week 11

This week I moved away from logo design and focused on moving back in time and trying to create a vintage 1920s feeling in my designs. I was limiting myself too much with the logo design and I felt that I needed to be able to just play around with other design elements. I created two beginnings of posters, which I plan on adding more to. I was interested in exploring design elements such as swirls, banners and other decorative elements which based off of my research was typical design during that time. As a put these elements together, I started to creative a mood, which to me felt dated and vintage- a feeling that I would really like to have in my designs. In addition, I kept my designs to a limited color palette- so far they are black and gold. Unlike the logos that I had done before, this color choice felt more sophisticated. Finally, I am also starting to get the elegant feel that I have been trying to achieve. I am excited with where my designs have started to go. I cant wait to turn them into a whole promotional poster design which is coming next! 

Designs done this week: 

Work done this week: New poster designs (8 hrs), research in "New Vintage Type" (2 hrs), Created presentation for mid-review (3 hrs). 

This week, worked on more variations of my existing logo designs. These variations were mostly my attempt at trying to portray the vintage, 1920s feel. I hoped to do this by the font choice, color and use of other elements such as framing, borders, and ribbons. Based on my research, these elements were essential in the design work that was done during that time period. I feel that these logos are a close (but far from perfect) reflection of the style that I was aiming for. Color also played a huge role in the design. I am happy with the feeling that I am getting from a few of these logos and feel that I am getting closer to the look and overall feel that I want for my train.

My concern at this point that was raised during the critique on Thursday, was that I am getting too far away from the feeling of up north. Questions were raised such as: what types of words would you use to define up north? What is the font communicating? These questions made me question whether I should be gearing my logo more towards the "feeling of northern michigan", the real essence of up north or sticking to the vintage charm. Can I have both? I would like to.

The biggest thing I got from the critique..my logo should reflect an experience, just like the train.

Goal for next week: get peer critiques...what should stay, what should go. Ask what feelings people get from the existing logos. Also, come up with KEY words for northern michigan and make sure that they are reflected in my design.

Work done this week: Library research and reading (3 hrs), logo work (5 hrs).

Week 10: Logo Continued

This week, I continued to work on my logo. My goal was to try and work with lettering and fonts that were much less delicate than the ones I had worked with last week. However, in many cases I think the logos I designed look far too contemporary and are starting to move away from the style that I would like. The one logo I am still drawn to in this grouping is the one second down in the left hand column, although I am not sure if it is readable as an "N" and an "E". I am happy that I went down this road because now I know that the logos I did last week are much more the style I am looking for. I am still working hard towards a logo that gives off a "special event" feeling.  I will continue to work on logos and plan to bring many more variations to the critique on Thursday to ask opinions from the class. 

The logos designed this week:

In addition to my logo, I will start to sketch ideas for my brochures such as how I want it to be folded and what I want the outside shape to take. I think this will help me to move forward and continue to build an aesthetic for the train. 

Work done this week: Reading (2 hrs), Logo Design (3 hrs), Online invitation research (1 hr), Book research for logo design (1.5 hrs) 

Week 9: Logo

This week I made my first attempt at logos. At this point they are just basic sketches. In my logo designs, I incorporated the hand written "the escape" with other fonts that I felt demonstrated a retro feel. I also played around with using different shapes as borders to the text to mimic a vintage photo frame. My first attempt logos can be seen below: 

I think that I learned a lot from these first designs. First, I realized that while the hand written text I made may be beautiful, it may also be too delicate for a logo and hard to read. In addition, this text looks a little too feminine. As discussed in a mini critique on Thursday, I should remember that the train is a heavy machine too. From this discussion, I have some logo ideas which could remain delicate while having more power than the current designs. I know that my logo needs to stand alone. I am now still wanting to draw my own font but keep it more simple and less delicate. Further, I would still like to work with the framing around the text making it look like a stamp. Lots of trail and error and work a head of me! More logos to come... 

IP work done this week: Read design books (1/2 hr), worked on logo designs (4.5 hrs), Meet with design group and Seth (1/2 hr), discussed work with peers (1 hr) 

Week 8: Text Design

This week I was determined to create an original text. I wanted my text to evoke a feeling in the viewer. It was also important to me that it had a delicate, calm and one-of-a-kind feeling. To create this text, I started by sketching in my sketch book and then scanned the ones that I liked the best. Some of my sketches can be seen below:

After sketching, I worked on creating vector images from the text by using the pen tool to outline the text. The final text can be seen here: 

I am really happy with the way that the text turned out and I am now working on incorporating this text into brochure designs. I am interested in playing around with the format of the text and exploring the different ways I can use it in the brochure design. 

This week, before working on my own text, I played around with another brochure design that played off of the vintage label look. I like the simplicity of it and I am hoping to use the text I have made and work it into a design similar to this one. I also would like to start incorporating some vintage patterns into my designs. I think they would work really well with the text I have made.  

My plan and goals for next week are to continue to work on my brochures by incorporating my new text and exploring color. I would also like to ask the class what they think of the text so far and the name "Escape", which is what I thinking for the name of my train right now. 

IP work done this week: Worked on brochure design (45 min), sketched/worked on text in illustrator (5 hours), read book on Art Deco design (45 min) 

Week 7

This week I started to turn my research into something visual by creating mock up brochure covers. During this process, I explored colors and different texts. The brochures can be seen below:

After this exploration, I determined that I was happiest with the one that did not use a photograph. While I think that scenery and depicting the colors that will be seen from inside the train looking out, I do not think that using a photograph is giving me the mood that I am looking for in my design. Rather, I would like to further explore using text only and possibly adding illustrations to later iterations. When using text only, it is essential that I create the mood with the text. I will do this by hand drawing some of my text so that I can add tiny details such as curved and delicate line work. Since I want the feeling of my train to be elegant and comfortable, my font will need to display this. I am in the process of designing some text now and I hope to  be able to scan it in and play around with formatting this weekend.

IP work done this week: Worked on brochures (6 hours)

Week 6

This week I spent most of my time working on my midterm proposal. One of my main focuses for the midterm proposal was understanding my audience. After many discussions and reflections on my project idea, I determined that my IP project is directed a specific group of people and culture. Recognizing this group of people has and will continue to help in determining future design elements and decisions.

This week I also researched the Michigan Central Railroad. I was interested in this railroad because it was an important railroad line that used to run within Michigan. Further, one of the train depots is located in Northern Michigan in a town called Charlevoix. It was interesting to learn about the type of public transportation that used to run within Michigan and its contribution to the state. Since it is no longer running, I hope that my IP project will both bring back memories and show what train transportation could be if it ran again.

My goal for next week is to start putting my research into some type of visual format. I will start doing this by creating design briefs for two different trains (a commuter train and a site seeing train). I will list materials needed for the inside of each of these trains and compare/ contrast how they would be similar and different. These briefs will contain dummy content and will focus primarily on color and fonts in attempt to establish a tone for both my train and the northern Michigan culture.

IP work done this week: worked on proposal (2.5 hrs), continued artist and train research (1.5 hr), began design brief mock up sketches (4 hrs), logo sketches (2 hrs).

Week 5

The weeks in my studio have been flying by and I am already reflecting on my 5th week. This week, I still worked on research. This week, I have been looking at inspiring artists in addition to companies that do branding work and have come across a couple artists and companies that really inspire me. The first artist that I am drawn to is Tom Geismar. Not only am I inspired by he work he has done but by his process. I was especially interested in the role that sketching on paper plays in his design process. As stated in his interview with Logo Design Love, "Sketching allows me to indicate certain forms, especially curves, that I find difficult and cumbersome with the computer. And sketching allows me to suggest and idea or concept, while drawing with the computer leads very quickly to a sharply defined object". I can definitely agree with the advice given by Geismar. I think I tend to get restricted by the tools on the computer when forming ideas and sketching would allow me to not be restricted to these areas right away. I have also been intrigued by the work done by Landor Associates, a strategic brand consulting firm. Their motto is "creating brands that transform business". Their work involves taking an ordinary company and making it extraordinary. Their work stands out from other companies. I was especially interested in the Delta Sky Miles project. They created an unforgettable name, which stood out from other airline frequent flyer programs. A glimpse of the project:




The entire project and the rest of their work can be seen here:  LANDOR


I have also gotten all of the Amtrak travel brochures, and have been looking at the format and layout of the book as well as the information provided. I have found it to be informative so far.

For the upcoming week, I am focusing a lot of my time on my project proposal. I am extremely happy with the feedback I received on the draft proposal I wrote and will use the comments and suggests in the final proposal. I will make sure to pay special attention to my audience, as this was my biggest criticism in my comments. Also this week, I would like to begin to create some mock up logos and booklets, just to start and look at the styles and layouts I am interested in. I would also like to explore color, because I think color will play a very important role in my project.

IP work done this week: Worked on draft proposal (1.5 hours), researched (3 hours), read through amtrak brochures and took notes (1 hour), Consulted with Erica (1/2 hour), sketched (1/2 hour)

More updates next week!

Week 4: Research

I had originally planned on continuing to work on my logo this week, but I decided to put it on hold and focus my time further researching my subject matter. While I was researching , I discovered the line of Pullman trains which immediately intrigued me. I found them to be beautifully designed inside and out. I especially enjoyed the sophistication and feel of the inside of the trains, and the special attention to detail. The trains and especially the dining cars were said to be "the picture of extravagance, with elaborate chandeliers, silk shades and leather seating"(The History of Pullman Cars). They were a work of art in themselves.

While researching, I started to wonder what promoted people and their families to take these trains. Was it the elegance? The accessibility to certain locations? The amazing views? The questions are endless. In order to start to answer some of these questions, I looked at train promotion. Many of the vintage train-travel promotion played up the idea of meeting and socializing with interesting, well-dressed  fellow travelers. Many of the posters also featured phrases such as "forget about weather reports", acknowledging the fact that trains can travel under any weather conditions. I am drawn to the friendly feel of the posters as well as the light, muted color palette and whimsical typography.
A few examples of the promotional posters:

After being inspired by these posters, I started to look at other examples of vintage marketing and promotion. I came across vintage labels which were absolutely beautiful. The labels have a simple and delicate look that are stunning:

Goals for the upcoming week: My goal for the upcoming week is to discuss with my peers and other individuals about what would make people take a train over other modes of transportation. I would like to record this information to get a feel for people are looking for when traveling. In addition, I would like to continue to look at vintage marking and promotion and possibly do a mock up of my own poster with the same style in mind but the destination being Northern Michigan. As discussed in class, the promotion could be inspired by the "See America" campaign but rather "See Michigan". Exploration and Research are my main goals and I am excited to see what I can learn. 

IP work done this week: Discussion with Erica (45 minutes), Research on the culture and history of trains (3 hours), Research on vintage promotional material, marketing and packaging (3 hours), Started to Read my new book that I hope will be helpful with my logo and other materials titled Thinking with Type (30 minutes) 

Week 3: Re-imagining the Way We Travel

This week in IP I began to narrow down my subject matter. I am now working on the rebranding of the train, in the same way that I like to take old furniture and make it something fresh and new. To me, train culture is dying and it could use a fresh new look to get people to choose to take the train over other modes of transportation. Specifically, I would like to look at how to brand a train within Michigan by creating my own line that would travel from lower Michigan to northern Michigan. In order to get people to travel on the train, I would like to bring back some of the luxury and sophistication trains once had.

I spent all day thursday brainstorming names and styles for my company. It is important to me that the name and style evoke a feeling in the customer, making them want to take the train instead of a car up north. I am happy with my brainstorming process and I think that quickly jotting down every word and synonym of that word that came to mind helped me to discover what felt right for the name of my company.
Some brainstorming notes, displaying my thought process:

Inspiration from OnceWed, for the feeling I want my company to have (delicate, sophisticated and beautiful) : 

In addition to sketching this week, I also spent a great deal of time researching train culture around the world. I researched trains in Europe, Japan and the decline of the train culture in the United States. It was easy to see why trains in Europe and Japan are more successful than trains here. During the next week, I would like to check out some books from the library to further learn about these different trains and get a feel for what would be needed to make the train desirable.

Plan this week: Work on my logo. I would like to get a solid start to the identity of my company. After brainstorming on Thursday and looking at many different possibilities of names, I think I have chosen one that suits the idea of my train the best. I would like to start exploring different typographic styles for the name as well as for a tagline. For now, I am leaning towards my company name being: escape.

My IP work done this week: Research 3 hours, consulted with Janie and Seth 1/2 hour, consulted with Amanda 1/2 hour, Sketched 2 1/2 hours.

What's old is new again

The Shabby Chic Movement
Rachel Ashwell is an Interior designer and entrepreneur. In 1989, Rachel Ashwell created Shabby Chic, an interior design concept that featured a light color palette, distressed furniture with character, slipcovers, and old–style designs known today as "Shabby-Chic". Ashwell's interest in antiques began in Great Britain, where she was born and raised. Her mother was a restorer of antique dolls and teddy bears, while her father was a secondhand, rare book dealer. Ashwell learned to love shopping in flea markets and antique stores as a young girl. Later in her life, Ashwell moved to the United States and began to decorate her own home in a "Shabby-Chic" style. She made washable, design–friendly slipcovers for her furniture. Friends soon wanted them, which led to her first store which she opened in Santa Monica, California. Today, in addition to her own company, Ashwell has paired with Target to create a shabby chic brand to be mass produced and sold nationwide. Her mass produced shabby chic items are inspired by one-of-a-kind antiques. 
A few images of her work: 

          

"A faded, peeling old dresser, a cracked white chandelier, a chipped metal trash can painted with roses. To one person, these items are rejects from the junkyard, to another they are a bounty of riches. Discovering beauty in finding new uses for the old and worn discards of others greatly appeals to me, there is no better place to find the faded and decayed, the crumbing and the scuffed than a salvage yard or flea market, garage or estate sale”. -Ashwell 

The connection that I feel between Ashwell's work and my own interests is her passion for restoring the old and making it new again. I appreciate that her work involves taking what some people believe to be junk and meaningless and making it brand new and beautiful.  She can look beyond the dust and chipped paint and appreciate how much the item still has to offer. Her work inspires me to do the same. I believe that this concept can be applied to other areas of interest such as graphic design. There are companies who's image is old and crumbling (just like and old piece of furniture at the flea market). However, while Rachel uses a can of paint to restore and give a fresh new look to these old items, I plan to use graphic design. 

Week 2

I spent the beginning of this week focusing my time on my love for home decor and the "shabby chic" style. I created a collage/design board by visiting many home decor websites (such as country living) and looking at what was striking about each room. During this process, I discovered that while I am extremely interested in the physical object placed in a room I am more drawn to the space and the atmosphere created by a collection of objects.

My studio time on Thursday was spent doing research on a completely different subject matter: graphic design and branding. I looked at many different websites and read about what it means to brand a company and create an identity. Further, I learned that while it is important to create an outstanding logo for your company it is just as important to create an atmosphere. This type of branding is considered environmental branding, where the environment plays a significant role in the company. For example, the metro airport. I think that I could practice environmental branding with my love for design and home elements by creating not only a graphic quality to my work such as a logo but an entire feeling and atmosphere. 

An example of creating corporate identity: 

Next, I think that I should start to further identify what spaces and things I am most interested in when it comes to home decor. In addition, I would like to start deciding if my company is going to be real or fake (if I am going to take an already made brand and rebrand it or create my own from scratch). After I decide this, I would like to start to sketch a logo and come up with a theme for the company. 

This week: Research 3 hrs, discussed ideas with Amanda 1/2 hr, wrote notes and brainstormed in my notebook 2 hrs, discussed ideas with peers 1 hr, worked on photo collage/design board 2 hrs. 

Studio Space: 5A

Beginning Freshmen year, I have always anticipated moving into my Senior studio space. On Tuesday, September 7th, I picked my space and could not be happier! I am currently in the process of putting it together and making it into a workable and inspirational environment. I am excited to share updates of this space as I design it. I will post updates as I put it together- stay tuned! 

"I DO"

The shabby chic feel, floral arrangements and overall decor make weddings one-of-a-kind. Great decorating ideas at: http://www.oncewed.com/.
 

Jon Contino

Fashion Statement

I am loving the bright colors, textures, and metals used in these necklaces. There is a great mixture between delicate and funky. 

Down Under

Wine bottle design by Serhat Ferhat. I love the massive text block in the middle of the bottle. I also really love how the colors vary from bottle to bottle.

The Art of Cooking

The website They Cook and Draw illustrates a new recipe everyday. Their illustrations bring the phrase the "art of cooking" a whole new meaning! 

Zara Picken

  

   

     

The work by Zara Picken has playful illustration, typography and color. 

Aesthetic Apparatus

I am liking the use of color and typography. 

          

Alaffia Rebranding

Student work by Nicole Chan. A rebranding project for a sustainable skin care line Alaffia.