Bobby Jones George & Dragon Talenthouse MCFC RSA Secret 7� D and AD Yoke YCN OUDG 503 Project Report
The George & Dragon
The Brief:
Lesson’s learnt:
To design four new menus and gift vouchers for the new spring, summer menu.
Budget is an issue depending on who is the client and what they want to achieve. Keeping it as simple as possible but trying to achieve impact and professionalism is something which I have learnt. Budget is important. Client feedback was a new experience for me, changing the design three times before settling on a design which worked for them. It is something which I will take into the future, knowing how to work with a client.
Design: All four of the menu’s are different so I wanted to coordinate them through colour in a attempt help the waiting staff who will be primarily using the menus at first contact. The colour scheme was chosen by the seasonal colours. The four menu’s are a simple and easy to read, due to the grid system. Although the system changes for the Kids and OAP Specials menu, as well as the point size and tracking.
Review: The menu’s are currently in circulation in the establishment. A success.
Spring/Summer Menu’s Managing a small budget is something which I have taken away from this experience as well as a client requirements.
Talenthouse
The Brief:
Lesson’s learnt:
Design a T-shirt for Pretty Green, inspired by The Who.
As the competition takes votes to decide which design takes more consideration, social media played a big part. Hunting for votes from my friends and family was easy enough but it was not enough. The highest voted design used the Pretty Green facebook page and twitter to push his own work into a wider audience. I was only scratching the surface compared to other contestants and in order to improve I need to look at all platforms to present my work.
Design: I was inspired by ‘The kids are alright’ album artwork. Draped in a Union Jack, the consumer can now also don the flag and become part of the band. The paisley design which creeps into the blue of the flag was taken from the Pretty Green trademark pattern, to keep tapped in to the manufacture.
Pretty Green/Competition
Finally the arrow on the front of the design is from The Who typography. The arrow ascends from the ‘o’. The Pretty Green logo sits at he top of the arrow head.
Review: My design came in at 15th overall and 18th voted.
Delivering my work across a variety of platforms allows my work to be much more available and accessible. This applies for competitions and in general.
Manchester City FC
The Brief:
Lesson’s learnt:
Design a potential New York City Football Club emblem from the resources available.
The design was open to anyone who wanted to participate. I have learned that anyone thinks they can be a designer and not everyone fully appreciates what process are used in order to achieve a great logo. The process has helped me feel like I am on my way to becoming a professional graphic designer and one who knows it will take a while to get there yet, but feels as though I am on the right track.
Design: Given limited resources to work from the design was difficult to have a piece of work which was provoking in any sense.
Review: My design will be a pixel in the new emblem for NYCFC and the submitted work, this acts a testament for anyone who was part of the new team.
#myNYCFC/Competition I am capable of much more, and need to find competitions and work which stimulates me in order in improve my own practice.
RSA
The Brief:
Lesson’s learnt:
To create product packaging which minimises waste and environmental impact.
Given the amount of time I had on the brief, I lost track of deadline and it was a rush to finish the product and design boards. I need to have a constant reminder or schedule to work from as to avoid losing out on competitions. The work, which I have enjoyed doing, I do not want for it to fall short, and to not reach its full potential. Overall wasting my own time and efforts.
Design:
The whole package/Competition
The concept, to produce packaging which promotes sustainability and minimalists waste, while still functioning as durable packaging. The packaging uses NaturePlus film which can be composted. The base would be made from recycled corrugated cardboard to minimise waste from its source and its life cycle, which again would have one layer of film on the top of the base to avoid moisture damage. The packaging also aims to raise awareness, promoting interest in the environment and increase customer loyalty to the company.
Review: My design did not reach it to the second stage of judging and I feel I let myself down through poor time management as I had spent so much time on the product, only for it to fall at the first hurdle.
Having a long period of time on a project is not to say you have alot of time to leave it. Finish the project, review it, develop it further.
Secret 7”
The Brief:
Lesson’s learnt:
To design a 7 by 7” record sleeve for a particular artist and song.
Finding appropriate mock ups for my work to showcase them is essential for showing the work in context.
Design: Taking on Elbow’s ‘Grounds for Divorce’, I wanted to create a minimalist approach to juxtapose the song and the lyrics. The tension created by the broken white line represents the break down. The single line can also be related to The Arctic Monkeys’ current artwork and possibly Peter Saville’s Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures art work.
Showcasing the my work is something which I have learned and developed through this competition and the impact which it has on the work. More time management again would help me to develop my ideas further and break through to the next level of judging.
Review: My design did not reach it to the second stage of judging.
Elbow/Competition The resolution of image quality and putting the work into context is something which I need to do more consistently to create more of an impact.
D&AD
The Brief:
To create an A1 poster representing an artist at a high point in their careers, with an animation to accompany it.
Design: The image is a glitch art originally taken from the photograph ‘Boy with the hand grenade’. The image encapsullates the juvenile and choas with an element of destruction, which decipts from Tyler’s nature and music for which he won the award. The typeface which was selected for the final was Cooper Black which has associations with his band OFWGKTA.
Lesson’s learnt:
One problem which I encountered was with the software I was using. With Adobe suite CS5 I found it very difficult to create a GIF which was the size I wanted. Spending hours trying to figure it out, but when I used CS6 in my first attemot it worked at once. This resulted in hours being wasted of my time which could of been spend elsewhere to improve my submission. I will try to get the most uptodate software to help aid my work.
Review:
Still awaiting any response from D and Ad.
XL Recordings/Competition Using the right software is always beneficial, but using the College facilities should be taken advantage of while I still can. This is the only time when the majority of the processes are free.
Yoke
The Brief:
To create an A3 submission which relates to dialogue.
Design:
Taking dialogue which is between two or more people and finding a juxtaposition with a screen, instead of face to face contact, is all too familiar. Now broadcasting to however many people you want has never been easier but I feel communication has lost a human aspect. This design is an attempt to make a visual point on the subject and the ‘screenager’ era we are currently in. My second design is on my blog as this one was selected and not the other submission.
Lesson’s learnt:
That some briefs require a lot of time and planning whereas other smaller briefs with less requirements can be done in a matter of days. If I was to spend too much time on this particular brief it would of been time wasted. I kept my design simple and transferable as to work into the blind collaboration. In the future the potential to have my own pop up exhibition may be an option, working with others around me to create this is a possibility.
Review:
I was happy to see my work successfully on display when going to the opening of the event.
Dialogue/Competition That some entries can be done in a few days when focused. Meaning more submissions can be made, like with Yoke, of which there was two.
YCN/Collaboration
The Brief:
A digital and printed campaign that makes Boost’s new line of 6 Water/Vitamin drinks.
Design:
Taking influences from leading soft drinks, in particular Coca Cola, and their recent digital campaign. Using Blippar to take Boost drinks into a new realm of advertisement and interaction with their consumer. As Boost only retails to independent it needed to be explored further.
Review:
I have not heard back from YCN as of yet and nor has my collaborative partner.
Boost/Competition
Lesson’s learnt:
Working in a two man collaboration, I learnt the role of leadership. I found it hard as working with a friend it was difficult to find a balance of project manager and friend. I have learnt although it is good to work with a friend, communication between each other is easier, it is hard to have a more direct tone and make decisions. Decision making in a group is also difficult. To compromise on a decision can be hard but there are methods around some decision making. Using primary research such as survey’s help. Setting action plans for the following week help not only to manage my own time but the groups to help maintain focus and progress.
Knowing your team’s goal is essential. Realistic goals in a collaboration is important as too built an understanding with a colleague, and what can be done by the end of the project.
Evaluation Managing a small budget is something which I have taken away from this experience as well as a client requirements. Delivering my work across a variety of platforms allows my work to be much more available and accessible. This applies for competitions and in general. I am capable of much more, and need to find competitions and work which stimulates me in order in improve my own practice. Having a long period of time on a project is not to say you have alot of time to leave it. Finish the project, review it, develop it further.
A small budget is something I am used to having but when working with a client I thought that this would change. This was not the case and my expectations of having a client changed, not every business wants to spend a lot on their printed collateral. This being said as it was a seasonal menu, which will be changed in the next few months. Now learning how to interact with a client and this has built my confidence, I am currently working with a client on a website for a plumbing business and a website design for a third year CCAD student. Now knowing when it comes my work, I need to make it accessible as possible or there is no reason to have the work. Networking with other creative’s or potential clients, who can offer me a service, work or knowledge on the subject has become easier after making my work and myself more readily available. I have created a Behance, Linked In and Pinterst which are all interlinked to showcase my work.
Something else which I have taken from this experience is that I need to continue to push myself, in order better myself. I am not a professional and will always continue to learn but to get a internship or placement I need to look like a rounded designer who has a willingness to learn and need to show ambition. I consider myself to be ambitious and have a go attitude, but what I do start I need to finish to its full potential. Some coping strategies which I have implemented in order to make sure I do achieve my goals are action weekly action plans. Setting dates to complete work in time and to a high standard seems simple but it is something which I have struggled with in the past. My own practice has improved over the last year and I feel like a better designer. My own attitude has improved thanks to this, as well as the quality of my work. I want to continue this development as it is all beneficial.
Evaluation The resolution of image quality and putting the work into context is something which I need to do more consistently to create more of an impact. Using the right software is always beneficial, but using the College facilities should be taken advantage of while I still can. This is the only time when the majority of the processes are free. That some entries can be done in a few days when focused. Meaning more submissions can be made, like with Yoke, of which there were two designs. Knowing your team’s goal is essential. Realistic goals in a collaboration is important as too built an understanding with a colleague, and what can be done by the end of the project.
Importance of image size and resolution is something which I did not pay enough attention in my past practice, For web images and images have to be pixel perfect and the right size in order to line up correctly. If the resolution is too high, the images will be too big and it can break the page layout. For photos in print the resolution is too low it will look fuzzy and will have to be done again. Taking advantage of what I have in the college needs to be capitalised on. Recently looking to 3D printing, it is a very expensive process. When researching I saw that laser cutting can be ÂŁ25 per hour. When I have the facilities at the moment, it would be foolish not to use them while I can and experiment for free to see what can be done in the future.
Some design work is not a long process, a design for a flyer, poster etc. When the content is already been done for you, designing is left to it is much quicker process. So not to spend too much time on the brief and move on. Working in a group project is something which I enjoyed and will continue to do. I want to continue leadership qualities which will help in the future, which include assertiveness and leading a bigger team. The responsive process has taught me many lessons not only when coming to live briefs and management but how many opportunities are available. That presenting your work is the fist frontier and it has to be immaculate. This is the biggest lesson which this process has taught me that presenting a positive, professional image is key.