OUGD603 / Extended Practice - PART 2 Design Publication: Production.

OUGD603
DESIGN PUBLICATION 
PRODUCTION 

Over the next few days I worked on producing the 3 books according to the directions and components researched within the books. 


Low cost packaging:

To keep the low cost book the lowest cost out of the set the books were printed on only one type of stock including front and back covers. The material that I printed on is bulky newsprint, at only 5p per large sheet I was able to get 4 double page spreads per sheet. with 12 double page spreads in the book I was able to buy the stock for the book for only 15p. 

I then chose to laser print the book as this is the most low cost printing available in college and only cost me around £3 to print the full book. The staple bind was free, used in college meaning that the book costed me just £3.15 to produce, the cheapest of the collection. 


Luxury Packaging: 

The luxury packaging book was produced with what I had learnt in mind, the pages were printed with inkjet creating a matte, rich, luxe finish that had an increased tactility. Details were printed on each page in the process of foil finishing, adding a polished and well crafted feel in an exclusive colour pallet of black on black. Unfortunately the foil front didn't come out do well as the screen I was using must have been blocked, as both times I tried to foil the front cover on the second pull the glue didn't go through properly. I was told it must have been an issue with a blocked screen. the book is binded via perfect soft bind, creating a streamlined finish that appears smooth and clean. 


Sustainable book:

The sustainable book was printed again with a laser printer as this uses less ink and is cheaper in cost meaning it is more sustainable in terms of less ink and less economically harmful. Details have been added in fluorescent green screen print to subtly reference the green roots of the book, but to also communicate that screen printing is also a well sustained root of printing. The bind is the most sustainable element of the whole book secured with a screw post. Screw post requires minimal, if not, no glue depending on the type of bind, it lasts for a long time, and the screws are reusable when they are no longer needed. 


Packaging:

The packaging is lasercut from a sturdy material that will hold all the books as a set. Made from a low cost easily recycled material, that together when engraved has a well crafted look. The packaging also references the use of colour within the book series, injecting a small amount of fluorescent green.

OUGD603 / Extended Practice - Peter and Paul: Submission boards.

OUGD603
PETER AND PAUL
SUBMISSION BOARDS

OUGD603 / Extended Practice - Alice in Wonderland x MAC Cosmetics: Submission boards.

OUGD603
MAC IN WONDERLAND
SUBMISSION BOARDS

OUGD603 / Extended Practice - Christmas cards: Submission boards.

OUGD603 
CHRISTMAS CARDS
SUBMISSION BOARDS

OUGD603 / Extended Practice - BRREW Iced Tea: Final submission boards.

OUGD603 
BRREW ICED TEA
FINAL SUBMISSION BOARDS

OUGD603 / Extended Practice - Christmas stationary (cards): Evaluation.

OUGD603
CHRISTMAS CARDS
EVALUATION

The outcomes:

The Christmas card brief was something very simple but enjoyable to create, and in the end I think the outcomes really work to suit the audience. The simple text and illustrations work well to compliment each other, whilst the screen printing in red and white against craft card creates a reminiscent image of traditional parcels. Looking at the outcomes, they work well in a set together which was a concern, but the colour pallet and materials helps to bring them together, whilst the differentiation in typography and illustration bespoke to and linking back to each film helps them to have their own stance and individual presence. They are a really fun choice for any friend/partner/ family member of a movie lover at christmas time. 

How could they be improved?

The project was only intended to be approximately a week long all in with research and production, however it could be furthered and extended with other stationary items such as gift wrap, gift bags and tags etc. I think the simplicity of the project was very much out of my comfort zone, and although I think the simplicity of the design combined with screen printing works well together, I would have like to have created something with more of an illustrative focus, however given the time restraints I set for myself, such decisions weren’t particularly viable.  

What have I learnt?

I have learnt a lot about the design to production stage of design in that production processes can help make simple designs unique, but also be just as important and hold as much stance within the outcome, as the design itself. The outcomes also taught me that simplicity can be a great tool and that its sometimes, more successful to hold back and create restraint in design that go overboard with detail. I also learnt that doing a project every now and then primarily for fun, as I did with this in the winter months alongside my dissertation, will benefit you greatly.  

OUGD603 / Extended Practice - Alice in Wonderland for MAC: Final pieces + Evaluation.

OUGD603.
MAC COSMETICS  x  ALICE IN WONDERLAND.
FINAL PIECES + EVALUATION. 

The outcomes:

I had chosen to do this project based upon both my interests within cosmetics and Tim Burton films. The end product works really well to combine both the original mac brand and packaging which features a black colour pallet interjected by a white logo and other typographic elements with the films very distinguished out of the box Tim Burton aesthetic. Both very contrasting visuals very easy to combine together as although Alice in Wonderland is well known for its physcadelic colour pallet, the Tim Burton remake is very much a mysterious and darker version of the original. The packaging is therefore successful as the mysterious elements of Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland could easily be interjected into the brand that is dominated by black. Further successes in communication of both film and brand come from the use of foil to further project the theme of mystery, whilst the ‘life like’ illustrations not only make the character on the packaging easily distinguishable but also nod to the most dramatic make up look within the film. 

How could they be improved?

Looking at the end outcomes I think all the elements work really well together including illustration choice, finishing choice and typography however the project could be improved if it was extended. Possible extensions could have been gained from producing designs to go on the packaging inside the boxes, or even creating a unique point of sale stand. The project could have even been taken as far as advertising for the new line across a range of different platforms. 

What have I learnt?

Answering the brief has helped me to improve my craft skills which are important for a designer who has a focus on packaging, especially if I need to mock work up for clients in the future. I also learnt a lot about combining finishing techniques and stock and how these can be use to communicate just as much as type or image, as with ‘MAC in Wonderland’ I chose to combine foil and matte card for a unique effect that helped to communicate the aura of the film. I also, for personal practice, learnt a lot about test printing which I should aim to do on all projects for the future.