Design Practice

OUGD301 End of Module Evaluation

2010-12-15T14:51:00.000-08:00

Reflecting back on my original rationale; I don’t feel I have made the most out of this module or pushed myself to produce the standard of work that I am capable of. I feel I have touched upon the areas that I wanted to focus on, but I haven’t exploited them to a very high level. Out of all the modules I have done throughout the course so far, I have definitely struggled most with this one for various reasons.

My intention was focus on illustration and type as image. I have produced work that covers both of these areas but looking back at the work, I haven’t produced the sort of type as image that I wanted to work with; I wanted to work more with the sort of hand crafted/rendered type that I began working with towards the end of my second year but I didn’t manage to appropriately fit this into a brief; obviously, this is completely my own fault. I think the cause of this has been my poor time management as I picked up a couple of briefs along the way and I got caught up in these ones and due to lack of time, I chose to drop the Lyrics and Type brief which would have been the substantial brief where I really focused on hand crafted typography.

Another area that I wanted to address was my software skills in photoshop and illustrator. In particular I wanted to really get to grips with the basics of them both; I obviously had quite a good understanding of both pieces of software due to workshops etc. over the past couple of years, however they were both quite time consuming and I could never estimate the length of time I would spend on them very well, meaning it would effect my time management. Therefore, a positive is that I feel more comfortable using these pieces of software at a more efficient rate.

I think most of my briefs reflect my design intentions relatively well i.e. in terms of what I want to focus more on, but there were some that I really dwelled on, so much so that in the end I wasn’t happy with the what I produced and I think some of the work may reflect that. For example, the Criminal Damage brief; at the start, I intended for this to be a lot more illustration orientated but I chose to develop the metal band inspired type aspect. In the end, I wasn’t happy with every design that I pursued and I definitely feel that this brief could have been turned around a lot quicker.

As mentioned previously, I have really struggled with this module and I feel it was partly to do with the fact that I was trying to do all 6 briefs at the same time. Looking back, I should have set stricter deadlines for myself and maybe just have done two at a time and properly complete these before starting another. I actually think if I did this, I would have produced more work and work of a higher quality. My overall feel for this module was that I panicked quite a lot and focused more on quantity rather than quality - so I ended up not having time to do a lot of things such as quality printing.

Overall, for my Final Major Project, I really hope that I can learn from the mistakes I have made throughout this module. I need to make stricter decisions on the briefs that I want to undertake, why I want to do them and what I want to get out of them so that I can’t completely change my mind when I start panicking and end up producing work that I am unhappy with and don’t want to put in my portfolio.

Final A2 Boards for submission

2010-12-15T06:48:00.000-08:00

Mock up Gallery

2010-12-14T05:57:00.000-08:00

As I, unfortunately, don't have an empty gallery to hang any prints....I chose to mock one up as well as I could.

The cards at the bottom are a mock up of what they Could look like as a set, possibly sold at the exhibition.

Pens in colour...

2010-12-14T05:55:00.001-08:00

The more I look at this the more I like it...On first impression I really didn't think it worked, or was visually engaging but the more I see it, the more I think it is visually engaging and it indentifies the brands of some of th ebrands (unintentionally).

However, firs impressions count and my first impression wasn't great.

Final proposed prints

2010-12-14T05:55:00.000-08:00

I chose to use the texture/pattern from the inside of an envelope as the background. This isn't because it has any particular relevance to post, so to speak. It is to make it look less flat.

Pen type?

2010-12-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

I tried quickly making type out of my drawings to see how it would look...
I actually wish I had factored this into the brief so that I could hav given myself time to produce it at a higher quality and give me an interesting typeface print for my portfolio. Alas, I didn't factor the time in for it but it is something i could develop in the future.

Vectors

2010-12-14T05:53:00.000-08:00

I tried quickly vectorising some of the pens to see if this would 'add anything'.
I really don't think it did, if anything it made them look worse.
I feel that the hand drawn quality is a strong point of this brief so far.

Layout/Textures

2010-12-14T05:52:00.001-08:00

I wanted to experiment with the curved/round layout.
The main issue with these were the scales of the pens - it was important for me to maintain the scales of the pens to differentiate them but when it came to producing the round layouts, they looked a little odd therefore I don't think I will be developing them any further.

As I can't produce foil prints due to time restraints and problems with size (i.e. when the prints are scaled down to a suitable size for foiling - they line quality is even thinner which the foil doesn't always pick up very well.) I didn't want the prints to be on flat white stock so I wanted to find a texture that could work on the background.

Layouts/Scales etc...pens

2010-12-14T05:49:00.000-08:00

Possible layouts for prints?

I wish I knew how to make this one shorter!

150 pens...

2010-12-14T05:34:00.000-08:00

Working with 150 pens all on one image...all scanned in at 300dpi...wasn't the easiest process! It was time consuming to say the least!...but I'm really happy with the outcomes.
I definately think its visually engaging when you realise that every drawing is different - not one is repeated.

Click on the image below!
Its a long print of all 150 pens - due to the sizing constraints when you upload to blogger, it just looks like a bit of a tiny blur at this scale but I think it could work quite well if it was to be an interactive border or something.

These last ones were to try and mock up what foil prints could look like...it just doesn't have the same effect and I wish i could have physically done them.

Pen sketchbook

2010-12-14T05:27:00.000-08:00

I have previously posted 104 pens that I drew...this is sketchbook showing all the pens I have drawn up to this point.

Although these are images that I will pursue for this particular brief, I do actually think I will carry on drawing more and more of them because there is lots of spac left in the book so I don't really have an excuse! It will probably just be something I do in my spare time.

Prelimary boards for crit

2010-12-10T16:44:00.000-08:00

Final set of The Guardian pages

2010-12-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

Mixtape final product

2010-12-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

Mixtape purse

2010-12-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

Once again, my mum sewed up the final purse and this one works a lot better than the original one I produced.
The 'flap' works aswell!
Also, its really quite small but you can actually read the 'I heart mixtape' on the tiny little tag which I didn't expect! So that is a positive.

Mixtape bag

2010-12-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

I finally got to print my material!
And I have to admit...my mum made the final bag for me.

I really do like it, I'm very happy with how its turned out and the feedback at the final crit was really positive.

The only negative thing...is the colour of photographs. I don't know why they're so yellow? I photographed them in a light tent etc. and they looked fine on the little screen on my camera! Shame.

Mixtape package/wrapping

2010-12-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

I chose to print a different wrapping paper that actually uses the imagery I am developing towards the end.
I have printed it red to link it with the idea of valentines day...

Mixtape packaging...

2010-12-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

I chose to develop the cassette box that I had mocked up previously...
I just changed a few bits to make it work better and more solid.

I then covered it with images of the cassette that I was using. If I hadn't done this it would have just been a white box...and if I had covered it in anything else, the link to original cassette packaging may not have been as clear.

It all honesty, it isn't the best executed piece - but the idea is there and I'm really happy with that!

Manchester book fair final

2010-12-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

Having reprinted the final book and folding it up, I can definately agree with the feedback for the original print that the layout didn't really work.

I was worried that this would look unfinished or too spaced out, but I don't think it does - its definately a lot more readable now.

Foil attempts

2010-12-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

I finally got to take my prints to foil.
Unfortunately it didn't go aswell as I had hoped.
The reason for this was - I printed them on a Wednesday and didn't get to foil until the following Monday. Although they had only been kept in my folder, the general wear of them rubbing against each other...rubbed some of the ink off so there wasn't enough for the foil to grab to.

It did however prove to me that they would actually look really good! I just wish I could do them bigger than A3.

Pens - prepared to foil

2010-12-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

Using some of the pens I had drawn so far...I prepared some prints to try foiling on.
However, once again - the snow ruined that plan!

I had laser printed them and just as I as about to go down to the print...they announced they were closing college...hopefully I will have time to do them another day.

I actually think just black on black looked pretty good!

Mixtape packaging

2010-12-03T16:11:00.000-08:00

Something I really need to address is the packaging...I didn't want to just make a really simple box and I was 'toying' with the idea of trying to recreating the packaging of an actual cassette but I wasn't sure how I could make it out of a material that I can actually work with (i.e. card really...)

After examining how the cassette packaging works, I tried recreating it with card...and I actually think it could work well!

Cassette wrapping / packaging repeat

2010-12-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

While waiting to be able to print my bag, I made a few new repeats with the newer drawings...some of them work nicely....some of them Don't!

Below is the pretty awful example! I thought I would try a different coloured background but...it just looks awful.

Mixtape prepared for print...

2010-12-02T16:04:00.000-08:00

Well, just as I thought it was going well:
- I had booked in early for digital printing (onto material)
- I had prepared my files for print
- I knew when I was going to make the bag etc.

And then the snow came down. And college closed on the morning as I was booked in to print in the afternoon.

I think surface designs deadline is next week so I really hope I can still get booked in to print.

Mixtape bag mock ups

2010-12-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

Bag mock ups...I wanted to mock up a few bags to confirm that the layout I was going with was the best one.

Out of the mock ups I have produced...I do feel that the first examples were the best.

Cassette t-shirt mock ups

2010-12-02T15:58:00.000-08:00

I decided to go with a t-shirt for the boys version of the gift...I tried a few different layouts and colours.

Initially I thought the red could have been quite nice for its connotation with valentines day but in reality - it didn't work well with the colours on the tape.

New cassette with tape

2010-12-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

When I added the love heart tape...I was really beginning to like the image.
It is still relatively simple, but as a solo image they work well.

I chose to continue the use of block, realistic colour because...thats one of the ways I prefer to work (so it looks like a drawing, but quite realistic.)
One thing I needed to be careful of, was the different between shades, especially the grey of the tape.

As I intend to digitally print these on material again, the colours need to be quite different because last time the subtle difference to show the darker areas didn't show up.

Below is the layout for a purse - still using the A side and B side idea but aso incorporating another A side 'flap' so that it can be folded over and fastened to create a closed purse.

It also shows the layout for the tag that will go at the bottom of the bag like the existing one - as a type of branding I have incorporated the brief title 'I heart mixtape.'
I think if this shows up on the print (as it will be quite small), its a nice addition to the piece.

New cassette drawings...

2010-12-02T15:48:00.000-08:00

So...the final cassette drawings.
These probably don't look like they took so long...but I never realised how unsteady my hands were until I tried drawing straight lines free hand! So they did take quite a while!

I chose to draw the basic cassette shape and do 3 sticker variations that could be applied to the basic outline...

I am happy with the end results when they're all put together and small details that differentiate the A side and B side (i.e. the screws in the corners that only appear on one side.)

I definately don't want to vectorise these because I think the hand rendered quality works well in this instance.

Final bag ideas

2010-12-01T16:51:00.000-08:00

After spending some time thinking, I decided to go with the image of a cassette straight on - its just important that I make it look different from the common sets of cassettes everyone has seen.
The start this process of making it look different - I do want to develop the idea of incorporating the tape out of the cassette.

As earlier sketches show, I did toy with the idea of making words out of the tape but from even the most simplest of sketches, I didn't think it was going to work well at all!
So, because this is intended to be a valentines day gift I have gone with image of 'love hearts'.

However! Taking into account that I need to produce a boys version...I need to be able to use the cassette image without a love heart becauses its unlikely a boy would wear something that would be seen as so girly.

Final swing tag

2010-12-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

This is an example of one of the final printed swing tag - I'm really pleased with them and I think it would work really well alongside the t-shirt range.

I do feel that it works the way that I wanted it to:
- It fits with the collection
- Its quite 'different' so some people might choose to keep it aswell as the t-shirt.

Cassette repeat/wrapping paper

2010-12-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

Wrapping paper?
As I said previously, i thought this sort of layout with the repeats worked best - This isn't intended to be the final one, because it may not be in keeping with how the brief develops but I just wanted to see how it would work when printed.
I...like it!

Cassette - Bag mock up

2010-12-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

I finally got to pick up my material - I didn't complete the full process of steaming etc. so the ink wasn't completely dry and I can't iron it etc. but I never intended for this to be a final piece it was just try a different printing technique and see how it would look.

I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised with the results!
The bag is double sided - with an A side and B side - so is the purse (its clearer on the purse).

I have to say, I think the little tag at the bottom is my favourite part! I suppose it is quite a 'girly', 'cute' aspect of the bag...which is a positive seeing as the bag is intended for a girl!

The purse isn't exactly useable at this stage because it doesn't close etc. but I think the idea of an A side and B side works well.

7.

2010-12-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

This was my chance to fit in type as image into the brief...
I love new york so when I saw the heading 'New York state of mind', I thought it was the perfect example for me to incorporate the two (New york and type as image), so I made the letters out of buildings.

I would actually like to develop this as another brief in the future...and create a whole typeface.

The page is actually quite sophisticated but, although my image isn't the most sophisticated piece - it does fit quite well.

6.

2010-12-01T08:58:00.000-08:00

Criminal Damage Print promo

2010-11-30T15:29:00.000-08:00

When it came to print promotion - The main, existing way that Criminal Damage promote their clothing is through online retailers seasonal, small catalogues, such as Attitude or Grindstore.

Taking this into account, I have produced an example of what the 'boys' page could look like in the context of the catalogue.

Below shows the original DPS and the new one, with my design inserted.

Criminal Damage Web promo

2010-11-30T15:22:00.000-08:00

Using the mock ups of the t-shirt on models that I had earlier produced, I tried to show them in the context of online promotion/sales.

I first took the original 'new in' section of the criminal damage website, where in reality the products would be primarily sold; the brands own site, and I cleared the existing products that were on display...

My intention wasn't to redesign the whole site; that wasn't the aim of the brief, I simply wanted to show my designs in a real life context.
I did however change the header of the site to fit with the collection that it was displaying.
At first I just inserted the original image I had produced for the branding of the collection but it looked kind of lost in such a wide black banner - for this reason I have used the repeat/pattern in the background and lowered the opacity so that it isn't overpowering; this works and fits a lot better.

The girls one was ultimately the same with slightly less products...

I am aware that brands such as Criminal Damage don't souly depend on their own online store; a large majority of their sales come from online retailers such as Grindstore or Attitude which are directed at the brands target audience.

Therefore, as another online context I placed one of the hoodies as 'deal of the week' on Grindstore.com.
On my part, it didn't involve any further designing - but the aim was to make it fit seamlessly into the existing site which I feel it definately does.

(On screen)

New price tags

2010-11-29T15:16:00.000-08:00

For the new tag, I just took the existing information the older tags and applied to the new layout of the new tag.
The branding for the collection will be applied via a sticked on the front when its folded to keep the tag closed.

These designs reinforce my decision to make the background pattern out of the CD logo - it a lot visually interesting than just a flat black background.

Ideally I would have it matte on the inside and gloss/laminated on the otherside, at this moment in time I'm not sure how I will do this but I will play around with it once printed.

Once again...I'm aware of the type/layout issue, I should have probably got someone to do it for me but I am placing the emphasis on the crafting on block shape layout not the actual words.

New swing tag mock ups

2010-11-29T15:11:00.000-08:00

Having come to the decision that my previous swing tag designs were...not good, I have since developed them.
In my collection of 'things', I found some swing tags that I have kept because I liked them for whatever reason (they're on my context blog.)

I particularly like the Sixpack franch tag for its interactivity so I wanted to develop that idea...

The first idea is quite basic but it makes it a lot more interesting that the existing tag.

This is basically the same as the first idea but with rounded folds - I actually think this makes it too girly for the context of this brief.

Sticking with the square format and experimenting with the folding - I wanted to play on the point of the CD logo - the above idea is the one I will develop and take to print.
It means the inside layout can be more visually engaging (I can use my logo repeat...) and there is plenty of space for a barcode etc. on the back.

Criminal Damage repeats - packaging?

2010-11-28T15:07:00.000-08:00

When mocking up things like the swing tags...I was really getting bored of seeing flat black backgrounds - I thought the best way to address this was to create a texture that could be applied.

Instead of having a random texture that didn't relate to the rest of the project in anyway, I experimented with what the CD logo could look when repeated...

I am Really happy with what they turned out like. It was originally just an experiment to see what it might look like, I didn't expect it to work so well.

I can now apply this to backgrounds but more importantly it has helped me address the issue of packaging...

It was suggested that I develop packaging for the t-shirts, but realistically - criminal damage is an existing brand and with its existing audience and price range, it isn't the sort of brand that would package one t-shirt in a box or something like that therefore - I propose that the packaging for retail outlets would be the carrier bag and one of these repeats applied to tissue paper to wrap the t-shirt AND for online retailers, one of these repeats would be applied to the plastic wrapping that it gets posted in.

I will mock this up at a later date.

T-shirt - on models

2010-11-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

I was worried about how I could make my criminal damage brief look more complete.
I never intended to print the t-shirts because in terms of print quality and processes (i.e. screen printing) there would be too many colours - and if I had used something like the heat press, the colour wouldn't have been as vibrant as I wanted.

I had already mocked up what the t-shirts would look like but it still just looked like.....mock ups/ideas.

I therefore, decided to try and mock them on models. It was somewhat of an issue trying to find free images of t-shirt models that were high enough resolution and were wearing the sort of clothes I wanted to apply the graphics to.

I had to settle for applying different graphics to the same model but overall I don't think it effects it too much - it still works better than I expected.

I am now content that it looks more complete - I can also apply it to promo mock ups they will look more realistic.

Carrier bag

2010-11-27T14:53:00.000-08:00

I printed my carrier bag design in the digital dungeon so that it would be a more realistic size - I'm still happy with the layout and I think it fits well with the collection.

It was suggested in the show an tell to foil the 'CD' logo on the front - I would definately like to do this if I had the time.

I think I need to photograph it again...the bottom photos of the bag made up are really quite horrible!

Swing tags printed...

2010-11-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

Soooo...when it came to print the tags in the digital dungeon, I didn't have much money so I took my own paper - I stupidly chose to do it on cartridge paper - I didn't realise the ink would basically soak into it and become completely illegible.

Thankfully it happened at this stage and not right near the end of the module, so now I do actually have time to address the problem!

Overall - they didn't work as well as I had hoped, as a basic tag they are ok - but I think they could be developed a lot more. They could be more interactive and just generally more interesting to look at.

The above tag was the most basic layout - just printed front and back folded in the middle. It works ok and gets the message across - just a bit bland.

If I was to develop the above idea of having it like a mini booklet - I would of course have to either put something on the other 'pages' or colour them black. Its a little more interesting than the first idea but still not great...

The final idea looks the most interesting, but technically as a swing tag - its unlikely that someone would remove the swing tag and bother to open it like this to display it anywhere, so it is kind of pointlessly interesting.

As I mentioned in a previous post the red type I used for the band info is definately an issue - on this print its obviously hard to read because the ink didn't lay well on the used but I think it would be a problem no matter what stock I used.

I definately want to work more on these...

Swing tags

2010-11-27T14:42:00.000-08:00

As I had already designed the carrier etc. I needed to apply the work to swing tags.
Having decided that the collection would be called 'Homage', I wanted to make it really clear who the t-shirts were paying homage to, so I designed 10 different swing tags which would be applied to the relevant t-shirt.

On the outside of the tag it would have the collection branding, website and barcode - on the inside it would have the bands logo and a small bit of information about them. I'm really not great when it comes to typography so, although I am happy with it - a pro of type design may very well have issues with it; it isn't the focus of this brief so I don't think it effects it too much.

I think the biggest issue when it comes to print may well be the red type on the inside - it may be hard to read.

Swing tag ideas

2010-11-27T08:23:00.000-08:00

Criminal damage bag mock ups

2010-11-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

Mixtape bag ideas

2010-11-26T08:22:00.000-08:00

Really quick sketches of possible layouts for a tote bag (girls gift obviously.)

Manchester book fair - Re-print

2010-11-25T14:38:00.000-08:00

After the last crits a while ago, it became clear that issue of readability was a problem...and although I had previously said it worked better as an image when the words were pushed together...I did agree that if people couldn't read it, it became pretty pointless!

It was also said how much better it worked on the A2, sugar paper print - The matte texture of the paper actually made it read better.
I wanted to print on this for the book fair anyway - but because of bad time management I couldn't get booked in at print so had to take the A3 laser printed versions.

For module hand in, I have re-printed the 'book' and I am much happier with the end result.
Unfortunately the second side has actually been printed the wrong way up - so it doesn't fold the way I originally intended but I didn't have enough money to re-print it in the time slot I had.

Just need to fold it and add the belly band now...

Belly band

2010-11-25T06:12:00.000-08:00

I intend to print these on the same stock as the 'book', but as the mock ups of the book show - it won't be fully red, just the words will be in red to show contrast between the two.

Digital printing - material

2010-11-24T01:10:00.001-08:00

Not sure whats going on with the colours here? But I digitally printed some cassettes onto material to mock up a tote bag...just to see how it worked and I was going to take it to the show and tell but...
I can't pick it up til this afternoon, booo.

Pens...

2010-11-23T16:13:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't posted anything for this brief yet because...i've been drawing lots of pens.
I am currently up to 104 which can be seen below - i aim to produce more than this but I want it to be a solid number like 100 or 200 etc. so that I can organise them equally in to smaller sets/prints.

The images below haven't been edited at all - they're straight forward scans from my sketchbook,
I will be editing them shortly so that I can colour/add texture etc. to them.

New tape drawing/repeats

2010-11-23T14:48:00.000-08:00

Although I had a collection of cassette drawings from my sketchbook, I needed one of a higher quality that could be used at a larger scale.
I wanted to develop an earlier idea that I had of incorporating the tape out of the cassette into the image.

I really wanted the cassette to be realistic and to scale and I liked the images where I had angled the tape - it gives it a more three dimensional feel.

After drawing the initial outline - I coloured one in with pencil (inspired by Christine Berry...)
Unfortunately, it was pretty time consuming the it doesn't really look half as good as I expected.
I'm glad I did it, I just wish it hadn't taken so long.

I instead chose to use scan the image and use block colours. I have kept the colours looking quite realistic, in keeping with the cassette that I used as reference - but I suppose I could experiment with more 'crazy' colours.

I went on to erase the original outline...in this instance I think it looks quite good! The only unfortunate thing is that on areas like the tape coming out of the cassette on the right hand side, it now looks like there is just a big gap.

Also, I do realise that the drawing looked kind of unfinished because the tape just...ended.
The reason for this was because I has in mind that I could produce a bag with this image on the front and the tape would signify the start of the straps.
However, while just experimenting - I rotated one and put them together and was pleasantly surprised with the image that it made!
...I then created a repeat from this and, similar to another I produced - I think the amount of negative space works as an advantage in this case.

Patterns/Repeats

2010-11-23T14:45:00.000-08:00

While thinking about what would be the best way to develop my drawings, I started to look at repeats.
I originally wrote a brief about surface patterns so I thought this could be a good way to incorporate that slightly into this brief.

The repeat below is much more visually engaging than the two above, probably just because it looks more complex and the layout is quite 'different'.

Once again, the repeat below is Alot more visually interesting than the above piece - even though there is more negative space around the tapes, I think it emphasizes the seperate images a lot more and highlights the interesting layout

50 t-shirt mock ups / layouts

2010-11-23T09:15:00.000-08:00

Pen print ideas

2010-11-23T08:20:00.000-08:00

Bag net

2010-11-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

To get the net for the bag...I simply took apart an existing paper bag that I had (and mocked one up after producing the net to make sure it actually worked).
Once I vectorised the net (so that I can produce different sizes of bags before scaling up and down won't lose the shape size ratio.

I'll print them in the mac suites first so that I can make sure the work (therefore they will be quite small because I can only print a3 up there) and if it does work, I'll print them in the figital dungeon.

Re-work logo

2010-11-23T07:54:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in a previous post...I had an issue with the branding. I wanted to get rid of the grey shape in the background because it was really needed and it didn't add anything...it probably took away from the quality of the image.

I chose to keep the same type at the top, it was just an issue of changing the 'image'.

I tried a dew things, but I am going to stick with the gradient(ed) shape, just without the background and I altered the layout - made the shape the same width as the 'spring / summer 2011'.
I think overall, this works a lot better and I feel a lot happier with it.

Bag mock ups

2010-11-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

It was suggested in the first crit a long time ago that I produce packaging for the t-shirts...so when I thought about how a t-shirt colour be packaged in a box etc. I realised that all the shops I have ever seen Criminal Damage clothing in (including the criminal damage shop)...its usually just hung on a coat hanger on a rack; the branding is on the swing tag or price tag.

But...you will get a carrier, so I chose to develop this.

Taking my 'identity' piece, I applied it to a photoshop mock up of a paper bag...then when it comes to making the net and printing, I know the basic layout I need to produce.

I definately prefer it with the title and 'criminal damage spring / summer 2011' down the side; it utilises more space on the bag and isn't too busy in one little area.

The one issue that has arisen in the actual image/logo - I don't think it needs the grey shape in the background, it looks...un-necessary.

Branding for bags etc.

2010-11-21T09:14:00.000-08:00

Although the focus of my brief wasn't branding and the whole brand doesn't need branding - I just create a small identity to run along side the collection.

As the whole idea behind this is to be inspired by classic metal bands typefaces, I wanted to make it clear that it was inspiration...not just copying ,so that people wouldn't look it and say 'well thats just a copy of iron maiden?' - there would always be something present to show that its more of a homage to these bands...and for this reason I titled the collection 'Homage'.

I have toyed with the idea of proposing that with each t-shirt/hoodie you buy, you get a free download by the artist that the t-shirt was inspired by. I think this could draw the whole thing together, especially highlighting the link between music and clothing.

I'm not the strongest when it comes to branding/identity, but I am relatively happy with how these turned out.

'In the style of...' more work...

2010-11-21T06:43:00.002-08:00

Having identified which I wanted to work on more and what may/may not work, I developed some of the existing work in terms of colour/texture/shadow etc.

I started by printing out the basic skeleton and then scanning it back in to vectorise it - from that I played around with the colour.

From the ones I have no produced, I will choose the final ones to put onto more developed mock ups - and from these mock ups, hopefully it will give the me the final designs to present.

I am particularly happy with the Iron maiden inspired one.

Initial layout mock ups

2010-11-19T09:13:00.000-08:00

Before developing the type as image pieces - I chose to mock them up and experiment with layouts, it highlighted which ones would work and which ones potentially might not - and which ones needed developing.

'In the style of...' Reference material and edits

2010-11-18T06:43:00.000-08:00

As I now had my basic pieces to work from, I needed to experiment with colour/texture etc.
I chose to look at the variations the actual metal bands used and somewhat re-create/update these. I tried to keep the colours similar to the originals at this point; as time goes by it may become apparent that changing the colour is needed.

As this point, I am relatively happy with these but certain ones definately need more work (i.e. Metallica inspired ones) and I think some of them that look quite basic need a 'twist' to them, to make them more contemporary and appropriate.

Also, I'm not sure about the Motley crue one - I love the type however, the more I think about it - I'm not sure if the band fits with the others (even though somewhere it said they were in the same category as the other bands) and with more research, it showed that Motley crue used a Lot of typefaces, so it may not be very clear that it was inspired by a metal band - it may look kind of random?

Criminal Damage - in classic metal typefaces

2010-11-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

After deciding that 'classic metal band' typefaces was the direction I would take this brief...I obviously needed to start doing this.
Although some of the bands 'logo's' used existing typefaces i.e. Led Zepellin was based on Desdemona etc. But I opted to draw them all myself so I could really make it look like how I pictured it.

Sketchbook to vector...
After doing some drawn variations I chose to vectorise them so I could scale them up and down and edit it them digitally without ruining the quality.

At this stage I am really with the basic skeleton of the type / logo's, hopefully I'll still be happy with them after editing starts!

Criminal Damage type revisted

2010-11-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

After a, lengthy (uneccessarily long) break from this brief and have spoke to tutors about it, the initial part I am going to develop is the issue of creating a Criminal Damage logo in the style of the type used for old metal bands.

Below are the visuals I will be working from as a reference to what they looked like:

Experimental...2

2010-11-10T15:43:00.000-08:00

These were just two of the sketches that I did in my sketchbook.
I didn't initially think I would have liked them as much as I do - I think they collage of photocopy and drawing works really well.
And its sure to produce an image at the right scale!

I just made a few quick repeats from the images - they do look quite nice but I think they're way too similar to the existing, predictable posters showing a set of tapes that is commonly seen on t-shirts etc.

Experimental...1

2010-11-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

Really quick experiment with vectorising the tape.
Initially, it doesn't look very good - but if it was executed better I think it could look quite nice however, I think I want to keep the hand crafted feel to the drawings.

Halftone hmm...

2010-11-10T15:39:00.000-08:00

To be honest, the only reason I did this was to see how to actually make an image halftone in photoshop...but I don't think they look too bad!

Visual investigation of a cassette...

2010-11-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

This isn't the complete sketchbook, but its a start...

Open publication - Free publishing - More visual

The starting point for the brief was an 80's mixtape...so I found some typically 80's songs, some of these could potentially be used as a tracklist somewhere.

Open publication - Free publishing - More song

Cassettes

2010-11-09T15:34:00.000-08:00

Cassette overload...

2010-11-08T05:22:00.001-08:00

I found a Fantastic site which has photos of nearly every cassette documented on it...and all at the same size.
Its not JUST tapes from the 80's...so from the 342 tapes below, not all of them were probably popular in the 80's but it looks so good.

I put them all together...I think this alone could make an interesting print but its:
1- Predictable and
2- Not my images!

I will be taking some drawings from these, especially the interesting shaped ones (which I think are most likely from the 80's!).

I thought we had some old mixtapes at home...but we don't. I have got a few from family members that I can destory, photocopy, make prints with...and draw from different angles.

Time to start drawing!

Time for a rethink

2010-11-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

After the realisation of;
- I wasn't really sure why I was doing my briefs or what I wanted to get out of them (except portfolio pieces)
- To an extent, I need someone to tell me what to do.
- What I actually want to do

In my tutorial with Fred; we wrote one substantial brief that I am a lot more enthusiastic about; clarified/directed my criminal damage brief and kind of wrote a new one...that could be applied to t-shirts/related back to the criminal damage one.

Criminal Damage Brief:
- Emphasis on Metal band typefaces.
- Identify more bands, explore typefaces.
- Produce a range Criminal damage in classic heavy metal typefaces.

80's Mix tape:
- Explore, visually investigate...exhaust cassettes.
- Produce a notebook of visual investigation.
- What the actual cassette looks like; the type of tracks on an 80's mix tape.
- Package them.
- Apply visuals to t-shirts; various compositions.

1000 Pens:
- An exhibition of drawn stationary prints.
- Why? I love stationary and drawing it.
- Print possibilities; 1 large pen, sets of 10 pens on a page, all 1000 pens on a page, 10 different prints of 100 pens, cards, different scales - long thin etc.

I actually feel motivated again.

Make the most of a bad thing

2010-11-05T04:48:00.000-07:00

The main problem with printing on the laser printer was the fact that the ink cracked when I folded it...so I had quite crisp pages...with a cracked line down the middle etc.

After thinking some more and taking into account the nature of the quotes, I thought 'why not make it look like it should be like that' - this could have been a massive failure, but it was worth a try.

So I folded, crumbled and screwed up the paper and actually...I think it works quite well!
Seen as the quotes are somewhat narrating the break up...which can be a 'distressing' time, now the piece looks distressed instead of having perfect printing for a not so perfect sentence.

I'm actually happy with it - so I'm happy to show my face at the book fair!

Printing problems...

2010-11-05T04:41:00.000-07:00

Having come to the conclusion that I was going to have to print my book fair work on the laser printers, I was happiest with the one of newsprint...which the first time round, printed fine.
However, when it came to doing the finals...it, evidentally, didn't want to go fine.

1. I fed the paper back through the wrong way, so it overprinted.

2. I wouldn't feed the paper properly - thankfully Mike was stood with me when this happened so it got sorted straight away...but when we tried again, it just wasn't happened. We think its because the newsprint must have been to wet still and it just wasn't going to print right on the reverse side.

So, alas...I have to do it on the basic paper you get in the printers.

5.

2010-11-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

4.

2010-11-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

This is for the cover that addressed the Wayne Rooney story where he was going to leave Man U...but he then ended up getting loads more money (reportedly £180,000 a week)

When trawling through pictures of him to base an image on, I found this image where he signifying 'one' - I thought this was the perfect way to incorporate him with the money.

I'm really happy with the end results - I think it could be seen as quite humorous and communicates the message quite well.

3.

2010-11-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

There wasn't particularly much 'thinking' behind this one, as the article was about Nicola Roberts from girls aloud so I simply drew her.
The intention of the brief was to develop basic illustrator and it is vectorised so it does work in that aspect.
I am happy with the end result and think it fits quite well on the page.

2.

2010-11-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

The idea behind this was inspired by the second question in the doctor doctor section about a woman who was breastfeeding and craving sweet things, so did it have anything to do with breastfeeding?

The idea I chose to develop was 2 cupcakes, side by side to 'look like' the assetts used for breastfeeding...

(Hand drawn) (Vector)

1.

2010-11-03T08:33:00.000-07:00

Having chosen to make this a smaller brief that is somewhat like a break from the others - My intention was to not spend very long on each piece.

The idea behind this one was to create an image based around the subheading 'RIP Golden Age of Hollywood'.

It is very literal, I am aware of this - but my feeling is that the illustration should support the article and inform the reader what is about rather than be so far-fetched that it just looks like a pretty picture in the middle of some words.

As it was about hollywood, I started with the idea of funerals you see on American shows where they have a big picture of the deceased at the front, surrounded by flowers - and then I just needed to communicate that it was 'The Golden Age' of Hollywood that was being referred to as the deceased.

I did vectorise all the different components and when it all came together, I thought it worked quite well.

Postcard...

2010-11-02T17:02:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in a previous post, I wanted to have a 'thankyou' postcard to give with the book that will be sold.
It looks like the book but the change of colour differentiates the two.

Its pretty simple but I like the gesture.

This is the colour and layout I have chosen to go with...at the moment, I might ask some opinions first though!

Oh dear.

2010-11-02T09:24:00.001-07:00

I have officially hit my first big problem.

Due to injury and reading week...yesterday was the first day I've been in college for nearly 2 weeks.
I printed my book fair book out in the digital print room downstairs and decided I definately wanted to print down there.

But when I went to book in today...there wasn't time to print what I needed and we can't print down there for the rest of the week.

...I need everything for Saturday so I should have had a plan B but...I didn't.

I have no excuse, I should have emailed James but...ahh!

Looks like I'm gonna have to Laser print the books on A3 and not do my posters :(
I guess it will bring the price down but...its far from great cos they'll be pretty poor quality now!

Silly girl.

For the book fair...

2010-11-02T07:03:00.000-07:00

Having printed my book at A2 and A3...I think I am going to pursue the A3 size book.

A few problems occured with the A2 one - As its being folded down so much, I needed a stock thin enough to fold...but thick enough to hold the ink. Sugar paper seemed fine, using a lower amount of ink - but the paper curled slighty and the corners damaged quite easily because when it was being sent back through the printed, it was still quite wet.

The same problems are apparent with A3...but I think that size makes it less 'in your face' when you're looking through it.

However! I did really like the 'It was Too much, Too young' at A2 scale - for that reason, I am going to print some out as posters...possibly in a different colour to the book (see below:)

Therefore, for the book fair on Saturday, I will take:
- 10 books and postcards packaged in small brown bags.
- 5 A2 posters.

A2 Printed book

2010-11-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

A2 Printed...

2010-11-02T06:55:00.000-07:00

Book mock up 2

2010-11-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

A3, Laser printed on sugar paper.

The picture below shows the main flaw in laser printing, when its folded the ink cracks which deminishes the quality straight away.

Book mock up 1

2010-11-02T06:42:00.000-07:00

A3, Laser printed onto to the basic paper already in the printer - Just to test.

The Guardian Brief issue

2010-11-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

After re-thinking 'The Guardian Brief', I shall be re-writing it.

The initial issue which was raised was working with frames; I had said that I was going to illustrate the same 2 columns every week, but this doesn't give me the oppurtunity to work with a variety of frame sizes etc. It will become very...samey.

Therefore the changes I have made are as follows;
- Produce 10 illustrations - (this was my original intention but I expanded it...which made it a longer brief, but I didn't intend for this to a substantial brief, I intented it to be a relatively quick one.)

- Illustrate any article - doesn't necessarily have to be a column with a 'made up', crazy illustration to go with it (This brief was really a chance to develop my basic illustrator skills and working with an existing context for an image - not just drawing something for no reason.)

- Still vectorise everything - (It was an illustrator aimed brief - giving me the chance to work more with the software.)

Although I have altered the brief slightly, I don't want to completely disregard all the work that I have done - so I may still choose some of these to go in my final set of 10 illustrations.

Diary of a disappointing daughter 05

2010-10-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

Initial ideas - 30/10

2010-10-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

'Diary of a disappointing daughter'

'This column will change your life'

The Guardian - 30/10/10

2010-10-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

'Book' poster...poster layout

2010-10-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

I'm really happy with how the poster side has turned out!

My main issues I have to work on now are:
- Possibly look at different colours? (Although I really like the first one below)
- Printing and stock - I want it A2 and obviously it will be digitally printed, but I need to choose a stock that is thin enough to be folded so many times...but also one that will hold the ink well so that it won't crack when I fold it.

'Book' poster layout

2010-10-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

This layout looks a little weird as a flat digitial piece...but for it to work once its folded as a printed piece, it needs to be laid out like this.

Even laid out like this, I think the 'pushed together' one looks better - I will still print them both out to see which physically works best.

Layout change?

2010-10-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

After looking at the quotes a lot more - although I was relatively happy with them, I thought there was too much space between each word...I think by simply 'pushing' the words together, it makes them a lot more visually engaging.

It may be less readable...but I think it works better in terms of type as image, and the more you look at it, the more readable it becomes so it isn't likes its Completely illegible.

Background?...

2010-10-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

After vectorising all the phrases and giving them a basic layout, I needed to decide on a background.
I didn't want something too busy that would detract attention from the actual words - but I didn't just want a completely flat colour because that would be...to bland.

Although I do quite like this background, I think it maybe doesn't 'go' with the style of the type or the content of the quotes. It may be a little too 'grungey'...and messy for the clean, crisp type.

As I already mentioned, I didn't want a flat colour...I think this 'lighting' in the background (or...radial gradient!) adds a simple texture, it doesn't detract attention from the type, if anything I think it highlights it and it makes the background a lot less brand.

Ribbon sentence 4

2010-10-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

Ribbon sentence 3

2010-10-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

Ribbon sentence 2

2010-10-26T14:04:00.000-07:00

Ribbon sentence 1

2010-10-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

Ribbon type tryout....

2010-10-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to have the outline on the final piece...so I needed to work out how to make it look like a ribbon and not have a stroke.

I really didn't know what sort of background to use or what colour to use...I did a few Really quick tryouts.

The cloud thing is...way too cliche and doesn't look great, I'll work on it more!

Ribbon type - initial drawings

2010-10-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

So, after working out how to make it look quite like a ribbon - I illustrated each word that would be.

The images below are directly from my sketchbook - I intend to lay them out when I have digitalised them because it then means I can try different layouts.

It may look a bit 'all over the place', but its how I work...

This was an additional one that I did when I got carried away.
Which ended up developing my book fair piece...along with the book, which will be packaged in a bag with a business card...I will produce a postcard with this type on it - it will be my way of saying thankyou to them but it also gives them an extra 'something' that they could use in the future...and spread my work, wahey.

To final plan for Manchester book fair

2010-10-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

The more I looked at it, the less I liked the quotes nevermind the typeface! I didn't think they worked very well together...and the long quote on the front cover wasn't going to work - it was too much and didn't look anything like a book cover.

I didn't completely scrap everything...I will still use quotes from the list that I wrote a while ago and it will still be the same folded poster. I will just change the type...
The front cover of the actual book will now be a love heart, and there will a belly band around it with the title on it 'We were so stupidly happy' and instructions of how to open the booklet/poster.

The quotes will then be:
1. ...it just didn't work out
2. I didn't take it well...at all
3. We were hopeless romanctics
4. (Poster) It was too much, too young.

I ALSO want to revert back to the ribbon type. I think I was being lazy before when I changed my mind, because I knew I would have to work more to make it look like actual ribbon, but it in the long run - I think it would pay off!

Lyrics and type ideas -

2010-10-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

1. 2. 3.

4. 5.

6.

7. 8. 9.

10.

1. A Day to Remember - 'It may be the first time, but it won't be the last time'

2. Alexisonfire - 'We move like no one moves'

3. Bayside - 'If you hear this and you think you're ready, Meet me in Montauk' (Since sketching this, I have realised Montauk isn't a built up city...the most iconic image from there is of a lighthouse so that is what will be at the bottom)

4. Blink 182 - 'I'm always nervous on days like these like the prom' (this image idea may change)

5. City and colour - 'I'm afraid to sleep because of what haunts me'

6. Funeral for a friend - 'The red poison on your lips' (I want the type to look similar to the piece I did in the summer 'Blood sweat and tears')

7. Pierce the veil - 'Stop drop and roll don't work in hell' (After looking at informational graphics for 'Stop drop and roll' I am going to try and work with the image idea that is used quite commonly, showing a person stopping...dropping...and rolling.)

8. Taking Back Sunday - 'She says 'come on, come on' lets just get this over with'

9. Underoath - 'This is where they all throw me to the wolves'

10. We are the ocean - 'You've been to hell and back, so what am I supposed to do' (I want this piece to have a similar approach to that of another piece I did recently 'If you go down to the woods today')