End of Year Show- Submission and Evaluation

Here is the PDF we sent off:

The main aim of this brief is to celebrate, celebrate the hard work of all the Leeds college of Art students and LCA’s 170th Birthday. I wanted to move away from the screen and create something physically and digitally manipulate it to develop the branding. I decided to collaborate with Anne Wyman off photography as I wanted photography to be one layer of the branding, working with someone off a different course has been enjoyable, both of us using our strengths to create the overall look and feel of the End of Year Show. 

To start generating ideas for this brief I began researching into previous branding the college has had for other End of Year shows and the ideas and concepts that didn’t get used. I also researched into the branding of other institutes End of Year Show’s branding as this will be colleges competition, the branding will have to make people want to come to Leeds over other shows. 

After researching I had various ideas for the branding. I began to ask people on other courses what they thought of the branding and my ideas started to refine. The idea I had chosen used the studio so we booked that straight away and then began gathering the materials for the shoot. The photoshoot went well, however we did have a couple of problems keeping the balloons still while shooting. We shot the balloons with the confetti various times before we got it right. Once the shoot was done this was our main artwork, so it was a matter of choosing type and colour to complement the campaign. The colours we chose we felt would be suitable for around college for men and women. We chose to use Gotham Bold throughout the branding as it is clear and readable from a distance and when sized down. The posters were designed with all the information centrally aligned as the balloons are in the centre. The posters are also split up into thirds, with the balloons floating at the top third. The A6 poster features exactly the same artwork as the poster to keep it consistent and to display all of the necessary information. I then moved on to creating the visitors guide aimed to be sent to the students wanting to come to the college from afar. The guide features information, a map and inside is a A3 foldout poster, a keepsake for students. This printed well, other than when folded some of the ink began to crack. Way finding is another aspect of the branding we began to consider, how to confetti and colours could work throughout the college. We proposed to have vinyl confetti along the floor to lead people to each course and tie the concept of celebration together. In terms of online we created an e-invite for the private viewing, the same as the poster but with floating confetti to catch the audiences attention. 

Overall, I am really happy with the way the designs have turned out, they have turned out a lot better than I imagined. Anne has been really good to work with on this brief as her photography skills and editing came in very handy. In this brief I have developed my Photoshop skills further, and learnt how to create GIFS and video using Photoshop. I have really enjoyed this brief, I have managed my time well in completing the brief in just two weeks in time for the deadline. 

Secret 7- Final Designs and Evaluation

Etta James was a soul singer around in the sixties, this is a design based on sixties psychedelic art. 

A track based upon love and sharing your life with someone, an illustration an ice cream sundae with two spoons, for sharing. 


Evaluation 

I set myself a two day time limit with this brief as I didn’t want it to take up much of my time because of other briefs I have going on. Setting the time limit meant I had to work a lot faster to generate ideas and get them down on paper. I chose this track to focus on as I like soul and Motown and sixties design in general. I researched into Etta’s existing album artwork and researched into other artists around in the sixties of her time. All of the designs I looked at were busy and bold designs using a lot of colour. Looking into the sixties design and Motown era really helped me when designing.
The theme of the track and whole project was love, after researching I then started to generate my own ideas, along the lines of love and looking at the lyrics of the song for inspiration. One skill I did want to develop in this brief was my illustration, using illustrator and developing my pen tool technique. I knew I wanted to use a lot of colour because of my research, using pastels was inspired buy looking at the colours of actual ice-cream.
I have submitted two pieces to Secret7, the ice-cream design that I developed an illustration and a marble pattern that I did for a project last year as I feel it links in well with the track and brief. Overall I am really happy with the designs that I have produced, my illustration looks how I wanted it too with loud pattern clashes to represent the sixties yet soft ice-cream tones colours. If I had more time on this brief I think I would of liked to created something physically, either screen printing, etching or letterpress for a more hand made feel. 

Secret 7- Development

I have chosen to illustrate an icecream and go with the concept of sharing, the ice-cream includes two spoons for sharing, the idea of sharing your life with someone and life being sweet like an ice-cream. I have chosen to go with the ice cream idea as I think it shows Etta James song without being too obvious. The biggest issue I have had with the design is deciding which colour goes where and to get the patterns to clash well. I originally started by using the browns to represent chocolate, pinks for strawberry and yellow for vanilla. Using the spots and stripes against each other gives the ice-cream a more fun appearance and makes it more eye catching. After a lot of playing with colour and pattern the final design is the one on the bottom right, I decided to move the yellow forward to make the design pop. 

Vital- Invoice

Secret 7- Artist Research

Stephanie Wunderlich

Stephanie Wunderlich studied Communication Design at both FH Augsburg and ISIA Urbino and graduated with a degree in communication design. Based in Hamburg she works as a freelance illustrator for international magazines and publishers of books. She also teaches illustration, currently at the University of Applied Science Hamburg. Her favourite medium is paper collage. She

creates her illustrations using digital as well as analog techniques (scissors and glue). 

Kate Prior

Kate Prior’s bright, tongue-in-cheek and colourful illustrations have secured her commissions for The New Yorker , ASOS, Adidas and Pitchfork among others. Kate is currently working as an in- house illustrator for Urban Outfitters in Europe and the USA, but she still remembers drawing in more humble surroundings at her parents’ house, “as a way to keep me quiet.”
On her inspirations Kate says: “I’m influenced by conversations, dreams, potty humour, the Internet, and stories my Dad told me when I was eight.” Bold lines and garish characters come together

wonderfully in posters and postcards in an approach that’s boisterous and very, very fun. 

Lynnie Zulu

Lynnie Zulu is a professional Illustrator born and bred in the Scottish Borders, with an artist mother who was born in Tanzania. Lynnie’s work carries an African influence that is revealed in the energetic mark making and by the exotic characters she creates. Her illustrations can be found in fashion print, apparel and accessories,

LP artwork, live art and in exhibitions. 

Secret 7- 60's Record Research

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Louise Franklin, is an American singer and musician. Franklin began her career
singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Franklin embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but only achieving modest success. Following her signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as “Respect”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Think”. These hits and more helped her to gain the title The Queen of Soul by the end of the 1960s decade. 

The Supremes

The Supremes were an American female singing group and the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown’s acts and are, to date, America’s most successful vocal group with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. 

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential act of the
rock era.
The Beatles album artwork is widely recognised all over the world, the artwork is normally quite busy and features the Beatles them selves.

The Temptations

The Temptations are an American vocal group known for their success with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. Known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and flashy wardrobe, the group was highly influential to the evolution of R&B and soul music. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are one of the most successful groups in music history. As of 2015, the Temptations continue to perform with one living original member, Otis Williams, still in the lineup. 

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961. The group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine.
Colour is one of the most eye catching features of The Beach Boys artwork, the illustrative style is normally fun and links to the track in a obvious way. 

Secret 7- Etta James Research

Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins; January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012) was an American singer who spanned a variety of music genres including blues, R&B, soul, rock and roll, jazz and gospel. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with
hits such as “The Wallflower”, “At Last”, “Tell Mama”, “Somethings Got a Hold on Me”, and “I’d Rather Go Blind” for which she wrote the lyrics. She faced a number of personal problems, including drug addiction, before making a musical resurgence in the late 1980s with the album Seven Year Itch. 

The original artwork for the track I am designing for

Tell Momma

Tell Mama is the eighth studio album by American singer Etta James. The album was released August 21, 1968 on Cadet Records and was produced by Rick Hall. Tell Mama was James’s first album since 1963 to enter the Billboard 200 albums chart and contained her first Top 10 and 20 hits since 1964. It was also her second release for the Cadet record label. Tell Mama was given positive reviews from music critics upon its release. Allmusic critic, Bill Dahl was pleased with the effort, stating it to be, “one of her best and most soul-searing Cadet albums.” Dahl called the title track “relentlessly driving” and “I’d Rather Go Blind,” “a moving soul ballad.” 

Let’s Roll

Let’s Roll is a 2003 blues album by Etta James. It won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2003, and also won the Soul/ Blues Album of the Year from the Blues Founda- tion in 2004. 

Love’s been rough on me

Love’s Been Rough on Me is a terrific latter-day album from Etta James, capturing her at the peak of her powers. James’ voice has dimin- ished only slightly over the course of her career, and she knows how to make such warhorses as “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” sound fresh. She also invests contemporary music, including John Berry’s contemporary country hit “If I Had Any Pride Left at All,” with real soul. The result is a record that delivers the real goods with grace and style. 

Queen of Soul

Queen of Soul is the sixth studio album
by American Blues artist, Etta James. The album was released on Argo Records in 1965, featuring the singles James had released during the year.
Two songs on the album: “Baby What You Want Me to Do” and “Loving You More Every Day” charted on the Rhythm and Blues and Billboard Pop Chart. It was James’s first studio album
in two years since the release of Etta James Top Ten. Like her previous releases, Queen of Soul was released on a 12-inch LP album, and has not been reissued since. It consisted of ten
tracks, with five on each side of the LP. 

Gold

Gold is a compilation album of 36 songs from Etta James. Unlike many collections, this two- disc album presents an overview of her work over five decades, rather than presenting a more in-depth look at the singer’s heyday. 

Secret 7- Initial Ideas and Concepts

Here are some initial ideas for secret 7 for the track 'At Last' I want to explore 60's design with the use of colour and the design linking back to love and the idea of waiting for something. 

End of Year Show- Way finding

Development 

Final

Wayfinding will feature confetti along the floor and walls to lead people around the college, with vinyl sticker arrows leading to each course.