Product/Range/Distribution - Brief Analysis

Product - Range - Distribution

For the second half of the OUGD203 module, we were asked to source about five briefs that were either former or current live briefs that we would like to attempt. I've listed the ones I picked out below along with a few key points as to why I chose them.

Environment | Typography | Environment (ISTD 2009)
Typographic information piece based on observation, Publication, book, poster or combination?/ Bespoke design piece, Geographic locations, Local area.


Type Factory (ISTD 2009)
Visual identity and promotional materials/ Museum and gallery space graphics/ Multiple application across different media.


True Stories: True Geographies (ISTD 2010)
Site specific typography/ Taking it back into the landscape/ Cityscape/ Element of way-finding/  Typography trail/ Installations that escape the printed page.


Large scale image KPMG (D&AD)
Monumental scale/ Humanise a large architectural space/ Enhance a working environment/ Illustration-Image based.


Mutton Quad (ISTD 2010)
Typographically themed restaurant/ Visual identity/ Promotion/ Words and language/ Environment of the restaurant.

Web Design Session 2

PHP File -
Communication between a website and a database eg. Amazon. Otherwise the site would have thousands of pages and be incredibly slow.

ASP -
Similar to PHP.

CSS-
Cascading Style Sheet, used for fonts, overall design etc.

JavaScript-
Used mainly for sound, Games.


Below is the code for the simplest website with no content.

The on line 1 tells us that from now on we are talking in html. The same code appears again on line 9 but with a forward slash which tells us that we have finished.

Anything you want to be visible must go between the body tags.

Above shows the site being linked to the root folder where all the files for the site are kept, within this is the images folder. This then shows up in the bottom left window where you will now only be able to access files in the root and images folders.

Creating the first webpage:

The homepage must be saved as 'index.html' as this is the web standard which is internationally recognised.

A 1 row, 1 column table inserted into the homepage.

Adding colour to the background.

Adding another column using the split cell button.

Adding colour to each row.

Adding another table to the page.

Designing a rollover button in Photoshop:

Web Document.

Buttons added to the index page.

Image Module - Evaluation

I have found the Image module to be a highly enjoyable and beneficial period during my second year of study. Since the start I have really enjoyed the fast paced nature of work and the overall format of the briefs and lessons set for us. Even though there was often a quick (1 week) turn around on many of the set briefs, I really aimed to produce something that was carefully considered and of high quality as I realised that this was a great opportunity to make pieces that could really boost my portfolio.
The module has enabled me to investigate a wide variation of working practices, ranging from getting back to basics through hand drawing, refreshing my screen printing knowledge and also designing for resolutions I had not yet experienced. I found the briefs that were set often had a good balance between being open to our own interpretation whilst also having to keep in mind specifications of the required resolution for example. The first project that stands out for me was 'Type As Image'. I really enjoyed this brief as we were required to produce three large scale posters and I managed to use a different method of design practice to create each one; hand cut paper, digital print and screen print. Another highlight was 'Scale/Frame/Format' where we were given a certain object to work with and a very fixed resolution to work towards. This turned out to be much more interesting than I first anticipated since my given object of a skateboard I initially found to be less than inspiring. But, after developing a good, old-fashioned hand rendered design, I ended up with something that I was very pleased with and received very positive feedback on from other people in the group. Perhaps the most successful and fully resolved work from the module was my piece for the 'Book Works' brief where we designed an edition of 10 publications that were to be sold at a public book fair. This was a opportunity for me to get stuck into some editorial and layout work - which I had been longing to for some time - and luckily my idea came quickly and the development and production went smoothly. I was really quite proud of the finished result and I got some great feedback from peers and tutors on it and furthermore, I was especially pleased to see that it sold well at the book fair.
Looking across the breadth of work produced for the Image module, I feel I have identified certain strengths within my work. I think I am a really versatile and adaptable designer as I feel I have coped well with the wide variety of tasks we have been set. I have also learnt a lot - and refreshed - many image making processes which has been highly enjoyable. Developing on from this, I have discovered much more about combining image with type whilst also looking at how type can become image in itself. Personally, I feel that the Image module doesn't really finish here, the short nature and quick responses to the briefs mean they are almost starting points for further investigation which I can carry over into other projects in the future. I am confident that I can carry with me the things I have picked up through this period of work as it has been a relatively short but very enjoyable time that has hugely benefitted my design practice and also the way in which I approach a project.

Image//Self-Initiated - Resolution

I consulted with some fellow students about what I had produced and they seemed really positive about the typographic calendar, more so than I expected. I have also decided on a simple, metal bulldog clip to hold the calendar together as it fits with the minimal style of the posters whilst it enables the piece to be versatile as the individual sheets can be removed and laid out, written on etc.

Image//Self-Initiated - Resolution

Below are some photographs of the finished and printed set of posters for my calendar which I am pretty pleased with. It's difficult to know what to think for sure because I haven't had any contact with fellow students over this project so I'm more or less going with my own ideas and instincts. One thing I hadn't really considered before now was how the posters are going to be bound together so I'll have to start thinking of ways in which it can be presented ready for submission.

Image//Self-Initiated - Calendar Designs

Open publication - Free publishing - More colour

Completed set of typographic poster designs for each month of the calendar featuring quotes, information and a bespoke colour for each one.

Image//Self-Initiated - Design Development

A few initial tests showing the separate elements of the typographic posters and overlaid calendar grids are set out below. I think they are working well so far and I have started choosing certain colours for each month that reflect the weather at that time. I'm just a little concerned that the designs may look good on screen but then too simple once they are printed out and with the time left I don't really have a chance to test it out, especially since I can't print the mock UV varnish.