DESIGNERS & COMPANIES:

Thinking Juice

[notes]

Tel: 01202 294 114

01202 294 115

ideas@thinkingjuice.co.uk

The Design Studios

The Design Studios Ltd

249 Alcester Road South
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 6DT

t  0121 444 0225
f  0121 444 4868
e  info@thedesignstudiosltd.com

New business enquiries
John Rajasingam: 07710162189john@thedesignstudiosltd.com

Studio:
Nick or Mara: 0121 444 0225nick@thedesignstudiosltd.com
mara@thedesignstudiosltd.com

Accounts:
Liz: 07739191588liz@thedesignstudiosltd.com

Design portfolio:info@thedesignstudiosltd.com

[NOTES]

CUBE³

56 Princess Street
Manchester
M1 6HS
UK+44 (0)161 660 3185info@cube3marketing.com

[NOTES]

Richard Mellor


Friend of mine that I met in Wetherby..
 [NOTES]




Richard P Chapman

DESIGN STUDIOS:

[images of design places im interested in]

EVALUATION- what is good?

Evaluation for boards:

I am really disappointed with my boards, as they didn't print out how I imagined. On screen, the images looked good, not dark or pixelated.

If I has enough money, I would print out again to change this, and also, there are a few spaces that don't look right.. these could somehow be filled with a line or pattern...

Evaluation for Packaging:

I am really pleased with my idea, and I like how unusual the packaging is.

I think I managed to experiment with the packaging, adding the ring and labels to develop it, however, I'm not particularly happy with the quality.

I wasn't able to print the packaging at digital print, so I stuck the design onto card, which didn't work out as planned, as it didn't fold properly, creased a lot and the paper came off the card.

I wanted to work more with stock, to find a material that worked best. I also needed a stock that was 'weaker' than the ring around the packaging, to make sure it stayed closed.

There are a few things I would like to add to improve the package now I have made them:

- Score where the points will be folded down.

- Add cuts to the packaging, which will hold the rings in place.

- I wanted a 'window' in the package, so you can see inside, I didn't manage to add this in, but it would be good to experiment with this.

I wanted to make some packaging for the products that are going to be sold in multi-packs. I found the type of package I wanted, but I ran out of time to design and make one. I need to be more organised with my time and make a list of what i need to do- set targets!

What do I want to achieve..

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE

1.

- A look into working in the 'real world.'

- Studios

- Printers

2.

- What it is like working in a 'real' environment.

- How the place works. What people do to keep the place up and running.

3.

4. 

- Packaging

- Layout

- Typography

- Animation

5.

- REAL WORLD

- Not being able to keep up with the pace.

PPD & ENTERPRISE

• Digital
• Retail Industry
• Music Industry
• Television

Skills I have: 


- Patient
- Punctual
- Experimental
- Critical


What I like: Illustrator, Motion Graphics, Clever packaging, A nice typeface, Colour, illustrations and just things that make me go..'oooh.'


What I don't like: Not keen on photoshop or Quark Xpress...

Skills needed and skills I want to develop:


- Drawing
- Organisation
- Confidence


My interests seem to change every time we start a new module, but I know I would like to work in a creative group..
I like music, motion graphics.. maybe something in this field.
Or maybe something with packaging..
I would like to experience working in a large design agency and small. 


Place:


I would like to stay around yorkshire for the time being, but I think it would be nice to travel a bit afterwards.. hopefully keep moving on bigger and better things.


And hopefully, I will get to the point where I could work from home..


Promotion:


There are quite a few ways I could do this.. People I already know, word of mouth.. to their friends and family etc..
Radio, TV, Magazines..


I think I need to work on my confidence and speaking about myself to others better, to promote myself better.


Product:


What I have to offer:
- Listener
- Ideas
- Creative thinking
- Skills in Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, Quark, Dreamweaver


Price:


... Well..

As I would like to stay pretty local for the time being, then my clients would be from around the same area.. hopefully my name will get 'OUT THERE' and others will hear of me and client group will grow from there..


Local: 


Punch creative, Leeds


Leeds would be my local place to work, as it is the nearest city to me. One of the places I have picked out is 'Punch Creative'...
The website doesn't really say much about the company.. however, what I have found out, is that they care a lot about clients. They communicate in terms that are easy to understand, and find solutions to projects, no matter what the cost budget is.


National: 


Collaborative Thought, Cornwall
YCN, London


Collaborative Thought is a small design studio, based in Truro, Cornwall. Because they are a small company, this means they are able to talk to clients face to face, so they are able to say exactly what they want. Also, the studio is a friendly environment, that won't overwhelm the client when they come.. 


European:


Sebastian Onufszak, Germany
Nano Torres, Spain


This company has a large client list for large corporate business'. The services they give are mainly motion and illustrative. They have a lot of work that is featured in many books and magazines, such as IdN, Print magazine and Digital Arts.
The website gives a lot of information about Sebastian and the experience he has gained from starting up his own business to where he has worked after..
The website has lots of work showing a range of projects, which would be very useful for clients to see.


Transnational:


Pen pencil stencil, Oakland, Calafornia


Again, there is a bit of information about the founder, Mark Giglio.
From looking at some of the work they produce, scrap wood is used, which would be a strength.. I think recycling materials would be a very good thing to do, especially with the current 'BE GREEN' thinking.


Collaborative Thinking, Cornwall

The team at Collaborative Thinking has at least 10 years experience working in a range of industries.
They emphasis that they have a close relationship with the clients, whatever their location.
Their studio is by the sea in Truro, which would be AMAZING.
I think that this location would be nice for clients, if they come to visit.

I haven't needed to promote myself before, only by first impression interviews and CVs.. however, to promote yourself, you need something that everyone will see. Maybe a website/blog.. but how will people know to go there?

There will have to be a range of promotions out there so people will see something..

Maybe it could be something that is like a puzzle.. and when you put all 3 promotions together, it cleverly comes up with my name and website etc.. I dunno..

I am not a great person on the phone, and I'm quite a shy person before getting to know me.. I need to get over it!! Get some confidence and make the client feel safe in my hands..

If the phone fails, there's always the traditional meeting up with someone and having a chat, a coffee and just chatting. 

Mail Shot: Find the target audience and mail something funny/clever/witty.. something that stands out and makes people remember who you are. There would also be additional information in the mail shot, directing the person to website/blog etc.

Strengths and Weaknesses of 3 design agencies: 

Punch Creative:

I have looked at the website, and it doesn't show their web or video designs. It shows all the print work they have done, but it would be good to see more..

S = Collaborate with other teams to produce 'quick cost effective and creative ideas..'

W= I have been on their website before, but for a while now, they have been rebuilding the website. This maybe a weakness, as a website is one of the main areas that potential clients would look at to see work.. however, they have put contact information if anyone does need to get in contact.

O= They are only a small agency, so larger studios, with more clients may find a business opportunity in leeds. However, I don't think that Punch Creatives's clients will change, because of the close relationship.

T= Larger studios may be a threat to punch, as they may be able to take on more jobs, as there are more employees, and may offer more services, compared to Punch Creative.

Ahoy creative design

S= Effective marketing. The studio is a converted three storey house, which I think would make the clients feel very welcome and at home. Also, the house isn't far from the city centre. they have free parking for clients, and there are cafes and bars close by, very convenient.

W= Honestly cannot see any weaknesses..

O= 

T=The only threat really is that Manchester has a lot of design studio's about, and they all have similar services, however, looking at the website, they seem to be a strong group of people with lots of passion for design.

Someone else:

S=

W=

O=

T=

10 short, but informative statements.

1. I would like to be a designer that has a range of skills, particularly in type, web/motion graphics and branding. There are many graphic design studios/agencies that offer these services.

2. I like working in groups, where ideas bounce around the table. More heads are better than one. There are a few agencies that collaborate together, which would mean

3. I would like to look at publication/spreads as well, get an idea of how to go about laying out information.

4. Like Punch Creative, I would like to have a close relationship with the clients, as this would make the client feel more relaxed and I think it would make the projects much easier and enjoyable when the client is more a 'friend'.

5. Like Sebastian Onufszlak and Mark Giglio, they started out by starting their own business and gaining experience in different industries. However, I do not want to become corporate and stay commercial.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Lecture Notes

Lecture Notes..

Summer List:

1. Develop drawing skills- keep a drawing pad
2. Take lots of photos- build up a collection
3. Get a job
4. Go see places for inspiration
5. Keep getting into uni to work on summer brief
6. Look at potential placements for next year
7. Get me a Mac Book
8.
9.
10.

PPD presentation:

In my presentation, I wanted to make it flow through the year.. looking at briefs that I enjoyed and   feel as though I could develop more.

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE: self evaluation

What problem did you identify:
When starting the first year, you are very nervous and panicked, and your unsure about what will be going on in your first year.
Your unaware of how busy you actually are, and it was confusing to start with, about what days you have briefings and visual language, lectures, electives and assessments.


What evidence did you find to support your decisions:
I asked people in the year about how they felt when they first started.
Also, my own feelings and experiences throughout this year.


What methods did you use to gather your evidence and what forms did it take:
I looked back at the calendar to find out what we did and when, and also looked at calendars that are around today, to see how they are laid out.
I asked people how they felt about particular briefs, and what they found difficult.
There was a book I found in the library that was really useful, and inspired me to look into the sweet idea.. also made me think a lot about the symbols and what I could do, and how to lay the information out.
Feedback sessions in studio time gave me chance to get some evidence for my work


What methods of research did you find useful and why:
The information graphics book was really useful and helped me make better decisions about what I wanted in my book.
Also, feedback from other people in the year helped me think of new products and different ways of laying out the timeline.


How did these inform your response to your problem:
With their answers, I was able to collect what I needed for the time scale, for instance- the feelings and the important times of the day.
Also got me thinking about what products I could produce, that would reach out to the right audience.


What research could you have carried out that would have proved more useful:


I think more in depth questions would have been better, getting qualitative answers would be better to reach out to more people, as everyone is different, not everyone would be feeling the same as I did.


5 things learnt about the design process:
- Timelines are really confusing, and takes a lot of patience to get it right.
- Simple, visual ways to show information, rather than relying on words.
- Packaging- different ways to store products and distribute them. 
- 
-


5 things you would do differently next time:
- Stay later and making sure my 'list to do' is finished for that day!
- Look at different ways to set out the timeline. I did a few trial and errors and panicked as I didn't think I had enough time, and I think there would be a better visual way of laying out the information, which would be much more exciting to look at.
- Work with more materials. Crafting, screen print, animation.. be more ambitious.
-
-

Word(s) that describes me as an individual:


Tolerant, Considerate


Word(s) that describes  my approach to life:


Laid back, Punctual, Critical


What do I want to be:


Organised, Decisive, Ambitious


What I look for in others:


Ambition, Confidence, Creativity, Punctuality and Humour


10 things that I have learned:


1. How to get along with other people in groups/partners.
2. The process of screen printing, and other printing activities.
3. How to decorate a cake!
4. How to make a partnership work with a brief.
5. How to work in groups.
6. Bind books.
7. Beginning to learn about magazine/newspaper layouts
8.
9.
10.


10 things I want to learn:


1. As much as possible about typography.
2. Jargon of graphics.
3. How to organise and manage my time better.
4. Information graphics.
5. A little about motion graphics, what it entails.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.


Word that describes my ambition as a designer:


Creative


What I want my work to do:


Entertain, Package, Attract


Words that I associate with my work:


Concept, Process


Areas I have developed my skills in:


Print, Problem Solving


Areas I need to develop skills in:


Idea Generation, Research


Skills I am interested in developing:


Typography, Book Design, Print, Information Graphics

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE

COMMUNICATION IS A VIRUS:

IN DESIGN:

The Brief:

Page layout- Subject matter= Pav

Considerations:

• Layout
• Colour
• Images
• Type

Target Audience:

People who enjoy listening to music, perhaps student lifestyle.

Tone of Voice:

Fun and light hearted, laid back= reflects Pav

Background:

Interview with Pav: In sketchbook

Mandatory Requirements:

A3 double page spread

Research sheets

Deliverables:

A3 double page spread

Studio Deadline:

27th May 2010

Time management: For week commencing 22nd February and 1st March 2010.

Time Management- week planner: Monday 18th- Friday 22nd January 2010

VISUAL LANGUAGE:

ISSUES RAISED:

Are the letters from computer or handwritten- perhaps more interesting coming from hand.

Different materials used to write the letter, pen, paint, chalk etc...

Size of the letter.

What stock?

- Coloured stock, as the background won't change colour

ACTION TO BE TAKEN:

Get people to write the letter A.

Use illustrator to trace over and create pattern.

Then make negative images for the screen print.

Find out when drop in is.

GENERAL FEEDBACK:

What colours will be used. How many?

BOOK- rationale

Brief:

Letter AYY!

How to convey it?

Colour

Who needs to know? :

Anyone that is interested

What do they need to know? :

The letter 'A'

What will they respond to? :

Aesthetically entertain. By colour and pattern

What research is required? :

Primary: Stock- what works best.

Secondary: Other books, by designers

1. What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?

My reading skills, as Ihave done quite alot of reading for finding facts. Also, working with the public to ask their opinions, I think I have built up a bit of confidence to do that.
I have worked with the dog fold book, and I think that I have got more knowledge of what works and doesn't work with the book.

2. What approaches to/methods of research have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

Reading up on facts and the history of punk, so secondary research. Also primary research with what type of book to use for final piece. With experiment to folding and what form.

3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?

I think the idea itself has some strength to it. But I think that I could also improve on it.

4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?

I think if I experimented more with the stock, I would have been able to get a better quality to my final piece. I would have liked the book be be printed on, rather than have stuck paper to it.
So I need to work on my time management to make sure that I organise my time better, in order to appoint time to printing.

5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?

- Stay in the studio longer: much more work will be done!
- Get a plan sorted: organise time, make sure I know what I'm doing when.
- Work more in sketchbook: So the work I plan is all in one place, and isn't getting messed up.
- More experimentation with material: Doing so might improve my final piece.
- Organise my time better: Will get more done.

6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:

5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor

Attendance: 3
Punctuality: 4
Motivation: 2
Commitment: 3
Quantity of work produced: 2
Quality of work produced: 3

COLLECT 100: crit

ISSUES RAISED:

• Colour
• Typography
• Distribution
• Sid and Nancy

ACTION TO BE TAKEN:

• Screen print possibly (then photocopy. to give the DIY look)
• Or do on computer and photocopy.

GENERAL FEEDBACK:

• 'Fanzines'

COLLECT 100- presentation

Subject matter: PUNK

Themes of research within subject matter: IMAGE, ATTITUDE

Themes to be developed: TATTOO DESIGNS, LYRICS, CLOTHING, POSTERS

General feedback on presentation: VERY WIDE RANGE OF ITEMS AND INFORMATION. NEED TO FIND SOMETHING WITHIN PUNK AND BE MORE SPECIFIC.

PRESENTATION HAD INFORMATION, BUT LACKED ORGANISATION. WHAT TO SAY NEXT..

Methods for categories/organising research:

IMAGERY

COLOUR

LANGUAGE

WHAT THEY ARE

DRESS/AGE/GENDER

Additional research required:

PHOTOS OF IMAGES/POSTERS/PEOPLE

LYRICS

PSYCHOLOGICAL PART?

Issues raised: 'LONDON CALLING' POSTER- INSPIRED BY ELVIS, PUNK POETS