Monday, 26 October 2015

Dissertation proposal (take 3)

Moving on from our COP presentations in front of Amber, Simon Jones and my peers, the feedback that I received indicated that my COP title/focus was overly specific and would work better as a broader topic.

Moving on from this I had to generate a new Dissertation title, having discussed films such as Nymphomanic which has a very iconic movie poster and concept created by a graphic designer.
This sparked up the topic of my dissertation focussing around a graphic designer's approach to sensitive movie issues (again relating to my previous dissertation proposal) issues such as abuse/horror, drug addiction and sex.

I then proposed this to my COP tutor, Amber, with the working title being 'How does a graphic design approach sensitive issues when designing movie posters?'

We then began discussing the evolution of horror movie posters ranging back from the popular 1950s movie posters which were some of the first to represent horror films in a paper 2D format, to the current post millennial

(Initial question to be proposed to COP tutor)

How does a movie poster designer tackle sensitive issues?

(Improved question after discussion with COP tutor)

What tactics do Graphic designers employ to communicate contentious themes?

The current dissertation title will then be expanded on showing more focus and direction.

(Hills have eyes remake: 1977 - 2006)

Research routes:

Advertising constraints 

Advertising standards

Group together by: X rated, Director, genre

'Green inferno trailer'

Theory: Typefaces, Semiotics, colour theory

-Zombie apocalypse 
-Night of the living dead

1950s VS Contemporary 

'Grind house'

Historical film posters designed by 'Ad men' rather than Gdesigners

Deep meaning/concepts nowadays in film posters

Figurative

'It follows' film

Literal translation

illustrative 

Modern remakes

'Day the earth stood still'

The medium

Proposal

Monday, 5 October 2015

Creative networks poster brief:

Creative networks poster brief


Subject matter - To design a series promotive posters (and other materials) to be used at the LCA Creative Network nights. The range of material design and selected should professionally communicate the content of the event, promoting the guest speaker and generally acting as material that will highlight the importance of these events.
Research methods - From researching into the past styles and designs that have been created for the CN events, using the powerpoint provided by the CN team.
Researching thoroughly into the works of Daft Punk and Andrew Graham Dixon to be in full comprehension of their job roles and also to find imagery that relate to their works and personalities.

Examining the exhibition space we have to work with for the CN events and attempting to make full use of the resources. 
Practical development (media, productions, skills)

Using a variety of software, working together gathering ideas which would form our design process. We made use of Image based and video software to produce work on a variety of mediums.
The final pieces of design would function in a 2D printed material form, along side vinyl stickers and also moving images.
Contextual references
Searching the internet for detailed information on these 2 guests, along with sourcing stock imagery to use which will represent these visitors.
Approaches to documentation
Documentation in the form of blog posts, alongside presentation boards and also design sheets for the final submission. 
Reflection and evaluation
This will be completed once both of the guests have been designed for.
Time scale
Week long brief to enter the competition, if successful then more design work will be coming in the future from these briefs.

We were set the task to design a poster each for Daft Punk creative network event and also Andrew Greham-Dixon visiting Leeds college of art. 

Reasons for tackling this brief:
• Having passion for the CN events, noticing that they’re a great
resource.
• I work at these events and put up the printed material, would love for
it to be my designs.
• If victorious, great exposure as a freelance independent outside brief.

Collaborative partner Jamie Smith:

• Proficient with software that I have no experience using
• Works at a fast pace – similar to me
• Great rapport for bouncing ideas off each other
• Differ in styles and interests. (He’s more comfortable with the Daft
punk side where as I am happy to design for Andrew Dixon's brief.)


Approaching the brief from the standing that Daft Punk visting LCA was fictional where as  Andrew Greham-Dixon was appearing for Creative Networks. For this reason I immediately knew that more focus was to be put not the Daft Punk event, but the Andrew Greham-Dixon one seen as he was actually appearing at Creative Networks. 


Back ground information:

Myself and Jamie have both visited the Creative networks in the past, for this reason I knew what promotional material would contribute to the events.

Both heard music by Daft Punk and appreciated their current design styles and the iconography they currently have attached to themselves. 

Large scale posters that defined what these events were about, but again highlighted the achievements of the guests were vital, we proposed to create 3 posters in total for Daft Punk.

Short, punchy interactive videos were to be implemented in the cafeteria area to entice the audience to admire these videos. 

Vinyl wall stickers were to be placed above the bar area, almost the focal point in the mixing room, where guests reside before proceeding into the lecture hall to view the talk. 

Finally, directional vinyl floor stickers came into use to direct guests into the lecture hall, rather than the audience members getting lost amongst the building.

Initial ideas:

We began designing for the Daft punk brief after discussing ideas and quickly finding a concept that was wanted to run with.

Making use of a futuristic glitchy techno effect to convey their background in music and the futuristic design style they have associated to themselves.




Researching the techno design style revealed a futuristic aesthetic which focussed very strongly around a computerised look. 


We had to find a way to incorporate this alongside the Daft Punk imagery.

Using Daft Punk's original typography we managed to alter 






Beginning by using the highly iconic image of one of the member's masks, exhibiting how the easily recognisable double act would be visiting Leeds college of Art's Creative networks. 

We explored a route of their techno futuristic, digital background by inserting 'glitch' crackled styled hexagons, showing reference to both, Lca's logo and Daft Punk's techno background.

The dark black background extenuating the golden colours of the mask.

We moved on from this current design as we thought more would could be put into this design to make the poster more of our own, rather than a simple addition to an existing image of the mask.




The images of the two masks progressed down even more of a digitised techno route, with a glowing edges effects added to the original photograph.
Moving on from the glowing edges, 






Friday, 2 October 2015

10 briefs written out

Name: Ryan Daley

Manifesto: I intend to spend Level 6 focussing on broadening my portfolio, keeping my roles open and not 'specialising' down a specific route.
Gaining confidence and new skills in previously untapped software (web/video/coding)
Making the most level 6 had to offer: workshops, Guest speakers, feedback etc.

Brief one (title): Creative Networks collaborative 

Time frame:




Here are the hand written versions of my 10 brief proposals. These shall be taken to monday workshop on briefs, feedback will be taken into consideration and the briefs shall be updated accordingly. 

Feedback

Brief 1- Creative networks
  • What research will you undertake?
  • What method of production would be the most successful? - Digital print has always been used previously. Could you try something different such as screen printing or even screened digital posters on the tv screens?
  • If you can show how the poster could be used in another form of communication such as an email to students, this could be helpful.
Brief 2- West London film maker collab
  • This could be a really good opportunity to get your name out, try and make networking contacts through this job.
  • Extensive research into the target audience and background could give you an advantage.
Brief 3- NHS asthma campaign
  • Whilst keeping the tone serious try to make the focus of this poster really memorable, in either a shocking or informative way.
  • how can you expand the campaign?
  • If it is aimed at parents could you create an information pack?
Brief 5- Coding web & app
  • As well as code academy, 'code school' is also really helpful.
  • Lost of research into types of website deign could help you find the most suitable design/layout.
Brief 6- D&AD
  • Try to think of a gap in the market that would appeal to a specific target audience.
Mandatory outcomes are pre set, Deliverable are down to me.

          Intentions for level 6 Presentation

          I had explained before hand how my presentation was to contain masses of body copy text and how I didn't intend to directly read from the slides.
          I had chosen for my presentation to contain this amount of body copy as, for me, this was about conveying the amount of information and my intentions for Level 6 (and the future) rather than creating a presentation that solely focussed on design aesthetic.











          I enjoyed presenting my plans and intentions, focussing on conveying my story using empathy and sincerity to show my passion for the course and also my concerns for my future, from presenting in this way I felt the feedback I received directly related to this worry that I had discussed, which then led onto receiving helpful and reassuring feedback.

          My intentions for the 10 briefs were conveyed and unlike some other students, these intentions seemed suffice for what the presentation was discussing. The feedback from Amber didn't bring up any concerns about my work load in the near future.

          A piece of feedback I did receive was that my dissertation title and topic didn't appear to directly relate to my previous essays, this was discussed and a suggestion was made how I could very slightly modify my dissertation in a way where a time period would be discussed, loosely connecting to my Level 5 essay topic.






          Personal handouts containing notes on the subjects I was willing to talk about.
          The style of presentation I have is to almost 'free style' on a certain subject, rather than reciting a full script, from other people's presentation I feel reading from a script lacks emotion and connection with the audience, where as the down fall for 'free styling' can lead me to lost my train of thought or miss out certain sections.

          Overall I was happy with how I presented, I feel my skills have advanced since level 4, not only in a confidence and public speaking sense, but also with the information I present and the style in which it is presented. 
          I consider myself an advocated for opening up in presentations like this as for me viewing last years Level 5 presentations, I realised people had a lot more worries and stress than I would first assume.