New! - OUGD503 - Substantial Project Ideas

For this project I will be researching, selecting and working on my own briefs from various competition websites that connect with people and designers across the nation. 

I will be required to select one large substantial brief along with a small selection of less substantial briefs which I will be working on over my own managed time. This project will help me to become a more self sufficient and independent designer that has the skills to take on my own choice of projects without the full guidance from my lectures, but will be there to help me with my chosen projects if I should need it. 

To start off this brief I will start off my choosing a substantial project of my choice, there are a number of different websites that I have been guided to from my lecturer that would be appropriate to use for this project. I have first began searching through the website D&AD.co.uk

I have come across quite a few interesting projects, however there is one in particular that interested me the most.
Adobe have released a project which asks designers to create a set of 3 posters or designs which visually communicate an important personal self taught message which can be used to inspire others. 

I have recently been thinking about the subject that my posters will be on. I would like to design something that is personal to me as well as inspiring other people. 

I wanted to list a few subjects that I would be comfortable applying to this project. 

One of which is dealing with depression and anxiety. Since this kind of mental illness is something that I have suffered with for many years myself, I feel that it is also a very apparent illness that is growing in the modern age. More and more people are being diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and it is a very touchy subject that many people including myself do not like to talk about and discuss. It is much easier for the sufferer to keep and deal withy the problems alone rather than seek any help, even if that is what is best. 

I have managed to pick up a book which takes the form of depression and anxiety and transforms the form into art. Visuals of what depression in the image of a person looks like. Still shots and positions, actions which sufferers of this mental illness are very common to act out themselves. I feel that this boom will be very useful in understanding the type of images that are used to express the form of depression and anxiety.

' The Aesthetics of disengagement by Christine Ross' 

The book which I managed to pick up does contain a lot of images which closely match the form of depression and being disconnected from society in some way or form . However these images a very abstract and maybe pull away slightly from the subject that I want to concentrate on. I feel that I need to find something which portrays images in which I can also understand myself before using it as a tool to inspire or help others. 

I will upload some of the photos from this book shortly 

New! - OUGD502 - Secret 7 Project

I usually take on the secret 7 project every year when it comes to individual projects. I do enjoy the secret 7 project and applying my designs to a selected sone that I usually have never heard of before. 

Although none of my designs have ever been chosen to enter into the final of secret 7 designs, I am determined to give it another go this year and really put in my maximum effort to try and get a place in the final designs. 

I will start by carrying out some much needed research into the history of Album cover designs and what is needed to create something really effective. A lot of the designs that I have seen over the past couple of years in secret 7 have been very strong and individualistic designs, I feel that when I compare the winning designs to my own, I lack the difference that can separate my work from the winning designs. 

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What I plan to change in my design process for Secret 7 2017 is the way I work during the early stages of the project. I would usually just go straight into the design which in my mind could very well be the reason that my finished piece is not strong enough to be picked as one of the potential winners, instead take some ideas from the research that I carry out before I even decide on the song that I want to work with. 

I feel that starting the project out this way will help me to think of better ideas for the project. 

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Unfortunately since Secret 7 2017 is not out yet, there is no possible way of finding out which songs will be available to choose from to begin the new deigns. however that does not stop me from starting the project by being the research process. 

I will start by picking out some useful books that look into more successful designs of cover art. Not only will this give me inspiration but it will also put me into the positive mood to begin this project from a strong starting point.

The first book I will be looking at it 'Sleeves of Desire'

This book is completely filled with amazing sleeve designs that really capture the imagination and the eye. It gives me a lot of inspiration into the high level of work that I could produce for this project. 

The second book that I want to look at is 'The Best of Disc Art' by Charlotte Rivers

OUGD504 - Studio Brief 02 - Design for Screen

I have been given the project to create my own Screen based design, this could potentially be a website or an app, or some kind of digital service that can be used by people.

During this project I will be considering my target audience all the way through as well as the needs of the application and what people will use it for. That way I will be able to design something that there is a need and want for. 

I have recently discussed with my tutor for the project about possibly using the early designs of my own personal brand through the creation of a website and possible mobile app. It was agreed that using my brand creation as my project would be a good idea.

My brand is called Billy Thomas Patrick Designs, However I am still not yet 100% on the name yet as it does seem quite long and I would probably prefer something shorter and easier to say. 

When discussing the need and want for my project design, I would like to go ahead and talk about the project and my brand as the 'company'. 
This helps me to discuss the need and want for the company. The company needs a website to function and connect to clients, At the same time the company may also need a mobile app, which would make it even easier for clients to access the company. 

I currently already have a completed logo for the company which will make a good starting point to build designs fro the website and app.