Mail out ideas

This work by Lotta Nieminen is for an Exhibition identity for the Annantalo Culture Center in Helsinki.

The title of the exhibition (Let Me Be) showcased art about and by disabled people.

Although this work is is for an exhibition identity, it reflects the kind of identity I want to got for with my own personal branding. My work is very vibrant generally and I have always used my logo in full colour. However, I think it would be more versatile if it were consistently black or white when reversed out of another colour. I think that the colour and process could be altered depending on the context, but as a starting point, I want my identity to be monochromatic.

At the moment I am considering ideas for my mail out. I like the idea of it being black - envelope & contents at first glance, and then perhaps folding out to reveal a multitude of colours and processes.

Book Fair

These are some images of the work that I produced for the Manchester Book fair last week.....

new pdf

Since my correspondence with the studios I contacted, I feel that I have become far more directed with my design practice. I created this illustrated/image driven type set of work samples which I have sent to Craig Ward of Words are Pictures in New York. He was so helpful with the feedback he gave me before, and in his last message he said get in touch with anymore questions if I needed to so I thought it would be a good opportunity not to pass up!

notes for ppd presentation

SLOW DOWN

1.

Looking back over the last two years, I think it is clear to see that I have definitely faced an ongoing struggle to find my place as a graphic designer, and refine what my personal practice is. Coming from a fine art and illustration background, I found if very hard to find a way to produce the work I wanted to produce within a graphic design context. This conflict between graphic design and illustration was brought up in my last ppd presentation, which is why I want to focus on this issue in particular.




2.

I was really dissatisfied with my work for the print module, the first module of the second year. I feel that I was really out of practice, and although I felt I was working hard, I feel that I made some rushed and poor decisions leading to disappointing final outcomes and the lowest grade I have got so far on the course. I think that this was down to poor time management of the balance between research and practice - in terms of not allowing myself enough time for the practical side. As well as struggling with the balance between the image driven design I wanted to produce, and what was appropriate for the brief.




3.

On the other hand, and quite unexpectedly, I really enjoyed the design for screen module. I think what I like about it was that for most of us it was a completely new area to explore so everyone started off at relatively equal ability. This was the perfect opportunity for me to apply my image driven style to an appropriate context, and despite the fact that I dont think motion graphics is an area that I want to pursue, the module really helped me to start to find a direction. I also found that throughout this module my time management, documentation and evaluation skills really improved, resulting in my highest mark so far - which was probably as a result of the drive I got from my disappointment with the previous grade.




The one common denominator from both these modules, was the way that I started to work with illustrated type, which in a way I think started to define my practice....




4.

The defining point for me this year was the image module. I really enjoyed every brief and felt that it helped me to apply image driven design to a range of media across graphic design practice. The area that I enjoyed the most was the 'Type as Image' brief where we had to explore image driven typography which became something that I continued to explore for the final studio brief.




5.

Another element of the image module I really enjoyed was the book fair brief. I liked the crafting element as well as working to a live deadline and being able to sell the work at the book fair. I enjoyed having the time to work with more hands-on practices like screen printing as well, which I have found that I often dont have enough time during the studio briefs.




6.

This encouraged me to participate in the pop up shop later on in the year. I definitely find it really satisfying working towards something with a possible outcome of being able to sell or display something.




7.

I also did a series of live briefs this year, both paid and unpaid which I found was a good experience, also, in some cases, enabled me to continue with illustration work that I want to continue with outside of the course, but that isn't necessarily relevant for the briefs I want to peruse on the course.




7.

I think that the product range distribution brief was where it all came together for me this year. I knew early on in the brief writing process that I wanted to work with illustrated type, and this brief allowed me to do so. I designed a range of illustrated typefaces and applied them to a range of media. I felt that this project is the first time I have successfully found a balance between graphic design and illustration, and properly applied image driven design to the correct media and context.




8.

This brief also allowed me to design a publication which is something that I had not yet ever attempted on the course. It allowed me to work with layout in way that I hadn't done previously as well as working with publication as a print based media, rather than packaging. Although the outcome was fairly simplistic in design by most standards, it was a huge learning curb for me.




9.

Another element I really enjoyed during this module was the web design workshops. Although I have been taught some basic coding in the past, it was a completely new piece of software for me to use but I really enjoyed it and found the outcomes really satisfying. This prompted me to design a website for the product range distribution brief as well. I really want to pursue this area both over the summer and leading on into next year.




10.

In terms of my plans for the summer, I want to create my personal website as well as doing some freelance work for a couple of people. I am also looking forward to my placement with the design conspiracy later on in the summer.




11.

In terms of next year, I want to continue with my exploration of illustrated type,

image driven design across a range of media including hands on processes such as screen print and crafting ,

as well as web design.

paper scissor stone/we don't withhold poster competition

I got through to the next round of the poster competition; an exhibition in the shop of the 30 chosen poster prints. It was great to see 5 entries from our course on the wall! It was a really nice night and great to see Ailsa make the top five! 

My final poster design :

Pop up shop

Hand painted and screen printed tote bags sold at Leeds Pop Up Shop

Manufacturing cost : £19

Time spent on production : Under 2 hours

Cost to enter the pop up shop : £10

Commision taken by pop up shop : 20%

Retail price : £4.99

Total bags made : 14

Total sold :14

Total money made : £69.86

Total profit made : £55.89

End of module evaluation ougd203

Module code : OUGD203
YCN Collaborative brief
Product-Range-Distribution
Web Design

I have really enjoyed this module, particularly the second half. I think that following the good progress I made in the last module and getting my first 1st, combined with what I learnt about myself as a designer throughout the image module, I think that I have really started to establish my practice. I felt that the second part of this brief enabled me to really direct myself towards the design areas that are relevant and important for me, and that I really enjoy; such as illustrated type.

SKILLS ACQUIRED/DEVELOPED

Despite what I just mentioned, this is not to say that I have not learned any new skills. If anything, I feel like I have learnt more through this module than I have in any module so far. The YCN part of the brief demanded that we learn to work in a collaborative situation. I enjoy working alone and having final decision making privilege, however I am very diplomatic and also find that in terms of idea generation I work extremely well with other people. I really enjoyed working with Matt on this brief and we didn't have any discrepancies. This part of the module forced me to improve my communication skills as this was essential to the collaboration working successfully. I think that the main skills I learnt from this was getting my point and opinions across in the most approachable and suitable way. This is an essential skill that I will have to continue to develop.

I found that the Product-Range-Distribution brief taught me different kinds of skills, perhaps more practical ones. I created a publication for the first time ever, which was something that I wanted to do as I feel it is important that I learn this skill. My understanding of layout and formatting publications for print has improved phenomenally!

The other huge learning curve was learning design for web. I really enjoyed this - both the web design brief and also designing website mock ups for my Product-Range-Distribution brief, and I think that it is something that I want to take forward into second year. I feel like I am still such an amateur, but I feel like I have a huge amount of drive to keep learning. This is something that I am going to work on personally over the summer. I feel that it is something that the longer you put into it, and regularly, the better I will get.

Another skill that I think I developed enormously throughout this module is my brief writing skills. I always have an idea of what I want to do, (or at least what I don't want to do!), but until this point have not been fully capable of directing my brief so that I have the opportunities that I need. However, with the Product-range-distribution brief, I feel that I got exactly what I wanted to get out of it, as well as really enjoying it. This was by no means down to the brief-writing workshops which I found really helpful.

STRENGTHS :

I think that my main strength throughout this module has been my dedication to work and the amount of time I have put in. I have continued to put in the same level of work into this module as I have for the whole of this year, and I personally can see this reflected in my work and my growing confidence as a designer. I feel like I really push to get the most of my day, both through good time management and putting in the early mornings and late nights most days. This allows me to always feel on top of things, which stops me from getting over stressed - which I know is what makes me make my weakest decisions. I also feel that a strength for me in this module has been which my blog which I update religiously. I think that this helps me to evaluate my work more regularly and in a more constructive way. Another strength for me in this module has been my diplomacy skills - both with the ycn collaboration and my enterprise module, where I have been working with boys as well. I sometimes find it a little bit hard to be taken as seriously as I would like! But I think that these collaborations (especially with boys!) have forced me to learn to stand my ground!

In terms of design, I think that my strongest areas in this module were my website designs - now I have a basic understanding for how to program a website and how it is required to navigate, I feel like my understanding of design in this area has improved and so have my designs - particularly my website mock ups for the Product-Range-Distribution brief. I think that my strongest design area in this module has been my image driven/illustrative type. I am really pleased with this area of my practice and I think that it is something that I will definitely continue to develop in third year,

WEAKNESSES :

I think that my main weakness in this module has been setting myself too much in the time that is allocated. I took on two live briefs throughout the Product-Range-Distribution brief as well as making and submitting work for the pop up shop this week, (which also involved me working in it!), which in hindsight, was a pretty big mistake on the week of submission. This year I have found that my time management has improved a lot and that in fact each submission this year I have been more than prepared for. I think that I have become arrogant in believing that this will just come naturally now, and this is why I have ended up having a much more intense final week of this project! Although everything has been completed, I need to make sure that I do not do this next module if at all possible. At this stage in my career I think that the course has to take priority when it comes to the crunch!

Things from OUGD203 that I want to continue to develop in third year :

-Web design

-Illustrated/image driven typography

-Layout

-Image driven design

-Branding

-Time management - Multiple projects

How I would grade myself on the following areas:

5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor

Attendance 5

Punctuality 5

Motivation 5

Commitment 5

Quantity of work produced 4

Quality of work produced 3

Contribution to the group 3

Time 23:05 Thursday 26th May 2011

"Feedback Design" website screenshots

Pop up shop

These are the tote bags I have been screen printing for the Pop up shop next week. Been a bit hectic with the studio deadline next week as well but finally finished!

3rd design to come!

revised header designs for quince website

Live brief

I have been asked to design a logo for the website for 'Clay Barn Quinces' a quince farm in Essex. 

These are my initial variations :

I have also designed a pattern for the background of the site to match the logo, should they wish to use it...

I decided to send a pdf of my ideas to get feedback and to help decide if any changes need to be made before formating the files correctly for web and sending them...