Monday, 21 November 2011
Typography update
Hello again blog, its been a while so what have I done since the last update? I've been building my retro inspired cosmetic labels. The final designs include a logo, a strict colour palette and some quirky line drawings.
So what was the process I went through to get there?
I made a logo. I went through a variety of processes. I changed the colour palette throughout to get it really refined. Here is a peek at the process to come up with my logo:
I had the original idea with the mexican skull woman design and spent a lot of time planning and creating this painting
She was looking really good but then I rushed the designs that went over her face, this kind of ruined the image for me so I spent a some more time on finding a way to present it. I started dong a tidy on photoshop but decided a trace in illustrator would look clean and crisp. So I started to trace the image:
This took me ages and was not coming out as wonderfully as I would have liked. I'm happy with the rose but I think I need to learn some more techniques for colouring and shading to really bring the image to life.
Another major issue occurred to me whilst working on this. The packaging is going to be tiny, is the detail in this image going to be lost once it has been shrunk down to the size of a thumb print? I decided yes and scrapped the idea completely.
So I went back to a simpler idea I had thought of earlier. Create an image for each product that is relevant to the contents, make it into a quirky line drawing and make a simple trace of it in illustrator.
Here's how they turned out:
Pretty happy with them.. who knew the simple idea could be the best idea. This now allows me more time to concentrate on the typography and content for the products.
Now that I have a definite colour palette, a logo and some imagery I'm ready to start composing my designs. First I bought my product packaging and nutted out the dimensions of each product so I could make up a template for each in Illustrator:
I started fiddling around with composition. I had begun this process before I had the final colour palette. The design was not working for me so I just kept changing things around until I came up with something I was happy with:
I like how its put together but the colours don't work. The design is quite clearly inspired by retro 50's and 60's packaging. This is an important component as this is where the problem of so called "scientific breakthroughs" in the cosmetics industry. It is also a very popular design concept in present day. The type I used on the back (made into little sticker labels) has very heavy grease lightening connotations. Its like the font is almost made out of hair product, or is in the form of a man's perfectly groomed quiff:
I was over the moon when I discovered it.. its perfect!
Here is the final design with the correct colours and composition (remember the back can only be one colour):
Probably the biggest challenge in the brief I project I created for myself is the size. Packaging for cosmetics is so damn tiny. And I'm sure you've noticed that the size of the ingredients list on the back is even tinier! I had a peice of information that I wanted to put onto every label but in the end had to make the decision to cut it because the work would just become too cramped and untidy. I decided just to include the most important info and that is the toxic ingredients it contains, what the ingredients can do and what other toxic ingredients could be lurking in the same products. I also managed to sneak in the web address to seek extra info on a few of the packages.
I was also inspired by those really basic toothpaste tubes that you see on movies where the only words you see on it is "toothpaste" or "foot cream" etc
Once the first design was completed the rest were reasonably easy:
Typography
The majority of text is done in caps staying true to most packaging I see. Aligned to the left to avoid rivers, leading and tracking quite often needed to be adjusted to fit the information into the space appropriately. Front of packaging is clean and clear to grab attention and gain focus from my audience. Once they are curious they will look to the back to find out what its all about and hopefully be shocked at what these everyday products can do to us.
Justification to the brief
In relation to the brief.. no these designs are not post cards... not your everyday postcard anyway! The final prototypes are small enough to fit into anyone's mail box and they take the same role as a promotional postcard. I have quite often received postcards that are not usable. The purpose is purely to present information to a particular audience.
Audience
My "cards" would be distributed in the central areas of the city, using the same idea as junk mail deliverers, these households are likely to be big time consumers therefore my campaign would have most effect on them. I'm pretty sure the subject I have covered would be a subject that at least 90% of women in New Zealand would have an opinion on, so these will work in many places but price wise, if these were to be distributed it would be most appropriate in "wealthy" areas.
Distribution
The products would be sent out one by one (the first already in the make up bag) to keep the audience guessing and waiting in anticipation for the next product, therefore keeping their interest and attention for longer. The products can then be stashed in their bathroom with all their other cosmetics so they can refer to them and compare when they have any doubt or questions about their products.
Other uses
These products would be great for other companies to use if they wanted to get behind the cause. Many people are becoming aware of these issues and would go out of there way to find companies and brands that are "green". I can imagine my products as free-bees at a women's expo or or promotional materials sent out with catalogues.
What would I do differently
Given more time and budget I would have chosen better product packages that all fit together cohesively. Thought of filling the inside of the products with black, sticky or oily substance to enforce the idea of toxicity. I also would like to have thought of more interesting printing techniques or materials to print on.
A weakness in my designs is the tiny size I think I could have catered better for it in my designs by refining the information or by choosing better colours (the yellow is particularly hard to read in certain lights) but in all fairness real packaging labels are often even more difficult to read, the font size on mine gets down to size 5 but when I compared it to the original label, my type appears larger.
These have all been printed onto glossy labels, cut out and stuck onto packages.
So what was the process I went through to get there?
I made a logo. I went through a variety of processes. I changed the colour palette throughout to get it really refined. Here is a peek at the process to come up with my logo:
I had the original idea with the mexican skull woman design and spent a lot of time planning and creating this painting
She was looking really good but then I rushed the designs that went over her face, this kind of ruined the image for me so I spent a some more time on finding a way to present it. I started dong a tidy on photoshop but decided a trace in illustrator would look clean and crisp. So I started to trace the image:
This took me ages and was not coming out as wonderfully as I would have liked. I'm happy with the rose but I think I need to learn some more techniques for colouring and shading to really bring the image to life.
Another major issue occurred to me whilst working on this. The packaging is going to be tiny, is the detail in this image going to be lost once it has been shrunk down to the size of a thumb print? I decided yes and scrapped the idea completely.
So I went back to a simpler idea I had thought of earlier. Create an image for each product that is relevant to the contents, make it into a quirky line drawing and make a simple trace of it in illustrator.
Here's how they turned out:
Now that I have a definite colour palette, a logo and some imagery I'm ready to start composing my designs. First I bought my product packaging and nutted out the dimensions of each product so I could make up a template for each in Illustrator:
I started fiddling around with composition. I had begun this process before I had the final colour palette. The design was not working for me so I just kept changing things around until I came up with something I was happy with:
I like how its put together but the colours don't work. The design is quite clearly inspired by retro 50's and 60's packaging. This is an important component as this is where the problem of so called "scientific breakthroughs" in the cosmetics industry. It is also a very popular design concept in present day. The type I used on the back (made into little sticker labels) has very heavy grease lightening connotations. Its like the font is almost made out of hair product, or is in the form of a man's perfectly groomed quiff:
Here is the final design with the correct colours and composition (remember the back can only be one colour):
Probably the biggest challenge in the brief I project I created for myself is the size. Packaging for cosmetics is so damn tiny. And I'm sure you've noticed that the size of the ingredients list on the back is even tinier! I had a peice of information that I wanted to put onto every label but in the end had to make the decision to cut it because the work would just become too cramped and untidy. I decided just to include the most important info and that is the toxic ingredients it contains, what the ingredients can do and what other toxic ingredients could be lurking in the same products. I also managed to sneak in the web address to seek extra info on a few of the packages.
I was also inspired by those really basic toothpaste tubes that you see on movies where the only words you see on it is "toothpaste" or "foot cream" etc
Once the first design was completed the rest were reasonably easy:
The majority of text is done in caps staying true to most packaging I see. Aligned to the left to avoid rivers, leading and tracking quite often needed to be adjusted to fit the information into the space appropriately. Front of packaging is clean and clear to grab attention and gain focus from my audience. Once they are curious they will look to the back to find out what its all about and hopefully be shocked at what these everyday products can do to us.
Justification to the brief
In relation to the brief.. no these designs are not post cards... not your everyday postcard anyway! The final prototypes are small enough to fit into anyone's mail box and they take the same role as a promotional postcard. I have quite often received postcards that are not usable. The purpose is purely to present information to a particular audience.
Audience
My "cards" would be distributed in the central areas of the city, using the same idea as junk mail deliverers, these households are likely to be big time consumers therefore my campaign would have most effect on them. I'm pretty sure the subject I have covered would be a subject that at least 90% of women in New Zealand would have an opinion on, so these will work in many places but price wise, if these were to be distributed it would be most appropriate in "wealthy" areas.
Distribution
The products would be sent out one by one (the first already in the make up bag) to keep the audience guessing and waiting in anticipation for the next product, therefore keeping their interest and attention for longer. The products can then be stashed in their bathroom with all their other cosmetics so they can refer to them and compare when they have any doubt or questions about their products.
Other uses
These products would be great for other companies to use if they wanted to get behind the cause. Many people are becoming aware of these issues and would go out of there way to find companies and brands that are "green". I can imagine my products as free-bees at a women's expo or or promotional materials sent out with catalogues.
What would I do differently
Given more time and budget I would have chosen better product packages that all fit together cohesively. Thought of filling the inside of the products with black, sticky or oily substance to enforce the idea of toxicity. I also would like to have thought of more interesting printing techniques or materials to print on.
A weakness in my designs is the tiny size I think I could have catered better for it in my designs by refining the information or by choosing better colours (the yellow is particularly hard to read in certain lights) but in all fairness real packaging labels are often even more difficult to read, the font size on mine gets down to size 5 but when I compared it to the original label, my type appears larger.
These have all been printed onto glossy labels, cut out and stuck onto packages.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Retro Design Elements and Brand Name
What is it that is going to make my design Retro?
Taking a look at my mood board of retro images I can see a lot of similarities between the different packages:
To come up with an appropriate logo name I looked up the word toxic to find the Latin word 'Toxicus' This should grab the attention of my audience as they are used to seeing cosmetic brands called pure things like 'dove', 'fructis', 'pamolive' and any other word you can think of that is related to nature and purity.
Taking a look at my mood board of retro images I can see a lot of similarities between the different packages:
- Flat colour
- Muted colour tones
- Minimal colour pallette
- Large capital sans serif fonts
- Simple layout
- Only one image if any
To come up with an appropriate logo name I looked up the word toxic to find the Latin word 'Toxicus' This should grab the attention of my audience as they are used to seeing cosmetic brands called pure things like 'dove', 'fructis', 'pamolive' and any other word you can think of that is related to nature and purity.
Research for Packaging: Retro and Tattoo Design
Getting really excited about the project as a lot of design opportunities have come to me. I really enjoy packaging and in a lot of cases it is the packaging that makes the product most enticing to me, not so much the content.
While I was away in the holidays I went to a small town in the south island called Arrowtown. The town was so awesome as it has kept its shape from a very long time ago, but to describe it best its like walking through a western only with modern cars parked either side of the road! All the shops kept the old feel whilst still being modern.
My favourite shop of the day was the candy shop! They sold a huge variety of english confectionary, in house fudge, chocolates and of course all the modern candy that you can get. The thing I liked most inside the shop was some of the quirkey packaging for mints and canned beverages (they had cherry cola!). The product was modern but the design on a lot of the stuff was retro as (similar to the stuff you see in design gift shops like manu in New Plymouth).
I think its fair to say that retro design is in! I personally love it and want to use it for my branding. I've seen a few cosmetic products around with the retro twist too, especially pin up design. I did a quick mood board to inspire me I especially like the can designs.
I think its definitely possible to use the old traditional tattoo style to come up with a brand. Especially since a skull and bones represent toxic chemicals, this is a perfect place to start. Another quick collection of images.
I'm not a fan of skulls and don't think I've ever actually drawn one before but I think its really relevant for this project. One type of skull that I do kinda like is the woman's face with decorative patterns, lines and shadows to suggest a skull. I discovered today that this is a popular design referred to as a Mexican skull. Time to get sketching I think :)
While I was away in the holidays I went to a small town in the south island called Arrowtown. The town was so awesome as it has kept its shape from a very long time ago, but to describe it best its like walking through a western only with modern cars parked either side of the road! All the shops kept the old feel whilst still being modern.
My favourite shop of the day was the candy shop! They sold a huge variety of english confectionary, in house fudge, chocolates and of course all the modern candy that you can get. The thing I liked most inside the shop was some of the quirkey packaging for mints and canned beverages (they had cherry cola!). The product was modern but the design on a lot of the stuff was retro as (similar to the stuff you see in design gift shops like manu in New Plymouth).
I think its fair to say that retro design is in! I personally love it and want to use it for my branding. I've seen a few cosmetic products around with the retro twist too, especially pin up design. I did a quick mood board to inspire me I especially like the can designs.
I think its definitely possible to use the old traditional tattoo style to come up with a brand. Especially since a skull and bones represent toxic chemicals, this is a perfect place to start. Another quick collection of images.
I'm not a fan of skulls and don't think I've ever actually drawn one before but I think its really relevant for this project. One type of skull that I do kinda like is the woman's face with decorative patterns, lines and shadows to suggest a skull. I discovered today that this is a popular design referred to as a Mexican skull. Time to get sketching I think :)
Natural Skin Care Products in New Zealand
I've realised that all the information I'm gathering is mostly American. A search for New Zealand safe cosmetics campaigners lead me to these guys.
http://www.xtend-life.com/skincare/Overview.aspx
I sent them a quick email to find out if there is anything that they do or that I can do to make a difference to the cosmetics industry in New Zealand. I really hope they can help me out. I feel like if anyone is in the know, it would be a company that creates skincare products 'so pure you could eat them'.
Here is an example of their sleek looking packaging
http://www.xtend-life.com/skincare/Overview.aspx
I sent them a quick email to find out if there is anything that they do or that I can do to make a difference to the cosmetics industry in New Zealand. I really hope they can help me out. I feel like if anyone is in the know, it would be a company that creates skincare products 'so pure you could eat them'.
Here is an example of their sleek looking packaging
Final Decision!
Yussss! after being under the pressure of just making a damn decision! a lightbulb finaly clicked on and after a quick one on one with tutor I have a clear direction of where I'm heading.
So the final idea is to create a series of six products (yes products! not cards). I have chosen six common products that will be relevant to a larger range of people:
So that's what the plan is. Create six product labels to place over six mini sized packages (shape depends on what the actual product is). My specific brand will be spread across each of the products and the information on the back will be about the toxic ingredients inside the product, what it does, what to look out for that might also be in similar products and information on how you can make a difference to the cosmetics industry in New Zealand.
The six products will then be displayed in a transparent (probably branded also) make-up bag.
eg.
Next I need to figure out the exact content I'm going to use on each product. I can begin designing a label in home time.
So the final idea is to create a series of six products (yes products! not cards). I have chosen six common products that will be relevant to a larger range of people:
- Toothpaste
- Body spray
- Shampoo
- Body Wash
- Antiperspirant
- Sanitiser
So that's what the plan is. Create six product labels to place over six mini sized packages (shape depends on what the actual product is). My specific brand will be spread across each of the products and the information on the back will be about the toxic ingredients inside the product, what it does, what to look out for that might also be in similar products and information on how you can make a difference to the cosmetics industry in New Zealand.
The six products will then be displayed in a transparent (probably branded also) make-up bag.
eg.
Next I need to figure out the exact content I'm going to use on each product. I can begin designing a label in home time.
Monday, 24 October 2011
Deisgn update
Create a series of six postcards focussing on a social or political movement.
Anti consumerism: Support and create awareness of the safe cosmetics act. Encourage consumers to buy responsibly for their own health.
Create awareness and promote change in the cosmetics industry.
I've decided from the word go that I DON'T want to do a set of cards that are purely print on a card. I want to find an idea that is creative and still focuses on type. By creative I mean it needs to be interactive and/or use materials that are out of the ordinary.
I'd really like to use packaging or something along those lines, to recreate that feeling that women get when they purchase new cosmetics, make my product seem important and life changing. This is how I will grab the attention of my targeted audience.
A few ideas over the holidays
"Would a love letter have the same power if it were typeset? Handmade objects are ultimatly about direct and meaningful communication between the artist and their audience."
Jean Orelebeke
The other book is titled 'touch this' and its focus is on design that 'feels good'. The design is really ineractive, often an invite will turn in to an object or great peice of design that someone can keep.
These are perfect resources for me. Especially 'fingerprint', this book has really inspired me to get my hands dirty. Here are some materials and techniques I might be interested in exploring/ experimenting with. (This all depends on how it relates to my subject and time I have available)
"Art is the portal through which you can walk to a new life"
Bill Strickland
Anti consumerism: Support and create awareness of the safe cosmetics act. Encourage consumers to buy responsibly for their own health.
Create awareness and promote change in the cosmetics industry.
I've decided from the word go that I DON'T want to do a set of cards that are purely print on a card. I want to find an idea that is creative and still focuses on type. By creative I mean it needs to be interactive and/or use materials that are out of the ordinary.
I'd really like to use packaging or something along those lines, to recreate that feeling that women get when they purchase new cosmetics, make my product seem important and life changing. This is how I will grab the attention of my targeted audience.
A few ideas over the holidays
- use imagery that depicts beauty then open up to ugly, effects of chemicals and poisons in products
- beauty is pain as a slogan
- play with the idea of envy, images of beautiful lips eyes skin etc
- use of typography would be similar to that on packaging of products, enticing, pretty
"Would a love letter have the same power if it were typeset? Handmade objects are ultimatly about direct and meaningful communication between the artist and their audience."
Jean Orelebeke
The other book is titled 'touch this' and its focus is on design that 'feels good'. The design is really ineractive, often an invite will turn in to an object or great peice of design that someone can keep.
These are perfect resources for me. Especially 'fingerprint', this book has really inspired me to get my hands dirty. Here are some materials and techniques I might be interested in exploring/ experimenting with. (This all depends on how it relates to my subject and time I have available)
- Transparent materials
- Print on thick card
- Slide viewer
- Using trophy engravers to engrave my type into a metal surface(really attracted to idea of using metal
- Letterpress on handmade paper (much more tactile than print on paper)
- Oragami, either have directions for user to make or send it in post as an interesting shape
- Cutting the text out of paper, card or whatever materials
- Make-up (nail polish, blush, foundation etc.)
- collage ink combinations
- woodcut
- photcopying, photgraphing and reprinting to create depth to my design
- Acetate
- Tracing Paper
- Gridded plastic
- Craftboard
- Bolts
- Glass
- Metal
- Handmade Paper
- Fabric, Thread, Collage
- Plastic
- Stickers (labels)
- Make-up
- Collage
"Art is the portal through which you can walk to a new life"
Bill Strickland
Helpful websites
Research The Story of Cosmetics
So this website"the story of stuff has been a great starting point for this project. The small video on the story of cosmetics gave me some great things to look into, the ugly truth of toxics in and toxics out. Annie Leaonard brings to my attention the use of toxic chemicals in cosmetics that can lead to cancer, learning disabilities, asthma and damaged sperm. Chemicals like
Less than 10% of chemicals are assessed before they get put into products that we use on a daily basis on our faces, in our hair and even in our mouth. Carcinogens (ingredients that cause cancer), neurotoxins and reproductive toxins (ingredients that mess up brain development and the reproduction of animals) are all put into our everyday products. Our bodies are polluted with
Another slight glitch in the system is the fact that companies can use words like 'herbal', 'natural' and 'organic' where you will find that the product is far from it. There is no legal definition for these words.
So like any good site I am then given a few tips on how I can make a difference not only for myself and my family but also in society. There are great websites that have done some intense research into thousands of products and given them a rating on how 'green' they are. Theres even a free app for smartphones.. I'm so there! These websites could be the direction that I lead my audience to. Some resources to get my audience clued up on the matter.
There is another matter I may have to pull out of the bag. Something called 'pinkwashing' this is where companies are getting in on the action by saying that they support breast cancer by donating a percentage of sales to the cancer society. At the same time they are using ingredients in their products that are directly related to CANCER! Theses companies include Estee Lauder, Avon and Revlon, all large corporations.
There is endless information on the web on this matter I am definatly not short on resources. Its so awesome to see how many people (and high profile too!) are getting in on it to make everyone aware of this unethical stuff. The more people that know and take action will force scientists and cosmetic creators to come up with natural products that are safe for everyone.
Next I'm going to add a few links so that theses helpful resources are there at a click of a button and then I will do an update on where my design process is up to.
- Sodium Laureth Sulphate
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Methylisthiazolinoe
Less than 10% of chemicals are assessed before they get put into products that we use on a daily basis on our faces, in our hair and even in our mouth. Carcinogens (ingredients that cause cancer), neurotoxins and reproductive toxins (ingredients that mess up brain development and the reproduction of animals) are all put into our everyday products. Our bodies are polluted with
- lead
- triclosan
- flame retardants
- mercury
Another slight glitch in the system is the fact that companies can use words like 'herbal', 'natural' and 'organic' where you will find that the product is far from it. There is no legal definition for these words.
So like any good site I am then given a few tips on how I can make a difference not only for myself and my family but also in society. There are great websites that have done some intense research into thousands of products and given them a rating on how 'green' they are. Theres even a free app for smartphones.. I'm so there! These websites could be the direction that I lead my audience to. Some resources to get my audience clued up on the matter.
There is another matter I may have to pull out of the bag. Something called 'pinkwashing' this is where companies are getting in on the action by saying that they support breast cancer by donating a percentage of sales to the cancer society. At the same time they are using ingredients in their products that are directly related to CANCER! Theses companies include Estee Lauder, Avon and Revlon, all large corporations.
There is endless information on the web on this matter I am definatly not short on resources. Its so awesome to see how many people (and high profile too!) are getting in on it to make everyone aware of this unethical stuff. The more people that know and take action will force scientists and cosmetic creators to come up with natural products that are safe for everyone.
Next I'm going to add a few links so that theses helpful resources are there at a click of a button and then I will do an update on where my design process is up to.
Back to School
OK so its been a great two week holiday but now I'm in panic mode (as I had predicted). I didn't have the resources while I was away to keep up the work, well that's my excuse anyway. According to my time line this week I need to be doing:
Today I need to do further research into the safe cosmetics act so I know the exact message I'm conveying and will have a little content for my cards. I've made a few big decisions for the project over the last weekend that will give me a bit of direction today but by the end of the day I need to make the final decision on the form that my cards are going to take on so that I can start experimenting and building TOMORROW. Its going to be a sleepless night I know it.
- experimentation
- building designs
Today I need to do further research into the safe cosmetics act so I know the exact message I'm conveying and will have a little content for my cards. I've made a few big decisions for the project over the last weekend that will give me a bit of direction today but by the end of the day I need to make the final decision on the form that my cards are going to take on so that I can start experimenting and building TOMORROW. Its going to be a sleepless night I know it.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Message and Purpose
Choose your message and define the purpose of your cards
So looking back on the research I've done so far I think I would like to just point out the facts and show people how easy it is to make a difference in their own daily life and in the world.
To _____________ about ______________________ by _______________
[do something] [name of social movement] [how you will do it]
The Purpose of my cards is to create awareness about the unethical nature of cosmetic products by distributing intriguing, educational cards to a group of people who buy cosmetic products (could be anyone)
Each card will display information on a different product. The products will be common products that effect most people (men and women) like deodorant, moisturiser, shaving cream, body wash, shampoo and conditioner etc.
I would like to hone in on the idea that when we turn a product over to check out the ingredients we are bombarded with a huge list of chemicals, this is where the typography will come in. Also research other ideas like the chemical make up of poisons, micro organisms and the effects of nasty chemicals on our bodies and worst of all our children's bodies.
Investigation into a cohesive 'set' of cards
How am I going to make my series of cards a cohesive set?
- The message will be similar on each card, this will force my cards to have similar elements.
- I could use the same font throughout my cards
- Create a logo
- The backs will have the same layout
- Use a limited colour palette
- Once I have decided on style this should be repeated in each card
- Use the idea of the chemical makeup or micro-organisms throughout
What are some more unique ideas to make my cards appealing?
- A line that runs through all my cards to form an interesting shape when they are all placed together. (Perhaps a line of conditioner or some liquid product)
- Make the physical card an unrecognisable shape that only makes sense when they are in a set, like a puzzle
- Do something 3D or tactile to each card
- Do fold lines on each with instructions to make an origami shape with each card so the audience is left with a sense of achievement and objects that they might like to keep like a souvenir.
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