Bag and Jar Labels

Here is the carrier bag design for 'Sweet Enough'. From this picture you can't see, but on the reverse side to this are the trademark purple stripes.
The grey paper stock has been completed with the purple ribbon as handles. I sweet finishing touch.

Then there's the jar labels for the boiled sweets. I've only shown an example of what the jars might look like for 3 types of boiled sweets, strawberry bonbons, mint humbugs and liquorice comfits.

So..that's another thing off my to-do list.

Sweet Enough Stationery

I've finally got the printing of the Sweet Enough stationery done today. I've created a business car, a compliment slip, a letterhead and an invoice layout.
I found a lighter grey stock to what I originally intended, which has worked a lot better behind the purple body copy.
Unfortunately the photo's have come out quite dark, but you get the idea.

'Cooki' Evaluation

This brief was to create an identity for a friend, Chris Cooke, who's know as DJ COOKI. He only asked for an identity design, one that can be applied onto flyers, posters, web presence and Cd demo's etc. The usual stuff related to Dj's I guess.
But to bulk up this work as a brief, I decided to create a CD as well.

I enjoyed the actual designing of it, but when it came down to

I've finally, at last, completed the COOKI brief!

It's taken a while, but I've finally got there!

The designing of the actual identity was fairly straight-forward. I enjoyed putting together a few ideas, sending them off to Chris to see what he thought, what he liked/disliked about certain points and then amending them until I'd created the one he wanted to use.

The the Cd, I enjoyed putting that together, as looking as Cd design is something I've never really done before and it's not necessarily my 'thing'. Putting it together and creating a product was a bit harder than expected. I had in my head how I wanted it to look. But it never quite worked that way until last week, when I discovered how to print onto the actual CD!
Simple, I know, but I struggled to get my head round it.

But now I've created something I'm really happy with and think it's suitable for submission!
I'd love the opportunity to do something like this is near future. And Chris has seen the Cd design I had a go at doing, even though he didn't ask me to create it, and is going to let me know when he needs his next demo Cd doing...and there will be money involved next time. So that's good news!

Sweet Bag

This afternoon I've got the paper sweets bags for the 'Sweet Enough' brief completed. One side having the purple stripes, and the other the logo stamped onto it.

The only negative point to it is that I'd bought the stamp before the final crit last week, so this is the old, original logo, not the one I've now chosen as the final identity for the confectioners shop! But still, you get the idea.
Anyways, I might reconsider this image, and the design for the paper bags and just have them featuring the purple stripes, without using the old stamp? We'll see!

Here it is anyway...

Design Context Website

I've spent this morning trying to complete my Design Context website, and I've now decided it's complete. I've included all the content I intended to include, adding a few extras, such as my dissertation 'Can graphic design be sustainable?'.

I had intended, during the last design context presentation, to do a book, like everyone else. But from hearing the feedback, it came about that I should maybe consider putting together a website, what with being 'sustainable' and all that!

Putting together s awebsite is something I'm not overly confident about doing, especially in Dreamweaver. Although we were taught the basics last year, I would have had to spend a lot of time coming to grips with it all and teaching myself what to do, which wasn't really very practical with the time I had left to do it.
So I've put it together using Indexhibit, which took a while to understand the workings of it. It is straight-forward to use, but has many restrictions because of this. So on appearance, my website is really straight-forward and has basic design elements. But for the purpose I was intending, it was practical.

The website address is www.sustainabilitywithindesign.co.uk

So here are a few screen grabs from a few of the pages on my site.
There are four sections to it...



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1. Introduction
What is sustainable design?
Why become a sustainable designer?



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2. Who's doing what?- Looking at practicing sustainable designers and organisations.


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3. Step By Step
Getting started
Design process
Production


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4. Opinions/Theories
A few quotes
Articles from the internet, books and magazines
My third year dissertation

Final COOKI CD

Today I've finally completed the CD for the COOKI brief!
It's taken a while for me to get my head around doing it, as every time I got close to completing or, or thought I was close to completing it something didn't work quite as I intended it to work.
Especially the COOKI identity on the front of the case, which has ended up being a clear sticker.

I'm happy with the final resolution, especially since discovering a method of printing onto a CD! Up until this morning I was intending to keep the CD within the case white, but as the sticker on the front isn't as clear and bold as I would like, I thought the CD needed to become a bit more of a feature!





I can finally put this brief away now, I just need to organize and file it in some sort of an order, and figure out a way of presenting it for submission.

Overall, I've really enjoyed this brief. It's been fun and there were no boundaries, it was really open. And it's even more of a success because Chris (the guy who asked for the identity designing) has chosen this one, is using it on existing promotional material and web presence and he is now putting together a demo CD which he is requiring a CD design for....

Improved Identity

Yesterday in the final crit we discussed the development work of my confections brief. It was brought up that I should maybe re-look at my identity. Although everyone seemed generally happy with the appearance of it, they recommended I look at the swirly lines above and below the type. (Example of first idea below)


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Original identity idea for Sweet Enough.

So I've had another look at it. Doing some research into calligraphy and decorative type and stuff.
I didn't want to spend too much time on re-doing my whole identity for this project, as I'v only 2 weeks left to get everything else produced. I was happy with the identity, but I can see what people mean, it's just a boring single weighted line.

So I've added some weight into the lines above and below the text. The new and improved identity for Sweet Enough is shown below...



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New and final identity idea for Sweet Enough.

So this is the one I'm going to take forward. I'm so much happier with it, but disappointed with myself for being happy with the original idea! Compared to this one, it's so bland, straight-forward and overall, boring!

So now I can progress with all the other things I need to do. I felt I had to take a step backwards after the crit yesterday, what with being suggested to re-consider my identity. It was just a minor glitch, but worth re-doing!

Final Crit 20/05/2009

Today was the very last final crit on the BA (hons) Graphic Design course! Scary!

We had to take along all the briefs and the development work that we've produced since January for the Final Major Project (FMP).

So for me that was
1. Stuff-O-Meter
2. Salvedge Identity
3. Cooki Identity
4. Confections

The Stuff-O-Meter and Salvedge Identity briefs are as complete as possible, but I'm still waiting to find out if Salvedge stationary has been printed at YPS printing on the correct paper stock...

The Cooki Identity is complete, but the only concern I've had is the construction of the CD case I've tried producing. The sticker on the front of the case looks crap, and I brought up in the crit about how I might go about doing it, maybe altering my original designs.

The feedback from the group was...
- in the development work it doesn't appear that I've put much thought into the designs for the CD case, not trying things out and just generally rushing it. I know it was a quick decision I made, but I feel I did consider a few different design ideas. So this is something I should maybe look at.
- Also, instead of the sticker on the front cover, as the case front would be transparent, nothing to obscure the actual CD on the inside, to maybe consider just producing a design to go on the CD itself.

- Overall, I've not to spend much time resolving this. Maybe spend just half a day on resolving this final problem. Get it finished and move on!

The main focus for this crit, I wanted to be on the confections brief. The latest and the one that's still got a way to go. I'm pleased with my progress so far, producing an identity I wanted to go with, looking at design variations for a business card, letterhead, compliment slip, carrier bags, the smaller sweets bags, the labels for the sweets jars, a web layout and some packaging ideas.
i just needed to know I'm heading in the right direction and if what I'm doing is correct and that I'm not missing anything out.

Shown below are some of the label and packaging ideas that I took along to the crit...






For this brief I asked specific questions I wanted feedback for. These were the questions and the feedback I received..

1. Do you think the colours I'm working with are appropriate? The purple on grey for general stuff, and then the ranges for the packaging?

- The designs do look nice, but I don't think that grey is the most appropriate choice of colour. Maybe a colour found in sweets, or white/off white?
- You could maybe lighten the grey a little? Love the sweet case, looks really good. The text on the sweet jar labels looks a bit lost and are hard to read though.

2. I've provided a sheet with the other things I intend to create for this project. Are they all appropriate? Is there anything I'm missing?

- Everything is appropriate. Could include a design invoice?
A chocolate stamp with the logo on it?! - Bags, brown/off white. Screenprint/digital if flat. Context show/photo in a shop. Till / Wallpaper / Dispenser / Box for cards.

3. I think I'm happy with the direction I'm heading in. But do you have any tips? Anything you think I need to consider? Or am I going completely in the wrong direction?!?!

- Direction is spot on, great concept/idea and identity. Now just highly produce stocks, swatches and look at different printing methods.
- Think about photography, presentation - what goes with what? In groups? Labels? Website maybe separately presented?

Then the general feedback discussed by the group was..
- Brightness of colours used? Try out different colours and stocks.
- Variations/investigation of logo. More detail, more to it. It's a bit too simple and straight forward at the moment.
-Investigation into different style, logo, format, colour.
- But overall it is really good :)

Another point that was brought up was the submission boards for the Stuff-O-Meter. As many in the group saw me progress with this brief, they saw the timeline/illustration of the life time resources of the hairdryer (shown below)



It was brought up that it was no where to be seen on any of my final submission boards. My reasoning for that is because during one of the crits for that brief, this idea was pretty much laughed at :s Even though I was advised to not go along with it, I still did. But at these final stages was unsure what to actually do with it, but now I've decided I'm going to some how incorporate it into my other work for submission. So that needs looking at again.


Overall, I'm pleased with the feedback from the final crit. I have a good idea what I still need to do, which is still quite a lot! So watch this space for a time plan from now until a week and 2 days away (the deadline!!!).

'Sweet Enough' Stamp

The other day I decided to order a custom designed stamp with my 'Sweet Enough' logo on it.
I've bought it mainly for the printing onto the paper sweets bags you usually get from sweet shops. Cheap and easy to do, as the only other way of printing onto these bags is screen printing, and I currently don't have much time left, and screenprint isn't one of my strong points!

So here is my stamp, with the purple ink.

Confections Research

Just been looking some related stuff to what I'm wanting to create for the confections brief.

Intern Opportunity

This morning I went to meet with a guy called Lee, from Lowd + Klea. An insight, innovation and integration which has evolved into two specialist agencies- L&K Creative and Leads Design.
L&K Creative is a strategic brand agency for lifestyle, sports, technology and the arts. Leads Design is a marketing communications agency creating work for public, private and corporate sector clients.

Lee got in touch with Fred a month or so back about the opportunity for students to go and do an internship with him. After looking at the work they do and what they're about I thought I would be a great opportunity for me. As I'm staying in Leeds and as of yet, have nothing lined up for when I finish.

So I got in touch with him and explained I was interested and directed him to my website if he was interested in seeing any of my work. He got back to me and asked if I wanted to go in and see him along with my portfolio.

I went along this morning, after spending days fretting about my portfolio. It was up-to-date, but when it came down to the thought of me going and having to show a professional it, I immediately hated my portfolio. So I've re-looked at the work I included and they way I'd presented it. Adding some projects I hadn't considered putting in. I got it together in a way I was happy with, but when it comes down to it, I don't think I'll ever be happy with it!

Anyways, I took it along to show him. We went though it, he wanted me to explain each project and what I'd done and why. I think it went ok, but the one thing I definitely feel was missing and may have lost me the opportunity, was not having any actual completed printed pieces of work. He mentioned there was all the images there, everything he wanted to see, but there was nothing to touch! So I definitely need to look at what I'm actually putting in it. Ooof!

He's said he will get in touch, as he's not sure when would be best. But he's going to come to the end of year show. But I don't know..whether I get anything out of it or not, I stil feel I've got a lot out just going down to speak to him, showing him my portfolio, hearing what we thought, what was missing etc. It'll prepare me more for the next time...

Jack Wills Bag

I found this bag of Claire's the other day in the studio. Caught my eye as some useful inspiration as part of the confections brief I'm looking at. It's lovely! The pink and navy stripes with the logo towards the bottom. Has lots of class and looks up-market, kind of thing I'm looking at producing.

Up-dated Identity Ideas

I've done as suggested in the tutorial with Justin and done some experimenting with the identity I'd gone with for the confectioners.
Ive tried all the different ideas discussed. Making the O in 'enough' pink so it looks like a strawberry bonbon. Altering the swirly things so they look like weighing scales, in different colours. And I've altered the swirly thing so there's the pink loops.

Below is what I've done...





Too be honest, I'm sill happy with my original identity. I'm not happy with these alterations I've made, I'm not sure if it's the way I've constructed them, but to me they just don't look right.
The only one I might consider using, is the one right at the bottom. Similar to my original idea, but adding the shade of pink into the circle loops. They pink needs toning down a bit, as at the moment, that's the main focus of the identity.


Which one? (below)

These are the two I'm most happy with. It's not just deciding which one to go with...

Tutorial with Justin 13/05/2009

I've just come out of my tutorial with Justin. I showed him the progression I've made on the confectionery brief, that being the identity, letterheads, business cards, compliments slips, bag designs and the paper stock I'm intending on printing on, including an example of what it'll look like printing onto the chosen stock.

He was happy with my chosen identity, but we both agreed there are a few minor tweeks I should try with it. The type face is fine, but he suggested maybe looking at adding another colour to the purple, like in the word 'Enough', change the O from purple to pink? To represent a strawberry bonbon. Of altering the swirly lines above and below the text, making it thicker? Completing the loop? Or making the lower ones look more like weighing scales? All idea's I agree are worth giving a try.

As for the stock, that's fine. As is the way the purple comes out when printing onto it.
The main thing for me to consider now is colours. Considering the different ranges, such as chocolates, boiled sweets etc and how I might use colour to represent them individually. Especially when it comes to the next stage, that being the packing. Whether it be the little bags you get your measured sweets in to the gift boxes with a selection of fancy chocolates in it.

I've still got a lot to do. But talking to Justin came at a really good time, as the next point of contact to show my work will be in the final crit. I feel the track I'm heading on is the right one, I just need to relook a few things and consider a few others.

Hope and Greenwood

Here's some creations by the confectioner's Hope and Greenwood, based in London.
I love everything from the name, to the labels on the sweets jars, to the set up of the shop, to the layout of the website.
Hope and Greenwood is a fantastic creation!