Monday 25 October 2010
Friday 22 October 2010
Wednesday 20 October 2010
OUGD301: Crit Feedback
This afternoons crit was particularly useful and some strong feedback was received. I'm confident that this was due to the fact that I was able to choose the relevant individuals within my group whose skill sets directly related to the feedback I was seeking.
The most re-assuring element that I gained from the session was that everyone generally agreed that my core briefs suited my proposal and would allow me to carry out my design ambitions. This was a substantial relief as I feel I have spent a considerable amount of time writing them and I know at times you can become so immersed in what you are doing within your own practice you can sometimes overlook certain things.
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In relation to the brand identities that I am developing (and have nearly resolved at present) there were a few points raised by each group (Ross and Tim)/(Matt and Heather). They were as follows:
Robin Moore Carpentry
+ The 'joinery' of the individual letter-forms was visually engaging and conceptually strong.
- The logo itself doesn't really convey the profession.
Equine Engineering
+ Overall look is expensive which is suitable to the context and profession.
- The discontinued 'EQ' resolution was visually stronger than the chosen identity.
Market Week
+ Effective logo that conveys market week as an important event to attend, however...
- Seems too design led when the brief is client led. Too expensive given the budget?
General
+ Layout is strong and theoretically correct. Nice attention to detail especially with small type.
- Layouts for letterheads etc looking quite similar between the briefs, but they are strong.
- Need to explore stock and end production.
- No hand drawn development of identities present on the blog.
- Need to annotate and evaluate blog documentation.
--
All of the above points are valid and something to evaluate successfully against. I do feel that I have an answer for most of the issues, but it is my own fault for not evaluating thoroughly on my blog. As for the rest, they are definitely topics to think about and make decisions on.
The most re-assuring element that I gained from the session was that everyone generally agreed that my core briefs suited my proposal and would allow me to carry out my design ambitions. This was a substantial relief as I feel I have spent a considerable amount of time writing them and I know at times you can become so immersed in what you are doing within your own practice you can sometimes overlook certain things.
-
In relation to the brand identities that I am developing (and have nearly resolved at present) there were a few points raised by each group (Ross and Tim)/(Matt and Heather). They were as follows:
Robin Moore Carpentry
+ The 'joinery' of the individual letter-forms was visually engaging and conceptually strong.
- The logo itself doesn't really convey the profession.
Equine Engineering
+ Overall look is expensive which is suitable to the context and profession.
- The discontinued 'EQ' resolution was visually stronger than the chosen identity.
Market Week
+ Effective logo that conveys market week as an important event to attend, however...
- Seems too design led when the brief is client led. Too expensive given the budget?
General
+ Layout is strong and theoretically correct. Nice attention to detail especially with small type.
- Layouts for letterheads etc looking quite similar between the briefs, but they are strong.
- Need to explore stock and end production.
- No hand drawn development of identities present on the blog.
- Need to annotate and evaluate blog documentation.
--
All of the above points are valid and something to evaluate successfully against. I do feel that I have an answer for most of the issues, but it is my own fault for not evaluating thoroughly on my blog. As for the rest, they are definitely topics to think about and make decisions on.
OUGD301: 5x Questions For Today's Crit
01. Do my four proposed briefs cover all aspects of my proposal / design practice statement? Are there any gaps or areas that I have perhaps missed and should explore?
02. Through working with live clients I am noticing the struggle between producing work that I like and work that the client wants. At what stage does / should the line be drawn? Do my resolutions accurately reflect a balance between the two?
03. How would you suggest I handle quick turn around branding briefs when the client always comes back with amendment suggestions, other ideas etc. or simply doesn't like what you have done?
04. Do the resolved identities (as present) suit their relative contexts and do they successfully communicate across all media?
05. Given that each branding brief is aimed to be quick turn around, do you see any reasonable scope for expansion (even if it is just proposed). Is this needed / necessary?
02. Through working with live clients I am noticing the struggle between producing work that I like and work that the client wants. At what stage does / should the line be drawn? Do my resolutions accurately reflect a balance between the two?
03. How would you suggest I handle quick turn around branding briefs when the client always comes back with amendment suggestions, other ideas etc. or simply doesn't like what you have done?
04. Do the resolved identities (as present) suit their relative contexts and do they successfully communicate across all media?
05. Given that each branding brief is aimed to be quick turn around, do you see any reasonable scope for expansion (even if it is just proposed). Is this needed / necessary?
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Monday 18 October 2010
Saturday 16 October 2010
Friday 15 October 2010
Equine Engineering: Client Feedback 02
Liam,
I’ve had a look through the second batch of logos. Now that I’ve seen the logo with the capital letters that’s a no go. I like the navy blue and dark green logo with the line separator between the hard hat and the name on page 5. I like the top logo on page 7, the darker shade of hard hat just looks better. On page 6 the central column, with the mid green looks better and again the darker shade at the top looks better. I think the others are too light.
I’ve had a look with some colleagues at the Q logo again with the horse’s tail, and it’s quite hard to pick it up. A comment was made could the tail be split into strands of hair. I don’t know how easy this would be to do.
Regards,
John
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Note:
Shortly after receiving this email I gave John a quick call to explain the complications of splitting the tail of the Q. I essentially outlined that whilst it may look effective printed at a large format (i.e on the horse jumps themselves), it would be prone to bleeding at a smaller scale (business cards etc). In light of this, we mutually agreed that it would be best to have a coherent logo across all media and therefore leave the 'Q' as it is.
I’ve had a look through the second batch of logos. Now that I’ve seen the logo with the capital letters that’s a no go. I like the navy blue and dark green logo with the line separator between the hard hat and the name on page 5. I like the top logo on page 7, the darker shade of hard hat just looks better. On page 6 the central column, with the mid green looks better and again the darker shade at the top looks better. I think the others are too light.
I’ve had a look with some colleagues at the Q logo again with the horse’s tail, and it’s quite hard to pick it up. A comment was made could the tail be split into strands of hair. I don’t know how easy this would be to do.
Regards,
John
-
Note:
Shortly after receiving this email I gave John a quick call to explain the complications of splitting the tail of the Q. I essentially outlined that whilst it may look effective printed at a large format (i.e on the horse jumps themselves), it would be prone to bleeding at a smaller scale (business cards etc). In light of this, we mutually agreed that it would be best to have a coherent logo across all media and therefore leave the 'Q' as it is.
Equine Engineering: Client Feedback 01
Liam,
I’ve had a look at the logos, I want to rule the ones out with just equine alone. I think it portrays to wide an image for the company. I like the EQ logo but I don’t think this on its own will work because it doesn’t say what the company is. I think if this was in superscript above the equine engineering on the main logo then it could stand alone on other parts of the website.
Could you try the logo with capital letters for the E’s and also could you try them with a different font. I would like something else to compare to. Also, liaise with Emma regarding the colour of the logo. It will just need changing to reflect the colour scheme of the website.
Other than that I’m quite happy with what’s there. I think the hat works well within the logo and now you’ve explained what the Q is I can see what you were doing with it.
Regards,
John
I’ve had a look at the logos, I want to rule the ones out with just equine alone. I think it portrays to wide an image for the company. I like the EQ logo but I don’t think this on its own will work because it doesn’t say what the company is. I think if this was in superscript above the equine engineering on the main logo then it could stand alone on other parts of the website.
Could you try the logo with capital letters for the E’s and also could you try them with a different font. I would like something else to compare to. Also, liaise with Emma regarding the colour of the logo. It will just need changing to reflect the colour scheme of the website.
Other than that I’m quite happy with what’s there. I think the hat works well within the logo and now you’ve explained what the Q is I can see what you were doing with it.
Regards,
John
Thursday 14 October 2010
Wednesday 13 October 2010
Tuesday 12 October 2010
Sunday 10 October 2010
OUGD301: Umbrella Statement Clarification
In response to Thursday's group tutorial, I spared a few minutes this afternoon refining my umbrella statement in order to outline what it is that my practice is really about. After a few scribbles in my little red book I finally arrived at a summative statement; all be it with a sub-clause attached...
'Minimalistic & conceptually driven typographic design focussing on layout & a limited application of colour for high-end print'
...which in conjunction, is aimed to be design led (as opposed to client led) and geared toward the production of promotional & publication based materials.
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In an ideal world, I would still like to maintain an illustrative element to my practice. For now however, this is what I believe to be most important in terms of developing my skills as a designer. I don't really relish the thought of being the classic 'Jack of all trades, master of none'.
'Minimalistic & conceptually driven typographic design focussing on layout & a limited application of colour for high-end print'
...which in conjunction, is aimed to be design led (as opposed to client led) and geared toward the production of promotional & publication based materials.
-
In an ideal world, I would still like to maintain an illustrative element to my practice. For now however, this is what I believe to be most important in terms of developing my skills as a designer. I don't really relish the thought of being the classic 'Jack of all trades, master of none'.
Friday 8 October 2010
Thursday 7 October 2010
Wednesday 6 October 2010
Tuesday 5 October 2010
Tutorial w/ Jane Denton
Today I took the opportunity to discuss my selected briefs with Jane. This was mainly to clarify why I was planning to do each one and what benefits they each gave to my practice.The most beneficial shift to come out of the discussion was the choice to make my British Linguistics Theory brief solely focussed toward the screen-printing process and to take that restriction off of my Iconic Publication project. In addition, issues were also raised regarding my collaboration with Adam. As we have very similar skill sets it was pointed out to me that it would be most useful to clarify each persons role within the brief sooner rather than later.
Furthermore, as I have just received confirmation of another brand identity brief coming in since my discussion with Jane I feel that I can now potentially group them together and consider it as a more substantial undertaking.
All in all, a very useful and progressive tutorial.
Monday 4 October 2010
Sunday 3 October 2010
Robin Moore Carpentry: Client Discussion
This afternoon (as requested) I contacted Robin Moore in regards to the negotiated branding brief due to be completed within this module. The focus was set up to discuss the company's values and to build an idea of what criteria the final resolution should aim to fulfill.
From speaking to Robin, it was agreed that the company was built upon the notion of providing a 'professional, yet friendly and trustworthy service' that would leave the client satisfied knowing that a job has been done well.
In addition, it was outlined to me that there was an importance in which the company should be conveyed as suitably affordable (neither budget, nor sky high expensive) to potential clients.
-
All in all, this process was very reminiscent to skills developed within last years Design For Type module. As a result, I feel that I should be able to rapidly identify suitable typefaces that will connote the correct demographic qualities of the company and generally allow this brief to be turned-around in quick succession.
...I also managed to obtain the existing business card & letterhead:
Tomorrow it shall begin.
From speaking to Robin, it was agreed that the company was built upon the notion of providing a 'professional, yet friendly and trustworthy service' that would leave the client satisfied knowing that a job has been done well.
In addition, it was outlined to me that there was an importance in which the company should be conveyed as suitably affordable (neither budget, nor sky high expensive) to potential clients.
-
All in all, this process was very reminiscent to skills developed within last years Design For Type module. As a result, I feel that I should be able to rapidly identify suitable typefaces that will connote the correct demographic qualities of the company and generally allow this brief to be turned-around in quick succession.
...I also managed to obtain the existing business card & letterhead:
Tomorrow it shall begin.
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