COLLABORATION - Emily and Jenna, Yearbook

Evaluation:

I was extremely happy with how effectively we all worked together during this brief. I feel that we were very organised and efficient, making sure to relay all information to each other and to the tutors. We were always aware of deadlines, and when things needed to be completed by - such as getting all of the content, taking photographs of work and organising the students. In addition to this, when one of us was unable to attend a meeting or a session, this wasn't a problem as any issues raised would be discussed later on and everyone would be brought back into the loop - there was always someone there when needed.

There was a lot of content and information we needed to gather from the textiles students. With the help of Duncan, we were able to post any necessary information on their main forum, setting up a dropbox where files could be sent for us to use. We created a strong relationship with the Textiles team, making sure to always be professional and organised.

As there was three of us, we had a range of skill sets, allowing us to present and design effectively, whilst having equal amounts of work to complete. Compromise was a main factor within this, allowing everyone to have their own input and knowing when to back down.

I am extremely pleased with how this project has turned out, and we are all glad that we decided to take it on. The content, layout and visuals all really compliment us as individuals, as well as a working group, and this is something that we will definitely be putting in our portfolios. Each step was managed well in order to produce an outcome that we are proud of.

PHOTOG COLLABORATION - postcards

I have also created some postcards for Anna to go with her business cards. She previously mentioned that she may want some for her end of year show, so I decided that I would create some for her simply using the design and layout of her business cards.

Two different designs were to be printed to see what was most effective. I felt that the white type on top of the photographs really complimented each other, adding variation.

PHOTOG COLLABORATION - developed designs

With Anna being a photography student, she will be quite skilled in the art of elimination, and picking from 100s of images. I therefore decided to produce a large selection of layouts, which I would then mock up so she could view them all and pick out her favourites.

Anna also sent me the new photographs that were to be used on the front. The ones she sent were a mixture of portrait and landscape but I said that I would explore how effective these would be. I loved the new images she had sent, they were extremely vivid and the range of colours would look great with the solid black on the reverse.

Below are the new layouts that I developed, using all of the correct information and the Avenir typeface chosen by Anna. She also noted that she works mainly in uppercase, therefore would prefer it if that was the case on the business cards also.

I printed all of the designs off, with the photographs on the front so that she could see how the portrait and landscape images worked in contrast to the reverse. We then organised to quickly meet up, all the cards were laid out on the table and Anna went through and picked her favourite. 

The bottom right and middle top layouts were her favourites and then she then made the decision to simply go with the bottom right. She felt that her name was too big on the card on the top right.
I agreed with her decision, and I was glad that she chose this design. She also agreed that they would be more effective with just portrait images.

I asked whether or not she had one more portrait image so that there could be four colours on the front. She said she would send me one over.

Chosen design (left design uses medium weight for the content incase the black ink bleeds during print):

Chosen photographs:

Quick image:

PHOTOG COLLABORATION - Issues

Unfortunately because Anna's deadline is before mine, and I am busy also, it had been put on the back burner. However, I got in touch with Anna to see whether or not she was still happy with me producing her business cards and so on. She replied stating that she 100% wanted me to do her cards and she had in fact made a few developments since we had last spoken. As her deadlines have been quickly approaching, she has been producing more photographs, as well as working on her PPP.

Amendments to be made:

1. Anna now wants to use a sans serif typeface as this is what she chose to use within her PPP presentation. The typeface Anna wants to use is Avenir in light.

2. The photographs are to be changed. She now has a selection of new images to be used on the front of the cards.

I will now go ahead and develop a range of possible designs to show Anna.

PHOTOG COLLABORATION - meeting

Myself and Anna organised to meet up again to discuss the initial designs. She asked for my opinion and I suggested that her business cards would be more effective if they were portrait, considering most of her images are - it would also make them more interesting and engaging. She agreed and we both decided that they worked best with the solid black background on the reverse, and the white type.

It was decided that I would go away again and develop my designs using the new requirements. She was still happy with the chosen typefaces, so these were to be kept the same.

PHOTOG COLLABORATION - initial design ideas

The first step to developing the business cards was finding the perfect typeface. As Anna had mentioned that she wanted an extra light serif type, I scoured the internet to find a number of possibilities, and then used an application that would allow me to view each typeface next to each other. This would allow me to eliminate possibilities.

From this, I picked a handful of typefaces that I felt might suit what Anna was after, and met up with her discuss her thoughts and feeling.

Typeface selection:

Anna's chosen typefaces:

The two typefaces Anna liked best were Alexadria and Klinic Slab, which came in an extra light weight. The next stage was to consider layout.

Although the selection of images that Anna sent me were portrait, she was uncertain as to whether or not she wanted a portrait business card. I therefore tried a range of possibilities so she could see what she preferred.

I felt that the white reverse was too much of a contrast to the images that I had been given, therefore I thought that it would be nice to have the front of the card as a photograph, and the reverse in solid black. The initial images that Anna sent me via email would be perfect for this because of the composition and colours included.

I will now meet up with Anna to show her these initial design layouts and get some feedback.

PHOTOG COLLABORATION - research

Interabang

I looked at these business cards for the way that they use a full image on the front. This is therefore the main focal point, creating the overall personality and visual of the brand. The reverse is kept simple, using type hierarchy to show the importance of the information included. Anna is a photographer and therefore her photos are the main thing about her. I want to show this on her business cards, by using them to fill the front of the card. This way, whoever she gives them to has a clear idea of what she is about and what she is capable of. Over time, the images can change depending on recent work. The reverse therefore needs to be kept simple so that it can work with a range of visuals.

Deutsche & Japaner

These business cards are simple but evidently luxurious. The use of gold, red and white gives off a high end feel and a sense of class. They are contemporary but individual, keeping colour to a minimum to create a consistent identity. Edge painting is something that I am going to consider for the photography collaboration, or I may triplex them.

Vanitas

I looked at these business cards for their use of an overall image on the front, with the details on the reverse. The type is simple and legible, whilst the image is left to do the talking, becoming the main focal point. Text has been printed on top of the image in white, which creates an extremely nice contrast to the colours of the image. This is something I may experiment with using Anna's image as they are extremely vivd so the type will still be readable when layered on top.

Sita Murt

I love the use of hand type in vivid pink on a stark white background that has created a great visual identity for Sita Murt. Keeping colours to a minimum can be really effective, and this use of hand drawn type has given the brand a real personality and sense of fun. These visuals have been applied throughout, creating a consistent look that will really get Sita Murt noticed. 

Deutsche & Japaner

Again, Deutsche & Japaner have produced a really luxurious aesthetic for these business cards through the use of gold foiling and minimal colours. Both white and black add a high end feel that shows professionalism and simplicity. Sometimes, colour or processes can speak more than the actual content itself, and therefore the type itself doesn't need to be overly designed.

Bellistrami

These cards have been designed for a photographer that is involved in reportage and story telling photography, as well as travel and portrait. The hole has been layered out in order to call back the stenopeic photography, or a pinhole camera. This allows the user to view a space through the hole, creating their own image. This is a really unique and interesting way of presenting a business card, as it shows a great reflection of the individual themselves. 

Belinda Love Lee

These muted business cards are extremely lovely, mixing hand drawn type with digital to give the design personality. The simple content has been placed on top of lovely saturated colours, giving it a contemporary and fashionable vibe.

PHOTOG COLLABORATION - First meeting

During our first meeting, I wanted to find out from Anna what exactly it is that she wanted. As I know Anna, I am aware of the type of photography she produces, however, I asked if she could send me some of her work so that my designs were informed and so that I had a good understanding of she was. This was the first step.

Anna's requirements in terms of her business cards were that she wanted a really light serif type face for all of the content included, and she preferably wanted her business cards to be black, and the type to be white. This was all the information given to me, however, I felt that this was a good starting point. I could now go away and develop some possible ideas to show her at the next meeting.

PHOTOG COLLABORATION - Anna

After the initial photography collaboration sessions with John and Ross, I was approached by photography student Anna Jakobson to produce some self promotion for her. She stated that all she really wanted was some business cards, and possibly some postcards that could be handed out at her end of year show. As I know Anna, I knew that this process would run smoothly, and that I'd have a good understanding of what she'd want.

Initially, I felt quite nervous about producing some designs for Anna, as I never experienced this situation before. I was concerned that she wouldn't like what I came up with, however I also knew that if she didn't then we'd be able to talk it through and develop the visuals.

The next step was to set up a meeting in uni so that we could go over some of her needs and wants in terms of her business cards, so that I had a starting point for my designs.

COLLABORATION - Steph, Champneys

Evaluation:

I have worked with Steph in previous years, creating successful outcomes, and therefore we decided to undertake another brief this year. Mine and Steph's skill sets and interests differ quite drastically. She is used to working digitally with websites and apps and has quite a deep hatred for packaging, which is something that I love. However, we felt that this was in fact an ideal starting point, as it would also us to produce something varied - printed products supported by a website for example.

I always learn new things when working with Steph. She is extremely competent on Photoshop, a programme that I had hardly used until now. She taught me a lot in terms of layout and shortcuts, and because of this, I have now been using it to produce the final boards for all of my briefs. I also feel that I helped her strengthen her skills on Illustrator,  working with digital scans and showing her how to add colour, using different brushes and tools.

Whilst we were always together when working on this brief, we used our individual skill sets to produce something that we were really proud of. It gave us both the chance to work within areas that we wouldn't usually place ourselves, whilst also allowing us to show off our abilities, which is why I feel we work together extremely effectively and efficiently.

COLLABORATION - Katie, Dr Me

Evaluation:

I feel that myself and Katie worked extremely efficiently and effectively on this brief. She was a great individual to work with as she is not afraid to think outside of the box and explore different possibilities. Katie is extremely pro active and therefore we were able to use both of our skills sets to achieve a lot in a short period of time. We were able to bounce ideas off of each other, and works things out visually, using the resources within the university to find out whether or not our ideas were going to be possible to create. 

We both worked on our strengths, splitting the brief into individual tasks so that the outcome was the best that it could be. This also allowed us to work on the brief separately and then come together and evaluate the development and progress. It also gave us the opportunity to work with materials and processes we had never previously considered, including acetate and digital fabric printing. 

I would definitely work with Katie again after this collaborative brief as she is full of ideas and willing to explore different avenues of design. It was also offered us the opportunity to see our work in an exhibition and a space that wasn't just the usual environment. We were proud of what we had achieved. 

Brief:

For the live brief for Dr Me, myself and Katie decided to work together in order to explore some initial concepts that we had came up with. We had a range of initial ideas for the flag brief. We originally decided on creating a pattern, as we both felt that we were strong at pattern design and this would allow us to show off our strengths. After looking at a range of different sources for inspiration, we came up with the concept of creating a flag that had different cut out sections. There would be two layers, the top layer would have the cut out shapes, and the second layer would have the pattern printed onto it. This way, the pattern would come through the cut away areas, creating circles of print. We felt that this was quite an interesting take on a flag design, as it incorporated different layers.

As we started developing our idea, we hit a few hurdles. As there was no real subject given to the flag, we struggled to come up with possible pattern ideas. We looked at geometrics, floral and linear patterns, yet struggled to get our ideas down on paper. We felt that we needed a stronger concept to continue with. 

Following this, we began to bounce new ideas off of each other. It was then decided that we would quite like to explore music, and therefore discussed this to see if we had anything in common in this area. I began talking about what I did over summer, stating that I had been to a festival in Poland called Open'er. Katie then asked me who my favourite artist there was, which was The National. It turned out Katie also loved this band, which led to the new concept of - The National Flag.

Focus on one song was then decided upon, and we ended up choosing Graceless. We went through the song and picked out a lyric that stood out to us.

"I'm trying, but I'm graceless."

Graceless seems to be all about dealing with human relationships in your life that you value, and there are times when certain aspects are beyond our control. You would always hope that you had the grace to deal with these situations with grace and care. Matt Berninger, the lead singer of The National, stated "A Person with grace is somebody who's socially graceful or is a classy person, but sometimes you just feel the opposite of that, and you just feel like a jerk and a loser and a weirdo." We wanted to pick up on this idea of contrast, being bold and conscious. Not being afraid to be graceless.

COLLABORATION - Jenna, Picnic

Evaluation:

I have never worked with Jenna therefore this brief gave us the opportunity to explore how our minds would come together to produce a range of products. 

We also spent a lot of time researching existing products, packaging and illustration. When collaborating, it can be quite tricky putting two different design styles together, therefore we needed to look at a way in which we could both work. This gave us a solid idea in terms of visuals and aesthetics, allowing us to work together, inputting and giving feedback along the way. This is an approach we took to design development throughout. We made sure that whilst designing, we were with each other at all times. This way, we could work on the packaging at the same time, 'mini-critting' each aspect as we did so. By doing this, we were able to bounce ideas off of each other, coming up with strong design ideas. 

Although we work within similar areas of design, our visual aesthetics are quite different. It was hard to split the brief up into our strengths also because the design was extremely focused on illustration. I feel that our illustrative skills were particularly strong, and I am extremely happy that I experimented with character illustration and explored colours that I wouldn't usually work with. This made me realise that I should consider working outside of my comfort zone sometimes, whilst still keeping my work consistent. 

Working with Jenna allowed me strengthen a range of skills that I wanted to work with throughout the year, including packaging, crafting and illustration. She is a very positive person, and therefore made me believe in myself in terms of my design. This was an extremely fun brief to work, and although it is not completely consistent with the rest of my work, I feel that it allowed me to explore different avenues, giving me the confidence to explore new possibilities in terms of crafting and photography.