Vikki Type

After a couple of crits with Vikki, we managed to get a font that we were both happy with, it still kept the easy approach and friendly aspects as well as a better composed and rounded one off type.

As shown, there are italic and bold versions of the font, but the font only features capitals and a handful of glyphs, something which I could add to if needs be.

I will be using this font throughout the branding and identity I propose to Vikki, be it for business cards, letterheads or even the website.

Creative Networks

We had a briefing set as a group by the team at Leeds Brewery, to design a collaborative beer bottle label for a Creative Networks event. The beer is called Hellfire, although I think this isn't the right name to reach the target audience.

Target audience: Young professionals, students, either sex 18-25

Other than the size of the label having to feature the design from one angle, there wasn't many design limitations besides maybe colour usage, no spot colours etc.

CMYK

exisiting Hellfire design

Overall the design for the original label is good, just the presence from when the bottle is in the fridge. The beer would be easily recognisable to a previous customer of the beer, but someone who didn't know what it was would struggle to read the label. I feel as though this kind of design has been a little overplayed and if the beer itself is as exciting and modern as I'm expecting then the label should reflect this also.

A couple of modern bottle designs, both completely different but both easily recognisable and identifiable.

I also found an article from the Guardian, 'The art of beer labels',

"“Brewing beer is an art,” he explains. “You would never hang a Picasso in a lousy frame, so why put great beer in a terrible package?”"

Vikki Asker

I was approached by a student photographer from Cheltenham, who asked if they could have branding for themselves and their professional presence.

For this I spoke to the client over a series of programs to find out best what she wanted the outcome to look and feel like and what she wanted it to say about her.

http://www.vikkiasker.com

This is her existing front page featuring her branding and images from her works. She said she liked the style of branding but wasn't too sure on the font/ or the fact that it was a downloadable font.

I decided I'd design her her own font to use as and when she wishes.

YCN: UK Greetings

We set about looking into cards which could be interacted with by the customer, enabling a card which was more personal.

Personalised Cards

www.moonpig.com/uk/

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http://www.funkypigeon.com/PersonalisedCards.aspx

http://www.tesco-cards.com/

Moonpig offer video prompts also where a camera icon can be scanned on a smart phone which will activate the video.

The only personalised card services offered are via the internet, which is handy, yet why is there none in store?

There must be a middle ground, something personal, but not too personal.

YCN: UK Greetings

After my previous collaboration failed, Abbas and I decided to undertake the UK Greetings brief together, as offered by YCN.

We started by exploring the current market to see what was already on offer and try and think outside the box.

The brief requested designs for a range and branding for the range to be proposed too, stating they needed to have a 'stand-out' effect on customers, or offering something new.

The target audience to be 16-34 included ourselves, being in the first third of the target audience, which made the project a little easier.

 "A successful range often does something different to what is already out there."

Paperchase

 Throughout the Paperchase range of cards letterpress is a staple feature which boasts that little extra, care and hand crafted, more exclusive. There were other features such as witty puns, a lot of minimalistic designs, decorations added or cut away from the card, practically any card you could think of.

This got us thinking...

Secret 7"

I decided to enter the TalentHouse competition quite late on and illustrated 2 covers, Nick Drake and Nas. You can see my entries on TalentHouse, here and here.

I picked Nas because his music is what I listen to and I can relate too. I decided due to the tile of the track, 'The Don' and his constant references to a champagne lifestyle dropping bars about champagnes and smoking, that the illustrations of Cohiba cigars and Chandon would be perfect.
The sleeve needs no further work as it communicates my message perfectly, the negative space can also be viewed as part of the expensive lifestyle.

The final imagery consists of 2 separate illustrations of each aspect. Once drawn the images were photographed and transferred to the mac where they were edited by way of Ps, altering the colour, tone and contrast. The images were then live traced and placed together where they were live painted.

The same process happened with the artwork for Nick Drakes single, 'Rider On The Wheel', besides it was just one illustration.

For this particular track, I read the lyrics to get my interpretation of the song. In response the era and the lyrics I had a singular man on a Penny Farthing, donning a suit, surrounded by white/negative space. The song for me explains a lack of a loved one, maybe through arguments or another cause which leaves the rider on the wheel to be lonely.

Secret 7"

Last year I avoided the TalentHouse competition, then a couple of people won on our course which encouraged me to attempt it this year.

I decided that I would enter 2 of the proposed competitions, Nas and Nick Drake. These were to be illustrations, digitally rendered later, capped at 7 minutes per illustration.

I sat and listened to each track twice before starting my illustrations.