GIFT Ltd. - Logo - OUGD502

I have been asked to create a new logo for  company which specialises in provision for the 'exceptionally able, talented and gifted' children.

The current logo needed updating. So I set out to pitch an overhaul of the brand to give it a fresh, young feel.

Current:

The green double helix shape is made to represent DNA, which I find doesn't quite represent a rememberable logo, I found it overcomplicated and that it needed simplifying.

So I set went to the drawing board and set out finding symbols that can represent words like talented, gifted and able.

Which then led me to this solution:

I thought it would be refreshing for the brand to be uplifted, but when I pitched this to the client, they were unsure because they found it too much of a radical change. Also they found it a little 'too' modernist for their taste. Which I was fine with, as this gave me a much better perspective on what the client wanted, not a re-design, but rather a facelift for the current logo.

The brief they then set me was:

To re-create the current logo in a more legible and up-to-date fashion using purple as the primary colour.

So I went back to the drawing board and set out vectorising the DNA shape from the original logo.

I tried to keep changes to a minimum as you can tell. I found that the DNA spiral was difficult to execute without it looking outdated and *too* skeuomorphic which again is not my typical style of working so I had to dust off the old shadow/highlight techniques within Illustrator to give the 3D effect.

The style of shading I chose was a subtle 'contouring' rather than the reflective style of the old logo.

Examples of contouring:

2015 Freeview Re-brand. A great example of subtle shadows and highlights creating a more 'flat' looking 3D shape. 

Not forgetting the old Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 icons. These were strong inspiriting for me when updating the logo with their 'folded' effect.

After the client took some time to decide which variation of the logo they found most effective, they went with the very first one:

Throughout this process, I have gained valuable experience on respecting what the client wants and although they come to me with the problem and I am the one with the solution, I find it frustrating that what I might see as the more effective outcome, the client may not see eye-to-eye with me but when the brief is applied, I have to see it through and create an outcome they will be pleased with and effectively communicates the brand.

Zeek App - Branding & Identity - OUGD502

I've recently purchased a book token from the gift card marketplace Zeek. But it wasn't the gift card that made me shop there.

They run primarily from their mobile app which has recently been re-designed. This caught my eye and I thought it was very well executed.

Even the packaging I received the card in was appealing to the eye, I found it to be very rememberable and strong brand.

The logo, shown above, so effective in communicating the given message, gift cards. With the token like features on the end of each edge give a good contrast to the smooth sides of the letter.

The designer(s) of which are unknown to me, the only information I could find on the design this brand is the UI/UX redesign of the app on Bēhance from Nicole Bierbrier, a Graphic Designer from Isreal:

Bjarke Kristensen - Studio Brief 02 - OUGD402

Bjarke Kristensen

Final example is a Designer based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Another fantastic example on concept. Playing on the fact their name has a silent 'B' at the beginning of it and using this to their benefit.

I love the animated gif at the start of the post, it gives the viewer an idea of the growth which is represented throughout his identity. The only downside I would have with this branding is, I don't think there is a reason as to why he displaced the 'creative' within his poster and portfolio. Being a modernist, I like to see things logically placed on a page by using  grid or something similar.

I like his use of indigo on white, but it would have been nice to see some colour swatches and type decisions.

My intention is to use a similar colour of blue to represent my eye colour, which I will take a picture of and colour spot myself to give it meaning, not just random like this could possibly be.

Bruno Fernandes - Studio Brief 02 - OUGD402

Bruno Fernandes

This example is of a designer from Portugal.

Lacking in versatility, I think he hasn't done the final examples justice by not including enough examples of his work in a flat, digital format.

His colours are bright, vivid and fresh, but his logo style seems outdated and predictable. I think the best thing you can do in a self branding/identity project is find something out about yourself that is unique and sets you apart form the others. Where as his logo doesn't say much about him, I think employers will have trouble remembering him and what he looks like, meaning the next encounter could be a little uncomfortable, that's if there ever would be one. This once again shows how important it is to stand out from the crowd and separate yourself from the rest of the design community.

His choice of colour could be a bit of an issue when it comes to ease of printing. It is clearly a specialist colour that will have to be purchased specifically for his branding as CMYK is not capable of producing this colour, unless he went in the direction of screen printing and using a neon ink, with would seem a little unviable for something that might possibly just be thrown away. Something of which I am going to have to consider myself, as I intend to use something which bounces of the page and catches your eye more than other colours.

Kim Dekker - Studio Brief 02 - OUGD402

Kim Dekker

A designer based in Colchester, UK.

Kim has shown a good range of uses for her brand. But in spite of all this, I can't help but feel the blue/red gradient she included in some of the collateral is unneeded.

With a simple as can get logo and effective colour way, I like how the business cards are uncluttered and uncomplicated. Her use of white space really lets each letter breath on the page. This gives a very fresh and inviting feel to the brand. Something of which I wish to mimic myself.

When you put so much work into branding yourself and I know personally that it takes a long time to get something you are truly happy with. It seems a shame to include such little detail on your journey and how you got the the outcomes you did.

I will attempt to address this within my own work and include some sort of a direction and have more consistency that will represent how I got to where I was. This will hopefully make it clear like the previous example and how they shown where the pattern and shapes came from as they were not just plucked from thin air. There is always a route in which you followed and I feel it is important to represent this visually within the final presentation of examples.

Marta Llop - Studio Brief 02 - OUGD402

Marta Llop

First example is a designer based in Spain.

I have chosen these examples as I think Marta has really hit the nail on the head with the colour swatch and typeface (Unusually the same type I used in my previous branding, which I will more than likely be using again. So bear in mind I might be slightly biased.) 

The only downside to this identity is the language used, 'Design Some Shit' isn't quite what you want your future employers basing you on. I'd like to think I would be able to think of something a little more professional than this within my own solutions.

She has included plenty of collateral which I think is always a positive thing in my eyes. As it shows how versatile a design solution can be. When you can visualise something on pretty much anything and actually make it work proves you have succeeded in you endeavours.

The second image in this post which features the outcomes of her brand are fantastic. The fact she used her initials represented in an icon to create a unique pattern really shows she thought about the conceptual meaning behind this branding and I think this example would be an outcome to be proud of.

Personal Identity - Studio Brief 02 - OUGD402

Stand Out

The creative industry demands you to be different to the rest. You must be rememberable, to essentially persuade the client that you are the one for the job.

In the past, I have branded myself in what I was told by others to be a successful way. This being well over a year ago now I feel it i time for a change as I consider myself a different person than when I created this . 
Change plays a massive part in how you see and essentially give yourself an identity, one morning you could have a certain interest, and the next you find yourself wanting to focus on something else.

I will begin this project by looking at some current examples of branding, including my own. This should improve my design practice by representing my style within a brand that employers will see before anything else.