OUGD603 - Year Book - Initial ideas

To help make the year book stand out, we decided that the branding must be conceptual and work well for both the yearbook and graphic design exhibition. With this in mind Ben and I set out to create an idea each to work on. The concept I came up with was named 'Moving Up' and incorporated pages which could be pulled out and placed into the front cover. After creating some initial sketches I developed some of my ideas on illustrator. The moving up concept came from how each student on the course are progressing and moving forward after uni, it is consistent throughout this idea, using arrows to symbolise this and being able to pull out student work so if the reader wishes, all work could be stuck on the wall.

I experimented with a number of sans serif typefaces. We had decided that we wanted the identity to be simple and contempary so it would work well with the work produced by everyone else on the course.

I developed some sketched arrows which could be used to represent moving on within the logo. 

Vertical type was added to front cover ideas adding to the 'moving up concept' as type reads up the page. Further developments for the front cover 

The layout I produced for this concept involves everybody's work on a postcard. These will be perforated, enabling them to be pulled out where they can be placed in the front cover or kept separately if the reader wishes. In turn this could be valuable for potential employers who can take the cards of students they are interested in and contact them using details on the back.

We came together with the concepts we had come up with and decided to progress with the 'moving up' idea. Ben and Jen brought more ideas to the concept, adding a 'American year book' style page with a quote and photo for each person in the year. This part of the publication would be more significant to the students on our course and helps become something the are more likely going to keep. Ben also suggested the addition of a poster included within the year book which the reader can pull out and stick on the postcards from inside the book. This way the reader can create their own poster with whosever work they wish. A mock up of this will be produced for the presentation

After deciding that we would present my Moving up concept to the class, we started developing the idea further, changing the content pages and adding the ideas discussed in our most recent meeting. The final layout shown in the presentation can be seen below.

Contents Page

Name isn't included on postcards, meaning readers refer back to the contents page to find out whose work they are looking at. Alternatively the students contact information will be on the postcards.

First Page

A sort introduction is given about the year book and corresponding exhibition before moving onto the student postcards.

Student Pages

Each student has one page containing two postcards meaning they can include two projects within the year book. The postcards will show a photo of the student's work on the front and information about themselves, the project and their contact information on the back.

The below photo shows how the postcards can be pulled out for further use.

Arrows linking to the 'Moving Up' idea can be used to break up content in the publication.

American style year book photos will be included at the back of the book. This is more for sentimental value for the students. Categories such as class clown, most likely to succeed will be included as well as a quote from each student. This is all included so it becomes a Year Book that everybody in the class could keep to remember their time at LAU.

OUGD603 - Casper Tape - Brief

I have been asked to produce the identity for a techno artist named Casper Tape. This work will include producing an overall aesthetic that is recognisable, conceptual and will work across various media. Jack wanted the final outcome to be minimal but eye-catching, similar to how his music sounds.

Deliverables
Logo- icon and logo type to be used across various media

Tape cover and record sleeve- numerous different ideas for the client to choose from or use

strategy for social media- promotion of his music

posters- this will be his first release so posters will work as a marketing strategy for his music

stickers- promotional material

tshirts- this will give him something to wear when doing his DJ sets and will work well as subtle promotion

To help me get a better idea what Jack would want for this project and what would be appropriate as an aesthetic for his music I sat down with him to understand what inspires his music.

He noted that his music takes inspiration from various music genres from the 1990s and early 2000s such as 90s rave music, electro and early 2000s Bassline. Although this is the music that helps inspire what he produces he also likes how they present themselves within the industry. He often takes inspiration from these different genres and applies them in a new way within his music.

I asked whether there was any music artists he modelled himself after and is similar to how he wishes to be viewed by his intended audience. Although he mentioned the producer Murlo he wanted to be more individual so he stands out amongst other artists.

Thinking about what Jack had told me I started to look at some research that would help to influence the work i produce for the brief.

OUGD603 - WYS - update

As WYS now has a clear identity with a logo being created and typeface chosen for headings and body copy, further work can be completed for the brief.

As noted within the first blog post explaining the brief, the tasks will be split between Ben and I equally. The deliverables that are left to complete include: digital content such as the website, shop, social media and content for it, promo pack, merchandise and marketing/ advertisement. As I am more proficient on the website creating programs Adobe XD and Muse, it was decided that I would focus on the digital aspects within the brief. Ben would then focus on the promotional pack and printed work which would be used to inform artists we want to work with about the work we produce, the kind of artists we work with, and inform our audience about who we are and what we do.

Although the majority of the work I produce for this project will be digital content and Ben's would be printed matter, it is essential that we regularly work together and communicate so are producing content within the brand guidelines and will be recognisable whether everything is seen together or as separate pieces of work.

OUGD603 - WYS - identity

After researching a wide range of publishing and graphic design studios and how they present themselves we started to look at how WYS could represent itself as a brand and business. We decided that we wanted the logo and overall aesthetic of the brand to be relatively simple so not to constrict the different styles we will produce publications in the future. To enable this, the logo would consist of the letters WYS, an acronym for What You Saying? used as a text shortcut from which the name originated.

Together we started to experiment with a number of contempary typefaces to be used within the logo and as body text across other parts f the branding. We focussed more on fonts with recognisable 'quirks' making the logo both visibly pleasing and identifiable when seen around by our intended audience.

Idea Development

Experimentation with different typefaces and typesetteing gave us a better idea on how we can focus the identity on what WYS is and what it represents.

We compared various sans serif typefaces we felt best worked for the simple, contempary look we had chosen to represent who we are. The final chosen typeface within the logo was Primera from Noo Type which "features wide area with a futuristic and aspect which is accentuated by its horizontal strokes. We also decided to use Dromo for body copy as it is easier to read than Primera yet they also work well together.

Idea Concept

We decided to include two rectangles around the WYS as related to our love of print and focus on editorial design.

The WYS logotype would looks like it has fallen to the position they're in resembling the ambiguous design ideas we hope to ring into the publishing industry. This was pushed even further by slightly rotating the 'paper-like' rectangles around the text. The rotation concept and experimental way the WS letters are placed on the page is an idea we wanted to extend throughout the identity.

Final Logo

So the logo would be versatile  across various platforms and mean we are not limited to a certain kind of work it was decided to use a black and white colour scheme and simplistic design across the branding.

The logo we have created will help us to be recognised within the publishing world and help us to stand out against the other independent publishing houses (such as those identified in previous research).

The logo can e used in various was across the different media we produce. The logo with rectangles can be used for the publishing side to WYS and the logo type can be used for different aspects of the brand.

An important stage after this will be to purchase the typefaces used within the branding so not to infringe copyright.

OUGD603 - Year book - research

OUGD603 - Research brief - Briefing

Our course requires us to produce a brief that is heavily influence by research. Having done something similar within my COP module, I had a good idea how I would complete the project. As Ben and I have already completed the identity for WYS, we felt it was essential that work is produced in connection to the studio. Although we are not working together within this brief, it was decided that the zines we produce would work together as a series that can be added to in the future.

The main aim for the brief is to focus on a particular culture that revolutionised the medium of the zine. Looking into these sub cultures would stand as the main research within the brief however I will also look at the particular culture/ issue in detail. The research I complete for this project will heavily influence the content and look of the final zine so it is essential that each element within the design process is looked at in detail.

To start the brief I looked into different cultures that used zines throughout the years. Having focussed on a similar subject within my COP module, extending on this and looking into more detail will give me a better understanding on what my final outcome will be. The first sub genres I looked into include:

-science-fiction

-feminism, riot grrrl and the suffragette movement

-punk zines from the 1970s

OUGD603 - Year Book

To conclude our time on the BA graphic design course at LAU a year book is to be created that best shows off the students and our time here. This book would be for potential students as well as something for everyone to keep to remember their time at university. I decided to team up with Ben and Jen for this project as feel the skills we can bring together would work well for the brief.

This would be especially important for Ben and I as it gives us an opportunity to pitch an idea to a client, develop a relationship with the printers and work to a budget and time scale. Our concept would be put forward through a presentation, shown to the class who will vote for their favourite idea. As we will be competing with a number of different students, it's essential that all elements of the design process are considered so we have the best chance of winning.

We must produce a concept for the end of year book and end of year show. This book will be used to show off the work of students on the course but also gives everyone something to remember their time at university.

Being able to work with two other students effectively and manage over time so we have equal responsibilities is a necessity within collaboration. With only a week before we present our idea in from of the class we first decided to establish the brief considerations and requirements. Although the initial deadline for the idea would be relatively soon, if we are successful we would have till the end of the year to design and produce the year book.

Considerations

-Produce a year book that we as students will want to keep after graduation as well as a prospectus for others to look at our work. This is important as books we have looked at from previous years often have a short shelf life.

-It's important that the book stands out and is high impact as it is the last year the university budget will be able to afford to publish one for the course.

-It will also be shown in places such as D & AD so it must stand out amongst other University Graphic Design Yearbooks.

Requirements

-Produce one developed idea/ concept to the class

-Understand that we will have to keep within the £2000 budget

-Produce interesting visuals so the idea can be easily explained on a presentation.

-Consider the design, layout and concept as well as how it will be used by the reader once it has been produced.

To help start the ball rolling, Jen emailed Amber asking questions about the presentation. This helped us to focus on what we should produce for this initial deadline. The response can be seen below.