OIGD603: My Brand

I want to get some studio experience this year and my biggest issue with applying for it/emailing studios is not having a brand in place. Last year I tried to get the brand sorted before I applied for experience, however by the time I had a complete brand I didn't like it anymore, plus when I had finished it was the end of the year and over summer I got over relaxed and never got around to emailing anyone. And now a new year has started, I need to get experience but my old branding is now outdated and I really don't like it, so I decided to get something in place, at least a CV that I can adapt and change later, but send out now while the year is young.

So for a part of our welcome back briefs I produced a poster explaining how my spirit animal is an overly opinionated hamster and decided this might be a good start to apply to my brand, I wanted to start with an icon/logo and a CV.

I decided to use the hamsters as icons to display both my digital and physical skills combining design and illustration in a simpler and more stripped back way. I also messed around with layout ideas trying to display a good balance of text and image at the same time. I also stripped back my content deciding what to and not to add into my CV.

 In the digitising phase there were some I preferred over other, especially the layout of the first design however I had an issue with the whole hamster concept. I feel that last year although I managed to strike a balance between design and illustration and produce something bold yet cute, I don't think these style of designs would be taken all to seriously in the professional world. I want something that hints subtly at my illustration abilities without relying heavily on something cute or character based. So I went back to the beginning to come up with a new logo/icon.

It was then that I noticed the little speech bubble with the scribble inside I had included on one of my original doodles and I realised what a good concept it could be for potential branding. The speech bubble not only reflects my love to talk and share opinions but also hints at comics and illustration (with the speech bubble starting its life in comic books). It could also be a representation of the dialogue I hold with my clients as I am a fond believer in back and for feedback. So I went on to develop this into a similar layout style as my previous CVs using the bubble as a logo and an icon.

OUGD602: Chip Kidd TED Talks

I love TED Talks, I have a TED app on my xbox and watch them as and when I want to and I love it when one comes out on Graphic Design. I recently watched two talks by famous book designer Chip Kidd where he talked enthusiastically about his work in book design as well as the importance of communication and making a good first impression in graphics and design.

Designing Books is no Laughing Matter. Ok it is.

The Art of First Impressions- in Design and Life.

I found these talks not only amusing but very informative. Both of them talk about clarity of message, and finding the right balance between clarity and mystery- producing intrigue and interest without causing confusion and loosing the message.

I'll certainly be referring back to these talks for future briefs especially the penguin brief seeing as one of the talks focuses purely on book design and the other mentions it.