grahambowes

Worshipful Company of Clockmakers: Picturing Time Competition – Animation

The first project I tackled for my NMP. Me and Joshua had previously worked well together on the University of Salford Christmas Ecard animation and won the competition, so we decided to work together again on this entry. We worked together to start with on possible concepts and ideas, and then researched together around the subject. We looked at illustration styles and animation influences separately and together and communication was good all the way through the project. The process would involve Joshua illustrating the flats, and then giving them to me to clean up and animate. Again, we feel that splitting the workload works well, but managing the project and overseeing both sides together helped too. We’re hoping to do well in the competition, although final judging does not take place until July. The best 80 out of 400 entries will be chosen to exhibit in and exhibition in London so we also hope to be involved in this. Overall a great experience, chance for us both to work on our separate skills. For me it was the longest piece of animation I had done at the time and I learnt a lot through the process. I think its also going to be a great piece to show off in our portfolios.

Warrington Voluntary Action - Process of working

Warrington Voluntary Action are a third sector umbrella voluntary parent company in Warrington. The old branding and website were very dated. It lacked character and charm to make them appear friendly with a professional underlining feel too.

Me and Joshua worked on this project together too on placement at Transmission Creative. To begin with we brain stormed a lot around the brief, and carried out research into existing similar company’s logos, identity, websites etc. We spent a good while doing this, and then decided on an overall idea to go with. We then split off on separate tasks. I concentrated firstly on the logo. First sketching ideas, and then moving onto illustrator, picking appropriate fonts, and creating supporting imagery. I also designed the website flats and decided on colour ways. Joshua meanwhile concentrated on the illustration for on the website etc. We decided that a initial set of illustrations would be good that we could break down and use in multiple platforms. A good example of this is the footer illustration. Once I decided on a colour way for the logo, Joshua re-coloured his illustration and then gave them to me to use in further designs such as the business card, letterhead, and report documents etc. This splitting of work was effective and meant we we’re wasting time doing similar tasks.

The logo is quite type based with a small graphical element. The typeface I decided upon, Nexa, was chosen for its friendly qualities, the rounded O’s and A’s, and for having a nice lower case g! It was a friendly and professional trade off which worked well. The graphical element was is a continuing theme through the branding and illustration with a dandelion and smaller seed segments taking flight. This was chosen as a good identifier and visual element of what they are about - A large organisation with several smaller companies under their umbrella which they nurture and help grow. (Seeds, growth..all that business)

I also produced an indesign based brand guidelines document for WVA, with appropriate usage of the identity we created for them which was a cool insight.

This project came together really well, and as an effective way to work. I wouldn’t change anything next time if I did it again. I feel my illustrator skills, and especially my indesign skills were definitely improved by working on this project. Its an all encompassing project, proving that the identity we created works across multiple platforms. I enjoyed seeing this roll out. I also used pantone colours for print for the first time, which will be integral to my future as a designer I’m sure. The accuracy in print colour is far greater as different printers will print differently, and different screens will show colours differently. The company loved the work straight away and it was given approval on the first draft we presented to them.

Transmission Creative Tune in Video

This video is perhaps the best piece of motion I’ve worked on so far I think and I learnt and awful lot through completing it. I think its because it involves so many different mediums together – different forms of animation, film, PSD typographic stills etc. It took a long time to animate using stills and lots of layers to build up animation, but I think it looks great. I think it effectively communicates the companies new ‘Tuned in creative communications’ strapline in an exciting and none corporate way.

I worked on this video almost entirely on my own which is another reason I’m proud of it. It was a different way of working compared to what I’d done in the past and opened my eyes to new ways of creating motion.

Grant has said that he is made up with the video and it will take pride of place on the new Transmission website homepage. He’s also shown it to quite a few clients and other designers and it was gained some great feedback so far.

Transmission Testimonial Videos & Poster

This time taking on more of a film direction, but continuing the idents and glitch/ tune in theme of the main video. Was good to work on and I think gives potential clients in the future a clearer view of what Transmission can do for their company. Its always good to hear from a past client with good things to say. Again, these will be featured on the new Transmission website coming soon.

Also produced a supporting ‘Tuned in’ poster, which will be sent out to Transmission clients in the future as a form of promotion. I’m really pleased with this, I think the layouts good and I really like the typography on it.

Business Cookbooks – Process of working

Again, me and Joshua worked on this together, but on separate tasks whilst working at Transmission Similarly to the Warrington project, it began with a lot of research. This project in particular was very thought intensive. We spent ages and ages discussing ideas, coming up with lists of things we could do to merge both cooking and business in a clever way. My first task involved Illustrator vector work after a lot of initial sketches, coming up with logos. I feel my skills with the pathfinder tool especially came on leaps and bounds through working on the cookbook.

I feel that the time we spent on ideas has paid off in the covers and logos I came up with. I have only shown pieces of work I worked on, on my boards for hand in. Joshua concentrated on hand drawn illustrated paths for his covers. It was important to show contrasting styles to the client and she wanted to pick from a lot of different paths. Again, I think working digitally and photographically, compared to Joshua’s illustration provided this well. It was good to brain storm a lot and discuss ideas with Grant and Joshua throughout the project, but it was also good to work on designs on my own.

Things I would change next time round if I was to attempt this again – maybe try to come up with clever ideas over less obvious ones sooner into the brief. I think that’s where this project is at its strongest, and also the kinds of design you’re more proud to show off in your portfolio. This project is ongoing and the full book will make for a great portfolio piece I think.

Transmission Creative Overall Evaluation

Overall this has been a fantastic experience and opportunity. I feel that I’ve learnt an awful lot in a short space of time, not just technically, but in thought process. I think I will come away from it a lot more confident, but also more interested in design with good ideas behind it.

I think I have produced some great, varied live work for my portfolio which will no doubt stand me in good stead for the future. Although it has taken up a lot of time, I feel it was definitely worth it for me. I kind of felt that after Christmas, my time was spent far better in industry, getting me ready for the future rather than constantly being at university. I think my rate of work has sped up, and the quality has also risen. I’m the kind of person who learns by doing. I think I had a lot of the skills already from university briefs, but I’ve built upon them a lot by carrying out real world briefs in a design studio.

May 09, 2013, 10:14pm

NMP EVALUATIONS