Studio Brief 03 - Design Strategy Presentation

In this studio brief it makes us show our own personal development as an individual designer and as a designer is affected by all aspects of my life. This is an opportunity to reflect on the experiences from the past nine months which have informed the decisions that I have made or are making in my future development. 

The presentation that I have created must last 7 minutes and allow 3 minutes for questions. 

Here is my presentation template and my power point. 

Studio Brief 02 - Self Branding independent foiling (heat transfer)

For the self branding brief, I wanted to learn a new practical technique method for my self branding logo. I decided to do foiling (heat transferring or double sided sticky tape). 

This experiment was quite success considering it was my first time trying this without an induction and learning via the internet on youtube video.

To make the foil transfer to the paper I had to use a laminator for this to happen. The ink of the printer had to be a black toner in order for it to stick properly. Sometimes when I tried to transfer foil onto the shape I created it didn't transfer well as I aspected. This is either because of the laminator was not hot enough for the foil to transfer or the toner did not print well. Leaving patches, which is shown below with the images I had taken. 

Overall, after a few practices I manage to get the transferring to work and I think I will proceed with this process for my self branding overall.

Photography Induction

In this photography induction, we learned to how set the equipment and put it back. We also learnt where the best lighting is when taking a picture by using the lights and reflective screens. These are shown in the images below of the books that I made for bookbinding and a metal jar. 

Studio Brief 02 -Self Evaluation and Conclusion of Finished product

In conclusion, I believe I did the self branding brief well as I was able to explore and experiment with new and different styles of work. Even though it is very heavy inspire by the illustrator Johanna Basford with her patterns and foiling idea. I think it is able to show what interests me and how I will explore and experiment with that. 

Even though the self branding is not as perfect which I had in mind, it also demonstrates areas that I still need to work on and develop in. But overall I did enjoy the making and progress of it.

I also believe that the self branding products I produce really show me as an individual, especially how my style has completely change in the past artwork I produced. Like the colour changes, typeface, formats I used etc. This also reflects on how I have developed as a student and working out of my comfort zone to something more ambiguous and new. 

However, next time I would like to explore and experiment with new techniques such as screen-printing as it has a good finish with it. And screen printing has more of a variety of colours that I could explore. Unfortunately I didn’t have much time doing this as other briefs needed some priorities.

Studio Brief 02 - Final Design and Product

Here is my final design product of my self branding. I produced a travel kit that shows me my travelling and background of my journey and art style has evolved and changed during the course of university.  

The audience target is probably for students with a similar age to mine or even a young adult female due to the metallic colours I have use. It could be appropriate for both men and women if I used more solid colour foils than a sparkling choice. However, the logo and product represents me and my self branding as an individual. 

I also included a book a small like travel journal book to communicate my journey in different location and how it has effected me as a person and my style of work. 

Even though some of the gold foil did not transfer fully, I believe this is good as it presents that I am not and professional and I am currently still evolving in the many years I have in University to explore this idea. 

And perhaps finally make a definite logo that really presents me in my ideal image not only visually and conceptually.   

Studio Brief 02 - Foil heat transfer Experimentation and Mock-ups

In this stage I started experimenting with heat transferring with metallic foil to continue 
with this progress and experimentation. I used a laminator to make the foil transfer to 
the paper. The colour foil I used to experiment with where gold, sparkly silver, blue. To
make the foil transfer I had to use a black toner as the foil when heated with stick on to it.

The first attempt was not as successful as I thought it would be. The first time I tried to 
transfer the foil it did not completely stick to the toner because the black toner did not 
print the image I wanted fully. Thus leaving grainy patches so the foil did not transfer 
properly. Another attempt did not work well as the laminator was not hot enough so the 
colour foil did not transfer as accurately, and if the laminator is too hot the foil is difficult 
to take off.

I also experimented with double sided tape for the foil to transfer on to the paper. 
This work very effectively, however you need to make sure that the foil is pressured
on the paper thoroughly or there will be areas where the foil has not transfer properly.

Overall, the foil that I got was not the problem it was the transferring side (heat and 
double tape.) Because it is a very complex method to do, but after a few practices 
I manage to get the results that I wanted. And over all it turned out very well. 

Especially when I combined it with my self branding product. The self branding 
product I did was personally linked to journey of traveling and changing when 
moving to different locations and developing my skills and art style.  

I also did some mock-ups of my self branding business cards which are stickers instead to give the business cards a more personal style to it, especially the different sizes if foil strips on it to give each individual sticker uniqueness.