Confectionery Identity Ideas

Yesterday I decided on a name for the confectioners I'm creating as part of my FMP. I decided on the name 'Sweet Enough', and so today I've made a start on putting together some ideas for an identity.
It took me ages to get going with it, I was really struggling, have had about 7 books out of the library to help give me some inspiration, and I'm only pleased with one outcome of the day. Shown below...



I want my confectioners/sweet shop to be quite up-market, if it could be in a location of my choice, I would have it either in the Thornton's Arcade in Leeds City Centre or down the Shambles in York.
I my first set of identity ideas were quite playful, bold typefaces and illustration involved, but they looked awful! (I would show them, but I'm too ashamed!)
But I think the road I've been going down, like with the ones shown above, is much more appropriate.
I still think there is plenty of room to improve it, and try out new ideas, but I'm thinking I'm finally heading down the right road now with this identity design!

Logo Research

I'm starting to progress with the development work for the confectioners brief. I've not yet thought of a definite name for my sweet shop, but I've got a few ideas down. But whilst I'm considering what to call the sweet shop, I'm looking around for existing identity designs and what's already working and out there.

The research featured here is from the book called 'Los Logos', a really good book to get you started off and inspiration flowing!

I've just been focusing on one's already relevant to sweet shops, but I'm not sure what I think. I'm intending on it being a sophisticated and fairly up-market sweet shop, and don't really think many of these are appropriate!

But anyways, it's still worth looking at and getting some ideas.

PPD Progress Tutorial 06/04/2009

I've just had my tutorial with Fred based on where I'm at with all aspects of my work, design practice, design context and then how I'm getting on with the PPD side of things, such as my portfolio, business card, PDF, website and what I want to do at the end of the course!

First of all we discussed the confectioner brief I'm currently getting on with, and the other briefs I was getting on with before Easter. I didn't have much to discuss with this, as my other briefs are pretty much complete and the confectioners brief is only just getting off the ground. I feel I should have made the most of he opportunity with Fred, but I really didn't know what to talk about :s

Then we discussed my design context, Sustainability Within Design, and how I'd decided I'm going to create a website in response to this brief. It's now just a matter of adding the content. But everything seemed to be ok from what was said.

We then went on to discuss the PPD3 side of things, firstly looking at my portfolio, which I updated during the Easter break. There's still a lot I need to do with it. The content of it seemed to be ok, the briefs I'd chosen. But I just need to consider the way I present it a bit more, especially on the more detailed briefs, like the 10 Things You Should Know... and the Design For Environment. Make it so that people can read some of the content. Think about two pages for each brief, instead of compacting it all into one A3 page.

My business card just needs updating with my new website, designbyemma.co.uk.
My CV also needs updating, including the work experience I did last summer, but also the live brief's I've done for Becca, Steve Edge and Chris.

We then talked about what I want to do at the end of the course, which I was very brief about. I have already put together some form of contact list with companies based in Leeds, York and Harrogate. I just need to be more pro-active, and not so terrified about leaving! Gain some confidence and start emailing people, whether it be asking for a placement/job, asking for some feedback about the PDF or even sending a couple of examples of my work and then inviting them along to the end of year show.

Overall, that tutorial was really beneficial, it came at just the right time during the final stretch of my time at LCAD, got some really useful feedback. I know what I need to do in my head, it's now just a mater of getting on with it, and quickly!

Brandimage.com

Looking back through old IDN magazines looking for some inspiration for the confectionery brief, I can across this brand strategy and design firm - Brandimage.
So I went on to the website to have a look at the type of work they do. Some of it I wasn't too keen on, but whilst I was on there I came across this work for Neuhaus.

Trip to York

Today I went to York to try and get a bit of research for the new confections brief I've just started. Looking at what shops were there, both down the Shambles and down in the more tourist area.
These are the photo's I managed to get on my phone, unfortunately I didn't get any inside any shops, which would have been useful. But on a few occasions I managed to get some through the window.
They're not the best photo's, but just being there aswell, having a look around myself and not just doing all the research on the internet, was beneficial.

Confectionery Brief

This is the final brief I've written for myself as part of the FMP. To come up with an identity for a confectioner’s in a location of my choice. Produce the promotional material, packaging alternatives etc.
Can't wait to get started on it!

Design Context Presentation

This morning I had to do my design context presentation, based on my ideas for the graphic product to conclude the whole research based part of the FMP. Discussing what the content would be, with some examples and then the intentions of how it would be put together.
For example, I went into the presentation with the intentions of producing a guide book for designers on how to become a sustainable designer.

These are the main slides from my presentation, so you get an idea of what it was I was talking about.











Once I'd finished speaking, there was time for questions and answers and general feedback of the work.
The content I''d decided on was fine, but the discussion was more about the form it will be take. As I had the intention of producing a small book, published by lulu.com or blurb.com, but I mentioned that I had considered printing onto recycled paper and putting a book together that way. But in the end, it came down to...should I not be producing a website. What with being sustainable and trying to avoid printing altogether. But I'm not very confident with putting a website together, so wasn't too keen on the idea at first.
But since reflecting on what was said, I've decided I'm going to have a go at putting a website together....using Indexhibit.
I've already about my domain name of www.sustainabilitywithindesign.co.uk so it's now just a matter of getting it all set up, get used to it and start adding my content.

So, fingers crossed this goes ok!