I found my favourite briefs were when I was working with other people. In previous years I had found collaborations horrendous because sometimes ideas clash and it’s hard working with people with a different perspective as you. I find it so much easier to collaborate with people you know or work for people you know because they will be honest with you and you can be honest with them because you both understand each other whereas with outside clients and strangers it's harder because you both have different expectations. Within the course I had found it easy working with Anna because we have similar styles and mindsets. Our ethics and ethos’ when it comes to social and morals are similar so I think that’s why we work so well together. I have found it easier to bounce ideas off someone else and be more motivated if you feel like you have someone else to work with and inspire you. I also feel a guilt letting someone else down so when organising meetings and speaking to people you are working with or for I always want to make sure I’m on time and there. Whereas if it’s self initiated projects you are doing alone the only person you have to let down is yourself and if you don’t care or can’t be motivated then you just won’t do the work whereas with someone else you physically have to because it’s not only your deadlines you need to meet it’s someone else's. It helps with time planning so much because you can fit projects around each other’s other projects and schedules. I’ve had a really busy schedule this year because of work but because Anna doesn’t work she has helped me so much and been able to be super flexible with her time because I can’t be as much so I think this also helps with our collaboration. The work is also easily and equally divided whereas in some collaborative projects some people do not participate at all which is what a huge struggle in first year was is that it got quite competitive and people just needed an excuse to take credit for all the work but that’s not what a collab should be like. So to conclude, I have found that I have enjoyed branding other people, myself and working collaboratively the best. I have really enjoyed creating products although it can be challenging but you learn with every new thing you create which I think is important because you know what not to do in the future and what does and doesn’t work for you personally. It’s all trial and error.
Sunday, May 13, 2018
OUGD603: Alternative Work Spaces
Brief
The purpose is give students alternative work spaces around Leeds and independence from the university studio and library. Sometimes being in a busy classroom can be daunting and not relaxing. If it’s quiet you may feel uncomfortable making noise and getting up whereas in public spaces everyone is doing their own thing. No one cares about what you are doing. We want to show people there are so many other places that are good working spaces local to Leeds where you can socialise for group meetings, get something to eat if you have to do work for long periods of time and feel comfortable in.
Initial Ideas
- Zine
Full of photography and different places and information on each places. However this would be quite overwhelming, there might not be enough places to recommend.
- Publication
Similar to the Zine idea is that a publication is quite big and it is also bulky. It’s similar to something people might pick up and flick through but not keep.
-Map
With locations on it, could be A3 size so people can put it in their room.
Development and production
For development we tested different variations of the design. What to include on the back and where to put it. The image is the main focus on the front but we felt it was too heavy with text in front of it so agreed all of the information needed to be on the back.
The postcards were printed at Staples and were quite cheap to produce making it cost effective as they are free to hand out within university.
Feedback
“Pitch it to uni include in freshers pack? “
“Target the audience to Leeds Arts University students - Use the phrase ‘get out of the studio’ encourage freshers to explore Leeds and also find a space which more suits them for doing work“
“Facilities included - wifi - is there plug access for chargers etc
Also include hours? Like whens the best times to go etc?
Use a key with colours and icons - code the facilities etc
Put the price range of coffees and food etc”
“Could be a postcard size a zine might be a bit fiddly and off putting to read a lot of information? - Have a really strong image on one side of the postcard and the information about the space on the other side - could be a good conversation starter for freshers as well - scattered around uni. Maybe think what would make people keep the postcard? Whether its the stock used or a really strong/eye-catching image? “
“Could also be a poster campaign - put around uni to encourage people to explore - using taglines like ‘need some time away from the studio?” giving students another alternative to create a positive work space for themselves - take charge of where they work and their space? “
“Posters could be minimal to highlight the photo used on the
poster.”
Final Resolution
The final design consists of postcards with the photography on the front and information on the back in regards to what the place has to offer things like wifi and where it is on a map. They would be placed in university so that people can pick them up and they look like decorative pieces to have on your walls in rooms and in halls. They are helpful and let people know they can work wherever they want and not be confined to a studio space or library.
OUGD603: Branding Mai Yee and Mai Kay
Branding: Mai Yee
Research:
Into the person:
- Mai Yee wants to do hospitality, hotel management or events as a profession.
- Her preferred colours are orange and blue for her CV.
- She wanted branding for a CV, letterhead template, a logo,
business cards.
- On the left is what her current CV looks like.
- She said she preferred fonts with a serif to give it a “timeless” and “smart” look for her potential employers.
Initial Ideas and Development:
- We used whatsapp as means of communication.
- Agreed that a more gold tone orange would be suitable and that her design should include all 3 initials. This is because it’s more of a statement, similar to NYC. It makes it more memorable for the
potential employer.
- We discussed illustrations of possibly a plane or hotel but it was agreed that that may look too childish and not appropriate to build her reputation as a working professional.
Final Resolution:
- A branding packaging including business card designs, a CV and letter head.
- Used an agreed on orangey gold tone.
- Included all vital information from CV.
- Constant feedback throughout.
- Positive feedback.
- Recommendation to friends.
_____________________________________________________________
Branding: Mai Kay
Research:
- Mai Kay wants to be a researcher.
- Wants to look professional.
- Has a lot of experience.
- On the left is her current CV.
- She has a very informative, full and long CV.
The design is going to have to adapt to multiple pages.
- She wants the colour green accented within the design.
- She wants a sans serif typeface because she feels it best reflects her personality.
Development & production:
- The top two are the designs we agreed were most suitable.
- It’s professional looking, clean and there’s room to write
additional information if required.
- Wanted to keep the design simple.
- Focus on the green colour.
- She liked the look of the MK outside of the MK inside the circle but thought that it was too much and the MK with the D on the outside looks like a person if you tilt the screen so that was also too much. She liked the MK just within the circle as it is similar to my logo but with white and a solid background instead of reverse.
-To save myself and Mai Kay money I have created it all as a PDF for her so she can print when she needs instead of mass producing a bulk. This way it can be easily accessed from any printer and if she should ever need to mass produce it’s also easy to upload the file.
- There was constant back and forth discussion, we used emails to communicate and whats app.
Final Resolution:
- A branding packaging including business card designs, a CV and letter head.
- A CV design that could be adapted to multiple pages as she wanted to keep all the information on the sheets and not condense any down we had to make it so the design would work in accordance across multiple pages.
- Used an agreed on orangey gold tone.
- Included all vital information from CV.
- Constant feedback throughout.
- Positive feedback.
OUGD603: Self care postcards
Brief:
The purpose of these postcards is to engage with students and young people and remind them of how important self care is.
Simple things that your body absolutely needs. Sleep, drinking
water and mind management are detrimental to your health and wellbeing. We decided to create postcards for people to have as little reminders and pieces of art for their rooms.
Research:
Mental health issues affect 1 in 4 people.
We all know someone or are someone who struggles with mental health. It can affect how you think and feel on an everyday basis. Especially in high anxiety places like university where everything is new. You’re alone a lot of the time and have to push yourself to
socialise with a lot of strangers at once. It’s overwhelming.
There has been an uprise in university related mental health issues or at least people are starting to open up about it more. The issues vary from social anxiety, sleep deprevation, eating disorders and even more critical cases such as suicide. There is a documentary on BBC called Student Suicide | Real Stories and it is heartbreaking to see so many young people feeling alone and like that is the only option because they are away from their home, friends and family. Places such as Bristol have suffered seven suicides in the last 18 months from March 2018.
More people are opening up but there is still a stigma. It is so easy to say “just speak to someone” but who? It’s hard to listen to other people you have to push yourself out of it and seek guidance.
People need to feel like they are not the only one and not alone. It is an issue that needs to be helped and dealt with because the statistics are heartbreaking.
We asked people what they thought was the most important type of self care. These were the results.
Initial Ideas
- Mindfulness Zine
Something people to read to feel better, gain information, take their mind off and calm themselves from the stress of everyday life.
- A box of stuff to help people sleep, drink water
This idea would have been too expensive to produce. Heavy and
difficult to not only manufacture products for but to hand out.
- Posters
To put around universities.
- Leaflet
This would have all of the information but unless it’s what you are looking for people just tend to bin these. It’s costly and overwhelming if places with tons of other leaflets and informational paper.
- An app // interactive design
There are already sleep apps and mindfulness apps so there would not have been anything innovative that has already been done but better. Also there is so much help on Mind charity’s website already from officials that know what they are talking about.
Development
Started with simple shapes and then developed using colour to make it more playful and interesting. The colours were added in different ways to create textures but it was preferred that the
colours were placed more specifically such as filling the cup with water. The shapes surrounding the main imagine help to boarder it and frame the overall image.
It was discussed that we didn’t want a lot of information so that it’s easy to remember and not seem too formal for the audience. It can also overpower the main image. Many typefaces, sizes and line weights were tested and it was agreed it looked better without text on the postcards. It was discussed also within feedback and
majority agreed it was better without as long as there was
information on the back this maintains the clear message of the postcards without being too stern.
Feedback
Originally there was text where the designs were instead of the
reverse and a majority of feedback was that “it looks better
without text”, “in my opinion the text makes it too heavy and
forceful” and “the typeface used is quite dense and does not work with the illustrations.” It was preferred with the text on the back that way it was less direct and then more information could be added to the design.
“They are quite feminine designs but I’m a boy and I would still have them in my room.”
However, initially it does look quite feminine so this could be a problem one person said “the design is more aimed towards
females” Where someone else replied saying “not that girly. Boys tend to wear that more marshmellowy pastel pink in clothing, it’s on trend now. In Urban Outfitters etc they sell hoodies pastel
colours especially as it’s summer now.”
Overall, the feedback was positive. People said they would have the postcards in their rooms. They work individually and as a set which is useful incase you don’t have much space on your wall or don’t want to overwhelm yourself.
Final Resolution
The final design consists of 3 postcards which word coherently to create a set. These would be given out around halls, at university and in freshers packs.
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