Talk With Justin

Had a chat with Justin today about my briefs. He suggested that I change the layouts in the magic booklet to reflect the triangular shape of the logo. This was because he thought everything was a bit large considering I was trying to convey secrecy, so I should make the fonts smaller too. In theory this was a really good idea but when I tried it out, it just did not work at all. I think it might be due to the size of the booklet. At A5 there isn't enough room to have a layout such as this, I think it the booklet was A4 size then it might all fit properly. However I really want it to be A5 so its a small guide to the history of magic and the club. Heres how some of the triangular spreads looked:

He also gave me some helpful input on my Pick Me Up redesign. He felt it was important to experiment with what would improve the design but keep the readership. This was a very valid point, as I wasn't really sure who would want to read the magazine once all the design elements it is known for have gone. So I should try removing one element and see what happens. For example I should try a different layout but keep their type, use a different layout and type but keep their bright colours, use a different layout, type and colour scheme etc. When we looked at the magazine its not the images, type or layout that grab your attention, its the neon colours. If I were to keep these that could be the key to keeping the readership.

Crit Feedback

I feel that this crit went quite well and many people were complementary about the work I've produced this far.

General Comments:
- Looking at lots of publication work for context, need to look at posters etc. to contextualise the other elements of the briefs. Yep this is a valid point.
- Look at the book 'Zoom In, Zoom Out' - cover moves to reveal stuff.
- "Theres more to life than A formats..."

Stamps:
- Look at the fonts on the stamp packaging, could these be made more romantic/appropriate using a script font. I already did this and felt that Akzidenz Grotesk Condensed was a good choice due to legibility. The colours and imagery are romance overload already.
- Try showing the stamps on the poster.
- Look at things the post office produce other than stamps - wrapping, postage boxes, envelopes etc.

Magic:
- Think about a smaller/more intricate package for the magic brief. Making it more decorative could connote an Occultish feel that would help the concept. Screen printing or spot gloss could add extra detail. Perhaps if things folded out within the folder it could obscure certain elements to make it more secretive. Consider the front cover, maybe foil or emboss the triangle logo on it. Yeah I definitely think the folder needs some work, and also a thicker stock to make it seem more professional.
- Consider folding the magic membership certifcate then it could fit into a smaller package. This was countered with comments that people wouldn't want a certificate with folds in it, it is something precious. I agree with this.
- Think how to package the folder for mailing - bubble wrap envelope, stickers, shrink wrap.

Stamp Poster

Poster idea to promote the stamps. This could be placed in and around post offices to inform people about the range. Not sure whether to have something simple like this or something that lets people know about the customisable element of the stamps.

I think these work quite well as a simple typographic way of promoting the stamps. I think its better that the customisable element is the thing that is promoted as this is the part that appeals to the public rather than just stamp collectors. These could work as a set using examples of other things that lots of people like.

Postcards

These are the photos in full that will be used as the postcard set. I also tried using the image as a clipping mask but I don't think this looks as good because some of the images are a bit light making the text hard to read.

The postcards will be printed with this on the back:

Stamp Pack Tests

 

  

  

So first off I tried using the same kind of packaging design as the special edition, I like this it keeps it consistent and is clear. I labelled each as a different number to show that there are 7 versions of the small stamps to collect. I then tried using the images from the stamps as packaging but the text doesn't show up as well on these, otherwise I like them. This idea also meant that the 7th pack with all 6 designs in would not have a pattern. To rectify this I tried putting an image of the stamp on the basic packaging. Again there isn't room for all 6 to fit onto one pack so that would have to be blank. Because of this I think I will go with the first idea and just use numbers as a way of differentiating between packs.

Individual Stamp Sets

Been trying out some different designs for the individual stamp packages. The stamp sets work fine in the Royal Mail format but if I want to have a basic set for the customisable ones the packaging would have to either be bigger or in a concertina format. I think its better if its bigger because then it shows that its got the special stamps but isn't the special edition packaging.

 

The type looks better at a bigger size but I'm not sure if this phrasing is correct as the customisable ones are still for Valentine's Day.

 

This is the cover using the standard format provided by Royal Mail. I changed the contact symbols to hearts. I'm gonna try using the images as the cover to differentiate between the stamps. Not sure if I want them differentiated or not because with the plain pink packaging there is more consistency but I'll give it a go anyway.

 

  

The customisable stamps shape to the simple format well, so I think I'm gonna go with this rather than a more complicated concertina fold. This again helps with the packaging consistency and in establishing the hierarchy of the stamp sets.

Postage Stamp Brief Extension

My tutorial yesterday was really helpful in that I have now thought of a good way to extend my postage stamp brief. I've done the hard work which was the design of the stamps and the special edition packaging but there are so many other elements that I could make. So in addition to the special edition version with the full stamp set, letters and information about the stamps and St. Valentine's Day I am going to create:

• Custom Stamps basic version
• Pack of stamp 1
• Pack of stamp 2
• Pack of stamp 3
• Pack of stamp 4
• Pack of stamp 5
• Pack of stamp 6
• Pack of all stamps
• Postcards
• Promotional posters
• Web graphics
• E-Cards

This way the project will explored through all the different media that is appropriate to stamps.

Letterheads

These are the letterheads that I tried mocking up on InDesign.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

The letters could be printed with this on the back:

 

Here is how my two favourite designs look with dummy text. Again I'm leaning towards the black paper but this colour would have to be printed digitally rather than using a black stock.

 

 

Letterhead Designs

I've decided to create a letterhead for the society. Because of the mail out nature of the pack it is probable that they will need to send out letters to club members. This will also act an intro to the pack explaining what is inside and why the person has been sent all of the items inside. By having this information on the letterhead, it means that I can make the packaging simple rather than having loads of text printed directly onto the box.

 

 

Magic Packaging Ideas

Here are some of the ideas I came up with to package the magic membership kit. The one restraint put on this part of the brief is that it has to be mailable.

 

  

I think I like the idea of doing it in a folder with a pocket best because its simple like the rest of the aesthetic, its mailable and would contain all of the documents with ease.

Packaging Development

 

This is the artwork for my stamp packaging. Very pink I know, (I even made the Royal Mail logo pink!) but I think Valentine's Day is a pretty girly holiday. I need to print this now to check it works properly. I think it would seal nicely with either a sticker or a wax seal.

Stamp Packaging Layouts

 

  

  

Some ideas for the look of the packaging.