Sunday 29 April 2012

Current website

I designed this website a few months ago and asked a friend to code the site as I only knew the basics of HTML and CSS. I kept the design simple to try and draw more attention to the work with a monochrome colour scheme with a deep red / orange (#c62d2d) as the colour for links etc. Although I am pleased with this site, I am looking forward to coding my own for this module - it would be nice to refresh it.


The index page features all my portfolio pieces which can be viewed when scrolled down. I included a header and brief description with a link out towards the right with an entire project list on the left below the logo. The navigation is situated at the top to the right of the logo. After feedback from 1910 regarding my website (here), I made the thumbnail images clickable too.



When the user scrolls, the projects are hidden by an invisible header so the logo and main navigation are easily accessible - this is also the same for the main project pages.



The portfolio pages feature a description on the project with a possible link out to further info. All the images use the same width to keep the site consistent and so the images are user-friendly on different computer sizes. 




The 'About' and 'Contact' pages simple feature text and links out to other social media sites - currently Twitter and Tumblr but hopefully this will expand.



These screenshots are the HTML and CSS coding. Currently, I have to manually add each project individually and as each page is separate, I also have to add a new link out to the project in the project list making it a fairly monotonous task to add new work or delete old work.


Saturday 28 April 2012

Berg Studio

Berg Studio are an 'independent UK based ideas studio' whose work spans across a range of media including digital design, environmental graphics, publishing and brand identity. Their work is well informed and due to their range of specialist areas, I would love to investigate more into how they work and how they approach a project.  

Contact details  

+44 (0) 141 271 4707 
info@bergstudio.co.uk  

Southblock Studio 107 
60 Osborne Street 
Glasgow 
G1 5QH 
United Kingdom  

Skype: bergstudioskype 






Moving Brands

Moving Brands are an international branding company with studios based in London, Zurich and San Francisco. As an established and reputable company, they have amounted a vast range of clients which is evident in the diversity within their work. I love seeing the process undertaken with each project on their site from initial idea generation and development to the final outcome.

Contact details

Georgina Milne
Marketing Manager

+44 (0) 20 7739 7700
info@movingbrands.com

7–8 Charlotte Road
London
EC2A 3DH
United Kingdom

Website: http://www.movingbrands.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/movingbrands








No Days Off

No Days Off are a design consultancy in London who's specialise in brand identity, design for print, exhibition graphics and web design. Their clients differ substantially, from large clients such as Timberland to small businesses and art organisations.

Contact details

44 20 7275 8962
info@nodaysoff.com
http://www.nodaysoff.com/

No Days Off
Unit B107 Lighthouse Studios
89a Shacklewell Lane
London
E8 2EB







The Consult

The Consult are a brand design agency based in Leeds that take pride in understanding the clients market and work to 'strengthen brands'. Their work is clean, communicates effectively and ultimately has clarity. They work across a range of media though the majority of their work is primarily print based, experimenting with creative and unique ideas.

Contact details

0113 262 2700
info@theconsult.com

The Consult Design Limited
Gledhow
Mount Mansion
Roxholme Grove
Leeds
LS7 4JJ







Because Studio

Because

When organising my placement with Wash, I discovered that they and Because are situated in the same studio and work almost collaboratively. Their branding work is brilliant and I love their utilisation of various print processes and media. Clean and concise design! During the visit, Loz gave me his business card and told me I can ring and sort some dates out for a placement over summer, really chuffed!

"Working predominantly with clients from the creative industries and not-for-profit sector, Because Studio takes pride in collaborating with a range of organisations producing everything from complete visual identities to bespoke marketing materials."

Contact details

Loz Ives
+44 (0)1772 821 460
 work(at)becausestudio.co.uk

Unit 5
The Watermark
Studios 9 — 15
Ribbleton Lane
Preston
PR1 5EZ

Website: http://www.becausestudio.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/becausestudio







Friday 27 April 2012

Logo development

I was getting tired of the placeholder logo I had, something I created during college, therefore this was a perfect opportunity to update it. I wanted to create a simple, stripped-back monogram logo which can be applied to range of print and screen based collateral - it needs to be clear at a small scale but not too simple that it gets lost. I wanted it to both represent my design practice and me as an individual. 

I started initially by focusing on my initials, creating a 'W' out of two rounded rectangles and cutting several points towards the top to create the letterform. I noticed that the letter 'J' can be found in a rounded 'W' so I began to exploit this aspect.



I created a range of design ideas based on the same concept - a continuous line which wrote out my initials, looking at gaps to separate the letterforms and rounded / blunt strokes. My favourite, and one chosen when I asked a few people, was the top left design.




As part of my design a day, I created this simple thumbs up icon using the logo design.

However, I was pointed in the direction of another logo which looked exactly the same as mine bar from a thinner and extended stroke. To avoid any issues regarding this, I took one of the curves out of the logo to try and still retain the 'J' and the 'W' in a simpler form.


Thursday 26 April 2012

Monogram / logo

I thought the best way to 'brand' myself in the most simplest and memorable form was to create a monogram out of my initials and create some sort of distinct combination of the two. I looked at existing logo designs to gather some inspiration.

EH - Eric Hseuh

Using an extension of the slab serifs of the 'H' to form an uppercase 'E' utilising the crossbar. This creates a pattern in itself and you almost forget it is combined of two letterforms. 

Source: miha-ta.com





Duane Dalton

A minimal monogram logo combining two of the same letterforms into a concentric 'D' pattern.




Monday 23 April 2012

Wash Design Placement

As soon as I arrived, I was briefed on an ongoing project for a construction company who required a design for their tender application for the council. To keep it consistent with previous designs, they wanted an iconography set to form the councils logo. As Tom (one of the designers) knew I previously designed icons, he decided to hand me this project which I was really pleased about.

Over the next few days (4 day placement altogether) I created some more icons / illustrations for Wash Design's promotional materials using the same abstract aesthetic as IBM's icon designs. I was also given a brief where I was required to create a logo for a social enterprise project. Once completed, I then applied these to mountboards in preparation for a client meeting.

I am unsure whether I can show any of the designs I created so I will leave it for the time being but overall, it was great to work on live projects within a short timescale as it ensured I was motivated and proactive. I was able to explore a range of possible design ideas and ask them any questions regarding their practice. It was extremely insightful and they offered me a placement over summer but I think due to travel and cost, I don't think I will be able to do it which is unfortunate but I really appreciated the fact they offered.

Sunday 22 April 2012

OUPD201 - Study Task 4

What is a creative CV?

In order to produce an effective creative CV you need to consider several key questions:

Who are you writing it for?
Who needs to read it?
Who will actually read it?
What do they need to know?
What do they want to know?

It is only when you have considered these issues that you can really star to decide on what you want to say, what you need to say and how you are going to say it.

Part 1 - Identify a minimum of 10 designer's, studios or practitioners that you intend to contact with a view to organising a range of studio visits. In doing this you will need a full set of contact details for direct mailing. You will also need to familiarise yourself with their work their clients and the set up of their studio/practice.

Part 2 - Once you have identified your audience produce a creative cv that you can mail and email to your selected list. This should include your own contact details, a short personal statement, information about your practical skills, creative skills and interests as well as your professional experience, personal qualities and information about what makes you distinct from any other designer.

Your Creative CV should be viewed as a piece of work in itself and should be branded accordingly. Consider how you can use your cv to direct people to online content etc.


Initial list of studios


Because Studio
The Consult
Inventory Studio
No Days Off
Moving Brands
Berg Studio
Box Head
Music
Glad
B&W Studio

Wash Design Placement

Before Christmas, I began contacting Wash Design in Preston regarding a potential placement / work experience. I have been a fan of their work and the studio they work with - Because Studio - for a while and believed a placement with them would be fantastic. As my sister lived and worked in Preston, I asked her whether she lived nearby and fortunately, by weird coincidence, she worked in the same building - opposite their studio infact. She told them I was interested and they asked me to email them with more information.



After a chat via e-mail, I was invited into the studio for a chat and an opportunity to show them my work through my online portfolio (www.joewarburton.co.uk). We discussed possible dates and decided Easter would be a good time for both of us. I had the placement over the first week of Easter and it was brilliant - extremely insightful with plenty of opportunity to work with live projects (more info in future post).






OUPD201 - Study Task 3

Cora Hillebrand Photography

Lundgren & Lindqvist designed the following promotional business card for photographer, Cora Hillebrand. They have utilised perforated imagery for easy detachment so Cora can 'pick and choose' what image (or images) to give a potential client depending on their needs - a major strength within this concept. The format is also able to showcase multiple photographs therefore providing a mini portfolio in a small, unique form. This in turn reduces cost in terms of printing and delivery. I cannot think of a weakness - it is innovative, interactive and a simple way of showcasing her work.

Source: lundgrenlindqvist.se







LG European Design Studio

Territory Studio worked alongside the studio's design director to produce a publication that showcased their work over the past 2 yeas. A short run of 50 copies were produced which immediately limits their potential market. Due to the large publication, the cost would ultimately be quite substantial. They state their work is highly confidential and the way it is packaged reflects this. The envelopes are also hand-stamped, adding a personal quality to the pack.

Source: territorystudio.com





Gem Copeland graduate portfolio

A portfolio by Gem Copeland showcasing the work produced during her degree. Each project is showcased within individual booklets allowing the selection of work to be customised depending on the recipient. However, the cost may be extortionate, especially if a separate black case was sent to each recipient - possibly too many (unnecessary) elements.

Source: gemcopeland.com









Anthony Burrill newspaper portfolio

We received this during the Leeds print festival; a newspaper portfolio showcasing some of Anthony Burrill's brilliant work. The costs would be relatively low due to the cheap stock and would be ideally suited to a large print run. The large size may put some people off but due to the malleable nature of the stock, the recipients would easily be able to fold and re-open the publication. The large size also allows for large images, showcasing the work in its entirety. 


Olly Moss - Exhibition

Olly Moss is a UK-based designer, renowned for his poster artwork; primarily comissioned movie posters. Through exhibitions and online networking, he has developed an extensive following. He sells limited edition prints via Twitter during a short time slot, allowing him to build up interest through self promotion. His paper cut exhibition was extremely popular and had queues stretching outside and around the building, providing his popularity amongst an international market. However, it would be difficult for an upcoming designer to showcase and exhibit their work solely in an exhibition environment without a pre-existing built up reputation - it would require a lot of self promotion which in turn could be expensive, though in this case, was extremely beneficial.






Anagrama - Behance

Anagrama are a studio (or alternatively, a brand intelligence group - see website) based in Spain. As they work primarily with branding and brand application, their work is predominantly print-based. They use Behance, among other social networking sites, to distribute their work online. Behance is an online creative platform to showcase your work for free and to view work of others.




Work is showcased using the standardised portfolio layout which may be seen as a weakness - it is difficult to give the page a sense of identity, albeit for colour and font changes but not in terms of layout. Behance provides many opportunities, however, as first and foremost, it is an online creative network which you are able to use for free. You can link out to your main website, other social networking sites and therefore provides a 'base' for your online presence. Images are clearly set out and the work is easily accessible - it can be shared, providing another benefit, and users are able to comment on your work.


Ben Jennings - Publication

Ben Jennings, an Australian designer, created the following printed publication to distribute his work to prospective employers and those who have helped him out during his studies. Due to the expense of these publications, it may not be feasible to print a large run therefore the quantity may be fairly limited. Also, as it unknown whether a studio will reply to the mailer, it may be wasted money. On the other hand, it immediately creates impact, especially enclosed within a black, bubble wrap mailer.







40 years of Pentagram - Video

http://vimeo.com/user3163512/thefortyfilm

A brilliantly written and narrated video by Pentagram to celebrate their 40 years. The concept works seamlessly with the motion graphic - an extremely interesting means of distribution. The voiceover and copywriting plays an equally as important role as the visuals as the two compliment each other brilliantly. It is creative, interesting and ultimately engaging - you seem to be drawn to the story. It costs very little and costs nothing to distribute. A showreel is a quick and distinct way of showcasing work and with a concept like this, can immediately attract attention.