PPP: Manifesto

Inspiration

Over summer I was looking at a lot of things particularly in craft projects, renovating, creating and building. I wanted to log some that I thought were interesting and could inspire me later on.

http://ohhappyday.com/2013/07/strawberry-treat-box-printable/#more-19340

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2011/08/song-lyric-wall-art-diy-project.html

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/12/diy-kitchenette.html

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2011/09/diy-industrial-record-cabinet.html

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/08/make-your-own-a-frame-tent.html

http://2ttf.com

Self Branding: Website

After writing a complaint about having to pay for using the website without being notified in starting up I got a response. He apologised and is going to review every stage of the start up and has extended my trail for 90 days. Success!

These are the projects i've put up so far:

 My homepage:

From my research in the summer into reworking my branding I used the palette that I had worked on and the simple clean look. It's a more simple template then what I was originally going for but it did kick start me getting out there online.

This is an example of the page of one of the projects. It has a drop down box with the brief information.

 As you scroll down you see examples of the work

Feel Good Project:

you can see that the projects have been tagged 

About me page:

 Contact page:

url: http://imogenmary.dunked.com/

Reading Material: The Advertising Concept Book

As many of my projects include campaigns and concepts i've looked at this book so I approach them and execute them effectively. It's been really helpful in how to start looking at the brief and the ways in which it can be approached to get some good ideas.

1. What do you want to say

• sell one benefit eg. it's fast

1. Who are you talking to?

• focus

1. How do you want to say it?

• not what you say but how you say it

1. Keep Is Simple, Stupid

• get to the point

1. SLIP IT

• smile, laugh, informs, provokes, involves, think

1. Don't reveal, imply

• give them just enough information
• leave something to the imagination

1. Turn a negative to a positive

• opposite tool - if something is normally serious - make it funny

1. Symbols - visual metaphors

• eg. dog-loyal, cheetah-speed

Branding Studios - The Hunt

I wanted to find studios I can consider for placement this year but I'd been struggling to find branding agencies that I was interested in so I asked Marty from the previous year if he could point me in the direction of some. I went through all the ones listed below and filtered out the ones that caught my eye.

CandyBlack

I love there clean look in there work and many of there projects are retail based.

Here

I liked there work for cookbooks and there unique book covers using the kitchen counter worktop as a material.

Raw

There space looked like a good environment with everyone working collectively and a big board to brainstorm.

Founded

I liked a few of the branding projects especially this 'cotton love' one which caught my eye as one of my briefs is creating a fashion brand.

Hype Type

Again a few of there branding projects got my attention however unfortunately he is in california which makes a placement this year extremely unlikely.

A Practice for Everyday Life

There projects are very gallery and exhibition based with a client list of a very particular sector. Not exactly the area I was looking for but still interesting.

Red Design

I really liked that they'd done projects in store merchandise like this window display.

 Studio H

Wasn't massively excited by this agency but I did like some of the projects they had done for food packaging.

Two Times Elliot 

Mind

These seem to have a good sense of humour and look like they have fun working which is an environment I think I would enjoy.

Construct

This is highly fashion based but have big clients like Harvey Nichols and Mulberry. I'd be quite interested in working in fashion retail so maybe trying it out would help me decide.

Anagrama

I've seen this studio before and i've really liked some of there work so i'm glad that i've discovered them again.

Reading Material - It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be

I read this book for some guidance to try get my motivation and inspiration back. I found it a really enjoyable read and some really valuable points. Some things I took away from it:

• energy
• seek criticism not praise
• whats wrong with it?
• how can i make it better?
• don't covet ideas - more will come back to you if you share
• don't look for next opportunity - one you have is it
• accentuate the positive 
• find whats right about your product or service and dramatise it
• eliminate the negative - avoid knocking competition
• 'a technique for producing ideas' -James Webb-Young
• don't put cleverness in front of communication
• find out the problem - discover the solution
• ask the right questions, get the right answer
• don't promised what you can't deliver - undersell
• possible weaknesses & ways to resolve them
• know your clients aims
• do it his way then do it your way
• take no for an answer - go back with a new idea
• when it can't be done, do it
• if you don't do it, it doesn't exist
• no one will put money into something they don't understand so show them
• if you can't solve a problem its because your playing by the rules
• the person who doesn't make mistakes is unlikely to make anything
• it's wrong to be right - right is rooted in the past/rigid/dull
• it's right to be wrong - anything is possible
• don't be afraid of silly ideas
• do opposite of what the solution requires 
• look out window - make that the solution to your problem
• how you perceive yourself is how others will see you
• it's not what you no, it's who you know
• don't give a speech put on a show
• getting fired can be a positive career move
• doing a layout means having an idea should be recognisable from afar
• subconscious realisation
• compose your ad from the weakest point
• be unfashionable - take risks
• 'i don't write music, i invent it'
• rough layouts sell the idea better than polished ones
• clients won't see big idea if to polished
• hard to imagine anything else
• can't get involved in it
• sketch/take through/use there imagination
• if you get stuck, draw with a different pen - free your thinking
• suppliers are only as good as your are - the art is to inspire them
• don't brief to tightly or theres no freedom to make there work the ting you employed them for
• dont' be afraid to work with the best approach them with attitude the you want do something well
• get our of advertising
• seek inspiration from unexpected sources
• do not try win awards - be true to your subject, more likely to create something timeless
• make your company great - talk it up
• find out what they mean by 'creative'
• slogans win business
• find a way of summing up what the client feels but can't  express themselves
• repeat the line - instead of covering the wall with different ideas of sketches, use the same line with slightly different visuals
• wave clients flag in front of him - use there colours even if it looks naff
• present creative work first
• present on a tuesday

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San Fran Studios

As i'm currently interested in going to San Fran once i've graduated I started to look at the branding studios over there. I wanted to find some with work that I liked and ones that had the same services I want to work in.

Character

I liked the look of this studio and it's clients. It lists it's services as brand strategy, brand identity and brand experience and has a video of the studio where it shows people working together and brainstorming. I want an environment where everyone even interacts and works together so this was a plus point for me.

 Strohl

I liked the look of the two 'principals' who expertise are logo trademark design and aesthetics for specialty retail, boutiques, hotels and restaurants from New York to to Dubai. "Charisma, charm, character—the traits that make someone, or something, unforgettable. We specialize in turning an intangible essence into a visible form." There process also was quite interesting to read.

 Manual

The capabilities they offered and the diversity was what interested in as I don't want to be stuck doing the same thing over and over. I want to expand across different services depending on the briefs.

 Tucker Duckworth

I've seen this studio before and they also have a london based studio which would be ideal as I could try get a placement in the Uk and gain contacts before going over. I also really love some of there work, particularly with the client Waitrose. 

Big fish

Big fish is actually based in London but I quite liked a few bits of there work so this might be an opportunity for my placement during the course.