Professional Practice is something I have not ever found difficult to obtain, Writing about it reflectively and critically is something I have!
However this time around I feel I can give a more of “Reflective” commentary( on some elements at least).
Since returning to Uni I have had a number of project in the short few months which have kept me busy.
the 1st being
1 – AVI Buffalo – Gig Poster , the brief was set by a musician friend from Cardiff who also is acting as an agent for work.
The brief couldn’t have been simpler and is one to die for. The Client wanted a gig poster in digital format, to be used and printed over in the Kirby Court Venue in Salt lake city.
The client allowed me full creative control, and before anything really started to develop conversed with my agent and as for artistic direction.
The final piece was used and accepted and appreciated, with a message from the band and venue and all involved.
A job worth doing, learning outcome, improved relationship between client and agent and how to work as a distance designer secondly i took the poster through the screen printing process a method which i had never done before. it made me look at how i should design posters in the future. consider colors, type and weight , inks , papers, size of stock, how it will be displayed , how it will be posted.
2- Recipe Book Cover – AVOW, Wrexham council
The Brief to design and layout a cover for a Recipe book.
This is simple enough i worked with an illustrator who mailed me a bunch of sketches.
My job was to incorporate them onto a book cover which would be presented in Welsh And English.
the initial design process was set about by meetings and discussion with the client. very little sketch work was done to draft the ideas as much of this was discussed and quickly brainstormed n the meeting. the concept was decided unanimously there and then.
the next stage was to edit the illustrations in Photoshop and then transfer them to illustrator to neaten them up.
i sent the first mocked up layout to be approved , once approved i added the translated copy to the cover along with logos.
often these case there becomes a logo war , which can hold a process up . usually yu will inevitably get told that a logo should be bigger than it should or moved even at the expense of the art work or layout. this can go with text too. however the log war was the only on i have experienced in this instance.
in addition to the cover i was asked to edit and resize all of the images which would be included in the book. a lot of time the images were poor quality and different cameras were used. with little or resources or time to change that fact i made the best of the solution by doing exactly what was needed.
so the client ended up happy, i needed up relieved as one more PP was completed, the client received print ready files which they have taken responsibility for printing and distribution.
3 – XMAS ELVES – AVOW
The task to illustrate xmas elves to be used in a community road safety publication.
I was presented the description of the publication and asked to illustrate highlighted points, again alot of the decisions were made in the meeting as to the look and feel of the characters, with a very tight deadline it was the best way to work on a quick decision-making process.. firstly i drew one character in situ for approval and once approved produced a whole series for desired publication.
the characters were hand drawn scanned neatend in Photoshop then passed though illustrator to tighten up.
communication was somewhat sketchy with the client as once the project was handed in not even a thank-you or a follow-up on any feedback from the publications readers. it feels as though it has just been given over to thin air.
on positive the brief was fun and got me hand drawing agin and that is a good thing. also in addition one of the illustrations was picked up by our very Dave Kelly and used online to promote his app for Print Proof.
Used to help promote Print Proof
4 – SHAKE N STIR Online Music magazine.
On recently doing gig poster for Big Country
i was approached by radio DJ and critic from the online magazine Shakenstir to start work on 3 briefs.
1- redesign his on-line magazine
2- design a monthly printed magazine for a local record company
3 – produce promotional literature to used for a world-renowned touring artist
2 and 3 and further down line but firstly i have been to asked change the aesethic of the online magazine.
the client in his own words has asked me to analogue his digital presence, a fan of music fanzines this was the angle we talked about and have decided to develop.
in the first instance i set about mocking up some ideas. not to be perfect but to give the feel and see how it fits and then we can move forward.
i specifically don’t want to work 100% digitally for this project, the computer will be utilised in order to convert the analogue to digital but with each agreed issue i want to physically produce an edition.
the theme of fanzine is the one we are most pursuing and below is a bunch of mock ups and a screenshot of the test page.
the first 3 were quick Photoshop mockups, below is the cover tightened up.
try to image the final cover being physically made out of paper , tape and glue etc.
Above is the Cover which is so far favorite:)
My Client has set this onto his website to get used to how it work, interestingly my client preferred my first idea.
i look forward to developing this work and seeing where it takes me as this something i wish to pursue in my own career development.
more to follow
