Tracy Kendall

When first starting the Ted Baker brief and we realized one of the issues to be taken in mind was to make use of store windows in our campaign, was to do some research into how to make good use of wall space and decoration.

On www.tracykendall.com it says "Tracy Kendall creates new and innovative wallpapers using hand techniques and modern technology to expand the vocabulary of possibility for wall coverings. The wallpapers are all starting points, often from elements already within a room or space, and convey a strong design concept, one which interact with an interiors identity, but without dominating it."

Here are some examples of Tracy Kendalls work

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Graphic Design and Surrealism

For my new project that I am working on with my work colleague Sophie is a brief for Ted Baker to design a campaign but primarily  focused around the store window, and that extends throughout the rest of the store. As Ted Bakers sense of humour is quirky and strives to be different to other retailers, I feel like this project needs a surrealist spin on things.

To help me with this I have researched into quirky surrealist graphic designs that I have found on the internet.

Mas Pelas by Jerico Santander from http://www.designflavr.com/Mas-Pelas-Jerico-Santander-i450/



The Octopus World by Heri Irrawan from http://www.designflavr.com/The-Octopus-World-Heri-Irrawan-i1277/

Gold Leaves by Richard Roberts http://www.designflavr.com/Gold-Leaves-Richard-Roberts-i946/

Florin from http://abduzeedo.com/daily-inspiration-217

Longo from http://abduzeedo.com/daily-inspiration-217

Barbour Design, New York

On Wednesday 11th November me and my work colleague Grace went to visit Barbour Design in New York City.

Grace had previously emailed and talked to the company founder, Ava, and had organised the visit for this specific day at 3pm. 

As we walked into the studio I was first amazed how professional the studio looked, so I knew this was quite an upbeat and busy design environment.

When we met Ava she was very friendly and interested to see what we had to show her. I introduced ourselves and said where we were from and what we wanted to get out of the visit, and how important feedback on our portfolios was.

And so Ava began by looking through my portfolio, and seemed pleased with the work she saw for Manchester Literature Festival and Ted Magazine. Also she asked about the process for 3 men and a Wardrobe and the idea behind the end sting for Black and Decker. 

However she found it hard to comment on my animation for murder she wrote as it wasnt clear what was going on, and I have found this with other visits so I think it is time to take this piece of work out.

The feedback was also positive on Graces portfolio and so we found the visit very successful. 

After we showed our portfolios Ava showed us around the studio and introduced us to her work colleagues. She also gave us advice on our CV, as she herself had viewed many CVS in her time at Barbour and said to us that spelling and also the design of the CV was very important. It needs to capture your personality so she can have an incling on who she is going to interview.

Kenneth Funk from Coffee Cup Design, New York

On Tuesday 10th November me and Grace decided to give Kenneth Funk a call and see if it was okay for us to come and visit him. He was very friendly and pleasant on the phone and so it was easy to not get nervous about visiting our first designer in New York.

We arrived at the door of Coffee Cup Design Studio on the 10th floor. When we first walked in and greeted Ken he was very friendly and seemed happy to see us. The studio was small but the space was used well, with shelves upon shelves of design books and several files which we later discovered was full of typography. Ken said he had over 5000 fonts.

He was very interested in our course and what we were up to. He discussed his early career and his design work before computers were invented as he had been in the business for over 20 years. He described the way he had to cut out each individual letter for the Type work and then when sending it to print, he wasn't just as easy as converting it to PDF and clicking a button. To send the final print with colour to the client the piece had to be divided into 4 negatives with each of the colour combinations 'C' 'Y' 'M' and 'K'.

Since computers were invented and the competition increased, he says it is harder for him now. However, we asked what he was working on at the moment and the brochure he is working on appeared impressive.

When we showed him our portfolios he was very impressed with our work and the ideas behind some of the content. There's a few things in my portfolio that I seem to be very proud of to explain to anyone who views it, this is the bracket in my 'Manchester Literature Fesitval' poster that resembles an open book, and also my TED magazine that rolls up to resemble a magic wand. So I think it is safe to say I am definitely keeping these pieces in my portfolio. However, my animation piece is more illustration based and lacking in idea and I find that it is hard for anyone to comment on it, so I think this is going to be taken out of it.

At the end of the visit Ken suggested places for us to visit in New York whilst we were there. These were a Type Designers Club, a studio called Number 17 and the oldest pub in New York located on Greenwhich Street. As time went so quickly and we didn't get round to doing any of these, I still am very keen to get in touch with Number 17 and also research Ed Benguiat who Ken said he saw once speak at the Type Designers Club. Benguiat designed the logo for the 'New York Times' and the logo for 'NASA' that is on the side of the space shuttle.

Ovarall a very relaxed and successful visit, and me and my work colleague Grace plan on staying in contact with Ken in the future.

The Logo

Kenneth Funk and Grace

Container Plus

Container Plus are a collaborative company whose aim is to problem solve. And one of the founders of container plus is Louise Vormitdaag who came in to talk to us about how it was formed, what they do and advice and tips as to how to come up with the great idea.

In the talk I was sat next to one of my really good friends who is studying moving image, but we had recently decided to work on a brief together which was to design a campaign including a design for shop window for Ted Baker. Ironically as Louise started her talk she said how her company started out in the beginning, herself and her good friend Nicola illustrated a window of Selfridges, and it is from this they realised they worked well together.

As she discussed their projects, it became clear that they worked well with sets as well as illustration, and the visuals were amazing. I especially liked the work they did for the Volkswagen Car Launch where they were given 4 rooms in a house to design themselves, and she said it was "a 360 degree experience."

She also said something that I feel is very important and it is something I try and do, it is always to try and be nice to the people you work with, and they will help you out when you need it.

The process she discussed when they created their project 'Evil Twins' is something I have noted down and I think me and my friend are going to use as inspiration for our project.

She said to firstly create a story/concept and then that can be taken to any scene such as a park. Also its the use of sets and props that made me think this is the perfect way of thinking for our project. And that photographs and sets can be edited and changed on photoshop and so it is never limiting.

What became apparent in the talk was how important it is that you test a collaboration before you're committed to it. Louise and her team realised that is was 3 people they found a good combination, and then have assistants who help them.
This way by using techniques as simple as just having a conversation led them to their great ideas.

After the talk me and my friend wanted to learn more, and ask for some advice on our window display project. We discussed with Louise our process, and she agreed it was a good idea to come up with the story/concept then go along with whatever comes from that. I think we had started to discuss how we were going to present an idea whereas we shouldn't really had been doing that already. Additionally Louise stated to treat the Window like a stage, and imagine the performance that is going to take place on that stage... "how are you going to use the space? are you going to stick anything on the glass? is there going to be something there that involves the public like an event?"

She also kindly gave us a list of artists to research that might help us out.

Ovarall a very informative and entertaining talk with a very positive outcome.

Dave Sedgwick from 999

At the end of October Dave Sedgwick came in to Stockport College to talk to us about his process in getting a job and shared a few tips as to how to become successful in this.

From listening to Dave it started to become clear that it was very important to research as many design agencies as you can whilst still in University, and keep a diary of your progress with each one...and that this diary was to be shown to no-one!

And when it was time to visit each agency with a portfolio, it was really important to take each comment with a pinch of salt, as some designers are going to love it, and some are going to hate it. Dave mentioned that one company even said he 'needed some Yorkshire pudding packaging added'.

This was Ironic as he actually got a placement with this company later on. He outlined the important issue that if you work hard, you will be successful, as that what he did and managed to get jobs with big company's such as LOVE and Dinosaur.

Even when it didn't work out with these places, he gained confidence from the experience and new skills he had learned and eventually through work that he freelanced he managed to gain publicity and build up a client base. He stressed that in the end 'it is all about who you know.'

Dave additionally gave us tips and advice about how to get a job. What I learnt was to not contact a few agencies I liked but to get a list of agencies and call and enquire about who to send CV'S, PDF'S and emails to, and email as many as possible. When you go for an interview he mentioned to perhaps leave a 'leave behind' before you go, which did not occur to me before to do but is a really good idea.

From learning and hearing from designers coming in to talk to us I always noticed how they stressed the point that it is definitally hard work to get a job and Dave even said one post graduate he talked to had 32 interviews before she got a job!

I came away from this talk with the desire to get list after list of contacts and with more determination than ever!

Contact Report: Kenneth Funk from Coffee Cup Design, New York

Hello

I am a student currently studying Graphic Design in my final year at University. I'm a part of Liverpool John Moores University in England but where I actually attend is a college in Stockport, Cheshire. As I am in my final year, it is important that I travel to as many design agencies as possible with my portfolio and receive feedback so it helps me to improve on my design skills for when I graduate.

From the 9th to 13th November I'll be visiting New York. Me and my friend Grace, who also attends the college, intend to visit as many agencies as possible with our portfolio whilst we are visiting the city.

I have been having a look at many design agencies websites that are in New York on the internet and yours caught my eye. I was browsing through some of your work and I especially liked the typography for 'Mad 28' where I think it fits well with the context, and also the set design for 'classic sofa' is really eye catching.

I understand you must be very busy but I was just enquiring whether if you had 10 minutes to spare between the 9th and 13th of November, could me and my friend visit you with our portfolios?

Regards

Katherine Speak

BA Hons: Design and Visual Arts: Graphic Design
Stockport College




Hi Katherine.. Thanks for your compliments on my ad designs and you're more than welcome to stop by.. give me a call when you're in town.. Kenny Funk

Coffee Cup Design Studio




Thanks Kenny Funk
I shall probably give you a call sometime on Tuesday 10th November to organize a visit

Speak to you then

Katherine

Guerilla Advertising

Definition: "Unconventional marketing intended to get maximum results from minimal resources."

This is something I have considered and answer to both of the briefs I have chosen this year, firstly

Tolerance: We had to convey the meaning of tolerance through any medium we wanted to promote Manchester Literature Festival

and

The Body Shop: Create an unconventional brand campaign for The Body Shop

It was after torturously trying to think of ways to crack these briefs through guerilla advertising that it came apparent that it was going to be very difficult. In the end we used Typography for the Tolerance brief:

and one of the ideas I had for The Body Shop that I used guerilla advertising for was this billboard...

However this had already been done by "Denver Water" as I was trying to think of other ways to use the strap line "We just use what we need", but before I decided to take it further I decided to research just in case...never mind!! Here is Denver Waters Guerilla Advertising created by Sukle Advertising & Design 

Here is some more Guerilla Advertising that has caught my eye

found on: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/08/guerrilla_ads/source/6.htm

by Canadian Company: Rethink