Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Session 1

What do I want to get out of this module ? 

  1. Experience in entering a real competition/ brief
  2. The opportunity to have work in the 'public eye'
  3. Learn how to manage a lot of briefs all at once- time management/ project management
  4. Gain a resource of good websites where I can enter competitions/ briefs
  5. A chance to compete, and even win 
  6. Learn about what is really going on around me in the world
  7. A chance to challenge myself, and gain confidence from it
  8. Get an idea of appropriate timescales for certain briefs/ outcomes
  9. Work on a variety of briefs
  10. A better understanding and actually working as part of a collaboration
  11. Gain more networks- clients/contacts (in Industry)
  12. Confidence to ask to be paid, and get paid
  13. Build up a portfolio- Portfolio Development


Why have I chosen the briefs I picked for the session ?

  1. Related to a discipline of graphic design I like
  2. Related to a certain sector I like e.g. Fashion Industry
  3. Have a specific target audience I find myself liking to produce work for
  4. I knew who the client/ company was
  5. Some where quite broad in their outcomes and so I could explore more
  6. Some of them had formats I was comfortable with
  7. Most where quite short, and so I could produce them quickly
  8. They focussed on my strengths and skill set
Others.. (discussed in the group)
  • socially/ ethically motivated
  • interest in the subject
  • get paid
  • realistic deadlines
  • enter for free
  • international recognition (different perspective)
  • good work within the deadlines
  • getting work 'out there' 
  • get real feedback
Where's the challenge ?
Personal challenges 
- format
- discipline
- audience

Vary the briefs between short and quick, and, longer more content briefs.

Don't start any brief until you have formalised it and really know what you are getting into.

Study of a Brief
We went through the questions as a group of five, and discussed the answers

Douwe Egberts

Whats the problem ?
Younger people don't buy instant coffee at home, and they want to reach a younger market.
Boring/ Old

What is the brief asking you to do ? 
Its quite vague, it wants a 'communication idea' (campaign, new product, new packaging)
Help !? 

What is the brief trying to achieve ?
A wider audience, and more profit
Money

Who will benefit ?
Douwe Egberts
The company/client

We then went though these questions as a whole group and found a much wider more applicable answer for all four questions that where correct for all the briefs we had looked at separately 

You have to be aware that a student competition means 
the company/client is getting your ideas for free
they can take your ideas without your permission and use them

But what do we/I gain out of it ? 
contacts
experience
portfolio building
might get to go to events and meet other professionals
recognition

What is the message ?
That drinking coffee at home is cool.

Who is the audience ?
original is 50+
it then states 18-30 , but then it says its target audience is 25+ (is that really that 'young')

How will the message be delivered ?
'communication idea' (campaign, new product, new packaging)
Anything as they can't think of anything and aren't willing to pay to begin with

Can you forsee a problem ?
very vague on the target audience, 
actual delivery and distribution 
They don't actually know what they want to be, who they are targeting at, they just want more money. Maybe the problem isn't the packaging... !

Many of the briefs aren't specific, they just want any good ideas.

Further questions to ask when studying a brief 
Why have you chosen the brief ?
What do you want to get out of the brief ?
What do you want to... do/ make/ propose in response to the brief ?
What do you need to make/ propose ?

Next....
Identify a brief and answer all the questions above, and annotate.



Study Task 6: Web Workshop 3

Explain the common and uncommon conventions of navigation 

Common

  • scrolling
  • search tool/bar
  • menu bar (top or left hand side)
  • homepage
  • dropdown menu
  • homebutton
  • logo
  • breadcrumbs (links to similar pages)
  • a template
  • social media links
  • motion graphics
  • sign up/in , login 
  • autoupdates
Uncommon
  • type to search
  • holding page
  • menu bar (bottom or right hand side)
  • landing page
  • eye tracker 
  • speech 
  • sound
  • 360' view
  • disappearing menu bar
  • scrolling instead of a menu
(How do you know a link is a link ? - it changes in some way, its a different colour (usually blue), its italic, its bold, its underlined)

We then had to try make a flow diagram/ sitemap for our own site that we are developing


The first diagram was chaotic and not what I expected there was a lot more I needed to think about, I also discovered I needed to really define my content in order to really do this properly, but any site map I draw I can adapt and therefore it might be easier for me in the design process.


On the second diagram I started with the home page more central so that I could go out and around , and it could all interlink, I think that this diagram is more organised but it still needs working on and so outside of the session I will continue to develop my site map.

We then took the websites that we had chosen and drew a grid on them. 
I noticed a lot of them had a symmetrical kind of grid, that contained different width columns vertically and horizontally.
Some of them had margins that corresponded to other margin on the page. 
And some of the grids where hard to see, and I think some of them where just outside of the grid.
I also noticed the four of the websites I had chosen all had a large image that went across the whole area of the site. Two of them also had the title across the top centre of the page and the other three where all top right.







(I drew on extra lines which indicated which columns where the same width)


Web Session 2

After looking around the groups scamps a lot of people had put the navigation bar at the bottom of the page

But... the navigation at the bottom can be problematic as you could set up your screen size on one screen and it might not appear on a different screen

and if the navigation is different on each page it is deemed, bad practice as it isn't followable

a splash screen- like a welcome page, clicking enter , impacting the user experience, only have access to one page


1024x768 pixels
(going to make this as a fixed size)
This ratio works for 94% of screens in the world. 
Only one it doesn't is screens 800x600 pixels

only open sites from local files menu
as the css file was already linked we can just open it from the tab 

building a site is modular and you can do it it different areas/steps

firstly is the outside box that everything goes inside , is known as the
wrapper or container (div id)

a note- doesn't effect the coding


anything put into this will be public




Must specify the  measurement

semi colon to close it


Now need to call it up in html

In the body section
open angular bracket 
div
then id and then any div id that you have created will be listed
press return to add this 
close with close angular bracket



As you wont be able to see if this has worked you can add a colour in the CSS file

Save this 


Refresh your preview in safari and you will be able to see the area

 Working in html means you can't get rid of the 10pixel border, but you can on CSS

Ways you can position things using CSS:
fixed position (fixe x,y,z coordinates)
relative positioning- float things (everything bumps up and it can't go over the top)
absolute positioning

right up to the sides




If you want something centrally aligned, you have to make 50%

So it is central but the margin needs to go back half of the width (1024= 512)



the navigation bar


(call it to html) (in the body section)





Logo

only time you save a colour is if you are working with a gradient.
work with a transparent a background , you can specify this on CSS and it doesn't take up any size

save for web
chose png 24- crisp and transparent
check transparency for transparent background




do not hide the file extension when saving

to add to the CSS file



 You can see it properly o the web browser preview


Dreamweaver can't work with a fixed position


roll over button



save for web twice

This coding specifies the area for the button



to insert the rollover button function 



alternate text - little yellow box that tells you what it is - mainly for partially sighted ect





Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Potential Briefs

1. Design logo for GALINA LONDON
http://www.talenthouse.com/design-for-galina-london


Galina London is a private fashion brand making exclusive handmade leather bags and accessories. Manufacturing original designs from Italian leather in London based studio.
Founded in 2012 as a vintage inspired British handbags and accessories brand GALINA LONDON is loved and sought after by a growing number of loyal consumers including celebrities such as Uma Thurman. The sustainable and honest approach that goes into making each and every one of Galina's bags satisfies the needs of the most demanding customers.

Now, we are asking for your help to take our brand to the next level with a unique and creative logo! There is no brief, have a look at our website to get a better understanding of the brand and feel free to create what you feel will make GALINA LONDON even more memorable.

2. Minimalist logo for freelance web/photographer/videographer
http://99designs.co.uk/logo-design/contests/minimalist-logo-freelance-web-photographer-videographer-257008/brief
I'm looking for a minimalist logo that incorporates the ideas of design, photography and video. The business provides website design, photography and videography services for a range of clients but specialises in simple and minimalist principles with an honest, professional but humorous character.

Color preferences
black, gray, blue, but no restrictions


To be used on:

Print (Business cards, letterheads, brochures etc)
    Online (Website, online advertising, banner ads etc)
    Television/screen

3.New logo wanted for DEVA
http://99designs.co.uk/logo-design/contests/logo-wanted-deva-257005/brief

We are artisan Chocolate makers producing Raw, Organic 75% dark chocolate in a selection of flavours . We hand package our 100gm bars with local artist designs . there is a circular space requiring a logo which enhances the designs .
We have named our business after the Cacao plant Deva , the energy infusing and working through cacao . We believe cacao activates and heals the heart. Symbolism representing the plant is an influence worth considering .
Print (Business cards, letterheads, brochures etc)
Online (Website, online advertising, banner ads etc)
Merchandise (Mugs, T-shirts etc)

4.Plan UK
http://www.ycn.org/awards/ycn-student-awards/2012-2013/briefs/plan-uk

Encourage support for Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign
Background
Plan is a global children’s charity. We work with the world’s poorest children so they can move themselves from a life of poverty to a future with opportunity. 
Our 75 year history has shown us that, worldwide girls’ face overwhelming odds from the moment they are born.
Globally, one in three girls is denied an education by the daily realities of poverty, discrimination and violence. Every day, young girls are missing from school, forced into marriage and subjected to violence.
Not only is this unjust. It’s also a huge waste of potential. But together we have the power to prevent girls from being forgotten.
What is the Solution?
Supporting girls’ education is one of the single best investments we can make to help end poverty. With education and the right support, girls can choose their own future and be a force for change.
A girl who has completed her education is...
Less likely to experience violence or marry and have children whilst she is still a child
More likely to be literate, healthy and survive into adulthood, as are her children
More likely to reinvest her income back into her family, community and country
More likely to understand her rights and be a force for change
The power of this is astonishing. It saves lives. It transforms futures. It will unleash the incredible potential of girls and their communities. Winning the war on poverty starts with educating girls.
What is Plan doing to help girls?
Through our programmes on the ground Plan is helping to ensure girls in the developing world can get the education they have a right to. Plan works to change policies and attitudes by working with girls, communities, traditional leaders, governments, global institutions and the private sector to address the barriers that prevent girls from completing their education.
Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign will support four million girls to get the education, skills and support they need to move themselves from poverty to opportunity. 
Following extensive campaigning by Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ supporters across the world, the United Nations declared October 11th as the official ‘International Day of the Girl’ – an important focal point for action in support of girls everywhere.
But, we can’t afford to lose momentum now.
The Creative Challenge
Investing in girls’ education is the right, fair and smart thing to do and will help end poverty for generations to come. But we can’t do this alone. We need support from all around the globe to keep the pressure on world leaders to ensure that they use their influence to make this a reality.
Your brief is to deliver a creative resource that will inspire and motivate our target audience to support Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign.
The creative can take any form (for example print or online advertising, a video infographic, an experiential movement), but it must leave audiences with an understanding of:
The challenges that girls living in poverty face and their incredible potential
The power of educating girls – the solution
The urge to take action and get involved by joining Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign
Women, men, boys and girls are all part of Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign. We are only ever going to challenge discrimination and build a better future if men and boys are part of this work to ensure improved policies, education, choices and opportunities are for all.
Target Audience
Plan UK’s primary audience is females aged 25-34 years old (the demographic classification of ABC1).
Meet Natasha…
Natasha is 28, works in marketing and lives with her boyfriend in London. She works long hours and has a hectic social life. She has an iPhone and loves it because it helps her to stay in touch on the go. She exercises regularly and tries to eat healthily. She is politically aware and tends to think of herself as being slightly left wing.
Natasha loves glossy magazines and she reads the Guardian or Observer at weekends. During the week she tends to rely on the Metro and the Evening Standard. She visits online news portals, like the BBC or Sky News, as well as entertainment, travel, music, food and health websites. Facebook and Twitter are used for keeping in touch with friends. She also enjoys shopping online.
Natasha regularly donates to charities, especially those involving social and human rights issues, and also those associated with children. She also donates to cancer charities and BBC Children in Need. Whilst she doesn’t view herself as a ‘campaigner’, she always signs petitions if she feels they relate to worthy causes.
Brand Essence
Brands sum up what they do in a simple philosophy. ‘We do what you would do’ is ours.
Our essence is based on our belief that people want to do good. We want to ask the question: ‘what would you do?’ - inviting people to stop and think what they would do to combat child poverty in the developing world.
We want to provoke people into recognising that they can make a difference. That any contribution, big or small, is valued. And then show how Plan makes that happen.
Brand Values
We have five values to guide you in everything you do:
We’re passionate about achieving positive change with, and for, children.
We show the value of everything we do.
We believe everyone has a contribution to make.
We trust in the power of people to find their own solutions.
We’re dedicated to keeping it simple.

5.Ted Baker
http://gdmaidstone.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/ted-baker-brief.pdf

Ted Baker is continuing its plan for global growth, with new locations opening in China, Japan, the USA and the Middle East – each time taking a little bit of Britain with them. When opening a new location in another country, it’s not easy for a brand like Ted to translate its unique cultural flavour. It’s your job to bring its British sense of humour and unique approach to fashion to another country – which country is up to you.
Your campaign will need to activate potential shoppers to visit Ted Baker stores and Ted Baker online; interact with the brand; and most importantly, toshop and share.

 • Ted Baker are looking for an integrated campaign, working across at least three different media.
 • All work must be submitted in English, whichever country you choose to take Ted to.

6. LAISVALAIKIS
http://www.designcompetition.com/view.php?ID=1148&site=http://www.outofthebox.lt/p/en.html

MAGAZINE DESIGN CONTEST 
TILL 01.10.2013
OUT OF THE BOX is an open creative contest in which the winner for the best magazine design being proposed will receive 2900 EUR. 

A weekly magazine about leisure including topics about food, sports, fashion, culture, arts, events, technologies, etc., is being published in Lithuania for the past 10 years without having chaged it's layout and design. Ever.  
The old fashioned design and logo should be changed into something modern and stylish that can be both reader-friendly and flexible to adapt for every issue. 
PARTICIPATE  
Please provide examples of cover and inner pages‘ design & layout (publication + photo / photo-shoot pages / content page / event page / etc.), in total: cover + at least 4 pages. 
The name of the magazine is LAISVALAIKIS (meaning – „leisure“ in lithuanian language); The magazine is sized 215 mm x 295 mm (after cropping). Files presented should be in .PDF and with minimum 150dpi. resolution for illustrations used. 
The magazine is targeting 18-35 years old, lining in big cities and having interest in news about stylish and interesting leisure time.  
Please send your proposals by e-mail to:ideja@respublika.net, including your portfolio and contacts such as e-mail and cell phone number.  
We are open for your questions on facebook page: www.facebook.com/outofthebox.lt

7.(brief not available until December 2013)
http://bhive-creative.com/about-bhive

8.(brief not available until December 2013) 
http://youngglory.com/2013-14/briefs

9. Alessi in Love
http://desall.com/Contest/Alessi-In-Love--Every-time-an-act-of-love/Brief

Brief

Summary

It’s time to let your heart speak. The historical Italian Design Factory Alessi invites all creative talents to rethink the product as an act of love. The aim is to interpret the love token in a contemporary way, designing a new object that celebrates this universal feeling: the best proposals will grant you the access to an international workshop for the development of the new Alessi collection.

Description

Alessi in Love is the metaproject organized in collaboration with LPWK DESIGN STUDIO, set up by Laura Polinoro. Researcher, creative and founder of Centro Studi Alessi since 1990. She has now created her own line of accessories and organizes, as art director of LPWK DESIGN STUDIO, international workshops aimed at creating new design objects for Alessi. Laura
continuously researches new languages and creative ways, such as in the collaboration with Desall, experimenting a new approach through the web.

Theme
The metaproject is directed to find new ways of considering the love gift, related to the celebration of significant moments or the expression of your own feelings.

Therefore the starting point is the man and no longer the object, meant as a product. The focus is on the creation of emotional objects, overcoming the industrial and anonymous production logic. For this reason, a good tip to start with is considering all the unforgettable events linked to the universal feeling of love: not only those towards the partner but also the fondness for a friend or the respect for a colleague.

Now it’s your turn to translate feelings into reality, coming up with small objects designed to be given. Last but not least pay attention that love is an universal feeling, but how people express it is personal and may change over time. A letter or a jewel are only examples of ways to express this unique and deep feeling.

Guidelines
Product typology: small bijoux, wedding favors, accessories for the person or for home;
Situations: the places and the occasions for the expression of feelings from engagements to wedding Anniversaries, from the birth of a baby to the demonstration of a friendship, from acknowledgment of a professional relationship to that of a community. Moreover the object could be an original idea for a Christmas gift;
Materials: steel, aluminum, plastic, blown glass, ceramic and silicon;
Technological sources: deep-drawing, investment casting, punching, embossing, laser cutting, sandblasting.

Award
The selection of the winner of Alessi in Love will be the result of an unquestionable evaluation of a selected jury headed by Alberto Alessi. It will take into account originality, feasibility and consistency to the brief. The best proposals will grant access to the international workshop, where designers will cooperate with a qualifi ed team for the development of the new Alessi collection.
Once the workshop is over, if the project developed becomes an Alessi product, Alessi itself will manage the contractual relationship with the designer for the provision of royalties.