Process for posters

The process that I have taken mainly is experimenting and finding out whether or not things would work, especially when printed out.

With the final posters I first began with the question mark concept I then decided to take photographs of a couple of people to then use in the background some where.
Then using the advice of my tutors, as well as peers, I decided to use bold colours, which will then make the posters stand out in comparison to other posters that are up and around the college.

I started with finding the right typeface that will fit in with my poster, especially when it comes to the question mark. I used DaFont.com to find suitable fonts that are interesting and better than the conventional fonts. I ended up with using 2 fonts one called Revolution and one called Quicksand. Revolution for the question mark and exclamation mark, and then Quicksand for the title and the body text.

I then had to think about colours, I tried using the Sussex Downs colours, however they seemed to fade into the background and were not right for what I wanted to achieve. I therefore went along the lines of using contrasting colours from the colour wheel, similar to the Munich Olympics posters. This will then make my design stand out from the other posters at Sussex downs college.

After creating the design, I found that something seemed to be missing from the posters that would make them even better, photographs, especially ones of students studying with books and on their computer or laptops, this would then makes the posters more personable for the target audience, as well as make the posters even more visually interesting and thought provoking for the audience to look at.

Looking into other Poster Designs

Here are some posters that I found from the Internet. To start with there are 3 posters from the Ulm Graphic Design school

This poster is interesting because you can see the 'U' shape that the designer has made twice, as one is upside down. To me this can clearly demonstrate how just using some simple graphics can make a really interesting and thought provoking poster.

With this poster, however, there are lots of different things going on, with the font style and then the background images, therefore it seems to be a lot busier than the previous poster, however it does seem to work visually. I do have one problem though, and that is because I cannot necessarily read what the designer wants me to, and therefore doesn't convey a clear message as to what this poster is for.

Again the simplicity of this poster really works as a campaign because you have just the one focus point in the centre of the poster, with then the information clearly a the bottom left-hand side of the poster. Also I can fully understand what this poster is trying to say in that it is promoting Brasil and the fun you can have whilst you are there.
I next found 5 different Olympic posters, as adviced by my tutors, because they have a certain sophistication and elegance to them, which for this project would be good to have in my posters.

With this poster, you can clearly see that it has something to do with running as there are 2 pairs of legs, which blend in the centre, which then gives a focus point to the viewer, and that then draws then eye either up or down to the images which people would definitely undertsnad what it is as you have the olympic logo.

These posters are very interesting and clever, that is because all the designer is using are simple shapes to convey the different events at the olympics, also the colour styles help as that is what people can associate with.

The Munich olympics had a series of posters like this to demonstrate all of the different sporting events that people would see at the olympics. The designer has used different bold colours to make the images more visually exciting and interesting. The colours are also ones that are opposites on the colour wheel, which makes them stand out even more and pleasing to the eye.

The straight forward heading on these posters enhances the design because the image is the main focus with then the writing coming second. However, people can still undestand what these posters are about and that is because of the olympic logo which is displayed on the first third of the poster, so your eye is drawn to that logo as well as the imagery.

This is the final poster, and most definitely one of my favourites. This design also was used for the tickets of the olympics as well. The fact that the lines swirl into each other gives the eye something to dance around, which then makes for a really interesting and visually pleasing poster that stands out when placed up against other posters like it. The use of bold colours works as well because they are simple and grabs the viewers attention.

Other Ideas for Posters

One concept I have been thinking about using is one where a question mark is the background and some of the text is made up using other words. However, when I created it I found that having words making up words does not work because you cannot read anything, which for this, where I need to convey a message that is clear to everyone.

After that experiment, I found that I will be playing around with the question mark more to see what I can get.



This series is OK however, people cannot necessarily see that the posters are making up a question mark, and with the spot posters they looking like an egg. Therefore I do not think for this project these design will work as they do not clearly portray the information in a clear and easy to read manner.

Changes after Comments

Here are the comments that Denice gave to me, which I then changed in my Introductory Video:

HI Marie

This is looking very good, and professional. Well done.

There are a few things which I think you might need to look at:

-         The ilearn home page with the message about measles should not be shown publicly – it isn’t good for the college’s image

-         I also think it is best not to mention attendance info on i-learn, simply because it does not relate to my area of control.

-        The pauses and hesitations are very obvious at the start – you may want to look at these.

-        The library staff do not work in Hastings, but Grove House, Park and Lewes

I hope this helps

The posters are looking good.

Many thanks

Denice

Before Changes:

After Changes:

Conversation and Comments from Denice (Client)

Setting up a meeting with Denice:

Hi Marie

9.30 is fine for me.

Best wishes

Denice

From: Marie Turner [mailto:mariecoco16@hotmail.com]
Sent: 27 March 2012 16:43
To: Denice Penrose
Subject: RE: Library Project

Hi,

Well actually looking at train times, 9:30 is better?

Marie

---

From:Denice.Penrose@sussexdowns.ac.uk
To: mariecoco16@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Library Project
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:58:59 +0000

Hi Marie

Thank you for your e-mail. I’d be happy to meet with you on Thursday. I have meetings between 11 and 12, and between 1 and 2, but am free for the rest of the day. Please let me know what time you can pop into the Lewes LC.

Many thanks

Denice

From: Marie Turner[mailto:mariecoco16@hotmail.com]
Sent: 27 March 2012 15:47
To: Denice Penrose
Subject: Library Project

Hello Denice,

My name is Marie Turner, and I am Sue Bamford's student that she has been talking to you about.

If possible I would like to have a meetng with you on Thursday to get all of the information that I need, like what you want posters etc?

Could you let me know what time is best for you?

I am very excited to be working with you!

Marie

Discussing Concepts and What I will do:

Hi Marie

It all sounds very interesting – I’m looking forward to seeing the work you’ve done.

Many thanks

Denice

From: Marie Turner [mailto:mariecoco16@hotmail.com]
Sent: 17 April 2012 17:06
To: Denice Penrose
Subject: Project

Hello Denice,

I hope you have had a relaxing Easter.

Sorry about the lack of contact from the first week, I got into the project too much and forgot to email you in time!

Anyway, this is the concept that I have been working on:

Where do you go? (This will intise the viewer in to know more)

There are 3/4 different posters with the same title of 'Where do you go?' asking the students and intising them in to find out more, with at the end '...The Library' or '...iLearn' I will send them to you once I have finalised the images/text.

I have almost finished a informative video demonstrating what iLearn can offer the students. That will be sent to you in about 1 week.

I will be starting the viral in the next couple of days, depicting the funny side of a librarian thats if it is ok with you.

What do you think of the concept?

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to email me.

Marie

Talking about Posters:

Hi Denice,

Well going from your feedback I have finished all 8 of the posters.

Here they are, could you let me know what you think please?

There are 4 for iLearn and 4 for The Library.

I look forward to hearing what you think.

Marie

---

From: Denice.Penrose@sussexdowns.ac.uk
To: mariecoco16@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Poster
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 11:24:39 +0000

Hi Marie

The posters look good – I particularly like the ‘Help wanted’ one.

Many thanks

Denice

From: Marie Turner [mailto:mariecoco16@hotmail.com]
Sent: 25 April 2012 14:58
To: Denice Penrose
Subject: Poster

Hi Denice,

Hope you are doing well.

Sorry about the lateness, but I lost track whilst doing the videos.

Here are 2 of the final posters to show you my concept and design throughout.

If you could let me know what you think that would be great.

Marie

Introductory Video

Hi Denice,

Thank you for all of your advice and support!

All of what you have mentioned has been very helpful!

I have taken all into consideration and I have changed the relevant parts.

Here is the next video,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUUcMV16QwE&feature=youtu.be

If there are anymore changes that you wish to make to either the video or posters please do not hesitate to tell me.

Hope you like it!

Marie

---

From: Denice.Penrose@sussexdowns.ac.uk
To: mariecoco16@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Intro Video
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 08:56:59 +0000

HI Marie

This is looking very good, and professional. Well done.

There are a few things which I think you might need to look at:

- The ilearn home page with the message about measles should not be shown publicly – it isn’t good for the college’s image

- I also think it is best not to mention attendance info on i-learn, simply because it does not relate to my area of control.

- The pauses and hesitations are very obvious at the start – you may want to look at these.

- The library staff do not work in Hastings, but Grove House, Park and Lewes

I hope this helps

The posters are looking good.

Many thanks

Denice

From: Marie Turner [mailto:mariecoco16@hotmail.com]
Sent: 02 May 2012 14:13
To: Denice Penrose
Subject: Intro Video

Hi Denice,

Hope you got my last email ok with all of the different posters.

Anyway, I have finally finished the introductory video to iLearn, it is about 1min 40sec long (it was about 3 mins long at 1 point!)

Here is the link, it is not public only the people with this link can view it, which at the moment is you and I!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=024IT5EM9D4&feature=youtu.be

Hope you like it, could you let me know what you think asap please?

Look forward to hearing from you!

Marie

Final Promo Video

I have done 2 Promo videos, which are basically the same however one has got the Sussex Downs College logo at the end and one hasn't.

One with the Logo

One without the Logo

Final Introductory Video

This is my final Introductory Video that I have also shown to Denice, for iLearn.

Process - Promo Video

The Promo video was an easier process than the Introductory video, as all I was using was the screen recordings, and then editing them.

My inspiration for this promo video was the new Internet Explorer Advert, where it uses music to enhance the vieweing experience.

I therefore had to find some Copyright free music for me to use in the background of this promo video to enhance the viewers experience, and make the promo more interesting.

I found this website http://freeplaymusic.com/ where it had millions of different types of music for me to choose from. I new specifically that I wanted something with a bass beat, to help me time the promo, with some rythem, so that people will enjoy listening to it as well.

The song that I have chosen is called Breezy Street. I chose this one because it fitted the requirements that I needed.

I then chose a section that I felt had a build up to it. I wanted the promo to have a build up theme to it because then people would keep watching to find out the ending.
Using After Effects I cut up the original to make the promo seem more interesting, and to keep to the same theme as the introductory video, as well as asking the same quetsion 'Where Do You Go?' so there is some continuity throughot my campaign.

Process - Introductory Video

For my introductory video, at first I could figure out how to make it, so I began filming the screen as I was using the website iLearn, and recording everything that I was doing.

However, I found that this was taking a lot longer than I first imagined it would take, also it was looking very unprofessional to other people when I was showing them, to find out what they thought.

As I went to uni, someone suggested a screen recorder, which then I could record what I was doing on screen and then I could make a voice over to go over the top of it.

I had to search around the internet to which FREE screen recorder I could use.
After some extensive research I found BB FlashBack, which was one of the most highly rated free screen recorders on the internet for me to download.




This is the package that I could get with the BB FkashBack Pro, which seems to be a lot better than the free version, however for this project all I need is a simple program that will record what I am doing on screen and then play it back and allow me to export it out afterwards.

As you open up BB FlashBack, this is the screen that you get. You then select the 'Record a new movie' button, which then allows for you to choose whether you want to record the entire screen or just one window, and in this case I only wanted to record one window, which was the internet window with iLearn in it.

After I finished recording and pressed stop the program then asked me if I wanted to either export it or view it in BB FlashPlayer. I wanted to view it in the FlashPlayer so that I could edit out the parts that I wanted.

However I found that you could not edit using this version, as it is the free version and therefore limited to what it can do.

Therefore I found that I could export the selected areas of the video, this is so I can cut out the beginning and the end which have no relevance to the introdution, where I pressed play and stop.

At first I was going to add the voide over at the end, after doing the video itself, however after doing some initial tests that it would be much easier for me to record the screen as I was playing the voice over.

I edited the voice over in Adobe After Effects so it was one long continuous QuickTime video (with no visuals), this was so I could just follow what I was saying in the voice over.


After completing my final video I was able to export the selected ares into an AVI format, which then I could take into After Effects and edit the parts I wanted to.

Looking into Introdutory videos

Here are a few introductory videos that I have found either in generl or about some sort of iLearn.

This video is for a pharmaceutical company in America explaining how to use their iLearn.
This is mainly a training course introductory, where they take you through, step by step what the course will have in it. By analysis the voice-over is quite monotone and therefore can make the viewer get rapidly uninterested, unless they were wanting to know everything abou this course. Therefore, this vido is only specific to the people who want to do this course to the possibly get a job at this company.



This video uses both a voice over and visuals to explain about the library and what it can offer anyone who uses it. By using this it can keep the viewer interested in what the voice over is trying to say to them, which means they will take in and find out things that they woulnd't have necessarily have known before. However, this video in over 5 minutes long, which can be too long for someone who wants to find out something quickly, without having to go through the whole of the video.


This video uses mainly film related aspects, instead of using visual graphics and a voice over, however they do use some, when they are showing the website. This video dow keep the viewer interested because there is always something going on in the background of the voice over, whether that be film of people or the website. The voice over is clear and concise with what he is saying and how he says it, which again allows for the viewer to be more engaged to the video.


This video has mainly used screen recordings to have the visual information available for people to watch as they listen to the voice over.  Due to the brightness of the website itself it can keep the viewer interested for a while, however the length of the video can put you off some what, because it is 8 minutes long. Therefore, as I have previously stated, people could find this annoying as they cannot find the information that they would really need quickly and easily.


I have noticed a common similarity throughout all of these videos and that it that they are all over 2 minutes long, which in my opinion an be too long when you want to find something out quickly. Also this would personally make me feel bored after 2 minutes, and therefore I will not find out everything that the introductory video wishes to tell me.

Beginning of posters for The Library

Here are a few poster designs for the library, and like the ones for ilearn I discarded them because of the childish nature and simplist feel of them.

Beginning of posters for iLearn

Here are a few poster designs that I had done, which I then quickly discarded them because they seemed to simple and childish for this final project.

Production Log - Posters

The concept I have chosen is to ask the audience the question 'Where Do You Go?' because I will be drawing them in with that question making it personal to every viewer, as I am sure everyone has similar issues when it come to research/referencing/essays or anything academic.
For my posters I used the designs that I have created in my sketchbook to begin with.

To begin with, I had to create a background which will not diverse the attention from the main section of the poster, therefore after experimenting with a black background I then used the transparency tool to make the opacity of the background lower, until finally I got a light grey background, which symbolised what people think of the library in the sense that it can be quite a boring place to be.

After that, I had to figure out where I would be placing my main components which will be in the same place throughout the poster series, they would be the main title (which will be at the top and bottom of the page) and the Sussex Downs College Logo.

I then began to create my centre images. I wanted to keep the images simplistic so that it didn't take anything away from the main objective of the question/answer combo. With some of the images, especially the ones with people in them, I used gradients to give them more definition and 3D-ness.
I didn't want to use photographs, as that I a common trend when it comes to college/university posters, this is so that will stand out from the rest of the posters that are up throughout the college already.

I have designed and created 8 different posters for Denice to choose from, 4 for iLearn and 4 for The Library.

Other Library/iLearn Posters

Here are a few posters, which I have found on the internet, however when I looked up for Promotional Posters for Libraries I couldn't find that many, unfortunately.

Even though these were the only ones I could find, some work and some don't.
I like the poster with the world on, however it does say that you can find your information on the internet as you have the world at your finger tips, which is what we are trying to avoid.
Each of them however are not for college/university libraries they are for general libraries and therefore not really what I am looking for. However, from a design point of view it has helped me to decide what I would like to do for my posters.

Other videos for librarys

Here are a few videos that I have found which I will use to try and come up with my campaign style.


This is quite an entertaining video because it uses the Old Spice advert to the create an advert for their local college library. I really like the style of this video because the transactions between each scene are smooth and seemless, and the whole time the viewer is engaged with the video so you can't actually take your eyes off of it incase you miss something interesting, therefore you are paying attention to what the guy is doing and saying, which in the end makes for a successful advert/promotional video.


This video in comparison is very long, and as I began to watch it I rapidly became uninterested mainly because of the length of the video and that unfortunately the woman talking doesn't have a very exciting voice, and therefore when she is talking I feel like I do not want to listen to her as she is telling me too much information at one time, so much that I cannot take it all in at once.


Lastly, this video is a mixture between the both where it can keep the viewer interested in what is happening on screen, however, the one problem is that it becomes very 'samey' because whoever created this has used the same sort of stop screen to present the different parts of information. The music allows for this to be more visually stimulating for the viewer as well.

Possible Concepts

There are a few possbile concepts that I could go with for the campaign.

One is a jokey way of things, where I can design and create a viral video which will play on the challenging stereotypes aspect that Denice suggested. I could then do a series of posters which then will direct them to where they are supposed to go to find the information they need to know.

The other concept is to go down the serious route, creating a introductory video to iLearn and then design and create a series of posters that asks people where would they go to find the infomation?

I think for this particular project I will choose the more serious approach however put my own funky twist on it by making a promo video to promote iLearn in a more interesting way then just an introductory video. This way people can learn about iLearn and the Library and what they can do for the students.

Ian (Freelancer)

History of Ian

• Has been in the web industry for around 20 years and has been independant the whole time.


• Studied Furniture design at Art College.


• In 1992 - went to Plymouth University to do a Sandwich course in a arts based multimedia degree.


• During 1 year out of univeristy - worked for 8 different companies making CD Roms, during that time he made a lot of contacts in the industry.


• Never used or was part of an agency (which he is proud to say), he got all of his work using Word of Mouth.


• Downside with web 20 years ago was that there was a restricted colour palette.


• Compu-serve - an online private network (file sharing communities)


• Learnt HTML on the job, however college did teach him that it is better to be both a developer and designer mainly for awareness of each of the different aspects of the industry.


• Learnt - PHP coding and HTML/CSS to get into what he wanted.

What Ian does

• Mainly does - touch screen/mobile/web/interactive work.


• His job title in constantly changing, especially over the past 10 years to keep up with the times and to best describe what he does easily.

Will make money in London NOT in Brighton!!

Tailoring Talk from Ian about what to do after uni

• Look at Cogapp/Simantical/Epic to possibly do internships for.


• Project Management - will possibly be the best option for me.


• Blast Theory - is an arty farty bunch in portslade.


• Other possible companies to look at - Clear Left (which is a user experience company in Brighton).


• It is better to do both designing and coding.

CVs

• Tailor your CV to the job you are applying for.


• Be specific about thing, don't beat around the bush.


• Only relevant information


• SPELL CHECK EVERYTHING!!!


• Does it communicate everything you want.


• Follow up CV with a phone call to find out if they received it or if they are interested.


• Use persistance.

Tips

• University - Trains the way you think


• Applying for work - they want to know what you have done, not what your hobbies are!


• Know everything about the company you are applying for - recent clients/jobs etc


• Ask your contact to see what they tink of a piece of work you have done.

Ian was really helpful from a freelance point of view, however, for me I would prefer to work within an agency, but all of the advise that Ian gave about what to put in our CVs and the tips about what jobs to look for and how we think was very interesting.

However I would say that the only issues was that his comment about there not being any money in Brighton and only in London, I would disagree with that statement as there are many successful companies that have shown that is not the case.

Carl Holder from Kerb

Brief Background of Carl:

• Went to art college to study product design (mostly making products by hand)

Kerb

• Brighton based agency



• Been around for about 15 years (one of the first companies of the industry)



• Kerb started as a web company as the dot com bubble burst.



• Due to the industry moving fast Kerb moved from just web design to designing and making Internet games. They used programs like Future Splash, which is the beginning of Flash



• They are big on Manga artwork and they have an in house style, which then influenced the style of the games, as they were Japanese viral style.



• Pepsi was one of their big clients at the beginning.



• Kerb had to evolve to the times as big companies such as Playstation wanted their own image, and not use Kerb's style anymore.



• Companies such as Playstation wanted a game for promotional reasons, to promote a drink or university etc.

How?

• To make videos go viral Kerb uses coding as a SWF and then 'seeds' it to other people to then distribute the video, which then means they will send it to people they know and a domino effect the happens.

Stats

• About 1 million people played their games with the first 5 days of release.



• About 750 million people have been playing their games in total from the start.

Why?

• Kerb makes sure that throughout their games, or throughout a series of games, there is a running mean that then makes the games constant and ends up makes them better.

Other Information

• Because of companies becoming greedy with money, they mostly want now to have 'pay to play' games.



• Kerb now focuses on mobile games/applications as well as facebook games and big budget client such as Disney, BBC and E4.



• Applications for Disney America and Japan are one of the biggest clients Kerb has. Disney Japan has got one of the biggest selling games in the world.

Technology

• Flash 11 and HTML 5 are the 2 most important pieces of software that Kerb uses.



• Flash 11 is an online gaming platform. Also Flash 11 uses a PC graphics card to run the game (console quality gaming).



• Adobe joined with Unity to then allow for more people to use different programs together.



• To use Flash 11 people have to have an up-to-date architecture for a PC, so one that is no more than 5 years old.



• An example of HTML coding making games - http://www.cuttherope.ie/ and Angry birds for Google Chrome.



• For mobile games/apps they use Sprite sheets which are huge files with all of the artwork within them.

Interesting

• How we are moneytising games - buying selling add ons to free/cheap games - to enhance gaming experience.



• Terms from Carl - Whales: People who spend a lot of money on games. Freeplayers: People who do not spend a lot of money, if any at all.

Image of how people moneytise games

Opinions

• Android are now not very popular for this type of work because games are easy to piratise and there are way to many different platforms to test and make for.

Other Companies

• Rovio




• AMG Pop

Funding

• People get funding for apps and games via getting people intersted in it before they make or release it, which will hopefully mean they will invest in that games for a cheaper verison.

Employees

• There is a Creative Team, Development Team and Management Team.




• The creative team designs the game, and possibly produces a mini version, the creative team have a basic knowledge of front end coding for full version the developement team then codes the game to standard and then the management team, looks over everything and reports back to the client, managing the project.

What they looking for

• People need a spark and passion for the industry, must be self suficiant.




• Keep up to date with all of the latest news - RSS Reader/Google Reader.




• Post relevant information on Twitter or repost imteresting posts you have seen.




• It's not what you know it's who you know!!




• Get involves with meeting groups - Build Brighton/Brighton Group/Dot Brighton/Raspberry Pie

Carl was a very interesting speaker, he made what he does sound interesting and exciting, which makes me think about my productively about what I would like to do when I finish university. All of the companies that Carl suggested as well as the meetings are different and I didn't realise just how many events there were in Brighton alone.

The tips he gave use as well I will more than likely use for when I apply to a job or internship, and the background is similar to ours, demonstrating where we can be in only 15 years time, which is a great motivator.

New Idea

After sending in my proforma to Sue and then discussing my idea with the class I found that for my final project I was not happy with continuing with the design and creation of Alex's business identity.

People mentioned that doing this sort of job is fine on the side, however for my final piece for me to show off my talents it would not allow me to push myself to then created something that I would be proud of to show to everyone. Therefore I have decided to change my idea to something else, which will then spark my creative to do something that is mentally and visually stimulating.

Sue did mention about a project that is to promote the Sussex Downs College Library and iLearn. Which she did mention before but because I was so keen to do this business promotion that I didn't think anything of it, however I did come up with a few ideas in my head.
So I therefore went back to Sue to see if it was still ok for me to do this project, which she then got me in contact with the Learning Centres Co-ordinator, Denice Penrose, where I was able to arrange a meeting with her to discuss what she wanted me to do, and what she wanted to get out of this.

Mich and Si from Liquid Light

Background:


Si - is a web designer and has been working for Liquid Light for about 4 years.
Mich - is a web designer and has been for about 10 years, she started with Liquid Light about 5 years ago and has been there ever since.


Most of the business that Liquid Light gets has been through word of mouth, they have only just recently set up a blog for the designers to post what they are thinking about and what they might be learning about at the time.


The Foot in the Door

• Get as much experience as you can, whether that be via friends, community groups, online communities or freelance anything to build up your portfolio.


• NO ONE will hire you if you have NO experience.


• Portfolio counts for everything. CV is worth doing to get noticed, so lay out your CV in an imaginative and creative way. Get their attention.


• Example - One guy sent in a box of chocolates with his CV, which then got passed around the office, and at one time everyone was talking about where they got the chocolates from.


• Work you way up - start at the bottom, even if that means just getting coffee or something.


• Know your value (don't work for peanuts, and don't sell your self short; as people will ask why so cheap?)


• Standard Freelance rates are between £20-40 per hour.


• Keep your ear to the ground (this industry moves fast, especially the website business) - Read blogs/Look at other websites/Be inquisitive.


• Know your limitations of new technologies - especially with web design - you don't want to say you can do something and then can't.


• Get an understanding of the technical side of things - so you can be more employable, and you are not just a designer.


• For web design you need to know CSS/HTML/JQuery.

Suggested Blogs to look at for updated technologies:

• Smashing Magazine


• CSS web gallery - Site Inspire/Best CSS Gallery

Their process of a job:

• They first receive a bried from the client. (Get a specific and structure brief, which is out lined right at the very beginning with the client).


• Get everything in writing and signed off by both the designers and the client(s).


• They make up mood boards to show the client.


• Design Wireframes and Site Mapping so that they know exactly what they need to do.


• UX testing - which is in house.


• Build the website (coding)


• AB testing/CMS (Content Management System)

The Reality

• You will need to compromise at times to get the jobs which will be your 'bread and butter'.


• Develop a thick skin - everyone won't be nice!


• Learn how to manage expectations (i.e. Control you clients)


• Learn how to define boundries (i.e. when to put your foot down)


• Learn how to network - GLUG (open meeting)


• Be passionate about what you do!


• Remember this is a business (you can't always do what you want to do!)


• Work hard. Rewards will come.

The Portfolio

• Personal Sites - make them clean and simple.


• Behance - This is a portfolio site (social interaction is built in)


• Physical vs Digital - print outs are quite good to view designs in context


• Moo Cards - site for business cards.

Social Media

• Think before you broadcast your thoughts, especially if you are being negative about someone else's work.


• Be positive and constructive


• Learn things - try and learn at leats 1 new thing everyday.


• Go to Dribbble, Flickr, Twitter, Pinterest and Behance for inspiration.


• Also look at Computer Arts (which is a magazine) and Creative Review Blog (Sometimes have open competitions for anyone to enter).

Keep the Fires Burning

• Have interests which are outside of your job - make sure you keep those interests up as they can inspire you in your job.


• Diversity in life leads to a healthy imagination - don't limit your imagination.


• If you are working hard on one project and hit a wall go away do something else, so that you can have some fresh eyes when you go back to it.


• Do what you love.


• Always remember that you are designing for the end user not yourself (usability is key!)


• Find your niche (jack of all trades, maste of none). It is always good to have a speciality.

Recommended Sites For Hosting and Domain Names:

• Ratspace


• Media Temple


• 123 Reg

This meeting with Mich and Si was really useful because it was from a designers point of view, and they have been in our position and they demonstrate to us what we can achieve. The whole experience was helpful especially if I was to go into that side of the industry.

Also they taught us that even though when you find your perfect job, you are always learning whether that be a new technique or even a new technology to make your work better and up-to-date with the times.

I would say the most helpful parts of the talk was the bit about CV and the way to stand out in front of a crowd, so to speak.

Research into competitors

Alex's business covers a wide range of different areas of landscaping, from land to water, for example lakes and ponds.

Here are 4 different competitors that cover the different areas:

Aqua Landscape Design:
http://www.aqualandscapedesign.co.uk/
This company is mainly based on water landscaping and water features.
The website is quite busy on first glance, the buttons are not obvious and I found them by rolling over the words, they are however a lighter shade of green so they do stand out from the background.
The colour scheme, the light blue with the green is quite calmly and pleasing to the eye, and really maps out what the company does, the green for the gardening/landscaping side of things and then the light blue for the water side of things, also the amount of these colours used gives an indication to what the company does as well.

Lakes and Ponds by PHB Contractors Ltd
http://www.lakes-ponds.co.uk/
With this website, it is completely different to the previous website, because the site is very minimalistic, with only 2 sections, the header and the body. The header has the buttons/links and the company name within it, the buttons are easy to find and are clearly mapped out.
On the home page there is a changing image above the fold, demonstrating what the company can do, and when you go below the fold there is a clearly laid out set of articles which are the most important to the company, and they all have specific headers as well. Lastly, there is an enquiry form at the bottom, with also what the company have done recently, with a photo gallery of everything they have done.
This website as a whole is nice presented and you are able to find the information that you need to then get an idea of how this company works and operates.

Groundwork
http://www.groundwork.org.uk/
This site is very visually interesting to look at, it is not busy and very clearly laid out. Everything has a place, but they do all mould together very well.
It looks like they are some sort of charity, helping schools and communities have better grounds etc.
There are loads of links that people can look at, which in a way can really put you off, however in this case they have marked out their main objectives in each section so that if people are looking for a specific thing then they can find it using their drop-down list of links from the buttons.
The images and colours work because they seem quite urban and give off a vibe that they don't mind getting their hands dirty.

K.P.H Groundworks Ltd
http://www.kphdrainageltd.co.uk/
When I first found this website I immediately saw a problem, where all of the buttons are they seems to have butted up close together, which I am sure should not be the case, there maybe a problem with the CSS or that the site is not built to be seen on a laptop.
Despite that the simple style of the website allows for me to find out all of the information about the company that I would need if I was to use them.
The colour scheme however I feel that for this doesn't work as well, for some reason having a different shades of blue and then a blue to white gradient in the background seems quite amature and for this sort of company does not work.

Idea for Project

For this most exciting project, I have found a client called Alex Richardson, and he would like me to design and create:

• A multi-page website


• Leaflets


• Business cards


• A Facebook Page (which then links to the website)

With the help of the client, I will also be coming up with a name for the company, as of yet there isn't one. At the moment, he has been trading under his own name, and he would like a company name that will describe what he does in only a few words.

Background on the Company/Alex:

As a whole the company specialises in constructing and maintaining Lakes, Ponds as well as general Landscaping jobs. He also does groundworks (such as drainage and landscaping etc), earthmoving and forestry work too. When it comes to lakes and ponds, he builds new ones, de-silts old ones and rebuilds broken ones.
His main clientele consists of people with big houses, farms and estates, and nearly all of his jobs are from private clients, not businesses, however, the occasional business work does come up.
So after being told all of this, the main target audience are middle-upper class people who are asset rich and have money in the bank to spend.The scales of jobs that he works on are mainly big jobs; however they can range from being 1 weeklong to 4-6 months long on any one job.

Oli (Studio Makgill)

Oli studied graphic design and then started doing interships in London for about 1 year.
Then went to Studio Makgill to do an internship and ended up getting a full time job and has been there ever since (for about 4 years now). He mentioned that he learnt his printing techniques on the job and NOT at university.

Job 1

British Crafst (materials) Book:
(Naturalis Works - Oliver Spencer)

This took a couple of months to come up with ideas for this client. Once they had finalised some of their ideas, they then chose 3/4 to show to the client to then have the client choose which one they would like to use.
They used photography (Photographer being Steven Fisher) within a film to show off the details of the products. Within this short film, as well as other films, they demonstrate their ideas and concepts, which are then used through blogs and London Fashion week (Oliver Spencer).

'The Devil is in the Detail' This is a good quote.

From a film (Naturalis Works #1 (of 3)) - Which a behind the scenes of a fashion designer, they make a coat first then sort out the details after - moving things around using different colours etc.

Job 2

Exhibition - Made in Birmingham (to celebrate an exhibition from the 1800's)

• Handed over a huge archive of Birmingham by Birmingham Council.


• Used a similar type and an awkward hand quality (industrial).


• Used photos from the archive to come up with a concept design for the exhibition.


• They used Standard 8, which is a company based in Lewes, to help with the exhibition.


• Used a variety of serif typefaces to create a feel of the victorian era.


• Used flood coating to cover the pape in a different colour completely for the booklet for the exhibition - like an adjustment layer.


• They made a bench by using stensils and typefaces.


• The font for the exhibition they worked on to make and sell. The font is called Central Avenue - had to modernise it so it wasn't associated completely with the Made in Birmingham Exhibition.

Job 3

The Lollipop Shoppe - sells furniture

• They used a cut-out to match with the hand made feel of the company.


• They made Illustrations, and Anthony Burrell made notebook illustrations, which were a silk screen style.


• Used laser to cut out stencils.


• Used multiple typefaces for the branding of the company.

www.thelollipopshoppe.co.uk (Website of the company)

Job 4

Bench 10 - to raise awareness. Based in Spitalfields in London.

• Got designers to redesign benches and used a map that people could go round and find them which then led back to the Lollipop Shoppe.


• Made posters for 'Celebrating 50 years of Brasil'

Tips

• Value of design


• Creative freedom


• Strffonore video - printing process


• Send a short email with your work attached - only about 3/4 pieces of your best work.


• Also send a link to your portfolio site.


• Let your work speak for itself


• Maybe completely redesign portfolio including project of your own briefs (quick turn around projects).

Brief - Independent Project

This module is intended to test your ability to work independently. The successful synthesis of all modules delivered throughout the course promotes the ability for self-directed study. One substantial assignment brief is set, typically eight-weeks in duration, giving scope for interpretation using the underlying themes of the course as described in the course rationale.

By this point in the course, you have experienced sustained practical and theoretical elements of study and become progressively used to self-initiated work. It is expected that you have achieved a personal balance of all of the separate course elements and combined these into a personal visual language that can be applied to a given brief reflecting an expression of individual interests, beliefs and opinions. As the course progresses, more of the nature and content of work produced is your responsibility.

The ability of you to cope with this responsibility is tested by this module. It is not the final assessment tool of the course but it is a useful guide to demonstrate how much you are capable of tackling independently a set of given constraints. You are encouraged to follow relevant individual paths, and to develop high-level skills and test progress against your own criteria. You will have access to tutor guidance throughout the duration of this module, though the nature of this is fundamentally different to what might be expected at the beginning of the course and certainly in comparison to FDA Level. Discussions with tutors are primarily conducted with reference to concepts, the architecture of proposed projects and possible research contexts.

The Brief:

The Brief (general description of the course work requirements)
Students are asked to choose one of the quotes as a starting point, or to do an independent project totally of their own choice, and formulate a brief, indicating possible avenues they may wish to explore.

This is registered with the Course Leader and constitutes ‘Part One – Proposal’ form (300 words + reading list), which must include a reading list submitted by you.

‘Part Two – Project Review’ (500 words) is submitted by the students at the end of the module. This review document is self-evaluative in nature and is intended as a tool for you to review the final projects’ intentions and conclusions, alongside all research work and the final project execution.

Both forms are included in the assessment criteria for this module.
Please choose from one of the following options:

1. “It is a truism to day that we live in a “remix culture.” Today, many of cultural and lifestyle arenas - music, fashion, design, art, web applications, user created media, food - are governed by remixes, fusions, collages, or mash-ups. If post-modernism defined 1980s, remix definitely dominates 2000s, and it will probably continue to rule the next decade as well.Manovich, Lev. What comes after Remix?

2. “We live in a world where there is more and more information, and less and less meaning.” Jean Baudrillard, Simulacra and Simulation

3. “To practice space is thus to repeat the joyful and silent experience of childhood; it is, in a place, to be other and to move toward the other...Kandinsky dreamed of: 'a great city built according to all the rules of architecture and then suddenly shaken by a force that defies all calculation.” Michel de Certeau, The Practice of Everyday Life

4. “...Fan fiction is a way of the culture repairing the damage done in a system where contemporary myths are owned by corporations instead of owned by the folk.” Henry Jenkins

5. “This is the postmodern desert inhabited by people who are, in effect, consuming themselves in the form of images and abstractions through which their desires, sense of identity, and memories are replicated and then sold back to them as products” Larry McCaffrey

6. “Do stuff. be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. stay eager.” Susan Sontag

7. “By the late twentieth century, our time, a mythic time, we are all chimeras, theorized and fabricated hybrids of machine and organism; in short, we are cyborgs.” Donna J. Haraway

8. A project of your choice (you may want to use a different quote as a starting point, or it could be something completely different).

Final Posters

September:
October:
November:

Crit Comments

After showing my posters to the class, the mentioned a few changes that I needed to change to make my posters even more.

There were things that they liked:

• The colours (worked well on the black background, stood out)


• The font (nice and simple, easy to read)


• They worked well as a campaign as they were all consistant.

And things that needed changing:

• I was told that having the slanty text for 'Saturday' did not work, and would look a lot better straight and centred.


• Have the logo on the bottom left hand-side of the poster, and make it smaller, as it doesn't have to be so prominent.


• Make the font of 'Sessions' thicker, so that it easier to see.


• Make body font thicker, to make it stand out more and easier to read from a far.

Process for Posters

To create the smokey effect I had to look for a way of doing it using Photoshop and tutorials. Instead of finding a tutorial I found this link:

http://qbrushes.net/photoshop-abstract-brushes/21-smoke-brush-set/

which is a link to download free brushes for Photoshop, they happen to be a set of smoke brushes, which for this idea worked out perfectly.

I had to find images that would fit in with the concept of a club scene, and so I didn't limit myself to the typical all girl campaign I wanted to find a male or 2 that would fit in. I found 3 images that I made sure was not copyrighted, as it would be for a real advertising campaign, and copyright is a major factor into this type of work.

The first 2 posters were simple, one male and one female, however I struggled with the 3rd, and so as a tester I tried using the Ministry of Sound logo. I showed this to a few people in the class, and found I would need to try something else. I then thought of having someone breakdancing, and I ended up finding an image of a man doing a one handed handstand, which ended up being perfect for this 3 month campaign.

All of the testers I printed out so that I could see how they would work with the colours and black background, before I carried on with the idea, therefore all of the print outs are in my sketchbook.

The font for my main header (Saturday) I chose a font that would enhance my design. Unfortunately, I had left it too late to create my own, therefore I went to DaFont.com to find one, and the one that I found was called CLUB, this was a free font that had no restrictions of use on it. I only chose this font for the 'Saturday' part because it would make more impact on the viewer, and then have a contrasting 'Sessions' font, which will then tie is the body text, and make everything consistant.

I then used a very simple font for the 'Sessions' and body text, and I really like the elegance and simplicity of Helvetica Neue.

I showed what I had done to Chris and a few other people, at first I had my text in seperate blocks and butted up to the edges of the posters, they suggested making the text fit around the image in the centre, creating some sort of a border, which ended up making the posters look ten times better then having just blocks of text. It makes them look funky and more interesting to look at.

Here are the 2 versions, one with the blocks of text and one with the text around the centre image.