FMP - PRESCHOOL PLEASING PATTERNS

For my Final Major Project I decided to focus on a surface pattern route, with the aim to create a design suitable for applying to items aimed at preschool (ages 1 - 4) children, using normal interests suitable for this age range. I wanted to give my design something additional to it , not just over purely visual appeal, making it interactive in some form, again suitable for the intended audience.

I started off generating drawings and sourcing imagery of potential interests for the intended audience. This mainly inclu
ded animals (pets, farm, zoo, safari, insects) and transport (everyday and farm)

My research began looking at artists and designers that simplify images down to a line level, use a child like drawing style or would be suitable in another way. I also researched how children of this age learn particularly through drawing and interactive involvements well as what skills are expected of this age group. This skills research gave me a problem in that, during this age group there is a huge variety and variations in what children are capable of, so finding a task that all would find stimulating and/or grew with the child became an issue that needed to be addressed during the ideas stage.

I used dot - to - dot as a starting point for inspiration, since it is a common interactive activity for younger children, that would create imagery, with the potential of making it more simple or complex based on the child's skill level.

Quickly, I found that to create a realistic looking dot to dot would be very complex and involve far too many dots then would be suitable for the average 1-4 year old to do. So, still inspired by the dot to dot activity, I created the imagery myself, with the aim to incorporate a suitable activity to these generated images later into the project.

Experimenting with a variety of techniques including layering (similar to what was used during the earlier architectural cut project) and also placing pins then wrapping string to create simplified images.

I began using tracing paper to pick out sets of 10 dots to join together, forming a simplified lined image of the initial drawing. I further developed this by shading in the formed shapes that were appropriate to the subject.

Realising that this shading was making the entire design appear very gloomy and therefore inappropriate for the intended group, I experimented with the brightness of the shaded shapes and found that the lighter versions look far more appropriate. In an effort to incorporate more light into the design I removed chunks of the shaded shape to form the letters spelling out the subject, so in my original experimental subject the word 'Giraffe' formed the silhouetted shape of a giraffe. I had initially chose this animal to work with because of its instantly recognisable features.

I applied this technique to other animals that I had identified as appropriate interests for the age group, some working substantially better or worse than others, showing that this was not a technique that could be applied to all subjects I would have liked to use. Following this I experimented with application of ink using stencils and coloured backgrounds over monochrome.

The experimentation with coloured backgrounds made me identify that I needed to step away from the multiple lines and dominant dark imagery. I still used the structure created by the lines but instead went back to layering techniques and applied colours in different ways, completely eliminating the need for harsh dark colourings in the designs, which I felt looked much more suitable for the brief. Whilst experimenting with how the different layers of colour could be applied I used thread and both machine and hand stitching to help add sensory texture to the design

I picked two layers, simplifying my design very much so and experimented with ways of applying this design using the stencil approach I had used with inks, this time I used paint and created textured surfaces within the paint.

Here my intention for interaction was to use the sensory touch experience alongside using black templates of the subjects so that the user can customise the design how they wish, this allows the design to be suitable for the age range specified in the brief but also for growth with the child as well as parental interaction.

I further experimented this technique with a zebra and tiger, before drawing up compositions and trialling colour schemes and compositions on photoshop. From these I decided on my final design which was then hand printed onto wallpaper.

Innovative Packaging

Innovative Packaging brief:

Design a new and innovative piece of packaging that helps in a quick and convenient way to transport its contents without compromising their natural structure. The packaging needs to be made from one piece of flat sheet material ie. corrugated cardboard, which by proper bending becomes a stable structure.

Choose from flowers or footwear. You must demonstrate at the crit your outcome(s) containing physical flowers or footwear to show its feasibility.

You must also consider its aesthetic appearance in that it must convey simplicity. This must be presented to a high quality professional level. Remember this is degree level study.

Packaging prior to adding tabs

Since I chose flower packaging, and a major feature was that it should be waterproof, I began by trialling different materials and shapes to determine what created the longest lasting waterproof vessel. My result was a type of thick watercolour paper. With further research I found that by rubbing a wax candle over the surface of the paper increased its waterproof qualities and so allowed me to draw a basic floral design on the packaging without it smudging when in contact with water.

Initially my shape was based on a cone, with petal like shapes that would bend back towards the cones base stabilising the packaging also as a vase. Due to its instability I added slotted tabs into the corners of the 'petal' shapes in order for the packaging to hold its shape when being used as a vase.

Ephemeral

Ideas generation and problem solving, part 3: brief was to use ephemeral (everyday) inspiration to develop pattern designs that fit the profile of the Cath Kinston conversational print range.

For this I started off with pencil sharpener shavings, doing several studies and drawings as well as a wire sculpture and drawings from these.

I realised the way that I had drawn from the wire sculpture in a spiral shape, resembled cogs. I then chose to explore cogs, screws and bolts, items that are traditionally masculine and developed ways of making these items be seen in a more feminine way in order to fit the Cath Kidston profile.

Below are examples of prints I developed from this project.

LEGO Campaign

The Creative Challenge - Brief

To create a campaign for the LEGO Brand that distinguishes LEGO from all the other construction toys in the toy market by highlighting the benefits and points of difference of LEGO rather than the detriments of our competitors.

The campaign should encompass the LEGO brand values and take advantage of LEGO’s heritage and strong brand equity within the UK. This maybe through the form of animation/ TV ad, Graphic communication, illustration and/ or advertising, Surface pattern design, 3d/ product design – basically however you see fit to resolve the brief.

I researched previous Lego campaigns as well as competitors campaigns to get an idea to what was involved in an advertising campaign, followed by looking at the brand guidelines of Lego ensuring that I had understood appropriate colours, graphics, fonts etc to be used.

After mind mapping necessary features needed in the campaign, I came up with 4 ideas. The design I decided to use is inspired by the Rorschach ink blot tests, these rely on people seeing different images within the ink based on their interests and personality. The use of this encourages interaction with the design by inviting the audience to 'create' their own idea of what they can see and potentially build from Lego. This  highlighting the imagination and creativity as well as uniqueness that Lego offers.