Group tutorial

Rationale

Briefs are diverse and cover a range of skills & contexts
- Each are challenging in their own way
- Good balance

Statement of intent

Ensure time is prioritised effectively
- The collaboration briefs (Now National Rail and Form & Writing) will span 9-10 weeks

Can choose a competition brief when they are announced
- Make sure you have enough time (though this brief could ultimately just last a few days)

Briefs

National Rail - Exciting brief, think about scope & product range
Form & Writing - Can have a lot of fun with it but ensure it has clarity
Museum rebrand - Interesting project, content is already there, 2 wks on brand identity
Film magazine - A lot of content to collate independently so source collaborators

Additional comments

Think about doing a second edition of the film magazine for FMP
Wait for D&AD competition briefs to be announced - timescale for these can be very short
Prioritise work — what do you need to spend more time on and vice versa
Look at film society for potential content for film magazine
Contact printers & establish a relationship

New National Rail brief

 

SOI & Rationale

I probably went too in-depth with my statement of intent but after having doing that sticky note timetable, I had a relatively clear focus on what I will do each week. The rationale could also be refined but after the tutorial today, I will alter it depending on feedback.

(The Formula branding brief will be switched with the rebrand proposal of the National Rail)

Contextual references

I collated various contextual references to go alongside the briefs in tomorrows group tutorial. Luke told me about his tutorial with Fred where he suggested incorporating the Formula brief into PPD and choosing a different collaborative brief. We decided to go with the National Rail rebrand proposal brief.

Timeplan (So far)

So I made this. I don't know why I used sticky notes (well, I can add / remove info) but it's helping.

This week...

Type collaboration

• Initial concept ideas for basis of monthly font
• Logo & overall brand design - initial ideas and concepts
• Contextual research - type specimens, prints etc
• Blog design

Formula

• Contextual research - websites, logo design, copywriting etc
• Logo design - research into potential font choices
• Brand identity - how do we want to promote ourselves; who are we?

Museum branding

• RESEARCH - What is Warrington Museum? Who is the target audience? What exhibitions does it hold? What is its current means of advertising?
• Explore potential deliverables - think range / scope
• What initiatives could I explore to increase brand awareness
• Initial design ideas & concepts

Film magazine

• Research into British independent film making
• What are its competitors? Does it need to be sold independently or is there a gap in the market?
• Contextual research (for cover illustrations & branding)
• Initial concepts and ideas (logo design)

Brief development - Rationale statements

1) Formula brand design

A collaborative investigation into studio practice with a focus on brand & corporate identity.

I am going to devise the brand identity for Formula in collaboration with Luke O'Brien with the intention of setting up a studio practice during this last year at university to continue post-graduation.

Products —

Logo design
Brand identity & guidelines
Print collateral (business card, letterhead, invoice)
Promotional materials (mailer)
Web design
Business plan

Range —

Brand application across promotional materials
(business card, letterhead, envelopes, invoice, mail shot, signage, invites)
Potential to create a set of prints / print collateral to sell

Distribution —

Mail outs to potential clients & other creatives
Online delivery through social media (Twitter, blog resources)


2) Film magazine

A research driven investigation of the independent film industry with a focus on editorial design.

I am going to create & print a self-initiated independent film magazine as the brief will allow me to investigate print production and specification, explore my type and layout skills and create a brand identity across a range of media (including a proposed ebook & app). It will also provide research which I could utilise within my dissertation (and vice versa).

Products —

Brand identity (logo design & ?typeface?)
Publication / magazine
Cover prints
Advertising & promotion
Digital media (ebook, app design)

Range —

Brand identity and application through promotional materials
Set of cover designs (various illustrations — also used for prints)

Distribution —

Retail promotion for magazine
Promotion within cinemas
Online delivery
Phone application


3) Type collaboration

A research driven investigation into font design with a focus on print and online delivery.

We are going to explore and investigate type design within our surroundings to ultimately create our own set of typefaces and accompanying prints / type specimen publications — it will allow us to develop our typographic skills and provide the opportunity to create a fully functioning font. We will also experiment and explore publication design, print processes and print production.

Products —

Brand identity (Form & Writing)
Monthly font design
Online resource (blog) documenting contextual references
Font specimen (publication)
Prints using fonts

Range —

Brand identity applied to a range of media (online delivery, printed publications)
Monthly typeface based on a pre-determined theme
Set of prints using the fonts we create

Distribution —

Type events & talks (hand out promotional materials)
Online delivery and through social media
Design blogs or potentially publications


4) Museum branding

A contextual investigation of design for the culture sector with a focus on promotion and advertising.

I am going to propose a rebrand for a local museum as the current identity is uninviting, bland and lacks ambition and drive. The project will provide the opportunity to explore brand identity and application in more depth to create a multitude of potential design resolutions.

Products —

Brand identity (logo design / brand mark)
Signage and wayfinding
Online media (website, social media, app design)
Iconography design
Publication and other promotional materials

Range —

Brand identity & application across a range of media
Proposed design range for specific areas / exhibitions of the museum (wa finding)

Distribution —

Local advertisements in newspapers / within the environment
Social media
Local schools / colleges

Brief development workshop

What skills will the brief allow you to develop?
What contexts will the brief allow you to explore?
What content will the brief allow you to research?
What products will the brief allow you to develop?

General notes (moreso questions I need to ask myself) —

You need briefs that will allow you to develop your skills
Is the brief research driven? Led by the product?
Is there existing content or do you need to do more extensive research?
What subject matter / context do you want to explore?
How do you prioritise your time effectively?