End of Module Evalutation

Robyn Russell         OUGD203

BA Graphic Design

Evaluation

YCN & Product, Range and Distribution

This entire module has probably been the most challenging module yet. There has been a lot that has happened to me as a Graphic Designer. I think working through YCN really made me make some big steps towards establishing my own practice.

This module has really helped me work out that I am going to be a Graphic Designer that is focused through type and layout. A lot of aspects in the YCN brief really made me realize this, and I think working in a two was the reason. By breaking up our own separate roles and responsibilities, looking back at it, I can see that I wanted to do the layout and type side of things. By taking on these roles I was spending a lot of time trying to get these elements right and I really enjoyed myself, thus the realisation that this brief, combined with the type module running through, I had finally settled as a designer around type. I really enjoyed working in a duo with Nick. I think its such a great opportunity to have the opportunity to bounce ideas of someone and get some honest feedback. I also think it really helped me focus my ideas a lot more, instead of going off on a tangent because there was someone else relying on me to be focused.

 Working in a duo is always going to be hard to get your ideas across and not restrict the other person, and I think at times both Nick and I felt like that but generally I think we both compromised and realized at the end of the day we both wanted to produce work to a high level. I think combining my structured approach and Nicks level of perfectionism we produced some really good work and I am very happy with it. We both tried to incorporate each others styles and quirks, and I think that’s what made us happy with our designs. As for the whole YCN module, it defiantly teaches you to respect others people judgment and really listen to what people are saying. I do my best to do this anyway, but working collaboratively you have no choice but to listen to the other person and then combine ideas that initially you would probably have never though of. The YCN module has really wetted my appetite for working collaboratively, but I think I would enjoy it more working with someone from another discipline so that you wouldn’t be ‘butting heads’ over the way you may design something.

 With regards to the research and development areas of the YCN module, we both agreed from the beginning to delegate certain things so that we could spend our time wisely and not end up finding out the same things. I feel this really benefitted our project because it meant we were both informed in different areas, making our team work more effectively. I feel with this module it was more about focusing on the skills we already had, opposed to developing new ones. This is because this module was more about working together and balancing each others interests to create something innovative and attractive. This is one of the main reasons I feel I have really developed my skills as a type and layout designer as that was my role.

As for my product range and distribution module, this module I thoroughly enjoyed. The main reason for this is the fact that I had finally worked out what sort of graphic design practice I wanted to push myself in. Due to the work I had done in YCN. Another big element to this module was the fact that through my type module and creating my type journal I had really come to realize that I love design around food and all things ‘foody’. So when it came to looking for an appropriate brief I really wanted to find something food related to inspire me. For me, I don’t think the timing of this module could have come better I really wanted to use this module to push my work in using type to create branding and possible layout design. Which I have been able to do throughout this brief, I also love working with packaging and design, so managing to combine type and packaging was defiantly one of my main aims.

I have really enjoyed this module I think because I could create the brief around the content I wanted to, which meant that every aspect of it I could enjoy.

One element of this project that I really enjoyed was breaking the briefs down at the beginning and separating them into categories. This really helped me focus my intentions with the brief and get the most out of them. This is something I defiantly intend to take on into my next projects, I just helped me keep focus through the project and look at how I can incorporate the skills I wanted to into it.

When I originally came up with my idea for the brief, I wanted to do quite a lot using a range of different printing techniques. I structured my brief so it was restricted in some senses, but when it came to making them products I had quite a lot of free reign. However, when I had my tutorial with Fred he quite rightly pointed out that it would be better to focus my ideas down and maybe focus on one element of the project I am interested in and then propose the rest so that I could maybe do them when the brief is finished. This actually really helped me because I was defiantly trying to do too much, and this way I got to focus on the brand and packaging, which are two elements I really wanted to produce well. I was focused in this brief to create something professional and of a standard I would expect, and by restricting myself in this way and not discounting the rest of the project helped me deliver some work that I am really happy with. Especially producing work that was using skills I had, and then pushing them further. I have defiantly benefited from this because it has meant I haven’t spread myself too thin and I have been able to spend time on the elements needed to make them perfect. I have proposed some ideas for this brief, but there’s so much more I can do with it and I fully intend to take it on after I had in the module. I really wanted to create some bespoke posters that would go inside the bakery, and I really wanted to screen print them but by focusing on the packaging it means afterwards I can spend some time on the posters instead of rushing them to get them right.

When it came to the packaging it was important that I got this right. There was going to be two separate elements, the cup packaging and then the packaging to hold it. I really wanted to create something innovative and by looking through my research I realized that the most successful way of doing this was to take something already out there and make it my own. Finding the appropriate design net I then went on to create and perfect my packaging design for the handling. It was important that both the elements of the packaging had a realistic function and really worked. The crits I had really helped me push and develop my packaging because people helped outline things that I would never have thought of and see the potential in it that I couldn’t. This helped with one of my break-throughs which was to turn the cup back into a functioning cup, and therefore turn the whole package into a lunch time snack. This added a completely different element to the functionality, but improved it ten fold.

I went through a lot of trial and error to get the packaging just right, this is because I wanted it to have a professional feel to it. This meant a lot of printing trials and testing the structure. One element I was also focusing on was trying to get the colours just right, I spent a lot of time picking out the appropriate colours using the pantones available and then printing them on appropriate stocks. This has really helped me because I think it’s a method that I am going to take on, this way you get a hands on result so you can instantly see what’s wrong and what you need to change.

One of the main problems I had with this project was the logo design, not the actually logo itself but printing it. I had a few problems when printing it that the vector and colour for some reason wouldn’t line up. I went to James to explain this and we tested it printing it from the same file on different stocks, and it just seemed to be the stock. This happened with the menu, again I showed it to James and we tested it but couldn’t fix it, which was a real shame because I really like the stock, as its appropriate to the product.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this module, I think for the main facts I have been able to focus my design practice and push myself in areas I hadn’t tried before constantly developing the skills I already have. This is exactly what I wanted to get out of this module, and I cannot wait to take this latest brief and develop more work for it.

Final Product - Range - Distribution Board

Open publication - Free publishing - More boards

Re-Posted YCN Boards

Open publication - Free publishing - More presentation

After checking the boards I had done over easter I had realised i hadn't uploaded the latest version with text..so here they are.

Presentation Boards Layout

After drawing out my layouts I have tried to stick as closely to the initial layouts as possible. Although in some cases it wasn't quite plausible because the angle of the images was slightly different, or they needed to big bigger etc. However I have adjusted these accordingly. I wanted the boards to have a bit more of a focus opposed to just a collection of images on the boards.

I wanted to have the main new logo as the main

attraction of the page. And then have a selection

of the development underneath to show a range

of solutions and decisions I had made. I like this layout

because it focuses the attention and is fairly self explanatory

with the hierarchy i have used.

I also wanted to put on the contextual realisation of the

logo by putting the wrap around on for the cup. This 

then showed how the designs would function. I essentially

split this board into two, by having the sachet design on because

it is of a similar nature.

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I have pretty much taken the same layout I had already

marked out for the boards in my initial ideas, except I have changed

some of the photos around because I think they are more

fitting and really show the potential of the cup in a clear

and distinct manner. 

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 Here I have been playing around with the layout of the board for the packaging. I already knew the images I wanted to it was just a case of aligning them in an attractive way so the board would be informative but functional.

Here I have slightly miss aligned the images to the left

bringing in the photos so that it isn't quite semetrical. I like

the miss alignement but im not sure it looks quite professional

enough. 

In contrast to the above image I have lined the images

up to the boarder line so that it creates a squared off space.

This way there is a lot of white space that breaks up the images

so that they stand alone in their own right. I think this works

because it gives a much crisper outline to the board. 

Lastly i tried aligning them next to the photo. I like this

but i think I am going to use this sort of style on another board

so im not sure reparation would be that attractive. I also

dont think theres enough breaking up the images so you can

appreciate them separately and as a whole.

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 This board is all about the range of packaging, outlining the different factors to the packaging and what can be done. I wanted it to be very simple, just based on informing the viewer what's really available and letting the images really speak for themselves.

I really like this board because it is structured to deliver

the appropriate information. Giving a clear outline to the

functionality of the products and how they would work and

what their range would be. I added an extra image just to 

contextualize the function of the packaging.

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 This board is about the cup and the menu, and basically outlining the interaction people would have with the menu and it's main functions. I didn't want to over complicate the board, it works as an outline to the functionality of the design.

I aligned the images to the left and next to the main picture

so that there was a clear link between the menu in the image

and then the photographs of the menu break down. I really wanted

to focus on the key elements of the menu which were the flavors and 

the offer. Illustrating how it can be used and why.

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 This board is all about the website. Unlike the original board i created I have since made more web pages to help illustrate the function and as they are all relevant i wanted them to all be on the boards.

I have laid it out in quite a systematical layout to the 

page because i think they need to be clear on how  the

individual websites function and how they work

as a whole. I wanted to outline the key websites which

are the delivery and main pages. That way you can clearly

see how it all works together.

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 I have put together the last board with the range of proposals on them, thats quite a few different ones so it was all about breaking them up so that you can clearly see the the definition between products.

I arranged them at different angles across the page so you could

then see how they would function separately and as a whole.

I like this structure because it encompasses everything but you

can appreciate the individual details.

Initial layouts for boards

Following my initial sketches of ideas for the boards I have mapped out the layout that I would be using, just to give a sense of how it would work and how it would work visually.

I set up the same grid across all the pages, this is more

for the info layout then the images because they are going

to be very different.

Initial board for logo design. Maybe need

to rearrange sizes and structure slightly but general

placement i am happy with.

Board outline for flavored logos and sachets, like

the page break up and individual areas defined.

Cup function layout, all about the images

like the opposite side view instead of it being

center aligned.

Packaging design, not too sure may need readjusting

with different images, change the layout to be appropriate

to image sizes

Packaging range, simple design all about the images

going to be a full page but with definition.

Menu breakdown. Like the images spread across page

although may make more sense to bring images closer together

so that you can view them all in one.

Web page layout, one defining image with other images

laid out. Need to check visibility of other images, dont

want to make them too small.

Range page, quite a heavy layout and very image based.

Clear definition between images to help structure the view.

Overall layout. plenty of white space, helping define images

and their structure. Not much over crowing. Very happy.

Initial ideas for boards

 Before putting my boards together i decided to draw them out, just to get an idea of the appropriate info and the style of layout. That way im not going into it blind. I wanted to focus on everything i had got from the crit and really distill down the information that I had gotten so that my boards could be as appropriate as possible.

Here i have outlined the main information about the board and the main things that i want to be on them so they are clear and uncomplicated.

The general idea for the board is to be clean crisp and sophisticated. letting the images really speak for themselves and having the info just to clarify what is on the boards. I want the layout to be symmetrical, and all the images fit together so that they clearly explain what is being shown. Im not going to focus too much on the development side because thats all thoroughly blogged so there doesn't seem much point. I just want to focus on the main designs and the formating of the products.

Product Range Distribution - Time Management and notes

Final Web Screens

Open publication - Free publishing - More buttercream

I have re-touched my website for buttercream, as well as adding more web pages that would illustrate more of the functionality of the website. Its important that i illustrate the main functions of the website which would be the delivery aspect, the menu and the offers page. I really wanted my website to be fun to look at, mixing the vibrant use of colours I have already used and some very stunning images or the cupcakes. 

This is why I chose to have a huge picture of a cupcake as the

front page. This way it immediately attracts the viewer to see more, hopefully

wetting their appetite. I think it works because it shows the quality of the products.

I haven't changed much with the about page apart from the

image, because i have taken some more professional images

it then means i can put them on the website. I think this image

is appropriate because it shows the whole package in a really

sophisticated manner.

Again I havent changed much about the delivery page

apart from adding different images, they are of a similar

nature to the ones i took of the tests but just a higher quality

and i think the products look a lot more presentable.

I then went on to design two example pages of the cupcakes and how they would be shown. I chose some really attractive pictures of cupcakes from my arsenal in my research. I wanted them to really speak for themselves. Again i used avant garde for the main body copy, because of its legibility and simple form. I then chose to use the unicorn font as the header, this is because it links nicely to the product and branding, it also really stands out breaking up the categories of the flavors.

I added a small tagline underneath the cupcake to really

entice the consumer into buying it. I wanted the blurb to be

lighthearted and enticing. 

I copied the same format across to the second page, so 

there would be some continuity and it would look professional.

I think the image is powerful and I am really happy i chose cream 

for the outline because all the colour on the pages really stands out.

I am really happy with the layout of the menu pages, I think they are simple and stylish. There's no need to have a lot of information bombarding the viewer because it will only confuse them and that wont get the message across..that they need to eat buttercream cupcakes! By having the box so large with the image in it really draws the eye, I think the hierarchy on the page really works to break up the information - that was my main concern.

Lastly I put a page together that would be the location page.

I really wanted to keep this page simple, it doesnt need a lot

of information because theres already a lot on the other pages.

A simple vectored map, the address and my chosen image for the shop.

I kept the colours restricted so that the shop image would really stand out

hopefully attracting people to visit the place.

Generally I am really happy with my website. It has achieved everything i wanted, which was a simply laid out website that could function easily, while engaging the viewer through colour and powerful images. I think the choice of the understated font really helps deliver the images and text cross because they all work so well together.

Corporate identity

This is a very simple look at the range i would create. I think if i were to produce this i would defiantly experiment with a range of stocks to best represent the colours. I realise one side would have to be gloss and the other a matt finish so people could write on the slips and the letterhead. I am really happy with the look of them both though, they seem to fit exactly what I wanted.