Wednesday 30 October 2013

PLANNING UNTIL CHRISTMAS//STRUCTURING EXTENDED PRACTICE MODULE//OUGD602


briefs_plan up until christmas.
I decided to create a blogpost with a detailed to do list of what I need to do for each brief before christmas, this will be the best way for me to display it to see exactly what I need to do:

brief 01_contemporary culture
  • contact list for photographers
  • outline email and send out
  • research (culture)
  • visuals
  • format research (zines)
  • boards
  • buy and send out disposables 
  • vaguely plan content
brief 04_museum of childhood
  • email museum
  • email contacts
  • boards
  • start collecting drawings
  • research museum
  • visit museum (visual research/photographs)
  • museum branding research
  • start branding/drawings
brief 08_spectrum (collaboration)
  • split brief with Emily
  • collect visual research
  • visual boards
  • research into designival 
  • research experimental printing techniques (library)
  • experiment/create samples for development 
//
  • development 
  • design
  • evaluate 
brief 05_unsung heroes
  • concept/idea development (planning)
  • research
  • boards/idea development 
  • collect photographs
//
  • development
  • design
  • evaluate
brief 06_london stories
  • concept/idea development (planning)
  • research
  • boards/idea development
  • collect visuals/survey?
//
  • development 
  • design
  • evaluate
brief 07_pen pals
  • concept/idea generation
  • research
  • idea development 
after christmas:

start & finish 
brief 02_zanzibar spice tour
brief 03_la langue française 

complete
brief 07_pen pals
brief 01_contemporary culture
brief 04_museum of childhood

+
3 short briefs (live, competition)

Thursday 24 October 2013

PROGRESS CRIT FEEDBACK//EXTENDED PRACTICE//OUGD602


progress crit feedback/extended practice:
Today we had to present our progress so far in terms of extended practice to a small group and a tutor to receive some feedback and to see the different stages everyones working at.  This being the first crit of the year, I was concerned about the lack of visual and practical work I would be able to show, however, the crit proved to be very helpful and encouraging at this stage.

I spoke about the three briefs that I had begun to plan and work on.

brief 01: contemporary culture, this is my main focused brief and have made a plan for the things that need to be completed in order to get everything completed.  The actual designing of this brief will not start until after christmas but the planning and organising must start now in order to have the bulk of images and research ready in time.

My idea for this brief is to send out disposable cameras to people I know dotted around different cities and give them a time period in which they must capture there idea of contemporary culture.  This way I will be building up a collection of images that should best meet the brief but also allows for the research process to be more interesting.  This way I will be looking at other peoples idea of modern culture and getting, hopefully, interesting and exciting results.

brief 04: museum of childhood.  This weekend I am going to TFL headquarters in London for a talk held by Oliver Green for my dissertation.  Whilst Im there I will visit the museum of Childhood for some primary research, to take photographs and notes.  My idea for collecting research for this would be to collect a number of quick (two minute) A5 sketches of peoples favourite childhood toys, they wouldn't have to be drawn well at all, this is just part of idea development and collecting visuals.  I was hoping to get a variety of ages to take part as this broadens the results and also shows a small history of childhood through the years.  I thought these visuals would be good to use for design style of the project, either manipulating and working with the images I collect or using them as a starting point for inspiration and ideas.

brief 08: spectrum (collaboration)
Briefly touched on the developing stages of this so far.  Looking at experimental print, pattern, colour and technique to create promotional posters for a design festival in Liverpool.  Early stages of ideas.

feedback.
I received good feedback which really helped as at the moment I feel like everything is either in my head or on paper and the thought of having to balance various briefs with COP and trying to timetable yourself and get started is quite daunting so this has been encouraging.

  • good methods of primary research
  • in relation to brief 01: good idea as you're getting other peoples perspectives
  • interesting way of getting research, try and fit this in with a few more briefs?
  • look at 90s toy ads
  • survey of peoples favourite childhood toys

Wednesday 23 October 2013

PLANNING AND ORGANISING//TIMETABLE//OUGD602

timetable.
I have written up a timetable and tried to fill out as much as I could in terms of what I think is realistic when taking into account timetabled sessions at college and balancing various briefs at the same time.  I have made a monthly one and a day by day one which should help to meet my daily targets.


This is the monthly timetable, I have filled in the studio timetabled sessions and areas that I feel I can plan ahead, although I will print a copy out in order to write down new dates and deadlines.

Monday 21 October 2013

PLANNING AND ORGANISING BRIEFS//EXTENDED PRACTICE//OUGD602


PLANNING AND ORGANISING THE YEAR
As this year is going to be a lot more independent in terms of the briefs I am doing and the deadlines I will need to meet, it is vital that I plan and organise my time wisely.  Time management will be key to this years success as I will have ongoing projects throughout the year that will need to be constantly worked on along side quick briefs that will need to be completed within a week or two.  

Now that I have finalised my eight briefs I need to give rough time scales and allocations to each brief, taking into account length of practical outcomes, collaborations, research, planning and time management.


EIGHT BRIEFS:
01. Contemporary Culture
02. Zanzibar Spice Tour Rebrand
03. La Langue Française
04. Museum of Childhood
05. Unsung Heroes and Heroines (past ISTD)
06. London Stories (SECRO ILLUSTRATION PRIZE)
07. Pen Pals (ROSE STUDENT AWARDS)
08. Spectrum (Collaboration with Emily Ball)

In terms of time scale I have separated them into two categories, whether they will be long briefs or shorter briefs.  As it stands my Contemporary Culture brief will be my longest brief, spanning from now until towards the end of next year.

Three more briefs that will span over a longer time period include:
-Pen Pals
-Museum Of Childhood 
-Spectrum (collaboration)

My four shorter briefs include:
-Zanzibar Spice Tour Rebrand
-La Langue Française
-London Stories
-Unsung Heroes and Heroines 

Im estimating between 1-3 weeks each for the shorter briefs and looking at one-two months for The Museum of Childhood and Pen Pals.  The last two briefs, Contemporary Culture will run until next year, with Spectrum hopefully having the outcomes complete by January.

COP3 PROGRESS PRESENTATION//REFLECTING & PLANNING//OUGD602

COP3 PROGRESS REFLECTION
This is the presentation for COP3 I presented, it touches on the research undertaken so far and the practical side of it.  I feel at this point I need to start focusing on the practical side, researching, planning and looking at exactly how the practical side will develop.  Along with this I need to maintain a focused level of research daily in order for the body of research to be varied and thorough.  

COP3 plan for the following week, 2 hours of COP a day:

-enquire about requested book at library - How the tube shaped London

-construct and send an email of questions to Tom Cavanagh (poster guide tour)

-continue with book research 

-watch BBC 2 documentary (design classics - the Underground Map)

-watch online oliver green lecture



slide 1
Address the areas of research that I have been looking into, more in depth - historical context, economical, political value - the main focus being the design of the Underground.  Frank Pick's passion for design and interest in branding the Underground successfully.  Iconic and recognised around the world, paved the way for other Metros in other cities - took massive inspiration from the London Underground, in terms of the system itself but also the design.  Contribution to design history - different aspects of design throughout the Underground - promotional posters, station architecture, the tubes, the roundel, Harry Beck's map etc.

slide 2
Talk about potential question ideas - linked mostly to the impact the Underground has had on London, e.g 'How has the iconic design of the Underground contributed to London as a major world city?' 
'How have Frank Pick's designs influenced the capital?'

Talk about the transition of the tubes position from then to now - Frank Pick would hire graphic designers to create promotional, visually aesthetic, well designed posters to encourage people to take the tube - nowadays promotional posters are not needed with 1229 million passengers a year - it has become an essential part of London and public transport in London.  Talk about the connection TFL have with contemporary artists 'Art on the Underground.'  

Oliver Green - How the tube shaped London
Ken Garland - Mr. Becks Underground Map

slide 3
Talk about research already undertaken - TFL Museum, allowed to get the foundations of basic research about the tube as a system and the design aspect.  Guided poster tour - guide talks about the design and impact of the collection of posters at the time.  Research undertaken at the TFL library. specialised books, extending reading list etc.

slide 4
Research I still need to do - Email poster guide to ask more detailed questions
Watch BBC 2 documentary, Design Classics - Harry Beck's Map

Attend Oliver Green talk about Frank Pick's London:

'Frank Pick changed the face of London in the twentieth century through design management. Famously described by Nikolaus Pevsner as “the greatest patron of the arts whom this century has produced in England”, he was head of the Underground in the 1920s and led London Transport from 1933. 

Pick’s great passion was for good applied design in everything from graphics to station architecture, from bus engineering to Tube trains. He shaped the city more than anyone since Christopher Wren and worked closely with the V&A to create its modern poster collections and bring art, commerce and industry together. Join Oliver Green, Research Fellow at the London Transport Museum and author of Frank Pick’s London, as he discusses the life and work of this great man.'

slide 5
Practical element - explain idea about setting up an exhibition showcasing the design of the London Underground, in celebration of 150 years.  Information way finding, curating, catalogue, website etc.

Friday 11 October 2013

STUDIO TALK//THE BEAUTIFUL MEME//OUGD602

studio talk: the beautiful meme
If you ask us to come up with some designs and advertising for your brand and you don't feel a lurch of nerves when we show you our ideas then really, what's the point?
We do mottos and emblems, super-woo sigils and new realities. We give you personality. We're definitely at our best when your organisation wants to change.  
We're at our worst when you want what you've always done but mildly different.
In 2012 The Drum said we were one of the top emerging UK agencies. This made us feel like a king bee. We also started winning a few awards. Enough to keep us hooked.

http://www.thebeautifulmeme.com

notes:
four years ago wanted to run a design agency 
10 members now
the Drum - 'top 25 emerging agencies'

brands are ideas, ideas need words: why copywriters are important

01. statement: we have something to say
02. you need words to sell stuff
03. copy and design challenge each other
04. people like well written copy
05. words make your brand human

06. hierarchy is everything
07. your job is to challenge every word, be brave. -challenge every word
08. discuss and articulate positioning before anything you do
09. good designers can spell.  Great designers can write
10. be generous - understand the partnership

examples of work:
the beautiful meme rebrands the English National Ballet

START OF THIRD YEAR//RETURNING PRESENTATION//OUGD602

third year
This is the presentation that I put together for the introduction to third year, including a statement about me as a designer, the experiences I had during my work placement, the written briefs that I will look to address this year and potential studios to get in contact with.

notes
slide one: following on from second year, reflecting on what I thought were my most successful outcomes and what I enjoyed the most.  What direction I plan to take this year, heavy focus on editorial and publishing as this is something I have been interested in since the start of the course and has developed since.  Also focusing on branding and identity as this is something I had tried in second year and quite liked.  Also my main focus would be print based outcomes rather than web.

slide two: talk about my experience during my two week work placement, working in a professional and creative environment.  Talking to designers - encouraging to hear what designers did after graduating etc.  Different areas within the company broadened my career options.

slide three: work placement experience - good to engage with designers in a professional way.  Talk about the briefs that were being worked on at the time, pitches I attended etc.

slide four: introduction to dissertation research, what my topic is.  London Underground design, talk about initial research and how I feel it can be developed further, mention Oliver Green - how his books have been helpful as he specialises in the subject.

slide five: potential questions, based mostly on the design of London Underground, either:
'How has the iconic design of the Underground contributed to London'd success as a major world city? OR 'How have Frank Picks designs inflected London.'

slide six: progressing research, talk about visiting the London Transport Library - this was really helpful as it had an extensive collection of books dedicated to my subject, it helped expand my reading list.

slide seven: TFL museum research, mention areas of research that could be used as references in my dissertation.  Poster exhibition celebrating 150 years of the Underground.

slide eight: Frank Pick talk, mention how this will be valuable to my research as it is addressing areas that I want to cover.  

Frank Pick changed the face of London in the twentieth century through innovative design.. Described by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as ‘the greatest patron of the arts whom this century has produced in England’, he was managing director of the Underground in the 1920s and the first chief executive of London Transport from 1933-40. Pick’s passion was for good applied design in everything from posters and graphics to station architecture, from bus engineering to tube trains, giving London the best public transport system in the world.

Oliver Green is London Transport Museum’s former Head Curator and now its Research Fellow. In this talk he will be introducing his new book Frank Pick’s London: art, design and the modern city, published by the Victoria & Albert Museum in association with London Transport Museum. The book will be available at the event for purchase and signing.


slide nine: Talk about being in contact with my favourite freelance designer, Caroline Aufort.  Talk about the Ofr. bookshop in Paris, the zines and publications etc.  Which will lead onto me outlining one of my briefs for the year, to create a yearly calendar for the bookshop considering the style and image of the bookshop, these will include all the dates of the events taking place weekly/monthly as the bookshop is also a gallery.

slide ten: list of written briefs, I have tried to write them all in to the areas of graphic design I enjoy the most, print, editorial, layout and branding.

slide eleven: talk about three briefs in specific, 1. contemporary culture zine collection, 2. Zanzibar spic tour package and rebrand, 3. Museum of childhood redesigned guide and floor plan.  Talk about them in detail and about the specific outcomes.

slide twelve: examples of studios I want to contact, potential ideas for a placement.  How visits to these studios would benefit my practice.

presentation