Walks

I love walking. It makes me feel better. I also love when you find random bits of art along the way. These where some carvings I found on one of my walks :) so glad I found these. I wonder who did them, they look so interesting.

Typography

I am not the best typographer, its not exactly my strong point. I am currently trying to change this, reading as much as I can about typography. Currently I am reading Just my Type by Simon Garfield, It is an interesting book on type, and explains to me why people don't like Comic Sans. I know what you must be thinking, if she is doing Graphic Design she must already know why no one likes Comic Sans, I don't like to form an opinion on things until I know as much as I can about them. I can not resent Vincent Connare for bringing a typeface to the world without first understanding why it was created in the first place. To be frank, after finding out about why it was created, I can understand it more and I don't hate it or even dislike it. It is perfect for what it was created for. OK so it went wrong but that wasn't the creators fault. It was initially intended for a friendly program called Microsoft Bob, with child like illustrations, and a friendly manor of guiding people through the program, the language used was simple, but the typeface was Times New Roman. Now as I said before I am no avid typographer but this to me seems out of place. Comic Book (as it was then known) was perfect for this kind of thing, a friendly non aggressive non corporate typeface. It was never used in Microsoft Bob as it had already been set in Times New Roman and Comic Sans was bigger then Times New Roman, so it couldn't just simply replace it. So how did it go so wrong? Well it was added to the font menu of which everyone has access to. In a digital age peoples solution to cope was to go with something familiar. Comic Sans is a type that most recognize because it is so similar to handwriting, so many people used it for the wrong reasons - such as a tombstone, this is obviously not the way the type was intended to be used. But at least it can be joked about now. Comic Sans walked into a bar, the bar tender said sorry we don't serve your type here. Anyway enough about what I have been reading, here is my attempt at typography, for a quick brief in which we was to pick and advertise a font. I chose Carbon_14 relating it to the atom and the half life of this particular atom (how quickly it decays).

Busy

I've been busy trying to catch up on work so much so I have yet again let my blog slip behind - so I guess it's time to catch up again. I've been creating a vehicle for my MMM project, and it has turned out to be a wallet - made of Tyvex. I am currently creating a book to go with it for my C.V so when its all complete I shall be posting pictures. I have created a new identity - which I can actually show people which I poster earlier so I have been re-doing my development file which took longer then expect and still has bits to finish off. I have finished my end of year show brief.

 This is the poster I created for it, which I am really quite proud of, I feel I learned a lot on this brief and developed each time I went back to the design to develop it. I also re-did some of my caffeine brief in which I went to train stations dressed like an idiot. I was asked how brave are you? and so I answered with something slightly crudely designed but definitely brave. I chose train stations for this brief which asked for funny faces in public places because I do spend a lot of time in train stations. Always have. traveling up and down the country and sometimes just to Wigan. It does seem to be my main mode of transport. There is another level to the choice and I guess for me it just symbolises a journey and the stops along the way but that seem overly metaphorical so I'll leave them musings to myself and let you interpret the reasons behind the choice in your own way. That or you could just enjoy the humor of someone dressed like an idiot. Here is a selection...

Creative Robot

Ok so I may be a little behind on my posting - and well, it might all have to be updated in small bursts but the first new Design I would like to introduce is my new Logo. My lion one was (there is no other way to say it) rubbish. I wanted to change from my first logo which was very ridged to something more playful, it admittedly went too far and I ended up with something that was not very professional or well designed. I am however very pleased with my new one, I am also glad to have discovered it now as I am currently re-doing my professional practice folder and changing the layout of it all. Anyway my new logo...

Near the end

It's near the end of my course now, I haven't posted in too long. I've been panicking a little trying to get everything done and I guess I've let my blog slip behind. This was not a good idea, I'm still falling behind, well that's how I feel. Like I'm constantly trying to keep up. I like the fact I always have work and when I have spoken to others they seem to be in the same situation as me. I just feel personally that I'm not doing enough. I will catch up and I will Put it all on this blog soon enough.

Return home

Just got back from Paris - well yesterday - but after all that walking I just needed to sleep. I'm not sure where I am currently up to with everything so I'm going to spend the weekend checking up on my work and making sure I'm up to where I should be.

Others art work

http://www.creaturesinmyhead.com/artwork/creatures/2008/this-is-the-last-time-i-do-this-for-you/

I found these today while doing my research. I thought they where brilliant. They are by Andrew Bell.

Catch up

Well I haven't posted in a while so I guess it's catch up time again. I have re-designed my blog. Got a page just for work and put my reviews up their too, still not managed to put up all my work yet though. So I've not posted in just over a month. I'm not entirely sure what I have done, so its a good job I've been keeping a diary, well two, one to plan and one to write what I had done. Without my diary I can say over the past month or so I have been struggling, I felt exhausted and just doing enough to get by. I am not particularly proud of the work but I've been spending this rare weekend off improving my work and making my work for my next deadlines as good as I can. Ok what I have been up to after jogging my memory from my diary. I completed a poster for a William Hill shop as spoken about in my last post and here it is ...

Not amazing, but they seemed to like it.

I also started FD101 brief 1 - it is quick briefs with focus on idea generation. I don't have a picture of my final sketches, though I think the final ideas I came up with where OK I just don't think they where finished correctly - which would be due to my lack of research. I did research but just not quite enough. I felt disappointed in myself but I felt like I just couldn't do any more. I know the idea could have been really good if they where just finished right. But as soon as that was handed in we where handed another brief called caffeine. In which we did 5 briefs in a week it was fun and helped develop quick thinking skills but again I feel I had a good idea which I didn't get enough out of so I have re-done it - I'd say in my own time but that just sounds strange, as all the time I spend on things is my own time - Which as soon as I'm finished I shall post on here.

I have also done my proposal for my essay. It's on business in graphic design. I've read a lot for it, made a couple of trips to Salford, made contact with a freelance designer and I hope to contact a few more. I think this essay is helping me build up knowledge of the industry. 

I have completed my SoapBox which was on morality in Design. It was about thinking about things and the problems products cause before designing for them. I had a collection of adverts to show and even some promotional material from the shop I work in, and currently in our studio stands Robbie Savage dressed in a Santa suit. I think it went well considering I had a stumble in the middle, my tutor Dave helped me though out the talk. I hope it made people think. My personal opinion is that the designer is not responsible for the problems the product causes - For example with drinking, for some it causes problems but for the majority it does not. Taking away advertisements does not stop the problems, It's up to the individual to do that.

I have also started creating designs for the end of year show. At first I was going to go with an Alice and Wonderland theme - which got me into sketching again so although I am not going ahead with this one I'm glad I started it. The theme I eventually went with is water. Doesn't sound exciting I know but it will be. I'm starting to go more with waves and 'Creating waves' see where that takes me, I feel more confident with it now then I did at the start and I think it could produce something really interesting.

I also went to watch Snowpatrol. I know it's nothing to do with design but I love live music and it's one of my influences. It's what made me feel back on track. I felt I had had time to myself and felt refreshed so I guess going to watch live music is something that helps me get back to myself. I feel my work has improved since going there. Through my research for my essay and through my reading I have seen many designers talk about doing something separate and taking time for yourself and this really helped for me.

I have also been creating a booklet for Paris which is my third brief in FD101. I think its going well so far I'm going to take it in on Monday to see what my tutor thinks so far.  

Williamhill

I have been at work all weekend so not managed to do much in the way of Graphics but I have created a poster for one of the William Hill shops to promote the Super League. I think it needs looking at by someone else it is not fantastic and I need an opinion on how to improve it which I shall seek tomorrow. hopefully will be able to get it printed out tomorrow and up in the shop! and of course up on here.

Last minute

Ah deadline day approaches and I have not yet completed my work. I'm not panicking though I know I will get it done on time. I also have to plan a guide meeting for tonight which I have also left till last minute, and start on a promotional poster on the shop I work in. 

Editorial

Made some headway on the final designs for my editorial taking some time. Not been posting as regular as I should since being ill just before Christmas, which will need to change. Got myself more organised - Got two diary's, one for production scheduled and one for activity log. Its working out really well for me so far, and it means I can design it digitally later. I realise that it is not really supposed to be done that way but I'm just proud that I've been able to start planning properly and I'm correctly noting down everything I've done so I can see how much I progress. So far I've not managed to keep up with what I've planned (things take longer then thought/other commitments to consider - sleep for example) but I planned in extra time in case this should occur (clever me). Maybe I should start planning time in to write into my blog.

I have been visiting Salford University library, unsuccessfully, the first time I went I made a list of books I wanted - five in total, I ended up bringing home none. I didn't have time to find them as I had a class to get to and I was in fact at the wrong library. So the second time I went to the correct library and managed to come home with one book out of the five I wanted. I spent so long looking for them I just got frustrated in the end and walked off in a strop. But at least I came home with one book so it wasn't a total waste of time.

I have also got myself ready for my soap box just need to write out what I want to say. Not because I want to read from a piece of paper, but because I'm afraid I will blabber on to long about it as per usual. So I wish to plan what to say therefore I don't repeat things or take too long. So I guess I'm off to plan!

New logo

I have created a new logo, It is more child-like and colourful. I wanted it to reflect the work I have done so far and I think it does this well.

Cool List

For my editorial piece I am doing something which I am calling a cool list. Doesn't sound very cool I know. It is meant to be something everyone in our class can get involved in, and before we broke up for Christmas I got everyone to make a list of their top 5 'cool' people in the class and each vote had to have a reason. The results where very, well, interesting. It certainly wasn't taken seriously which was the point of the idea, so, so far so good. I had collected the information I need for my editorial. Over Christmas I had finished off my research and started to draw out ideas and develop them. Now I must chose an idea to go with so I can create it digitally. This is where I am stuck. I don't know what concept to go with, and until I decide that I can't create it. I think I should take a break and come back to it with a fresh mind.

Extra Info

Also just to add. The background picture I currently have. I have now seen in two adverts. The David Beckham aftershave one or men's fragrance - what ever you want to call it, and a car advert. For the life of me I can't remember the car.

Time

Well my work is taking ages and every time I do some, the pile seems to grow. I'm sure that's not the way it's meant to be. I still think I will manage it though. Hopefully.

Surreal Book

Working on my surreal book finished the main layout now I must go through and check everything.

Alice in Wonderland

The exhibition of all things Alice in Wonderland could of been spectacular, It could of gone crazy - as I expected from an exhibition of this type. I was extremely disappointed at what seemed to be the lack of effort, I don't know if they thought perhaps that the work should speak for itself but I wanted to be plunged into something surreal - I wanted the experience to reflect that which I imagine when I read Lewis Carroll's work. I wanted it to be a strange wonderful place that would leave me in awe and never wanting to leave. What actually transpired was I entered a room that looked no different to the rest of the Liverpool Tate. The objects which where fascinating, did not hold my attention for long - I was to disappointed at the lack of theatrics. It could of been an adventure in itself but as it happened I just wanted to leave. I suppose it's my own fault for expecting something - but surely if you was asked to hold an Alice in Wonderland exhibition you would use it as a license to use all your imagination and take people into another world - perhaps I had my expectations to high, perhaps I am too much in a dream world myself, but I can't help being disappointed I can not help what I expected and therefore I can not help the disappointment that followed.