Creative Spark

Creative Spark do a lot of different work from digital work for Machester United to print work for Qualite Kitchens. I mainly look at their print work as it is close to some of the things we have been studying in the past briefs. Below is some of the Qualite Kitchens and De Rigo work.





Some more minimal design work which is what i think i did best in the magazine briefs. I really like the use of white and silver text next to each other as they can look similar and very different depending on the light, things like this just make the book seem more expensive and eye catching.

A lot of their print work uses lots of negative space with the little text used placed well to make it look interesting for something so simple. Creative Spark seem to use a lot of methods to create type such as different styles of printing to get metallic or embossed type. Its nice to see some different approaches to create typographical effects than the usual flat print out used everywhere. We had to take this into account when designing our magazine spreads and i would have liked to have used metallic type but unfortunately the university does not have the ability to produce it. I will however try to include this method in later work at some point. One thing i did learn from the sound book crit was how simple effects such as printing black on black can give a very posh an expensive look in seconds.

SampsonMay

A design company with a lot of type used in their work, most of which I like of and looks very professional. Most of the typographical work i have looked at from their website is their digital and branding work for Commercial 1 and branding work with Edward Barber. Also as shown below their work with OU Business school.





I really like the work pictured above, the layout of the inside page with the world map faded in the background is simple but effective and the shades of grey help break up the page. The orange titles ass that little bit of colour that brings the design to life a little. I have chosen to look at this work as i think it relates to the magazine work i did when i redesigned Ben's magazine spread in a minimal style. The same style is used throughout the book with many of the pages lining up to the same basic grid which makes the book flow as you move from page to page. The use of a grid that flows between pages is something that i hadn't noticed as much until we did the first magazine brief.

Blast

Blast design consultancies use of type is quite minimal but very effective and plays a large part in most of there designs. They specialize in brand identity which is probably why they work some much with type and its obvious from there work that they are very experienced at it.

Etc. Venus Brand Identity



These designs are very minimal but effective in communicating there message. Even tho the designs are so minimal I think they still look well designed and appealing. The use of different shades in the colouring of the font is similar to the change in colour throughout my sound book on tinnitus and hearing. Most of the designs for this campaign are type only designs similar to the work we have been given in briefs so far in semester 1.

Good and Bad

The little Chef icon is very well know but over the years has become very dated due to the style of the face, i like the use of simple black and white to create the logo set against the red back ground but I dnt think it works as well as a logo like KFC which also uses a character to brand there restaurants but the logo has stud the est of time.

Mushroom

The mushrooms where used as a way of upgrading and giving stuff to mario such as an extra life. The mushroom has a face but wasn't really a character but since mario has become such a major brand the mushroom itself has become a recognized character in itself, it very simple yet effective and even has its own merchandise.



I have chosen this image of the mushroom as it one of its first appearances in the form its most know as. In the new games the mushroom has become more detailed and has evolved into its own character in the game. A similar thing in the game to the mushrooms are the little men with a mushroom for a hat, the mushroom on its own has become the more popular icon from the game appearing on t-shirts and as a oft toy.

Amos

I really like the style that James Jarvis uses to create the Amos characters, my favourite character being Harvey. Again i like the style of the toys and the almost clay like construction of them.

Scary Girl

Nathan Jurevicius is an artist i came across whilst just simpily searching for "characters", after reading an article on the computer arts website . From here i found his work and ScaryGirl which is usually seen as a vinyl toy and these are sumthin i am wuite interested in researching further. I like the playful creation of charaters in the world of vinyl toy characters. Scarygirl is a good example of what i like aboutt them