DESIGN PROCESS - RESPONSIVE - BRIEF TWO

COMPETITION INFORMATION

Before making a start on the competition I reviewed and analysed the brief available on the Talenthouse website. The details and content are pretty straight forward in directing participants to create a poster to represent country artist Chris Stapleton's new single, 'What Are You Listening To?'. 

• Chris Stapleton released his new single "What Are You Listening To?" this summer. 
• Starts his tour on September the 24th.
• Create a poster design that captures the soul of his single - song needs analysing.
• Pictures of Chris are available for inspiration - poster focused on Chris?
• Two winners are selected, one by the people (highest voted) and another by Christ Stapleton. 
• Chris stapleton is native to Sraffodsville, KY in the United States of America.
• Moved to Nashville in 2001 to peruse his music career. 
• Chris has achieved four #1 hits with his songs for George Strait, Kenny chesney, Darius Rucker and Josh Turner.
• "My life has been on tucked neatly in the liner notes of other people's ablums as a writer, musician or band member.... until now."

RE-WRITING THE BRIEF 

After reviewing and analysing the original brief posted on the Talenthouse website...

RESEARCH 

After re-writing the brief I was in a position to start collecting a body of research to help me create a relevant outcome in response to the set brief. The link below navigates to my Chris Stapleton research posted on the design context part of my blog.

Research Link

IDEAS GENERATION

Once I had completed collecting a body of research into the song and artist I felt knowledgeable enough to start generating ideas as to what my poster could portray to represent and advertise Chris's new single. 

Main ideas;

• Chris Stapleton vector portrait - focuses on new artist & promotes his image.
• Beard - poster would focus on the singers large beard.
• Record - focuses on mysterious record - very literal.

FINAL IDEA

After refining the selection of ideas to a choice of three I needed to define a final concept that will then be developed to form my outcome. Before outlining my design I reviewed the ideas assessing their relevance to the brief and the effectiveness of the composition and aesthetics. Assessing the effectivness of the ideas allowed me to select and develop the most effective design.

CHOSEN IDEA;

Link

CHRIS STAPLETON PORTRAIT  

• Focuses on artist - important as he is a new, up-and-coming artist who needs his image promoting.
• Artist is also relevant to the song - written from his point of view.
• Type informs audience about artist name and his single.

DESIGN DECISIONS 

Before progressing with the project and creating my Chris Stapleton illustration I first had to define the relevant design decisions such as the colour scheme and typefaces that will be used. 

COLOUR SCHEME;


While assessing Chris' song I came to the conclusion that the lyrics and tones communicated by the single emote a mellow, calming feeling. Therefore, to ensure that my poster is a good representative of the song I outlined a collection of colours that capture said feelings. Colour psychology describes blue as a colour that has soothing properties so when selecting colours I chose a pallet of pastel blues. 

TYPEFACES 

After selecting the colour scheme I next chose the typefaces that will be featured on the poster. When defining the primary typeface I wanted to select a font with an aesthetic similarity to vintage American signage due to its relevance to Chris' country music.

REFERENCE IMAGE

As I decided to base my illustration around the artist himself I utilised a reference image taken from my research to work from when creating my designs. 

Link

INITIAL DESIGNS 

Below are my initial sketches that explore different compositions and typographic placement. I used the rough designs as a process of refinement to help me create the most successful composition before starting my final design. 

FINAL ILLUSTRATION

The image below displays the final illustration that will form the base of my final design.

DIGITAL PRODUCTION

Once I had finalised the design and created the base illustration I started working digitally in Illustrator building up layers of colour to create the digital rendering of Chris. 

After creating the illustration of Chris I added the typographic composition. To do this I first applied a warp effect in Photoshop to the two typographic compositions and then digitally traced each arrangement using the pencil tool in Illustrator. Later highlights and shadows were added to make the type more visually engaging. 

Finally, to finish the poster I added a light blue background with an overlaid a white texture.

Vector paths.

FINAL OUTCOME

The image below displays my final response that was submitted as part of the competition;

SUBMISSION DETAILS 

Before submitting my outcome I downloaded and reviewed the official rules of submission from the Talenthouse website to ensure that my design would be submitted problem free.

• Rule seven relates to the granting of rights to the sponsor once the work is submitted. Once submitted the work pretty much doesn't belong to us anymore. 

SYNOPSIS

To accompany the submission of the poster design a brief synopses summarizing the outcome was required. 

The final word count of the brief synopses came to 45 words.

CHRIS STAPLETON SYNOPSIS;

As an up-and-coming musician Chris Stapleton needs his image promoting and so I decided to focus the illustration on the artist creating a graphic portrait. Furthermore, the colour scheme of pastel Blues was chosen to depict the despondent feel the song connotes.  

SUBMISSION

Once I had submitted my design it was uploaded to the Chris Stapleton Talenthouse designs page so that people could review and vote for the design they believe to be best. Due to the nature of the competition two winners are selected, one is chosen by the people and the other by Chris himself. 

DESIGN PRACTICE - BRIEF 2 - WORKSHOP 2

We started todays session by getting out our three scamp designs created for last weeks task. We then moved round the room giving feedback on peoples initial designs. Below is the feedback I received.

SCAMPS

(add image)

RESPONSE 

• While collecting research for the web brief I have also come across similar designs, my website will be fresh due to its aesthetic content and navigation. As the target audience is skateboarders I want the content of the website will be very illustrative so that it captures the audiences attention. 
• I like the idea of having the timeline as a skateboard, this is an idea I have considered but something I have not explored yet. 
• I have been considering how to display the information as I want the viewer focus to be on the illustrations, I think that interactive annotation would be an effective and relevant way of overcoming the problem.
• All content will be illustrated in a hand drawn style so that it is appropriate and aesthetically engaging for the target audience.

Next, we opened Dreamweaver, to access the websites we started to created last week we had to open Site > Manage sites > Select the correct folder > Done. 

After relocating the correct file Dreamweaver will open the site.

STYLE SHEET

To create a CSS document go to; File > New > Blank page > CSS > Create.

• When working in CSS you cannot change the view from 'Code'.
• CSS has one advantage over HTML, CSS allows you to multiply a design over multiple pages using one code. All the design is done in a style sheet which is then linked to other documents.

Keyboard - Note - Grey text does not do anything, tells designer message.

To create a not use /* to open the message and */ to close the message

DIV ID

To create a body of type with a specific font press return so that you are on a clear line and type in 'body'. Next, use a '{' icon, when you add this it will bring up a drop down menu, this shows the variables CSS can create.

These can be used to navigate through what you can created with CSS.

To close the code use a '}' symbol.

Next, we need to link the style sheet to the HTML document.

To link the CSS style sheet to the HTML document follow; Window > CSS Styles.

Click the small link icon and choose the location of the CSS file.

Once linked the link of type should show on the HTML code.

Dreamweaver also offers designers the option to work on the HTML file or CSS file.

WEBSITE DESIGN

In the CSS style sheet you first create the dimensions.

Dimensions - 1024 x 768

(alt + 3 for Hashtag symbol)

#container

height: 768px; 

width: 1024px;

Setting the height and width;

Adding background colour, press return to access new line of type, use '{' to open up the variables and select 'Background colour' then the colour picker will bring up all 256 web safe colours;

To update the HTML document you need to add the container folder into the body of the HTML code.

Follow - '<' > 'div' > return > 'id' > 'container' '>'

A preview of the site after the background has been added.

POSITION 

Using CSS allows you to work with more settings and variables, such as removing the 10px white boarder.

Selecting 'Fixed' allows us to place page elements in specific places.

The site now will look like this;

ALIGNMENT 

When aligning the container it is easier to work with the left edge.

Setting the percentage to 50% left the page unbalanced, to overcome this problem we simply added a  margin;

ADDING A LOGO

Next, we learnt how to add a logo to the composition, Simon gave us five minutes to create a quick logo which was then saved in a specific way.

To add the logo to Dreamweaver it must first be saved to the root folder in the images file.

File > Save for web > PNG24 > Allow Transparency > Done.

Adding the logo to Dreamweaver.

The logo will be added in the top left hand side of the design.

ROLLOVER BUTTON

DESIGN PROCESS - RESPONSIVE - BRIEF ONE EVALUATION

At the very start of the year I was approached by a close friend from one of my old colleges currently living in South Africa.  A practicing artist Richard specialises in creating exquisite oil paintings of the surrounding landscapes and animals found in South Africa. As an up-and-coming artist Richard is currently developing a personal identity and so needed a logo to represent his practice.

Upon first discussing the brief Richard outlined exactly what he wanted me to produce and gave some rough ideas as to how he wanted the end product to look. As he is currently living in another country all communication regarding the project was completed via the internet, at first this was not a problem. However as the brief progressed I found certain aspects of feedback and analysis was misunderstood, consequently extending the time it took to complete the project.

The logo created was based around the Fibonacci spiral due to its relevance to the varying proportions applied within fine art. After defining a basic logo form and typeface the client was happy with the logo was developed by hand to create a soulful aesthetic significant to Richards work.

One of the main problems I encountered while completing the brief was communicating via the internet, as certain ideas and visual amendments were hard to visualise without a physical manifestation of the idea. In future projects where communication is completed via the internet I will utilise screen shots and video programs like ‘Skype’ to visually communicate with clients about ideas. 

Finally, despite the communication issue I feel that the project was an overall success. Not only was the client very pleased with the final outcome but the brief enabled me to develop aspects of my design practice by gaining experience creating a logo and communicating online with clients.  

DESIGN PRODUCTION - BRIEF 2 - CONCEPT

As I had already generated all of the content needed for the outcome via my summer brief research, I was in a position where I could start defining a specific concept for the project. 

The concept generation process was started by first defining a specific target audience. Defining a relevant audience is very important to the success of the project as it affects the direction in which the outcome is taken. To accurately define the audience I created a survey which was disseminated via online resources. 


SURVEY 

When generating the survey I wanted to create a set of questions that helped me to not only define a specific target audience, but also to help me outline peoples views and opinions on the importance of skateboarding history, my initial focus for the website. Asking questions regarding peoples opinions on skateboarding history will allow me to see if my initial focus is interesting, and something that the audience would want to engage with. Furthermore, I also created questions that focused specifically on finding out if participants of the survey find illustrative, skateboard style graphics appealing. The results from the survey will be analysed and used to define a specific audience, focus and relevant aesthetic theme. 

When writing the questions I specifically simplified them and applied terminology suited for the young audience that could be interacting with it.

SURVEY QUESTIONS;

1. How old are you?
2. When did you start skateboarding?
3. Do you visit skateboarding websites? if answered yes, how often?
4. Do you think knowing about the history of skateboarding is important?
5. What are your feelings about the history of skateboarding?
6. Do you think knowing about how the sport started is important? 
7. Do you think that skateboard graphics are appealing?
8. Would you be more likely to look through with a website if it had skateboarding style graphics?

RESULTS - 

The results shown below visually represent data collected from only some of the questions, as others required a written answer and therefore cannot be visualized in the same way. Important information taken from the written response questions has been displayed below the specific chart.

How long have you been skateboarding? (if you don't list the number of years you have been interested in the sport.

• 12 years
• 4 years
• dont skate interested in the sport though
• 3 years
• 3 years
• 7 years
• 6 months.
• 9 year
• I don't skate myself, but it's sparked my attention in the last few years, started off with skateboarding shorts, eg Redbull's 'Perspective'
• On and off for 4-5 years
• 7 years
• 6 years
• 8years
• 10 years
• since i was 8... on and off though...
• I dont.
• 12-13 years
• 10 years
• Started when I was about 13 till I was about 16 full on, been on and off since then.
• I've been interest for 7 or 8 years
• 6 years
• 3 years 
• skateing for 4 years
• 1 year and 1/2

The question featured offered participants an option to add further information below their response allowing me to analyse the amount of times the participant visits skateboarding websites.

• occasinoally
• not that often
• often
• couple of times a month
• weekly
• skateboarding related eg clothing everyday, watching videos once a week
• everyday
• every so often
• Weekly
• Once every few months
• skateboard videos
• everyday
• 4/5 times a week
• Weekly check of the Berrics
• Very
• errryy day
• everyday!

Additional comments;

• if you are interested in the sport then yes
• Influences skating in so many ways, its important to know!
• not really, can be
• It's good to know but isn't important, it's interesting to know if anything
• Depending on who it is, it will be important to some, but definitely interesting!
• im not that knowledgable on the history tbh

Additional comments;

• Not necessarily, for example, if someone was just starting out knowing the history wouldn't be overly important
• It is and it isn't depends how serious you are taking the sport
• To skateboarders definitely and to people who frown upon it.
• helps people who are new understand that its tough at first. its not a basic instinct to be able to roll on four wheels on a plank, and do loads of other mad shit too. thats why skateboarding was so basic at first

What are your feelings about the history of skateboarding?

• Its important to know where the sport originated from and how it still effects the spot today.
• dont know much about it, would like to know more.
• Important to know and interesting
• dont know much about it, should probably know more
• Know it, know your roots
• weird and rapid progression from nothing to something
• its sick but its history!
• I don't know much about it, likely because I don't skate but I think it's be pretty interesting to find out.
• The history of skateboarding shows the true creativity and independence of what skateboarding is about, with guys inventing tricks that have never been done before and pioneering what is now one of the most well known extreme sports in the world.
• important as looking at the past and gaining inspiration from it helps the progression of the sport
• purple
• History is important! Its the start point of skating! Without it all these tricks wouldn't be around now.
• I would like to know what different styles came from different parts of the world...
• I find it interesting
• the 80s were a stupid era.
• Super awesome
• I think how it has progressed from what it first was to how it is now really shows that it's not just a sport that teenagers get involved in for fun, but it's something that is pioneering, adventurous and genius. Jumping down sets of stairs on a piece of wood with four wheels and making that look cool is pretty fascinating.
• Dog Town and Z-Boys is top notch viewing.
• Pretty cool how it all came from surfing, not a lot of people know that
• Doesnt interest me
• It's interesting and passionate
• amazing how it has dramatically changed and developed into more street skating.
• Knowing your roots is important! Skateboarding history also continues to influence the sport today.
• its good to know where the sport came from.

Additional comments;

• Some of them.
• skateboard graphics are appealing, check that dude jimbo phillips who got his designs ripped off by jeremy scott. must show they are worth ripping off no?

Additional comments;

• depends on the content
• how are skateboard style graphics different to other graphics/art?
• Depends what the website is about but mostly yes
• Definitely, appealing/well made design can be the one factor that even allows non-skaters to indulge in a skate-related site better
• maybe more bothered about the price

ANALYZING THE DATA -

After collecting the results from my survey I looked over the results and analysed the data, the aim of this process is to see what conclusions I can make about the participants of the survey to help me define a specific audience and purpose and aesthetic theme. 

The data offered some fascinating insights, most of which were taken from the additional comments section which allowed me to take some first hand opinions from the participants of the survey.

• Majority of the audience are aged from 16-30, this is a large age-range for a target audience and will therefore need further defining before I write my concept.
• The majority of the people who took part in the survey have (on average) been skating for a number of year, this indicates that the majority of survey participants are skateboarders themselves.
• Results from the website visiting question evidence that of the survey participants people interact with skateboarding websites regularly, with some people frequenting them on a daily basis. The results from this question are useful as it shows that members the audience would visit my proposed site regularly.
• The questions regarding the important of skateboarding history and what people feel about it indicate that knowing the history is important if your a skateboarder, however if you are not then it holds little importance. Moreover, participants of the survey highlighted the fact that skateboarding history is interesting, however at the end of the day it is history, so would need to be presented in an engaging way for people to interact with the information.
• Finally, there were overwhelming results that evidence that the survey participants not only find skateboarding style graphics and illustrations appealing, but would also be more likely to interact with a website that applied a rough, skateboard themed illustrative aesthetic.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT 

After analyzing the results taken from the survey I felt I was informed enough to start outlining the specifics of my concept.

AUDIENCE -

Firstly, the audience of my website will consist of young skateboarders between the ages of 16 and 24 years old. The young audience outlined was selected because results from my survey indicated that the sport is most popular with an older teen/young adult audience. Additionally, the website will not be aimed at any 16-24 year olds, but specifically skateboarders or people with a keen interested in the sport. I want to focus on an audience with an already established interest in skateboarding as the sites content will contain information specific to skateboarding history, a dull subject if the viewer lacks interest in the sport.
  


PURPOSE - 

The purpose of my site will be to provide people interested in skateboarding with information about the history of the sport. As the results from my survey show, knowing about skateboarding history is important if you are a skateboarder as it not only gives many aspects of the spot context, but also continues to affect the ticks and styles practiced in the sport today.  My outcome will combine rough hand-rendered illustrations with information specific to definitive points in the sports history, to provide the audience with a platform of engaging, easy to digest information. Through the digestion of information the website will allow users to expand their knowledge of the sport and understand how and why the sport evolved to its current, modern state.



CONTENT-

To successfully communicate information regarding skateboarding history to the audience, the site will need to render all information in an easy to digest and visually engaging way. As the results from my survey show, knowing about skateboarding history is important, however the topic is information heavy and often unengaging for the audience. Therefore, to successfully communicate the information the site will need an illustration heavy timeline with small snippets of focused, supporting information. 

The timeline will feature information on important, definitive parts of skateboarding history such as;

• The evolution of the skateboard.
• Invention of new parts (trucks, wheels etc.)
• Historic events (competitions, trick inventions)
• Legendary skate teams (Z-Boys & Bones Brigade).

The website will also include an introductory homepage, about page,  blog of skateboard history related images and a list of the sources used to form the content.

 
FORM - 

The website will be responsive to ensure that the content can be accessed from multiple devices such as mobile phones, tablets and computers. The accessibility of information is important as results from my survey indicate that skateboarding websites are regularly accessed. Additionally, in a modern society where a range of devices are regularly used to access internet based information the site will need to be responsive to ensure that the content can always be assessed.  Finally, To communicate the timeline information in the most effective way it will be placed on a continuous scrolling webpage, allowing users to continuously browse through information without clicking through a series of different web pages. 



WHAT WILL IT ACHIEVE? -

The site will inform and educate the audience about the importance of skateboarding history
and why it is still relevant today. Furthermore, the website will act as an educational platform informing the audience about definitive aspects of skateboarding history. To communicate the historical information in an audience appropriate way the timeline will predominantly rely on illustrations to visualize events, using small amounts of supporting information to give the images context. 




WHY? -

The results analysed from my survey indicate that for skateboarders an understanding of the sports history is important, as not only does it gives various aspects of the sport context, it is also key to understanding the current state of the sport today.