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.