Thursday 29 December 2011

QR codes

I have been experimenting with different designs of QR codes, they currently link to my airsoft tutorials site. I can remove a small amount of the square blocks and add my own content, however I have to continually test the code to make sure that it is still readable by QR readers.






Tuesday 20 December 2011

QR code

I am thinking of using a QR code within my posters and leaflets so that it links to a corresponding website that can give more information such as videos and interactive media.

Using this QR code generator it changes the URL into a image similar to this which is then decoded using and QR code reader app that is available on a lot of the popular makes of phone, Blackberry, iOS, Android etc.

http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
I thought that the QR code generator would have to upload to a server so that theses apps could read the image and link to the website, however what actually happens is that the website URL is broken down and turned into a similar image like this, the pattens created are then read by a reader which takes the user to the destination.

After experimenting with the QR code I have found out that I can also create link which write out a text message, reveal a message or even dial a phone number.

I would use the QR code to link to a website/facebook page, i could even use it as a method to contact the restaurants or hotels so that they could book etc.












Wednesday 7 December 2011

Design Research


I really like the use of QR codes in some designs, normally they used as an extra to the design but in this one its used as  part of the main design, I'm not sure if i could take this idea and form an idea around it to do with regeneration, perhaps i could have someone pulling a sheet that looks like if coming off a building.
I really like this busy "mosaic" style leaflet and how the letters follow the lines  of the vegetables,  i would have expected that the veg would have been taken right to edge but it has about 5-10mm clearance from the edge of the page.

Another QR type design, on something small like a business card i think that it works as part of  the overall design, however something larger you would have to have the QR code larger which means that it becomes more of the design and would be harder to implement into the overall design, if i use a QR code i will probably have it relatively small.

Down a completely different root looking at pop out cards, although the pop out feature would cost more to print the different possibilities on what you could do to on the pop out is pretty wide, one of my ideas would be to use it as one of the signs that stick out on shops, i could use it to show what shops are there or the hotel. 

Location - London road Brighton

The location I am looking at for the regeneration is London road, Brighton


View Larger Map


Using these images I need to show how it will potentially look and make it suitable and lively for 18-30 year olds.

Sunday 4 December 2011

Papers - Print - Sizes - Guides

Printing from Prizmatic solutions.
http://www.prizmatic.co.uk/


Printing:


Paper
The paper that the leaflets will be printed will be 130gsm gloss art paper double sided, looking at other professional printers most printers use this tie of paper and weight.

The posters will be printed on premium 190gsm photo gloss/satin paper

GSM - http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080618213803AAqyyVg-
Gsm (g/m2) of the paper is the weight of the paper, generally the higher the gsm the higher quality/thickness of the paper. Having thicker paper means that less light will be able to show though the posters.

Costs
The cost for 50 leaflets is £35 for double sided A4
The cost of 3 posters is £14 for A3 (actual designed print size £25+ per poster)


Colours
UV stable inks for outside printing


Finishes
Leaflets 130gsm gloss art paper double sided
Posters premium 190gsm photo gloss/satin paper


Printing Formats
High resolution 1200dpi PDF with printers marks.

Folds
Double fold included with price.


Guides/Margins:
Printers marks when sending off for print.

http://www.castleprint.co.uk/designing_a_folded_leaflet.html


When folding an A4 sized leaflet into three separate sections, each is usually a different size so that the front cover covers the entire front of the leaflet and does not leave the edges from other pages to show through the sides on the front.

http://www.castleprint.co.uk/designing_a_folded_leaflet.html

For any of the main content I will want to keep it with 5-10mm of the edge so that the design looks neater and clearer.

http://www.castleprint.co.uk/designing_a_folded_leaflet.html

The image above is what my document should look like before I start thinking about content etc.

Friday 2 December 2011

Brighton Marina Regeneration Project

A look at an existing regeneration project at the Marina in Brighton.
http://www.brightonmarinaregeneration.co.uk/index.aspx?nc=1&act=N&widID=36

Partnerships: With all of the regeneration projects there are partnerships where the companies take over certain aspects of the project, the reason for this is that they specialise in they way that these things progress and how to attract a certain audience. The Brighton marina main partner is with Laing O'Rourke, Laing O'Rourke which is the constructor of the project. Laing O'Rourke "design, engineer, construct, manage and invest in major building and infrastructure capital assets across a range of sectors".









For my leaflets, posters and adverts I may want to include a small part weather it be a logo or description of the development partners and emphasise there previous/current developments that have been a success, this can be used as promotional material to show off the professional redevelopment of London Road, Brighton.

Other projects:
Heathrow Airport, Terminal Five
the Scottish Parliament
Selfridges, Birmingham
the Bullring, Birmingham
Ascot grandstand
Portcullis House

By showing something like this on my leaflet it again shows the success of existing projects that the target audience might know, therefore advertising that the project has been well done and is good hands.

History: The site for the Brighton Marina regeneration project also shows the history of the the marina and how it has developed including pictures, I think a few images of how it originally looks and how it now looks/will look after the redevelopment will be a good feature within the leaflet.



Visual impacts: The imagery that they use for the after/during redevelopment is all very bright happy and colourful whereas the images of the existing location (before development) are all gloomy, dark and show the worst parts, (graffiti, run down areas etc.) By using this technique it exaggerates how much it has really changed emphasising how good it now looks and how much has changed.



Redevelopment: On the website it tells you what will/has changed majorly from new buildings to new shop, restaurants and clubs, listing the major good things other than smaller things like graffiti cleaned up  gives the regeneration project more of a higher purpose than to make the place just look nice.

Exploring Leaflet Folds -Magazine advert-

Due to costs and and ease of printing ant cutting the best choice for me is to create my leaflet A4 sized, by using A4 I would not have to trim out the leaflet if is was printed on larger paper which would save money from print costs etc and time from trimming it out.

This site (http://www.geniedesignandprint.co.uk/FoldedLeafletPrinting.html) shows a wide variety of different folds for multiple sized standard paper sizes there are lots of different ways in which to fold the paper, as I am going to use A4 for ease of use and lower costings here are some of the leaflet folds that i will consider. (Pictures) http://www.lowcostleaflets.co.uk/leaflets/a4


A4 inner tri fold

Used widely for a wide range of leaflet designs, small start size, nicer to open compared to the similar Z fold leaflet.



A4 halved


Large front page A5 sized, large inner page spread ideal of large pictures - designed to be read at A4 inside.

A4 double sided
(more of a flyer)

Too big to hand out, biggest sided print area ideal of large images.

A4 single sided
(more of a flyer)

Again too big to hand out, biggest sided print area ideal of large images

A4 Z fold

Used as more of a menu type design to separate food/drink sections - very similar to try-fold.






I may also make a magazine advert instead of the poster but I have yet to decide.

Thursday 1 December 2011

Print sizes - Posters

Bus stop




Size: 1200x1800mm
Type: Poster
Situation: Bus shelters


Bus shelter: Dimensions: 1.2m (w) x 1.8m (h)
http://www.signposter.com/pages/using-signposter/faqs.aspx#

Size: 3100x500mm
Type: Poster

Situation: Sides of buses

Bus (side): Dimensions: 3.1m (w) x 0.5m (h)
http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/89795/89795,1243780636,4/stock-photo-bus-advertising-close-up-of-blank-billboard-on-bus-side-31256479.jpg
Size: 12000x500mm
Type: Poster

Situation: Back of buses


Bus (rear): Dimensions: 1.2m (w) x 0.5m (h)
(not shown)
http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/221737/221737,1297304118,1/stock-photo-blank-billboard-on-back-of-a-bus-for-your-advertisement-70853830.jpg




Train station




Size: A3
Type: Poster
Situation: Can be found on escalator/stairs at stations/underground

Train station (small poster): Dimensions: A3
http://3.s3.envato.com/files/214561.jpg

Size: 1000x1500mm
Type: Poster

Situation: Inside train stations


Train station (poster): Dimensions: 1.0m (w) x 1.5m (h)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/2285858211_ffdccc99db.jpg

Size: 6100x3100mm
Type: Poster

Situation: Can be found on the underground and at train stations


Train station (large) Dimensions: 6.1m (w) x 3.1m (h)
http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/79468/79468,1222993716,1/stock-photo-blank-billboard-in-train-station-18298384.jpg





Leaflet (multi sized paper):
http://www.facemediagroup.co.uk/?page=paper.folding

Urban Regeneration

I have received my new brief and it would seem that we are now moving towards more professional design processes.

Assessment Rationale / Aims:

"This assignment emulates a commercial brief and requires students to learn to use research to develop a visual language to respond to the brief with creativity and originality. Students must devise and pitch a concept, produce a range of artwork, critique their work, justify their design decisions and evaluate their outcomes. The aim of this is to guide students in following professional design processes."


This assignment will work similarly to the way in which the professional design process takes place, I need to research and develop my visual language skills so that I can design work creatively and originally in response the brief. I must create a pitch in which I will show my ideas and how these will develop into a concept for my design pieces.


"Inner cites changed enormously in the 90s and 00s, with run down areas of disused buildings and land, and in some cases substandard housing, being redeveloped into pockets of urban cool, featuring flats, shops, hotels, restaurants, venues and conference centres, with the intension of breathing new economic life into the previously derelict. In Brighton, two examples of this are the area around the Jubilee Library and the New England Quarter at the back of the train station. Further afield, the work of Urban Splash has redeveloped areas of English northern cities."


From "disused buildings", "land" and "substandard" housing into "urban cool", "flats, shop, hotels, restaurants, venues and conference centres"

Existing: Jubilee Library and the New England Quarter.
Further: Urban Splash has developed English Northern cities

"This kind of regeneration has slowed right down in the current recession, but for this assignment you have to imagine that London Road Brighton is being redeveloped into a gentrified urban centre attractive to the young and single or couples without children. Flats, bars, restaurants, shops, a hotel and a club / music venue are designed to be attractive to the target market of 18 – 39 year old well off students and professionals."

London Road brighton needs to be redeveloped into:
Gentrified - Renovate and improved - Urban centre
Attractive for:
Young and single or couples without children. 18 – 39 year old well off students and professionals
Facilities/events/things to do:
Flats, bars, restaurants, shops, a hotel and a club / music venue


"You have been commissioned to create the graphic design for the promotion of the London Road Brighton project. You need to develop a consistent visual language across a range of print pieces, using typography and a graphic style in a way that creates a visually coherent campaign. You need to produce a folding leaflet which promotes the project overall combining text and images, and a series of at least three magazine ads or posters which focus on a specific aspect of what’s on offer in the zone (such as a bar, the hotel and the flats). The ads are for distribution as full page ads in relevant magazines including Time Out in London and Latest 7 in Brighton. The posters are to be placed in London and Brighton bus stops and train stations, and London Tube stations. You will need to create these print pieces at suitable aspect ratios and mock them up into a photo of a location or magazine to show their impact in situ."

I have been commissioned to devise the graphical elements and design for the London road Brighton project. I need to create  the artwork for print that utilises typography and graphic style to create a visually coherent and clear campaign. I will be creating a folding leaflet to promote the project overall and then a series of three or more posters that will be shown in London and Brighton bus stops and train station as well as the underground.
Instead of the posters I can create magazine adverts that also target specific aspects of the regeneration project that will be shown in magazines such as "Time out" and "Latest 7".
Each of my designs will need to be shown mocked up In there designed places.


"You will start this project by undertaking visual research. As well as looking at existing posters, magazine ads and leaflets for their design characteristics, you will look into the visual presentation of architectural and urban regeneration projects, and you will also explore the work of artists, designers, design movements and images to select a visual language that will inspire and inform your work. This research needs to be reflected in your blog."

I will be undertaking visual research to inspire ideas and to see what existing poster magazines etc have in common and that I can use to develop my concept. I will also be looking at existing regeneration projects as well as artists, designers, movements in which to select a visual language.


"You will devise the concept for your campaign (inspiration, imagery, tag line, colour, font, layout etc) from research and design development processes including brainstorms, mood boards, sketches, mock-ups etc and pitch this concept to the group and your tutors for discussion. Your design development work must be shown in your sketchbook."

I will come up with a concept in which through design research I will come up with the inspiration, imagery etc. I will pitch this concept to the group.
"You will use any combination of Photoshop and Illustrator to produce the artwork for this project. The leaflet must be laid out and typography incorporated in InDesign."

"You will show your completed artwork to the group for critique, justifying your design decisions and looking for potential improvements. The crit feedback needs to be written up on your blog. Once improvements have been made in response to the crit, you need to print your artwork to put in your sketchbook. These do not have to be printed at full size for the poster; you can print at A3. The leaflet printed double sided and folded. You need to get your printing done externally at a print shop (Blow up in Brighton and The Print Room in Lewes are recommended."


I need to create the artwork for the project in illustrator and photoshop and then have it made up with typography in Indesign. Once i feel i have completed the assignment it will then be critiqued and i will have a chance to change anything that news to be changed.



What i need to submit
Submit onto the Remus submissions server:
  • A pitch presentation
  • Working files in .ai, .psd and .indd form
  • A high quality exports (PDFs, JPGs etc) of the final versions of your work