Creating a group contract

We created a group contract so that people would pull their weight within the group and it would be fair this is what it looked like. We put on our contact information in case we need to get in touch and we stated what was expected from everyone. This give us rules and made it so that people would contribute more. 

Developing Logo Designs

We all created some logo designs based around out theme of black, white and pink. Rosie created some good designs using a similar logo to the college however she changed the date from the colleges date to 2016 so it would relate more to the exhibition. We decided to go with my logo design as we believed it best suited out ideas.

Developing Ideas and Second Crit

After the last Critique I looked at improving my idea by asking people what they were proud of about the UK and what they thought represented the UK.
I decided that I could split up the UK into 3 areas North, Midlands and South and dedicate a note to each area. On the notes I would show what people said made them patriotic. For the Exhibition I would combine them all into one note.

We had a crit which involved the whole group walking around and leaving feedback, I used this as an opportunity to ask more people what they found patriotic.












This is some of the feedback
North

• Big Cities
• Multicultural Society
• Architecture
• Tea
• Heritage
• Greggs
• Countryside
• Arts and Music
• Literature and film
• Ben Nevis
• Peeks
• Royal Family
• Weather
• Sunday Dinner

Midlands

• Accents
• Nice people
• Fish and Chips
• Walks
• Royal Family
• Cup of Tea
• Festivals
• English Breakfast
• BBC

South

• Good Humour
• Understanding each other
• London
• Motorways
• Weather
• City
• Stone Henge
• Food
• Royal Family
• Beaches
• Roast Dinner
• Multiculturalism
• History

I also asked whether people liked my new idea of having a separate banknote for each area of the UK and whether to make it like a collage. This was the feedback,

• Nice concept but there will be some similarities across the bank notes which causes problems
• It could be a good idea for tourists
• Concept is interesting however banknote would not work for a long period of time as some of the imagery may not be relevant due to possible changes on culture and society.
• I like the idea and the collage would be great idea, maybe look at significant buildings and trades the places are famous for.

First Money Group Critique and development

We got into large groups of around 16 people to talk about our ideas for our money exhibition pieces. I talked about my patriotic idea and got lots of feedback.
We discussed as a group how patriotism is an interesting idea for money and how I had a good idea about using a note as a thing that millions of people see to make it so that we can make people more proud of their country however they were not so sure on the design choices.
They did not like the stereotypical imagery so much and also said it is not a good idea to show the union jack as it represents more negative historical issues. Also Scotland are wanting independence so the red white and blue is not a appropriate.
They suggest I research what people are proud of the UK by asking rather that taking old stereotypes and I agreed this would be more appropriate.

Money, Initial ideas

I started by brainstorming my initial ideas.
 At first I wasn't sure weather I wanted to create a currency just for Britian or a currency that the USA and Britain could share. Here are some of my initial sketches.


I want my money to be timeless, something that can not age. So I am not going to include a person or a landmark just something that will always be known or popular in the future and will not need to keep being changed.
I am creating a banknote for Britain because when asking people who is on our bank notes nobody really knew anyone except for Queen Elizabeth.
My idea is to create money that is patriotic. Back in WW2 Britian were very patriotic, proud of their country and what it had achieved. Since then patriotism in Britian reduces with each generation. In 2012 when we hosted the olympics pride did rise but it soon dropped back down again. I want my money a sign that we are proud to be British as well as being ageless.

 Symbols that relates to Britian

• English Rose
• Tea and scones
• British Bulldog
• Lion
• Football
• Bad weather
• Fish and Chips

I need to think about how to can make it so that the money can not be forged.

I also need to think about how I can create my money and how it could be mass produced.

My Book Content Production

When making the production of my book I wanted to to reach to people in a way that makes people understand that they have a choice and they can help themselves. I wanted to create this book because I have lost somebody close to depression and I think that it is a issue that a lot of people need help with, however a many people never want the help which ends with someone losing their life. I also wanted my book to be broad and focus on many people in particular students as it can be a stressful confusing time in life. I creating my articals by just looking into things that I found about my experiences and what I thought would help others.

In my production I wanted to use my own illustrations and photography that I thought best suited what I was trying to say. The places I took the photographs are places that make me feel most happy

and calm and the activities help me and hopefully will help others. In the production I also found it important to keep notes on websites I found useful and that I had came across during research that could also be useful and created a page that listed them that could be for further information.

Large Publication cover design

I looked at some book covers that I liked and thought about what aspects I could include in my book cover. I like the cut out and I also liked not having to much information and minimal colour. I wanted to include no more than three colours I thought of having blue and yellow as it could represent happy and sad. I thought If I had a small cut out it would make the book more playful and interactive. I played with the idea of using photography but then decided that I wanted the front cover to be creative using paint. 

I messed around with splattering paint and drips using yellow and blue, I wanted to give the effect that your life is made up of happy and sad. I used photoshop to overlay the paint until it was how I liked it. I came up with the title Happiness is a choice because it is an indirect way of telling you that you can be a positive person but it also makes you want to find out more.

I made the second page of the book fit the front so that when I cut out the hole in the O it would match the smiley face on the second page. The second page represents that even if you are surrounded by sad people you can choose to be the positive and happy person.

Final Outcome Secret 7

I submitted three of my designs which were the 2 hearts designs and one of the girl ones. I am happy with my final outcomes as through my research I was able to represent the song and theme of psychedelic rock without using any words or the name of the song or artist. I like my minimal design of the heart and how I explored melting crayons to find an beautiful effect. I am also happy I was able to be creative when making the covers and was able to use some traditional methods and photography. I really enjoyed this brief and made me understand that there are competitions out there that I can enter that are fun and creative I hope to take part in secret 7 again next year.

First Critique with tutor

We met up with a tutor and talked through our initial ideas. I made notes of what he said about our ideas and help for moving forward. This critique helped us to move forward with our ideas and come to some conclusions of what we could use and we are now ready to produce designs.

Feedback

• We need a written concept, the idea behind the theme. 

• Think Context of exhibition. 

• We need a written Contract 

• Answer the Questions on the presentation 

• You need to promote level 4-5 As designers

• Invite People in the industry and the design press is the audience. 

• Face Value the exhibition sounds dull and boring. We have to make it sound good.

• Interesting to make it look like a bill

• how do you keep a persons attention

• Offer people investment opportunity 

• Stocks shares etc.

• Counterfitting is by nature more interesting

• Research into exhibitions as soon as possible so you know how you can go about it

What makes it unique

• that it is all traditional print 

• Made up of Level 4 and 5

• Usually just on person 110 of us 

• All about Money

• Final Crit Friday the 15th April

• You each submit what you were responsible for individually on design boards

• Questionaire on grading your group

Deciding on a concept

I began by developing my ideas for the concept of a bank of art. We came up with a name for this concept which was leeds bank of art so I started by thinking of a logo.

 I began by using the college's logo but changing the words to read Leeds bank of art, the reasoning behind this was that I want the exhibition to link strongly to LCA so the exhibition will draw people to our college and because it is important for people to know that we are LCA Graphic Design students. I used the colour green to represent money but I also used the Leeds college of Art pink.

I then thought about what we talked about for the bank idea and created some mock ups. I created the idea of having the invitations look like a credit card. I also thought that as a way of giving feedback at the exhibition we could make feedback checks. I also thought we could have props such as the poles and rope to make it really look like a bank.

I then met up with my group and we talked through our ideas, We decided on the concept of the Leeds bank of art and began to mind map some further ideas, We talked about the idea of having minimal poster design as first direct is a more minimal design.We talked about the idea of including money wallets as a pack you get given with information in.
We also decided to go with the colour scheme of black, white and pink to link with first direct, leeds college of art and to keep it looking professional. We talked about the idea of using coins to vote for things and keep the audience engaged. We knew we wanted to focus on the experience as a whole and we came up with the idea of having the slogan for the exhibition  as 'Invest your Time' rather than investing their money like a real bank we want them to Invest their time in seeing our art work. Moving forward we made a list of things that we can all focus on but also said we can talk to each other about the things and collabrate.

Initial Ideas for exhibition branding

We got briefed for this task and then put into groups my group is made up of Me, James, Rosie, Lily, Barney and Anna. We got together and began to brainstorm ideas on a large mind map, We looked into the Bankhouse building and first direct.

We started by all listing some concepts, I came up with the idea to make the exhibition as if it is a Bank that people go to. Lily had the idea of money grows on trees. James had the idea of looking into robbers and Barney discussed the possibility of counterfeit money. We also wrote down a few other initial concept ideas. We then talked about what we would need to create for the exhibition such as promotional collateral. Tickets, posters, leaflets, social media etc.
We arranged to meet up later in the week and explore our own concepts then we could show each other and decide on a final idea.

Final Crit Secret 7

It was a walk around critique where I got lots of peoples opinions and comments on my covers.

I presented my work on PDF adding descriptions
and I asked what people's favourite was and what I should put into the exhibition.

 A majority of people said they liked 2 and 3 the best for its minimal design and how it was unique and stood out against the white of the background.

 Some people did like 4 and 6 however found it a bit strange.

I decided after the critique that I would submit more than one cover.