This week we took our 3D Designs and created a style suitable for a sports group and a fashion label.
Task 1: Design Perspective
Based on our 3D Design of the Bike Helmet Cover I have designed a style suitable for sport groups and another design suitable for a fashion label.
Sport Group Design:
Sport groups need to be able to quickly identify their team members, for this reason the top of the helmet cover is a single block colour, while the team name is around the skirt of the helmet cover.
Sports Group Helmet Cover
Fashion Design:
I looked to an inspiration of fashion, Lady Gaga, I had seen this photo in a magazine recently and thought her hair looked very creative, reminded me of the 80's. I used this as inspiration for my fashion helmet cover.
The week we designed logos before completing a group exercise in changing perspectives.
Task 1: Design perspectives
In this task we were required to design two logos for our own business. The first logo needs to appeal to a design industry client. The second design needs to appeal to a non-profit arts organisation. The logos need a tag line and once we have scotched them we add redraw them in illustrator.
Design Industry Logo:
I wanted to work with the idea of an egg, a symbol of future growth and birth. I kept the name "Cracker" from my InDesign student days, after this exercise I really want to drop this.
I started with 2D representations of the design, I couldn't get he colours, shape or size right .. it seemed to be all wrong but I still liked the idea. My final result shows the simplicity that was needed for a more corporate look, less hand drawn, a bit of shine ....
Logo for Design Industry
I am very unhappy with this design, I can't get it to work, the size is wrong, the colours are wrong .. try again ...
.... and it still looks bad
I'm happier with with.
Non-profit Arts Organisation:
Since it is a non-profit arts organisation I wanted the logo to look a bit more artsy, textured, a bit of fun. I achieved the by using a variety of bright colours to represent the fun of childs play. This theme is also conveyed in the shapes, i.e. blocks often used in childs play.
Logo for Arts Organisation
Task 2: Changing Perspectives
Here we rated each persons design on a scale of 1-10 based on the following criteria:
1. Accuracy in addressing the brief
2. Immediate visual appeal
3. Cross generational appeal
4. Suitability for print
5. Suitability for web
6. Monochromatic suitability
7. Simplicity Self rating
1. Accuracy in addressing the brief - logo 1 - 2 not very corporate / logo 2 - 6
2. Immediate visual appeal -logo 1 -3 /logo 2 - 6
3. Cross generational appeal -logo 1 - 3 boring and strange name/ logo 2 - 7
4. Suitability for print - logo 1 & 2 - 8 both in illustrator so can be adjusted for print, red an be more difficult to see
5. Suitability for web - Logo 1 & 2 - 7 good for web, maybe problems for app
6. Monochromatic suitability - Looks good in grayscale
7. Simplicity -logo 1 & 2 - 5
Paul:
1. Accuracy in addressing the brief -8
2. Immediate visual appeal - logo 1- 10 / logo 2- 5, colours a bit bright against a dull background, size needs adjusting
3. Cross generational appeal - logo 1- 10/ logo 2 - 8
4. Suitability for print - logo 1- 10/ logo 2 - 5, colours a little difficult to read
5. Suitability for web - logo 1 -10/ logo 2 - 5 letters might get lost to background
6. Monochromatic suitability logo 1 - 10/ logo 2 - hard to read as background blends with words
7. Simplicity logo 1 - 10/ logo 2 - 7 maybe the font could be more simple and less texture in the art board
Tag line suggestion Colour your community Andre: - one logo presented
1. Accuracy in addressing the brief - 5 only one great logo presented
2. Immediate visual appeal - 8
3. Cross generational appeal - 6 tattoos particular to generations
4. Suitability for print - 8
5. Suitability for web - 7 if reduced in size might be difficult to read
6. Monochromatic suitability - 9
7. Simplicity - 5 not simple, but that is what is good about it
Katelyn: - one logo presented
1. Accuracy in addressing the brief - 6 just one great logo, needed two
2. Immediate visual appeal -8
3. Cross generational appeal - 7 young and fun
4. Suitability for print - 8
5. Suitability for web - 8
6. Monochromatic suitability - 9
7. Simplicity - 9
June:
1. Accuracy in addressing the brief - 9
2. Immediate visual appeal - 9
3. Cross generational appeal - 9
4. Suitability for print - logo 1- 8 may be difficult to read the text/ logo 2 -8
5. Suitability for web - 7, concerned with clarity of text
6. Monochromatic suitability 9 very clear
7. Simplicity 9
Queenie:
1. Accuracy in addressing the brief -5 still developing concepts
2. Immediate visual appeal - 6 like the Q, work in progress for the crown
3. Cross generational appeal - 8 great ideas
4. Suitability for print - 8
5. Suitability for web - 7 not sure if the crown will be lost when reduced, design still developing
6. Monochromatic suitability - 7
7. Simplicity - 6
It's always a good idea to self evaluate or seek someones opinion. Here are some examples where the benefits of a second opinion on a logo design would have been a good idea ...
In addition to the 2D Design of the web page for the helmet cover (our 3D Design), I would like to continue to develop the concept of featuring peoples favourite things. The idea originated from our first collaboration session, it began as a shadow box with favourite things placed inside, something I am interested in. After spending 8 years as a stay at home mum I've had a lot of time to ponder the things around me, but have not taken the time to think about who I am. So, do the things around me tell a story of who I am?
I wanted to move away from this internal focus, I wanted to think outside the house, outside the box.
Peter (lecturer) then asked the question,"How do I relate to the digital world, what is the relationship between the digital world and the home?" My first thought was a big off button, in the home I like to turn off the computers to really relax and cut the outside world out.
From these initial thoughts I had a number of questions:
What is the relationship between how we show ourselves on Facebook, in digital form, to how we look through the eyes of someone visiting our home.
Do the things around us define us more than we share with the outside world?
If someone saw our collection at home would they recognise us from a group?
If we all turned off the computers what would we do, what would we look at?
After completing a Collaboration class about respecting differences I wondered how our favourite things might be the same and/ or different. I find it interesting how different people can be the same, can this be seen in a collection of favourite things?
Another question, could you group people by age, gender, ethnic origins or socio-economic standing by seeing their favourite things?
So many questions, I'm not sure where this will take the 2D Design, to begin with lets give it a name:
reflection of collection
Collection reflection
You in a box
In a box
It's about defining people by the things that they have and treasure.
Maybe the design will define itself overtime, I'll do some examples as see where it takes me.
This week we investigated the assumptions we make, when we challenge these assumptions we learn what problems may arise and plan solutions. This is helpful when working with clients as you can stay one step ahead and have contingency plans.
Task 1 - Part 1 Challenge assumptions.
In the first task we looked at these riddles and the assumptions we make to find the solution.
Q1. Relatives - A doctor in London had a brother in Manchester, who was a lawyer - but the lawyer in Manchester did not have a brother in London who was a doctor. Why?
it's his sister ... this was easy, a childhood joke
Q2. Bottled Money - If you put a small coin piece in an empty bottle and replaced the cork, how would you get the coin out of the bottle without taking out the cork or breaking the bottle?
push the cork in - this was a little more difficult, the class could not resolve it, but once you know, it seems so obvious
Q3. The Restaurant Meal - Three women each have two daughters, and they all go into a restaurant for a meal. There are only seven vacant seats in the restaurant, but each has a seat for herself. How do they manage it?
"It's a grandmother daughter thing" was the answer, and yes Paul was correct!
Task 2 - Part 2 Challenge assumptions
MIKE’S AUDITION
Have you ever been in Los Angeles freeway traffic? We were once in bumper‐to‐bumper traffic, trying to get to the airport at 10:30 at night. I didn't know that there were traffic jams until late in the evening. In any case, if you have had a similar experience, you can relate to the following problem, which will show us how challenging assumptions leads to more creative solutions.
Mike had an audition for a movie role at eight the next morning. But it was in Hollywood, and he lived on the other side of Los Angeles. He was notified of the audition late, and now it was one in the morning. This was a problem, because it could take as much as four hours to get through the morning traffic, and he needed time to shower and get ready. He would have to get up by a little after three that morning.
He thought about this. Just two hours of sleep, followed by hours on the freeway ‐ this might affect his performance. This would be his first important role if he was hired, so his mind started scrambling for solutions. Taking the bus might be faster than driving his van, but he didn't know the bus schedules, and it was too late to find out. He looked at a map of the city, hoping for a better route, and he might have found one, but it seemed dangerous to guess about routes he wasn't familiar with at this point.
He suddenly recalled a problem solving technique his friend Steve had told him about, and decided to try it. He did the assumption‐challenging exercise, starting with a pen and piece of paper and writing a list of assumptions.
1. What would be on your list of assumptions ‐ if you were Mike?
Assuming:
the traffic will be busy at 3 in the morning.
it will take 4 hours to get to the other side of the city.
that buses will be infrequent, that he will need a timetable.
he could take the bus.
he has to drive to the other side of town.
he needs to sleep 2 hours.
he wants the acting job.
he needs to shower and take time to get ready.
a bus might be faster.
the interview time could not be changed.
there is no other form of transport.
I have to leave at 3 in the morning.
2. Challenge each item in the list and find a solution to Mike’s problem
Drive at 1 in the morning and sleep in your car, shower when you're there.
He could get a helicopter of sub-way.
Because he is leaving so early the traffic might be minimal and it will not take 4 hours. - leaving things to chance
The buses might leave every 15 minutes and take less travel time in bus lanes. - possible but might not work
Maybe Mike doesn't wake up from his sleep in the car
Maybe it's inconsequential if Mike goes to the interview or not.
The assumption can be obvious and when we challenge them, we can find the solution.
You can use this method when designing, list all the assumptions and find solutions. For example, we expect the elastic for the helmet cover to be available but if we investigate early we can ensure it is or build in a waiting period, this will help the work process to flow smoothly.
Another example of reviewing assumptions and challenging them is when you get a printing job, check with the printer how much time they need to print, double this time to leave contingency for errors.
I choose to reflect and refine the Web page we are developing for the helmet cover for exhibition.
Assumptions about the design of web page.
People will be interested in watching video.
We have information to navigate to.
Challenge the assumptions:
People might think the video is boring and switch off, they might not understand it is promoting a helmet cover. They might think the video makes the helmet cover look like a product they don't want to buy. They might choose not to watch the video. One video may not get the complete message across.
We might not have enough information to fill a page. The information might be so stretched and repetitive it becomes boring. We don't need to just talk about the helmet covers we have made. Repetition can be good, gets the message across.
Refinements:
When you make a video show a group in class and monitor their reactions, ask them their opinion; was it interesting? Did they want to turn it off? What message did they get from the video? Was the product clearly displayed? Were they convinced that they might want to buy or recommend the product?
Depending on what information we have we might need to combine navigation buttons so we don't end up with empty pages or pages that look like we have nothing to say. We could also add designs we have not made up. We could add information about ourselves, the designers and the design process..
Research
One challenge we thought we would have is printing onto the material we chose, a Nylon/Spandex mix. When we initially called the printing company they said they had had problems in the past printing on the nylon/ spandex material we chose, the high heats sometimes ruin the material. With this in mind we took a sample of the material to the printers to test, this would determine our future design constraints.
Luckily, both the Digitex and Digital Vapour Infusion methods worked well. The DVI colours vary from what is in illustrator, so in the design process I would say that your colour choice will have to be approximate rather than an exact match.
original image for print
Digitex on the left and DVI on the right
You can also see the flares did not work, however they might be able to do this in the final print.
During this time we had three students present their 3D Design concepts for 2 minutes, we then discussed and challenged these ideas for 3 minutes.
Idea 1: Paul Myatt Steampunk Computer
Paul takes a computer screen, strips unnecessary items away, reconfigures it to a portrait orientation and uses this to extend his home monitor.
Paul is motivated to use old technology in a useful way.
Discussion and challenges included:
Is it safe, i.e. the exposed wires might be a problem
Will you add things for the aesthetics of the product?
Will the aesthetics also include the keyboard or tower?
Idea 2: Cherill Hopkins Helmet Cover
As detailed in my blogs I presented the work we have completed for the helmet cover, it's purpose, design ideas and the experts we have spoken to.
Discussion and challenges included:
How much does it cost?
Will the helmet still look like a helmet so the police don't pull you over for not wearing a helmet.
Idea 3: Queenie presents Little Brownie, Little Trip
A 10 spread children's book featuring the adventures of the little brown bear.
Discussion and challenges included:
What age is the book for?
It would be a good idea to trial the story line with children and parents, maybe at the City Library kids story time
Will printing be a problem?
Maybe Journey would be a better word than trip
Research:
Looking at assumptions and challenges for our helmet cover:
Assumptions:
People need somewhere to carry items like an MP3 player and cash
People would be willing to pay for a cover
People would like to colour co-ordinate their helmet to their outfit
People would like to change the look of their helmet without buying another helmet
Teams need a cover to distinguish them
People would be happy to buy a cover instead of a shirt when distinguishing teams
People would be happy for a small surface area of promotion, i.e. helmet cover instead of a t-shirt
Challenge:
The helmet cover needs to cost substantial less than a new helmet.
Helmet covers need to be visually appealing - show how ugly some are, how it's the one thing you are wearing that is out of place
Need to show how an MP3 player in your pocket is a problem
Show how a team, even with an event shirt on still needs to be recognisable as a team
Shirts come in different sizes are harder to transport because of bulk, harder to be re-used .. a helmet cover is one size fits all, can easily carry for distribution
the helmet cover address so many problems, a video for each might be appropriate
Here is someone with the same bright idea but they have added it to a cap. The video might provide some inspiration for the videos we would like to add to our web site for the helmet cover.
This week we reviewed the 2D Designs of the students in the class, we then discussed Design Exploration and Design Challenges.
Task 1: Experimentation: Exploring and Challenging
Work by Keiran Ryan
We firstly looked at two pieces of work by Keiran Ryan, a sketch and a digital drawing. The digital drawn was more developed so we decided to critic it.
Design Exploration: (We're asking, "Did they explore all the options?")
Keiran used photoshop for his creation, except for the rainbow which was created in Illustrator to achieve the smooth lines. Keiran used the brushes available in photoshop, they seem to copy the original character well, it would be interesting to see the difference with original brushes. Keiran chose his colours from the original character, here he could use, for example, Kuler to look at different colour options.
It was difficult to find areas the Kieran could explore as it seems that the character is well researched.
Design Challenge: (We're asking "can you see something that might be a problem?")
Keiran enjoys drawing other people work, a challenge might be finding the inspiration and originality to draw his own.
Original brush work and colour selection might also be a challenge.
Work by me
As a second option we reviewed my pop art presentation of the fish.
by Cherill Hopkins
Design Exploration: (We're asking, "Did they explore all the options?")
Here I used Illustrator to live trace an original photo before applying original pattern and re-sizing the patterns for greater colour effect.
Further colour exploration could be used here to better define the fish, it's too blue.
Design Challenge: (We're asking "can you see something that might be a problem?")
The picture is too blue, it makes it difficult to see the fish so the challenge is to define the picture clearly when using pattern. The picture is appropriate as a background, however if it were to be used as a piece of art it would need a focal point. The challenge here is to start with an interesting photo and ensure the focal point is well defined.
Task 2: Design Exploration
My favourite design concept is how a persons house, or more specifically what's in their home, defines them. Here I explored this with a 2D design representing a house with (illustrated) photos of collectables, it is a contemporary shadow box.
People like to represent themselves on the internet in social media, this is one picture, I wonder how this compares to the picture of their home that I think also defines a person. For example, your Facebook page might show you as a fun outgoing, adventurous person, your home might show you as a homebody looking for the quieter life.
If you ask a person to show you their 10 favourite items, items that reflect what their life is about, these items would give you a snap shot of that person, what is important to them, who they are. I wonder if you had these snap shots and a gallery of photos, would people be able to match them? Maybe you could have a snap shot of their Facebook page, or blog page or just a photo of them to match.
Two Experiments
Option 1: When researching web designs I found the designs of Willy Bravenec R001, of all the students on this site I chose Willy because he looks like a real person with a story to tell. I try not to be too "girly" in my views and depiction of the world so I thought he would have something to inspire me.
To my surprise, filed in his "Event Posters" was my concept displayed without the shadow box ... a much simpler design to draw your attention to the items rather that what holds them. These posters were used to advertise an event, a book club social gathering.
Option 2: A second option for this concept would be my original idea of representing items in a conceptual house and then compare or match items with a photo of the person. This process would encourage people to discuss what they see, challenge their ideas of what they think people are about.
Pros & Cons
Option 1
Pros: Clear representation of items
Cons: The story ends once you have looked at the design
Option 2
Pros: The design becomes interactive, fun, thought provoking as you think of what times might represent you.
Cons: It might be too busy with the house concept, maybe a combination of both options would be better.
Choosing & Refusing
I think a combination of both designs, using the simplicity in the presentation of option 1 with the added photo of option 2.
Research on 2D Design
There are three colour options I would like to consider, using Kuler (R002) I can demonstrate them.
Kuler colour selection "water"
Option 1: I chose "Water"as it is a neutral calming colour, and like life it changes constantly.
Kuler colour selection "Pacific Beach"
Option 2: I chose "Pacific Beach" for its neutral tones appropriate to both males and females. The addition of earthy tones will also represent the vulnerability that each person will be expressing by sharing their personal information.
Kuler colour selection of "30's Package Design"
Option 3: As an expression of the style I like, retro, 1950's I also chose this colour combination.
Now that I have limited my selection I tend towards the "Pacific Beach" option because the dominant colour is neutral, the colours also support the 1950's style I like. I'll trial this colour palette in a draft of my 2D Design.
I also need to decide on a size, for assistance I googled this info and found a great summary of poster sizes. http://www.uprinting.com/standard-poster-size.html
I decided to use the 18 x 24 in as this is commonly used in shops and for music bands, artists and celebrate posters. The photo size will be the standard 4x6 for ease of printing. So the result will look more like this ....
This week we reviewed the 3D eco-friendly transport designs of the students in class, we then discussed Design Exploration and Design Challenges. Following this activity we researched our 3D designs.
Task 1: Experimentation: Exploring & Challenging
Work by Jacob East
Jacob created the concept of a hover skateboard powered by the wind.
Design Exploration:
The concept was good but needed further research and development to flesh out the concept drawing and operation.
Design Challenges:
No wind, no go is a challenge with the design. Also the fans used to hover the skateboard will need to vary in power depending on the weight of the person, as this is so different across a community it might be a challenge to make a one size fits all hover-board. With a fan blowing beneath you as you hover there might also be a problem with the amount of dust it creates.
Work by Cherill Hopkins
I created the "Swing Move," a large wheel using kinetic energy to move forward.
Design Exploration:
The first few options were not developed as they were not going to work or were too similar to current transport systems. The third design as detailed above is a conceptual design with limited exploration.
Design Challenges:
The problems with this system revolve around its function, how is speed controlled, how do you stop, how do you turn and is it easy to store?
Task 2: Design Exploration
My favourite concept for 3D Design is the helmet cover used to cover bicycle helmets. The cover can be used for aesthetic purposes or as a form of identification.
Two Experiments:
Option 1: Use lycra as the cover and then print on this.
Option 1
Pros: Fits to the helmet well, water resistant, breathable, stretchable to fit most helmets. Can make one size fit all.
Cons: Maybe difficult to print on. Can you get lycra in different colours? Will the design be clear in colour if the background is black?
Option 2
Pros: Easier for printing? More colour varieties.
Cons: Unless it is a material that fits snuggly to the helmet it ends up looking like a shower cap on your head.. we don't need to make the helmet look worse.
Choosing & Refusing:
I'm certainly keen on the aesthetics of option 1, using lycra as it fits snuggly to the helmet. However, after discovering the polyester/ spandex option I would be keen to explore this for its printability, particularly since if comes in a divers range of colours.
Research
The video below show how to print onto material. The author has tried using polyester blends but they are not receptive to the colours.
