Iron Man Textures

James Ellison, a classmate who is a wizard with Illustrator was kind enough to give me a short tutorial this morning, showing how to add depth to vectorised images. The top example shown here was made using the methods he taught me. The second example was developed through my own experimentation with the gradient tool. Previously, my Illustrator skills were very basic, but from what I have learned from these experiments, I will be able to add more depth and texture to my upcoming work.

A Clockwork Captain

This is a vector image based on David Pelham's famous cover to the novel 'A Clockwork Orange.'

Hawkeye Posters

Here are the first images I created for Jeremy Renner's character Hawkeye. The character is a vector drawing, with a large target symbol drawn into the background. The text is a downloaded font based on The Avengers official logo and is not final.

Iron Man Vectors

Here are my experimentations with Robert Downey Jr's character Iron Man. I did a simple vector outline of the actor's face, then made simple shapes to represent the armour, facial features and hair. The idea was to represent the character without drawing a detailed face, with other elements helping to make the character recognisable. I also did a vector drawing of the character's trademark helmet. I also added metal textured images to help give the image a bit more depth as an experiment.

Captain America Vectors

Here are some of my earliest experiments with vector shapes, showing Chris Evans as Captain America. I have added several effects to each one to experiment with textures and shapes. I have added drop shadows and pointillism to the final two examples.

Project Two

So for my second (and final!) project, I have decided to heavily adapt the little white lies brief. I am going to create a series of posters based on the characters from the upcoming ensemble film 'The Avengers.'

Placement

Here are some examples of the advertisements altered and repositioned for various layouts and formats. This is to show how the campaign is versatile and can be used in a variety of different media. From print, screen and web, the posters can be incorporated easily into different formats for different purposes and markets.

Final Poster Design Series

So presented here are my final series of six poster designs. Here they are shown in their intended landscape billboard formats. I tried to include a variety of collages from both social and educational aspects of students' lives, to cover a wide range of audience tastes and senses of humour. The books and post-its are part of the more formal, informative side, the sports gear and rubbish from a night out are more social and the pocket items can relate to a variety of people.

Photography and Web Design ideas

Ideas Development

Panoramic View

This is just an experiment with my new panoramic camera view of my room. Just testing!

Schedule

OK so I have been away from this blog for quite a while now, was busy submitting the first project and getting my stuff together for my second project. So here is my schedule for the entire semester. A little late, but I kept forgetting to upload this. Here it is, in its glorious 1950s style!

Original Idea (sneak peek)

Here is one of my first 'in situation' posters. (I am not going to upload any final ones until after the competition). The i logo was made up from red ink on a page using a stencil and then placed in a light box to be photographed. The brush was included to provide some environmental context and this was mainly an experimentation in text placement on the images.

Past Two Weeks Update

I got carried away updating old pictures last week so I forgot to do my weekly update! The past two weeks have mainly involved me taking on board suggestions from John and some of my classmates as to how I could move my project along. I worked with my existing photographs, which i had always made sure featured the i logo in an environment which was relevant to the objects, and photoshopped out the backgrounds. This was because these designs were going to be used on billboards which are only ever looked at for a few seconds. By clearing the background, it meant that the objects were the only things that were focused on and therefore they immediately communicated the message of the campaign.


One other thing I have been experimenting with is by using separate images to build up the ideas I have already made. For example, the book stacked idea was also made up from different books photographed individually and then put together in a collage. This also allows me to 'cheat' the sizes of the books and items in order to help make the i logo up more easily and clearly.


I have also began looking at various other advertising formats. I have edited adshels, 48 sheet billboards, beermats, train tunnel posters and now web banners. I aim to include tese to diversify how the images can be used in a variety of ares and therefore reach a greater audience. It also shows how the campaign can run and adapt for future ideas.

Post Its Concept

This was one of my newer ideas when it came to development. It is The i logo made up from several post it notes pinned up on a wall in the second year studio. Although the idea was sound, the execution needs some work, as feedback has stated that the post its should be placed more haphazardly, as post it notes are rarely placed so structurally as this. Also, the identity should be placed in the bottom right hand corner instead of on the left, so this needs to be changed.

Desk Setup: 'Crafted'

This was one of my first setups, done in the final year studio with a craft set and some other pieces of stationery. I kept the 'Crafted for busy students' tagline and also added more information. I included The Independent's logo in a png file I had made from an image found online. I also added the links to The i's facebook and twitter pages. This was to experiment with how much information could be included and where it would fit on the images.

Stationery Collage

Here is my first concept recreated using second hand photography. I added a banner at the bottom to separate the main image from the text and logo. This again was a very loose idea, but it helped me see how different items of different shapes could fit together to form the i logo.

Original Photography Idea

Shown here is one of the very first photographs I took as an experiment in photography composition. The idea was to make the i logo up from various pieces of stationery and put them in a proper environment. This was just a quick set up, as obviously in a real advertising campaign, the logos for the other products would not be visible. I clone stamped out the logo on the highlighter to see how this would work without the writing. This worked as a proof of concept, but required much more development.

Image Update

I have realised that there are no images so far of my work in progress. So here I am going to upload a few images of my original planning and ideas. The idea shown here was made in Illustrator and uses the required Stag Typeface. The concept was that The i logo was cut from a stencil and placed over a cutting mat. The tagline 'Crafted for creative students' was a play on the use of crafting materials, as well as the idea that the small format paper was 'crafted' especially for busy audiences.

Sunday 4th March

This week was quite useful, as I got some peer feedback from the group on Monday morning. On Wednesday, I took several photos for a setup in the library of a set of stacked books, however they did not come out properly, meaning I had to retake them. Thursday and Friday were spent taking some more photographs of different pieces of stationery again. Also, I experimented with taking photographs of post-it notes and red chairs in collage to see if they could be developed further.

On Saturday, I came into University when the library was quiet and retook all of my book setup images. These turned out quite well and I only had to make minimal adjustments to them to make them work as strong images.

I had an idea to use a table and chairs to make up the logo, but could not get into my kitchen for several days due to wallpapering being done. On Sunday night, I was finally able to set up the table with a red tablecloth, place a circular clock on the wall and manage to take the table idea properly. These images were alright as proof of concept, however they may need to be retaken in order for them to be used properly.

Sunday 26th February

This week was quite productive, as most of thursday and friday were spent in the photography studio doing a shoot using some of my objects that I was going to use in my advertising campaign. I spent around four hours setting up the coloured markers and inks into the shape of The i logo. I experimented with putting them both in an environment and with them against a stark white background. Some of my images came out quite well, as Chris Barr was nice enough to help me work the flash and provided me with some filters and materials to use.

Saturday and Sunday were spent working with my photographs, by choosing the best ones and placing text and the i logo onto them.

Monday, 20th february

John's seminar was cancelled, so just worked with the photograph setups I had taken last night. Due to my experimental knowledge of SLR cameras, most of the shots were immediately discarded. Some of them were useful enough to make some quick poster layouts for them. After altering these photographs, I experimented with text placement and image composition.

Week Three Summary

Monday 13^th February

Talk from Richard, then did a more accurate version of collage mock up. Looked up some design ideas online.

Tuesday 14^th February

External examiner looked at work and gave general feedback. Printed off some more research.

Wednesday 15th February

Finished mockup of collage idea and found some designers who make collages out of everyday items.

Thursday 16th February

Met with John and showed him my collage mockup, he was very positive and helped me with ideas for further set up ideas.

Friday 17th February

Started blog again properly, added fancy new 1950s style header.

Saturday 18th February

Nine hour shift as usual, did very little, but read more on ISO and white balance settings on my camera.

Sunday 19th February

Did first proper desk, stationery collage photography setups. Experimented with light and camera settings.

Week Two Summary

Monday 06^th February

Met up as a group for first seminar. Mentioned which briefs I had chosen and initial ideas.

Tuesday 07^th February

Began researching different advertising campaigns for newspapers

Wednesday 08^th February

After hours of searching, finally managed to…acquire…the required Stag typeface. Also met with Alex to get his ideas on the brief.

Thursday 09^th February

Individual meeting with John where we discussed my ideas for the project and media. Presented all work so far. Met with Alex again to discuss typographic detailing.

Friday 10^th February

Sat on D Floor due to studio being occupied for interviews. Began creating rough mockups of collage idea for project.

Saturday 11^th February

At work all day, too tired for anything productive.

Sunday 12^th February.

Practiced with camera settings and quick shots of close ups on items.

Week One Summary

Monday 30^th January

First day back. There was an introduction talk outlining the semester including the grading and the dates. Shortly afterwards, we spoke to our tutors briefly and found out our marks. 45, 38 and 60. Quite disappointing, but am aiming to do much better in this semester.

Tuesday 31^st January

Arranged a meeting with Christine to discuss my disappointing marks and to get some advice. It helped me feel a bit better about everything. Started looking at all the briefs and made a long list of all 43.

Wednesday 01^st February

Went in and narrowed list down to 10 briefs that I might be interested in, started weekly planner.

Thursday 02^nd February

Met up with John to discuss marks in greater detail and decide which briefs to do. Helped to choose the final 2 that I will actually work on. Bought first issue of the i.

Friday 03^rd February

Talk from John about ISTD projects of the past. Was useful and helped me realise that typographic projects were not for me, due to my shortcomings in the area. Stayed in the library reading creative review and finding details about The Independent. Bought second issue of The i.

Saturday 04^th February

Randomly given day off work. Watched Super 8 to help with illustration project.

Sunday 05^th February

Watched Drive for illustration project. Sketched out some ideas for projects and mind mapped brand values.

Final Year: Final Semester: The Beginning of the End

Ok, so here is my first post in quite a long time. I didn't continue this blog throughout the end of second year, or the beginning of final year, but have resurrected it to help act as a better log for my work on a daily basis. So far, final year has been quite challenging and the first semester was a struggle for me, to say the least.

However, this final semester involves choosing your own projects, working on them at your own pace and is largely an independent one. As I write this, I am just finishing my third week, but I have been keeping a brief log of my daily work back at home. I had a few problems with Blogger again, during my revamp of this blog's design and layout, but I'm finally ready to continue this. Soon, I will post two entries detailing my first three weeks, then after those, each day will be a more in depth description of my work.

Quote Poster

The brief: to take a quote about design and visualise it in a way that you don't need to see the quote to tell what it is. "Design is intelligence made visible." - Alina Wheeler. But you already knew that, yes?

Design Alliance Competition

Ok first post in a long time. I am currently working in a group of 4, in a competition set up by The Design Alliance, to design an art gallery that will tour hospitals. I would like to reveal more about our plans, but given that it is a competition, I'd rather not say here!

Another update soon...

Blurb.com Book

Week 12 complete! I'm free! well, not quite. The deadline for one module is over, the other is the 6th of January. For this module, we have to make a photo essay, complete a sketchbook and create a book online using Blurb.com. I made myself go in on the day after we finished the other module (15th December) and worked on my photo essay. After several hours, it was complete! Not willing to give myself a rest, I went home at started my book at 7pm. 5 1/2 hours later it was done.

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/1376680/5bdc2ea19f5017d6b8f18929ef7d16f8?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget

Now all that remains is the sketchbook...

The Event Part 1

On the 7th of December, we finally hosted our event 'The Surgery.' 12 weeks in the making, with various rebooting of our ideas and name, we finally brought it all together. It was on the ground floor of our university in the gallery space, as it was far too cold and snow covered outside to realistically stand there all day. Overall, I think it went fairly well, we didn't get that many visitors, but I like to remain positive. It was a long day but quite frankly I'm glad it's all over us.

Next Issue: The Publication!

The Event Part 2