Analysis & Evaluation

I think that the project in general was a total disaster due to lack of planning and organisation. The lack of funding left the few graphics students rummaging in college cupboards for materials and myself actually purchasing items such as string (for the bags) and card (for my prints) just so that we could get something out there. The project caused students to have to travel into college for days that were not timetabled (and until twilight hours)  and caused them to undergo a large amount of stress. On many occasions I found myself trying to get things done during free sessions and lunch hour. eg. selling raffle tickets, making paper and making bags.

I think that the things that caused this was the disorganisation, the 8 week July/August break and the lack of funds/ equipment. If I was to do this project again, I would set up a basic plan instantly and ensure that everything was done with time to spare rather than working up to 15minutes before the actual event. I also think that we pulled it off the best that we could considering the circumstances.

Some Kind Of Success!!

Finally! Some success!

I had an epiphany! Thus was to back minature versions of our designs (printed using our own printer credits) upon card and to write "Thank You" or something on the back to go in the bag. This idea is quick, easy and affordable. I knocked up a prototype and presented my idea. It was OK'd instantly so I set about creating more.

We also began covering sheets of newspaper ( taken out of the "free" stands at Sainsbury's) with coloured tissue paper that was dumped around the college. The lecturer duplicated my net for the rest of the class to use. Today saw us "build" the bags.

I then proceeded to create my " postcards" by using the spray booth when using spray mount to adhere the images to the card. This is due to Health & Safety. The booth has an extractor fan at the back so that the user does not inhale adhesive. I then used a guillotine to cut the cards up as I did 4 to a sheet.

I then wanted to stencil something on the back and the lecturer suggested that I should do a heart instead of text. I created a stencil with a scalpel and card (upon a cutting mat) and airbrushed the heart on the back.

I have written a quick thank you on the back of my prints for the guests. 

 4 days until the show! 

http://www.ugandahumanistschoolstrust.org/

Tut.

It was suggested that we made our own paper ( a couple of weeks ago).

This plan was fine. Now knowing that we were not able to create large screen prints of our designs or bags for life due to lack of funding. We were given the alternative of making paper bags out of newspaper that were covered by coloured tissue paper. That was it.

I really was not happy with just this as an alternative, as it would of meant that all of our designs would be wasted. With the suggestion of homepaper still going round. I suggested that we should make minature prints of postcard size to go inside the handmade bags with the other information. And they could be done on the homemade paper.

I researched how to make homemade paper and soon found it wasn't as easy as it sounded - it would take a long time to make any successful amount - that and the fact not everybody owns a blender. A classmate suggested making paper mache sheets. So I tried it over the weekend.

I stuck on a postcard sized print off of my design and soon found that it didn't look very good at all and scrapped the idea before it was too late.

Angry at my blatent failiure, I went back to the drawing board and began thinking of a way that we could get our work out there whilst I created a prototype of a bag using a net that I resized and configured.

Final Designs....

These are my final submitted designs. The singular ideas work well for bags for life whereas the one with both images on works well as a landscape poster. Due to only being able to screen print one colour, I am to paint on the yellow background to create the natural hand-generated look and to follow that with screen printing the design in black and then taking a brush to fill in the red parts of the image.

The Finishing Post Is In Sight....

First of all. I would like to thank whoever came up with the idea of us blogging as my memory stick corrupt and this blog allowed me to salvage and continue with my project.

The natural style in the way that the silhouettes have been "cut out " has been mentioned on several occasions as a good quality in my design as it reflects the natural culture. I decided to use this for my further development as I have now removed all straight edges to give the print a more authentic look. I also think the idea of  "brush stroking" the background will look effective upon the "bags for life" as it means that the screen prints will not just look like square iron-on transfers and has an air of quality about it.

My initial idea was to have just the image on one side of the bag and the text on the other reading something along the lines of " Uganda Humanist Trust : Fashion Show 2011 " but due to lack of resources and time means that it would be better to incorporate text into the image as that means that my one design would work for both prints and the bag. Understandably, that idea was discarded  almost immediately. But. It had given me a heading. So I then worked upon putting text upon my designs.

As you can see the free African style font that was downloaded and inputted looked cheap and not very professional so I began to seek out new typography and text. So far I have come up with this.

Yes. I know that "Uganda Humanist Trust" isn't very original or particularly exciting but I think it works well. The bright and vibrant solid blocks of colour within the designs make them eye-catching and more positive.The childish handwriting is more relevant as the charity is for the orphaned children.

Another idea which was raised today was that the prints that we will be doing shall be done onto recycled materials e.g. newspapers so that they are all individual and unique and there will not be another one like it in the world.

Not long now...only 3 weeks away until the event unfolds!

Moving On...

The next stage in my development is to experiment with the way that the typography looks with the silohuettes...

I am to also make sure that my supporting folder is up to date with all of my research and developed ideas.

Screen-printing...

This week we have been looking a what merchandise we can edit to sell on at the charity event. We are hoping to get a batch load of "bag for life" bags and screen-printing the selected design onto them to sell on for a few pounds a piece - the proceeds will go to the Ugandan Humanist Schools Trust. I have researched the method of how to screen-print and summarised it via four points.

 Step One :

          Stretch the item out so that it is flat and the ink

              can be applied smoothly.

        Step Two:

              Create a stencil which will expose each colour which

                  you wish to print. Starting at the base colour.

  

               Step Three: 

                   Place the stencil upon the stretched and framed mesh

                       upon the strecthed item. Squirt ink/paint along one end.

                      Step Four:

                         Use a squeegee to drag the colour along. Wait for it to 

                              dry and then follow the steps with the next colour.

                  

                               http://www.ugandahumanistschoolstrust.org/       

                           

Back to Basics...

After a few weeks of developing our individual ideas, it was decided that we were to look at and research things that mean something to us, that inspire us but still have that connection. Music, being one of my favourite things, lead me to thinking about Michael Jackson ( a favoured artist of mine) and all of the charity work he did for the Africans, also, he himself was an African-American. This lead to me thinking specifically about the 1985 hit charity song "We Are The World " which was written by Lionel Richie & Michael Jackson and was performed by a USA supergroup which featured members from many cultures and ethnic backgrounds. I looked in particular at the artwork in which was used on the covers of the singles for the style of the typeface and the imagery.

To see and hear the official single, follow this link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW_1YAYQK9g

Development continued . . . .

I have already stated that I wished to make a series of sequential posters. I began to develop my ideas last week and then chose on a different/ similar style. Now, I know that sounds absurd, but, I have chosen to go for a more corporate look. The colours have remained the same ( red, black and yellow) and so has the information that is upon the posters. When developing these posters, I am to increase the font size as well as making some adjustments to the arrangments. I am also to incorporate logos of the organisations which are helping support the final event.

Further Development..

This week we each focused on the development of our individual ideas. I have decided to design a sequence of posters. My posters feature a yellow background, a black silhouette and other red features. These are the three colours of the Uganda flag which is relevant and appropriate as the project is aimed to helping the Uganda Humanist School Trust.

http://www.ugandahumanistschoolstrust.org/

Development . . .

This week we have been developing our own ideas for the posters/flyers/tickets. My first idea is a silhouette of a childs' head. I have decided to make the colours solid flat blocks - like the ones that 

were used on the posters that I researched. I have decided to try to aim towards a colour scheme of red, yellow and black as these are the colours of the Ugandan flag. I am yet to develop this idea further. 

Food For Thought...

Today the group went to have coffee and put their heads together about what they would like to put on the exhibition posters. After this, we returned to the classroom and I suggested that we should all mindmap on the board collectively.. This is what we've come up with...

* Graph Showcasing development of AIDS over time.
* Sequential posters ( a group of posters)
* Infographics - Shape filled with text of lesser or greater importance (TAG CLOUD)
* Incorporate photo imagery with statistics.
* " AID THE ORPHANS " <- created by statistical infographics.
* " Our Parents Look After Us But Who's Looking After Them"
* Guilt.

We can take these ideas away and begin to incorporate them with our own individual ideas...

Mind Mapping & Thumbnails....

So, this week I produced a mind map using images to help me gain inspiration for what to include upon the poster. In doing this I was able to see how things link together and how. Doing this will allow me to see what people are looking for stereotypically so that I can link images and words to convey the right message in an effective way. I also began developing thumbnails for my posters - this is to see what layouts would be effective. The large black blocks symbolise the headers, the thin black blocks represent text and the squares with a cross in represent images. My next stage is to look at things that are affiliated with Uganda in more detail eg. the bird, the flag and see how they can be encorporated into my designs.

Exhibiton Posters. . .

This week we looked into exhibition posters and how they are designed to capture the attention of the audience and what information that they display.It has become apparent that the things to include are 

the exhibition name, the location, time and date.Using the knowledge I have gained in looking at both

promotional and exhibitional posters,I will produce a  some thumbnail sketches and a mind map. In the following weeks i will begin developing my own ideas for the posters which I will then share with my classmates.

Progression...

So , to continue on our journey to supporting the charity, we have been researching into promotional posters - whether they be for films, television shows, albums, books or events. It is to help us see what works and what doesn't work when promoting. The main thing that seems to be appealing at the minute is the use of solid blocks of colour and stylised typography. The next step would be to look at exhibitional posters to see what information is included and how they grab the audiences attention...

What we do . . .

Our aim is to take part in a project which supports the charity 

'Uganda Humanist Schools Trust' 

This charity was founded with the aim to raise money to provide schools, 

laptops and other equipment for the orphans of Uganda. This is that they have 

the chance to get an education - that they wouldn't normally be able to afford-

 so that they can gain knowledge and eventually help them out of poverty

 and get the most out of life. 

Our college are assisting this cause by trying to raise money at

an hosted event in October. At the event there will be art

exhibitions, dancing and many things based upon African art.

Myself and others will be responsible for the organising

the event by producing posters, websites and tickets. 

All of the proceeds will go charity. 

 http://www.ugandahumanistschoolstrust.org/