OUGD503 Responsive_Studio session 4

Pitch and propose

A significant amount of work that we do isn't about handing over the resolved piece of work. All of us at various points will be part of a process where we generate the ideas and then hand them over to someone else. It might be that we are doing the art work to then pass on to the printer. We have to articulate what the product is and how we communicate that to someone else. What evidence do we have to develop? What do we have to produce?

If we are working for ourselves the idea of pitching for work means that we aren't going to be going in with a final product. We are going to go in with ideas to allow the client to choose you and employ you for the work. Pitching and proposing to people what things could be is about being a graphic designer. The design process is a negotiation and a dialogue with other people. We have to communicate proposals, ambitions etc. 

At this stage the proposals have nothing to do with the actual design at the end of it, it is more about the ideas that we currently have and our research. 50% of this module has got nothing to do with the final product of graphic design, it is all about how we manage and present our ideas.

Aims/Objective

What research will you carry out

Where will you go for specialist information
What kind of people will you contact to help you along
What expert advice will you need
What processes will be involved
Which skills will be evidenced
What activities will take place
What pieces of finished work will be produced

One thing which will set us apart from other people producing the same brief is if we have considered the different objectives. It is important to look into the target audience. We should step outside of what everyone else is doing. The relationship between aims and objectives is very important, they are closely linked but they are distinctly different. 

The aim is what you aspire to do... The objective is how you are going to do it.

Be S.M.A.R.T

The definition of objectives

Specific - Details what needs to be done.

Measurable - Achievements can be measured in terms of units or specific success criteria.

Achievable - That resources, scope and scale within your capabilities or capacity.

Realistic - The objectives are possible to attain which is important for your motivation.

Time bound - The period of time, target dates, schedule or timetable is clearly defined.

Think deeper into the concept and proposal. Be specific from the start. Our outcomes need to be measurable. Question what we have done, keep it on a specific day to day basis. At any given point we need to be able to review what we have done and what we haven't done.

Describe your audience

Demographics?

Locations?

Lifestyle?

Which industry?

What values do they have?

Why will they engage with it?

Describe your motivation

What are your goals?

What are your ambitions?

What are your success criteria?

What are your values? (Political standpoint, Environmental concerns, Social factors, Economic factors)

Consider the viewer

Use the appropriate tone.

Don't repeat yourself to pad it out.

Ask two people to check your grammar and spelling before you submit.

Don't be vague!

Also avoid

Unique
Nice
Special
Normal
Bland
Sleek
Definitely
Awesome
Basically
Eseentially
Totally interesting
Utilize
Like
Get 
Got
I 
Chance
Actually
Really
Truly
Amazing
Everyone
Never
Always
Things
Life
A lot
Good
Bad
Cool
Whatever
Went
Boring

Visualise the ending

Begin with the ending in mind

What is the end point

What do I require in order for this to be achieved

Assume nothing

Explain everything

Question everything

Accept nothing

Design for web- further rectified

Knocked up by a further 30px

Safari

Full view

Normal view

Google chrome

 Full view

Normal view

Design for web- rectified

Knocked up by 25px

Google chrome

Full view

 Normal view

Safari

Full view

Normal view

Design for web- problem

When I set the container for my website I set it up to a macbook 13inch screen size 1280x800. But I didn't account for the toolbar along the top of webpages therefore the bottom of the webpage gets knocked off. I've only recently noticed this because of creating the website on a much larger desktop mac. Below are screenshots that illustrate my problem.

Google Chrome

Full view

Normal view

Safari

Full view

Normal view

OUGD503 Responsive_Studio session 3

Concept statement

What are you going to do?
Create a poster that represents a specific event or chain of events from XL's history


Why are you going to do it?
To represent the little man doing big things
To celebrate the life events of select artists


Who are you going to do it for?
The supporters of independent record labels
Appreciators of design, music and design for music


How are you going to do it?
Through the process of experimentation;
Typography
Glitch
Vector

What do you aim to produce?
An A1 poster
Design boards
Digital poster
Mockups

OUGD503 Responsive_Studio session 2

For todays session we were asked to select a significant brief that would allow us to focus on for a good few sessions, I decided to choose the XL records brief that was in my shortlist the last session. From this brief we were asked to answer four questions on our brief that would break down the brief and give us a greater scope for responding.

What the five most important words from the brief?
Illustrate
Engage
Communicate
Celebrate
Concept

What are the five most important considerations?
Work both print and digitally
Broad context of illustration in which illustration operates in the 21st century
Concept is key
Don't be restricted by medium
Illustration is most powerful when driven by a strong concept

Name five related products
Gig posters
Record sleeve
Music promotional material
Music magazines
Band merchandise

Name five related places
Record stores
Award shows
Music studio
London
Bar/Nightclubs

My brief was then passed on to another person who hadn't read it before and they answered the exact same questions to see how people respond to the brief and if they have any different views.

What the five most important words from the brief?
Audience
Engage
Communicate
Celebrate
Concept

What are the five most important considerations?
Choice of event
Style, method of outcome
Concept
Audience
Print and digital

Name five related products
Vinyl 
CD
Poster
Bilboard
Magazine

Name five related places
Music studio
Bars
Record stores
Bus stops
Print shops

This task showed us that similarities aren't necessarily a good thing because it illustrates to us that most people will be thinking the exact same. Therefore their responses will be the same as well, we need to think outside of the box. We were then given a series of eight questions to answer about the audience that will help us form some sort of foundation on how we approach our response because it sets a tone of voice and helps us aim it at a specific demographic.

Who is the audience
Music lovers, people who enjoy music across a range of genres artists have signed.

Who should the audience be
Music lovers with a passion for design who will appreciate both the subject and the artwork.

Who could the audience be
Print lovers, music purchasers, music enthusiasts, designers.

Why
Because they take an interest in that genre or subject area or it could just appeal to them as they're part of the music industry or simply just purchasing a record.

What do they do
Work in the creative fields, listen to music regularly and have a knowledge or understanding of music.

Where do they go
Gigs, music stores, festivals, exhibitions

What do they buy
Records, prints, music, posters, music related books and collectables 

What do they want to be
They want to be on trend and have their finger on the pulse

The more we start to understand the audience and the people we are dealing with the more successful the outcome will be.

Who is the audience

The judges are in fact the audience because ultimately they are going to be judging it. Who are they? When we are doing our research look at the judges and what they are looking for. As well as researching in to the brand.

Last year two students fulfilled a brief whereby they flipped the audience on its head to look at the brief from a different perspective. For female sanitary products they designed the packaging as if it was for the boyfriends or partners going to buy this product for their other half. This is a really innovative way of answering the brief.