AIM L2 - Unit 1 - Historical context for design development

In my sketch book, I identified some of the main art movements; Bauhaus, Constructivism, Art Deco and Minimalism, I also researched a few designers and artists and explained their work and  how it fits into these movements.

AIM L2 - Design issues and 3D project evaluation

The design brief was to create an article covering issues that effect the design industry with a slogan/ banner that I have created using 3D visual communication techniques, after doing research into the different types of issues in different areas like fashion, textile, product and graphic design, I chose to investigate further into the issues of Fur in the fashion industry, the treatment on workers in cotton mills and the treatment of workers in China working for large companies such as Apple and Samsung. The slogan I created had to reflect all of these issues so after researching and experimenting with different phases and words I chose the phase "To die for" as I felt this reflected well on all the issues I was covering.

After finally settling on a phrase for my 3D slogan, I tested different ways of creating it starting with just a few letters, firstly I experimented with modroc just to create a 3D base of a letter that I could then build on top of with mediums like fur or plush animals, I wanted to slogan to represent my article in the way it looked as well as in what it said. I also experimented with paper a lot; folding, sewing, cutting and gluing it to get different results, I liked the effect that stitching the paper together with thick cotton gave as it represented the cotton mills well but I struggled with the paper tearing and struggled to get the letters to stand up and keep their shape. I chose to start experimenting with creating shapes and objects that I could use as my logo, with or instead of letters and I liked the cube cage I created as it linked to all my issues well, I then went on to figuring out how to get my slogan into the cage with it still looking like a cage but the slogan also being actually legible, I had to do a lot of experimenting and testing with this to come up with a lot of different ideas, many of which did not work either with the trouble of not standing up and keeping its shape or not being clear or legible to what it is or what it says, when I came down to my last 2 designs that I was pleased with, I created and photographed both of them, chose the photo I thought was the best and was very happy with the results.

I chose not to edit the logo in photoshop as I initially planned as think the lighting and shadows I achieved from photographing it were perfect and I wanted to keep it simple.

When creating and laying out my article, I chose to use InDesign, which is a program that is completely new to me, but I used my knowledge on Illustrator to figure it out the best I could as I found they are very similar. I wanted to structure of my article to look neat and professional so I used the guideline and margin tools to assist with that and keep everything in proportion, I used to frame tool to plan out where I wanted my images to fit around my text and spend some time just editing and tweaking parts of my article so that each paragraph would fit each column perfectly starting on a new line. The images I chose to include in the article show the dramatic contrast of the luxurious pelts worn in the fashion industry and the gruesome way they are farmed.

Overall I am very pleased with my finished project, I spent a lot of time researching different areas in depth to get the best possible results and testing out lots of different ideas instead of just going for the first one I had. I also think I managed my time very well and didn't panic or need to rush at any point and as a result of that my project is complete, detailed and professional looking.

AIM L2 - Unit 2 - 2D Visual Communication - NVQ 7501 - Create Visual Designs.

Create Visual Designs

1.1		Define the target user and audience I was given the task of creating a book cover for a children's story book, I chose the story Anastasia, which is about a young Russian princess who is disconnected from her family and doesn't know who she is, in this case my book covers target user would be young children, especially girls, between the ages of 10 and 18, and my target audience would be both the children and parents.
1.2		Identify factors that may determine or affect visual design concepts, including the design techniques  The design brief states that the look of the book cover must be in the style of an art movement, I chose Art Deco, therefore I must take these factors into account when designing the cover:  - Age Group - aimed for children between the ages of 10 and 18 so the design must not be too cartoony or colourful so as not to appeal to anybody younger. - Parents / Guardians - The book cover must be inviting to parents as well as children as it will be them buying and reading the book to the children. - Art Deco influence - My chosen movement for the cover, so I must stick to this style. - Book cover - It must be a book cover and work and function as a book cover should, showing the title, author and a relevant illustration. - Illustration - illustrations must be relevant to the style and the story while still being appealing to children and their Parents/ Guardians. 1.3 Research products, designs, images, artwork and other creative work that may inspire design ideas I researched images and artwork which relate both to the original story on the Russian princess Anastasia and the Disney remake of the story which was aimed at children. I chose to do the cover in an Art Deco style as I thought that it fit the theme well and there was a lot more potential in making it appeal to children as apposed to using using a more elegant Art Nouveau style which tends to appeal more the an older generation.
		2.1 Experiment with imaging techniques to create required visual design I decided to chose 3 elements from my researched pictures to work with, I chose the flower pendant, the swan and the Russian Romantov egg, I experimented with these elements and tried to combine them in a few different sketches while also testing out a few colours. I then moved onto creating my designs in photoshop and playing around with Art Deco patterns mixed with my chosen elements and I was very pleased with the results, I tried adding a flower I had made inspired by the pendant onto an egg with an Art Deco decorated banner. Here I was experimenting with putting the elements and designs together as they would look on a book cover, I tried adding in different styles of flowers and creating my own backgrounds using photoshop. 2.2 Explore a range of typographical and visual design elements to create designs I tested out a lot of different Art Deco style fonts to try and find one which suited the theme I was going for and would appeal to my target audience, I also researched and found some Art Deco borders and patterns to use for inspiration. 2.3 Generate a range of visual design ideas that are technically feasible, meet the brief and provide creative solutions I drew up a couple of my own designs inspired by other Art Deco books that I had researched, I liked both the half flower design and the repetative flower design the best and i thought they were most suited to my theme and target audience, so I decided to create them both in illustrator, I then combined the two creating the look and feel i was aiming for.
3.1		Evaluate initial design ideas and specifications against findings My first design ideas involved what I felt were 3 key elements of the story; The flower pendant, swans and a faberge egg, all three elements and designs with them fit in well with the Art Deco theme specification, but the book cover had to appeal to young girls and so I felt that the flower was the best way to go to give it a feminine look, after experimenting with different styles and designs of flowers I finally came up with one that looks good both large and small and is in an Art Deco style.

3.2		Secure agreement with the relevant people on the final design concept My client (Tutor) liked the idea of using flowers to make the book feminine and more appealing to younger girls even in a classic Art Deco style, we agreed that the design must follow a certain colour theme which fir in with both the Art Deco style and the feel of the book, and must also have a clear legible title that is in a font that can be read by people of any age and isn't too confusing.
3.3		Ensure the selected final design technique meets the requirements of the brief The brief was to create a book cover based on a children's story using a specific movement for inspiration, the story I chose was Anastasia which meant the book had to be appealing to young girls mainly and parents and the movement I chose was Art Deco which meant it had to be in that style. The final design met all of these specifications and functioned properly as a book cover.

4.1		Produce the design in the format agreed with the client I printed my final design to the correct size for the book I wanted it to fit, making sure to add extra panels to fold inside and my book cover was finished and met all the specifications of the clients brief.

4.2

Review the design to ensure it meets the design brief and technical  specifications and Undertake any modifications if necessary The design meets all the required specifications; - Art Deco style - Appealing to young girls - Appealing to parents - Feminine - Reflect the story - Function as a book cover The only modifications that were required were a spelling error on the blurb of the book cover.

AIM L2 - Unit 4 - 3D Visual Communication - research trip

As Research for my 3D Visual communications unit, I took a trip to Sheffield to visit art galleries so I could see other artists examples of 3D work.

I collected images of as many elephant sculptures as I could as there were a lot around in different styles and designs and I felt that they would help for inspiration and ideas for my article slogan as it involves the slaughtering of animals.
I also photographed any other 3D sculptures that interested me and that I felt that with further research into them would help me to create a unique and effective 3D slogan.