OUGD503 Studio Brief 1 Secret 7 - Evaluation

OUGD503 Studio Brief 1 Secret 7 - Evaluation

As I thoroughly enjoyed Secret 7 last year, this was a good opportunity to undertake for one of the smaller briefs. Design for the music industries is something that really appeals to me and something I want to explore for the future. In addition interpreting the song to create a design is very open, therefore there are a lot of possibilities to explore. 

This brief allowed me to explore more concept driven designs as well as psychedelic designs which I really love. I feel I interpreted the song and my research really helped to inform my designs. Psychedelic and distorted effects is a skill I've always wanted to explore and this brief had a lot of scope for this. I also found a new way of working as my designs were made using an app, which was new and refreshing.  I believe this brief has allowed me to learn new skills as well undergoing problem solving in terms of interpreting the song to create a concept, all of which will really help me in my future practice. 

I definitely had a weakness in terms of feedback as I didn't attend one of the critiques for this module, so I could of got useful feedback for my designs which could of really impacted my final designs. However I know now how important critiques are and need to get used to showing my work despite my confidence. Despite, I feel this brief has been a challenge for me and I have gained a lot from this brief, which has expanded my knowledge and will help me grow in the future and learn.

OUGD505 Studio Brief 1 - The History of Money

OUGD505 Studio Brief 1 - The History of Money

Paper currency first developed in Tang Dynasty China during the 7th century, although true paper money did not appear until the 11th century, during the Song Dynasty. The usage of paper currency later spread throughout the Mongol Empire. European explorers like Marco Polo introduced the concept in Europe during the 13th century. As early man began to rear domestic livestock, one of the earliest forms of barter included cattle, sheep, as well as vegetables and grain. The first known currency was created by King Alyattes in Lydia, now part of Turkey, in 600BC. The first coin ever minted features a roaring lion. Coins then evolved into bank notes around 1661 AD. The first credit card was introduced in 1946.

Designing and printing notes is a complex process: to make counterfeiting as difficult as possible, specialised inks are produced on site and some images are engraved by hand onto metal plates, while others are created digitally and laser etched on to film. Watermarks are engraved using wax and, like the metal foil in bank notes, are embedded during the paper manufacturing process.

Money is many different things at the same time. It’s a work of art, a medium of exchange, a representation of value, one, which most people take for granted.
Everybody has their own answers when it comes to money yet we think that it is more generative and engaging to think about values and doubt. Money creates a mood of euphoria. Money is one of the major constituents in determining what our lives feel like, what our typical day feels like. Money also represents our society. It’s everywhere but money is just an idea – an abstract measurement.

OUGD505 Studio Brief 1 - The Future of Money

OUGD505 Studio Brief 1 - The Future of Money

Banknotes have increasingly been displaced by credit and debit cards and electronic money transfers. Some governments, such as Canada, are considering replacing paper notes and coins with digital currency. Sweden has begun implementing digital currency.

Cash is King for the Future of Money

“Even though we’re using credit and debit cards more than ever, people still have cash in their wallet,” says chief executive Martin Sutherland, pictured left. “It’s convenient, it’s free at point of use, classless – not everyone has a bank account - and most of all, it’s reliable. “Cash is the payment mechanism of last resort, it will still work when there’s a power cut or the card reader won’t scan.” As well as security measures known only to central banks and De La Rue itself, there are more obvious features, such as the silver foil running through notes, holograms and ultraviolet inks.

My interpretation

Although we are in a digital world, I believe physical money will still stay in tact for security measures, accessibility and also to keep the sense of history bank notes have. People trust and rely in physical money and not everyone is open using digital currency. Banknotes also convey a sense of patriotism as each currency design proudly displays part of the countries history, culture and achievements. Although there is disadvantages to physical money and there is a real chance (currently being implemented by Denmark) of changing to digital currency - this is not doing to happen in the near future therefore there is still a future for money. 

OUGD503 Studio Brief 2 Collaborative - Initial Ideas & Research

OUGD503 Studio Brief 2 Collaborative - Initial Ideas & Research

Brief Breakdown - 

• Rooted in Somerset 
• Bold
• Mischievous 
• Simple

Ideas & Thoughts - 

• Brief isn't asking for a rebrand just a campaign
• Creating a story for the campaign, NARRATIVE
• Edgy
• Hipster element 
• Secret lives of farmers
• Festival Culture
• Cheeky
• Glastonbury 

We all agreed that creating a advertisement for the campaign would be best and we all felt confident in our thoughts so far. The festival culture idea seemed the most successful to us and we shared ideas and had a discussion about getting a real pig involved in the campaign - which we could then film and create our own festival scene. This could also give us the opportunity to collaborate further a student who has filming experience. 

Previous advertising -

'Stay true to your roots'

Reveller 

• Gently sparkling cider
• Happy
• Tangy

Charmer

• Stronger
• Mellow
• Dry
• Sweet

Truffler

• Bittersweet
• Dry

Themes -

 

 



 

Cider Advertisements- 

While looking into other advertisement campaigns for cider a lot had different approaches that clearly conveyed different messages to different age ranges. 

Honesty Box Cider's campaign is similar to Orchard Pig's campaign in that it is inclusive but the designs really target the younger generation. In addition the advertisements are raw are keep to their concepts throughout. 

Thatcher's Cider advertising is completely the opposite to what Orchard Pig are looking for, but this is still useful to research. Both ciders pride themselves in that they are rooted in Somerset, but Thatchers cider clearly is advertising towards their main target audience - the older generation. This is done by using traditional design elements in their advertising and using homely, domestic and loyalty connotations. 

Kopparberg Cider's advertising is a really great reference to our research, as this uses the Hipster element and isn't afraid to poke fun. This therefore makes it a funny, edgy and mischievous campaign which are all elements we want in our campaign. These elements used attract a wide range of target audiences, as some will see it as funny to poke fun at the hipsters, while others will see the hipster element as deem it as edgy and cool. Therefore this creates a versatile campaign and really gives you a good indication to the target market of Kopparberg, and also is very memorable. 

OUGD505 Studio Brief 1 - Manchester: People's History Museum Visit

OUGD505 Studio Brief 1 - Manchester: People's History Museum Visit

Show Me the Money Exhibition

As I had no prior knowledge to the history or design of money, this was quite an intriguing exhibition. Seeing some examples of contemporary and different designs for bank notes was new to me, as although I have previously seen redesigns I have never really looked closely and thought about them. What was most interesting was banknotes designs with a derogatory depiction of money. These focused on themes such as 1% of the country owning half of the countries wealth. These made clear statements and explored different themes which is something I want to focus on. Creating a redesign with a concept is vital, therefore I shall explore different ideas within my own work. This was a really great starting point and a useful form of first hand research.

OUGD503 Studio Brief 1 Secret 7 - Production & Submission

OUGD503 Studio Brief 1 Secret 7 - Production

These three designs for 'The Less I Know the Better' all represent the heartbreak and distorted relationship with Heather, each uses different styles to convey this.

Final Outcomes -

Submission -

OUGD503 Studio Brief 1 Secret 7 - Development

OUGD503 Studio Brief 1 Secret 7 - Development

After initial ideas and from my research, I immediately knew I wanted a psychedelic style cover for this LP. I started by making textures using Youtube tutorials as I didn't know how to go about making a psychedelic pattern. I then went on to using a photograph from the internet and tracing the pattern of the lines and layering it up to create a really nice pattern full of colour. This really got the psychedelic affect that I was after. I tried and tested a few ideas to do with someone holding their fingers in their ears to connote 'The less I know the better' but these I found were unsuccessful. I then tired ideas with hearts to connote love, and made it distorted to represented his broken heart. I felt this worked well as amongst the psychedelic trance, lies a broken heart to represent the line 'so goodbye.'

After using the idea of the distorted heart, I wanted to continue this idea as I felt it was successful in representing the fragmented and collapsed love. For this, I used the app Glitché which allows you to corrupt and distort your images to create psychedelic works. Therefore I experimented on this app with hearts using numerous different effects such as glitch, scan, invert, vhs and grids. These gave me really great trippy outcomes which I then manipulated to get the desired effect. These allowed me to convey the two hearts as separate, one being in tact and the other distorted to represent one's love for another who can never love back and the damaged relationship as a result. 

Experiments

OUGD503 Studio Brief 2 Collaborative - Pitcha Kucha

OUGD503 Studio Brief 2 Collaborative - Pitcha Kucha

Pitcha Kucha Presentation Boards:

Collaborative Group:

Sophie Poole - Illustrator

Naomi Smith - Illustrator

Me - Graphic Designer  

Selected Brief:

Orchard Pig 

I am very happy with my collaborative group as I believe both team members are very hard working. There was a worry that we should find another graphic designer as the brief seems more graphic design weighted. I also wasn't sure whether we should look for an animator to create more versatility in the group, but we all decided that if we can find another graphic designer then great, but if not then we're happy working together as a group of three. We all agreed that the Orchard Pig brief was very open and we could all play around and have fun with it. 

OUGD503 Studio Brief 1 Secret 7 - Research

OUGD503 Secret 7 - Research

It was appropriate to look into artists who use a similar aesthetic for research for Secret 7. This gives a good basis for the designs and will expand your knowledge by seeing successful designers who used these themes and aesthetic. I have chosen my favourite artists to use within my research as I feel all these styles are relevant 

Neil Krug 

Neil Krug is a an artist/photographer who has worked with numerous music artists to produce their covers. I have also been a fan of Krug's work but I never realised he also produced album covers as well, his work seems to be very suiting to the artists who I listen to and who he produces for, such as Tame Impala and The Horrors. His work has a washed out, sunny element to his work which really suits the combination of layers and textures which he uses which often replicate the sound of the artists he produces for. 

Shae DeTar

Although Shae DeTar does not produce album artwork herself, she also an artist I admire and who's style has similar elements to Krug's work as well. Shae DeTar creates otherworldly photographic prints, combining photography and painting to take her subjects out of reality and place them within her etherial world. DeTar shoots analog and digital photographs and then adds layers of paint to exaggerate color, create texture, and add an element of fantasy to the image. I believe DeTar's style would also work well on album covers as well, and her way of producing work is one which I would also love to try out in the future. 

Leif Podhajsky

After looking at different artists suggested to us on eStudio, Podhajsky was an artist who I immediately fell in love with. His work has a similar aesthetic to both Krug and DeTar, but I think I actually find Podhajsky's work more appealing. His work explores themes of connectedness, the relevance of nature and the psychedelic experience. By utilizing these subjects he attempts to inspire the viewer into a realignment with themselves and their surroundings.