Edible type, creating our idea

Having the idea to create the Swiss style typeface of Futura out of Swiss rolls, we gathered all the ingredients we thought we would need.

Once all of the ingredients were assembled, we were ready to cut out the shapes of Futura using 6 swiss rolls as a grid/x-height to where the letters should ascend and descend.

Having a copy of Futura on a screen close by, I cut out the swiss rolls using my own judgement, into S,W and I shapes, as well as then cutting out an aeroplane symbol.

Using a ruler, I established the width of the letterform so it kept a consistent stroke size throughout. 

Once the letters were full cut out, they were ready to be iced to achieve a smooth, clean Swiss style. 

Final photoframes mocked up

I have mocked up my final 3 photo frames by skewing the photograph so it fit into the frame and convincingly looked like photographic backing paper.

I have used many photoshop methods such as blend modes and other such tools, drawing blurred white lines over the image and then setting the layer to overlay made a believable reflection ontop of the glass, and drawing a line around the photograph which a brush tool and the black colour, it appears as if the backing paper is in the frame surrounded by the shadow.

I then created three mock ups with tag like things on black leather with a gold typeface.

Ideally I would have liked to print using foil blocking methods onto pieces of card with a black leather print on, but this process was time consuming and I never managed to get around to it before the end of the deadline unfortunately.

The typeface on my design has been informed and I chose it from a range of typefaces which feedback had been given by my peers in critiques of my work.

The black on gold effect had been carefully researched and I felt it represented Laura Ashley as a company, even though it was rather outlandish and brash.

Attempting to create an alternate foil blocking technique:

Ideally, I wanted to use foil blocking methods to create a stylish and classy looking tag which would be situated inside the photo frame above the backing paper, but time restrictions have resulted in my not being able to use foil blocking techniques.

I had the idea to cut out the words I wanted using a scalpel, once the letters were cut out i'd use the scalpel as a stencil for spray glue to work around and then i'd use gold glitter to represent a foil blocking method.

I made an attempt at doing this, but unfortunately, enough glue didn't get through the tiny letters' holes which meant the gold glitter writing was unreadable.

I shall re-attempt this using bigger font to see the results:

With a bigger stencil, the spray glue got though the holes easier, but still looked rather messy afterwards. 

The colours are what I was going for in my design, but the messiness and untidiness is completely opposite, and wouldn't reflect Laura Ashley very well. 

Leather texture photographs:

Having been informed that taking your own photographs in adverse to using stock photos found on the internet is a lot more professional, I have taken my own photographs of a black leather texture.

Using a macro 1cm mode on my camera I have taken various photos of a leather texture of which I can use for my photoframe's backing paper. 

I used photoshop's editing effects to make the black leather look dark,rich and vibrant so it would be the best quality for my design to go on.

Using overlapping blend modes on photoshop, I have created an effect similar to the Heist's album cover.
I shall execute this method further but attempt to physically foil block my final type onto card with the black leather texture printed onto it.

Experimenting with Gold textures:

Once I had chosen a font which I was pleased with, I took it onto Adobe's photoshop to experiment with digital gold textures to see what feel they would have.

I used a process of isolating the black text from the gold background and cutting out the font.

The four images show the process of which I went thorough to cut the font away from the gold back ground.

I executed this process many times using different gold textures to achieve different effects. 

Using the process I have explained, I created many gold looking typefaces, some with high levels of detail and texture and others which are flat such as the gradient ones.

Developing design post interim crit:

Following on from the feedback from the interim crit, I have used the feedback I have recieved, I have developed one of my earlier ideas further, to present in the final crit and receive more feedback which will inform my design choices. 

I have stuck with the idea of using a ranging size of cameras to show the scale of the frames enlarging. 

I have started with a small compact camera, which is the smallest sized that you can purchase.

Moving onto a bridge camera, which is medium sized. 

And finally a DSLR which is the largest camera possible. 

I have made my font choices based on the feedback from the initial crit, I have used the Laura ashley Logo to show which store this frame would be sold in once it was fully designed to a professional and functional level. 

Creating my designs from the interim crit:

I will explain how I have made use of photoshop to edit my images for use in the final design stages of this brief. 

Moving on from the interim crit, I picked up that B&W images generally looked rather high-end and classy, so I have chosen to go down this route with these photographs which I have taken. 

Initially I have desaturated the photograph, and then using Photoshop's levels, I have changed the balance of the photograph to ensure it is as visible as possible, and sets the best tone.

I explored the route of inverting the photograph to set a different tone of voice to the photograph, which could create a more arty and stylish vibe to the design. 

I finally used a serif font which is very similar to Laura Ashley's logo's font, and used the gaussian blur effect to reduce the sharpness of the font and let the typeface merge with the background. 

Interim crit feedback and future steps

After receiving lots of feedback from my peers at this interim stage, I am ready to develop my ideas in accordance to the outsiders' opinion on my designs.

Here are some of the comments I received from the critique:

• High end idea is good but could potentially look tacky, print experiments could divert this.
• Consider looking at high end fonts and research perfume design/ clothes.

• Different type face for a high quality feel

• Research colour/tone that communicates expense
• Simplicity can communicate elegance
• Doesn't have to be script to look expensive
• Expensive imagery for an expensive frame

• Marble looking background and serif font works
• Grammar doesn't make sense in the design
• Less text can equate to elegance
• Research materials

• Be more original
• An elegant sans serif could be more useful
• Use photography to communicate quality

• Idea 1 works well, drawn in detail could be the route to go down
• Make text 3D and textured
• Try foiling
• Use capitals 

• Higher quality calligraphy font
• Camera composition (idea 1) is weak, fill the space
• Consider photographing camera or drawing with more detail

• No1 is a concept not an idea

• Make typeface relate to imagery 

• Sans serif typeface

• Aim for more individual font such as 'Exmouth'
• Attempt foil printing
• Design No4 doesn't fit audience
• Design No2 is best for high class

From the feedback I have collected I feel I now know which direction to go down with my designs and which would fit the public's opinion the most to create a successful range of designs.

Ways in which I intend to develop my work:

1. Research into High end sans serif fonts, perfumeries and clothing ranges.
2. Look into minimalism but elegant designs.
3. Experiment with paper stock and foil blocking
4. Attempt some photography which relates to the designs. 

Initial ideas in preparation for the interim crit.

Creating mock ups of my ideas in preparation for the initial crit.

As the brief required a themed set of designs and it was to be used in conjunction with the sizes (eg. 4x6) and with the obvious connection of photo frames and photography equipment,  I used the different types of cameras that are available to show the increase in size of the frames.

Idea 1:

I have used simple illustrations of a compact, bridge and an DSLR camera to show a simple piece of photography equipment, as it is known that these cameras are varied sizes. This is a concept rather than an idea, and I feel it represents something I intend to create or use photographs to represent. 

Idea 2

Using these photographs as part of my backing paper, in collaboration with the other 2 ideas to see the results.

Idea 3:

Based on inspiration from The Heist album cover, I have used a calligraphy font against a black leather background to portray elegance and style, I feel this idea, if done well, will represent the higher end market very well.

Idea 4:

My fourth idea is a comical one to appeal to children or teenagers, and it is that the backing paper uses a man escaping from the frame by trying to break the glass, with a fearful look on his face. I haven't considered typeface yet for this design, and it goes down a different genre to the other frame designs.

OUDG403 PROJECT EVALUATION:

I regret starting this module off to a bad start in which I was unproductive, and didn’t realise the pace of which I would have to work, I was unproductive with my designing and blogging, and I feel I paid the price at the final stages.

Towards the end of the module I feel I massively upped my game and I began to enjoy blogging and was churning out good quality, informative blog posts at a very thorough pace, in comparison to the beginning.

The later projects, such as Message & delivery I feel at stages I excelled at, but my time management skills still managed to let me down, and certain parts of the project slacked. The alphabet soup project is my worst I feel, I am pleased with the final illustrator design and print out on A2, but for the earlier stages such as the 10 typeface variations, I managed to lose those before the first crit so was in a rush to reproduce those designs to have something to show in the critique.

After a few critiques, I understood the basis of them, and began to adjust my work in accordance to the feedback that I received from my peers, as I realised they reflected a target audience, and if they weren’t understanding the messages I was trying to convey, then neither would the public.

I have enjoyed researching various designers, and the lectures have given me an insight into new designers whom I hadn’t previously heard of, which I took into my on-going projects as inspiration to design.

In future modules, I now realise I definitely need to commit my self more, and I have now found methods in doing so, my pace of work vastly picked up during the final weeks, and I am sure that will now be my mentality which I shall carry through into the future.

I aim to produce thorough modules of work that will be academically intelligent as well as containing professional looking designs.

Imposing designs and adding context

I had the idea to impose my designs onto billboards to put them in context in the public domain.

 Using photoshop techniques, I managed to accurately skew my designs over blank billboards.

I edited the photographs to black and white to put more emphasis on the colour of my designs. 

I also took it upon my self to take photographs f the LCA exhibition/advertising space, and to impose me designs into these places, as if it was being exhibited. 

Image only design:

Based on the feedback from the interim crit, I was encouraged to take the design forward of where the audience of the newspaper is throwing it away in rebellion to show they can make up their own opinion.

Using this self taken photograph in relation to photoshop, I managed to edit the image in the same style as the previous one to create an image only design. 

The threshold levels were adjusted to create the same effect as before, and using the brush tool, blood was added to the piece of design.

The shadows in the image appear as an over exposed photograph, which is quite effective to set the tone of the design, and the addition of blood to the image gives a sinister feeling. 

I find the piece of design emotive, and it is evident that the character is discarding the newspaper rebelliously, but it has had an effect on the person, as the blood still remains on his hands.

Again, I chose to print the design on newsprint as I felt it was fitting for the project, unfortunately the print didn't come out perfectly, and there were damages/creases in the paper stock. 

I shall re-print the image and submit it for my final design. 

Final crit + further development:

After presenting my designs to the crit group, I had received feedback on which I could model the development for my final pieces, to make them yet more effective at displaying the message which I intended to communicate.

Simon, the lecturer explained to me how my blood hands design made use of a satirical story of a 'bun fight', and that it didn't fit with the tone of the piece, so I then went on to remove this story using photoshop, and replace it with the word 'Fight' to show how the news paper is based around violence and cynicism.


Also, the crit group made relevant the fact that the red, impact typeface contrasted against the colour in the background, so I have altered this aspect of the design. And also pointed out the fact that I had used the logos of the famous UK red top news papers in my design, and how it would be as effective without that addition. All of these pieces have been altered and adjusted to suit.

The design had now been edited to the feedback of the crit, and it was more fit for purpose than before.

Printing my final typeface

After the induction to the Digital print room, I was ready to print my final typeface. 

I decided I wanted to print onto a professional, sophisticated cartridge type stock as I felt it would be very fitting for my Art Deco style typeface, and that the off white colour would fit the purpose of my font.

I was very pleased with the final print of my typeface, and the colours of the black worked very well against the texture of the stock.

My typeface looks very stern and solid in this form, as the strokes of black stand out very well and have a sense of dominance on the page.
The black border around the edge of the A2 page sets a boundary for the design and adds to the art deco style of my font.

I took photographs of my printed typeface from various angles, using different methods and then desaturated the photographs using photoshop as they didn't require saturation as they're B&W images.

I was very pleased with the final print of my typeface, and happy that I chose a more expensive stock to print the font on, as it gave it a better, more professional feel, than typical generic paper stock.