And now, the end is near...

Just in case...

2009-06-02T10:04:00.002+01:00

...the files on the disc haven't transferred properly, the PDFs can be downloaded here:

Collars & Cuffs Identity

Sign for the show proposal

In conclusion...

2009-06-02T09:17:00.003+01:00

(...although not really, since I've got this project til the event takes place, which will probably be September!)

Really happy with the outcomes. The print work looks cohesive and strongly representative of the identity that has been cemented for the event and its promotion. The clients' feedback has been really positive, both from Battersea and my primary client, Rock Events. The set designer and stylist who's working on C&C for Rock has also given a hugely positive response and has asked me to not only collaborate with her on the styling of the ROH when the Ball takes place but also to work with her on a major freelance project separate from Rock Events.

The event being so far in the future (September 2009) there was restricted info to work with so I've written all the copy myself, employing a bit of creative writing based on guidelines from BDCH and Rock Events, but this is all fully in keeping with the content of the final, FINAL outcome.

Presenting all the work in a custom made folder to collate everything together. Slight issue burning the discs, but hopefully this will resolve in time for assessment. Photos of final products in previous entry, sadly haven't had the opportunity to photograph them all together in the folder but they will be presented in a specially-designed pack.

Sponsorship leaflets, invitations

2009-06-02T03:32:00.002+01:00

Programme photos

2009-06-02T03:03:00.003+01:00

The finished article. At last!

Printwork coming together.

2009-05-30T11:25:00.002+01:00

The programme's back from the wonderful Screaming Colour along with the sponsorship leaflets and menu. Looks good to me! Here's also a pic or two of the self-foiled invitations and the laser-cut paper I no longer have a use for....thinking about that one. Photos to follow.

Invitations - foiling the printers' evil plan

2009-05-29T00:40:00.002+01:00

I wanted the event invitation cards silver foiled and embossed, but due to a whopping charge from several printers I followed Clare's advice and ordered some omnichrome - hit & miss laser printer transfer foil. Print your image, overly the foil sheet, heat it, and supposedly your image foils.

Tonight I invaded Kate's flat and took advantage of her, her laser printer and her laminator to get a few prototype invites done. Of course, when the date is set for the event and the client stumps up for the actual invitations they'll be properly foiled by a professional printers, but this is the best I can get with my budget and abilities.

Still, looks pretty good.

Below the photo shows the many, many test pieces made in advance of attempting The Real Thing. Pics of the final result when I have daylight to photograph them tomorrow.

Posters - Cinema 4D experiments

2009-05-28T01:03:00.005+01:00

I want to create a series of posters using just the type I've drawn up for this project to go into the corridor leading to the main Amphitheatre bar, through which all the guests will be passing on their way to the reception part of the evening.
Crisp type against a full colour background has worked well up til this point but I've been playing with Cinema 4D with the help of someone more in-the-know about it than me and the 3D effects you can get with type are quite interesting:

Sign - progression

2009-05-27T17:15:00.006+01:00

This almost definitely will NOT be ready for Tuesday, but it will most certainly be made for the show.
I pulled in a favour from a saintly former teacher to get this laser-cut from glossy black acrylic. Slight error: He works from a PC-based programme, so in the conversion it sadly lost the absolute flow of the curves, but the difference isn't overly noticeable. It's roughly A2 in size, although for a miniature mockup I've got an A4 copy. I cut a clear acrylic glaze for the front and reverse, and when they're sandwiched together they're high-shine and really smart.
This image shows it over a lightbox with flat lighting behind it...this would be the effect of lighting it with fluorescent tubes and then diffusing the glow.
Tonight going to experiment with the mirrored film and fairy lights (controlled twinkling effect) To be honest not entirely sure I want to bulk it up by sticking a box behind it to light it up. Will consider the options.

Lily article

2009-05-24T23:39:00.004+01:00

Wrote the article myself since I had no working copy but to demonstrate how the celebrity features will be laid out. Still working on her headline but the layout's in place.

Thanks page options

2009-05-24T17:12:00.004+01:00

Donations pages

2009-05-24T15:40:00.006+01:00

Trying out the money box image and also playing with having a full-colour facing page.

Programme layout desicion

2009-05-24T15:03:00.002+01:00

I think til this point I've been trying to use the calligraphic thing too much, so I'm now only using it for the individual elements of the event to which I've assigned a particular phrase...the dinner and the auction, for example.

I've written an editorial piece on the Home and laid it out in the simplest most attractive way I can, while using a simple stock image (not ideal but I chose it for its clarity and how it matches the dark-toned, simplistic style of the booklet). I used the C&C trademark pink sparingly while still keeping it in there as it's a key feature of the event brand.

Sign developments

2009-05-24T12:47:00.005+01:00

After an ASTRONOMIC quote for an LED factory-built sign last week, my plan is now to make it myself. Exact technicalities yet to be finalised but I've doctored the logo for laser-cutting as follows:

1) This will be cut from glossy black acrylic and set behind a sheet of clear acrylic. 2) Onto this acrylic will be placed a layer of mirrored film. This ordinarily looks like an opaque reflective material but when a light is shone from behind it, it shows through as demonstrated crudely below.
3)This will probably have a second sheet on of clear perspex on top to protect it and keep it in place.
4) Behind the logo will be a small box containing an as-yet undecided light source. Tempted to just keep a clean fluorescent tube behind there with a pink filter but might experiment with fairy lights or an LED strip to see which is stronger.

Photographic ideas

2009-05-23T01:36:00.004+01:00

The date of the event's been put all the way til September, so all the client's deadlines have lapsed completely. I've had to pretty much make up ALL the information on these pages, since I don't have the actual copy yet. So I've come up with a photographic solution to the problem of not having images for auction prizes, and these are the rough first draft results (type treatment not yet applied, working on it...)

Also put together an image for the Thank Yous that will close the event brochure. In discussion with Rock, they talked about black silhouetted dogs against the pink background...a bit of a vector nightmare. I thought high res photographs would work better, so I've sent them these for approval.

Studio photography

2009-05-22T12:28:00.005+01:00

Lacking imagery for the programme I have to create some fairly last minute.

Creative writing
I've written an example list of potential auction prizes for the charity auction. I bought a selection of visually contrasting props representing a few of these pries and headed into the Chelsea studio to take images of the objects. Wanted them against a dark background so they'll be easier to work into a predominantly dark book.

One page has to thank everyone involved in the event. For this I drew up a Thank You card in the by now trademark style and photographed it against a fitting pink envelope.
The 'donations' page will be a tough one to make look good. The client suggested a bright pink piggy (or 'doggy') bank but to compromise I scoured London looking for a black example and took as many subtle photos of it as I could. With these the success of the page will depend on marriage of image and text.

E-mail from Rock Events

2009-05-19T19:30:00.002+01:00

Using the ornamental typography designs over the use of the tiara design is fine with us. Ben is very pleased with the treatments that you have been sending over, so if you go with what features look better on the designs, that will be fine. Regarding printing the invites, if I were you I would go with the dummy date if you're needing to get this printed quickly.

This poses a problem...it's £470 to get fake invitations printed which will be defunct when the actual date is set. I could risk waiting til the meeting to see if a date is decided upon...if it is, there might be a way of getting it funded since the invitations will probably be used. If no date is set then I'll have to send the fake ones off anyway. Either way, sending off on Thursday means they might not get done in time for Tuesday 2nd. Headache.

Next meeting scheduled

2009-05-19T02:23:00.001+01:00

On Thursday sitting down with Battersea & Rock Events to discuss next steps. Just sent Ben everything I've done so far excluding the programme work, since this is still far from completion.

I've been holding out on doing that, waiting for content from Rock and Battersea that still hasn't got to me. Therefore have to produce layouts for pages without knowing a thing about what they are to contain. Some facing pages will therefore need imagery to balance the text, so I'm overnight developing a backup plan. More tomorrow.

After speaking to Ben this evening had to last-minute knock up a presentation for Rock Events before we reconvene tomorrow, images from the PDF I put together here:

Invitation designs

2009-05-16T16:21:00.016+01:00

Been working on the designs for the invitation (despite not having the date yet...best to be prepared...)

I want them to be very, very simple. To avoid overusing the logo I've designed a teaser phrase in the signature style to adorn the fronts of the invitations and for use in the programme.

Concept 1: single card invite, separate RSVP card
Spin's design for the HOV 'Mythologies' exhibition private view invite was just black board, with the exhibition logo laser etched into it and minimal screen-printed white text. I love this subtle effect, it's what I'm trying to implicate throughout the project (black/white/pink has huge potential to look brash and tacky so I'm trying really hard to keep everything as minimal as I can).

Considering having the phrase laser etched into a single piece of black board.
Alternatively, been looking at foil blocking. Gloss black foil black on matte black board would also be a subtle treatment. Imagine it to look something like:
Then again, the client might not appreciate the subtle treatment. Need to talk to a printer but it's probably possible to gloss-pink foil block (NOT metallic) the phrase onto board. Also the silver foil would make an impact.
For the reverse side I'm playing with a variety of layouts, all the while trying to stay completely minimal while remaining within the brand so far established.
A lot of these solutions rely on foil blocking so a lot will depend on what I learn from a couple of printers next week.

Concept 2: fold-out card, including RSVP card
Would need to be cut down from standard sizing, which will obviously hike up costing, but worth a go. In square format:
...and a B6 format.

Re-de-sign

2009-05-15T16:12:00.002+01:00

I got a quote of £1,236 for the sign. Plus VAT. There is no way on earth I can afford this, especially with the print costs the project will incur, so I'm tweaking/completely reworking the design. LED solutions probably not going to cut it now so I'm working on something sleek and beautiful.

Sign update

2009-05-14T14:39:00.010+01:00

Mike from SMP responded saying that my first designs were workable but might not read too clearly. He suggested I have the type cut from vinyl set onto the black acrylic, to help the mind link the bulbs up into text. Personally I reckon to put the vinyl letters on the face panel with the led's drilled through would enhance the sign. I don't think you need any more led's.That would probably look something like this:

Designs for preliminary 'save-the'date' email invite

2009-05-13T02:09:00.002+01:00

Before the printed invites are distributed, Rock want to send out to prospective corporate clients a teaser email, stating the date and piquing the interest surrounding the event. These are the layout designs I've come up with, complete with another piece of original type crafted for the specific purpose.

(Click to enlarge...seem to have lost text clarity when I exported these as PNGs)

Clarifying intended outcomes

2009-05-12T21:40:00.002+01:00

Meeting with Ben from Rock Events this week just to clarify more details.

Outline of intended final outcomes:

Definite
- Full colour prototype event 'kit' - event programme/booklet, place settings, wayfinding, menu cards
- Printed tickets and invitations, including packaging
- Illuminated sign for the show and potentially for use on site at the ROH
- 3 full colour A2 typographic posters for use at the event utilising trademark calligraphic style
- Visual evidence of how the identity will be used to brand the space as well as the associated printed media

Potential
- Photographic evidence of publicity material (alleged collaboration between Battersea/Rock Events/media to raise public interest in the event with outdoor promotions)
- DVD featuring: suggested extra modes of event publication

NB: Due to differing deadlines for me and Rock Events/Battersea, a lot of the info I need for some of the finer details of my project will not be available before I go to print. Therefore there might be a certain amount of informed 'creative writing' which will later be replaced with genuine copy from both me and from the press dept at Battersea.

Sign sketch to send to possible workshops

2009-05-12T21:15:00.004+01:00

I've got a few businesses with whom to discuss realistic sign options with this week, and after bit of consideration I reckon the following will be what I start with.

The LEDS are set into laser-cut/drilled holes in glossy black acrylic (mocking it up in white, it looked slightly clinical) and ideally set up to flash in some sort of sequence. Over the top of this would be a mirrored translucent second sheet of acrylic, so that the logo is only clearly visible once the lights are on. Poorly-constructed diagram to visualise this here:

I mocked it up in a less traditional oval shape, but I'm not really feeling this one.

A friend of mine suggested a different treatment:
Ok, if you completely laser cut the persex or whatever material you used, you could have light shine directly through it. You'd need to slightly modify the text like i've very roughly done here! All the spaces in the letters and flourishes would need to be joined to the bulk of the sign. It probably wouldn't be too hard to have it so the light didn't shine out the edge of the sign if you didn't want that.

Like it but I think this would be more of a backup plan.

If anyone's got any suggestions or particularly strong opinions for/against these, it'd be great to hear your feedback!

Shellsuit Zombie

2009-05-10T20:17:00.001+01:00

Many big fat thank-yous to Shellsuit Zombie for more than perking up my Sunday by posting my work on their blog.

Dog's dinner

2009-05-06T22:23:00.002+01:00

Graphic for menu and ceramic tableware.

Placecard designs

2009-05-06T17:23:00.003+01:00

I utilised the calligraphic style for placecard designs to be used at the event. Taking into consideration that the fact that the guestlist/seating plan will be pre-decided, I designated male guests 'Top dogs' and female guests 'Cat's whiskers', continuing a glitzy, flirtatious and slightly tongue-in-cheek style.

Reconsidering the sign

2009-05-06T12:58:00.002+01:00

1) Studding black acrylic with small LEDs a la the first image. This would involve laser cutting holes for the lights into the material or just getting someone to make it for me (which involves a lot more money but at least wouldn’t have to worry about workshop booking)

2) Literally cutting the logo out of acrylic/vinyl and sticking it over a lightbox. Possibly cutting it out of solid black, putting it in front of a light source then putting a semi-opaque mirrored top layer over it so that the logo looms up form below.

A few images from signage companies that are relevant to how I can envisage the logo...

Cracking on with it

2009-05-06T12:09:00.002+01:00

I've decided I need to stop waiting for the say-so from the client...their deadline is decidedly further away than my own so I'm going to freewheel a little bit and get stuff done on my own terms for the time being, obviously with as much input from them as they're able to give.

More blog updates this afternoon as I get some work done...

Invitation theme

2009-05-05T17:18:00.003+01:00

So playing with black/pink/white...and forgetting the white for the invitation, for now at least. Haven't had much contact with RE recently so going it alone for the time being with the plan being to show them what I've done whenever we next reconvene.

Update on the sign planning

2009-05-03T00:03:00.003+01:00

Just got a message from a very helpful Rob.

When you were discussing your sign I saw it in a completely different way. I just thought you might want to know how I saw it - more like this click here

Shiny gloss flat front, made up of two layers of perspex. The top would just be a single black sheet with say 40% opacity and the the layer under that would be 100% black with the logo laser cut out of it. With lights behind that so it would eliminate the were the perspex is only 40% black.

I don't think it would be a cheap or easy thing to do. But I think it would look really nice.

Rob

Not a clue how to proceed on this one for the moment...Might have a chat with my contact at the signmaker's I've had preliminary discussions with. And will definitely be seeking advice at college next week.

This piece is exclusively for the show, probably not to be used at the event at all, so I'd like to discuss it with Geoff and David before proceeding.

Sign possibility

2009-05-02T16:19:00.005+01:00

Since it's been mooted that I construct an illuminated version of the logo for the degree show, I've been toying with the idea. My initial thought is that I want the lettering spelled out in small filament bulbs against a glossy black acrylic base. Not going to even consider neon tubing as this would look hideous...less showbiz glam, more Brixton massage parlour. I've given an idea of vaguely what I want here:
Going to ring around a few places and talk to the workshops at Chelsea and Camberwell on Tuesday to get things moving on this front.

Photoshoot

2009-05-02T16:17:00.000+01:00

Took the camera down to Caroline in Honor Oak, met her menagerie of beautiful animals and got a few nice pictures...uploading tomorrow when I find the darn camera lead. Not sure, however, how useful they're going to turn out to be. Time - and Photoshop - will tell.

Script experiment

2009-05-01T00:35:00.000+01:00

It was decided that the scripted style will work alongside a thin condensed sans serif for the titling within the programme. This is the first draft of how the calligraphic style might turn out.

Dogs and cats pencilled in for Friday

2009-04-29T12:12:00.002+01:00

The wonderful Caroline Wymer is proffering her animals for a photo session on Friday. This should help give a wider scope to the design of the event booklet and associated material.

Sign of the times

2009-04-29T12:08:00.002+01:00

Geoff suggested the event logo appear 'in lights' at the show, and since I've been hoping that would be an option since I came up with the design, I've sent the following to a signmaker to start researching how this would be made possible.

I'm working on the graphic design for a major media event to be held for Battersea Dogs' Home this summer, for which we're going to need a one-off sign. I'm writing to you with a speculative enquiry with a view to finding the best solution to this problem.

I've attached a jpeg of the event logo as it stands, although it may be subject to minor alterations. The client wants the logo to be suspended from the ceiling and studded with small light bulbs, with a probable width of approximately 1.5m.

Obviously since this event is for a charity fundraiser, we are restricted with regard to funding so while we would desire a strong outcome we would like to find the most cost-effective solution. I realise at the moment this is quite a sketchy outline of the project but I would very much like your advice as to the best way to approach it and whether you would be willing to work with us.

Please feel free to contact me via email or on 07989157465.

Regards

Fran Payne

Photographic potential?

2009-04-27T19:19:00.006+01:00

Sitting down to tackle the book layout, I think I need photographic/illustrative material to enrich the visual interest of what is essentially just a programme of events. A friend and former Chelsea student has agreed to let me take some experimental shots of her beautiful black labrador and black cat. These wouldn't be cute greetings card photos, more experiments in using the textural qualities of the animals to create aesthetically interesting background/feature images.

The visual qualities of glossy black fur are strong so I think it's worth exploring this as a potential area for development within the design.

The experiments will focus on the way light catches the detail of an animal's silhouette by picking up their outline in fur. I'm going to photograph the dark-furred animals against a dark background with just one directional light source picking up their texture.

Photos from the Royal Opera House

2009-04-27T13:24:00.002+01:00

The Royal Opera House is the favoured venue for the Collars & Cuffs Ball, for which we will be defining a date this sometime this week.

Second meeting with Rock Events

2009-04-24T15:36:00.002+01:00

I met with Rock Events' director today to go over the next steps of the project. We also took a tour around the Royal Opera House which will hopefully soon be secured as the Collars & Cuffs venue.

Although still waiting for confirmation of the design scheme I'm now going to start laying down a very basic layout for the book/brochure that will be distributed on the night. The overall look will obviously be dictated by the chosen identity but the basics of layout and grid can be tackled in advance.

Influences to explore as discussed with/suggested by Ben:
- architectural elements from the ROH
- royal crest
- zooming in on the calligraphic logo to abstract it
- complementary illustration

Probable venue and next meeting update

2009-04-23T12:28:00.004+01:00

Spoke to Ben this morning. We're hoping to meet with Battersea tomorrow, otherwise the two of us will rendez-vous at the Royal Opera House, which is the venue currently lined up by Rock Events to host the event.

Another update...

2009-04-21T17:28:00.000+01:00

Spoke to Ben today who confirmed that he'd received and appreciated everything I've sent him, he's just waiting to hear from Battersea when the final/headline act is confirmed. This act will sort of define the theme and look of the show so once that's for certain, they'll fix a date and the design they choose will be put into practice.

Bit of a waiting game at the moment. We'll get moving this week, I'm assured...until then I'm going to think about how I'd work each one of the logos across wider design applications.

The third and final concept

2009-04-20T01:41:00.006+01:00

So I decided to revisit one of the less developed logos from the beginning of the project. Everything up until now has been fairly traditional in its use of type, whereas the earlier deco-inspired version was a break from the norm.

I played with this logo for a while and came up with a final idea that I think works quite well. Initially I was going to use this formation,

...but I decided to add the year and resize the 'AND' to create something more varied. I jumped ahead a little and thought about how this one might be presented in print, and thought that an iridescent 'rainbow' foil block might be worth considering, like the business cards for Universal Everything.

I then put together three pages explaining the idea, to a slightly less developed level than the previous ideas, but I've had less time to work on this one.

Working on Deco type

2009-04-18T14:12:00.012+01:00

Originally the type from the logo was traced from this first typeface, Maple Origins. This is a mutation of Avant Garde BK, seen beneath it in this example.

I altered the A, U, S and C of the Avant Garde typeface in the Cuffs & Collars context.

I then played with linking the first C to the O in different ways. I also experimented by moving the second C to join the U of 'Cuffs'. I think this works better than in the first draft of this logo.

I outlined the type and started to play with arrangements. When I've settled on a couple I like best, I'll work with merging more letters in the way I originally set out the draft logo.

Hold that thought...

2009-04-17T23:23:00.005+01:00

Still no confirmation about the meeting (I'm hoping I'll hear something on Monday) but in the meantime, I'm supposed to be coming up with a third treatment to pitch. Due to unavoidable personal circumstances, my plans to work through today and yesterday on this third concept were shot. I've therefore got much less time than I originally set aside for this.

I looked back on the work so far and the one concept that never really got my full attention was the idea I subtitled 'Deco'.

I think that within this concept there is potential for further development. I've been trying to design things that can be interpreted well in three dimensional applications as well as purely print and this certainly fits that criteria.

Saturday action plan:

- Further develop type for this concept
- Experiment with colour schemes other than the original pink/black*
- Consider an illustrative aspect
- Consider potential 3D outcomes, for this and the calligraphic approach

* I think originally the client considered this design to be part of the typographic identity I pitched first, since the colour scheme was the same

Meeting date...

2009-04-15T17:28:00.001+01:00

...scheduled for Monday 20th at Battersea. Looking forward to it!

Response to the calligraphic approach

2009-04-15T13:58:00.006+01:00

E-mail response this afternoon to the latest treatment I sent.

Hi Francesca,

Quick note from Ben to say, this also looks absolutely fantastic, and in fact we're even thinking this maybe more suitable. Ben has suggested what it would look like if we were to place a tiara on top? It might also be nice to see what a 'cartoon' puppy and kitten on either side using a similar kind of design style would look like.

Think the home will have real difficulty deciding which treatment to go with (which is a good thing). Ben suggests with the third treatment, to come up with something totally different - something which puts your own stylistic imprint on the designs

We haven't had final confirmation yet, but it looks like the main meeting will be Monday afternoon. Will let you know as soon we hear. All looks great though!

*****

I am very reluctant to start using overt animal imagery...I think for a logo/event identity too much integrated imagery is possibly a bad idea. However, I did experiment with putting the tiara from the first set of designs into this new one. Here are the results:

Top hats & tails

2009-04-15T00:13:00.005+01:00

As well as 'Collars & Cuffs' I've been toying with the idea of using alongside the event logo traditional hackneyed phrases and proverbs that could somehow link animal references with this type of grand event...

Examples
A right dog's dinner
The cat's whiskers
Top hat & tails
Dressed up to the canines (dubious, but I like it!)
Mad dogs & Englishmen
A cat may look at a king

I can see this working well if the client goes for the calligraphic styling.

Below are first drafts of such examples placed roughly in the typeface I'm using as a base reference, before I attack them with a Uniball marker tomorrow...

Previews for the client

2009-04-14T23:32:00.003+01:00

I sent the following two pages to Rock Events ahead of the meeting to show them the direction I was taking with this treatment.

A new approach

2009-04-14T12:14:00.007+01:00

I had a go at creating a more decorative logo, using the pointers Ben gave me in the last discussion... He wanted something a 'bit more bling - but the right side of bling'. This was at first slightly out of my comfort zone but I interpreted it with this design, something less clinical and more ornate. It marries a script typeface with hand-drawn lettering and detailing, compiled in Illustrator.

He also asked me for this alternative treatment - which will be pitched to Battersea alongside the pink/black fashion-led designs featured previously - to consider more traditional metallic gold and silver finishes, so I've crudely simulated these against black and white backgrounds below.

Next meeting

2009-04-09T13:48:00.002+01:00

The word from Ben is the meeting will probably be on Thursday next week. He's going to call me the day before to iron out a few things but it's good to have an actual date to work to. Particularly since I'm finding this stage quite difficult!

More examples of the 'ornate' theme

2009-04-08T22:07:00.006+01:00

Logo work by Burn Everything. Yet again, ornate done well can look beautiful and quite contemporary. I need to get my head around this...am working on it, but it's not coming as easily as I'd naively expected.

From ornate to monumental; loving the logo for Love Magazine. Maybe another area to explore?

The grainy approach

2009-04-08T19:00:00.006+01:00

While I'm approaching the OTT decorative type concept with great caution, I've got the option of coming up with a few more of my own ideas. I'm getting a bit restless just producing clean vector-based images so I might try a slightly less polished approach.

I love the stark typographic approach of Dutch studio Almost Modern; this fold-out invitation design uses a strong blue reverse to a large grayscale lo-res candid image of a cat. Clearly this isn't the way for the identity itself but the use of a grainy photograph prompted me to consider using as a design theme this more relaxed photographic approach. Marrying a sharp clean logotype with a grainy snapshot of the animal, like a home-movie still, emphasising the fun informality of the close bond owners have with their pets.

Ornate: the right side of bling

2009-04-07T21:19:00.003+01:00

The word 'bling' was mentioned in my most recent discussion with the client regarding themes, and this foxed me briefly - I like clean typographic design and this is a bit out of my comfort zone.

However I think a clever balance can be struck between the ornate and the clean-cut. Alison Carmichael has successfully sewn up the hand-lettered design market by Mac-ing up her sumptuous hand-rendered type and creating beautiful designs like these:

Another week to play with

2009-04-06T22:58:00.003+01:00

After a quiet week I spoke again to Ben at Rock Events, who received the previous design suggestions well. The next step is to work with a changed colour scheme focusing less on the bold fashion-led approach and offering a gentler treatment.

New directions he wants me to explore:
- lighter colours
- more of a decorative aesthetic
- going completely over the top
- something 'off the wall' completely of my own choosing.

A lot to think about this week then. Research/musings to follow shortly.

Four themes to put to Battersea this week

2009-03-30T18:05:00.002+01:00

With no date as yet confirmed for this week's meeting with Rock Events & Battersea, I've finished the PDF presentation I intend to show them showing four potential themes for the identity. These themes stem from conversations with Ben from Rock Events just over a week ago. The following are jpeg images of the individual pages.

Event logo: Concept 1

2009-03-27T22:27:00.006Z

I'm drafting a few concepts for the logo based on a previous meeting with Rock Events. I presented a scattering of basic typographic logos which went down well on this first occasion.

As preliminary sketches these went down well, with a particularly strong response to the serif treatment first posted. The client wanted me to try and integrate a dog collar into the typography, which I was unsure about to say the least. I tried many ways to do this subtly and eventually found a way that seemed extremely simple, yet I think quite effective.

This will be the main concept I pitch to the client when we next meet next week. Other themes he wanted me to explore were Art Deco-based and a more regal treatment to take into account there will be a state presence. I had a beautiful illustrated regal logo drawn out, then Illustrator crashed and I lost the lot. The deco theme currently looks like this:

...which would give potential for a very linear design theme, but I need to work on it to make it easier to read.

Thinking on.

Colour schemes & print research

2009-03-27T22:09:00.004Z

The suggested colour scheme for the event has been decided as black, white and pink. Since the majority of my output for he project will be print-based, I've started looking around for examples of printed matter using similar colour schemes, or which have implemented one key bright colour against black or white.

This catalogue for Chris Levine's 'Lightness of Being' exhibition (designed by Why Not Associates) demonstrates the strength of hot pink I'd like to use throughout the printed matter for the C&CB. The following are more examples of catalouges and invitations I've come across that use almost fluorescent colouring as a key feature of their design.

Fran Payne / FMP Pro-Forma

2009-03-20T23:02:00.001Z

Student Name: Francesca Payne Email: francesca.payne@googlemail.com

1. Project Summary
Working with Rock Events to develop and implement the visual identity for the high-profile Collars & Cuffs Charity Ball in aid of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

2. Context
Rock Events have been employed by Battersea to stage a fundraising event on a massive scale to raise awareness of the home, which is currently full to capacity with a further 400 homeless animals at an ‘overflow’ centre just outside London. The Collars and Cuffs Ball is a charity ball and auction with a strong emphasis on involving the contemporary youth culture, fashion and music scenes in bringing the organisation back into the public eye. There will be select media coverage to achieve this, as well as a host of attractions and personalities with particular relevance to the cause. The event as a whole will require a visual identity to run throughout all graphic elements of the production, and this is the area in which I will be assisting.

3. Rationale (Why the project is relevant to you and to GDComm practice)
My work to date has focused heavily on printed media and this is the direction in which I would like to take my career in future. I have a strong interest in typography and the basis for my role in the project is initially to develop a strong typographic identity for the event in question. It is a contemporary event for a cause well-loved by the public, and demands an appealing, accessible and highly contemporary treatment. In addition I am very interested in mass visual and written communication and will benefit hugely from working with professionals in the PR industry as well as those in the design field.

4. Skills Evidence: (describe your approach to the following)

Topicality and future projection potential
The charity is celebrating a significant anniversary and this major event is the first in what is projected to be an annual occurrence. The charity is well-known already and the coverage this event will receive is going to be significant, hopefully generating huge funds for the organisation on the night as well as bringing Battersea Dogs & Cats Home back into the public consciousness.

Intellectual rigour and debate
All the work I produce will be overseen by the director Ben Judge and the creative designer Sarah Mursal. Battersea Dogs’ Home will also be regularly reviewing the progress of the project. There is also potential to consult with certain fashion houses who have expressed early interest in the project.

Focus of research and analysis
At the outset I will be given an outline of the various aspects of my role in the project and what the company would like me to produce during my time working with them. The initial research will be into how to brand the event independently of the existing Battersea Dogs & Cats Home identity, with subtle reference to the charity as opposed to using their current logos and typography.

Practical skills involved
• Designing the typographic identity for the event
• Helping establish a visual concept for the look and feel of the occasion
• Implementing the design across a range of printed and online media

Sustainability and Content of project (over as a double unit)
The event itself takes place on an as-yet-unconfirmed date, most likely during July 2009. In the months preceding the event itself the design process will be ongoing, supported by a series of meetings with the team in charge of its organisation. Because there will be a definite deadline and pre-production for the event itself is already well underway, the momentum of the project will be continual.

Projection of professional or further research ambitions

Elements of risk and challenge (originality and direction against the status quo)
I will be working with experienced professionals with my input overseen by collaborators at the top of their respective fields, to whom the highest standards of presentation will be imperative. The focus of the night is to raise awareness of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home by staging an event incorporating fashion, music and other elements of youth culture, placing the charity in the media spotlight by generating interest in the event. Working to such a high standard introduces levels of pressure and quality greater than anything I’ve previously experienced, but this only strengthens my enthusiasm and determination to produce work of the highest standard.

Predicted outcomes
• A typographic identity design to implement throughout the course of the project
• Print-based promotional pieces to attract guests and contributors, including posters, mail-outs and invitations
• Printed material for the event itself, including event programmes, posters, signage
• Potentially a microsite reached via the Battersea Dogs and Cat Home website

Manufacturing and production issues
Because the production of the event is essentially in the hands of Rock Events, the manufacture of any items I design will be overseen and organised by them. It will be my job to suggest specific treatments and materials I deem appropriate to the design, taking into consideration the budget and deadlines set by the company.

Opportunities for professional feedback
I am working with a high-profile events company who in turn are collaborating with a wide range of companies, all of whom will have a say on specific design elements. Therefore my work will constantly be subject to the feedback of professionals from a variety of fields.

FMP: The Collars & Cuffs Ball 2009

2009-03-20T09:01:00.005Z

For my FMP, I am working with Rock Events on the visual identity for the inaugural Collars & Cuffs Ball for Battersea Dogs & Cats' Home. This high-profile event is being staged to raise money and awareness for the popular charity; the home is full to capacity with around another 400 animals on its waiting list for a place. By holding a star-studded charity ball with guaranteed media coverage, Battersea hope to thrust their organisation back into the public eye.

The visual identity I design will be applied across all the associated printed material, from initial invitations and sponsorship request letters right through to the programmes and menus on the night itself. There's scope for involvement with as many design aspects of the event as possible.

I've confirmed details of my project after a meeting yesterday with Rock Events' director. I showed him some (very) preliminary concepts for the identity design based on slim guidelines he initially suggested last week, and we discussed more concepts to pitch to Battersea next week. They'll decide which approach is most suitable, and the logo will then be employed almost immediately for e-mail sendouts, sponsorship requests, booking letter etc.