OUGD503 - Responsive: Sophie Davey Photography Boards

Here are my boards for Sophie Davey Photography.

OUGD503 - Responsive: Uber Crit

This week we had an Uber crit on all the responsive brief's we have done so far.
I created boards for the occasion:

I only included a final image for each project, with a small explanation of the brief and my solution so people got the gist of it. I didn't include any developmental work as I just wanted impact boards, but I could have done better mock ups.

Here is my individual feedback:

Presentation

Strengths

• Works as a set
• Final products are impactful on every page
• Overall consistency and aesthetic style
• Really like how the images and type are balanced on the design boards

Suggestions

• Improve quality of photographs - bacon packaging
• The brief could be placed on boards to add clarity
• Companions - what was brief?
• Shorten the headers
• Make the text on the boards smaller
• Could use some more exciting structures on the boards

Project Management

Strengths

• Well managed with a wide variety of print and web based briefs. Ideas and concepts showcased well on all design boards.
• 'Coming Soon' shows project management and time keeping skills
• Final outcomes visible on your boards. Typeface created for some briefs which shows design skill and development

Suggestions

• More than one board for each brief showing products, range and distribution, as well as giving more in depth and information on each briefs board
• Unable to see progression on blog

Has Brief Been Answered?

Strengths

• All briefs feature a different concept, resolution and design styles
• What and Why have been answered continuously
• Companion - simple iconic symbols/images which represent animals
• You've answered your briefs constructively, effectively and professionally
• Danepak - very professional, I would purchase. Colours remind me of bacon. The pigs make a nice touch too

Suggestions

• Companions - show how the logo will look on the shops along with branded merch

Additional Comments

• Good variety of final outcomes, print, digital, web - shows strong and varied skill set
• Really love the concept for the Dialogue brief
• Crafting of packaging is well finished
• Digital execution is really good
• Mock up of pet shop logo could be added for further depth 

Feedback

I was really happy with the feedback - all the suggestions made were valid, and after looking at other peoples boards along with feedback I know I definitely need to start making mock ups when I produce designs. It looks more professional, and gives people context. I think it would be better to show product, range and distribution too. I think this session was really constructive for my individual feedback, and I know what to improve next time. But I also appreciated the positive feedback on consistency of boards, variety of briefs and my concept for Dialogue.

When I was making the boards for this session, the one I didn't change was Companions - this was an existing one that I gave to the client, and this is the only board which people have mentioned doesn't mention the brief. I'm happy that they picked this up, and it is the only one they felt didn't explain everything.

Collaborative Feedback

I was a bit apprehensive about this, because we only had one board, and hadn't included all the design, and the mock ups we had were of poor quality. I didn't really think to go further with these beforehand - and the next day they were all completely finished so would have been nice to get feedback on all of them. 

Anyway, this was the feedback we got which was all positive:

• Illustrations are really appropriate and well executed
• Illustrations are strong
• Concept is great - really interactive for kids + informative too
• A few print issues are clear
• The illustrations are fantastic!
• Really aesthetically appropriate and well executed
• I really like the Treetops Box, very warm, strong colours
• Illustrations suit target audience
• Seems that you've got all the elements you need to cut out
• Very thoughtout
• Lots of facts for children
• Incredibly child appropriate, I hope this goes down a storm with you
• Interactive and wonderfully engaging
• Gimme
• Check typesetting
• The illustrations are fantastic!
• Really strong powerful images, very fun, very playful

The only suggestions made we already realised before the crit - about type.
So overall we were obviously very happy about the feedback - I am just kicking myself in the teeth for not having more physical things to show really. I'm really glad people think it is appropriate for the brief, and we have worked very hard to make sure it answers the brief as much as we can, so it has paid off to get this feedback. 

OUGD503 - Responsive: Sophie Davey Photography Watermark

The client asked me for a file on the logo so that she could use it as a watermark. I gave her a PNG file with a transparent background, and the logo in white.

Here it is being used:

OUGD503 - Responsive: Sophie Davey Photography Sourcing A Printers

Although I had printed some business cards myself, I suggested ordering them online to get a more professional finish.

I sourced around for some printers online to see which had the best deal.

I came across Printed.com, and it is cheap as well as has the option to order different designs in one order. This was useful as I had created 5 cards for the client with different photographs on the back.

I suggested these options for the client:

• Matt laminated both sides
• 85x55mm
• Both sides
• Square corners
• Silk 350gsm card
• 100 quantity

The client was happy to do this because it was a cheap option with fast delivery and an easy to use website.

OUGD503 - Responsive: Sophie Davey Photography Printing

I printed the business cards myself on thick satin paper so that the client can have some cards immediately before ordering some to print.

I printed an InDesign document double sided with these designs on.

I then took photographs of these cards in the photography studio. Admittedly they are not great. Most of them are out of focus and the lighting isn't great but at the time I didn't really have any experience in the studio, this was my first time.

OUGD503 - Responsive: Sophie Davey Photography Reaction

I showed my client the outcome, and she is very happy with it, so I'm going to digitally print it. I also suggested having painted sides, if I can find a thick enough stock and do it successfully which she would also like. 

OUGD503 - Responsive: Sophie Davey Photography Designing

I started drawing some designs for the business card and logo so that I had a better idea of what to do when I went to screen.

I then started on the logo. I've used a light, clean sans serif because this matches the clients personality and photography style.

I then started to make an aperture, which could be used instead of the O on her name. I followed a tutorial to do this.

This was the outcome at first, but I wanted to redo it to make it cleaner.

I then had this, which I preferred a lot more.

I then started playing around with the other logo ideas I had sketched for the O.

But, I preferred the first one I did with the aperture. I think it looks a lot more clean, even if it is slightly generic.

I then used some of her monochrome pictures to use for the back of the business card, as this is what the client wanted. 

I added the logo to the back of it in white - I think when I print it I will change the white to the colour of the stock though, to give a more natural look.

I then started to make the front of the card, and tried a few layouts that I had sketched.

I tried all the content left aligned. 

I then tried the content right aligned, with the heading in the left still.

Then I made the copy smaller which I think looks better.

I then made the heading fit on one line, and made the content left aligned. I quite like the white space between the content.

Then I added the phone number as I remembered that needed to be added to the content.

I tried all the content right aligned, but I prefer the previous version.

I then tried the heading right aligned as well.

I tried the sub heading left aligned, with the contact details on the right. I think this helps differentiate the hierarchy of the content.

I then added some lines above the contact details, and below the heading to add some more definition.

I showed my client the outcome, and she is very happy with it, so I'm going to digitally print it. I also suggested having painted sides, if I can find a thick enough stock and do it successfully which she would also like. 

OUGD503 - Responsive: Sophie Davey Photography Content

I asked my client for some photographs that I could use on the business card design. We both decided that monochrome would be most appropriate, and I asked for a variety.

OUGD504 - Responsive: Sophie Davey Photography Brief

Brief Title
Sophie Davey Photography Business Cards

The Brief
I have been asked to design and print some business cards for a photographer based in Leeds. Her specialities include travel, urban, street and landscapes, so this needs to be reflected on the card. It should also include her contact details.

Considerations
I need to consider how to print the business cards economically as I would be printing them myself to keep costs down. I would like to produce effects such as foiling and letterpress, but it would be hard to do print these to a high standard at college, and it would be too expensive to get it printed professionally. 
I also need to consider how to portray my clients personality and style across in the business card, which is clean and minimal. This could be done through using sans serif fonts and a monochrome colour scheme with one accent of colour. The client has said that she prefers one or two colours in design, and black and white photography.

Concept/Proposition
I am going to create a business card that has a minimal and clean feel to it because the client herself is, as well as her style of photography so will suit every aspect of her. I know that she will like this design, as well as attract people who want a professional and clean finish.
I am going to look at digital printing, lasercutting and screenprinting as options as I know that these are the options I have to create professional standard cards myself.

Background
Sophie Davey is a 2nd year Photojournalism student, focussing on landscape, travel, urban and street photography. 

Target Audience
As she is only just starting to accept clients, there isn't a defined target audience she already attracts. However, she would aim her services to be used as prints and in editorial work.

Mandatory Requirements

• Should have one of the clients images on the back
• Should state the kind of photography the client does
• Contact details are visible - Flickr.com/SophieDavey, phone number and sophiedaveyphotography@gmail.com

Tone of Voice

The tone of voice should be professional and straightforward, as well as reflect a contemporary and clean style.

Deliverables

• Business Cards