BRIEF 02: MIXED TAPE//PRINTED POSTER//OUGD603

BRIEF 06: PROMOTING INTERRAIL//REPHOTOGRAPHING REPRINTED WORK//OUGD603

BRIEF 02: MIXED TAPE//FILM POSTER//DESIGN DEVELOPMENT//OUGD603

design development: mixed tape film poster
After researching into various film posters, talking with the director of the short film and reading into the synopsis etc.  I had a clear visual idea for how I wanted the film poster to look.  My main visual that I wanted to focus on was cassettes, I think this is the most obvious but could also be the most interesting aesthetic as they now look very dated.  Initially I was going to work with this photograph that I had taken whilst on set, shooting the film:
on set: This is a clip of the main character, Morgan travelling on the train.  I was quite happy with the photography, however I didn't feel it was exactly right for the type of poster I wanted the film to communicate.

I collected tapes, and tried to get as wider range as possible to allow the visual to be more interesting.  I also needed to be aware of the types of tapes/music I was using, as the labels would be visible and the music needed to fit the era of the film.  So predominately music from before the 90's, and based on the music the main character likes, quite broad.  I used photoshop for this area of the poster, which is something I have used a lot more this year, and something that throughout the time on the course I've wanted to improve.

As the title of the film is mixed tape I thought it would be more fitting to have a variety of tapes on the poster as opposed to one.  In terms of layout, I had planned to repeat the pattern several times, as I thought this could work, especially as I had quite a varied selection of tapes.  In terms of typefaces, I think it should be sans serif as this allows the poster to keep a simple design and not take anything much away from the visuals.

I thought Futura would be perfect for the type of style I was trying to create, it seems to be something that I feel I've seen on film posters before, so I think this allowed for the design to look more realistic for a film poster.  After looking at various film posters I'd noticed a lot of the text was centrally aligned, which is not something I usually do, however this hugely improved the overall aesthetic of the poster.  Looking at film posters helped me to understand the heir-achy of text and importance of information on the film poster.  I thought having the directors name above the film title made it look more realistic.  The log line originally was 'follow the music' but after reading through the synopsis and being on location filming, I suggested having press play at the start, which was an idea that was incorporated into the design.

I thought for professional reasons, even though this is only a short film, that I designed it in a similar way to a full length, with the information about casting, producers, editors etc.  I looked for a type face that was stereotypically used in film posters, at the footer of the poster.  I also included a further passage on the narrative and the website to the official films site.

Once I had got all the information that was important and I felt like I needed, I started the layout.  At first I had finished laying out the information and visuals and decided I wasn't happy with it at all, it felt too plain and looked unfinished.  I tried a variety of block colour backgrounds and eventually was happy with the yellow.  I think the yellow makes the whole thing look a lot more professional, more eye catching and generally suits the film style a lot more.

Because I was happy with the general design I looked into how I could improve it or sightly alter it in order to get the best out of it.  I thought something that might benefit it would be adding in a sample of the main characters hand writing, as he is portrayed as a loner and is always with his cassette player and notebook.  I thought this could add a bit of the main characters personality to it, as the film is very much focused all on him, with most scenes only shot with him in it.

scanned handwriting:

In terms of positioning I didn't know where would be best to place his name, initially I liked it at the side as though it had just been written there in a rush, however because there is quite a lot of space at the top of the poster it might look more even in terms of composition.

This was another layout that I played around with, I don't think its one Im going to end up using as I think the positioning of the previous designs work better.  I scanned in all the tapes I had collected and positioned them in a 3 by 5 sequence as this was the highest amount of tapes I could include without using the same tape as a visual again.  If I were to go with the multiple tapes in the end I would need to think about spreading the the text throughout the poster as it could look too busy.

final layouts:

These are the three final layouts that I need to choose from, at the moment I think my preference is the multiple tape poster as it looks slightly more interesting.  However I will check with the director and see what needs working on and which layout/design he prefers.

BRIEF 09: MEANTIME//FINAL TEE SHIRTS//OUGD603

screen print meantime tee shirt 

BRIEF 02: MIXED TAPE//FILM POSTER RESEARCH//OUGD603

film poster research:  I have researched into film posters that I either like or that I think have a similar storyline/feel as the film I am creating a poster for.  This film poster for Submarine, I think is designed really nicely, and after watching the film I feel as though this is the kind of narrative/film style that mix tape is looking at.  Comparisons include an isolated teenage boy with with various things happening and with the general theme of coming of age.

In terms of the design I think the colours and typefaces are really suited for the film and its just generally a nicely designed film poster.  In terms of my own design I think using a photo or a still from a film would be best for this design.  The only thing I may have to think about is that Submarine is more of a comedy than Mixed Tape and I need to consider this when designing as I feel you can tell from the poster design that it could be potentially funny, as well as the reviews, obviously.

I think this could be used to inspire the design, although both these films are completely different I am taking the actual visual from this as an idea.  As the film focuses on Morgan and a walkman, taking a photograph of the main character with a set of nineties headphones on (as it was set in the 90's) could work, along with the simple use of type overlaying the photograph.  Mixed tape is filmed as a British gritty realism film with snippets of light heartedness and humour, I think the visual below definitely shows that type of bleakness.

I really like this design and I think something like this would work perfectly for the film, I also like the handwriting being incorporated in the design which is something I want to try and include.  I think the main characters name or a quote from the film could be hand written.  I think based on the research I've done I'd quite like to use a still or a photograph.

BRIEF 05:UNSUNG HEROES AND HEROINES//PRINTED PRODUCTS//OUGD603

BRIEF 07: PERSONAL MANIFESTO//DESIGN DEVELOPMENT//OUGD603

design development: manifesto point, read
I struggled at first with this design as I didn't want it to look too similar to something I've already designed but I had struggled with what could visually represent the manifesto point 'read' that wasn't a book.  In the end I decided to go with books, even though this is obvious I feel it was the best way to display it.

I collected some books that I thought would look visually interesting for the design and took various photos arranging them in different ways.  I then needed to add text, using a selection of quotes that highlight the positivity of reading.

After playing around with layout and looking at different ways I could position the image to best suit the text, I rotated one of the photographs 90 degrees as I thought this looked better in terms of a poster.  I then needed to see where text would be best positioned and also what quotes would be best, I think the more text with the image the better the final outcome will be.  Te three/four quotes I want to use would be from Proust, dr seuss and gustave flaubert.

I think Flaubert is really appropriate to quote because he voices the importance of reading several times, because of this I have used him as my 'reading' point in my manifesto.

I decided to go with a simple typeface, as opposed to the same as my branding, I did try Minion Pro but I didn't think the style of the typeface suited the imagery.

layout:

I think in terms of layout the top one works best, I think this works better in terms of positioning with text and also generally on the whole as a design.  It also allows me to add in the other quote at the footer of the page which I think is the main point of the manifesto and so works being on its own.

BRIEF 02: MIXED TAPE//DESIGN DEVELOPMENT//OUGD603

design development / initial ideas

log line:  Morgan needs to discover what it’ll take to break away from his life absorbing dependence on chance and prompted emotion and instead take hold of his own fate.

film synopsis:

Set in the early 90’s the film follows the bittersweet story of Morgan Harris, a 16-year-old boy living in the suburbs of northern England. Heavily neglected as a child, Morgan struggles to gage any sense of emotional attachment. This lack of compassion combined with the fear of taking responsibility over his actions, has constructed a barrier, preventing him from making his own decisions. Morgan’s constant feeling of emptiness leads him in search for emotional development; this search takes around the UK. The only invoked sense of emotion other than fear that Morgan experience is through Music. Morgan attaches the emotion prompted by the music to the decision in hand. Building a pattern of logic with shapes and colors that stand as the visual embodiment of the emotion invoked by the music.  However, this music-spurned emotion is more of a hold over him rather than an outlet. As ultimately he needs to obtain the power over his own actions.

A stylistic take on British grit, this will be a moody, thought provoking and artistically shot film, that uses both sound and picture to represent the character’s inner monologue. Morgan’s story will be told from the prospective of an onlooker. Using cinematic techniques to give the viewer a physical presence, therefore providing way for audience to connect with the film whilst maintaining the elusiveness of the main character. The film will only offer suggestions in to Morgan’s life prior to when the film starts, furthering the sense of mystery and intrigue that surrounds him. Through Morgan the film toys with themes of escapism and coming of age that the audience can empathise with, especially those of a similar age. Whilst maintaining a sense of mystery, enough will be depicted about Morgan in order for the audience to gain that the film starts nearing the end of a restricting way of life that Morgan has lived by for a while, using subtleties to paint a bigger picture.          

After talking to the writer/director of the film, reading the plot and getting a better understanding of the film and what potential aesthetics could be used for the poster I brainstormed ideas for the visuals.  The obvious ones would be tapes/cassettes or train tickets as the main character travels throughout the film.  Another idea would be to use a still from the film, one that depicts a certain theme from the film.  One that I had in mind after seeing some of the footage was to have an image of the main character on a train with his reflection through the window.

In terms of initial visual ideas one was to use an old cassette and unravel the inside, then using a blank piece of card as the background, spell out the film title with the insides of the cassette.  Another idea was to collect old cassettes, ones with interesting labels, and scan them in, then using these images as a repeated pattern.  I also had a similar idea with train tickets, to use them as a repeated pattern for the poster.

Another idea depending on the amount of old cassettes I manage to collect would be to spell out the film title or relevant information about the film on each label of the tape.

BRIEF 07: PERSONAL MANIFESTO//DESIGN DEVELOPMENT//OUGD603

manifesto development:
Today I finished compiling my ten point manifesto which was made up of my points with a quote supporting it.  This is the layout which is consistent with my self branding.

I wanted to call my manifesto 'A practice for everyday life' as I thought this was quite a nice title, however a design studio in London are already called that so I need to think about changing the title of the manifesto.  I have referenced William Morris in my manifesto as I took his views and morals from researching into him on my COP module.  News from nowhere is a sub heading for my manifesto which is taken from a title of collected writings by William Morris.  My logo will also feature on my manifesto as part of my self branding.  The typeface used throughout is Minion pro, which is the text most of my branding is, although for the body copy of the manifesto I have chosen letter gothic stnd, which I think compliments each other as they are both quite different.

original layout:

My initial thoughts were to have the manifesto written as a list, my point as the heading, supported by a quote that displayed the above point.

I ended up changing the layout to suit my personal branding a little better.  My ten points are made up of either people I admire or the quote being very fitting to the point I was making in the manifesto.  I have also decided to call the manifesto 'this time tomorrow' which is one of my favourite songs by the Kinks and also quite appropriate for a manifesto title.

final layouts:

This is how the final A4 manifesto will look, featuring the ten points and quotes, these quotes include: John Lennon, William Morris, Monet, Van Gogh, Albert Einstein etc.  The title of the manifesto includes a reference from Morris (News from nowhere) and a Kinks song for the title, 'this time tomorrow'

As well as my branding logo I wanted to include my name and title which is part of my branding, written in the same typeface.  These were the two layouts, with my name centrally aligned and aligned to the left.  At first I preferred the left aligned, however after getting some feedback and looking at it in terms of heir-achy, I think it was important to have my name and title aligned centrally as its quite an important part.

final:

I decided to go with the central aligned title but positioned further down the page.

BRIEF 02: MIXED TAPE//THE BRIEF//OUGD603

BRIEF 07: PERSONAL MANIFESTO//DESIGN DEVELOPMENT//OUGD603

design development // manifesto point: stay positive
My idea changed slightly for this, at first I was struggling with a visual for 'staying positive' in the end I decided to go with a simple layout and look at it in the style of my branding.  I looked at song choices that I thought could work for staying positive, these were the final three:

accentuate the positives:
You've got to accentuate the positive
eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
But don't mess with mister inbetween

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
have faith, a pandemonium
Libel to walk up on the scene

To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the Whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do
just when everything looked so dark

They said we better
accentuate the positive
eliminate the negative
latch on to the affirmative
But don't mess with mister inbetween

[One more Time]

To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do
just when everything looked so dark
don't mess, don't mess, don't mess
with mister inbetween

carole king - beautiful

You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face

And show the world all the love in your heart

Then people gonna treat you better

You're gonna find, yes, you will

That you're beautiful as you feel

Waiting at the station with a workday wind a-blowing

I've got nothing to do but watch the passers-by

Mirrored in their faces I see frustration growing

And they don't see it showing, why do I?

You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face

And show the world all the love in your heart

Then people gonna treat you better

You're gonna find, yes, you will

That you're beautiful as you feel

I have often asked myself the reason for sadness

In a world where tears are just a lullaby

If there's any answer, maybe love can end the madness

Maybe not, oh, but we can only try

You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face

And show the world all the love in your heart

Then people gonna treat you better

You're gonna find, yes, you will

That you're beautiful as you feel

fleetwood mac - don't stop

If you wake up and don't want to smile,

If it takes just a little while,

Open your eyes and look at the day,

You'll see things in a different way.

Don't stop, thinking about tomorrow,

Don't stop, it'll soon be here,

It'll be, better than before,

Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone.

Why not think about times to come,

And not about the things that you've done,

If your life was bad to you,

Just think what tomorrow will do.

Don't stop, thinking about tomorrow,

Don't stop, it'll soon be here,

It'll be, better than before,

Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone.

All I want is to see you smile,

If it takes just a little while,

I know you don't believe that it's true,

I never meant any harm to you.

Don't stop, thinking about tomorrow,

Don't stop, it'll soon be here,

It'll be, better than before,

Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone.

Don't you look back,

Don't you look back.

I thought all these songs had positive lyrics and meanings, in the end I decided to go with the Fleetwood mac song, as its from the album Rumours, which I really like and so is more personal to me.  Originally I wanted to use this typeface as I quite liked the heading being in this typeface, however, whilst looking at it I started to think it could look out of place with the rest of the designs as I never really use this style of typeface.

At the footer of the visual I wanted to include the information of the song and the manifesto point, depending on which looked better I would have the information all aligned to the left hand side, or spread across the bottom of the page in three columns.

The final layout is very simple and goes with the overall self branding, I think the song speaks for the manifesto point itself.  What I've learnt sometimes with this brief is that trying to match a visual to a the content is quite hard, sometimes an obvious outcome doesn't work as well as you thought it might so with some of the designs having more of a focus on the type can work out just as well.

BRIEF 07: PERSONAL MANIFESTO//DESIGN DEVELOPMENT//OUGD603

personal manifesto // design development : manifesto point - stay inspired
reality leaves a lot to the imagination - John Lennon
This was a design for the manifesto point: stay inspired, my initial idea was to collect a bank of images that inspired me and quotes that I thought highlighted staying inspired and positive.  Eventually I went with a quote by John Lennon, 'Reality leaves a lot the imagination' which I took to mean as reality being a source of inspiration, a lot of things you take from reality can be left to your own imagination.  For this I wanted to look mostly at text and how I could display that in an interesting way.  Originally I started looking at photographs that I could use and possibly if it could link to the previous manifesto point, documenting.


design development:
I took the quote and printed it out, then scanned it again to try and distort the text which I think works quite well considering the content of the quote.  At first I wanted to over lay that onto a photograph, but I felt that this could benefit from just being text based.

scanning in a background: This is a background I scanned in, which I think works better than having a visual, but adds something to the design as it looked too plain before with just the text.