OUGD603 - Peter and Paul Interior space design competition Fountain research

In this research post, I have just been looking at lots of different images as reference for illustrating our own italian style stone fountain:

http://www.faccents.com/gallery/item859.JPG

This image has been good reference for our shell-like fountain shelf mainly for the shadowing.

http://www.waterfountainpros.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/t/italian_3-tier_garden_fountain_with_basin-1.jpg

This one is better because its not as natural in shape and more man-made looking, which we want ours to be as we want it to look as if it is made of stone. This image is good reference as we can see how the water cascades over the edge, a detail that will most probably be added in Photoshop once the vector artwork is completed in Illustrator.

http://www.waterfeaturesupply.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/Andalusia.jpg

This one was looked at for the edging around the top - this shape actually was inspiring more of the tiles around the edge than the fountain itself. 

Again, looking at water cascading.

http://blogs.iesabroad.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/viva-la-roma-9-067.jpg

This one was of interest because of the aging around the actual basin, inspiring more texture etc.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/69/69/d5/6969d5e3e1124c01819d252fe08f06e9.jpg

This image was more for answering questions about the bowl itself and how it would stand up about the colour etc.

http://www.photoree.com/image_cache/10/13/37/69/10133769_8314_m.jpg

Looking at different examples of aging and stonework.

http://img1.wfrcdn.com/lf/50/hash/29317/11443560/1/The%2BSicily%2BResin%2Band%2BFiberglass%2BSculpture%2BFountain.jpg

This was simply to look at colour and texture of stone.

http://api.ning.com/files/NqkuYxlxVg02ozeXJQyGdyBJZEz4Lq8Vh-xf1kKmfu1-Qn4G96MBWj3TmNHiMvy3Ht-CYA3JvBjsZndFuK-*O*pjbUxSVis0/photo7.JPG

This is the closest inspiration for our tiles and how to make them realistic.

OUGD603 - Peter and Paul Interior space design competition brief

I'm really excited for this brief, and immediately jumped at the chance to design a functional interior space/ mural for a couple of the blank walls surrounding the Graphic Design area of the college.

Me and Roxie Blackham decided to work together, as we both like crazy creative briefs with little structure/ rules. We could really have fun with this! 

Our first idea for the wall featuring the 'eyesore' water fountain, was to decorate the water fountain itself, making it look more appealing. 

After a few mindmaps, we came up with the intriguing idea of turning it into a renaissance style water wall fountain like these below: 

It would be rather an amusing way to cover up the industrial style of the water fountain.

Developing this Renaissance/ Italian theme, we thought of ways we could fill the rest of the wall. We thought of the idea of vines/ ivy growing up the wall. Then Roxie suggest we develop the vines to look like lettering - 'welcome to graphic design', perhaps? 

So we started to experiment with hand written type and lettering - it took us a while to shake off the rigidness and structure we were used to drawing with type.

Messily trying out different ways to use the brush pen, and trying to establish a freehand type style that it's fluidity would reflect a vine growing.

This is the initial messy sketch I came up with, after coming to terms with how to use the brush pen we acquired.

Further experimentation

Roxxie traced over and re-established some of the messier parts, giving it more structure.

Here are my experiments with drawing grapevines and leaves, with another accompanying sketch of the fountain.

I then re-worked 'design' because some of the letters were looking a little awkward, and started to picture the whole thing coming together.

Details on our final initial sketch for the night.

Our initial idea for the 3rd year studio is zoo-like annotation, with humorous examples like 'do not tap on the glass'. We need further development for these ideas, but they're coming along nicely. 

The only problem we see so far is the issue of the two pieces being uncoordinated, yet so well suited to the spaces we've allocated them to. We could coordinate them in colour schemes etc but perhaps further development is needed.

D.S.M. - first critique - 'Library'

Today we had our first critique for DSM - the topic for my group was to do something more for a Library. 

In preparation for the crit I brought along a couple of mind maps and a mood board, to try and explore the subject without investigating a particular Library because the final outcome can be fictional. 

Exploring current problems and connotations with libraries

Exploring different ideas on how to resolve these problems

The idea of reinventing a library as a concept is really difficult, but nonetheless enjoyable, since there are a lot of connotations and opinions around library spaces to explore.

I found that a lot of problems with public libraries today is that they feel very clinical, council-funded and uncomfortable. They lack colours and inspiration and fail to attract large audiences, especially since reading material is now so readily available online. 

The main ideas I had were that the Library is an archive of different accounts, like time capsules. They hold information suspended in a place in time and it's interesting in itself. This idea plays upon the relatable feelings we had to 20 years ago, when we were happy to get 1 email because we celebrated the digital vs now where we're happy to receive one letter because tactility is not in the norm anymore.

Another idea I had was another angle to the tactility of books in the unusual idea that they 'smell' - they're real and can be held. They're full of texture and there's always something pleasurable about not having to charge them, they're always there for you when your phone runs out of battery.

These two ideas could be merged together as they both celebrate tactility.

When I presented my ideas to the group, DSM were very welcoming and positive, and encouraged me to choose 1 to take further. I was really inspired by my group, who also had an array of different ideas such as holding events in a library, serving food, putting on gigs and exhibitions, library vending machines and zine archives.

The crit re instated that the brief is completely open to interpretation and the ideas can go beyond just branding and marketing, but the way we conduct business in libraries, or even if they should be called libraries at all! They inspired me for yet another idea: a bus stop library. You could check out a book at the stop, read it at the stop or on the bus, and return it to the next stop. This could also be applied to train travel, air travel etc.

DSM explained that our next and final critique is 8th December, where we will be showing our finished concepts. They would also like a PDF emailing to go with the presentation.

OUGD603 - Boudin's Bakery San Francisco Fictional re-brand - Further research - content

I get the impression just from looking into the Boudin Bakery is that it is a well established FAMILY business amongst the mixing pot of people and cultures in San Francisco over many many years. The Boudin Bakery has survived through both the world wars, through Vietnam war through the cultural rivalries of San Francisco, several earthquakes and has been held together with a whole lotta love. 

So, my interpretation of the graphics I shall produce for this will be to show the different people and cultures of San Francisco and over time, too. 

I think a good way to show this is by taking thoughts/ reviews of real people about Boudin's Bakery to add a more personal touch and a thanks to the people that keep Boudin's on the map every day.

Trip Advisor:

Yelp:

OUGD603 - Boudin's Bakery San Francisco Fictional re-brand - Aesthetic Research

To celebrate San Francisco's quirky past, I would like to incorporate lots of different styles into my final designs for this brief. 

What I really love about this design is the set colour scheme and strong style. It particularly caught my eye because it didn't depend on one piece of imagery or icon but multiple images to create the identity, which I feel like my design will be, too. I really like the style, it's quirky and playful because of it's minimal detail and block colours.

This design is a lot more 'fussy' than the last and arguably not-so-contemporary but I really like the colour scheme used and the application of the same design across a range of different products.

This design is great because even though the patterns and shapes are all completely different, they are all united by the colour scheme: monochrome. I think eliminating my colour scheme down to 2 or 3 colours maximum then it will make my design look overall more contemporary. I could use the black and yellow mentioned on the Golden Gate bridge website?

What I think is great about this is the serious historically accurate type and colour scheme combined with the playful language and imagery.

The similarity between the shapes in the main typeface and the shapes found in the pattern help to tie this project design all together. I actually really love the vibrancy in these designs and they prove that monochrome isn't necessarily the answer.

combining patterns and imagery in the same colours doesn't look too overbearing.

I keep being attracted to designs that look a little more historical. I feel like this is a good route to go down to reflect on San Francisco's colourful history.

I really love the collage- style of this design and the mish-mash of all the different elements.

I really love the quirkiness of these food illustrations with their forced perspective and different textures. Is photography or illustration the better way to go for the packaging? What will suit a controlled colour scheme best?