Category: OUCP701 Practice and Professional Development

This is working towards objective 4.C.

Following the making of the postcard/postcard and print sets, I was thinking about further ideas which could be executed around the same idea of sharing. I came across the idea of badges, which really excited me thinking about the materials I could experiment with and the ways in which they could be packaged.

I drew some initial sketches which outline the idea shown below, whereby the badge would be contained in a box, to add value, protect the item and to also qualify as a gift in order to share with friends and spread the message regarding beauty and its influences upon self-perception and body image. I really find the idea of sharing this message through social groups relevant and key, both via social media or in-person. I also thought these badges would be a good addition to the ‘goody bags’. These could be contained in poly-bags with a mountain-fold closure as seen on the postcard/postcard and print packs.

Below shows further development of this idea, and how this could be taken forward into single badge boxes, duo sets and gift bags CADs and packaging nets have been drawn to demonstrate this.

They have not been drawn to scale, however have been drawn to test the nets, the stock and finish needed and the amount of weight which can be held in the box, allowing for myself to work out and experiment with the best form of inner in order to both kept the box in tact, but also securely hold the badges in place.

By continuing to develop this idea, I am hoping to experiment with colour, process, technique and a variety of materials. I feel this will be a really good, impromptu project to get stuck into surrounding my other projects in order to learn and develop hands-on processes as well as digital and binding skills for example. As this project was not planned originally, I am having to build this in around my weekly plans and schedules, so may be hard at times however, I am very keen to take this forward and fulfil it to the best of my ability. Furthermore, I feel this will be a good hands-on challenge opposed to working digitally as I do with most of my personal and professional practice being a graphic designer.

I am aware of all of the processes used and have at some point experimented with them all over the past 10 years whilst being in education, however would like to delve back into this to improve my skill set and enhance my knowledge. This will also give me a better understanding if I am ever to use these processes or techniques in industry, for example, or during collaboration with interdisciplinary practitioners.

Annotations have been noted on each page below to clarify and cover any process details or further information. I plan on evaluating and analysing these processes as I carry them out in order to work towards a final prototype which potentially may be taken forward for further development and project realisation in semester 2.

This is working towards objective 4.C.

Above shows images from prototyping process of making postcard and print packs. This idea came from the perforated postcard books, when I was reflecting upon the process and outcome, and was thinking of other ways of binding. I then decided to create packs based upon the same idea that they can be shared with or without messages with friends and family, in order to spread the message on the idea of the beauty industry and its effects upon self-perception.

The process of creating these low-cost and low-tech prototypes can be seen below.

1: Choosing a stock – the stock on the left is true white 90gsm matte finish, and on the right is 120gsm silk finish pearl paper. The photograph actually makes the paper look much more yellow than it is, it is an off white with a semi-gloss finish. As I was using a laser printer to test this idea, I decided to print postcards initially on to each in order to make an informed decision on which to use. I noted that either would need a card backing – if and when produced for a final outcome, these would be digitally printed double sided onto card, to avoid this mocking up process for each set, whilst achieving a much more professional finish also. However, during this early stage I am happy to go through this process to test ideas and stock also so going forward I come into no issues and finalising the sets will be easier. I chose to use the 120gsm silk finish stock for the front of the postcards as I felt it made the colours deeper in comparison to the matte, as the paper stock hasn’t absorbed most of the ink drying to leave a darker colour. I also felt that for postcards and in-line with the poster development would be more in-line with the gloss stock chosen.

2: These prints were then mounted onto 18ogsm card, and cut out accordingly to create the visual side of the postcards. The back of the cards were then mounted with a corresponding pale pink back with writing spaces for content and address.

A selection of 5 designs were chosen for the postcards and 2 designs for the prints, simply to ease the process of selection during the prototyping and mocking up process as I wanted to focus more on the quality of print and execution.

3: The A5 prints also went under the same process, however have not got a ‘postcard’ back and remain white.

4: The postcards and prints were then placed into the relevant polybags – A5 or A6.

5: I wanted to create some form of tag for the packs to not only share what the contents is, but also suggest how to use them in regards to spreading the message. I decided to create mountain-fold cards which contain the title and slogan on the front, with extra details on the back. These would then be secured to the polybags, using double sided tape. I chose to use tape over a stapler to not damage the cards and to also give a cleaner and more professional finish.

6: The packs were then sealed in order to place to folded cards over and secure.

Overall, I am happy with the two prototypes created as I feel they are clever yet fun ways of spreading and sharing a message, and feel that even though the process was quite long-winded producing one-off prototypes, these could be very commercial if printed professionally, perhaps with a larger variety of content and packs.

I would like to produce sets which have different colours tags creating a variety of sets inspired by the chosen postcards for content, and feel these would be good in a larger pack of items, i.e. goodie bags – tote bag with prints, badges, stickers, etc. This would also add a second use to the items I have been designing and prototyping with recently.

This is working towards objective 4.C.

I decided to further develop the single postcards into a perforated postcard book, whereby the cards can either be used as prints on a wall for example or shared and sent amongst friends and family for instance, sharing the message on how the beauty and fashion industries affect our sense of self-perception and body image, whilst also attracting engagement and interaction from the user in the same way that on social media one would tag a friend in a post which may be of interest or relevance to them too.

I plan on producing mockups of these to test the functionality, binding, perforation and stock.

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Below shows the process of producing the prototypes.

1. I have used my Silhouette Cameo die-cutting software and tools to produce perforated postcards. Below shows the setting up and drawing out of the A6 cards with 1cm bleed – solid lines are cut lines, dashed are perforated. I really enjoy using this process as is methodical and very accurate, allowing for the books to look professional but at a low-cost of production. The outer covers of the books have also been drawn to ensure that the cover fits accurately and conceals the spine.

2. Below shows the paper on the cutting mat, which has been inserted into the Silhouette Cameo allowing for a blade to cut the paper. I find die-cutting a better way of cutting paper than laser-cutting as it does not burn nor leave marks on white paper in particular. The only thing to consider is that the blade is sharp and new to ensure that no pulls are made when the paper is on quite a fast cutting setting.

3. Below shows the cut edges and perforated tops of the landscape postcards. These have not been cut out to scale, and have been simply cut to test which orientation works best when bound together in regards to aesthetics and sturdiness. The excess paper has been removed below also to show the cards which are all exactly the same size.

4. The next step is the perfect binding of the books. To do this I have used glue strips, and my Therm-A-Bind machine. The strips as shown below are placed down the spine, covering the inner pages protecting them from curling from heat and glue. Once heated for a minute, the glue binds to the spine and then cools solid. It is important at this step to ensure the pages are all inline and secure with no fallouts, as well as ensuring that no glue has seeped between the edges, which ensures for a professional finish. After this, the excess glue strip and backing is cut off leaving a simply bound book. I found that the portrait book had less pages and therefore didn’t finish as neatly, or ‘perfectly’ as I’d of liked in comparison to the landscape book. This is something in the future I would improve on and include 20 pages opposed to 15.

5. The outer cover is cut and then wrapped and securely glued at the edge, leaving room for a fold line at the 1cm bleed in order to ensure the cover folds up and allows the perforated postcards to be removed individually. This is shown below.

Overall I am really happy with these perforated books, and think the next step is to produce a mockup including full colour postcards.

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At this stage, I realised once I looked at the prototypes above and that I now needed 20 postcards, I need to develop more. These are shown below – an expansion of previous designs keeping inline with concept, aesthetics, theme and idea.

This is working towards objective 4.C.

Adapting the posters into postcards was a part of the Poster Series/Blogging Posts brief that I had not planned on originally, however felt they may be good promos or teasers to hand out promoting the final series of posters for example if this is realised into a final project. I also envision these to be handed out in promo packs, consisting of Tote Bags, Posters and Postcards. Therefore, below shows my experiments with layout and composition.

I wanted to try and add some consistency to the postcards whilst hinting it at the issue at hand with the tag line, “what’s my name again?” and “collect them all” encouraging a theme whilst adding further context to the topic/issue at hand of consumerism, brand culture and its impact on our self-perception. I feel that this works well on the poster with different theories/colour swatches and could be subtly introduced into the postcards in this manner.

I also experimented with format – landscape and portrait – as I felt in some cases as shown below, the composition of the design elements sat better and utilised any ‘dead space’ much better using landscape format, than portrait, however for the final resolution I would like them all to be consistent or to have a series of each format simply for consistency.

Postcards for Print Tests (Matte & Gloss):

Similarly to the posters, I want to experiment with both Matte and Gloss finishes to see which gives better visual impact, works better visually and commercially , whilst hoping to be consistent with the posters.

This is working towards objective 4.C.

IDEA: A3 Posters, targeting and addressing how social media, brand culture and celebrity status within the Beauty Industry, affect our self-perception.

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A3 Posters, showcasing in a commercial and satirical visual manner how social media, brand culture and celebrity status within the Beauty Industry, affect our self-perception.

This is working towards objective 4.D.

Below shows my initial thoughts and initial content plan for my first prototyped zine, leading on from some of the Instagram Blogging Posts/Poster Prints I have been developing.

These Posts/Prints have been covering a range of topics in a satirical, lounge-in-chic and bold banner, hoping to engage with the audience and provoke thought. Themes covered include:

• Consumerism
• Trends
• Celebrity Culture
• Sociology and Psychology
• Self-Perception
• Brand Culture
• Narcissism
• The Self

I have decided to focus this initial zine prototype on Kylie Jenner for several reasons. My reasons for this decision are noted below:

• Current influencer status
• Personal issues with body image and self-perception, spurring her on to change her looks and then create a brand out of it, allowing for a trend to be found
• Brand power due to celebrity status
• Engagement and insights from my Instagram Posts show that the posts relative to Kylie Jenner’s, ‘Kylie Cosmetics’ were most seen, ‘liked’ and commented on, showcasing her current popularity within the social media communities
• Kylie Jenner also has her own App and YouTube channel, allowing followers to watch her day-to-day life, ‘getting ready routines’, makeup secrets and live-stream videos for example, allowing a multitude of platforms for KJ to engage with and influence her following, whether in regards to looks or product-led consumer choices

This is working towards objective 4.A and 1.

View the posts on Instagram, here!

Caption: “Consumer culture strikes again! Who caved into the ‘Birthday Editions’? Was gold lips even a thing before Kylie Jenner?”

Caption: Drippy Lips

Caption: Apparently these are the top beauty hashtags on Instagram. Who wants to be apart of the fame game?

Caption: Close Ups – Posters, Postcards and Zines coming soon