Stephen Flagg | Visual Com. | Graphic Design

A 3rd Year Visual Communication student at the Arts University in Bournemouth. This blog intends on presenting further research, ideas and final designs relevant to work produced for the course projects (in addition to sketchbooks and physical documentation), plus showcases design from around the world that I find interesting and inspiring. Thanks for viewing!

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Pagan Typography Exhibition - Craig Ward

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Creature (Seattle-based Agency) Identity

"While the rest of the world wants to get rid of problems, Creature wants to collect them and shape them into beautiful creative solutions. When it came time for a refreshed brand identity, the agency wanted to bring this concept to life. The new design presents Creature as a premier destination where business problems are transformed into Beautiful Problems."

More at Underconsideration's Brand New.

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Evaluation

The option of exploring and choosing a brief from the ISTD Student 2014 collection was a great opportunity to define and develop a project that would not only fully use my skills and attributes with type, but to hopefully produce, even without further potential refinement at this stage, a strong piece of work for inclusion within my portfolio, and I feel that I have somewhat achieved this.

Noticeably, I unfortunately did not have enough time to fully realise the Egyptian Slate specimen concept(s) due to the increasing workload, although this did allow me to expand thoughts and ideas further upon the ITC Bodoni specimen to form the high-quality designs I hoped to achieve.

Upon reflection, the Egyptian Slate specimen could have been started earlier in-line with the ITC Bodoni creation, potentially allowing me to finish the brief at this stage in its full requirements; this could be developed with an initial creation of a timetable plan.

I decided upon working particularly with these two typefaces initially because of their variety in style and approach (following initial research), and, as opposed to the initial exploration and intention of a link between two of them, I felt that it was potentially stronger to represent a variation to help in presentation with the Monotype folder concept created additionally.

Expanding further on the Monotype folder concept, it also allowed for inclusion with additional Monotype typefaces (for promotion), forming extended specimens indirectly and somewhat successfully in expansion to the norm of what was required. 

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Throughout the development process I increasingly wanted to use a range of research methods, and with the majority image-based from books, the internet and photography, I still felt I could have looked into the topic even further with blogs, journals and associated articles, so this will become a strong consideration in the next project.

As a strategy comparative to previous projects I have undertook, I really wanted to fully analyse all sources, noting ideas and concepts throughout to directly expand on the obvious progressional routes, forming original and possibly even more interesting design approaches. This I felt was somewhat presented well within the Bodoni specimen particularly, and if I do wish to return to explore the Egyptian Slate concept (for refinement), this would need to be reconsidered once again.

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This project admittedly was my favourite of all undertaken during the Visual Communication course, and I am very happy with feedback given; I believe my development in working with type has improved considerably, and would love to continue with a similar approach into the next brief. 

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FINAL DESIGNS TO BE UPLOADED SOON

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Colours of Parma - James Martin

Following the final critique, it was increasingly made aware that the booklet potentially requires further reflection upon Parma, and a key example could be using the colours of the City within the designs.

Sourcing the excellent article by James Martin, it defines two key colours as an earth red, and a dark yellow/cream.

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Bodoni Decorated

Potentially re-develop the type further with patterns associated with Parma? Could the design become reflected back to Carluccio's style?

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Boat Magazine

Following initially producing designs that formed to a black and white colour scheme, it was felt and noted, during a recent critique, that the pure colour of the images should be re-introduced to allow the viewer to 'in a sense' (excuse the pun) be able to visually taste, smell and potentially touch the special items.

Referring to Boat Magazine (particularly the Athens issue) for inspiration, the rich colours and depth to the images clearly give the sense that the viewer can experience the environment themselves.

Developing further, the concept of wrapping the magazine with contents of the images is just brilliant, and could become interpreted relative to Parma for my designs.

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Carluccio's 

An Italian deli brand, with stores up and down the country.

Notably, the range of beautiful packaging to coincide with the brand is perfect inspiration for how I could potentially present the additional Parma products (with the booklet). By expanding upon specific themes whilst retaining an increased focus upon the products inside provides maximum engagement.

With a majority of designs typographic-based (to allow the product to form the image), the beauty of the typeface is allowed to take forefront, and obviously as my brief is typographic based, this may be the perfect way to represent.

Seasonal representation... Highlight Specific Events in Parma?

- Easter?

- Christmas (Creative Review Article)?

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Tom Lynham - The Ham and Cheese

An utterly brilliant article documenting the journey across Italy documenting the flavours and tastes along the way, including the rich cuisine of Parma Hams and Parmigiano-Reggiano of Parma.

With the inclusion of rich, vibrant imagery as a perfect accompaniment to the story, potentially fascinating quotes could be sampled and developed to form the interest and education I hope to deliver (in addition to the representation of the ITC Bodoni type family).

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Sugar Deli Food Center NYC - Fred Carriedo

Potential inspiration for Deli wrapping paper (simple but effective, purely representative of branding)?

"A modernised picnic concept?" - Sharing and a sense of Community, also could become representative of Parma life?

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Re-develop Parma Deli Promotional Poster(s)?

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The key finding of the expedition, the Rosetta Stone (stored in the British Museum, link with the item and typeface?) must be included within the type designs for Egyptian Slate.

Potentially the stone could become sampled upon Slate (reflecting upon the typefaces origins?) as a special gift to a selected range of Monotype customers, providing engagement and possibly additional education.

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Inclusion of Recipes relative to Parma cuisine?

Porcini Mushroom and Parma Ham Risotto - Channel 4

(Reflective directly of the comments made by Monotype on the characteristics of ITC Bodoni?)

Parma Ham Risotto - Discover the Origin

(Directly using key products of Parma?)

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Change in approach for Egyptian Slate Type Specimen

Following an extensive discussion into the potential direction to take the Egyptian Slate typeface, it was felt that, after referring to the true meaning behind the typeface name, the potential could be very interesting to represent napoleon's campaign across Egypt, covering extensive samples of various areas to the journey.

Presented is some key research regarding the campaign:

Military Campaign

'The Napoleonic Invasion of Egypt' - Linda Hall Library

'French campaign in Egypt and Syria' - Wikipedia

Napoleon in Egypt - Archeology Archive

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Discovery Campaign

'Mapping Egypt' - Linda Hall Library

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About Napoleon

'Profile of Napoleon' - History Channel

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A key representation of the Cheese of Parmesan produce.

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The official source for all things Proscuitto (Parma Ham), highlighting official regulations and characteristics of Parma's most famous export and delicacy.

- Discover the Origin "Parma Ham"

(Further reading on the regulations of the Hams, highlighting key techniques and ingredients used throughout the entire process)

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Tour Egypt?

Could the Egyptian Slate typeface, further to the potential artefact experiments, present a guide to Egypt (similar the ITC Bodoni concept of Parma?). This would also allow for the typeface to become reflect across multiple medias and uses?