Brief 6

is written here, just going to write it pretty briefly as I know almost exactly what I need to do,

Basically it is to create an identity + promotional CD package for my friend's band, called Marzec Group, and that's basically it.

There are possibilities to extend this to some extent but it's almost not really necessary at this point in time. 

It also looks quite nice reversed out

Might be worth messing around with some print processes, then scanning it back in before putting it on the website, give it some notion of physical presence even if it is on a screen.

Bit more logo work

Shown Maz a few versions of the logo so far, she said she was a fan of the style shown here, so I will continue with this as a basis. Had the idea to place on a canvas-type thing, similar to earlier versions. The colour has also been matched to the original web mock-up.

Two potential extra briefs

Got two more possibilities for briefs:

6 - Promo album artwork for friend's band - following a live recording in a garage, something to distribute at future shows etc.

7 - DesignStage.tv - A stage design company based in Barcelona that have asked me to create a new logo

I will have to investigate the amount of time I have to do the other briefs before beginning these ones, but they would be good briefs to get done at some point. 

more

This has made my entire day

tests with a bit of colour

Whacked in a bit of burgundy as that's the colour Maz has requested for the website

there's more

Probably pretty evident that I've not used a graphics tablet really before

test 1

First crack at graphic tableting Maz's name. Obviously a long way to go yet. Going to test out a number of different brushes and styles and whatever hopefully come up with a good version in the  next day or two.

Check the post below for a comparison.

what maz sent me

This is what Maz sent me to use to create the logo. I'll be basing it around this.

STM

can't go wrong for €5

I love the spelling error in the second poster

previous mock-up

Maz sent me a basic mock-up made previously, allowing me to understand the kind of aesthetics she was interested in using. This has given me some good ideas of how I could set out the website, which I can do once the logo/identity is finalised.

letters

few nice logos I've found today, the kind of styles I feel would work for this artist identity.

Chicken Shop website

http://www.chickenshop.com/

Pretty great website, operates in an innovative and consequently incredibly user friendly way -

Rather than the website scrolling up and down in the usual way, scrolling brings on another 'slide' as such, bit like a slideshow that operates up and downwards. Neat idea, one that I've not seen before.

Designed by With Associates, who are doing some of the freshest web design I've seen for a while, very inspiring for my own briefs.

4seven initial sketches

Bob D

Been considering a few things for the 4Seven brief, which is the D&AD competition brief involving 15 second idents. Mitchell showed me this a while back which is quite nice, not moving type exactly but still good to look at.

I've started to think about ways in which I could create 15 second idents that reflect channel 4's existing style, but through different production processes in order to reflect 4Seven's innovative scheduling techniques.

Bob Dylan Subterranean Homesick Blues - A HAND LETTERING EXPERIENCE from Leandro Senna on Vimeo.

reverbs

Started working with that SonicBirth programme, learnt how to make a reverb unit which can work as a plug-in. Pretty cool to learn, only problem is the programme's design features (of course) are limited to changing the colour of the dials, and pretty much nothing else.

I suppose at least it gives me some of idea of how building these things work, I'm only aiming to make some basic ones as the design side is what's important here. I'll have to do some more research into making some swish looking interfaces.

I can imagine this project not really being achievable in the time there is available....if this is the case I would have to focus solely on the visual side as opposed to the programming of it. I suppose there's quite a few different avenues to go down with this. Hopefully I'll find some software which allows freely customisable UI's.

Realistically, this is a research project more than anything.

Elegante Press bus. cards

Came across these attractive business cards by Elegante Press, for someone who I believe is also a fine artist. Kind of along the same kind of aesthetic I was hoping to go for, a nice bit of custom lettering that aims to reflect the artist's style.

Looking at these has led me to realise that at some point I am going to have to transfer the design work to being a physical existence, I kind of feel like once I do this I will have to return back to the web-design side to attempt to make it look as crisp as the physical thing, which is obviously very difficult.


I quite like a company who specialise heavily on a couple of disciplines, in this case Bus. cards and invitations, it gives it the impression of being an honest, hard-working trade, more so than a company who will do bus. cards but also put together basic websites and that.

logo basics

Couple of basic ideas of how the lettering could be used as part of a logo. Not really sure yet; this format is quite an easy option I reckon.

NOTE this lettering isn't final, just a contextualisation.

I think I'll wait till the proper lettering is finished before seeing what I could do with it, it might work best just used on its own.

I'm due to receive some hi-res images as well which will be exciting....I'd like to carry on the original idea of incorporating these within the logo somehow, maybe as a faint backdrop within the framework. Hmm.

tablet stuff

I thought I should have a go at using a graphics tablet. Basically, Maz and I thought it would be cool if she inked out her name/signature type-thing with whatever medium she preferred, and then I could replicate this using the tablet. Therefore her logo would be entirely relevant and possess qualities that can't be achieved using normal typefaces.

These are a couple of experiments I've done using Mitch's tablet, could only get a few done at this point in time though as I don't have my own tablet.

Crit session 20/2

Will scan sheet in a bit, the cable's disappeared.

Essentially figured that I am a little bit behind, of course, but I'm not allowed to use dissertation as an excuse. Therefore I have no excuse.


Basically need to clarify exactly what I need to do in these briefs, and where I should start.

For example I started messing about with some web layouts for Brief 1, whereas in fact I should be sorting out a solid identity first. That way the web design will take care of itself.

What do I need to do/when do I need to do it, and why. etc.

So briefly, here's a brief action plan for each brief:

Brief 1 - Sort out effective and relevant identity

Brief 2 - Likewise, establish branding/identity but also some kind of ethos/mission statement type thing. More of a concept.

Brief 3 - Comic collab - Sort out some storylines and potential styles.

Brief 4 - 4Seven - Storyboard / sketch some initial ideas

Brief 5 - Begin researching methods / processes 

covers

Couple of nice covers I've come across today. 1st is Baby Dodds, 2nd is KM/MM

As Yaf pointed out with the second one, there's a lot to be said for not using grids (Baby Dodds one). Haven't found a date it, but I imagine it was produced at a time for grids were a big thing in Graphic Design, especially so with record covers. The space is used quite nicely, which it appears would be a result of the artist using his/her eye as a guide rather than a grid structure.

Brief 5

As my original brief 5 is no longer happening, I've written up a new one quickly to get things going.

Brief 5 - Plugins/VST's etc.

Research and develop ideas around the creation of VST's (Virtual Studio Technology) in order to create a small series of plug-ins and other digital audio -related products.

Background

"VST plugins are generally run within a Digital Audio Workstation, providing the host application with additional functionality. Most VST plugins can be classified as either instruments (VSTi) or effects, although other categories exist. VST plugins generally provide a custom GUI, displaying controls similar to the physical switches and knobs on audio hardware. Some (often older) plugins rely on the host application for their UI." - nice one wikipedia. 

Mandatory Requirements

Obviously there is a large emphasis on research into creating very basic VST's. The Design side of it however will involve the creation of appropriate interaces and consequently the presentation of the finished products. 

Deliverables

A number of basic VST's, presented on a blog or maybe packaged as a bundle on CD. Something along these lines. An operation manual would also be useful.

Boom Artwork effect pedals

Neat piece of design work for these retro guitar pedals, pretty great to look at but a bit nuts for my style I reckon, still good to see how the space provided by an interface like these is utilised.

synthedit

Starting to look into the possibilites of creating VST's and whatnot. Found this programme named SynthEdit which looks like it could be pretty decent for beginners. Will have to get hold of a copy and see what I can do with it. I think it doesn't really involve much coding which will be useful.

Obviously there would need to be a Graphic Design element to this brief, so that will no doubt be the interface and maybe a manual or something. Could distribute some nice VST's on a CD or something, which would allow for some packaging design opportunities. 

Re-think for brief 5

Brief 5 is no longer happening. 

Instead I can now use this opportunity to propose a research (mainly) project involving VST's and DAW's, which are bits of music software. Essentially I plan to build some VST's and design the interface etc. I suppose this won't be an easy task. 

Will write a new brief ASAP. 

Started working on the branding side of things on digital. Quite like the idea of using various different relevant images to frame it as such, obviously not happy with the type or much of it at all in fact but it's a start. I figure that this sort of thing will work better on the web side of things, for example a randomly selected image could appear behind the details every time the page is refreshed. 

MM sketches etc

Few preliminary sketches for the branding, which will be applied to the website amongst other things. I kind of want to stay as much towards the hand-rendered thing as possible, been experimenting on screen with various fonts just to test a few things out but hopefully after a while I'll be able to vector up some good ones and swap them out.

Mainly however just did a few of these to get back into the swing of things, I haven't done any proper drawing for a while. 

Blue note

Can't quite remember who made this Blue Note cover, there's one guy who did most of them I think but I forget his name. Years ahead of its time I reckon, this wouldn't look out of place in any of today's few remaining record shops. 

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TWSU kits

Neat little kits from Technology Will Save Us, a company set up to educated people on creating technology as opposed to just consuming it. Packaging is fresh as well.

MM/KM // Madteo