Six
08/09 limited edition promotional mailer.
A simple mail shot has been used he to promote and celebrate Six's work, and could gain them potential new clients. It is a simple concept and format, however the stock and design has been well considered and looks good quality.
30.3.13
Samples Of Work: GF Smith
GF Smith
Master Specifier 201.
This paper sample pack is certainly the nicest I have seen. I managed to have a look at one close up, and as a set of objects they have been crafted beautifully. The sample pack is something that every paper company needs to have, however GF Smith go all out on the design of the entire company, and this also acts as promotional material. First impressions count, and when paper samples are packaged as nicely as this, it functions to it's purpose where designers will appreciate something that is well designed.
Master Specifier 201.
This paper sample pack is certainly the nicest I have seen. I managed to have a look at one close up, and as a set of objects they have been crafted beautifully. The sample pack is something that every paper company needs to have, however GF Smith go all out on the design of the entire company, and this also acts as promotional material. First impressions count, and when paper samples are packaged as nicely as this, it functions to it's purpose where designers will appreciate something that is well designed.
Samples Of Work: Ro & Co Studio
Ro & Co Studio
Ro & Co Cordials.
This studio designed and made this cordial set for it's own clients as a thank you gift, and this in turn promotes them as a studio. It creates interactivity and is a memorable project because it is fun and different.
Ro & Co Cordials.
This studio designed and made this cordial set for it's own clients as a thank you gift, and this in turn promotes them as a studio. It creates interactivity and is a memorable project because it is fun and different.
19.3.13
What Do They Do?
Freelance graphic designer
Amanda Jane Jones
I have looked at a freelance designer because that it something I want to become in the next 10 years. This is something that I could work towards whilst working for a graphic design agency. I have looked at Amanda Jane Jones because I feel her work has synergy to how I am currently working, and her work also corresponds to my kind of taste level. Another female working as a freelance graphic designer is encouraging too, and I do believe that females and males work in slightly different ways, although the audience does not necessarily dictate how the gender of the designer reacts to a brief. All designers are competing against eachother however freelance designers usually need to build on a portfolio where word of mouth and networking are essential for keeping clients and gaining new ones. I feel that I could design and create a better looking website that functions in an easy to understand way in comparison to hers. Her layout it a grid, with fixed size boxes containing snapshots of her work.
Her experience and about section:
Amanda Jane Jones
freelance graphic designer and letterpress artist
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Feel free to e-mail her at:
amandajane@kinfolkmag.com
You can also say hello on twitter!
Strengths - This particular designer has made lots of connections within the general art and design world, and is a blogger on the side of her freelance career, and so this has contributed to her success and exposure to potential clients. She always uses her full name, that happens to have a nice ring to it, and this is a kind of signature that works for her. It's a feminine identity and sets her apart from other designers that are female and may only be using two of their names or using a name that isn't their own at all.
Weaknesses - Her website is hosted by Cargo Collective and so it is not her own domain, and this kind of website has been associated with portfolio sites looking and feeling semi professional. I have the overall feeling that having my own domain name and website would make me and my work look more professional, even though I am post graduate still. There isn't too much personality in the layout and design of the template she has used on Cargo, whereas if she had made her own template or customised it a bit more this would have made her work stand out more and inject some personality into the site.
Opportunities - There isn't many opportunities to collaborate with another freelance designer although that would be the only way to work with this designer. There wouldn't be any point of an intern working for a freelance designer for obvious reasons.
Threats - She is older than I am however If I were to become a freelance designer, there are some similarities in that we are both females, and her work has synergy with mine.
Small graphic design agency
Robot Food
This company is one that I am aiming to work for after I graduate, and so I want to make sure my work constantly has synergy with theirs. They specialise in the food and drink packaging and branding sector, which is the area I have stated I want to concentrate on and work towards working for. They are based in Leeds, just outside the city and they describe themselves as a 'brand building agency'.
"Robot Food is a results driven, innovative brand-building agency – born by the ambition and obsession of an independent creative collective. Spurred by big agency experiences, we stray from the well-worn path, to offer a more hands-on approach and a service second to none. As an intimate team with a wealth of creative intelligence, we fine tune brands from the inside out, telling believable brand stories… and our attention to detail is remarkable."
Strengths - They have made the effort to come across as a small and personable agency, and they have also made themselves appear that way, avoiding the corporate aesthetic. They have concentrated on working for a particular sector, the food and drink business. Whether it be branding collateral and web, or just packaging they have a niche appeal. This will set them apart from other agencies of the same size that work for a wider range of sectors.
Weaknesses - The information on their website could be layed out so in the categories of the type of work they have done so the potential client knows exactly what they can do without having to make vague guesses by just looking at their projects. Categorising the branding, packaging, print and other aspects of their work would make their company easier to understand. The name of the company makes them sound immature too, and although Robot Food would relate directly to the sector they target, it still sounds unprofessional to a certain extent, however that may be down to personal opinion.
Opportunities - I would like to approach them for a studio visit and hopefully an internship, and this would be the opportunity window for me to work with them. This could have a draw back and damage my chances of employment with them post graduation if they don't like me.
Threats - The threats to this company are other UK based independent studio's or agencies that work for the same food and drink sector. B&B are a very similar company however they aren't based in the UK, and Here Design Studio are based in London and are a slightly more up market version of Robot food, and the type of company Robot Food perhaps aspire to be like.
Large graphic design company
Elmwood
About:
Put simply, we help brands uncover what’s special and different about themselves and tell the world about it. There’s the thinking and words in brand strategy and brand language through to the visual magic of corporate design and packaging design. Our digital work brings all this together.
Strengths - Elmwood are huge, and have offices based internationally. This means that they have established many contacts over the years and they have worked hard as a company to achieve the status of being an internationally renowned 'brand design consultancy'. They have a huge client base and have a reputation to live up to. They started in Leeds and grew to huge proportions and so this is something that they can brag about.
Weaknesses - Many companies are evermore working with the smaller independent studios or agencies, because they feel they can bring something personal and non-corporate. A corporate feel is something that a large graphic design consultancy risks. The kind of clientele that Elmwood work with are often large corporations. ASDA for example are one of them, however many people may not know that ASDA has it's headquarters based in Leeds, the starting place of Elmwood, and so this means both companies can work closely geographically together.
Opportunities - I know that students have worked for Elmwood as part of work experience, which makes a lot of sense as they probably have the resources and enough staff to work with students or post graduates. As a large company I would expect that they would have enough work to keep any number of students occupied for a week or two. Something that a smaller agency or company would perhaps not be able to offer.
Threats - Other large graphic design companies are in direct competition with Elmwood, however I think more smaller studios or agencies are almost in equal competition because often they offer a point of difference to the corporate aesthetic that larger companies often offer.
Amanda Jane Jones
I have looked at a freelance designer because that it something I want to become in the next 10 years. This is something that I could work towards whilst working for a graphic design agency. I have looked at Amanda Jane Jones because I feel her work has synergy to how I am currently working, and her work also corresponds to my kind of taste level. Another female working as a freelance graphic designer is encouraging too, and I do believe that females and males work in slightly different ways, although the audience does not necessarily dictate how the gender of the designer reacts to a brief. All designers are competing against eachother however freelance designers usually need to build on a portfolio where word of mouth and networking are essential for keeping clients and gaining new ones. I feel that I could design and create a better looking website that functions in an easy to understand way in comparison to hers. Her layout it a grid, with fixed size boxes containing snapshots of her work.
Her experience and about section:
Amanda Jane Jones
freelance graphic designer and letterpress artist
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Feel free to e-mail her at:
amandajane@kinfolkmag.com
You can also say hello on twitter!
Strengths - This particular designer has made lots of connections within the general art and design world, and is a blogger on the side of her freelance career, and so this has contributed to her success and exposure to potential clients. She always uses her full name, that happens to have a nice ring to it, and this is a kind of signature that works for her. It's a feminine identity and sets her apart from other designers that are female and may only be using two of their names or using a name that isn't their own at all.
Weaknesses - Her website is hosted by Cargo Collective and so it is not her own domain, and this kind of website has been associated with portfolio sites looking and feeling semi professional. I have the overall feeling that having my own domain name and website would make me and my work look more professional, even though I am post graduate still. There isn't too much personality in the layout and design of the template she has used on Cargo, whereas if she had made her own template or customised it a bit more this would have made her work stand out more and inject some personality into the site.
Opportunities - There isn't many opportunities to collaborate with another freelance designer although that would be the only way to work with this designer. There wouldn't be any point of an intern working for a freelance designer for obvious reasons.
Threats - She is older than I am however If I were to become a freelance designer, there are some similarities in that we are both females, and her work has synergy with mine.
Small graphic design agency
Robot Food
This company is one that I am aiming to work for after I graduate, and so I want to make sure my work constantly has synergy with theirs. They specialise in the food and drink packaging and branding sector, which is the area I have stated I want to concentrate on and work towards working for. They are based in Leeds, just outside the city and they describe themselves as a 'brand building agency'.
"Robot Food is a results driven, innovative brand-building agency – born by the ambition and obsession of an independent creative collective. Spurred by big agency experiences, we stray from the well-worn path, to offer a more hands-on approach and a service second to none. As an intimate team with a wealth of creative intelligence, we fine tune brands from the inside out, telling believable brand stories… and our attention to detail is remarkable."
Strengths - They have made the effort to come across as a small and personable agency, and they have also made themselves appear that way, avoiding the corporate aesthetic. They have concentrated on working for a particular sector, the food and drink business. Whether it be branding collateral and web, or just packaging they have a niche appeal. This will set them apart from other agencies of the same size that work for a wider range of sectors.
Weaknesses - The information on their website could be layed out so in the categories of the type of work they have done so the potential client knows exactly what they can do without having to make vague guesses by just looking at their projects. Categorising the branding, packaging, print and other aspects of their work would make their company easier to understand. The name of the company makes them sound immature too, and although Robot Food would relate directly to the sector they target, it still sounds unprofessional to a certain extent, however that may be down to personal opinion.
Opportunities - I would like to approach them for a studio visit and hopefully an internship, and this would be the opportunity window for me to work with them. This could have a draw back and damage my chances of employment with them post graduation if they don't like me.
Threats - The threats to this company are other UK based independent studio's or agencies that work for the same food and drink sector. B&B are a very similar company however they aren't based in the UK, and Here Design Studio are based in London and are a slightly more up market version of Robot food, and the type of company Robot Food perhaps aspire to be like.
Large graphic design company
Elmwood
About:
Put simply, we help brands uncover what’s special and different about themselves and tell the world about it. There’s the thinking and words in brand strategy and brand language through to the visual magic of corporate design and packaging design. Our digital work brings all this together.
Strengths - Elmwood are huge, and have offices based internationally. This means that they have established many contacts over the years and they have worked hard as a company to achieve the status of being an internationally renowned 'brand design consultancy'. They have a huge client base and have a reputation to live up to. They started in Leeds and grew to huge proportions and so this is something that they can brag about.
Weaknesses - Many companies are evermore working with the smaller independent studios or agencies, because they feel they can bring something personal and non-corporate. A corporate feel is something that a large graphic design consultancy risks. The kind of clientele that Elmwood work with are often large corporations. ASDA for example are one of them, however many people may not know that ASDA has it's headquarters based in Leeds, the starting place of Elmwood, and so this means both companies can work closely geographically together.
Opportunities - I know that students have worked for Elmwood as part of work experience, which makes a lot of sense as they probably have the resources and enough staff to work with students or post graduates. As a large company I would expect that they would have enough work to keep any number of students occupied for a week or two. Something that a smaller agency or company would perhaps not be able to offer.
Threats - Other large graphic design companies are in direct competition with Elmwood, however I think more smaller studios or agencies are almost in equal competition because often they offer a point of difference to the corporate aesthetic that larger companies often offer.
Who Am I? Who Are They?
What are my professional/creative aims and how do they relate to the needs of the client group?
The aims I am developing over the course of this degree have evermore lent towards the need and supply of retail for graphic products. The types of graphic product I am most interested in designing so far throughout my development is packaging graphics for food and drink. This is the key area that I plan to focus on and further. The collateral that relates to food and drink packaging could be placed within the sector of food and drink retail, and the restaurant and cafe business. The tertiary sectors to food and drink retail could include specialist stores selling a limited range of products, along with other retailers such as cosmetics, book, music and clothing.
Point of sale is an area I am increasingly interested in. There is scope for a a wide range of graphic products to be created for this kind of area, along with art direction, and an interactive aspect. Every retail store has various kinds of point of sale or promotional material and so this is an essential component for the company to make sales, along with the overall branding, identity and most important of all, the product itself.
Graphic products I also enjoy designing for, or would like to design for are menu's, bags, business cards, wrapping, covers, wall or window decals, wayfinding and signage, leaflets and graphics for uniforms. The overall branding and identity of a company will need these key components to convey themselves as a company and to find a point of difference to it's competitors.
Web and interactive aspects are important for any company too, and I would like to think that I have the ability to transfer my skills across to this type of practice. Although I do not have aims for this to be my speciality I have enthusiasm for it and I would like to design an interface for a web developer to code as part of a collaboration practice. There are pieces of knowledge about how web design works when I am not coding the website, for example how it would function, and so the design has to fit into how the web developer works to an extent, and so I aim to develop this skill over the rest of the second year and the third year.
Branding is something I am always looking at online, and the kind of brief that stands out to me is the kind that is driven by a strong concept. The projects I am always attracted to are restaurant/cafe or food retail branding. Here are some examples of what I would consider successful branding.
The aims I am developing over the course of this degree have evermore lent towards the need and supply of retail for graphic products. The types of graphic product I am most interested in designing so far throughout my development is packaging graphics for food and drink. This is the key area that I plan to focus on and further. The collateral that relates to food and drink packaging could be placed within the sector of food and drink retail, and the restaurant and cafe business. The tertiary sectors to food and drink retail could include specialist stores selling a limited range of products, along with other retailers such as cosmetics, book, music and clothing.
Point of sale is an area I am increasingly interested in. There is scope for a a wide range of graphic products to be created for this kind of area, along with art direction, and an interactive aspect. Every retail store has various kinds of point of sale or promotional material and so this is an essential component for the company to make sales, along with the overall branding, identity and most important of all, the product itself.
Graphic products I also enjoy designing for, or would like to design for are menu's, bags, business cards, wrapping, covers, wall or window decals, wayfinding and signage, leaflets and graphics for uniforms. The overall branding and identity of a company will need these key components to convey themselves as a company and to find a point of difference to it's competitors.
Web and interactive aspects are important for any company too, and I would like to think that I have the ability to transfer my skills across to this type of practice. Although I do not have aims for this to be my speciality I have enthusiasm for it and I would like to design an interface for a web developer to code as part of a collaboration practice. There are pieces of knowledge about how web design works when I am not coding the website, for example how it would function, and so the design has to fit into how the web developer works to an extent, and so I aim to develop this skill over the rest of the second year and the third year.
Branding is something I am always looking at online, and the kind of brief that stands out to me is the kind that is driven by a strong concept. The projects I am always attracted to are restaurant/cafe or food retail branding. Here are some examples of what I would consider successful branding.
17.3.13
Who Am I? Who Are They?
What skills would I need to work for the sectors and what skills would I need to develop?
For working for the retail sector the skills I would need to develop include scale and proportion, how things would look in a store, so creating prototypes and going to the stores and experiencing the environment in which my designs would function in. Target market research is also an important factor when designing graphic products that consumers would be buying and taking home and using. This influences the design along with the brief, and what the client wants. This should reflect the company ethos and they will also specify the type of clientele they have and suggest how I should target them. Packaging design has a 3 dimensional aspect and so prototypes and making my own mock ups before print is essential. Legibility, and simplicity along with getting the correct information are the components for making successful packaging designs, and this is something I am working on as soon as I get the opportunity and when I can adapt a brief so that I can design for the sector I want to work for. The branding and keeping in with a companies current aesthetic is essential in order to design collateral that work together, and so this is another skill that I will need to practice with and work on. I really enjoy looking at branding projects, and seeing the diversity of products and the innovative techniques that production and finishing can bring out in printed products. A strong concept is another aspect to look out for and this holds a project together. My favourite branding projects have been for coffee brands, cafe's and restaurants and food products or food stores. I want to carry on finding projects and briefs that I can progress these skills on with.
For working for the retail sector the skills I would need to develop include scale and proportion, how things would look in a store, so creating prototypes and going to the stores and experiencing the environment in which my designs would function in. Target market research is also an important factor when designing graphic products that consumers would be buying and taking home and using. This influences the design along with the brief, and what the client wants. This should reflect the company ethos and they will also specify the type of clientele they have and suggest how I should target them. Packaging design has a 3 dimensional aspect and so prototypes and making my own mock ups before print is essential. Legibility, and simplicity along with getting the correct information are the components for making successful packaging designs, and this is something I am working on as soon as I get the opportunity and when I can adapt a brief so that I can design for the sector I want to work for. The branding and keeping in with a companies current aesthetic is essential in order to design collateral that work together, and so this is another skill that I will need to practice with and work on. I really enjoy looking at branding projects, and seeing the diversity of products and the innovative techniques that production and finishing can bring out in printed products. A strong concept is another aspect to look out for and this holds a project together. My favourite branding projects have been for coffee brands, cafe's and restaurants and food products or food stores. I want to carry on finding projects and briefs that I can progress these skills on with.
14.3.13
Who Am I? Who Are They?
Services that relate to my personal interests and skills.
From looking at my personal and skills, the services that most relate to these are;
• Food retailers
Food retailers need services in graphic design where it relates to food packaging, business cards or other promotional material, bags, wrapping, logo, identity, point of sale, website, apps.
Within food packaging, the product is the most important aspect and so the packaging would need to reflect this. How the products are promoted
• Retailers for clothing, books and music or cosmetics
For retail, the kind of graphic products that could be produced include point of sale printed material such as large scale product suggestions, advertising a new product or wayfinding. Product placement and art direction could also fit into this category. Bag design, logo and identity design, packaging for product, leaflet or other promotional material, website and apps including point of sale on the website itself.
• Restaurants/cafe's
A slightly different sector where menu design and other collateral such as crockery and cutlery could even become graphic products. For the eatery sector this is where food is distributed to the customer to eat there and then as opposed to food retail where the food is bought there and then taken home to consume and so wayfinding and signage need to come into play where eatery's are concerned. Menu design can be taken to different scales, and so wall menu and smaller paper based handheld menu need to correspond to eachother. Logo and identity design, uniform graphics, promotional material, loyalty cards, website and apps.
There are many avenues within the retail sector, however I have learnt that they all need to come together to create a one working unit, and so a developed concept needs to hold these components together.
From looking at my personal and skills, the services that most relate to these are;
• Food retailers
Food retailers need services in graphic design where it relates to food packaging, business cards or other promotional material, bags, wrapping, logo, identity, point of sale, website, apps.
Within food packaging, the product is the most important aspect and so the packaging would need to reflect this. How the products are promoted
• Retailers for clothing, books and music or cosmetics
For retail, the kind of graphic products that could be produced include point of sale printed material such as large scale product suggestions, advertising a new product or wayfinding. Product placement and art direction could also fit into this category. Bag design, logo and identity design, packaging for product, leaflet or other promotional material, website and apps including point of sale on the website itself.
• Restaurants/cafe's
A slightly different sector where menu design and other collateral such as crockery and cutlery could even become graphic products. For the eatery sector this is where food is distributed to the customer to eat there and then as opposed to food retail where the food is bought there and then taken home to consume and so wayfinding and signage need to come into play where eatery's are concerned. Menu design can be taken to different scales, and so wall menu and smaller paper based handheld menu need to correspond to eachother. Logo and identity design, uniform graphics, promotional material, loyalty cards, website and apps.
There are many avenues within the retail sector, however I have learnt that they all need to come together to create a one working unit, and so a developed concept needs to hold these components together.
Who Am I? Who Are They?
A list of all possible client groups that use graphic design in he development, production, distribution, promotion and/or communication of their products or services.
• Museums
• Visitor centres
• Local councils
• The government
• Private corporations
• Financial services
• Software companies
• Supermarkets
• Small businesses
• Independent retail outlets
• Architects
• Charities
• Restaurants
• Education
• Colleges
• Schools
• Printers
• Internet companies
• Self employed people
• Estate agents
• Shopping centres
• Cafe's
• Clothing retailers
• Outdoor retailers
• Cosmetics retailers
• Book, music and film retailers
• Hairdressers
• Butchers
• Alcohol stores
• General stores
• Newspaper printers
• Magazine printers
• Magazine editors
• Newspaper editors
• Coffee companies
• Confectionery companies
• Haulage and freight services
• Airline companies
• Train companies
• Television channels
• Social networking sites
• Personal trainers
• Photographers
• Museums
• Visitor centres
• Local councils
• The government
• Private corporations
• Financial services
• Software companies
• Supermarkets
• Small businesses
• Independent retail outlets
• Architects
• Charities
• Restaurants
• Education
• Colleges
• Schools
• Printers
• Internet companies
• Self employed people
• Estate agents
• Shopping centres
• Cafe's
• Clothing retailers
• Outdoor retailers
• Cosmetics retailers
• Book, music and film retailers
• Hairdressers
• Butchers
• Alcohol stores
• General stores
• Newspaper printers
• Magazine printers
• Magazine editors
• Newspaper editors
• Coffee companies
• Confectionery companies
• Haulage and freight services
• Airline companies
• Train companies
• Television channels
• Social networking sites
• Personal trainers
• Photographers
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