REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT Final Assessment 03: 01 June 2009
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT Laurence Barber 2nd Year Fda Graphic Communication
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
The Brief// To design an illustration for the key wall at the Replay showroom. The illustration will be painted on and we can only use the colours red, black, white and two shades of grey. Defining the problem// The Illustration will be seen by retail buyers from all over the UK and Ireland and will be situated at their only showroom in Kings Cross, London. The wall needs to be eye catching, but subtle, as they don’t want to lose emphasis on the products. Replay see themselves as edgy, sexy and innovative and the showroom has been refitted with reclaimed raw materials, giving it an industrious feel, which they are now pushing throughout their stores. There is a limited colour palette of red, black, white and grey and can only be painted on.
Research and Analysis
Brief Analysis Firstly, I defined the problem, asked myself ‘who’s talking’, ‘who are they talking to’, ‘whats the message’ and ‘whats the medium’. I then questioned everything about the brief, using the six thinking men tool, organised my research areas and the project as a whole.
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
My research became immense, so I have created a separate A4 book, which will develop alongside this project as the other stages happen. Where as my sketch book will hold thoughts, ideas and drawings. The key areas of research were: • Replay the brand • Styles of illustration • The showroom & wall • Replay stores/clothes • Motor sports/bikes • Rivals(Diesel) • Other illustrated walls • Textures • Scale • Interactivity • 50’s America • Freespirit • Pin up girls • Japanese illustration • Italian female icons (1950s) • 1950s America
movie stars diners rock ‘n’ roll badges typography sewing machines
Research and Analysis
Research catergories
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
Replay are known for...
Edgy, innovative, excellence, bohemian style, high quality materials, ecological processes, sexy, details, Interpreter of todays culture, reinventing jeans, free spirit, being zeitgeist!
Research and Analysis
Replay key aspects Our visit to the actual showroom where the illustration will be, was the most important thing I did. I gained an understanding of the space, the reclaimed materials that they used, other wall spaces we could use and we met Chris, who told me about Replay the brand. These key aspects and what I have researched myself, will be at the core of my ideas. I also visited the flagship store in Covent Garden where I was not allowed to take photos.
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
Looking at how illustrations affect their surroundings, what message they are sending about the brand and what type of companies are doing this.
Research and Analysis
ILLUSTRATIONS IN RETAIL SPACES Illustration has become a new trend in recent years. Trendy clothes brands and blue chip companies have immersed themselves, their clients and customers in the brand experience. These environments create a relaxing, but exciting arena that enhance that experience.
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
Top left: Resturant in Berlin Bottom left: Diesel shop interior Bottom right: Fashion boutique where the graphics reinforce the fashion look and feel
// Once shops were plain, but they had to adapt and now focus on the complete experience. Its a form of subliminal advertising, telling its customers, this is who we are and this is why you like us
// Graphic spaces enhance customer experience, they are accessible , appear friendly and relaxed and can even make a corporate company appear informal
Contextual awareness
Clothes and illustration combined in retail spaces
// Graphic spaces and the brands that use them could be a form of counterculture, as they do try to break away from the mainstream with their indiviuality
// Graphics in stores makes the place look exciting and inviting, which I believe helps create brand loyalty as the customer can connect with the brand through its use of imagery and message
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
// Contemporary illustrations ranging from minimalistic to collage // Challenging form and function in workspaces and offices // Mediums range from spray cans, photographs, paint and vinyl // Create relaxing visual environments in offices // Vibrant and dynamic retail spaces // Graphic spaces enhances and strengthens customer experience and reinforces the brands message. The message is about connecting with people, assurring the brands values and core beliefs // Illustrations carry a message and the brand uses this as another way to speak to its customers and strengthen themselves in a crowded market // Brands* are now using every available inch possible to communicate their tone of voice, whether its in an office space or retail space * Though this is trend is mainly by clothes brands (urban), who have products designed by famous artists/illustrators, who then design the instore graphics/installations and promotional items
Contextual awareness
www.dizelsate.com//Swedish design studio who specialise in retail/office illustration.
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
Rivet route Making the illustration out of rivets, similar to the artist ‘Ian Wright’, we could use the image of the former owner or use my own illustration.
Illustration techniques
Using replay materials These were two ideas that I was most keen on, but did not go through with in the end.
EXPANDED rivet route: Rather than using all the rivets to make an image. I like the idea of combining jean thread with the rivets to make up and illustration that will look interesting and non existent up close, but from afar, you could make out what the image is. Which would fit in with the surrounding theme of industrial materials and subtle branding
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
Ian Wright//www.mrianwright.co.uk
Chrissie Abbott// www.chrissieabbott.co.uk
Lottie//lotie.com
Lobo// www.lobo.cx
// Uses a vast range of mediums and materials, I could apply this technique to my idea of using ‘Replay’ rivets to create a montage on the wall
// Mixture of nice line work, photographs, drawings flow like material through products and the style would create a nice flow around the space from wall to wall
// Bohemian style, giving that feeling of free spirit, decadent and eye catching, but subtle
// Images taken from film stills, glued on top of one another, then ripped off piece by piece for a stop motion film intro
// POSITIVE//I believe this technique would work very well in the Replay space, as it would continue on the theme of using reclaimed industrial materials
Illustrators and their styles
// POSITIVE//The fine hair line work will be similar to my thread idea, which will hold the majority of the image together
// POSITIVE//Intersting juxtapostion of line drawings, negative space and architecture. This style of drawing would definitely fit in with Replay and the space
Looking at different techniques, mediums and ways of appropiating styles and images that I would like to use for my wall. Depending on which concept I go with, I would hire the appropiate illustrator and art direct the project.
// POSITIVE//We could use this technique where custom made wallpaper is put on the wall and the buyers could pull of bits each time they visit, the illustration would change and degrade over time. No two visits would ever be the same and it would also make it interactive and personal
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
Danny Sangra// www.dannysangra.com //POSITVES// // Is a well known illustrator, the work on this page shows various works in installations and spaces for many clients // Far right is a floor for Nokia, a similar idea would suit the Replay space, especially if we could use reclaimed materials // Most of his work only uses 2/3 colors which would suit this particularly job well // Has strong line work, excellent contrasts and uses the space to good effect
Collaboration & art direction
ART DIRECTION As illustration is not my strongest area, I would be looking to art direct the project and collaborate with an artist, whose style and work would suit the project and Replays tone of voice.
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
Freespirit : bohemian : denim : industrial : non-conforming : edgy : freedom Mood board
These images captured Replay at their simplest and were the foundation of my ideas.
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
This is just a small portion of my image research. My idea is focussed on icons that share the same tone of voice as Replay and who people could aspire to be like. These images will flow through the main showroom and could be used on promotional materials throughout stores. Ideally, I would love to have illustrated this myself, but I would prefer to hire a professional for the final piece.
Images for my illustration
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
After a lot of thinking, inf act too much thinking, I decided to go back to an original idea of the illustration bursting out of the wall and a pair of jeans. This tied in with a lot of my drawings centred around denim thread and rivets. The illustration is about Replay’s heritage, they originated in italy, which is not widely publicised. It is also about the people who could represent Replay,, who inspire.. movie icons, models, iconic objects from the 1950s, that have that Replay tone of voice.. freespirit, edgy and sexy! I also used spaces around the showroom, my particular favourite is the rising red sun, assccoiated with Japan, this is situated where the ‘WeAreReplay’ premuim clothes range is. Using just the showroom was not enough, I felt this should also be carried out into stores, so I designed jean tags for the premuim range and changing room cubicles to show how this idea could work over a muliple formats.
Visual development
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
Visual development
I wouldn’t consider myself a illustrator of great talent, but I actually started to love this project in its final moments. All of these images were handdrawn, cleaned up in photoshop and used except for the top right two.
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
Inspire Illustration celebrating the many icons from the 1950s that I feel represent REPLAY, through its tone of voice and who people would aspire to be by wearing there clothes. These images are bursting out of a pair of jeans, where the thread then ties in the rest of the illustrations scattered around the showroom. I believe this image would last a year, as you would always find something new to learn about REPLAY, it has it’s Italian heritage mixed in, I felt this was something they did not openly celebrate. There are italian models, actresses and sporting heroes. With references to the owners hobbies. Concept// Showcasing Replays Italian heritage exciting, sexy and edgy icons from the 1950s that would inspire people and capture their imagaination. This idea is taken further into the stores and is applied to various promotions and POS. The graphics are also applied to changing rooms throughout the stores.
Main wall illustration
Celebrating its heritage and icons that represent REPLAYS tone of voice
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
INSPIRE WeAreReplay As you enter the showroom, to your top right, you can view the second floor. This area is where the highly exclusive ‘WeAreReplay’ clothes range are kept. These clothes are handmade in Japan, by highly skilled craftsman. Each garment is only made 4/5 times, making it highly limited and individual to the owner. This obviously comes at a cost. Though this is a popular line with the fashion elite. Concept// As you enter, the Japanese sun looks like its rising from the second floor, this captures your imagination and attention right away. As the clothes are from Japan, I thought it was very important to include this detail and add to the REPLAY story within the whole environment. Koi fish are added as they are highly regarded in Japan and are very expensive, which fits in with the premium line of ‘WeAreReplay’. The waves represent denim thread, which weaves around all the walls, tying all the illustrations together. They can be painted on or you could use the actual thread with rivets to create a high end art installation.
WeAreReplay ‘second floor’
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
ATTRACT Here I have taken parts of the illustration from the showroom to the stores. This is important as it will capture a bigger audience. Becoming more of a brand message and giving the customer a more personal and emotional experience. These examples are changing rooms in stores. Where movie icons are added to the doors for male/female cubicles. Once inside, the customer is faced with the illustration printed on wallpaper. The customer can tear strips off and keep them, if they wish. This makes the experience fun, edgy and personal. There is also special tags for the ‘WeAreReplay’ clothes range that tie in with the showroom graphics. They tell the customer a little information about who made the garment and how, bringing the maker and buyer closer on this long journey.
Instore graphics
ABOVE// from left to right, James Dean, Sophie Loren, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis. Changing rooms for stores that have the showroom wall images inside as wallpaper (right) that the customer can interract with and peel off.
REPLAY WALL ILLUSTRATION PROJECT
CAPTURE For the ‘WeAreReplay’ line of clothes, as they are very expensive and hand crafted. I wanted to show some of the story about each particular garment, who made it and where they were from. This brings the maker and customer closer together, making the purchase more emotional and emphasises the premuim quality.
Client feedback Unfortunately, throughout this project we had no contact with Replay. We were lucky to see the actual showroom wall and meet the manager, which helped greatly! Over the course of the project, we had the privilege of working with Jo Kotas (Bunch). Jo was very helpful and encouraged to us to go crazy and not just constrain ourselves with the one wall. Feedback on my work was helpful and helped me to focus at times, when my ideas had become to complex.
The finer details
WeAreReplay jean tags