Brief 4 - Dylan Thomas Evaluation

Brief 4 – Dylan Thomas Evaluation

This brief from the very beginning was about exploring processing and literature. Combining both my passions for process and literature. Although this brief did change at the beginning, it still stuck to the overall idea and concept I wanted. I wanted to use the literature and text to inform the design decisions and processes I used, and I found that I was beginning to use type to convey the concepts as much as the processes.

From the start I wanted this brief to run alongside all my other briefs, so that decisions I made in other briefs and this could work together to further my skills in processing and design. I really wanted to hone my skills with laser cutting within this brief, and try and come up with a co-hesive brand that could embody the brief totally. So I got to involve branding, and processing with a focus on literature, which was really good and it helped keep me inspired with regards to the other briefs I was working on.

I had come up with some quite ambitious design and processes, which unfortunately didn’t exactly work out every time. However this process of trial and error and persistence may not have helped completely in this brief, but allowed me to make more informed designs decision with regards to processes in my other briefs. Knowing what would work and what wouldn’t, which meant I could use the most appropriate solutions in other briefs to achieve what I wanted. I had to work around a lot of problems, for example digital print running out of vinyl and having to switch my stock and design to counter this. I think because I originally set out with thought out concepts behind each book, and quote it allowed me the freedom to make mistakes and create new solutions that would still work, and sometimes better than the original.

Also due to the fact that this brief was to span the entirety of this module, I had a lot of time to make mistakes and fix them, so I had to be organized and plan around when I wanted to do certain process, because certain process take longer than others such as screen printing as opposed to digital print.

This brief had been really important to me this module, it has allowed me freedom to have fun, whilst developing my skills in type work and processes. But I think more importantly it has allowed me to understand certain restrictions with the processes and how I can counter these problems, and help me make more informed design decisions with regards to my other briefs. 

Ougd303 Brief 4

Dylan Thomas Development Boards

With this brief I have collected all the main parts of development from this brief. Covering the design and processing experimentation, resulting in the desired effect or failing and having to fix the problem. It also documents the change within the brief and swap of concepts and content.

Waterstones - development

I developed the interior design further, encompassing the design and the waterstones aesthetic.

Dylan Thomas Boards

DYT - Packaging

i have wrapped up different posters and left some plain so that when it comes to photographing them on Monday, i have an array to photograph. I tried a variety of different wrappings, using the cellophane i had ordered. I decided on using the style that created a pocket around the posters. Im happy because although the finished are visible in the bags, you would need to take them out to look at them. Using the stickers i created i have managed to use them to seal the bags, and have put together and overall packaging deliverable. I am happy with this style and hopefully they will photograph well.\

Dylan Thomas - final posters

Here is the range of posters that i have created, although not all of them have worked when they are laid out like this i am happy with the array of different processes used. Now its going to be a case of photographing them, and tweaking the ones where the finishs wasnt what i wanted.

Finished Posters

Tote bag laser cut

As mentioned, i wanted to create tote bags for this brief with logo on it. The tote bags i ordered arrived this week, and i decided that i wanted to engrave the logo onto the cotton. This way it mimics the style of finishings and processes i have used throughout this brief, therefore creating a level of consistency across the brand.

[images]

Spot varnish tester

I also spot varnished my Amber spy glass poster, it was infuriating because someone has washed my screen 1 of my other screens even though it was the day before they ran out. This was extremely annoying, however i still had one that i could do the affect with to see whether it would work. And it turns out it actually works very well. Again, i will have to mock up the actual image of the sport varnish which is annoying, but at least i can prove with one poster the affect actually works and works well.

Emboss

Today i went an embossed my undermilk wood posters. I printed the book on the summerset satin stock and then took it to textiles. I managed to wet the paper and put it through the machine. I was nervous about wetting the paper, but it turns out the ink wont actually run. it diffuses a tiny amount but nothing drastic.
Originally i had done some samples of the emboss to see how it would work, and they worked great. However, when i went to put the posters through and when they came out the emboss was subtle, and you couldn't tell the difference at all. This was extremely annoying, i think there were two problems the emboss pressure wasn't enough and the wood was too thin so it couldn't give a deep enough emboss, but that was the thickest that i could put through. So this print hasnt really worked, but the concepts is there. I may photoshop the effect to make it stand out more. In the future i think i would use a thicker piece of wood, and possibly highten the pressure.

Publication Outside

Mimicking the simplicity of the layout in the book, i wanted to create a minimal layout for the cover, just using the logo. The format itself is novelty in its style so by creating a simple cover design means it reamins simple and easy to read/use.

Animal Farm - Change

Originally with with Animal Farm design, i was going to print the a clear vinyl that i would then place over the top of the print out i had already done. I wanted to apply something clear, because the story in this book and the way its told is 'clear'. It doesn't hide anything or complicate things, but there was a problem with this because digital print ran out of clear vinyl and wouldn't be getting in any time soon. So i have instead, decided to print it onto the clear film separation downstairs. This means printing the whole book on the clear sheet, i actually think this will work better with the concept than my original idea. 

Publication

// CLOSE UP EXAMPLE OF LAYOUT STYLE AND TYPE FOR PUBLICATION

Publication

// PUBLICATION DESIGN - GRID AND STYLE

I have used exactly the same font in the book as i have on the posters, creating coherency across the range of deliverables.

Publication mock up

In order to bring this brief together, there does need to be some form of informative promotion that would go alongside the posters and books. Basically just outlining who the authors are, what they do and the impact they have has on literature today. I have already done the research of each author, so it has just been a case of pulling that info together and then putting it into the publication. 

I created a mock up to try and help me work out the dimensions and style i wanted. I want it to be simple and minimal. Reading like a book, but also incorporating a slightly different format to give it a different interactive feel. By creating a cover that was slightly larger, and having a smaller book style inside. 

Tote Idea

As well as creating the logo and secondary logo, i need items to place it on. So i have been looking at the side of promotion i have in mind for this brief. Because the idea is to encourage people to read the classics, i need something for the consumer to take those classic books away in. So i wanted to create a tote bag with the logo on it.
I also want to try and incorporate the style of finishes i have used on the posters to apply the logo to the totes. I could screen-print it, but im not sure it'd work that well. I could also do a transfer, but again im not sure that this will work all that well. At the moment im still designing it so, i will have to see.
I have ordered some heavy duty tote bags, the squared off ones as opposed to the normal fabric ones, as i want the bags to be reusable and the audience i am promoting this too will almost certainly appreciate a re-usable bag.

Secondary Logo 2

As well as creating a main logo, i really wanted to create a secondary logo for this brief. I havent done one before, so it was a chance to create something a bit different within the branding element of my briefs and practice.
The main aim was for it to be extremely simple and really just cover the main element of the logo itself. So taking the type, i played around with bringing it all together. Lining it up, joining the words etc. and then decided the develop the idea of it being encompassed in something.
This logo will be used for banners, stationary and packaging. So it needs to be simple enough to be versatile.

Waterstones

In order to establish the context for this brief i have designed a window display that would be used within waterstones interior. After researching the overall aesthetic, i have tried to follow the simplistic style.

Logo ideas

Now that the designs for the posters are all done, and im in the process of completing the finishes as this brief was on a hiatus while i finished my other briefs. 

I have decided to start designing and developing the branding for it, as well as the packaging. I wanted this to be a fairly rounded brief so that it was fully contextualised. Initially i have started out by creating a simple typographic logo. I want to appeal to the sort of audience i am aiming at, readers non readers, book shop visitors etc. So by choosing to use a serifed font, it mimics the style of books and will work in the intended environment. 

[ INITIAL SKETCHES ]

[image of fav logo]

Secondary Logo

Small Logo 1

Cut 2

I had another chance to do some laser cutting today. I wanted to try and get the rest of the LOTR project cut out. This was going well until the second poster, the laser cut power cut out so it stopped, which meant it couldn't re-cut the design as it would just go over the stuff it has already done and misalign. However, the rest of the cuts went perfectly well which was a relief because there has been so many problems with it yesterday. 

I am going to leave the second one for now, as i need to focus on the other briefs that i am working on, and i can do this design later on. At least i now know that the effect works and that it will work again, providing the laser cutter doesn't quit.