FMP

Evaluation: Paper Product/Valentines...

2010-06-04T10:42:00.005+01:00

This brief presented the opportunity to do print work that was driven by the outcome and not the content. I enjoyed the process of choosing a theme and finding opportunities to exploit this further. I never intended to produce three ranges of products, but the design development and ideas produced three quite different but viable commercial ranges.

I was able to use laser cutting with this brief, which proved a really strong finishing technique for one of the ranges. My crafting skills have also improved, having to make wrapping paper, cards and gift bags that all look professional and would photograph well. The strength of this brief is that it is fun and appealing in a non-designer context. It is generic, but in a good way and would appeal to a range of people.

Paper product is a very enjoyable medium to work within and I feel that I could excel in it. However, I feel that it would quickly close me off from the other areas of design that I enjoy so much and want to better myself in. Paper product design feels like it could be more of a hobby on one off occasions, rather than a design discipline for me personally.

Evaluation: Orion Books...

2010-06-04T10:42:00.003+01:00

This brief has been quite experimental and an opportunity to have a bit of fun. I was pleased that I got to work with hand drawn type again because I enjoy working with hand drawn elements and then developing them into digital work.

I got quite positive feedback from this brief from the outset, and speaking to tutors about it frequently has helped me to develop it in a very strong direction. Crit feedback has been mixed, which I have taken on board and tried to include within my development. The final outcomes, I feel, are very strong and fit to the briefs description of 'modern and eye-catching'.

I expanded the brief to include posters, banners, postcards and bookmarks. This step was quite easy because the design work was already there, it just needed application. Expanding the brief has shown me the impact it can have when a design is applied to a lot of different media. The final photographs I took and used on my boards were really strong and impacting, which is what this brief was always meant me to be.

Publishing design has become a part of my skills set in these last two modules. It is something that I would like to pursue further and will consider taking on in the future. I have enjoyed this brief because of the element of fun that went along with it. I am pleased I chose this brief because that outcome is better than I ever expected it to be.

Evaluation: Fashion Yearbook

2010-06-04T10:41:00.002+01:00

This project has been collaborative and client driven, which has meant a lot of discussion and compromise over ideas and possible outcomes. I think that the main strength of this brief is the fact that so many people have cared about the outcome being strong that it has improved the overall design.

The collaborative aspect has been good, though I do think that in some cases the work load did not require three people. Saying that, I do think that it was better to have three people with too little work than one or two with too much. The final outcome has been a culmination of all of our design ideas and we have all had a lot of input into the development of it. I feel that we have worked equally toward this outcome, and that no one person made decisions or contributed to the design without discussion and input from the rest of the team and the fashion team.

The organisation of this project has been quite strong. For something that we knew would take a long time to complete, we have actually turned it around rather quickly. The main issues have lain with getting information off students and organising the photography of the head shots. Some of the fashion students have been really uncooperative and left giving us information until the last minute, which meant that we couldn't submit to the printer. Thankfully, quick turn arounds with changes, and a good relationship with the printer has meant that we were able to organise the document quickly and get it to print in time for it to be delivered for fashion to take to graduate fashion week.

Overall this brief has been quite an eye opener. It has shown me that relying on others for information is sometimes dangerous, and that people need a push to get things organised. I have also found that as long as everyone is dedicated to the group and not the individual gain from a collaborative brief then it will work out and run smoothly. In our case I think that we have done pretty well to focus on the group, but in some instances there have needed to be reminders that this is a group project and not an individual opportunity to better oneself within the group.

Evaluation: End of Year Show...

2010-06-04T10:36:00.003+01:00

This brief has been an amazing opportunity. I am very lucky to have had my concept chosen, and even luckier to have been trusted to complete all of the artwork for it. Working with the marketing team has been fantastic. They are very organised and were keen to get the work completed quickly. Their dedication to the project has also been really great, I could have asked for a better team to be working for.

My experience of working for clients has been improved so much here. The way in which we have communicated and worked together has shown me that being able to constantly bounce ideas around really helps the design process.

I am really proud to be able to put this work into my portfolio because the college chose me and I feel that this will hold a lot of weight when I present my work to potential employers. I am so thankful that I was chosen, and I feel that I have really worked hard and to the best of my ability to give the college and marketing team a strong outcome that will present the college in a positive and exciting way.

Evaluation: Look-Book...

2010-06-04T10:32:00.002+01:00

This project was a very fast and last-minute brief. I really enjoyed the pressure that this brief brought because I had never done a project this quickly before. Overall I think that the opportunities this brief presented were minimal, but it has given me a lot of confidence in myself and design work. I am more willing to take on fast turn around briefs now, because I know that I am good at working to tight deadlines and that when the decisions are made quickly the work can be really strong.

Evaluation: Value Packaging...

2010-06-04T10:22:00.002+01:00

Initially I was quite excited about this brief. The development stages and idea generation went quite well and crit feedback was positive. My problems arose when I was given conflicting feedback at crits. Before Easter my design ideas were quite brutally shot down, and I was advised to go back several steps to an idea that I had discarded early on. I was disappointed by this as I had intended to finish the design work during the first week of Easter and have it ready for photography by the time I got back to Leeds. I took this advice in my stride and made further developments over Easter and came up with a much stronger design solution, which I was pleased with.

In the final progress crit I got some feedback that suggested I use just a single colour print to save on print costs. This has been part of my initial idea, and I was again disappointed and a little incensed because I had been through all of this already. I concluded from other feedback that the design I had come up with and I wanted to present as my final design was suitable and strong.

Conflicting feedback is a real problem because it sends you in two directions without any real guidance of what is best. I think that more in depth feedback is occasionally required, rather than a few scribbled words on a post-it note.

I feel that overall this project taught me a lot about how to approach a brief, and that getting feedback about initial ideas is really important. Taking feedback on board and making it relevant to project is necessary, there are times when you just have to make decisions for yourself. Packaging design is one of my main interest and I want to pursue it further because I really enjoy the processes involved.

Evaluation: Topshop...

2010-06-04T10:10:00.002+01:00

This brief has been quite fast paced. I had a break from it whilst I completed the majority of my other briefs, and picked this up again during Easter. I think that this time away from the brief helped me to consider which designs worked best, and when I came back I was able to look at it with fresh eyes and pick what stood out best. The main focus of this project has been branding and identity, and the opportunity of creating three quite diverse brands has been really challenging. I have enjoyed being able to create a set that come together under one heading, but are all quite different from each other. I haven't really had any problems with this brief, the overall process has run quite smoothly and I am pleased to say that I was positive about all of the outcomes.

I used laser cutting in this brief which I have not used before with print work. I enjoyed learning how to use the machine and experiencing all of the things you could do with it. The use of it has shown me that effective print finish can be quite simple if done well.

I would like to have possibly produced more identities for other possible brands for Topshop. If I had had the time I would have expanded the brief to include maybe a range of sportsware, a new footware brand and toiletries range. I may do this as a personal project for my portfolio at a later date.

Branding and identity are going to remain a strong hold of my design skill set. I think that being able to design for this quite simple area is important because it can lead into so many other areas of print work.

The Folly!

2010-06-04T10:02:00.006+01:00

The folly has started to go up - sooner than I expected! I went down and took some photos of the work in progress to post to here, sadly I don't think it will be finished before I hand in, so there wont be a totally finished photograph, but you can always pop outside to see it!

OUGD303 FMP Evaluation...

2010-06-04T10:00:00.001+01:00

The main focus of this module has been print. Designing for print in a variety of disciplines, with each of my chosen briefs forming part of an overall skill set. I have learnt a lot during this module, the majority of which has come from working with a client and using their input to better a brief. The End of Year Show and Fashion Yearbook briefs have both been very high-profile in this module and taken a considerable amount of time to produce, due to checking and proofing before printing. Gaining the input from a client makes designing easier because there is a clear starting point and a clear outcome, the client knows what they want and are able to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ more easily than I can. Both of these briefs have required liaising with printers. The Fashion Yearbook especially, has been very focused on finding the right printer and working with them to get exactly what we want. Numerous phone calls, emails and negotiating quotes has shown me that being a designer is equal parts creativity and management. I feel that this has helped me to understand ‘real world’ designing a little better, and is undoubtedly a very valuable experience. I am also now much more aware of the processes and protocols that are required when sending a finished brief to print.

My general design practice and skills have become more polished. As I have been able to focus on briefs that I know will play to my strengths, I have taken it as a priority to use the unexplored as an opportunity to better myself. The Look-Book brief was turned around in 24 hours, which is something I have never done before. Through this I have discovered that I can produce strong and suitable work in a short space of time when the brief is clear and the decisions are quick. I enjoyed this brief, partially because of the pressure, but mainly because I was able to focus purely on one thing for 24 hours and get it resolved.

My design context showed me that designers really enjoy seeing/handling their finished work. I have experienced this with a couple of briefs, and it is incredibly satisfying. The real pleasure comes when presenting the client with a final finished product, their reaction is very rewarding and fulfilling. Being told that you’ve done a good job is wonderful.

This module has been very long and it is hard to remember even starting some of these briefs. If I could start over I think that I would have preferred to work on each brief individually for a week. Being able to really focus in and get ideas rolling before moving onto something totally different would possibly have helped my idea development and increased the number of briefs that I could have completed. The diversity of the briefs I have produced has been really enjoyable, I am proud to include each one in my portfolio and show the breadth of skills that I have to offer.

For me this module represented an opportunity to full exploit all of the areas that I have developed in through my three years. With a total of seven briefs completed, three of which have had considerable client input, I feel that my work has moved up a gear and I am now able to design ‘in the real world’ and communicate with clients on a very professional level.

Fashion Hand-in...

2010-06-04T09:39:00.002+01:00

We have put together a project file for the fashion brief. We wanted to hand in something that would show how we had managed the project. So, we have collated the correspondence we had with the fashion team and the emails we sent to the students and put it together with our information from the various printers we have contacted. It has been bound together and placed in a separate file and will be handed in with all of our names on it.

Folly and Invitations...

2010-06-04T09:28:00.003+01:00

Chloe has informed me that the external signage for the Folly is going up today! I am quite excited to see it but also a little bit nervous as it is SO big. As I said before it is made up of 4 panels and each of these is split down further to be attached to the folly.

The finished invitations should also be delivered today. I am not 100% clear on whether these have ben changed regarding the problem with the foiling. However, they seem to have been finished and will be on their way to the post/packing people, and a small remainder will be delivered to college. I am quite excited to see these, but not getting my hopes to high having seen the previous problem.

Poster/Leaflet...

2010-06-03T21:30:00.004+01:00

We have received the finished poster/leaflets from the printers! 20,000 copies have been printed, which is a little scary! Some have been delivered to the company that put together the mail outs and the rest have been delivered to college. I have photographed the finished product for my presentation boards, and here are some of the photographs...

Finished Yearbook...

2010-06-03T21:13:00.004+01:00

These are photos of the final yearbooks that we received today. We were very excited when they arrived and were very pleased to see the final outcome. The finishing is very good and the overall book is near perfect. We are very happy, and hope that the fashion team are as well.

Here are some photos of the finished book...

The poster didn't work...

2010-06-03T10:44:00.001+01:00

I printed the poster/book wrap back to back earlier this week, and when the yearbooks arrived I endeavored to fold it around a book and photograph it. Unfortunately the thing didn't really work - in fact the book pretty much chewed up the poster and it looked shocking. I didn't plan for the depth of the book, and the thickness of the paper just didn't allow it to fold properly. So, I sadly had to abandon the actual product, but here is the artwork of what could have been!

Interior poster...

2010-06-01T22:43:00.004+01:00

I have made the decision that I am not going to be able to used 'colour' images because the yellow doesn't stand out well enough. against the white background. I have decided to use the black and white images, and to use a black banner - otherwise the design will favour one pathway (ahhhh!).

These is the basic idea of what I am going to produce. I have used coloured text to bring the colours into the design. On the second image below I have added a coloured outline to the banner, half in yellow and half in pink. I think I prefer the second design, with the coloured outline. It has a little more punch and brings more of the colour into the design.

The images I have chosen have strong images that have good black and white contrasts so that they stand out really well agains the white background. The images with the mid grey or black backgrounds won't work here because they have to join in the middle and the light on the images is more about showing shape rather than the entire garment.

Poster...

2010-06-01T21:36:00.010+01:00

I am going to produce a poster that complements the finished fashion yearbook. My colleagues are also exploiting the brief further, but in different ways. I have decided to make a poster that works as a wrap around cover for the book, specifically for Graduate Fashion Week where the book will be available for visitors to take away. I want the exterior to work as the cover for the book, and the interior to be a poster that acts as a memento from GFW. I have put together a few ideas for the interior design of the poster, though I am aware that the design cannot favour one or other pathway...

I have worked out how the paper will fold around the book - using old portfolio pages to work out the size and shape of the paper I need (hence the random printing on the mock up)

The exterior of the poster is going to be very simple, and will mirror the cover underneath. This is the basic idea of what it will look like:

New Cover...

2010-06-01T10:13:00.003+01:00

I have reprinted the cover and foiled the entire design. It looks much better now and more professionally finished. I have changed the back cover, making the logo much smaller so that is feels more refined.

City Centre Signage..

2010-06-01T08:51:00.007+01:00

I have finished the artwork for the signage that will be displayed at the city centre building. There are a total of 5 signs going up around the building and each one is a different shape and shows different information.

The main issue with the city centre is that the main entrance will be shut for the duration of the show. So, the signage needs to direct people to the other entrance and the Brodrick's Building. The signs below are going to be printed on corrugated plastic.

1. Vernon Street - Glass Panel

2. Percivil Street - Square wall sign

3. Rossington Street - Door sign

4. Rossington Street - Railing sign

5. Brodrick's Building panel

Creative Review...

2010-06-01T08:37:00.002+01:00

This is the advert published in the Creative Review Graduate Guide 2010. I am a little disappointed with this advert because the image is slightly pixelated, which is odd when neither of the other adverts have been a problem. Anyway, here it is....

Invitation...

2010-05-31T11:12:00.004+01:00

This is an example of the invitation from the printers. I am pleased with the card stock but not so thrilled with the gloss/foil finish on the front.

The design has been foiled, but you can't really tell. When Chloe and I spoke about it we agreed that we wanted a really high-gloss, high-impact finish for the front. The finish of the foil on this design just doesn't have enough impact. I would say that the finish is more of a 'sheen' than a 'shine'. I realise that black absorbs all of the light, and therefore won't be shiny like a silver or gold metallic, which reflects. I do however think that the design needs more impact. It doesn't feel special at the moment, which is what Chloe and I both wanted. I have suggested a spot UV gloss over the print so that the finish is really shiny. I am not sure what is going to happen at this point, but I am hopeful that we will get something with more impact.

Finished Posters...

2010-05-31T11:02:00.003+01:00

I have produced two quite simple but effective posters that complement the finished look-book. I have printed them at A2 scale and photographed them for my presentation boards. I am quite pleased with the outcome, more than one person has mentioned that the style is quite different to what I normal do, so I can only see that as a good thing and a step in a more experimental direction.

Published Adverts...

2010-05-29T19:55:00.003+01:00

I have been given two magazines in which the adverts have been placed! Hooray! I got quite excited seeing my work in the magazines and I am pleased with how well the adverts have come out!

These are the adverts from Frieze and the Wetherbys Ladies-Day Programme (weird, but the millinery course exhibit there, so they were nice and asked if we wanted to place an advert).

External Signage...

2010-05-29T19:15:00.006+01:00

Organising the designs for the panels that will be attached to the Folly outside the Blenheim Walk building has been a bit of a hoo-ha. Making the designs full size meant that the files were huge (like 4GB) which the printers said the system wouldn't be able to handle. There was a stage of working at quarter size and 1200dpi, but the files were equally as large. Finally we were given the option of producing the artwork at full size, but 75dpi. Chloe and I were equally confused and sceptical as to whether this would work, but I produced the art work and sent it off to the printer.

On friday we were told that the art work was fine, and should print out ok. So, I have now produced the art work for the three remaining panels.

These are all four panels. 1, 2 and 3&4 together.

The panels are designed in order of the most viewed side. 1&2 are seen from the traffic lights and road heading toward the city centre. Side 3 faces the road/traffics lights that runs along side of the college building and side 4 faces the college building (the least useful side!).

Some of the information on the panels is repeated, but everything is there and clearly stated.

Look-Book 5...

2010-05-29T19:06:00.005+01:00

Nice new cover...

I have printed a new cover and foiled it - the 'All' is in silver foil and the rest of the print is in shiny black foil. I have also changed the logo on the back cover and made it smaller. It looks more professional now and overall more pleasing. All finished!

And the back....

Look-Book 4...

2010-05-28T11:07:00.003+01:00

I have reprinted the cover of the look-book. It was suggested in the crit that the logo on the back is too big and should be smaller and more discreet. I have changed the design so that this is the case. I have printed and foiled a new cover; unfortunately the foil moved, and has therefore stuck to the wrong text and ruined the design. I was debating whether to bother trying to foil yet again, but I am going to print a new cover, buy more foil and do it AGAIN!

Posters 2...

2010-05-28T11:01:00.003+01:00

I have made some decisions about the poster. I want to keep it really simple and allow the form, shape and colours to do most of the talking. I have incorporated a small amount of written information, but kept it limited so that the image remains the focus.

These are the two posters that I am going to print large scale.

Look-Book 3...

2010-05-28T10:59:00.003+01:00

This is a Issuu version of the finished look-book. I am really pleased with the final outcome, as is Gemma. The overall theme is strong and the layout complements the garments, which is really important.

Posters...

2010-05-26T21:05:00.004+01:00

I have decided to produce two posters to complement the look-book. These are for me to get the most out of the brief and to use the strong photographs to the full potential. I have come up with a few ideas and layouts that I am considering using...

Finished Book...

2010-05-26T20:53:00.004+01:00

I am quite surprised that I have managed to produce this book in less than 24 hours, but is has been very necessary to work this fast. I have made two copies of the final book, one for Gemma and one for me. The cover has been foiled using black and silver foil onto a smooth grey stock. The pages have been saddle stitched together using thick black thread. I am really pleased with the outcome because the imagery is so strong, and the layout just makes them better and more focused.

I have taken some photos of the spreads and covers for my presentation boards - here are a few:

Look-Book Initial sketches...

2010-05-26T18:09:00.003+01:00

These were my initial sketches for the look-book. I threw a few ideas together and moved onto producing them on Indesign very quickly because of the tight deadline. In this case the sketches were useful and gave a good idea of how the images might fit together. However, the layout really comes alive when it is produced on screen and it is much easier to see if the designs are working or not (as shown previously). Anyway, these were my basic scribbles to get an idea of how this look-book could work.

Stocks...

2010-05-25T19:05:00.004+01:00

I showed Gemma two paper stocks when we were discussing the initial ideas for the look book. She was instantly drawn to the textured newsprint stock rather than the matt white stock. I printed some of the spreads and images on both of these stocks to see how the colours would be presented and the overall feel of the design.

1. Newsprint

2. Matt

There isn't a huge difference in the photos, but it is much more obvious in print.

Gemma has chosen the newsprint stock, she liked the texture and the feel it gave the photographs.

Look-Book 2....

2010-05-25T18:38:00.011+01:00

I have spent most of today putting together this look book. It feels like it's been quite quick to design and organise, but I have spent a whole day on it. I am not sure if it has been quick or not...

Anyway; I have edited all of the photos Gemma had chosen to go in the book. The majority need small lens spot removing and the floor cleaning. A couple required the removal of underwear lines etc. I have recently learnt a few new tricks to edit photos quicker and more professionally, so I am glad I was able to put these to use. Editing photos isn't really my thing, so I am quite proud that I was able to get it done and to a good standard.

I spent some time messing with the first layout, but Gemma had decided that she wanted to use the three hexagons as crops of the garment alongside a full page image. In a couple of cases we agreed to use the overall hexagon that focused in the centre of the photo. So, I put all of the images in so that they could be appropriately placed and went about including the small print, the contact details, a good number of images that fully explained each look and generally balancing the overall document.

These are the spreads that I have shown Gemma, and we have agreed are strong and suitable to go to print tomorrow:

The cover was originally going to be black with black and silver foiling.

The stock available (shown above) is not suitable for foiling because of its slight texture. So we have decided that a grey cover with black and silver foiling is a more suitable option as it is a much smoother stock and will take the foil better.

Look Book 1...

2010-05-25T17:51:00.005+01:00

I agreed to do the layout work for a look book for a fashion student. I have spent just one day putting this together because the deadline for fashion is thursday, and we weren't able to get the photos until today.

The photographer had the images for a week and hadn't edited them. So, Gemma came to me and asked if I would be able to do basic edits on a selection of the images and put them into a 'look-book' style layout for her. She had a clear idea of what she wanted and the way the garments should be presented. It was up to me to come up with a few layout variations and for us to make quick decisions about what was working and what wasn't.

These are the initial ideas/layouts that I produced and showed to Gemma:

These were the ideas that we agreed weren't so good:

And these we agreed should be developed and used in the book:

The motif in Gemma's collection is a six sided polygon (hexagon) which appears in most of the garments. The theme of the look-book needed to fit with the style of the garments, so Gemma requested a clean and simple design that used the hexagon motif in some way.

The ideas I had were in keeping with this theme, and I was able to use the shapes and colours from the collection within the layout design.

Boards...

2010-05-25T10:35:00.005+01:00

I have completed the layouts for my presentation boards. I am producing the boards A2 white card, which is sturdy but not heavy.

The layouts themselves are simple and clean, keeping the information at the bottom of the page, so that it isn't at the top of the hierarchy.

Context..

2010-05-25T10:30:00.002+01:00

I have taken a few photos of my products in the context of my kitchen. They're very basic shots, but it does give an idea of how they would feel in a kitchen environment. I don't want to include all of these on my presentation boards as I think that they will detract from the actual products. I will include one or two in an appropriate place.

Post-Proof Changes...

2010-05-24T16:50:00.002+01:00

The changes we received from fashion have been made and the final artworks have been collected by the printer. We are going to get a digital proof for a final check before they print it in the next couple of days. Duffields (our printer) do not do spot glossing or perfect binding; they send the finished print off to different specialists that will do this and send back finished copies. We will receive our (800!) finished copies before the 3rd June.

The editing of the images was done by the photographer who took all of the photos. However, our proof showed a few small issues, which we were asked to rectify as best we could. An example of the changes we made:

This student's spread had two images, shown below - but neither of these showed a full length shot of the dress. We had a full length shot, but it wasn't formatted for the square page format. We took this shot and made it square, so that it could fit into the page without feeling out of place.

Tea Evaluation...

2010-05-24T15:05:00.002+01:00

With less that two weeks until the hand in for this module I have had to make a few decisions about the briefs that I am submitting. I started the Tea brief a couple of weeks ago, but i have found that with the Fashion Yearbook and End of Year Show briefs still running that I am not going to have time to do it justice before the final crit. In a perfect world I would spend the next few days focusing purely on the design work for it, but I have other areas that I really need to consider further before the final crit. I will be handing in a minimum of six briefs already, and I want to complete these to a high standard rather than try to do extra work and not really hit the mark.

I may consider completing the brief after the deadline, just as something to include in my portfolio. But at this point I feel that it is just not going to get the attention it needs to be as strong as it could. I am pleased with the progress I have made on it, and am hopeful that I will complete it at some point.

Reshoot...

2010-05-22T18:18:00.000+01:00

On thursday we received the proofs from Team of the leaflet/poster. It had been looked at by marketing and it was decided that the image on the poster side wasn't crisp or clear enough. This meant only one thing.....reshoot.

This was something I hadn't wanted to do as the original shoot took quite a lot of time, and I wanted continuity across all of the images. It transpired that we were able to get access to a photography studio that day and reshoot by lunch

time - which turned out to not be so bad.

I then set about working with the RAW image files (which are weird and unhelpful things) and creating a new version of the poster. We had managed to set up the boxes in a very similar format to the original poster, so a little tweaking of the information was required. The new poster is stronger than the original, overall it feels more animated and bolder. Here it is:

Dummy...

2010-05-21T16:25:00.002+01:00

Our dummy copy of the yearbook was finished yesterday, so Emma went down to collect it. I wasn't able to see it until the fashion department had looked at it on friday, as I was busy with the marketing department. So, my first opportunity to have a look was when we met with fashion to discuss the changes they wanted to make. The majority of the book looked good, with a few minor text spacing issues that Emma had mentioned earlier, but these weren't a massive problem to fix.

Sue (the fashion course leader) requested that we change some of the photographs, and include more pages that use 3 shots rather than two. We discussed all the changes, but on the whole she was very happy with it, which was fantastic news as we have worked so hard.

She also requested that we change the order of the students within the book. Until now we had presented them in alphabetical order, but as there is no really reason to do this we were happy to change the order around. Sue wanted to choose a student to open and close each pathway, two really strong pages to make an impact.

We set about making these changes on Friday afternoon, and had them finished quite quickly. There were a few images that needed editing further, along with some new ones that needed importing.

At the end of our meeting with Sue we discussed the opportunity for using the design elements of the yearbook further. She had previously expressed interest in using the banner information as part of the display on their stall at Graduate Fashion Week. We agreed that this was a good idea, and that designs from the cover of the book could also be used. We have decided to supply large scale artwork that will be printed on the vinyl banners and attached to their display. This art work is very easy to set up as we have the basic design already, and it will only need resizing. The banners will look like this:

Large scale prints and small A5 prints of the personal banners that provide information about the student - these will be attached to portfolios.

Door Signage 2...

2010-05-20T19:00:00.004+01:00

I have shown this basic mock-up to Chloe, and we have decided to keep the text the same size on each label rather than varying the size so that it fills the paper size. I mounted this label onto mount board and attached it to the door. It is a suitable size for the door, and the type is readable from a distance.

General Email...

2010-05-19T23:26:00.003+01:00

There has been some general confusion about the Private View, Friends and Family Preview and who is invited to what. So, I have produced an email that details all of the opening times for the show and who is invited to which bits etc. We wanted this design to be quite different from the Friends and Family Preview email, so that there wasn't confusion when received. I have used a long format and some simple boxes. The information is quite detailed, but it does make the overall show format a little clearer and points out who can come to what etc.

Again this is 96dpi and RGB, and will be embedded into emails for easy sending.

Friends and Family E-mail...

2010-05-19T23:16:00.005+01:00

I have put together designs for two emails that are being sent out to the students. The first is an invitation to the Friends and Family Preview, which takes place on the friday before the show opens on the saturday. This email needs to display all of the information relevant to that specific evening, including address and times etc.

These are the initial ideas that we considered; the design needed to be embedded into an email, therefore all of the text and image had to be one image. Keeping simple and using the boxes from the advert designs meant it was very easy to put together the designs and keep the overall theme consistent.

We chose the top design, because the boxes are a different combination to any that we have used previously. I went on to edit the information a little, and to change the name to Friends and Family Preview rather than Viewing, so that it was clearer that it is a private event.

This is the finished design that was sent out earlier this week. It is 96dpi and RGB so that it is suitable for screen viewing.

Final Invitation Design...

2010-05-19T23:07:00.002+01:00

I have put together the final artworks for the invitation and they have been sent off to the printers. Team Impression in Leeds are printing the leaflet and invitation, which will be available in the next couple of weeks. I think that they are also printing the exhibition guide as well. I was very excited to hear that Team were doing the printing, they're work is amazing and so professional and well finished.

The final artworks are entirely black and white, because it is being printed onto brown/buff card. The front of the private view invite is in fact printed in black foil, so that it is very shiny and really impressive.

Door Signage...

2010-05-19T23:02:00.002+01:00

Chloe and I have talked about putting signage on the doors of each studio so that it is clear where all of the exhibitions are. We want to keep it simple and in keeping with the rest of the design concept. We have decided that using 'brown paper' or brown coloured paper is the best idea, and probably mounting the signs on brown mount board to make them more substantial.

I have designed these signs to be no bigger than A4, as we agreed that this is probably large enough for the doors.

Here is an example of the style and size of the signage...

Interior...

2010-05-19T19:45:00.003+01:00

I have been working on the information that is going to go on the inside of the tea box. I want it to be informative but interesting (I am not sure that the design below is right yet). I am going to work on the design and the use of colour. I want the background to be wood textured like a building block and like I plan on making the outside, but it is quite dark and I am not sure if it dulls the design. Anyway, here is the basic idea for now, changes to come...

Final Artwork...

2010-05-19T15:48:00.000+01:00

These are some of the final spreads from the document we have submitted to the printers. The document itself is 100 pages, plus cover, so it will be quite substantial once it is printed and bound.

Because the book flips in the centre, and shows each pathway separately, we have had to repeat two elements of the information. The introduction to the overall course is the same, with the pathway explanation being different. The centre pages have acknowledgements on them, and are the same for both pathways - there was no way of presenting these without them being attached to one pathway or the other. Here are some example spreads....

Tea Nets...

2010-05-19T11:05:00.003+01:00

I have been focusing on finishing all of the work for my other briefs before I returned to working on this brief. I have made some decisions;

I am only going to package tea for children as this is a more interesting and specialised brief. Packaging tea for adults isn't very inspiring, simply because there are a lot of products already available within the same remit as my ideas.

So... I have decided to focus on the childrens tea, and work on the idea of the building blocks - as these are fun and interesting, and allow for the packaging to be more interesting.

I have looked at a couple of nets that may be suitable for the box, and I have made them up to see how they function and can contain the tea.

This net is a little unwieldy at the moment, it isn't sized very well. However, it is a box that fold out flat and requires a little glue to hold it all together. I like the idea of the box folding flat because I would like to put information on the inside of the box - information about tea - where it comes from etc. and instructions as to how to make a cup. I want the packaging to act as a directional piece of the product, as well as the packaging.

This net is a little odd - the base is very strange. It has four pieces that fold in to make the top, which means it is a little difficult to keep it shut. This net does not fold out to be flat, so information would not be applied to the inside. This net is not really appropriate.

This net forms a cube and folds up from a flat net. It holds itself together to an extent; I think that a thicker stock would improve this. I like that it becomes a large area that information can be applied, and would be very suitable for my idea. An issue may arise with the overlapping areas on the out side, which mean that the print has to go across several layers - but this can be worked around.

I am going to produce ideas for nets 1 and 3 and make a decision about the shape when I have a more solid idea of what I am applying to it.

Printer Visit...

2010-05-18T15:35:00.000+01:00

We've been down to the printers today to talk about our job and how to submit the finished document. We talked to the printer and mac art-worker, and they talked us through how we should submit the finished work; we set up the full packaged document as well as giving them a PDF of the document as double page spreads, the cover, the spine and the spot gloss area. This meant that they would have everything they would need, with the opportunity of editing it slightly if need be.

We were also given a tour around the print workshops, and were able to see how the printers and folding machines work. It was really interesting and it helps you to think about the final outcome of a job when working on the initial design aspects.

We have submitted our document, and will get proof back by the end of the week. Hopefully this will not need many changes, and our job will be ready soon!

Final Leaflet Design...

2010-05-17T09:51:00.002+01:00

There was very little to change about the leaflet from the design I submitted in my proposal. We decided that it should remain A2 folding down to A5, and having eight panels of information. I have changed some of the written information and edited the images a little. This is the finished layout...

Final Poster Design...

2010-05-17T09:40:00.009+01:00

Chloe and I have been working toward getting the poster and leaflet designs finished so that they can go to print ASAP. I have developed the poster design a little from my initial proposal, mainly changing the type and arrangement of information, whilst keeping the stack of boxes the same. Here are a few of the variations I produced - we talked about moving the logo, including the web address or not and generally the way the information would read:

We have decided on this design for a couple of reasons. The information reads well, but isn't all weighted to one side of the stack. The web address is included, but it discreet. The overall balance of the design is good, and has all the information required.

Presentation Boards...

2010-05-13T21:48:00.003+01:00

I have been experimenting with the layouts for my presentation boards. The layouts I presented in the crit were criticised for being too focused on the information rather than on the photographs. I was given advice to reorganise the information and images so that the images are the main focus, and that one stands out more than others, to create hierarchy. These are few of the options I have come up with.

Final Progress Crit Feedback...

2010-05-13T19:23:00.002+01:00

I presented all of my finished briefs, plus the End of Year Show and my Design Context work. This is the feedback that I was given by those in my group...

Layout of presentation boards:

Dividing lines are not necessary, they take away from the image
Move the type and information to the bottom of the board, so the image is the first thing to be noticed and it feels more balanced
Italics are wrong for body copy
Try 2 columns of type
Images have lots of impact
For the first development board dividing lines could be included if the information is more extensive
Use the white space, consider vertical type on the page
Consider using very small type for annotation
Try a serif, non-italic font
Limit the images, make impact with just a few, 3 or 4, they are strong with the simple design
Use the photographs that don't appear on the boards to make a booklet for each brief
Impact image on board 1, then development, then final outcomes

Design Context

Experiment with grid
Overlays could be larger
Make quotation marks larger
Try cyan and magenta overlays, to create purple
Consider stocks and wraps for packaging
Wraps could be overlaid - to block out type
Try two cases that slot together to package the contents.

Fashion Information...

2010-05-13T18:16:00.000+01:00

We had to gather a significant amount of information about each student. As I said before, we asked them to bring us or email the information to use as soon as they could. I can't say it was easy, some of the students seemed oblivious to the fact that we were working to a deadline. We did in the end manage to get the majority of the students information (some were removed as they did not hand in a garment to be photographed). We ended up with something that looked like this....

A rather large stack of names with information attached to the majority and scribbles on the others. We did manage to get all we needed in the end and then spent a a great deal of time inputting all of the information we had into the document.

Photographs...

2010-05-11T13:39:00.004+01:00

I have got to the stage now where I need to photograph my final outcomes (for all my briefs!)

I have been considering how I am going to arrange the products and shoot them so that they feel complete and contextual.

I have some very rough sketches here, that show how I plan to set up my photos

Boudoir - This one poses the greatest challenge because the product is so intimate - shooting it in any setting seems a little odd. The options here are - using hangers to display the products, hanging the products and then arranging the rest of the materials around it, or creating an 'unwrapped' setup - the product looking like it has been removed from the bag.

I have decided that option three is probably the best setup. This is because it feels like it could be real, but will show the tags, bag and postcard off well, without close-ups being totally necessary.

Bazaar - This setup needs to be a complete look. I have decided to use a dressmakers mannequin, which I will dress in the appropriate style. The tags will show up well on the clothes, and the bag is also going to be worn by the mannequin. This set up feels appropriate because the nature of the brand is eclectic, vintage and a little quirky.

Home - This set up is going to have eight products in it (one for each range within the home brand) and two or three bags. I think that keeping this set up quite simple will work best.

My idea is to have two levels (using white podiums laid flat) and to arrange the products on these. I am tempted to throw in a few extra items to make the overall shot feel more full. I think that this setup will work because it will make the brand feel like a collection of stuff, rather than individual home products.

Print Quotes...

2010-05-10T18:35:00.006+01:00

For the college to be able to pay for the yearbook, three quotes from three different printers have to be requested - this is standard public sector protocol. We asked for quotes from a total of three printers, so that we could get a good idea of how approximately how much the print run was going to cost. These were our initial quotes:

We also requested a print from Leeds based printer Duffields. We asked them to requote when we changed the number of pages in the book:

We altered this quote - using 250gsm cover to a 350gsm cover. After testing some paper samples we decided that it was not thick enough. The final quote for 800 copies has come out at £3,578.

Photographs...

2010-05-08T17:59:00.004+01:00

We have received all of the retouched photographs from John (the photographer) and are now able to place them into the document. We have agreed with fashion that we will use either two or three images for each spread. The reason for using three would be that the garment/outfit is particularly interesting from several angles or that cropping in on intricate or decorative sections would be appropriate. The tutors have selected a main shot, and provided two others that we can choose to place on the facing page.

These are just some of the amazing photos we have to work with:

Covers...

2010-05-06T18:25:00.001+01:00

We agreed that the cover that had been submitted at the initial proposal was not strong, and said very little about the course: (it also use A LOT of colour)

I had concerns about the use of Pathway A and B on the covers, as this means nothing to anyone outside of the college, and in some cases the course. There was some debate about whether to use the A and B, between us and with the fashion tutors. We eventually agreed that the A and B weren't necessary and that using the names of each path way was more descriptive and made the overall design much clearer.

The 2010 was also an issue - it felt like it took over and was the main focus of the design, which it didn't need to be. Including the 2010 and college name was important, but it needed to be secondary in the hierarchy, rather than the first thing you read.

These are the ideas that we put forward to fashion for them to make a decision from:

We put together some cover designs that we though might work a little better and showed these to fashion.

Moving Forward...

2010-05-05T20:01:00.001+01:00

We have been putting the document for the fashion yearbook together, and dividing the tasks between us to make the work a little easier. We have converted all the headshots to black and white and edited them so that they are the right size. We have set up all the pages of the document and inputted all of the information for each student.

We now have the basic document set up, and we are ready to input all of the photographs when they come through from the photographer.

Fashion Cover...

2010-05-05T17:42:00.005+01:00

We have been working to get the fashion yearbook finished. Having FINALLY got all of the information for each student and a headshot of each of them, we have been able to start putting the document together.The basic layout it quite simple, as this was decided on at the initial proposal stage, but the cover design is still to be decided. These are my initial ideas for the cover; I think that as the rest of the design is quite simple and delicate the cover needs to reflect this. It cannot be too heavy or saturated, I think there needs to be a good amount of space included in the design.

Further Ideas...

2010-05-05T14:51:00.003+01:00

I have created this basic design using a photograph from a previous blog post. I am going to take much better product shots of the packaged items, but I felt that this image would do to show the basic idea. The brown paper is torn, and is showing the products behind the brown paper, creating a sense of excitement and something being new and special.

I have applied the shadow detail to the sticker, and edited the text where it falls over the tear line on the paper. I want the designs to look as realistic as possible, so I am going to continue to experiment with this idea and see what else I can come up with.

Sticker...

2010-05-05T14:28:00.005+01:00

I have produced a version of the poster idea in Photoshop, which has allowed me to use filters and gradients to make the text and sticker look more realistic. The sticker has been particularly tricky, but I think I have made it look pretty good!

Original

Attempt 1

Attempt 2

Overall Poster

Morrisons Advertising...

2010-05-05T13:26:00.003+01:00

I want to produce a poster/advert for the new Morrisons Value range. I spoke to Justin about it this morning, and we talked about how I could present the branding and design rather than the products.

I have used brown paper as a back drop for the product labels and we both agreed that focusing on this would create intrigue. I have put together a few initial ideas for this concept...

Headshots...

2010-05-04T17:53:00.000+01:00

These are the head shots that we have taken over the course of two sessions. We wanted to use head shots within the yearbook so that it felt more personal, and so that people were able to put a face to the work. This is also the reasons we have asked for a short paragraph about the work/designer, because it gives the photographs context and shows the thought processes behind the designs.

Emma and Sara have edited the head shots so that they are all black and white and are cropped to fit into the square spaces within the document. They all look really good, and will complement the black and white photography of the garments.

Information Overload...

2010-05-03T17:41:00.001+01:00

I have spent a lot of time inputting all of the information for each student into the layout for the fashion yearbook. We are using InDesign, so the process is quite quick and simple, which is helpful.

The masters that were already set-up weren't quite right as the banner sat at a slight angle, which meant the information couldn't be centred within it very well. It was also slightly too thin, and the point size of the type had to be very small for it to fit with a suitable number of words per line. So, I have changed the banner width and made it fit into the document better. It now looks pretty good, and the information is fitting into the designated space well. We have had a couple of problems with long email addresses, but have had to accept that these run onto two lines.

This is what the layout now looks like:

Emma and Sara have been organising the head shots, editing them so that they are a suitable size for the document, and making sure they have a good colour balance when converted to greyscale. When we are all finished, we can bring the two together and import all of the head shots into the information document.

Post Tutorial Plan...

2010-04-30T10:12:00.004+01:00

I've had a tutorial with Fred this morning and we have discussed pretty much everything that I am doing to finish off this module. We discussed the new brief I have written (Tea) and decided that I should focus on just one of the audiences, rather than two. I am going to spend next week finishing all of the other briefs I have been working on up until now, and then go back to working on the Tea brief. This will give me time to consider whether I can give enough time to the brief, and therefore tailor it to the time I have left to complete it.

I have a time plan for the weeks up until the deadline, and a plan for the briefs and elements of each that I need to focus on up until then. I feel quite prepared for the next stage of this module, and will be working hard to make sure that I achieve all I can in the time I have left.

Building Blocks...

2010-04-30T09:18:00.002+01:00

This is my initial idea for a package that looks like building blocks. I have sourced a net that creates a box, but is totally flat when unfolded. My intention would be to have the tea in a bag inside the box, for freshness, and print further information about the product and it's health benefits on the inside of the box.

Character Ideas...

2010-04-29T19:06:00.004+01:00

I want to characterise my packaging for children's tea, to give it an appealing and fun personality. I am currently thinking fruit, as this represents the actual product. These are my initial vector developments from hand drawn sketches...

This style of illustration is quite simple, and emphasises the sweet and fun nature of the product. I feel that I could develop these illustration, but I am not sure if I would prefer to follow a different route with the characterisation.

Bazaar Postcard...

2010-04-26T18:17:00.004+01:00

These are my initial ideas for the Bazaar promotional postcard. I want this design to be really bright and eye-catching and incorporate some of the names that the brand will showcase. I think that one of these design will form the basis of the final postcard. I currently like the second Bazaar logo design best; I realise it is busy and bright, but I think that this works and is appropriate for the design.

Finished Products...

2010-04-26T18:12:00.002+01:00

I have finished the designs are ALL these Morrisons Value products. I looked a bit weird buying this really random range of products, but they have all served their purpose well. I am pleased with the final outcomes and the print finish is pretty much perfect. I am going to photograph these products so that I can put product shots on my final boards, rather than handing in all these separate products.

Colour Decisions...

2010-04-26T07:11:00.002+01:00

We have been waiting on a decision regarding the colours that we are going to use within the yearbook. Because there are only going to be 2 colours and black and white imagery, the colours need to be really spot on. We have given Sue several options that we thing could work really well, and have been waiting for her to make her final decision.

We have been to speak to them regarding the colour, and used Pantone swatches to make sure that we get the right colour on paper, rat

her than from screen (which won't be the same at the printers). So have disregarded the option of matt paper, because the colours we are considering do not show well on the matt stock (which is more absorbent). We made the decision to use satin paper throughout the book and to use a strong sunshine yellow and a raspberry

pink as the colours. The colours are very bold, and will contrast well against the black and white photography, and stand out from each other because they are so different. We are happy with the choices an can now make further decisions regarding the rest of the layout of the book.

Fashion Information...

2010-04-25T20:06:00.000+01:00

We have been collating the information for all of the fashion students. We asked them to bring the information to the first photoshoot, but not everyone turned up or was able to bring all the information we asked for. We are hoping to get more information via email over Easter so that we can start to move forward with the book design.

We have asked for:

1. Full professional name (To clarify spelling or shortenings)

2. E-mail address (a professional address and non-university address - you can set one up with google or hotmail for free)

3. Website address (if you have one or are in the process of creating one, please make sure the address is correct - if you are not intending on making a website please let us know, so that we can exclude this information )

4. Telephone number (mobile is fine!)

5. Your collection title (Please decide on one asap)

6. A short paragraph about you as a designer and your collection (this should be short and to the point)

End of Year Show Adverts...

2010-04-25T09:47:00.003+01:00

I met with Chloe on Thursday to discuss the direction in which the designs for the end of year show were heading. We bounced around a few ideas and have settled on the formats and general information that is going on the materials.

The college is taking out adverts in three arts magazines; Frieze, The Drum and Creative Review. I need to produced the designs for each of these by next Thursday (29th April) so that they can be sent to the magazines ready for publishing.

I have put together some initial ideas, that I have sent over to the marketing team for some feedback and I will make the necessary developments to next week before Thursday.

These long landscape designs are for Creative Review. Half Page:

These smaller designs are for Frieze and The Drum. Quarter Page:

Boudoir Postcards 2...

2010-04-23T14:08:00.004+01:00

I felt that this design (below) had the best type for the body copy. It is quite bold and therefore easy to read, but it is also very elegant and feminine. I have experimented further with this type face to find a design that works well for the postcard...

Further designs...

I prefer the black or white backgrounds. Black is not one of the colours I have used within the branding, so it could be useful here to make the other colours stand out better. I am going to print these designs to help me decide which has most impact.

Boudoir Pro-mo Postcard...

2010-04-23T14:04:00.005+01:00

These are my initial ideas for the Boudoir postcard. I want all of the information to be on one side of the card for this design; as the logo is more elegant and soft I think it might look a little blank if it were on one side alone. I have put together some body copy after looking at descriptions from La Perla, Elle Macpherson Initmates and Agent Provocateur. I want this postcard to remain very elegant and feminine.

Home Pro-mo Postcard...

2010-04-23T13:24:00.009+01:00

I am designing a simple promotional postcard for each new brand. Topshop usually have postcards or leaflets at their tills to draw attention to new ranges or collections, discounts etc, so I think a promotional postcard is suitable and will fit in well with what they already do.

I am intending on producing the Home postcard in the shape of the house used on the tags. I think that this will make the postcard more interesting and people will be more likely to pick it up and have a look. These are my initial ideas for the front of the postcard (simple coloured house log0) and for the information on the reverse.

I like the notion of putting the type at an angle, but I am not sure if it is too off kilter and might be difficult to read. My preferred reverse design is the third image; it uses two typefaces plus the Topshop logo - I think that keeping it simple but bright and fun it probably the best option. I will look into what colour combinations I am going to use etc.

Oops!

2010-04-23T11:09:00.003+01:00

I have just realised that I have been spelling the word Bazaar wrong! Thankfully I have noticed before I made any of the final pieces, so I can easily change the design. This is the final tag design; the repeated Topshop pattern is going on the reverse of the tag, and then product information will be printed on a sticker to be stuck to the back of the tag.

Bazzar Tags...

2010-04-23T10:50:00.004+01:00

I had made some decisions about the style of the Bazzar clothing tags. I had decided on a colour scheme, and I wanted to try printing onto a buff sugar paper. I have experimented with this and the result is shown below. I am unhappy with this for two reasons:

1. The buff paper makes the whole design feel more drab and dull

2. The colours do not stand out nearly as well, and the colour range I have chosen is not as eye-catching as the previous colours I was working with. I have tried the colours on white paper (shown on the left) but I still think that they are not strong enough.

So...

I am going to produce the label in brighter colours and on a pure white stock so that they really pop. The tags below are rather thick (approx 3mm). I want to make my final tags about 2mm thick so that they are substantial and strong.

Canvas Bags...

2010-04-22T11:17:00.000+01:00

I decided quite early on when I started designing this brand that I wanted to use a canvas bag as the carrier bag. I think that the aesthetics of it work well with the brand values (eclecticism, vintage etc) and I like that it is reusable. I think that a reusable bag from a cool high-street brand is more likely to be used by a young and trend aware audience than a reusable bag from say Sainsburys or Boots.

These are my ideas for the bag design. I want to keep it quite plain and simple, to allow the logo and colours to stand out. My preferred design is the top left of the small bags. I like the set up of the logo and Topshop name. It seems to be lost in the other designs, and I really think that the bag design needs it to give it some context.

I am going to produce the bag design by using an iron on transfer. I considered screen printing the design, but this would be a lot of effort and time for just a one off piece for my final photos.

Bazzar Mock-up...

2010-04-16T13:29:00.002+01:00

I have made some headway with the development of the Bazzar branding. This is my favourite design because the type is so strong and eye-catching. Mocking-up this design has helped me to see how it will appear when it is attached to a garment. I have produced a couple of designs that have TOPSHOP reversed out of the type, which works quite well and enhances the brand.

Boudoir Mock-ups...

2010-04-16T12:30:00.006+01:00

I have produced a few mock-ups of a range of labels of the Boudoir brand. I want to see how effective the designs would be when printed and attached to a garment. I have discovered a few flaws in the designs, which I will address and improve.

Some of these labels are too large for the type of garment they will be attached to. The simpler designs are working better, and the soft colours are chic and sophisticated. I am tempted to add foil blocking to part of the design, but it may be overly shiny. The shaped label is really interesting, and captures a more fun element to the brand. Printing the design and then having it laser cut will be tricky, so I think that an overly decorative shape won't work. This tag does not need to be double layered, I think that it may be too much because the tags actually need to be quite small. Using a velum overlay may work well, so I will experiment with using this option.

Home Tag Mock-ups...

2010-04-15T14:22:00.009+01:00

I have made a couple of mock-ups of the swing tags to see how they will work on actual products...

I'm really pleased with the way these tags have come out, I think that they are interesting and appropriate for the Topshop brand because they are simple but also have depth and intrigue.

Bath:

Cookware:

Colour Backgrounds...

2010-04-14T15:11:00.002+01:00

These are the eight categories for the homewares, but I am not sure if the plain colours are interesting enough. I do think that keeping the design simple is a good idea, so the photographs might be a bit over the top. I think that making a couple of mock-ups will help me to decide.

Home Photo Labels...

2010-04-14T15:02:00.002+01:00

I have decided to produce a different tag for each homeware category, I have chosen these images as the strongest from each category.

From Left to right: Tableware, Bath, Cookware, Bed, Living, Office, Outdoor and Textiles.

I think that using the photographs will make the tags more interesting, and give a good back drop for the house shaped tag that overlays on top. I have considered using plain colour, which may be preferred when it comes to crits, but I personally like the photos.

Mock-ups, again...

2010-04-14T13:17:00.003+01:00

From the development of the packaging designs I have made a decision about which layouts and typefaces are working best. I have produced a couple of very simple mock-ups so get an idea of whether the design is strong enough...

I am quite pleased with the overall effect of the design. I have realised that I've forgotten to cut the corners off a couple of the labels (oops). I think that keeping to design simple overall is appropriate, whilst the textured background adds a little depth and colour.

I need to scan in a new piece of brown paper, the one I used for these designs has a few crumples in it, and it shows in a couple of places. I also think that if the designs are printed using a laster printer the overall finish will be better, and the colours will be stronger.

Bookmarks Developed...

2010-04-09T15:29:00.003+01:00

I have developed the shaped bookmark into these. I have changed the shaped top into a rounded end so that it is the same top and bottom. I think that these designs are working quite well. The cover colours are there, so the continuity is good. I have resized the cover designs so that they fit to width of the bookmarks, and placed a repeat of part of the decoration at the bottom to carry the design through. Overall the designs are quite interesting, and the continuity with the rest of the range I have put together is good!

Bookmarks...

2010-04-09T14:45:00.005+01:00

I showed 4 book marks in my crit, they were very basic and had the same design as the banners. I was told that they should use the decorative type from the covers, rather than a photograph of the book. I had developed these designs as an initial starting point for the bookmark:

From my initial ideas I prefer the bookmark with the rounded ends and uses the full colour background. I have developed a design for each cover for this format...

The coloured backgrounds with the white logo are the most suitable design, as these are most similar to the book covers. I am not sure if I like the shape of the top of the bookmark, it could just be rounded like the bottom.

Banner Final Designs...

2010-04-09T13:35:00.002+01:00

These are my 3 final banner designs. I have chosen coloured text with grey dividing lines, and I have removed the title of the novel from the text. I think that these three banners will be suitable for in-store advertising and for shop windows. The use of the photographs is good, because it gives the designs context in comparison to the cover posters.

I am going to print these quite large so that the impact of the designs is strong and the overall effect can be experienced.

Banner development and decisions...

2010-04-09T13:01:00.005+01:00

I designed three long banners, each one showing a different novel. I am now unsure whether I am going to use them, simply because the cover posters are so strong. I do think that they may be suitable for shop windows, or an alternative in-store advertising. I printed some smaller scale versions for the crit, and I am unsure whether the type stands out well enough. I have experimented with the colour of the type, and trying to balance the overall layout...

1. This was the design I showed in the crit. Having printed it, I can see that the grey type might be too pale, and not really strong enough to compete with the photograph (though I want this to remain as the focus).

2. I have changed the grey type to black, and left the dividing lines in grey. I don't think this is the best option, as the type now looks very dark, and the hierarchy is a bit off.

3. I have changed all the type to the cover colour, and left the dividing lines as grey. I like this option as the use of more colour is making it more eye catching. I think that maybe the title could be in colour, and the rest of the type in a dark - almost black - grey colour. The type needs impact, but also a little variation.

4. I have suddenly wondered if the title of the book needs to be at the top of the poster, because it is quite large and clear on the cover. Showing it twice, and both so high up in the hierarchy of information seems a little pointless...

The type being all coloured works better here as there is less of it, and I think that the overall design is much better. The title of the book is not needed twice, so I think getting rid of it is a good idea. This also helps to make the photograph of the books stand out better because it is the main focus of the layout.

Cover Posters 2...

2010-04-09T12:43:00.002+01:00

These are the three designs for the large scale posters, for advertising or in-store promotion. I am pleased that they are very similar to the book covers, because the decorative type is so strong, and the information fits into where the author sits at the bottom of the cover. The strong colours are really eye catching and bold, which is quite important for advertising! Overall I am very pleased with these, and will be using the same designs for postcards.

Cover Posters...

2010-04-09T12:28:00.005+01:00

My crit showed me that using the decorative type from the book covers would be better than a photograph of the covers for the posters. I have formatted the design so that it is A2 scale, and added slightly more descriptive information in place of the author. I think that this is a much better design format for the posters, because the decorative type is strong and engaging, I am glad that the feedback I got was the try this, because I think that it is a much stronger option that the photographs...

I have been experimenting here with how the information and design can be laid out so that it still looks like the book cover, but has a little more descriptive information on it...

The top left and bottom right are the most successful designs here, because they maintain the essences of the cover and feel the most balanced. I think that putting information above the decorative type isn't working, it makes the design feel too chopped up. Putting information either side of the Orion Classics logo and line is interesting, but it draws a lot of focus to it, and the focus needs to be the title rather than the small print.

I want to use this style of poster design as a postcard as well, so I think that keeping the design simple and informative is the best option.

Postcard developments and decisions...

2010-04-09T12:07:00.005+01:00

I considered what was said in the crit, and have decided that producing postcards that are similar to the posters is probably the best idea, otherwise there will be a lot of different designs, which may just confuse things...

I am going to produce 4 postcards designs; 3 using the altered cover designs (vector) and 1 showing all three books together (photograph). I have been experimenting with the photographed books design, trying balance the information and image...

A landscape design would be traditional, but the type feels a bit squashed into the layout. The other 3 postcards will be portrait, so maybe this card should follow suit...

This layout has too much space, the photograph is not the right format for this design. I think that the information looks lost, and the photograph needs to be more of a focus.

I have used this portrait photograph of the spines of the book because it is a much more suitable format. It also shows the spines of the book, rather than the cover, which are shown on the other postcards. The type fits in much better with this design, it feels balanced and the photograph is able to take the focus of the postcard. I think that this design is most suitable, because it is simple, clean and gives the basic information needed. I did consider this design for the poster, but it felt too empty at such a large scale. The smaller format of the postcard is more suitable for the design, it feels more compact, and the space actually works.

Felt and Stitch...

2010-04-06T13:37:00.004+01:00

I have done this experiment with sewing the letters onto cotton, using random and criss crossing stitch lines. I wanted to create something a bit messy and mixed up - which I think I have done!

I don't know if I actually like the design, but it is definitely interesting and could be pushed further with development...

I have used Photoshop to alter the brightness of this design. Bleaching out the background makes the design brighter and more extreme, which I like. It also lightens the blue thread which gives it a stronger contrast to the red. I need some feedback on this, to gauge the audiences' response, but I think that something along these lines could work nicely...

Bazzar Developed...

2010-04-06T12:46:00.004+01:00

I have experimented further with the Bazzar type/logo. I want the logo to be type because there is no icon or image attached to the name, and because it is meant to encompass a range of eclectic and forward thinking designers.

I previously looked at using felt and have developed the 'textile' theme by stitching the letters into cotton...

I have experimented using one colour and different coloured threads and the layout of the words. I have also used photoshop to remove the cotton background to see what the letters look like against plain white.

The design itself was quite easy to produce, using a paper design behind the cotton and then sewing through both.

I quite like the effect that the stitching gives, it feels home made and eclectic. I am going to experiment with sewing the felt, combining the two materials to see what kind of effect can be achieved.

Of these three, I think that the colour design works best. It has personality and the colours clash, but are bright and strong. Overall it is the strongest because it has impact.

Photograph Backgrounds...

2010-04-01T14:05:00.002+01:00

I have tried using the photographic background behind a bright white label so that the text stands out really well. The photographs are strong in these images, but I am not sure that it will work across a whole store range of products. If Value Chicken needs to be packaged then what kind of photographic background can be used - live chickens aren't really appropriate, and neither is a photograph of butchered chicken... there is no other option. I think that this design is probably more suitable for a range of products such as soups or jams.

Brown Paper Packaging 2...

2010-04-01T13:17:00.006+01:00

I have produced a few more experiments using the brown paper background...

I have been experimented with removing the word Morrisons and just used the M icon instead. I have also adapted the vertical line and incorporated a horizontal line - creating a sort of string/ribbon finish that is held together with an M sticker. The overall feel could be too parcel like and not really convey the Value message well enough - not sure yet. The bottom right design with the simple vertical line, the M sticker and white label is working quite well. It feels simple but clear and crisp. The Value branding is there, but not overpowering the overall design and generally the design is strong.

Someone in my crit mentioned that the rounded squares with the speech bubble logo was a more attractive style for the packaging. I initially discarded the idea because it did not work against the white background, which made it look too cheap. The brown background allows for the shapes to have a white outline, and stand out much better against each other. I am not sure I like the design, it feels a little flat and unimaginative. It is a good possibility, but I think some of my previous designs are stronger.

Brown Paper Packaging...

2010-04-01T12:29:00.005+01:00

I experimented with using a brown paper background as part of the label/packaging design. I am quite drawn to this idea for several reasons...

The brown paper adds another colour to the design, without it being too invasive or over the top. This extra colour does not interfere with the brand colours, it provides a backdrop to make them the focus of the design.
Brown paper carries connotations of cheap packaging, which is basically what the Value range wants, because the products are not expensive, therefore the packaging must be as cheap as possible.
Brown paper reminds me of buying produce at a market, where anything and everything comes in a paper bag (because they are cheap). This ties in quite well with Morrisons' brand image of a pseudo-highstreet all within one shop (Morrisons have a 'Market Street' and 'Family Butcher) and the way the present themselves as a 'Market'.

I have experimented further with the brown paper background, using other labelling elements to create something more interesting and design lead. I want the design I create the still show the product name very strongly, but I think that incorporating some decorative elements might work quite well...

The two design have the type applied directly to the brown paper background. I quite like the simplicity of the designs, it feels very plain and spacious. I am however concerned that the design doesn't quite work because the text is white against the brown, and looks like it would have be printed directly onto the brown paper - which is a little unconventional. I think that this a good start for the textured design idea.

These designs all have a label 'applied' to the brown paper. 3 of these design use sticky tape to hold the label on, which is a more low-fi and 'cheaper' way of producing the labels. I like the sticky tape because it feels more fun and less precise, but I am not sure if it presents too much of a slap-dash personality for the products. The top left design looks like the label has been slotted into the brown paper on two of its corners, which is a slightly more delicate and neater way of 'attaching' the label, and the label shape it creates is quite nice as it has a symmetrical but not perfect feel.

I prefer the top left and bottom right typeface options as they are cleaner and easier to read. They have a more digital feel, which contrasts better with the brown paper than the handwritten and typewriter effects of the other two. They are also stronger and have more of a focus for the overall design.

These four designs all incorporate the Value Sticker. I have used similar ways of 'attaching' the label as in previous designs, and developed one so that the corner of the label goes in and out of the brown paper. These effect of depth is done by using subtle drop shadows on the label, so that it looks like it is separate from the brown paper and stands forward a little.

The Value Sticker works well here because it looks like it has been applied over the top of the label. The central sticker creates a very even and balanced design, where as the other three have a slightly more jaunty and fun feel about them. This style of design allows all of the information to be on the secondary label and sticker, rather than some of the branding printed onto the brown paper (as previously shown). It is easy to incorporate both of the brand colours with the brown paper here because there are two elements being applied on top of it, allowing the label and sticker to stand out from each other and be separate devices.

I like both of the typefaces that I have used here. The first feels slightly hand written, but is more careful and considered style than previously. It has character and feels more personal. The bold slab serif font is very strong and stands out very well. It has impact, especially the white against the green background.

These four designs are all very similar, but allow for some experimentation with the colour combinations. The banner that is applied over the brown paper is quite bold and strong, and helps to make the text the focus of the design. Having the Value and Morrisons logos printed onto the brown paper gives an idea that the brown is a standard and the secondary label is applied over the top for each product. The top right design sort of hides the branding because it is in a dark brown colour. I am not sure if this is suitable because the Value products do need to clearly show that they are Value, it might be too low key. The yellow on the bottom right design stands out very well. It is bright and strong, and the neutral background enhances this. It is hard to choose from the bottom two designs which is stronger, they both use the brand colours very well and are bold and impacting designs. I think that yellow label is good and works well against the brown, but the green branding logos don't stand out so well against the background.

The Avant Garde type face is strong and draws attention to the text. I am mindful that it looks quite similar to the Gill Sans used for the Value logo, and it might just be to close. Avant Garde does not work well in lower case as the characters are very wide and rounded - it has a more childish feel.

I am going to reduce down my options for these designs, pulling out what is working best and make some mock-ups so that I can gauge the impact of the design on a real product.

Background...

2010-04-01T12:17:00.002+01:00

I mentioned in the previous post about incorporating a background into the design, so that a secondary label would stand out and highlight the text. I was considering what kinds of background would be suitable:

Full colour
Photograph or image
Texture

I have quickly experimented with all of these options to begin with, as I felt it might throw up some more interesting designs that would feel fresher and more exciting.

Packaging developments...

2010-04-01T12:06:00.003+01:00

I have been considering the points made at my crit last week. I do agree that the design for the packaging needs to be more exciting and engaging. I have developed the designs, and tried to incorporate some of the other elements from my initial development that people said were working better than what I presented at the crit...

I have experimented further with the striping element, and with having a band that cuts across the entire label. I have also brought back the Value 'sticker' because it adds a less structured element to the overall design. I have altered the typefaces. The first design here uses an italic serif, while the others all use uppercase Avant Garde in varying weights.

I think that there are elements within these designs that are working, and that can be developed further. In particular:

The Avant Garde typeface; is modern and contemporary but it is also strong and bold and easy to read. I think that it engages well with the rest of the design because it is quite square and crisp.
The Value 'sticker'; has something fun and playful about it, and brings in the idea of stickering products because they are on special offer etc. I like that it is circular, when the rest of the designs are quite liner and straight. The circle also works because the current Value design uses a circle motif (to little effect) and incorporating it in this way would tie it back in with the current branding.
The horizontal 'banner'; acts as a sort of secondary label and also the type to stand out well. It also helps to incorporate more of the colours, and provides the opportunity to have a decorative and patterned background. I think that a background could be a good element to pursue further.

Invitation Development...

2010-03-31T12:25:00.006+01:00

I have been experimenting with further ideas for the Private View Invitation. Chloe (marketing officer) and I talked about using cardboard as the stock for the invitation, which would make it really interesting and different. The size is currently remaining just small than A5, so that it will fit comfortably into an A5 envelop with the leaflet/poster.

This design is a very simple change from the original. I have used a single box and labelled it with Private View, so that this is on the front of the invitation, rather than only on the back. I find it a little dull, and would like the design to be more exciting and engaging.

These designs are all meant to be made from 3-4mm

buff cardboard. The intention is to have the diagonal stripe printed in a high gloss, and the Private View type shows through in cardboard.

Two of the designs here use black as the diagonal stripe, and one uses a clear spot gloss. This is meant to resemble parcel tape, with the text showing through the gloss in the buff cardboard.

We also talked about making the invitation square, so I have looked into do that as well...

I am not sure if the designs work as well in the square format, and I think that it is better if the publicity material is all in the same format, but I'll see what Chloe and the marketing team think.

Exhibition Guide 2...

2010-03-29T13:31:00.003+01:00

I have produced a guide in a different format which includes off the the same information as the previous ideas I have experimented with...

This design folds out toward to user. The information is in a long portrait design, and the maps on the back are read from top to bottom...

I think that I prefer this format, simply because it is a little more interesting and fun, but the information is still clear and easy to follow.