Recent Inspiration

Just some graphic design i've seen in the last week or so that I thought was particularly interesting. I'll be buying myself the Helvetica film very soon :)

Updated Portfolio Pages - Logo, MediaCity Uk Illustration & DPS

Updated Double Page Spreads

Modified:
Typefaces on Parks DPS
Removed hyphens
Corrected spelling mistakes
Modified pixelated circle on Design Agency in Manchester DPS
Update the copy so it is all my own words.

Feedback For DPS/Advert 2

So...I apparently have the internet despite being under the impression it was off this weekend. So, i'll do a post on the feedback I got on Thursday.

Copy
Some mistakes, different font would work better DPS1
Some mistakes, different font would work better DPS 2
Hard to read type Advert

Images
Looks fine no problem DPS 1
Great but pixelated circle Design Agency DPS
Fix logo on Advert

Referencing
All references given on blog

Grids
Title on left side sits alone DPS Parks
Good DPS Design Agency
Eye Catching Advert

Editorial Flow Team
Left hand side needs thickening (more text?), background needs diming a little, better font to compliment article DPS Parks
Clever and well thought out DPS Design Agency
Good Advert

Typography
Type too playful DPS Parks
Text under tile is not right size or space

Based off of the feedback, I have a pretty good idea what needs to be tidied up and modified.

Flickr and DeviantArt Links

I am now on flickr and have uploaded my illustration and the photos I took.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleywakefield/

And here is my deviantart. Bare in mind, some of this work is college level and where I have used brushes and stock imagery, I might not have referenced it properly. And some of it is pretty shabby, ha.
http://mustash2003.deviantart.com/

I will soon get a twitter and/or a linkedin. Seeing as I live in the halls of residence and the internet is down this weekend, I won't be able to do another update until Monday at the earliest. So, until then, goodbye for now.

Update DPS 2

Not content, I did the background AGAIN. As you can see, it was a rather peculiar process because I wanted one thing then, changed the idea about half way through. I think this suit my DPS more anyway.

DPS 2/Manchester Parks Update

Corrected everyones main point of contention, the background and worked on the text to the right.

DPS1/Design Agency Update

I believe this is at least heading in the right direction. Feedback?

Update Ad

Oh look, someone hit the retro filter ;). Well, the feedback said they liked it but they wanted something more vintage so this was the obvious option for me

Feedback for DPS/Advert

Advert:
-Modify to one picture but the layout is good
or
-Make the images more vintage looking.

DPS1/Design Agency
-Think about angular stuff
-Good background and heading
-Imported pictures don't really work
-Main text to big
-More Info
-Good structure, nice font
-Background image overpowers the whole document, maybe blend in

DPS2/Manchester Parks
-Very Good Layout
-Too green, Overpowering Background
-Really Nice Background Image
-The text to the right gets a bit lost
-Best design so far
-Type sorta blurs into the background
-Blurred Images
-Right Page layout doesn't compliment the left page
-Good Concept, Nice use of colour

So, from all that it's very across the board in regards to what I have to modify so I will consider the opinions presented here and progress where necessary. I think i'll progress as follows

Advert-
Modify some of the images to give a more vintage look
DPS1/Design Agency -
Work on not having the background overpower the text
Experiment with font for title
DPS2/Parks
-Text to right needs work
-Tone down background

Many of the complaints were because of blurred images which is funny because the actual uploads on this blog aren't. Anyway, better get to it.

Advert

Well...this is as good as it's getting for the time being.
http://www.manchesterfashion.com/images/mfn-mainlogo.png
http://www.manchesterfashion.com/uploads/galleries/standard/4cb55cca328bf.jpg
http://www.manchesterfashion.com/uploads/galleries/standard/4c12449b635ac.jpg

DPS 2 Screenshots

Double Page Spreads

Much of this is place holder. The text isn't mine although i've made some alterations. The images aren't mine either outside of the backgrounds (my own work). Before final submission, I aim to make as much of this as possible my own work.
I've already detailed the sources in pervious blogpost but I may as well do it here again
http://www.studionorth.co.uk/
http://blog.studionorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ericwright1.jpg
http://blog.studionorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/unirider_21.jpg
http://blog.studionorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/RU-Sure-RGB-300x300.jpg
http://blog.studionorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Background.jpg

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200073/parks_and_open_spaces
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500194/irk_river_valley_project/4753/irk_valley/1
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/670/parks_and_open_spaces-outdoor_facilities/2844/walking_in_manchester
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/461/parks_and_open_spaces-information_and_advice/2008/parks_for_all_seasons-a_parks_strategy_for_manchester
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/images/treedecorationsnthcityfestival.jpg
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/images/Windsurfing190.jpg
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/images/cmsbigweekend.jpg
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/images/irkvalleyv2190.jpg

DPS Progress (screenshots)

Now before anyone says "hey, why are using Illustrator instead of InDesign", i'm gonna say "hey, I know i'm using Illustrator instead of InDesign, only because I don't have it". So, until I do, this will have to do for now.

DPS Layout Ideas

Wonderful Grid Basics Resource

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/291/5/0/grid_basics_by_nokari-d311mus.pdf

DeviantArt to the rescue.
http://nokari.deviantart.com/

Manchester Based Design Agency

I've decided to go with Studio North for one of the DPS (the other being Parks in Manchester).
http://www.studionorth.co.uk/

Studio North is based in Manchester City Centre, they are an independant design consultancy and experienced in branding, digital, corporate identity and brand communications.

Now for some excerpts from there website:

People like us

Imagine you were setting up your own brand design consultancy. You’d be looking for a reliable team of experienced individuals obsessed with design and campaign effectiveness.
But, more than that, you’d want to set up a group who were professional yet approachable, hard-working yet relaxed. Colleagues who would listen hard, challenge you when needed and never be pretentious. People…well, like us.

Doing our bit

We’re expanding and investing in our future. So we thought we’d let you know about what we’ve been doing to develop our business in a responsible way – socially and environmentally that is.
This section features everything we’re doing to demonstrate our commitment to corporate and social responsibility. As you’ll see it’s more than just words for us. We have a champion in house and we’ve got the team switched on and supportive.
We’ve been busy too…choosing Aukids this year as our charity, switching to a renewable energy supplier and we’re also on our way towards the next level of accreditation for reducing our impact on the environment. We believe that CSR should be part and parcel of everything we do here and there’s still a whole lot more we can do. You’ll be able to follow our progress right here.

Client List