Tuesday 26 January 2016

Self Branding



Studio Brief 02 - Self Branding //


One aspect of the way I like to work is that I very much prefer working by hand primarily before moving onto digital software like photoshop and illustrator. I have always been a drawer and painter from a very young age and often try to use this as best I can throughout my work.

With a lot of the course requiring Adobe apps, I sometimes find it hard to fit in any hand rendered work. However, I see my skills in drawing as one aspect of me as a designer that could make me unique. It is something that I can work on and grow into my own style of design.

From this I have had a self branding idea. The idea is to produce business cards that include key info such as contact details and maybe one or two other details. However, what makes these cards different from others is that it primarily will not include my name or initials on it. This is because, wen I had over my business card in person to who ever wants it, I will have a pen or pencil handy and will scribble down my name or initials on the card in front of them. This will give the card a personal touch and will show the receiver that it's not just a card I had lying around in my pocket but instead I've taken the time to personally sign it. As well as the personal touch, I also aim to communicate my hands-on, hand rendered attributes and way of working through the business card.



Husler & Rose

Pictured below is one of my favourite examples of how business cards can be made personal but using hand rendered type. Their design is very simple and simply includes their company name followed by a blank rectangle in which they can insert a message to their client.


Research into personal business cards has brought my attention to the images below. The idea is of a stamp that prints my business card onto any surface. This is a very hands-on approach to self branding and promoting and one that would definitely be noticed more successfully and have a lasting impact. It also means that it can be printed onto other surfaces, a business card can be easily lost or misplaced, however depending on where it is printed, the stamp can be a much more permanent thing.





An alternative way of stamping would be a deboss stamp pictured below. This is a cool alternative that wouldn't require inking.



Watercolour logo design.






This is an example of how medias like painting and drawing can be combined with digital software to create personal branding.

This has inspired me to do something similar with either watercolour or pencil. I will aim to create an identity, like the one above, that communicates me as a designer and as a person.




This designer has combined 3 of his biggest interests to produce one of his concept ideas for self branding. This is a good way of using multiple interests to promote yourself as apposed to just being a designer. Adding the photography and snowboarding elements makes it a unique branding to that person.

For my own branding, I will also be communicating my love for skiing and the mountains as well as showing my drafting skills and other hands on medias.





Tuesday 19 January 2016

Book Binding



Introduction to Book Binding //




Saddle Stitch Binding

A very easy and affective method of book binding.
Simply make 3 holes along the seem of the book, Thread the needle through the three holes in sequence and finish by tying the thread in a double not on the inside.


Japanese Stab Binding

Again, a very simple binding technique. Make 5 marks in a piece of card and place your pages on top of this card. With a machine, drill the marks through to make holes. Then thread the string through in sequence and tie it up inside with a double not.


Accordion Binding

This technique involves gluing together a number of sheets folded in a V shape. The cover is made up of two separate pieces of, in this case, cardboard. The effect is that of an accordion as the pages splay out and unfold into a zig-zag shape.

Sunday 3 January 2016

Visit to the Saatchi Gallery, London

What's on at the Saatchi Gallery?...


On my most recent visit to the Saatchi Gallery in London, Jamie Hewlett had a few exhibitions on. Jamie Hewlett is a British Comic Book designer who most famously co-created the virtual band Gorillaz. 




Being a big Gorillaz fan as a youngster, These cartoons played a huge part in my childhood. I was fascinated by the grotesque and slightly weird yet wonderful animations that made up the bands various music videos.



The images above are part of one of Hewlett's exhibitions. They're archival digital prints made too look similar to coloured ink images. There are clear similarities between these images and the cartoons for Gorillaz music videos in the characters expressions and mark making.


More wrok by Jamie Hewlett. These being black ink on white canvas. I admire the intricate and detailed mark making. The shadows created by cross hatching make for a series of striking drawings.






The last of his work on display at the gallery was a series of film advertisement boards. What I took from these was the use of lettering on top of each image. The font and font sizing had been an informed decision for each poster. The typeface brought something to each poster and matched the imagery and use of colour well.