OUGD402 - Study Task 8: If You Were A...

Session

We got into our groups for the 'Communication Is A Virus' brief, got into pairs and swapped our 10 visuals from our statements from the task.
We then had to go away in the pair, sort the visuals into Personal & Professional and then write a statement for each summing up exactly what the five pictures for each represent & put across about them as people.
Me and Anna got Adam & Grace's images.

Adam
Personal
Adam is a tea drinker, particularly Earl Grey. He obviously cares about animals and we are presuming he owns a dog. Along with this he has a large film collection, which means that he enjoys to watch them. He also likes technology.

Professional
The images given are all different, but have a few similar aspects, meaning he appreciates different kinds of design, but there are certain aesthetics he likes more than others. He clearly likes illustration and textured work, along with Russian Constructivism and simple design. He also likes bold, colourful design.

Grace
Personal
These images show off a broad range of personality. Swimming is obviously important to Grace, along with reading. Alternative/Rock music is clearly a favourite of hers. By the book about species, we are assuming she also has an interest in science of some sort. The image of the forest is obviously important to her, and could be somewhere she visits regularly.

Professional
On a professional level, all visuals suggest Grace likes simple design, but also likes loose, hand drawn illustrations. There is clearly an interest in editorial and packaging work, and perhaps infographics as well, though this is not clear enough to say for definite. A lot of the work seems to contain green, whether this is a coincidence or a preference, it is not clear.

We then got back together as a group and shared what we all said, and told each other the proper statements to see how close we all were. In general Anna and I were quite close to what Adam and Grace's Professional & personal preferences were.
Joe & Ant did mine, and I found that they were quite close, though their knowledge on the designers I chose did deter their answers a little, but they still had the main point of the images.

Task

If you were a book, what would your subject be and who would read you?

If I was a book, the subject would be on up and coming graphic design as I feel that these people aren't paid much attention until they do something recognisable and considered big. People to read it would be those of graphic design students as it would give them a broad range of designers to use.

If you were a package what would you contain and who would open you?

If I was a package I would be a very bespoke design, designed specifically for the person it is for. I would contain something that is generally easy to come across, but can be personalised for a persons traits and needs, done at their own hand. So anyone could open it, but each would be designed specifically for them.

If you were a shop what would you sell and who would buy it?

If I was a shop I would be selling something that never gets old and continually reinvents itself to fit in with contemporary times. Vans for example, they are a brand that have been around for fifty years, but is still very current and is widely recognised and worn. For that reason, I would sell Vans shoes and other shoes which are the same, like Converse or Nike shoes. The people who would buy them are people who aren't just buying them because they're in trend at the minute, it would be people who recognise the value in the company and shoe.

If you were a poster what would you promote and to whom?

If I was a poster I would promote typography and the value of it as I feel this is a subject that is largely overlooked by the general public, and certainly not appreciated unless you are someone who works with it on a day to day basis as a graphic designer does.

If you were a brand what would your values be and why would they be important?

If I was a brand, my values would be that everything created under the brand would have to be of a high standard and as consistent as the last, whatever the products were. A high standard of work and finish is important because if it doesn’t look good enough, people aren’t going to want anything to do with it, the products wouldn’t catch their eye like high quality products do. Like Apple, the creative team is in control of advertising and showing the quality of the products produced in a way which appeals to the audience. Creative control is important as I feel this would be the best way to continually improve the brand name and reputation.

If you were an exhibition what would you show and where would you show it?

If I was an exhibition I would be a collection of large scale, colourful and bright Art & Design work. There would be something for everyone, but all in the same aesthetic style of work, as my own work is like this. I would show works from the likes of Warhol to those of Mike Perry and Pentagram. A mixture of work, which is ultimately commercial and recognised by the general public. I would show in a place which is easy accessible and easy to get around. A large open space gallery which is easy to navigate around.

If you were a leaflet what information would you contain and who would read it?

If I was a leaflet I would be a mini self help for digital design programs, such as Illustrator and Photoshop as I feel I have enough experience in these programs to help someone who has little or none.

If you were a sign what would you show, to whom and where?

If I was a sign I would be a 'straight ahead' road sign as it is straight to the point and doesn't give any nonsense. It tells you exactly what you need to know, when you need to know it with no unnecessary information at inconvenient times. It would be on a motorway, or where signage was complicated and confusing the viewer as they would see it and know exactly what it entails.

If you were an App what would you do and who would use you?

If I was an App I would be something to do with organisation, like iCalendar or iPlanner, as I feel an organised approach to work is the only way to get the best out of the work, and have enough time to fulfil everything on the criteria. I would best be suited to someone who isn't organised and needs to make a note of what to do.

If you were a blog, what would you be about and who would follow you?

If I was a blog I would be a collection of Editorial design work, primarily in book work, showing all the various ways of how content and images can be displayed on pages, ranging from Post modernist approaches like Carson, to very straight laced displays like Experimental Jetset. It would show the variety that is out there and why each is appropriate to the content.

If you were an event, what would it be and how would you promote it?

If I was an event I would be an All Day movie day, and I would promote it with a series of printed posters and leaflets, distributing them in the area where the event would be taking place. It would be open to everyone, showing films that are widely known, but are maybe only properly appreciated by few.