End of OUGD203 Evaluation

YCN – Collaboration

This project was exceedingly inspiring in the way it taught me to continually test an idea. Arthur and I seemed to work really well together in boiling down the brief to what was truly asked and therefore constantly asking why we made specific visual decisions. I found it really interesting to do a brief based on a charity, which, I could be excited about and where you know it is not all for nothing. This really helped me pin point my passion for design for a cause and the importance for me to work within a sector where I can really care about the subject.It was vital for us to know as much as possible about faritrade so that we could therefore continue to create something which inspired passion within supporters. The task of creating a 3 minute video seemed close to impossible but we felt it was going to be a good challenge to accept and one which now I feel I learnt a lot with.

Not only was I able to learn new skills within stop motion animation but the importance of the process to eventually get to screen. The simplifying of an idea, which, in essence, could be seen by anyone and so had to be understood by everybody.

Once again my downfall may have been recording what we had done, due to the constant re-evaluation of the brief it would be often that I forgot to write down exactly what we had spoken about and so the change in direction may not be recorded as needed.

The final resolution was strong in my own opinion it had a strong concept and it is a good visual experience. Of course there are always things to change. Possibly the music to something less repetitive or possibly the concept of adding more teaching rather than just showing products but in essence I feel we covered as many bases as possible within a 2 minute long video without it going over some ones head. The tag line was key and one which drove and pin points what we wanted to get across in the video.

Product, Range and Distribution alongside Design for web.

In a brief directed and written independently I was surprised where I ended up. Although I have always loved designing cards and creating nice looking things it seems the brief I ended up writing surrounding this. As well as bringing along side it my current love for weddings, as expected. I originally started with a brief based on re-branding a ‘lost’ town, one which has a bad name and will always struggle to change. A community building brief which aimed to encourage team work and put a new light on the young people. Yet as I started attempting to analyse concepts and visual ideas I seemed brain dead and struggled to really become passionate for the cause and so my mind turned to something I could not stop thinking about and so how could I fail it – weddings.

Although I set myself a large task in not only starting and branding a new company but also designing a website and also ranges to go with it which would be visible on the website plus the promotional side of the company and ranges. Still, I feel I enjoyed doing it. I was inspired creatively by talking to people about what they would like at their own wedding and then also I could take my own thoughts into consideration.

I am overall happy with what I have designed and feel I have a number of new things to put in my portfolio but I also see it as an unfinished project and one which could continue for a while.

Another thing which surprised me was how much I enjoyed designing the website for the company and how much I like the websites final look more so than the invitation and stationary themselves. Linking with this I would like to continue with the website and build it (html) over the summer so as to possible make it live. The most important thing from this specific project could be the fact that I could see myself having a small wedding stationary company and so really do fancy setting this up for real within the third year of the course.

Overall this module has enlightened me in realising where my passions lie within design and so the sort of design I see myself producing and also has helped me become more of an ideas based designer which is vital within working for charitable organisations and catching peoples eye in a fresh new way.

Final designs of website

Here is the design process and final designs for the web sessions website.

I wanted to keep it simple but a little bit creative. The homepage is my favourite and I like the idea of this being solely type based. I have simple used one or two images throughout the pages so that it does not get too complicated and also all type is red so as to keep consistancy.

Although I understand the complications as using type which is not web acceptable I have made sure that the description is available in situations where people are unable to read the screen. All type has been imported as image which I initially designed in photoshop. I understand the problems this creates but from a design perspective I wanted to continue with the homepage design so that each individual page had a different feel and one relating to its topic.

I have also kept the colours simple using just red which I think is strong enough to stand out.

All in all I found creating this website very interesting and would love to expand my knowledge of html and more.

Website building and design from session.

Wedding blog promotional banner.

I found creating the banner harder than I expected as I was limited to a specific size and this was difficult to manage when the logo is circular.

I played around with and without images of printed products but after researching into ones that already exist I preferred and was more enticed by the ones with products they sold on them so you know exactly what it is they do.

I have included the logo, a small strap line and one image so that it is not too complicated and the banner would be a link to the helloLOVE website.

PDF of final prints

1.Invitations and Save the date.

The first 8 images are for the hand drawn range, which hopefully is obvious in the way they link together, I have specifically used a light chalky green and copper red to complement each other as well as stock. Keeping just to two colours will obviously keep the pricing down, which will be more attractive to the customer. I would easily be able to change colours etc as the client wished as well as adding more to the range if necessary.

Inside the invitations

Back of the save the date

Inside the invitation - Chose to put the names etc on the third page rather than the inside of the concertina. Although it is the 3rd page, from what we learnt in type it tends to be the second page you look at when looking at a concertina leaflet.

Back of invitation - reply slip.

Place names

Table seating plan.

This is something I designed as another part of the company, Gift wrapping.

Although is it simple I'm sure it would work well in expanding from just wedding stationary. Those who search the website may be interested in this. I have also designed a THANK YOU gift wrap which would be good for couples giving gifts to their wedding partly. This could be part of a promotional offer which the stationary.

I could also consider creating thank you cards using this design or depending on the range the couple prefer being inspired by that.

After the crit I managed to get both ranges printed so that it became obvious between the two.
Interesting to notice the difference on the intended paper as opposed to the normal thin white paper I use upstairs.

All in all I think they have worked really well.. The colours are strong and they look like they could of been screen printed as they have a really smooth finish.

I have realised though that I have faulted in that I have not designed and made an envelope and other practical printed materials to be sent with the stationary. This therefore is something I need to consider over summer and next year if I feel I want to carry this on and create it as a live company. As well as this I need to consider HelloLOVE promotional printed materials such as a bussiness card which may be sent to the engaged couple when the are sent all the final prints of simple just a letter head which can be used for consistency by the company.