Final Stamp Design

For my chosen stamp design I have chosen to go with the child like drawings.

I feel they give a clear message and fit all the criteria of the brief primarily in educating the next generation for a stronger future as they catch the eye of children as well as parents or teachers who will then teach the children about the problem of water pollution. I also think there is a visual distinction between the 4 stamps as they are all different but they still work as a set being in the same style.

From the initial idea I developed it more by creating it in paint on the computer instead of pencil. I think this is clearer, gives continuity and makes it easier to format electronically.

I than began to think about the typography and monetary value that have to be included on the stamp. As I had already chosen Calibri (body) as the font to use, placement was the next port of call. It was between straight across the top or in a vertical list. I chose the vertical list but to fit it onto the top left corner of the stamp.

 So here is my final stamp design, in A5 and actual stamp size, for the Visual Communications brief ; World with a Future :

I placed it on small envelop to see if it functioned correctly. I think it works in the small size and stands out on the small white envelope :

During my research I found out stamps come in small booklets when purchased in multiples. Using the current definitive stamp collection booklet as a template, I made a mock-up of a possible booklet for my stamp set :

I have really enjoyed this project. I have always been interested in environmental issues so this was a great way to explore it in another light. Looking at stamp design was different as well as it is such a defined area though is wasn't restrictive as it possible to be innovative and creative on a small canvas. A typography project is next and I'm looking forward to seeing what that entails!

Stamps

• Before deciding on my final stamp design I looked back at my stamp research again to see what needed to be included, its size and typography.
• For our final presentation we are to present it A5 size as well as actual stamp size.
• The set must included 4 stamps that work individually as well as on their own.
• The stamp must convey an immediate message.
• It must feature the word Eire and the four monetary values ; 55c, 95c, €1.35, €1.90.
• Stamps are available in booklet form for purchase.

I also looked at typography I could use. I liked a clear sans serif font that slightly bold and rounded. I thought a modern font would would work best as this was a contemporary stamp brief. My three favourite were Heiti Std B, Arial Rounded MT Bold and Calibri (body). I decided to choose Calibri (body) as it fit my all criteria.

Typography.

Choosing Concepts

After consultations with both my tutors, getting their advice on which ideas would have the most potential, I narrowed it down to three "finalist". I decided I would work more on these three concepts and see which one turned out better after editing. The three concepts are:

• 4 taps each with a different precious material ( gold, diamond, blood and pear ) dropping out of it to show the value of a single drop of water, encouraging consumers to fix leaky taps. I liked the concept of this but i don't think it conveyed the message clearly and it was a bit simple and plain.

The inital idea.

        

Experimenting with different drops and tap designs.

The taps, made in photoshop and presented in stamp format.

• 4 different bins with a drop of water on them. I got this idea from packaging that featured the iconic recycling symbol of a stick man and a bin. I think developed it onto the bins. My tutor liked this concept, as did I. I felt it was a bit confusing though. Looking at the drop of water on the bins it wasn't clear whether it was about not wasting water or whether to recycle water.

The initial idea.

Made in photoshop and presented in stamp format.

Experimenting with type positioning and different slogans.

Experimentation with a illustrative style.

• 4 typical child like drawing of different water areas ( sea, river, lake and stream ) with pollution standing out in black against the colourful drawings. This is to show that if we don't do anything about the problem of water pollution, in the future it will become apart of the environment. I Like this concept as the colourful drawings with catch your eye but the black pollution will be recognised as wrong, a mistake, a problem and not part of the picture.

Concepts

Following on from the research sector of this three week project, concept development was next. I began with thumbnail sketches, rough drawings to get my initial ideas down on paper. I always enjoy this process as it helps me to think clearly and come up with a range of ideas. During the thumbnail process I always try to put down every idea that comes to mind, even if not great in hindsight, it aids me in distinguishing the good ideas and can also help stem in to a different, better concept.

Below are pictures of my thumbnail sketches :

Some of my concept ideas included ; an oil filled globe, a bath filled with rubbish, 'wish we weren't here' dirty sea postcard, fishing for trolleys and incorporating saving water with gaming.

Fashion - Day 9

Today I worked in my sketchbook on the croquis's for fabrics. I thought it might be different drawing from the fabrics than the paper but it was very similar.

From all our work we are to pick our favourites, rescale them and from them pick the final line up of six and do 360 drawings of each. I am really excited to see what comes out as my final line up!

Fashion is coming to a close but there is still a lot more to do tonight!

Fashion - Day 8

Today is our CCS day, a day working independently without tutors. In the studio I worked with the light fabric (lining) and continued to work with the medium fabric (calico) as I enjoyed working with it. Here are some examples of what I achieved :

I also worked on my contextual notebook today which is always really interesting. I explored designers such as Sandra Backlund, Hussein Chalayan and Balenciaga as well as many others, all amazing designers that are really inspiring.

I really liked the fashion illustration workshop last Friday so I did a bit more life drawing today from magazines as well as some collages and fashion illustration research.

Fashion - Day 7

Yesterday I worked on my second shape on the croquis. Today I looked over it again with my tutor and she gave me an idea. She said if I thought a certain croquis had potential I could rework it some more. I did this and I really liked it. It helped me to work with the shape more, see what other ways I could manipulate it and also experiment with shaping it differently - I am really happy with the results!

I have been having some trouble with my croquis. The one I had the first week seems to be a bit masculine and goes a bit wobbly when retraced. So I got a new one that I am much happier with. It is more feminine, elegant and has smoother lines. Even my drawings seem to be getting better with the improved form.

Today I also began working with my fabrics on the mannequin. I was able to get the heavy weight (hessian)  and some of the medium weight (calico) done today. Tomorrow I would like to work further with the medium weight as I enjoy working with it as well as with the light weight (lining). Here are some pictures of my work from today:

Fashion - Day 6

So after a weekend of work I started Monday morning with my first shape exhausted and began work on my second shape. This is a more angular shape, a contrast to the first, and at first I found it difficult to work with - I think it was nearly too much of a change from the first. Now though I am really enjoying working with it as it produces clean lines and works well on the croquis. Today the body of my work will be exhausting this shape on thee croquis. I also have to cut out the two shapes in my three fabrics in preparation for tomorrow - I looking forward to seeing how the fabric differs to the paper.  

Fashion - Week One Conclusion

So, the first week of my two week fashion elective has just finished and the week certainly flew by! Though it is a tough discipline with lots of hard, time consuming work, I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am especially enjoying the design process - working on the mannequin, drawing in the sketchbook, manipulation of pieces, collages and much more. I have a lot of work to do this weekend - finish my sketchbook work of both my first and second shape being the main task but this will help me to move onto the following area next week.

I got my three fabrics today to start work with them on the mannequin's on Monday. It will be intriguing to see if working with the fabrics is much different to working with the paper and to see what results are achieved. I cant wait to start!

So far I am really loving fashion. Before starting LSAD, it is and area I never really considered fully but now that I am experiencing it I am thoroughly enjoying it. I really hope my hard work pays off and I do well in this elective. I am excited to see what awaits next week also.

Fashion - Day 5

Today we had an illustration class with Giordanna and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We began by life drawing members of the class. I was so happy to be doing life drawing again as I had missed it in first semester. I was relieved that I hadn't lost all ability to life draw, though a little rough, I liked what I drew. Primarily we sketched in pencil ;

 , then progressed to charcoal;

Pencil has always been my favourite medium to draw with but I think the charcoal suited this task more as it was looser and freer. I have a tendency to draw with a feathery line, something I have always had trouble with, which I know I must improve on as it doesn't relate as well as a defined line to fashion illustration.

The next medium combined a primary sketch in pencil followed by washes of paint to add variety. I was chosen to model for this medium so unfortunately missed out here. I hope to try it during the week in my own time though, as well as in other mediums such as markers, ink, acrylic and pastels.

Next we drew from the mannequin. Giordanna had pinned her coat and some fabric to a mannequin, very artistically, and we drew it. I liked this as I got to focus on  the folds and creases of the fabric. She then handed out magazine pictures of models and we were to draw the fabric piece on them. Surprisingly drawing from a magazine image is much harder than drawing from life and I struggled here - again something I must work on. Still it was an interesting and worthwhile task.



I really enjoyed today's class. I feel it is a skill developed and something I can apply and add to my skecthbook to give it some edge and variety. It gives a different dimension to the work and sheds light on aspects of it ie highlighting desired areas with washes of paint. I would defiantly be interested in doing some more research in the area of fashion illustration.

Fashion - Day 4

Today I continued to work in my sketchbook - drawing croquis and putting the shapes on them in large, medium and small versions. Pamela, my tutor, pointed out that shapes were a bit flat and floating on the croquis and I agree. Therefore I have been working on rounding them more and fitting them to the body.

Another aspect I have incorporated into my work is collage. I have been putting the various sized versions of the different shapes on models from magazines. I really like the effect and I think it helps my to see how the shape would look on a "real" body.

I have completed croquis for the first original shape as well as croquis for  photos on the mannequin of that shape. In my sketchbook I also have included other photos of mannequin work, collages and pieces that I feel  needed less manipulation.

As always contextual work is a consistent task that I have enjoyed researching. Natalie B Coleman, an LSAD graduate, is an artist I had known before but who fits in with my project for her prints of jewelery on her fashion designs.  Here is a video of her most recent collection :

I began work with my second shape, a more angular shape, on the mannequin today also, though further work is needed here as I feel I haven't exhausted the shapes enough. I also found it harder to work with this shape - I am unsure as to why but I think I prefer the first.

Tomorrow we are to have a drawing and illustration workshop with Giordanna and I am really looking forward to it. It will be interesting to see what different ways fashion illustration can be done and how we can incorporate it into our sketchbooks. I can't wait to see what is achieved!

Fashion - Day 3

Today is our CCS day and during studio time we work independently without the guidance of tutors. Last night I research different croquis and fashion illustrations to find one I liked.  My main body of work today consisted of putting the first shape I pulled flat on the croquis I chose in large, medium and small sizes, seeing what garments could be made and also how it fits on the body. I then did the same thing, with the pictures of my work on the mannequins yesterday as a source - though fitting them more to the body so they resemble garments rather than completely flat shapes like the first process. I really enjoyed doing this - though extensive and time consuming - it helped me see how different shapes make up clothes, how so many different designs can be achieved form one shape and how rescaling to a variety of sizes can change he look completely. It was really interesting work.

I also pulled and cut my second shape ( in large, medium and small again ) in preparation for work on the mannequin tomorrow. It is a more angular shape compared to my first in order to achieve a contrast and variety in my work. It will be interesting to see if it ll work differently on the mannequin tomorrow.

Fashion - Day 2

Last night I pulled a variety if different shapes form my analytical drawings. This morning I began by selecting one shape I like to work with for the day. My first shape originated in a brooch.Then I enlarged and shrunk the shape into four groups - Extra large, large, medium and small.Then the fun started as we got to work with these shapes on the mannequins. twisting, turning, pinning, folding, bending and shaping the brown paper cutouts into different desired effects. This was a long process but very enjoyable. I am really seeing where the shape of clothes originates from working on this. I thought the brown paper was good to work with as it was easy to move and shape but it also stood up when needed. Above are some examples of some of my work from today:

From these images I will work with further shapes created on croquis in my sketchbook - enlarging, shrinking and distorting again to achieve a variety of results.

Elective 3 - Fashion

Today was the first day of my third elective - fashion.  The theme of the overall project is shape. To begin I brainstormed from the five word groups we were given on the brief : volume/bulky/blunt, spire/strength/structural, flimsy/ethereal/fuzzy, regime/uniformity/restrictive and liquid/runny/wobbly.

At first I was interested by the spire/strength/structural area in relation to bridges, architecture and churches. With further development of the brainstorms I was drawn back to volume/bulky/blunt. My main focuses were elephants and diamonds/jewels. I researched both of these in pictures in the library and I decided that elephants were more texture related. I found a book in the library about costume jewellery which really stirred my imagination - therefore my chosen area is diamonds, jewels, jewellery and brooches.

Our first task was analytical drawings of images we had gathered. I apologise for the bad quality photos, I didn't realise how dark the lighting was while taking them.

I really enjoyed the drawing process as this didn't really feature in my first semester project. From these images we are to pull shapes which we will use for the rest of the project.  I am excited to work with these shapes in a 3D format tomorrow.