, I brightened a few of them up in Photoshop so the trolley would stand out. It has got quite a busy background, which can be a little distracting but I tried to zoom in as much on the trolley as I could so this would be the focus point.
Final Designs I think the photographic stamps worked much better because they are quite striking with the variety of images and colours and they sit well together. With them being more realistic I think they will engage the audience better as it would be easier for them to visualise themselves in the situation. They’re also a bit different because you don’t see many photographic stamps and with the use of the text it identifies them as a set. I went for white text in a black box because as the images where quite busy the text was getting a bit lost. I thought the black box worked better than white because it was a bit subtler. I then used white text as it stood out well against the black.
I went for this as my final save water stamp because I think compared to the others, having more pots created a clearer message as it was more exaggerated. Also the lighting and rain effect came out much better and it had more colour in it making it more energetic.
I choose this one for the save on heating because I realised after although hovering was a general activity it is a chore, which made it look like hard work. Where as with this image she looks more cosy and relaxed. This would look more pleasant to the audience so it would be more encouraging for them to copy.
I chose this one for the cut your emissions because I felt although she looks a little excited the reaction wasn’t to over exaggerated compared to the others. I also like the positioning and size of her. It sits well in the composition giving the text and stamp value space to breath, but she is big enough to still be the main focus point. Although she’s not fully engaged with the camera I quite liked this because I think it looks more authentic.
I went for this one for the turn it off because I preferred the cropping and positioning of the image. For example I like how it cuts at the bottom just before the books end because as you can’t see the bottom of the books it looks like she could be holding a lot more than she is. Also it looks clear to see she is trying to turn the light off where as in some of the others she was either to involved with the switch you couldn’t see it, or she was involved enough.
I went for this one for the final re-use a bag because I preferred the zoomed in shot, as we just get an incite into scene rather than seeing the whole thing. This makes the bag the focus point rather than the person or activity. I also liked there being more paint on her because again it exaggerated the idea and made it look like a good alternative way of using the bag.
I went for this as my don’t buy unnecessarily because I preferred the angle compared to the ones straight on as it made the trolley look more full up. I also thought it was zoomed in enough that you can just focus on the trolley and not be to distracted by the background, but it’s not to much that it becomes over powering.
RSA Brief - Tomorrows Workplace Me and Jess decided to work on this brief together because from doing group projects last year we realised we worked well together. We also thought it would be nice to collaborate as we could bounce ideas of each other and combine our skills. We decided to do this brief because from looking at the others we couldn’t see as much potential in where we would take them and we felt this one had more opportunity to explore different areas. We also wanted to create something we could see ourselves using because it would be more motivating and as we are working on a daily basis, designing something relating to work space would be something we’d feel is beneficial. We started by researching into flexible working, what makes a positive workspace and how different factors such as colour, sounds, and smells, can effect an environment, so we could get a better understanding of the things we need to consider. With this in mind we thought about all aspects of the office including desk spaces, rooms, furniture, senses, storage solutions, and security.
Flexible Work Space What Creates A Positive, Productive Work Space?
The environment that you work in makes a difference not only to the quality of your work but also to your overall mental and physical wellbeing. Remember that where you work, you also live. Given the amount of time you’ll be living in your workspace over the course of your lifetime. Here’s some tips that can help. 1. Clear the Clutter
Benefits of flexible work arrangements
2. Digitally Declutter
Creating a flexible workplace by introducing flexible work arrangements is good for business and has a number of advantages, such as:
3. Have a Good Desk Set Up
• improving the ability of employers to attract skilled and motivated employees • creating greater staff loyalty and higher return on training investment • increased trust and respect • reduced stress levels and improved morale and commitment • reduced absenteeism and staff turnover • improved productivity • potential for improved occupational health and safety records
4. Be Creative 5. Establish uninterruptible periods. 6. Add Relaxation Elements • A fountain to bring in the relaxing sound of running water • A poster of your favorite spot, like a beach or the mountains • A portable fan - Use a small portable fan to keep your comfort level right where you want it to be. • Get a decent chair • Play relaxing music • Make it smell good • Add plants.
The right work space will help you become more positive and productive throughout your work day.
Tina, 2011 - Accessed 10th November
A flexible workplace can allow employers and employees to work together to decide on working arrangements such as hours of work, work location and the way work is carried out. It involves thinking creatively about how working lives can be better structured to match individual and business needs.
Examples of flexible work arrangements • Flexible hours of work • Flexible leave arrangements • Make up time • Having your say in rostering arrangements • Part time work • Job sharing • Flexibility of location • Working from home
Government, 2011 - Accessed 11th November
How Colour Affects Your Mood
Can Fragrances Affect Your Mood?
Communicates happiness, Welcoming, Mentally stimulating, Stimulates the nervous system, Activates memory. Encourages communication. Brings down blood pressure, Slows respiration and heart rate, Calming, Relaxing, Serene, Cooling. Calming, Relieves stress,Soothing, Associated with nature and the outdoors, Refreshing, Helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety. Associated with romance and happiness.
Rich, Dramatic, Sophisticated, Luxury, Uplifting, Calming, Offers a sense of spirituality, Encourages creativity. Evokes excitement, Enthusiasm, Energetic, Stimulates activity, Stimulates appetite, Encourages socialization. Stirs up excitement, Stimulates conversation, Increases enthusiasm, Stimulates energy, Encourages action and confidence, A sense of protection from fears and anxiety. Organic, Feeling of wholesomeness, Stability, Connection with the earth, Offers a sense orderliness.
Fragrances are believed to have a powerful effect on energy levels and moods. It seems that the sense of smell hooks straight into the emotions, triggering strong, immediate reactions, and scents can have a more evocative effect than sounds and images.
Timeless, Practical, Unsettling, Expectant. • Authoritative, Powerful, Feeling inconspicuous, Restful emptiness, Mysterious evoking a sense of potential and possibility.
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Purity, Cleanliness, Aids mental clarity, Encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles, Evokes purification of thoughts or actions, Enables fresh beginnings.
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Mihai, 2007 - Accessed 10th November
Green apple or Cucumber scent- Helps calm and settle your mind when you get anxious or stressed Jasmine- Helps you focus if you are confused Baked good, like cookies or cake- Help you when you are sad or down, by bringing back happy memories. Baby powder- Has a comforting effect if you are feeling lonely or scared. Vanilla- Helps you unwind and relax quickly if you are feeling sleepless. Peppermint, or Cinnamon- Gives you energy, if you feel lethargic or tired.
HelloMagazine, 2011 - Accessed 10th November
Googleplex
We started looking into the Googleplex for some inspiration because their work ethic is built around bringing fun and enjoyment to the workplace such as bright, open spaces with lots of activities and games. They believe if your having fun, your be feeling more positive making you work more productively. We thought this was a really good approach so it gave us some things to think about.
Initial Ideas From looking through the research we started thinking about some of the elements that would create a good working environment and started working on some basic ideas. When we first started brainstorming we was getting a bit carried away, going quite unrealistic with some of our thoughts so we cut quite a few ideas out but we wanted to start off quite ambitious because it was getting us to think more creatively, we could then strip the idea back after.
Idea 1 With looking through the research we started thinking about our senses and how things like smells, visuals, colours and sounds can affect our mood and potentially our working productivity. We started thinking about creating a room that plays around with our senses by making us feel like we’re in a completely different environment. We could have a circular room with a 360 degree moving image being projected around creating atmospheres such as jungles, beaches, log cabin and so on. To play with your senses further there could be smells flowing through the room and soft sounds to reflect that enviroment. Creating an enviroment where all of the senses are considered could potentially create a more ethical, productive workspace.
Idea 2 - Office on the move When talking to one of the tutors they mentioned how some times they like to just get on a train and travel because it’s a great space they can just focus and get on with work. Also looking at how Googleplex have tried to incorporate fun into their work environment we thought why not make your working environment a ride. We thought about a kind of ride that’s like a combination of a train and a rollercoaster that can take you on a journey. For example around London or in a range of areas, which will have a few pick up points to make it more accessible. You would then be able to hire out a booth for the day and the booths could be designed for different needs. For example Meeting room, individual spaces, team activity rooms and so on. The idea of this would be adding a fun, exciting element to your working environment taking you away from your usual boring everyday office and away from distractions of an open workspace. With the ever-changing views from the windows it would be more inspiring so you would have a more productive workday. There would also be a permanent supply of free Wifi and all practical office needs such as printers, scanners, photocopiers, furniture and stationary.
Idea 3 - FileLife We thought about how being able to work anytime and anywhere most convenient for you are key elements to flexible working. So we was thinking about a piece of technology that would allow you to keep connected to your work place and files at all times, meaning you could take your office anywhere. We also thought it would be a lot easier if you could scan all your documents in, even on the move so if you come across anything interesting you can instantly put it into the system. Being connected to your work place would also mean being connected to eachother and eachothers files encouraging socialisation and team work.
Idea 4 Looking at how a lot of the research talks about social interaction and team work, we wanted to create a piece of furniture where team work and individuality are both considered. Having a circular desk would bring the team together which will encourage social interaction and idea sharing. But the desk can also be broken off into individual sections so you can work alone if required. The desk would be at a slight angle so your screens are facing more towards you, making it a bit more comfortable to work from and a keyboard would pull out on a little draw. The computers would all be connected to each other so you can send across files much quicker and conveniently making idea sharing easier.
We liked the idea of filelife because we thought it had quite a lot of potential and it could be incorporated into a range of companies so we started developing on the idea.
FileLife
Take Your Office Anywhere
Concept A piece of technology that allows you to keep connected to your workplace, files and colleagues from any place and any time. It will give you access to each other’s files and keeping you constantly updated with what’s going on in all aspects of the company. It will also keep all your colleagues updated with what your doing so you can help develop eachother’s work and work closer as a team. This product will allow you to come out of your usual, boring, everyday workspace and make where ever you feel most productive your new working environment.
How It Works • Each company would have a server set up which will store all the company and employees work files on. When they buy a FileLife it will be programmed into the server giving them instant access to their files where ever they are. They can then via the FileLife browse through or work on their work. Unlike an ipad or a laptop this product would be aimed purely at companies, as it would be programmed persifically to the company server. • There will be a back up server in place, incase the main server goes down, to prevent data lose. • Information would be stored on the server rather than the product itself, allowing as many FileLifes as you like to be set up. Also preventing data lose if one was to get damaged. • Everyone in the company would be set up to the server and it would be broken down into different work areas such as general and individual. That way you could store all the general company documents in one place, and each employee will have a space for their files. • Having the work areas broken down would make organisation much easier and quicker to navigate around. • From your FileLife you would have instant access to all your work files and all your colleagues work files, so you can see what’s going on in all aspects of the company. This can encourage team work and sharing ideas. Also can help prevent things like misunderstandings or confusion as you can always refer back to each others information for clarification. • You can set passwords to your files if you’d prefer to keep them private or they’re confidential. • The software the company has on their office computers would also be set up on the FileLife making working from them a lot easier. There also great just for browsing through documents and information for daily updates of what’s going on. • The product will have some high security measures to prevent people out of the company getting access to confidential information such as finger print identity and passwords. Going through the security screens will also log you in to your work space. • If the product hasn’t been actively used for 2 minutes it will go to time out mode. You will then have to go back through security to re activate it but the programmes will remain running so you don’t lose any unsaved data. • The product is all touch screen, and will have a simple interface design making it very easy for everyone to use.
• Along side the touch screen it has a microphone built in with voice recognition so you can navigate around just by giving it commands. • Another benefit of the microphone is you can record sound. For example any meetings or conversations you might have, that would be beneficial to share with your colleagues or you’d like to refer back to later can be recorded. • It will a have a touch screen keyboard, so you can type on it as well, and it will have built in Wifi giving you internet access where ever you are. • As you can access each other’s information you can work off each others files, making team projects and development easier as you can help influence each others ideas. • But to avoid issues like file manipulation you would only be able to save the file back into your workspace, so the original file will still remain as it is. • If you was to go back to your office and wanted to work from your computer. As your work computers are part of the company they will already be connected to the server so anything you have been working on, on the FileLife will be instantly accessible from your computer. • If you’d prefer to work from a personal computer or laptop FileLife will have a usb port so you can connect it and transfer across your files. You can then re-update it once you’ve finished. • To transfer your files you would have to go through the security screens to prevent anyone stealing it and being able to extract the information. • You would need to keep the FileLife plugged in when working on a personal computer. Once you have unplugged it any files that are left on the computer will no longer open until the FileLife is plugged back in and you’ve gone back through security. This is to prevent files that have been left on a computer accessible to anyone else.
Server
Glass Product Research We were thinking about having the product made from a piece of glass because we thought it would make it more interesting and stylish. We started researching into other glass products to see what was already out there and if it is something that is going to be possible. We can see from the research that it is a material that is being considered for the future so there are possibilities it can be done. Also their looking into how it can be energy friendly which would be an added benefit, as it would make the product more sustainable. MrssharavanC, 2010 - Accessed 16th November
The WindowPhone was conceptualized by every single person that daydreams about the future, but designer Seunghan Song actually took the time to create a rendering of it. This is that rendering. The phone would essentially be translucent, displaying information and images on a window-like surface in a form factor relatively similar to the iPhone’s. The killer feature of this concept phone is its ability to change the look of the display glass to match the current weather conditions of your location (i.e. sunny day equals clear screen, rainy day equals virtual droplets on your screen). I know how much some of you hate things that are only conceptual, but remember: concepts are what push us towards the future. And the future, as you may know, is filled with giant, terrifying robots.
It gives us a new way!! right? Fibreglass and Glass technology: Energy-Friendly compositions and applications provides a detailed overveiw of fibre, float and container glass technology with special emphasis on energy and enviromentlly friendly compositions, applications and manufacturing practices which have recently become avaliable and continue to emerge. Energy-friendly compositions are variants of incumbent fibreglass and glass compositions that are obtained by the reformulation of incumbent compositions to reduce the viscosity and thereby the energy demand also reducing the harmful emissions from their melts.
Scanning Another feature FileLife will offer is a scanning system. We thought as these products are for work purposes, having a portable scanner would be really beneficial as you can input data from any where, any place and anytime. This is a great feature for carrying out research and gaining inspiration. It could also help you de-clutter the office from paper work, as it’s a quick and easy way to import all your documents. Anything scanned in that is text based, would be recognized as text making it much easier to edit later on. If for example you wanted to scan in a magazine page containing image and text, it would save each element individually as well as an overview making it easier to extract all the relevant data. It will capture the image behind the glass so if you was to hold it up to a certain scene, anything that is seen through the glass will be captured and turned into an image.
Mood Mode Another feature we wanted to add in was a mood enhancer because with inspiration from Googleplex we wanted to create something that could enhance the mood in an atmosphere to improve the working productivity. Through doing some research we could see how colours and visuals can effect your mood and bring more positivity to a space. With this in mind we thought about it having a mood mode. This would work by when you turn on the mode, you would pick what effect you want and FileLife will start displaying a range of visuals reflecting that. For example it could slowly flick through changing colours, lava lamp effect, water effect and so on. To play with your senses further it could also play soft sounds relating to the visual. There will be a stand it comes with so it can sit upright on your desk. We feel with a tool like this it can help create a nice atmosphere and a positive working environment.
Looking back at the product we do understand there are aspects of it quite similar to laptops and ipads but we think ipads are more for leisure, like an adults toy, even kids have them. And laptops are portable to work from but none of these products will allow you to keep connected to a work place and have access to your colleague’s files on the move. We have differentiated this product by focusing it purely on work purposes as the brief asked and added features such as portable scanning, mood mode and making it out of glass to push it away further from just being just a replica. We also want to play around with the format to see if we can add any other different aspects to it.
Product Design 1 The filelife would be made from a piece of glass so it’s stylish and contemporary and it’s a technology that hasn’t really been done before.
Very thin metal or plastic rim just round the edge (maybe black) just to give it a bit of extra protection and so it’s nicer to hold.
Built in Wifi
Button for voice recognition so if you want to command it to do something you would hold down the button.
Little flip switch to turn it on and off. When you turn it on it will brighten up a little bit so you know it’s on.
Black tint at the bottom to cover up the electronics with in the device.
USB Port
Charger - The product will have a built in battery with up to 15 hour battery life.
Speaker/Microphone
This was our first product idea, we wanted to keep it to something very simple because as it’s targeted for work purposes we wanted to keep it clean cut and purely to serve it’s purpose. We have started with a basic format because we thought this is an easier to format to read and work from but at the same time it might be a little bit plain. As it’s made from glass the product would be see through but when you open one of your files it will open it onto an opaque screen so you can get rid of the distractions of the background.
Expanding from idea 1 we wanted to start thinking about other ways to change the format that will make the product more comfortable for holding and working from. Also taking it away from just being a square bit of glass.
We thought about having a cut out hole down the side so it would be easier for holding and scanning. The screen would stop just before the cut out so it wouldn’t interfere with any information. We would have to think about maybe having some thin metal trim around the inside of the hole to strengthen, it as we’re aware some of the glass will become thinner. It will have slightly rounded edges too so it feels more comfortable.
The next idea we had was putting a thumbhole at the bottom. This would be able to be done on either side so the customer can pick what side would be more comfortable for them. It will be done in the gradient so it doesn’t get in the way of the screen. On one hand we think this will work because it will give the product more support when holding it. On the other hand this might not be the most comfortable method and we would have to think carefully about what size we made the hole, as everyone’s thumbs are different sizes.
We thought about a slight curve to one side of the product to have easier handling and to alter the shape of it so it’s not just square. This could also play a part in the mood mode too as instead of having a basic shape it could be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
We also tried a few ideas of making the product circular to see what this format might look like, and we combined a few cut out’s for support. We really liked it being circular because it’s very different to all the other products and it could be quite interesting with the interface and menus. Also like the one with the curve it would be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. But on the other hand it might not be as practical for working purposes and being round might not be as easy to hold and work from.
Product Design 2 Another simple idea similar to our first but we thought about curving the edges to change the feel of the product, and having a slight tint to the whole thing to make it more visible when it’s turned off. It will also hide the electronics better.
Still glass but with a slight tint.
Slight angle to the edges
Button for voice recognition
Little flip switch to turn it on and off.
Speaker/Microphone
USB Port
We decided to go for design 1 because we liked the simplicity and thought it was the most practical option for the purpose of the product. We incorporated the idea of the cut in handle because we felt, as glass is a fragile material we wanted it to have more support when holding it so it’s less likely to be dropped. When trying a few of the holes out we felt this design was the most comfortable because you could rest the product on your fore arm and grip it through the handle. It was also easier for holding up and scanning. We tried taking a picture of a piece of glass and putting our design onto it to create the overall look of the product. Taking a picture of the glass was really challenging because it wasn’t very visible in the pictures. But we played around with the lighting effects in Photoshop and tried to make it look as realistic as we could.
We started creating a few logo ideas. We were thinking about how it would work as a complete package to cater for FileLife and appeal to people who would be using it. As the audience would be using it as an everyday work product we thought a clean, simple, clear logo would look smarter and more professional. We designed a few completely different ideas and experimented with placing them on the product to see what we thought worked best.
Idea 1
Idea 2
Idea 3
We went for logo two because idea one was a bit to thin so it got a little lost against the product. Also with it being quite long it was more restricting with where we could put it. The third logo was a bit to bold and over powering and looked quite out of place. I think this was because of it being in a box shape, it made it look quite separate from the product. But we liked idea 2 because we felt it was bold enough that it stood out but not to overpowering. Also it was more visually interesting because you can see that it’s an FL for FileLife but it also looks a quite abstract. We had the letters joined up as we was thinking about the components in a computer and how they join together, and as it’s aimed at keeping you connected we thought having the letters joined would represent this.
Interface Design We started creating some simple interface designs to see how we could set out the menus and information. We wanted to keep it simple and easy for everyone to use as we’re aware there will be a range of people and ages in a company and we wanted it to look clean cut and professional as our target audience are those of a business or professional environment. We thought about the menus being hidden away at the side stopping the actual main screen getting to clogged up with icons and looking messy. You can then slide the menus out at any time so they’re there when you need them but hidden away when you don’t. We thought about the 4 main things you would need to access are keyboard, applications, files and colleagues. So we put each one on a different side of the product so they are quick and easy to get to.
Slide your finger down from the very top and it will bring down the application menu, which will have all your software and the settings. You then slide your finger either way to toggle through the applications. Slide it back up to put it away again. This is where you can also access the scanning function, voice recorder, or turn on the mood mode.
Slide your finger across from the very right and it will bring out a menu listing everyone in the company. You can then click on them and it will take you to there work files.
Slide up from the very bottom and it will bring up the keyboard so if you need to do any typing you can access it at anytime. Slide it back down to hide again.
Slide from the left and it will bring out all your work files and documents.
If you just want to look at some documents and not edit them we thought an easier way to do this would be a preview mode. That way rather than it keep loading up software to open it you can just slide the file out and it will open like a screen shot. You can then slide it back to get rid of it, but if you do want to open it in the software to edit you just double tap on it.
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Abo. Tem. Unt, comnis eventem expero corioriatur sam res sum qui venem evere repuda exerorroria dus aut ditiisit quam, volumquia verum volupta susGenem eatus am fugiamus enetustis aspella boreper namendae labores ciatibe ribustiam rendaerias qui untibus, etur? Ihiliquos demossimus et endiatur? Upti atur? Ibus sequaspel et abo. Aciduntiam, ullit, quiatur, iur,
We started taking the glass out and taking pictures of it in various locations to show how it can be used in a range of places, what it looks like in the real world and give an idea of how it works. It also gives us a sense of scale.
Evaluation Freelance Independant Work
Then
Now
Future
Last year my main focus was in the work area because I was spending more time focusing on class briefs as I like working with the boundaries. I also got the opportunity of doing some work experience at Atkins which was really motivating because it gave me an idea of what it can be like working in a professional environment and the challenges you have to take on. It was also quite hands on so I got to be involved with helping design some of the work and I learnt a lot of new skills in Indesign and Photoshop.
This year my work side has gone right down, infact I haven’t really done anything relating to this area atall but I have been a lot more focused on my independant work and the competition briefs. I feel this year I have really identified where I want to focus my independant practice, which is animation, and this has allowed me to go deeper in to the subject and build up my knowledge and technical skills. I am now starting to feel a little bit more confident with my work and I’ve been more motivated to keep doing it as I’m learning new skills.
In the future my main focus is going to be on work but I still plan on doing some competition briefs and independent stuff on the side because I want to keep building on my skills and portfolio.
I used to really struggle with independent practice because I was really lost with what I wanted to do and I found it hard setting myself briefs and creating work off the top of my head. I think because of this the independent work I did became very varied and touched on a few areas but never really went into anything so I was never really confident with my work. I did get to help the girls set up the rag factory and put a bit of work in the exhibition which was good fun and nice to have something to focus on.
I’ve also done more competition briefs which have allowed me to work in areas I’ve never explored before such as product design and creating the stamps. Having to think more about the audience and context has made me realise how much more I need to go indepth and understand why I am doing things. I still feel this is an area I need to develope because some times I find it hard to explain why I’ve done something, but I think I’ve got better at it over this semester.
Freelancing was something I didn’t do much of last year but from getting the opportunity of doing the paper co brief, I found it a really good experience because I started learning about working in a professional context such as the fast pace and meeting the clients requirements.
When I leave Uni my main aim is to work in a small advertising agency. I would like to work in an agency because I’d prefer to work as part of a team as I think it’s one of the best ways to learn and develop. I also think working in an advertising agency would allow me to work on a variety of projects and explore areas I haven’t done before. For example my mentor on work experience last year was telling me how she found this a good place to start because it gave her a chance to work in a range of disciplines and build up a varied portfolio. I’d also like to create work that caters for a bigger audience and I think advertising would allow me to do this. As my independent has been focused on animation I would like to bring these skills to the workplace so I would aim to work in an advertising agency that may focus on moving image or animation. If I didn’t start off in an advertising agency the other place I would like to work would be in animation, so working in a bigger company which focus’s on animation.
I started breaking down my skills to identify what areas I feel i’m stronger in and what ones I need to improve so when looking at jobs I would be able to see where I would fit in. The blue side are my stronger skills and the red is what I need to improve.
Design Skills
Illustration Print
Animation/ Moving image
Typography
Photography
Packaging Advertising
Web Design Branding Layout
Personal Skills
Organisation Time management IT and Software Team Skills
Research Written Skills Material and Technical knowledge
Presentation Skills Historical and Theoretical Understanding
Technical Skills
InDesign Photoshop Illustrator Premiere
3d Studio Max Flash Dreamweaever Audition Quark
As my aim when I leave Uni is to work in an advertising agency I started researching into some companies to get an idea of what’s out there and what their focus’s are. I then started getting an idea of where I might position myself. Below are some examples of the ones I really liked. The things I like about these are they all have a collection of amazing work that goes with the style I like. For example the majority of their work is really fun and vibrant and they all use animation as one method for advertising. As animation is something I’ve been focused on I feel this is an area I could see myself and can apply some of my skills. They also all have a good client base and along side animation work in a variety of disciplines so it would offer the chance to work on a variety of projects.
Seed Animation
Firedog
Maa designs
Formed on a cold, crisp day in the early months of 2003, originally as a way of keeping warm, Neil Kidney and Morgan Powell founded Seed Animation Studio as a way of bringing their unique, inspiring and technically proficient creativity to the world. Now firmly ensconced within the London creative firmament and with an ever growing range of commercial and personal work behind them, Seed looks to the future and asks… …what can we animate for you today?™ Commercials, idents, branding, virals, interstitials, short films? You got it.
Firedog is an energetic and talented creative agency, set centre stage in London’s Hoxton Square. Our core skills focus on branding and digital, and in particular, the areas where they meet. We blend intelligent creativity with a sincere collaborative approach, consistently delivering powerful results for our clients. And most importantly, our business is built on a foundation of warmth, heart and an all-round positive attitude. Put simply: Great work created by genuine people.We love to get stuck into 3D animation, flash animation and motion graphics, not to mention the odd bit of sound creation. Within the studio, we bring brands to life by creating an animated brand asset which can be used for titling or other film based stings. Our vast experience with the BBC and their motion needs has enabled us to deliver fresh work in this area.
Our passion to be the best and do the best for our clients has always been our leading priority. With enormous experience in the field of designing we have been in business since 2005 and still going strong. Maa Designs, a UK based Design Agency has a house full of talented and exceptional thinkers and designers who are capable of thinking out of the box to deliver unique designs for each of our valued clients. Our association with various clients has leaded us to great heights with the vivacious skills we have put in for all our deliveries. We stand strong in competence with the current design scenario and present outstanding designs as a team. Our brains are consistently on process to design and deliver the most outstanding creative for all business be it big or small. .
http://www.seedanimation.com/work.php
http://www.firedog.co.uk/about-firedog/
http://www.maadesigns.co.uk
Zeus Advertising
Pace Productions
King Bee
People regularly ask us what type of advertising agency we are. As you can see from this list of brands that we’ve worked on over the years, depending on how we slice our experience, we could justifiably say we are an automotive agency, or a technology agency, or a children’s agency, or a financial agency, or a direct response agency, or a business-to-business (B2B) agency, or a business-to-consumer (B2C) agency etc. etc. we prefer to describe ourselves as a creative agency. The point is, we don’t pretend to know more about your business than you do - you’re the experts in your market. You know who your audience are and what you need to achieve with your brand - it’s our job to find a creative way to do it that fits with your budget.
With years of experience we have all the expertise of a top-end advertising agency but we don’t charge ad agency fees. Instead we make sure your money goes exactly where it needs to be in order to create an advert that delivers results. Our experienced team of creatives will work closely with you to generate fresh and innovative ideas and develop them into a focused TV advert which will get results. So whether you already have an idea you’d like to develop for TV or if you’d like to start from scratch we’ll guide you through the process every step of the way.
King Bee specialise in creating animated TV commercials that deliver concepts in the most engaging and appropriate visual language. Animated Commercials, Titles, Series Productions and New Media Marketing all need to hit their audiences in the first second or audiences will click away - very often it’s the unique relationship between the idea and the style that will keep the viewer engaged and entertained. We work energetically and fluidly together to create extremely polished animated graphics, characters and effects with a passion for originality not only in style but in concept.
http://www.paceproductions.co.uk/#services
http://kingbee.co.uk/about.asp
http://www.zeus-advertising.com/About.html
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