Reflective Summaries from Studio Practice Briefs

OUGD403 - Logotype

Overall I found this project very insightful into the different elements that need to be considered when designing something that will be used in the public eye. I had to learn to consider things like where the design will be seen, who it's for and what it's representing, being objective about the descisions I was making and considering every different aspect of the logotype individually. 

My redesign for the Gregg’s logotype worked effectively as it encompassed all of the design elements I had set out to achieve when I started the brief, making Greggs seem a lot more healthy, fresh and appetising. I was successful at keeping the design legible on all scales so it could be used on a variety of products for Greggs aswell as on all the signage and advertisements.

I believe adding a bespoke element such as the 3 lines instead of an E created a unique and engaging logotype, which is easy to spot on the highstreet and define as Greggs, setting it apart from it’s competitors. Although some people felt the colour scheme I used was a bit ‘dark’ and ‘intimidating’ I beleive when used in context this design would further allow Greggs to stand out from other similar food stores on the highstreet and is also a modern yet timeless colour that will stand the test of passing fashion trends giving the design lasting values that are clear, simple and enduring.

I believe for this project using a digitally rendered type was the right process to use for the making of my logotype as it allowed me to easily play around with the colour, size, shape and kerning of the letters and enabled me to easily test it’s legibility across a range of platforms.

Overall I think my final outcome was successful and the majority of the feedback I received agreed with this.

I think I have successfully updated their branding, given Greggs a fresh lease of life and created a logotype that will appeal to a wider target audience than the current one does, which in turn would hopefully attract new customers to their shop while remaining not too radical for their pre-existing customers. It would also hopefully show that Gregg’s is a bakery that prides itself on quality food rather than just being a supplier of cheap sausage rolls.

OUGD403 - Typeface

This was a brief that I felt really threw me in at the deep-end. Before this project I had never used illustrator before so it was a very steep earning curve for me and taught me how quickly I could pick up new techniques. 

Overall I think my final design and outcome was extremely successful as I manged to create a serif typeface initially based on helvetica, a lead typeface that worked successfully when used as part of a body-text and is legible on all scales.

All my peers agreed with the design decisions that I made and the reasoning behind my design decisions translated well to a large target audience.

I managed to create a typeface that is also a lot slimmer than regular typefaces yet remains legible on paper, which in turn should reduce the amount of paper when used in large quantities and help protect the environment - which was one of my initial design considerations.

Furthermore my design successfully resonates a mix of both classic and contemporary features related to ’Education’ making it translatable and accessible to a variety of people from all different age groups and levels of intellect. 

This project was valuable in teaching me the basics of illustrator as well as the traditional design principles and history relating to typography.  All of these are valuable lessons that I will relate back to throughout second and third year. 

OUGD405 - Wayfinding

This project was one that I found difficult to get into for a while as due to the nature of the building's architecture I found it hard to start generating ideas for an innovative and interesting wayfinding system. I noticed that many of my peers were focussing on creating interesting vinyl wall stickers for their buildings, however the light had nowhere that a wayfinding system like this would be possible, so I felt my creative options were restricted. 

However I soon got over this initial set back by realising as a designer I had to find the most appropriate design solutions for what was possible in the building, so took the Light's existing way-finding system and aimed to improve it in as many ways as I could. 

Reflecting on this project,  I believe that I managed to created a successful navigational system that would be easy to use and read by visitors of all ages both local and international.

Referring back to part of my earliest research the key elements that every navigational system should contain include a comprehensive, clear and consistent visual communication system and concise messaging, showing only information that is relevant to the space, removing excessive information to create a clear visual environment. 

I believe I encompassed both of these elements in my design successfully and therefore created a practical yet stylish navigational system that could be enjoyed by all. The new design would stand the test of time and fitted in much better with the beautiful architecture the Light has to offer, which were my main aims throughout the project. 

OUGD405 - Public Information Leaflet

Overall I found this brief a lot more interesting than the way-finding project as it gave me the opportunity to be a lot more creative as there were no restrictions caused by factors such as existing architecture etc. I was able to be much more adventurous with the colour scheme, content and layout of the leaflet as I could start from scratch. Initially I felt that the content of the leaflet could be a challenging aspect I had analyzed the rabies public information videos which were now very dated. I was unsure how I could make the topic relevant at this day in age. However after thorough investigation and research I discovered the risk of rabies was a much bigger threat than I had previously imagined, and therefore managed to create an interesting and engaging leaflet for the public. 

Overall the public information leaflet effectively communicated the keys facts, details, figures, and statistics of the risks rabies would cause if the disease were to enter the UK. 

The tone of voice is authoritive yet helpful and informative. 

One design flaw that I made was a small grammar error on the first page reading ‘estimates’  rather than ‘estimated’ which I only noticed once the final doccument was fully printed and produced. This goes to show you can never proof read your leaflet enough times or get enough people to check over the design for you as tiny errors like these are easily overlooked when you have been starting at the same design for hours on end, yet nothing decreases the overall impact of a publication faster than a spelling mistake. 

If I was to re-do the leaflet I would ensure all the information was 100% spelt correctly as there is no margain for error when it comes to displaying information to clients and the public. 

Some of the information in the leaflet I feel could have been worded better, therefore next time I will ensure that all paragraphs and sentences are as well articulated as possible as content is just as important, if not more important than the way in which it is presented eg. design, layout and colour scheme. 

Other than that I believe the colour scheme and overall design of the leaflet is extremely effective and printed out exactly the way I had envisioned it. 

This project was also a great introduction to elements like G.F. Smith paper stock and the colleges facilities such as the print room downstairs. 

OUGD406 -  Secret 7  

The secret 7 brief was a really enjoyable one for me as it allowed me to explore my own illustrative style without being restricted to considerations like 'what would the client want' as I was designing it for myself, to showcase my style as an indiviual. 

I was able to do a range of responces using drawing as my main outlet for creatiity as I have missed just being able to draw, rather than having to use the computer to do layouts / typefaces etc. so it was nice to be able to create a purely illustrative responce. 

Everyone liked the raw simplicity of my sketches and said they were reminiscnet of Jean Julien and Quentin Blake who are artists that have both inspired me in the past.   

Self Branding PPP Practical

The aim of this project was to design, develop and produce a piece of self branding that effectively communicated and promoted me as an individual, designer and learner. To inform my design decisions I had to reflect upon my learning aspirations and design direction. 

I used this brief as an opportunity to explore, develop and demonstrate content, processes and areas of design that interested me as a designer at this point on the course.

I had to discover my preferred areas of design and start to consider what design aspects I liked to specialized in, finding a unique selling point about my work. The brief also required me to visually represent myself by creating my own style of brand that suits the way I like to work. 

Additionally the deliverables for this brief were my own choice. I chose what pieces of design to produce that would best represent me and my developing practice. 

These are the essential targets that I had to meet for the project: 

• Select or modify a typeface to used to display your name. 

• Colour swatch.

• Typeface (display and body copy)

• Presentation template (grid)

I had to consider various aspects such as the information I was going to include in the product I was designing,  what tone of voice best reflected me, and what my own visual identity was. 

One top of this the brief required a purpose for my self branding. There was no point designing a buisness card / letterhead as I had no buisness to promote or represent as at this stage I am still finding my creative direction. Therefore I had to create something with an approproate and relevant use, that will benefit me as a young emerging designer. 

Before I started on my self branding project I first had to reflect on where my passions and strengths lay with being a designer. This was a crucial factor in identifying the areas that made my work unique and also in focussing my sights on a design path I want to follow and build upon. 

Despite only deciding I wanted to do Graphic Design a year ago I felt like I have come a long way already in starting to understand the vast array of design possibilities that come with studying the subject. It is for this reason however that I am not particularly confident that I have found my niche yet.

I am much more confident with a pen and paper in my hands, sketching ideas, drawing mock-ups and brainstorming. Drawing has been my number one passion for as long as I can remember and I am extremely confident in my drawing ability. I also love painting, collage and making prints and stamps basically anything tactile. This is an element that I wanted to draw upon in my work to creating a unique selling point. 

In terms of graphic design however I enjoy bright, colourful 2D design mixed in with hand rendered elements such as hand drawn typography and illustration. I also like packaging design and branding.

Therefore I aimed to create a product that showcased my passion and talent for drawing / painting/ making as well as a funny / witty element that will make me memorable as a designer/ prove I don’t take myself too seriously.

For inspiration I started taking into consideration which artists and designers inspired me that specialised in both branding and packaging aswell as hand rendered typogrpahy and illustration. 

One of my main design interests is hand rendered typography. There are a range of designers that I follow, each with their unique style that have inspired me with their hand drawn lettering. 

One example is BabeScrub’s packaging which uses hand lettering from artist Jasmine Dowling. In this case the hand rendered effect adds a playful twist to the product’s packaging, emphasising the feel good quote on the front of the bottle. The colours used also compliment the unusual charcoal soap inside. 

Corina Nika is another artist whose work inspires me. She is a freelance graphic designer, hand letterer, and an art director, living on the idyllic island of Kefalonia. She has worked for an impressive list of clients including Nicole Sherzinger, Ellie Saab and virgin money. 

Her work often combines hand rendered type with digital processes and more traditional typography. 

Another graphic designer whose work I have been following for a while is Lucio Crescente. He does a range of hand drawn lettering and caligraphy in a number of different colours, media and styles as well as exploring more digital processes throught the rest of his work.

As well as hand lettering another design area I am interested in is illustration.
Especially pen and ink illustrations like the work of German illustrator Evelyn Hahn. 

I really like the different thicknesses of lines she uses in her work and the use of dots, stripes and block colours for shading. The quirky characters with unusual proportions add a fun and intereting element to her style. 

Another similar illustrator is lucinda rogers. She too uses varying line strokes in
her work and a mix of different media to add interest. 

I hope to experiment with these styles in my emerging practice by playing around with  a number of different pens when drawing. 

I wanted to include one of my own illustrations in my self branding to show my interst in the field and I chose to do a self portrait so whoever gets the packing has a more unusual way to put a name to the face.

Once I had decided that I wanted to do a piece of packaging for my self bradning I started looking at existing examples of packaging and branding, both tea and otherwise that I found inspiring. 

These illustrated Tequila bottles by Hannah Hart were inspired by the culture, arts and history of Mexico, specifically Talavera and the Mayan gods. 

I like how she combines simple hand drawn illustrations with clean white ceramics to give a delicate and intricate finish. 

This paintbrush packaging by Simon Laliberté also creates a clever and eyecathcing design with a funny twist. Humour is something I wanted to include in my self branding to show how I don’t take myself too seriously and can have a laugh. 

I liked the choice of colour on the Mozi Vanilla and peach body bar, combined with yet more hand drawn illustrative effects and hand lettering, It creates a fresh handmade look, giving the brand a youthful and organic appearance. 

The design for these Pharma Herbs by Daria Fox combine a hand lettered typeface with bold colours and collage-effect photogrpahy. The brown paper stock used gives a more organic and eco friendly feel to the product packaging.  

British brand Teapigs use a similar effect for their packaging, combining illustration,  a screen print effect and brown recycled paper, their brand exudes a high-end, eco
friendly and quality feel. The tea bags inside themselves are equally as beautiful using real, flowers, berries and tea leaves in a silk pyramid bag.

William Whistle use a much more modern colour scheme with mainly black and white pacaging with a splash of an accent colour to compliment the flavour of the tea inside. More detailed pen and ink illustrations are combined with collage style photography to create really intersting and bright visuals on the front. 

This colour scheme was what inspired me for my own self branding. 

For my typefaces on my design I wanted to stick to a maximum of 3 different typefaces to keep the design simple, clear and uncluttered. 

I wanted to incorporate hand lettering to demonstrate my skills and interest in the area, however I felt it needed to be balanced out by something more bold and eyecatching, therefore I investigated some bolder typefces to print onto the front of my design so it didn’t look too feminine. I wanted a chunky woodblock effect so experimented with a few until I found one I liked for my header text. 

I downloaded a few different typefaces from DaFont to experiment with but decided I liked Hallo Euroboy the best as it is a bold but slightly soft gothic typeface, inspired by Morris Fuller Bentons classic “Alternate Gothic”. It was thicker and more compact than the other typefaces I looked at and thought it would create the most contrasting typeface to work with my hand lettering. 

If I was to revisit the project I would visit the Vernon Street buidling and experiment with the woodblock types they have in there to get a much more personal and unique finish. 

For the body text I wanted something clean, stylish and simple to read. 

My initial thoughts were that a sans serif font would be the most appropriate route to go down. I really liked the one I had seen on the app Vsco cam and found that it was VSCO Gothic Book. I could not download the font however it looked a lot like Avenir, so experiemnted with writing out the bodycopy in that font instead. 

After seeing how it would work alongside my hand lettering I felt a sans serif font looked to stark and unpersonal. I wanted to use something  a bit more intersting and quirky and chose ‘Courier New’ as it was a light typeface that gave a
typewriter effect which I felt made the packaging look a lot more inviting and personal. 

I experimented writing my hand lettering with a paintbrush and some ink, however found that I got a much cleaner effect using a felt tip pen. After drawing out my hand lettering I then scanned it into photoshop to arrange the composition and lay it over my wood block effect type. 

This was the end result. 

Before I could go any further with the design I first had to choose a colour scheme, Net  Design and the stock I wanted to print it on. 

For the Net I went to the supermarket and got hold of one of the Teapig’s packaging to base my design on and see how it was folded and produced. I undid the packaging and measured all of the sides and folds, then redrew the shapes using illustrator. 

This allowed me to then transfer the document into inDesign and use it as a template on the master page to fill in  the gaps with relevant content. I then concidered a few different colour schemes. I wanted the majority of the packaging to be black and white with an accent colour to lay over the combined typefaces on the front. 

This is where I realised I wouldn’t be able to use a coloured stock like recycled brown cardboard and that it would have to be white. 

I liked the idea of using a bright, happy colour scheme so experimented with blues and yellows. They looked ok but I felt they needed a second accent colour to complete the look.

That’s where I brought in the burnt orange colour. After I had combined the blue and burnt orange with the black and white I was happy with how the colour scheme was looking and decided to apply it to the rest of the box. 

 The content of my packaging was an important factor to consider. I didn’t want there to be huge paragraphs of text so I tried to keep the content as brief as possible, covering all the basics and sparking interest rather than giving everything away at once. Showing my skills rather than talking about them, I included illustrations to represent myself. 

I drew all the different elements and then layered and recoloured them using photoshop and illustrator. 

I wanted to show where I was from to represent my northern roots so did so by drawing things that the areas I came from were famous for like Buxton Water, The Bakewell tart and The Arctic Monkeys. 

Aswell as illustration I felt the design needed some sort of pattern to tie everything together, so I hand drew a scribbly zigzag effect to complete the overall look and feel of the leaflet. 

I then added my contact details and what social networks potential emplyers could find me on to look through more of my work. 

As an extension to this project I want to create a behance page or website and start getting my work out there. I recently set up and instagram account for my work but I need to actually start adding things to it to build a following. 

To one side of the box I added a drawing of myself done in fineliner and felt tip. There was a gap where my coat was so I decided to fill the space with a quote from world renowned graphic designer Phil Clever, which also added a splash of colour to that side of the packaging and balanced it’s overall appearance. 

For the actual teabags I was inspired by a design I had seen on pinterest where the paper part of the tea bag was shaped like a butterfly that could rest on the side of a teacup. 

I experimented by making one and thought it looked really effective. It also looked nice when I hand drew my name onto the wings, so thought it would be an appropriate way to link the outside of the box with its contents and carry on the letterhead I had used.  

This is the final product for my self branding. 

Overall I believe the Tea Packaging effectively communicates the key styles that I like to work in with Graphic design and my interest in the field of packaging design and branding. 

The Box and the teabags inside have a clear style with a consistent use of colour scheme, typeface and materials. 

The tone of voice is light hearted, easy going yet informative. 

One design flaw that I made when making the box was the positioning and size of the tab on the back which holds the lid closed. Due to this error it ripped when slotting the box together. This could be easily rectified though. The shape of the net being the way it was I didn’t feel confident using the crease folding machine in the downstairs digital print room. For this reason I scored the edges with scissors which created a rough, jagged finish on the edges and the corners. In the future I  will explore different processes I could use to ensure the design has a smooth and more professional looking finish. 

If I was to re-do the design I would ensure  that I made use of all of the facilities that the college has to offer including the letterpress, both woodblock type and lead as well as screen print  and mono print.  

I feel like there was some information left out of the design that I could have included such as design areas I felt confident in and my academic history, aswell as hobbies I enjoy doing. This would allow potential employers to get an idea of who I am as a person as well a s a designer.

Discovering my preferred area of Graphic design was hard for me as I had only known that Graphic Design was something I was interested in for about a year, so I felt that unlike some of my peers in the class I hadn’t found the area or style I liked to work in. However PPP has helped me discover my strengths, weaknesses and where my interests lie. 

Other than that I believe the colour scheme and overall design of the leaflet is extremely effective and printed out exactly the way I had envisioned it. 

Nicolas Vuignier [Video]

Today I found a really cool youtube chanel by professional skier and filmmaker Nicolas Vuignier. His videos feature nighttime skiing with flares attached to the back of the skis and skiing with a bullet cam, shot in slow motion. 

Both videos are extremely interesting to watch and are well made with great consideration of perspective and content. 

The colours and shapes created by the light of the flare mixed with the snow is absolutely breathtaking and the angles captured in the bullet camera video are really unusual. 

Really inspiring and makes me want to get back on the slopes. 

PPP - Self Branding Idea

For my self branding project I want to design a small item representing myself to a few design studios I want to do work experience for over the summer.

My idea was to create packaging for a box of tea bags, demonstrating my branding and packaging design skills and also featuring a punny slogan 'Am i your cup of tea?'

On the side of the box I would have a bit about myself, showcase my design style, talk about my interests and what I aim to do.

The tea would be funny as it is a stereotypical idea that interns are only there to make tea, however by creating innovative and interesting packaging I would bypass that stereotype.

Lord Whitney [ Studio Visit ]

'Graphic design gives you the chance to play again as an adult.' - LW

Today my class had a studio visit to Lord Whitney, a design agency who pride themselves on being 'connoisseurs of make believe'. The design duo Amy Lord and Rebecca Whitney and their team have worked with an impressive range of clients including Nicki Minaj, Missoni, Cartier and Vogue. My favourite example of their work however is their collaboration with Chambord Raspberry Liquor as I have long been an admirer of their wacky pastel coloured adverts and had no idea that the visionaries behind them were from my very own second home of Leeds!

The pair had a lot of useful advice on how to make it in the industry. Here were their top tips and words of wisdom:

• Just Keep doing something to stay motivated and excited. Don't slow down. If you're not enjoying the current brief you've been set, do something in your own time that you enjoy. Most importantly just keep going!

• To make it in the industry you don't need money, you just need perseverance.

• If you don't really know what you're doing it's fine to blag it!

• Volunteer at at least one festival while you still can. You'll meet loads of like minded people, make contacts and learn the value of hard graft. 

• Most of their client work has come from self initiated projects and things they have just wanted to do for fun, so make sure you're constantly being creative and showcasing your work. 

• You don't have to live in London to get involved in good design work. 

• Contacts, contacts, contacts! You never know who you'll meet or who they know in turn. Make sure you're networking by visiting exhibitions, opening nights and talks and if you're wanting to contact someone, make it more personal than just an email.

All in all it was a very inspirational afternoon and I felt lucky to be studying a course I love with such great career prospects. The talk taught me that with hard work and perseverance you can acheive things you would never dream of doing. 

Iris [ Documentary ]

' I don't have any rules because I would only be breaking them' - Iris Apfel

Last Night I watched Iris, a documentary on an iconic fashion guru and lover of clothes and accessories from New York City. The film follows the life of the flamboyantly dressed and quick witted Iris Apfel, 93, her husband Carl, 100, and her impressive collection of clothes from around the world. 

More than a film about fashion, the documentary is a tale of passion and creativity and how as long as you're doing the thing you love, it doesn't matter how old you are.  Iris is a true inspiration to look up to as she does what she thinks and is comfortable in her own skin. She believes in freedom of expression and not living to please others as 'if (you're) happy that way, it's better to be happy than be well dressed.' 

Iris has an incredibly strong work ethic and continues to attend fashion shoots, launch events and gallery exhibitions on a daily basis, perhaps due to the fact she was raised in the great depression and feels privileged to work, let alone in the field she loves.

The film also highlights the genuine love felt between her and Carl her husband, as their affection for each is captured in more than just a few scenes in the film, my favourite line being, '"I figured he was cool, and he was cuddly, and he cooked Chinese, so I couldn’t do any better." It broke my heart to discover he died shortly after the documentary was filmed as their relationship was definitely one to aspire towards. 

Iris is a true legend who continues to inspire future generations on a daily basis, she says what she likes, wears what she wants and doesn't give a damn. If I'm not like her when I'm 93 I'll be very disappointed. 

Leeds Gallery Visits: Henry Moore Institue, Leeds Art Gallery, Monroe House, Colours May Vary + The White Cloth Gallery

Yesterday I took advantage of the glorious (and rare) Leeds sunshine and went on a tour of the city to visit all the galleries in Leeds to see if I could gather any inspiration for my upcoming projects. 

The first stop was Leeds Art Gallery. Unfortunately the British Art Show 8 had ended so there was only one room open at this time, the classical paintings room displaying their impressive collection of historical artwork. Every time I visit I am mesmerised by the scale and detail of the paintings, getting lost for a few minutes in the story of each one. These are my two favourite paintings from the gallery. After studying the work of John Keats at A-Level I am very fond of any artwork featuring nymphs and mythological creatures. 

The first painting 'Iris' 1886 features Iris, a messenger of the Gods, sent to wither the flowers in autumn, and being punished by being turned into a rainbow for loitering amongst the water lilies. The iridescent paints used are delicately mesmerising and perfectly capture the exquisite fairytale nature of the story. 

The second titled 'The Temptation of Sir Percoval',1894 by Arthur Hacker Depicts one of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, Sir Percival being tempted by a beautiful, but predatory maiden. The delicate and detailed brushstrokes in this painting are exquisite to study from the brambles in the bottom right to the fabric of the nymphs dress. I'm also blown away by how realistic the face of the knight looks as some historical paintings can look a bit strange and distorted yet the shading and detail on this is breathtakingly realistic.  

Next stop I visited Olga Jevrić's 'Proposal for Monuments' Exhibition at the Henry Moore Institute. I'm not usually a huge fan of sculptural work but the raw, minimalistic elements of the pieces and unique textures and shapes they created were really engaging and interesting to study up close. Jevrić's work explores the elements of mass, volume and texture, investigating the relationships between solid matter and empty space. She worked mainly with a mixture of cement and iron dust to create modelled masses pierced and shaped with iron rods and nails.

The warped and almost decaying look of these sculptures have an almost post-apocalypitic quality to them, looking as if they have been bent and eroded by the elements over time so only part of the shell of a once solid structure is left behind. 

After the Henry Moore Gallery I went down town to have a look at the Gallery at Munro House and  while I was there I stopped at colours may vary. In the back of CMV I found an exhibition set up and submitted by the Level 5 Illustration students at Leeds College of Art (My University) and was blown away by the amount of beautiful prints created by the students. The aim of the exhibition was to submit a print made of just 2 ink colours inspired by a musician. These were my 2 favourites: 

Untitled by Olivia Northrop, Lino Print 2015 

Untitled by Tyler Robson, Digital Print 2015

I adore everything about these prints from the from the colours to the compositions to the overall look of the illustrations! I look forward to seeing what else these two young designers produce in the future. These two designs aswell as some of the others from the show have inspired me to experiment with some new techniques in my next project such as lino print, mono print and screen print as they create a much more interesting and engaging final resolution with a more hand made quality to them. 

Finally I went to check out the 'Women in Music' Exhibition at the White Cloth Gallery. There were some really beautiful portrait photographs in both black and white and coloured film of a range of female music artists.