OUGD502 - Studio Brief 02 - Developing Creative Report

As a thank you for taking part in the interviews, a poster series was developed using the professionals responses. Both Josiah and Emanuele gave useful responses that have informed me on their experience in different countries. From their interviews, the most interesting quotes to me have been picked out to form a typographic poster.

Using Emanuele's favourite colours and typefaces, a variety of ideas were produced with these quotes:

"Since when I was a boy, I loved drawing and creating."
"I graduated at a design school, then I worked for a publishing house for 2 years"
"I don't know, maybe film director career."
"I know people who work in the UK, and there our work is really appreciated and satisfying."
"I think before you search for a job in other countries, you should try look in yours."
"New York, it's the centre of the world!"

These connected with me the most as they are similar to my own journey and ambitions. There is also useful advice to me as someone who wants to work abroad. To make the design more engaging, the type was mixed with a gradient. This gradient represents the language barrier between me and Emanuele as he is still speaking English.

After feedback, many felt that the Gotham typeface was more engaging than the Futura typeface. Many agreed that there was too much text on each poster and to take advantage of all of Emanuele's favourite colours, create two posters. Many also felt that the gradient was making much of the text illegible and to change it somehow.

From this feedback, two designs were developed with the Gotham typeface into a green poster and a black and white poster. To make the text more legible the gradient was made smaller, made a dark green and centralised. A feedback comment was made that made aware how posters often have more white space at the bottom than the top because of the way the eye settles on the design and that this made it more visually appealing.

Josiah's poster series was also developed using his favourite colours and typeface, using quotes from his interview that stood out to me:

"This opportunity re-affirmed my love of practicing a creative subject and helped me understand what a 'Graphic Designer' actually is – something to this day my Mum doesn't understand!"
"My favourite is always the most obscure typeface I can get my hands on at the time."
"The overall feeling [in Mexico] was very free & expressive"
"It's a great experience, although stressful as you know it has to be perfect, and on time as the deadline is your flight back."
"Don't ever think that where you're based dictates where you source your work from."
"Graphic Design doesn't exist if no-one sees it."

These quotes connected to me and made aware that I can work for other countries whilst still in the UK and what he says about working abroad interested me. It was also humorous hearing about his Mum not understanding graphic design, something I have experienced.

Similarly to Emanuele's posters, variety of designs were created using the typefaces and colours and again the gradient to keep the designs consistent. This time the gradient does not obscure as much as Emanuele's posters as it was only email that caused any miscommunication between me and Josiah.

When asking for feedback people suggested looking at Josiah's work and the way he sets type so that he would appreciate the design. Many preferred the use of Helvetica Extended.

After using Josiah's techniques of typesetting and creating more structure to the design, people felt these final designs were most appealing.

The posters were screen printed as this is one of my strong skills and a screen printed poster is appreciated as a gift and something many would frame or display in some way.

These posters will be sent to both Emanuele and Josiah, and if any of the other creatives get back to me I shall create a poster series for their responses too to ensure a good relationship is established.