Visual Representation of Myself as a Brand

67% of emails are spam, if your'e unknown to somebody your email is more than likely to end up in spam. If they originally don't reply it may be an idea to inject some humour into you emails along with photographs; it's still worth a try.

If you telephone people, write a list of around four things you want to discuss.
To write a letter is the most personal and shows great interest. It also makes you check what you've written, in the way that as you write, after you write and seal the envelope we reread; unlike the instant typing of an email.

Zines and books (half filled that say: I/ we can fill in more if we work together)
Business cards: best websites Vistaprint and Moo, consider consistency with cards, letterheads etc.
It can even be on more obscure objects, like balloons, coffee cups or interactive business cards.

If a company is close by, 'rock up' and see if you can the information you need or want, prepare before you do this with what you want to discuss and bring along a business card.

Over Christmas try out producing a business card(s), try let it communicate who you are.

Interview with Aaron Draplin

Guest Speaker- Brand Nu

"Design isn't finished until someone's using it"

- Understand who you're designing for otherwise you're designing for yourself.
- Create fewer pieces with more meaning

Radim Manilic the speaker then showed us an Alan Partridge clip, he said that the first time he watched it he thought it was mildly amusing, he went away and thought about an amusing quote Alan had said and felt like he had to rewatch the episode to appreciate it fully, purely because there is so many episodes and variations of the Alan Partridge show. Sometimes less is more.

He went onto to write this, the 'Book of Ideas' over a few years. It took him four months to compile all the notes he'd written on his phone whilst commuting on the tube, sitting in cafe's and so on. It's proof also that self publishing is often the best approach as it's much faster and you can publish exactly what you want, how you'd like it to be done.

I was inspired by this and decided to, as Radim suggested, search through my hard drive find the 'rubbish' and turn it into 'gold'. During my stay in Vietnam and Hong Kong this summer I recorded a number of short clips, they've since become obsolete however I'm now motivated to edit together a short video representative of the time I enjoyed there; making use of the discarded clips.
I asked him a question about this piece and he gave me the key point of researching before you put something out there as he unintentionally initially put out a 'black face' EP artwork without realising that it was this and the implications it could have.

Nest Magazine Submission

For the 10th issue of Nest magazine, the open submissions are to be based around the concept 'focus'. This sparked ideas for me of working, focusing on something detailed and intricate. This reminded me of what I saw last summer when visiting Vietnam, I was fascinated by the level of detail in artwork I saw created by those who had been affected by Orange Agent during the Vietnamese war. American forces dropped Orange Agent bomb which mutilated the Vietnamese citizens, four generations of whom are still being affected with mental and physical defects. In warehouses, these art studios are set up and supported by the government; they also make deals with tours who transport tourists that they must visit these workshops in order to make more money and fund these projects. 

People can also make donations, all money will be given to the workers, this method therefore ensures that despite their disabilities they can still work and earn a living. I bought a jewellery box from this particular workshop just outside Ho Chi Minh city which was hand crafted; as all the pieces made here are. Those sold outside these workshops were fakes, it was clear to tell this as the intricacy of detail on the real pieces was stunning. Materials used include tiny broken shards of egg shell and pearl.

All the photographs included are ones I've taken myself using a film camera, I liked how the other photograph edges were visible behind the first when I took a rough picture so I decided not to crop them out, I feel it gave the image depth with the suggestion this is part of a trip/ story. Focus can also be attributed to the focal point of a camera, the stack of photos suggest I also focused on things in particular which were interesting to me, each individual who visited these workshops will have taken  pictures from different angles depending on what they're focusing on, which will be due to what interests them personally. Using an older film camera as well highlights the link between old fashioned methods, all the artwork created is done so by hand or machines that are made by hand.

The 'a' and 'm' I chose to slightly conceal so as to emphasise how there is much of Vietnam we do not necessarily see. We often have to seek out truths, as often more stereotypically attractive things are shown on advertisements and tourist leaflets in attempts to shy away from the reality of the devastation of the war and the impact it still has to this day.
I furthermore chose Arial Italic as I noted that many billboards that conveyed Communist political messages which were situated all around, focused on a typographical style that stood out, conveyed the message and focused on propaganda purpose. Mirroring this I chose a clean sans serif typeface with a purpose to be factual and formal, due to the nature of the context.

Organising time

Check out- Medium & Great fucking design advice

Trust + Balance + Purpose + Culture + Happiness = The future of work

In todays session we looked at time management, how we can destress by organising our week ahead. Initially we were asked to consider what are our 'Have to do's' and our 'Want to do's'
These were mine:

Over the course of next week I will be adding to the 'I want to' list, in attempt to reconsider my ambitions and dreams, which when written down and taken seriously could be not so out of reach, as I've previously believed.

PPP 2nd session

Graphic design is a constantly changing area; you can create an image digitally, by hand even working in the third dimension using 3-D printers, lazer cutting or sculpture and so on.
There's a shift into how me engage with design with variations of screen based layouts.

In theory PPP is:
The exploration of assumptions concerning personal learning investigative strategies, and the management of self learning through tasks and research.
Using effective strategies to facilitate personal and professional development through critical enquiry and problem solving.
Demonstrates and evaluates growth area (through your blog)

Anything that inspires you, things you watch, see and hear should be added to this blog and even more important those who inspire you you should contact, ask questions and develop your understanding.

Don't add countless images, but explain WHY you see this to be relevant to your interests.

Task to complete for next session:

1. Identify and explain 5 reasons why you chose to study Graphic Design at LCA?
2. The 5 things you want to learn on this course
3. 5 skills that you would identify as your strengths as of now
4. 5 things you want to improve on as a designer
5. 5 methods you can use to evaluate/ document your progress- consider social media, zines..
6. 5 things YOU would like an answer to
7. 5 things that inspire you
8. 10 examples of designs that illustrate and have meaning to you


A brand identity needs to be created for yourself in order for you to stand out from the crowd. In essence we are a product; consider:

product
range- range of services you offer
distribution- methods and platforms you consider correct to communicate your work

Printed and digital methods should be considered.

Task up until March
Prepare an identity/ brand for yourself, that will suit your current approach of work, consider all forms of range and distribution
A brand or identity can be ANYTHING you feel appropriate so don't restrict yourself.


WHO AM I, WHO DO YOU SEE? 
Task- write what we perceive about other members of our group so each person can build up an idea of an identity, as seen through other people's eyes.

The Whitney Museum's 'Responsive W' by Experimental Jetset

The Whitney Museum's 'Responsive W' by Experimental Jetset

May 2013

For each poster curated by the Whitney Museum, we see the letterform 'W' constantly morphing and adapting itself to wrap around the rest of the poster's contents. This gave me inspiration as regardless of the content of the poster the W is always larger than all other typography and follows a grid pattern put in place in the negative space of the poster's contents.

The designers Experimental Jetset created this 'Responsive W' image to emphasise the ever changing nature of the museum itself, creating a new graphic identity. This will be ever changing and respond differently for every single poster giving each event even a slight separate identity.

Similarly to this; I'd like to create a logo for my brief that incorporates some form of grid system and is able to adapt itself however by not changing it every time to fit each background. Therefore by using a grid system I can ensure that with each background found on my website pages, the logo will remain visible and look aesthetically fitting. I therefore don't want to overcomplicate the logo, much like the Experimental Jetset's have achieved synchronicity with a very simplistic design, just using four drawn lines. Looking also at the Golden Ratio, I began to think that my logo should be in keeping with some kind of geometric pattern matching also with the font, a modern typeface thats sans serif and geometric.

PPP- Personal and professional practice 

Penny Lee

• Regular training/ build relationship 
• Don’t be intimidated by companies that appear big, could easily be one person in their bedroom
• take chances, be curious  

John Walters

The Idea- "The medium or technology used to deliver it will change and demand new skills. but the initial concept and context remains the basis of the best creative outcome". 

Aims of ppp module

-support personal interest with programme specific creative practices by introducing appropriate principle, processes and resources

-develop critical and reflective approaches

-identify and develop areas of individual creative interest through practical investigation 

develop individual communication skills though programme specific practical and contextual research 

• reference can be made to any work previously made also as long as it has relevance
• thick skin, compromising, learn not to take personal offence