Friday, 25 May 2012

OUGD203// Self- initiated brief: Peace One Day Research..

Continuing research into Peace One Day//

This video is another from the Peace One Day website showing the launch of the student activation programme to encourage the younger generation to get involved with Peace One Day. NUS leaders from around the world spoke out about how they will make it their mission to encourage engagement in the Peace One Day campaign.



Watching this video has helped me to start defining a more specific target audience. I know that Peace One Day wants to engage with the world, but as mentioned in this video they are wanting to get the younger generation involved so that the idea will evolve as the generation evolves.

This will also be a good place to start as I am a student and will know which methods of deliverables will best suite and engage with my generation. I think it is best that I define my target audience now so that I can focus my research which will allow me to produce more suitable deliverables at the end of the brief.

I have created a survey using SurveyMonkey to send out to people my age, this has been sent out via Facebook, which will hopefully return lots of responses. The questions that I asked were:

- Have you heard of Peace One Day?
- What does the word peace mean to you?
- How would you make peace in the world?

Although there arent many questions I feel that I have given people the opportunity to give a more personal response and it also means I can gain an understanding of what peace means to people.

On the Peace One Day website they have downloadable student kits to help students start their own campaigns to tell the world about Peace Day.



These posters are PDF downloads that can be taken from the website and then printed out and placed around where ever the student wants. The posters get the message across but I feel they could look more engaging and maybe emphasize how Peace One Day wants students take the roll and make a difference, rather than just stating its an important day. 



 These posters are word documents and look plain and are not engaging. There isnt any colour and possibly too much writing. This is where I think it would be a good idea for me to create a small booklet or guide to help explain what Peace Day is rather than trying to shove loads of information onto a poster.



This kit that has been made available reminded me of the campaign earlier this year, Kony 2012. The Kony campaign's purpose was to get everyone in the whole world to spread a message and to help capture Kony, an African mass murderer.

The campaign did turn out to be a fraud and the event called 'cover the night' never went ahead. But I do think that I will be able to use methods similar to theirs to help my project. The 'cover the night' event was to happen over night on the 20th April this year, where people across the world would cover the streets with Kony campaign posters to spread the word. The posters could be bought in packs along with t-shirts, stickers, flyers and bracelets. 




These could all be purchased from the Kony website (the money made was actually not put towards the campaign, as it was all a big scam).



Thursday, 3 May 2012

OUGD203// Self- initiated brief: Initial Research..

This post will be the first of many where I will be researching and exploring designs, concepts and ideas that will not only help me build on the knowledge of my self- initiated brief but will also explore new approaches to design, inspire me and my own ideas and concept building and give me a fuller understanding of what I need to achieve to successfully fulfill my self written brief.

The list of things that I shall be researching throughout this brief can be found on my Design Practice Blog, the list will evolve and expand as I find new areas to explore.

The first thing that I will be researching is the subject of my brief which is Peace Day.



This 5 minute video is from the Peace One Day website, it gives an insight into what Peace Day is and how it began and slowly evolving into something spectacular.

The video explains the journey of Peace One Day and how they have reached out to world leaders and people of high power to help this day happen. It hasnt been running for long but it already has had a huge impact on the world. Last year on September the 21st, 70% of the worlds violence had decreased due to Peace One Day, even the Taliban in Afghanistan ceased fire.

It goes to show that if we as humans unite together then we can achieve amazing things. Yes, it may not solve the violence in the world fullstop, but the fact that they can get the world involved is truly incredible.

What they are trying to do is make Peace One Day an annual calendar event, so that for at least one day a year the world will unite and there will be Peace.


It started with a crazy idea

'Over the last 10 years, Peace Day has been proved as an opportunity for life-saving activities and action by individuals worldwide. For Peace Day 21 September 2012, Peace One Day is calling for and working towards a day of ceasefire and non-violence - the Global Truce 2012 campaign. We hope that this will be the largest global reduction of violence ever recorded on one day – and the largest ever gathering of individuals in the name of peace.' (peaceoneday.org)

How it started
'Jeremy Gilley is an actor turned filmmaker, who in the late 1990s became preoccupied with questions about the fundamental nature of humanity and the issue of peace.
He decided to explore these through the medium of film, and specifically, to create a documentary following his campaign to establish an annual day of ceasefire and non-violence.

In 1999, Jeremy founded Peace One Day, a non-profit organisation, and in 2001 Peace One Day’s efforts were rewarded when the member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the first ever day of global ceasefire and non-violence on 21 September annually – Peace Day.

With the day in place, Peace One Day is working to institutionalise Peace Day, making it a day that is self-sustaining, an annual day of global unity, a day of intercultural cooperation on a scale that humanity has never known.

Peace Day has already been proven as a window for life-saving activities; in 2007, Gilley and Peace One Day ambassador Jude Law travelled to Afghanistan to spearhead an initiative that has resulted in the vaccination against polio of 4.5 million children following Peace Day agreements by all parties in the region in 2007/8/9. This work forms the culmination of Gilley’s feature documentary The Day After Peace.' (peaceoneday.org)

Sponsors//

- Dior
- Coca Cola
- British Airways
- Skype
- The Execution Chantable Trust
- Innocent
- Ocado
- Google
- Lotus F1 Team

Patrons
President of Peace One Day Patrons
Steve Bolton– Founder Platinum Property Partners


And with help from our generous patrons:

- Andrew Priestley– Business Coach
- Ash Zuberi– Property Consultant
- BJ Cunningham - Serial Entrepreneur
- Cathy Colston – Property Investor
- Christopher Wright– Insurance Consultant
- Costas Polycarpou– Facilities Management Services Provider
- Daniel Coe – Investor & Treasurer for Peace One Day Insights
- Daniel Priestley– Speaker Events
- Eddie Yu– Author & Internet Entrepreneur
- Emma Carter– Executive Creative Partner
- Gerard Scannell - Property Investor
- Graham Moates – Professional Coach & Mentor for Personal - Development
- Joanna Tall– Legal Advisor
- Kathy Davies – Procurement Consultant
- Kylie Gutry
- Lazo Freeman– UK’s #1 Personal Trainer
- Monika Slowikowska– Building Contractor
- Nicholas Charles– Accountant & Tax Advisor
- Nick Finegold– Investment Banker
- Nick Haines– Health, Wealth & Wellbeing Consultant
- Richard Reed– Founder, Innocent Drinks
- Simon Dixon - CEO Benedix & BankToTheFuture.com
- Simon Woodroffe OBE– Founder YO!Sushi, YO!Tel, BBC - Dragon
- Wayne Davies - Founder of TheatreTickets.net and SEO Specialist

(peaceoneday.org)

Thursday, 12 April 2012

Image Brief Three// Scale/ Frame/ Format..

For this brief we were asked to create an eye test using an object to replace the standard letters. The objects were chosen at random, of which I was given a Rubix Cube. This set me a challenge as the A2 poster we were being asked to produce was only allowed to use 2 colours 9one of which would be the stock). This meant that I would have to use tones of one colour to be able to communicate that my object is a Rubix Cube.

I have been looking at different types of eye tests to help me understand how simple or complex an eye test can be. I have also looked at traditional and non- traditional eye tests to see how they compare and what works best when it comes to communication.


A Snellen chart is an eye chart used by eye care professionals and others to measure visual acuity. Snellen charts are named after the Dutch ophthalmologist Herman Snellen who developed the chart during 1862. Vision scientists now use a variation of this chart, designed by Ian Bailey and Jan Lovie.

The traditional Snellen chart is printed with eleven lines of block letters. The first line consists of one very large letter, which may be one of several letters, for example E, H, or N. Subsequent rows have increasing numbers of letters that decrease in size. A person taking the test covers one eye, and reads aloud the letters of each row, beginning at the top. The smallest row that can be read accurately indicates the visual acuity in that eye.
The symbols on an acuity chart are formally known as "optotypes". In the case of the traditional Snellen chart, the optotypes have the appearance of block letters, and are intended to be seen and read as letters. They are not, however, letters from any ordinary typographer's font. They have a particular, simple geometry in which:
  • the thickness of the lines equals the thickness of the white spaces between lines and the thickness of the gap in the letter "C"
  • the height and width of the optotype (letter) is five times the thickness of the line.
Information found on Wikipedia.com







http://www.hillsidemedical.co.uk/Files/Shop/Product/L/3449/ShopProductImg_PICT2417.jpg

This is an example of a traditional eye test which are known as snellen charts.



http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_514/1277169481IqCKR1.jpg

This is similar to the one above apart from it is a bit more detailed.



http://www.semiquestion.com/shirts/designs/600x600/animal-eye-chart.gif

This is an example of the sort of thing I am required to do. The designer has used animals as their object using simple vector illustrations. Even when they get smaller it is still clear what they are.



http://llwproductions.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/funny-picture-5-doggie-eye-chart.jpg?w=680

This is again another example of using objects for an eye test. I will only be using one object rather than a series which in a way makes it simpler for me. I will just have to find a way of communicating a Rubix Cube without all of its colours because of the restrictions of the brief. The only thing I see wrong with this eye chart is that I cant see the smallest row.



http://photos.imageevent.com/motorbiker/newspics4/Utah-Highway-Safety-Eye-Chart.jpg

This is a good example because the same/ similar object has been used throughout the whole eye chart, which does mean that it makes it easier for the target audience to see what the object is because they have seen it at a larger scale. Another thing that I have noticed about this chart is the format, it has been laid out differently to the one above, which means this gives me another aspect to think about when creating my Rubix Cube eye chart.



http://skinnylaminx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/glasses.jpg

I really like this eye chart because it has been done using a hand rendered method of paper crafting. It makes it different from just using a computer. I also think it works well because they have used near enough the same pair of glasses, so it communicates well.



http://blog.dwr.com/.a/6a00d8345173e769e20147e17bbee0970b-450wi

One thing that I think works really well about this how they used just black for the chairs but used tonal values to make it easier to understand. The problem that I see with this chart is that there is lots going on which becomes a bit confusing as the pictures get smaller, as there are several different types of chair.



http://www.moderncat.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CatEyeChart.jpg

This chart is a little complex and confusing as theres a lot going on but the imagery is very clear and understandable. They have kept a visual consitency and repeated the imagery in a different order on each line of the eye chart.

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Image Brief Two// Type as image..

For the second studio brief for Image we had to create 3 A1 quotes using type as image. I have been looking at some examples of type as image. Type as image can be interpreted in a couple of ways. The type can make the image or the type is combined with image. Below are a few examples of both. I think that type as image is using type in an unconventional and traditional way, you are bending the rules of typography.



http://www.designcrash.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/white_hand_type_by_drybones90.jpg

This example is really simple, they have used the words of the body parts to make the body parts. This is an example of type as image where the type makes the image.



http://c0170361.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/205473_83095_8591d6fe1f_p.jpg

I really like this piece as it uses the shapes of the sky through buildings to create letters. Its very clever and effective. This is an example of how an image makes the type.



http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kshzbdJ0VA1qz50oeo1_500.jpg

This is a really cool piece of design. The designer has used cubes to create the word cube. This form of type as image is quite literal, using the 'physical object' of the word to create the word. It creates a direct link.



http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/69/b8/type,graphic,design,inspiration,letter,typography-69b8dffb1b4603faa50ee6ed4a91bc36_h.jpg

This piece of type as image doesnt use the same technique as the others. The imagery combined into the type has no immediate relevance to the type, it is being used only for decorative purposes.



http://reineke.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/ishottheserif-tomgabor.jpg?w=420

Sometimes type as image can be used to illustrate a quote or caption. This is a really simple but clever example of this, playing on words of Bob Marleys song 'I shot the sherif'.



http://simoncpage.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/typography-is-everything-9a-634x396.jpg

This is an other example where the image is visually representing the word. The type isnt very clear but you can make out what says and the fact that the imagery is representing the word helps the target audience understand the design.



I really like this design, it is using candy to illustrate the caption. Its very colourful and I like the fact that it has been hand crafted and photographed rather than using digital media.




http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/70775/projects/83203/707751246616752.jpg

I thought this was a really nice piece of design. The letter 'o' has been illustrated using a floral pattern. This is an example of type as image where the type is no longer conventional, it is a piece of imagery.



http://imgs.abduzeedo.com/files/paul0v2/typography-mania/69/tm-05.jpg

I am not entirely sure what this type says but I really like how the designer has used imagery to communicate the type. Its really simple but effective.



http://www.mygeekpal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/milk-typography.jpg

This is probably my favourite piece of type as image of the ones that I have documented because it is so simple but really works. Its very clever even though it is simple. You can read the word but still appreciate the imagery that forms it.



http://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/typography_art_28.jpg

This type as image is for something relating to the movies as the type is made up of a continuous role of film. Its very well composed and original.



http://mameara.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/typography-09.jpg

I love how you know that the smashed object is a light bulb combined with the word 'eureka'.



http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53318/projects/92669/533181210951125.jpg

This is clever how it illustrates what it is saying by having the inked words leak where water has been put on them.



Image Brief One// Editorial Design..

The first brief of the Image module was to design 3 images for 3 different articles. The images had to relate to the context of article and the tone of voice. I have been looking at editorial design that I feel fits the articles context.





https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBkq78hqoz5-0UM2Jrw2I-nOv3cZrH_ZZGG037eUFIhxtX4ME-93MGcpwQ2wEjUQqgHNjfFNYrcktGH0ONRTT_Kt_YDb937TnAWgo-9TGozSNDCBXR_eyuPKzh1s9XJ3gLxn4k9RWcq4/s1600/atlanta+business.jpg

I think that the photographic and illustrative methods used for the imagery in this article work well. It makes it more engaging and more interesting to look at, whether or not the article is dull or interesting.



http://imgs.abduzeedo.com/files/paul0v2/editorial-design/ed-05.jpg

Again this uses a balanced use of photography and illustration. There is more imagery on this article which I think is more appealing to read. When you have too much text sometimes it puts you off reading something. It is also very important to have imagery with an article that relates to it or even tells you what the article is about but using images. This will help the reader understand the article more and also help them to decide if they even want to read it.



http://www.matiekiller.com/files/7612/7190/8663/ceopay1.jpg

The text and imagery for this article are quite separate from one another, you can see they relate due to the title of the article and the imagery used in context.



http://gavfeeney2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/nd-editorial-1.jpg

All of these examples work really well, the imagery used reflects exactly and literally what the articles are about which makes it easier for the target audience to understand and enagage with.



http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles18/342595/projects/1067275/b13ed387c1bd1e50852c04b14892c4b4.jpg

I think the balance between imagery and text across the two pages works really well. The face that is split in half leads you across to the next page. This means that both imagery and text is as important as the other.


http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles2/133822/projects/353527/1338221258995829.jpg

This piece of editorial works well because of the relating images. The article is about retro fashion and that is what the images show. I think it is important to carefully think about what imagery to use with an article because sometimes editorial designers try to be clever with their images and not relate them in literal way to the articles context which can cause confusion or just look crap.



http://artspacetokyo.com/images/ast_2/blog/image_uploads/guardian_article.jpg

This is an article from the Guardian, I think the Guardian take a good approach with the images they use as they have a balanced combination of photography and illustration. Their articles also all have a similar layout to them and the imagery seems to have an overall tone of voice to them.



https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8N0mjS_UB3TqIORESUhgAf91e0Bvsd57bJpXgcjEBnuXDYop7M2sLLFuI2TFfCIYwEIVZezwuSmuN7tvpbyR382cVm2iJf7h05zhSdisXJo9HuQrzaJC7CHLkvKZzieOvL60SPeJqWQts/s1600/GUARDIAN+ARTICLE.jpg

This article is also from the Guardian, I think this one works well because of the way it has been laid out and also how the two articles relate to one another.

Thursday, 22 March 2012

Image// Self initiated brief: Design approach research..

I have started looking into existing design that relates to Ladybirds that I find inspiring and feel would help me to develop initial design ideas.

I am wanting to keep my design approach similar to that of the postcards I submitted to the book fair. I traced images I found on Google images in Illustrator and added a texture. They had a hand drawn feel to them even though they were digital. I think I would like to experiment with simplifying them a bit, as I feel this will be more appropriate to my target audience.






http://www.behance.net/gallery/Ladybirds/3343587



http://www.behance.net/gallery/Street-art-for-kids/463787



http://www.behance.net/gallery/animals-in-ink/658959


http://www.behance.net/gallery/Stripes-Spots/2092928


http://www.behance.net/gallery/Animals/2384154


http://www.behance.net/gallery/Its-a-zoo-out-there/2342422


http://www.sumptuosity.net/acatalog/11m%20ladybird%20ds.jpg


http://www.itsmhars.com/tutesblog/downloads/ladybird-preview.jpg


http://www.inviteme.com.au/tips/mainladybird.jpg


http://www.prezzybox.com/data/media/13395.jpg


http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1111162/13572705/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/bugs1.jpg


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoN6jUee4tR5lk-JjkKq7jwrEA90ERvSDstuUoanYsCMa4eeFtu0mmQ4oBa9Sfa-kfYHGUKlY1U92YA-iPgTjtrFcHyYgaTdRLjn566eYdpXB6IIy19j2HATlJX7YPsHuNFsUjLpxM5ulZ/s400/butterfly+g+23.jpg


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwKG6SSWgfNyZKFtE47MEi0h-BA-J1aQX3yz1D-zCFfprJVycw3cuLaLfoiZiRJgacXBKa7JzoBChthEvHec-WaTDPXXMFWSfgcQRY7ZxH0qF_6CIyu02xpuFZLxv8zfBBIEN5sD29-z-/s640/bughuntcollagebyBNute.jpg

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My illustrations that I did for the Book Fair.