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HouseFreqs : Reflection

Once i became involved with this brief, i knew it was something that would require ongoing development and adjustments, due to the nature of the online culture and the website, nothing would be set in stone. One thing that i did not plan on was the main deliverable being focused around Brand guidelines. As HouseFreqs is still a relatively young brand, i used this as a chance to strip down current elements of the identity to values and an ethos, this gave me the room to re-visualise the logo, type, and everything which supports them. Logo design is an element that can be tricky, but i have worked with it before, so was relatively confident when heading into the brief (already with a few rough ideas). What i learnt was that without sufficient research into current cultures, the audience and background of the sector, creating an image which stuck was not so straight-forward. This led me to going back to basics, and alongside my type module, this brief really allowed me to improve and fine tune my technical skills, particularly with pen and on Photoshop.

This brief required a full assessment of Housefreqs goals, and this led me to creating a ‘brand and development guide’ to assist consistent promotion of the brand. This is an element i have not worked with before, so the research i did into that is something i will take away with me. I realised that alongside aesthetic, the thoughts which go into making a set of guidelines functional is just as important for their success.

#L6 #reflection #housefreqs

Mockingbird Competition brief: Reflection

Being my first time working with book design, i looked forward to this brief as a new means to combine previous skills. It gave me a chance to take a step back, analyse and pick apart the fundamentals and history of book covers, which was heavily focused around proper design. When exploring narrative and type, i used mind maps to realise and create ideas, this is a method of creation i generally avoid, however this has reminded me of the power of a mind map. From the perspective of idea development and my final outcome, i think that with final tweaking it will make a strong piece for my portfolio. However, if i were to restart this brief, with what i have learnt in regards to current trends, type , and the book itself, i think i would have gone down a very different pathway of design which.

#L6 #reflection

HouseFreqs Creative Brief

Background:

Housefreqs is an online radio station, with the aim to deliver good quality, diverse dance music from around the world. It prides itself in diversity and taste, and represents the classic and the modern. Its foundations are already rooted in the online community, however, it is still in very early stages of development. While it is supported by a logo and colour palette, it is yet to define and apply a true, consistent, visual identity, and in the busy world of online concepts, branding and promotion, this is a key aspect of success.

Objectives: To evaluate the views and ethos of HouseFreqs, and visualise it through a powerful and recognisable identity which will hold its own in the online community. It should be portrayed in a professional but interesting manner, and be tied together with consistent elements which will work across platforms and media. A lot of the promotion for this radio station is presented through the DJs who are a part of it, so promotional media which can be used by these members of the brand must be considered.

Target Audience: Due to the age of the ‘House’ music genre, which can be dated back to around 1984/85, and HouseFreqs predominantly online presence, there little to no fanbase for it in the oldest sector of society. The demographic this brand will be aimed at does include members of the 30/40 year bracket, who over the last few years have adapted the online culture due to its growing prominence and neccessity in society, but when considering development and progression for the future of HouseFreqs, the main focus audience is people in their late teens and 20’s. This is due to a number of factors, statistically, people in this age bracket listen to dance and electronic music more than others, and they are also most connected and influenced with the online world.

Tone of voice: HouseFreqs likes to convey itself in a professional manner, but their is also a slight informality to the concept as a whole due to the ideas of fun and family that it connotes. This personal level of connection is something that should be carried forward within the identity, the overall visuals should be sleek and powerful, but not too much as this may create a militant and industrious tone, which does not suit the values they portray. The brand should be reflected in a welcoming way, by holding signs of interest and intricacy, it will attract a new audience.

Approaches: Focus on brand foundations and values to create a strong identity, this could consist of a logo, typeface and colour palette. This should then be developed further through experimenting with further promotional media, as well as researching how other online social tools can be applied to the brand.

Media: Predominantly digital media, however things such as physical promotional merchandise (screen print?) should considered, this would help connect with the demographic on a higher level.

Deliverables:

The primary elements will be the foundations of a new identity i.e a logo, palette, typeset and any other semiotic signifiers which may represent the brand. This may then be furthered with promotional web media such as banners, schedule posters and other functional imagery for the brand. A major aspect of Housefreqs is that the DJs will be promoting the brand through social media on a much larger scale than the company itself, so a method should be considered to assure that the DJs promote the brand correctly, perhaps this could be achieved through a ‘HouseFreqs Brand Guide.’

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Another concept i am considering launching in the local area. With an initial focus on music events, this is something i would like to adapt into a label, which would house the community of producers in Birmingham, who would not only release music through ‘juicy room’, but also DJ at the events. This is something which would require a good social presence from launch, most importantly online. Before making anything public, a strong identity must be realised for the brand, and this will need to be supported through an array of printed and digital promotional media.

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To be supplied with a resource pack .

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HouseFreqs Brand guide

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Revised thumbnails to support youtube uploads through HouseFreqs.

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#L6 #foundations #agency

Originating from the cmyk code for a pure white, Comoyoko is an agency which represents design done with a clear mind.

Comoyoko is the Design agency that i will be launching soon, this will be a collective of people, at the moment it consists of me and one other creative, an Illustrator. I think that approaching the design industry as a company, brand or collective is much more successful than as an independent, not only does it feel like a safer option for clients, the wider skill set and portfolio means more diverse briefs can be taken on from a large clientele.

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#L6 #experiment

#L6 #experiment #photography

Incorporating the logo with different texture and image, this is something which could be manipulated for function, for example, different scenarios and textures would reflect different musical genres. While none of the main deliverables to the client will be the above, it is something which will be touched on in the brand and development guide.

#L6 #housefreqs