The Year's Project

Amongst other projects i am working on this year, i am planning to re work some personal branding and my online portfolio site. Created last year, the site never went live, nor did it get finished... :/

I guess that i just wasn't completely happy and therefore motivated to complete it.

Now, in my final year of my course, i have chosen the topic of employability in the graphic design industry as a research project. This has inspired me to work heavily on improving my portfolio through live and industry based briefs and enhance my online presence as well as self promotion, all in aim to enhance my own credibility, confidence and employability in an increasingly difficult industry and recession induced society. This was informed through research findings that will help write my final evaluation aka DISSERTATION (insert gasp) on what i have chosen to do practically, and why.

As previously blogged, one of these projects includes the anti fur poster design campaign, as i identified and evaluated what was missing in my portfolio. This brief not only includes a live competition brief but a chance to include photography as the best solution. What i will also look to do is some more corporate identity work - the kind of work i would realistically do in a local agency - for local businesses - law firms, solicitors, hairdressers,sandwich shops and the like. As my former tutor explained - my portfolio already shows a level of creative ability but i guess it lacks the realistic and dare i say it, more 'boring' daily and professional work required by REAL clients. This kind of work will help a prospective employer identify how i will fit into their own business by the type of work they are familiar in viewing.

Anyway!! I believe that being as well informed and knowledgeable in my industry will stand me in better steed and show me tae responsibility for my future in a mature and credible manner.

Now that i have explained the aim and content of my next few months, work and developments will follow!

New Starbucks Logo

So Starbucks have unveiled a new logo... whoop-dee-doo!

So big that they needn't write their name on it.

Created by Starbucks in house design team Lippincott.

Design against fur 2011

So i didn't get the chance to work on this last year so i thought i'd give it a go this year. Not only will it give me the opportunity on working on a live competition brief but also allow me to work with another discipline and as part of a team effort. Photography is something that is lacking in my portfolio so Im utilising this brief in that direction. Not only for this reason but also i think that a topic that is so important and should be highlighted more in my opinion, needs some strong effective imagery to get the message across.

Despite protests and countless campaigns, there is no stopping the use of animal fur for fashion and other unnecessary means. What's even more sinister is that there is actually NO 'eco-friendly' or humane processes to this cruelty and torture. The passion that people have for the awareness of fur factories, fur farms and the means in which HUMANS will go about sourcing fur , and what it entails, is astonishing. Type into google ' anti fur campaigns' and , amongst some highly disturbing images, there are countless poster designs and campaigns, brilliantly executed, that have already been thought of.

It creates a bigger challenge for me to now come up with something original and appealing and it fuels my arisen interest in seriously connecting with other people, who may not know as much about the topic, how truly horrific and hideous it all is.

THERE ARE NO ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS IN CHINA!!

Last year's OVERALL winner -

Click on the title of the post to find out more infurmation on design against fur..

typography in advertising

These are some cool examples i've found in the use of typography. I think as time goes on and i develop as a designer, i have realised my admiration for typography and the use of it as or with imagery. Maybe , i dont use it solely because i like it, but i definitley have an interest in it and i'm sure it has shaped the way that i work or am inspired.

These examples are promoted by the clients that use them, including amazon, Hsbc etc...

Ammo Magazine

I discovered this little quarterly magazine in a gallery in Edinburgh...

An A6, landscape mag jam packed with brilliant and varied illustrations. What i like about this magazine is that everything you want to see and read is in there ...and nothing else! No crappy ads,no ridiculous,exaggerated layouts..just clean, vibrant,well designed and well presented...easy to follow and view the important info. A good resource for any aspiring designer as it interviews some chosen designers at different stages in their careers.I have just bought issue 1 so look forward to issue 2!