Ideas by Music_Portfolio Review

The portfolio review I think went well and while looking around the studio and talking to some of other members of staff I found it was a very inviting and friendly environment to work in and just to be at. Much more so that thomas.matthews.

The location as well was fantastic being in the creative hub of Manchester's Northern Quarter. I would love to work there as the work they are producing is brilliant and the range of clients they have are from MNC's to local independent Thai restaurants, which I think is a great mentality to get the 'pay days' as well as giving something back to the community and investing time and money into local businesses.

After reviewing my portfolio and discussing where I wanted to be after LCA, he asked to see more of my my ASPECT project as he was interested by the subject matter. I emailed him and he replied;
Thanks for sending this through.
I’ll make sure it gets shared round the office for everyone to have a look.

It was great to see you guys last week, 
good luck with the final hand in!

I’ll definitely be down to see the end of year show,
so I’ll see you then.

Cheers,
Dan.

Dan Lancaster
Senior Creative

Ideas by Music_Digital Portfolio

Personal Branding_8

The solution to what I would be able to achieve is a stamp (made from either lino or wood block, lime wood or jelutong wood, as they are the flattest and will give the best finish) and on the stamp there is a dotted line which would become the crop lines. 

This process would be easily done and it would be very achievable in the time available and cost effective. This option is also one where I can push my own brand furthest with through packaging the stamp. This could become a branding 'tool kit' for myself, feeding into my hands on approach to projects.

Examples of something which I could make for the project:

I feel I have already created pieces like the one above, out of cardboard or card. so for my final now personal professional practice, I want to create something more durable and polished. Such as the items below: 

A possibility for the outcome could be a 'tagline' or manifesto which could be printed onto the product:

Personal Branding_7

Technical workshop with Roger Berry:

After emailing Roger and telling him of my product we arranged to have a meeting on Wednesday 22 April. The meeting started by discussing the potential product that I wanted to create and what I wanted from it, a sustainable, bespoke business card. After this discussion we spoke of the practicality of the cutting mechanism and it safety issues in college, the problem being that the stamping motion when cutting needs to be coming from a huge amount of pressure, pressure that I could not do myself. The pressure cut is very demanding and if I wanted to do it I would need some sort of mobile hydraulic mechanism, he joked.

The cutting from a blade is made from pressure applied to a surface area which when angled slices through the stock. When using the same pressure is used the distribution of the of the blades surface area it does not have the same outcome as there is an imbalance of pressure and distribution. As my stamp will have one continuos blade and be flat the cut through that I want will not be possible through the pressure of the push down motion of my own hand.

The solution to what I could be able to achieve is a stamp (made from either lino or wood block, lime wood or jelutong wood, as they are the flattest and will give the best finish) and on the stamp there is a dotted line which would become the crop lines.

Another option would be to screen print directly onto the 'Make-ready sheets' and then to kiss cut the cards and create a perforation and it would act like a book of stamps.

The most interesting of the solutions would be using a mobile digital printer. The mini printer has a rechargeable battery and can connect with smartphones and PCs. It also allows the user to print on any size of paper.The device works by using a sliding hatch underneath.When the printer is activated, this reveals the inkjet.Wheels then move the robot across paper, printing out whatever is required as it goes.An omni-wheel system enables the printer to turn and drive accurately in any direction.To print something, a user merely needs to send their request to the device via Bluetooth.The device itself, made of polycarbonate, will come in either black or white.

Personal Branding_6

Stamp Design

Business Card

Creating a simple template for my business card, the red being the blade/cutting size of the UK size of 85 mm x 55 mm. The design area is 6 mm2 smaller creating a safe area of 79 mm x 49 mm. The design looks incredibly flat and lifeless at this moment in time but I am convinced when the product is designed and functional it will transform the simplicity of the design into something which is highly functional, affordable and desirable.

I have also considered creating my own separate logo for a embossing stamp and/or ink stamp. I feel it would give the design a more professional finish, especially the embossing stamp. I am in the process of reseaching into having my own email domain so I have an even more developed presence. So this design would be simply reworked when I do create and buy my own.

Personal Branding_5

After emailing a further 10 local printers I have managed to get one positive response from Bowmans. This is really good for the progression of my personal branding stock, it also means it is free of charge and the fact that it is local and I can walk there means that the environmental damage via CO2 is reduced further. A great response and straight forward.

Personal Branding_4

Pinterst board_

Stamp - Product Design

After speaking to Roger Berry briefly over Easter about the possibility of designing and producing the stamp cutter in College under Roger's guidance. The only issue at this moment of time is the use of a blade for cutting and a cutting mat which can be used during the cutting process and make it transferable and mobile.

Wanting to create something which can be mobile could be possible through packaging or through a shell. The aesthetics of the stamp/cutter is very important as I want my final design for my PPP to be the product which helps to define me as a designer. I have created enough work which is sustainable but the real issue is creating something which is beautifully designed aa well as sustainable, helping to make a decision for people through good design.

A business card holder such as this one could add another dimension to my end of year show exhibition:

Personal Branding_3_Thomas.matthews

Research_Studio visit_Portfolio Review

Thomas.matthews

Research_

Based on my research into how I could put my identity into print onto sustainable stock, I came across this publication which prints on 'make-ready' printers sheets and uses the reverse. Creating a contrasting inventive bespoke colour and pattern side and onto the other side a plain white which can be printed onto. 

I have since contacted local printers in an attempt to get hold of some 'make-it-ready' sheets but I have not had any luck so far. Although I will continue next week and visit some printers in the town centre and try to charm them into getting some for my printed identity. I think these would not only work great with my business cards but also any other printed collateral I may create. 

Responses_

Studio visit_

After contacting Peter Clarkson the senior designer at thomas.matthews I have been asked to come down for a portfolio review as they are not taking on internships at this moment in time but I was told to get in contact after I graduate. Which is promising.. 

Notes which I managed to scribble down while we were revising my portfolio_

Personal Branding_2

After research into ecological cards it can be seen that the 'designing backwards' and reducing the business cards environmental impact is something which can be addressed easily, instead of printing 100's of cards at any one time and then to only update my identity making the cards useless. A stamp approach allows for my business cards to be printed when needed and minimising impact on stock/inks.

Taking what has been done in this case I thought how could this be improved and refined into a more professional context. My solution of to create a stamp that also includes a cutting as an option, reducing the 'rubbish' finish which it currently has. It could be easily thrown away for looking like a piece of rubbish. What I hope to achieve is a business card which has little environmental impact with a professional finish.

Personal Branding_1

MY personal branding will be taking a more professional turn this year as I will be leaving out the dolly and packaging which I have made and recreated in the last two years. The doll of myself has been a fun and enjoyable project which has been upgraded versions of myself throughout the last two years but know I feel this is not practical when trying to connect as many studios as I have, unless I had access to a product designer who could recreate the doll and packing at a mass scale.

(Insert image of current busines cards)

This year I have already recreated a more simplified personal branding in business cards which have been generously given out to various design professionals and studios. These have yet to be refined further as they were more about actually giving some tangible to a potential employer and not as focussed as I would of liked.

Now finishing my manifesto and being as far as I am concerned working at a professional level I now want to create something more than a logo and a look book. I want to create something which tries to compile my abilities in design, innovation and sustainable accolades into one product.

Presentation Feedback

Bobby Jones                                                                                                                                                     
              

Bobby is as he said is hopefully an ‘agent for positive change’ and has arrived at this with good reflective considerations on his growth by use of his blogs.The explanation of his progress in all 3 years proves that one evaluates with a purpose and can see the growth pattern of oneself as an embryonic creative to a ‘ready for action professional’

By engaging with others through networking i.e.: The guild for responsible Designers  shows the interest in ethical and sustainable responsibility and has to be commended. 

Good presentation and tone of voice, engaging and informative with such projects as the HomelessWorld cup and the awareness of not being totally dependent on screen to work. Seeing the importance of Context within his practice, experimentation and diversity to achieve informed outcomes.

Networking and awareness of the ‘global’ potential in a practice, mentioning Barcelona and others can be enhanced by networking with a purpose.

Collaboration is what we do day to day, whether it’s asking if someone takes sugar in their coffee or constructing a brief with a client, briefing a printer/photographer etc. …but for a reason that is.

Always consider your work, life balance as your life informs your practice and the reverse so enjoy and grow. Feel the sun on your skin, the fresh air in your lungs and go for the things you want. No can mean maybe

PPP Final Presentation

Ideas by Music_Point of contact

Good Morning Dan,


My name is Bobby Jones and I am a Graphic Design student from Leeds College of Art. I have seen your work with City and think its great, I have a the Adebayor programme, it's my favourite match day programme. I particularly like the identity that City now have as being one entity and being #together, it really encapsulates the club.

I have attached my digital portfolio, feedback very welcome. 

It would be great if I could come for a visit to your studio for a chat.


Hope to hear from you soon,


Bobby Jones


____



Portfolio Snippet. Which he mentioned I was the only one to send anything with my email;