SARAH SWANTONS E M E S T E R T W O

www.swansnestdesign.co.uk

OVERVIEW1.) Type of brief

This semester I have tried to prove myself to be as much of a proficient designer as I can, I have completed briefs that have very stringent guidelines and briefs that are entirely free reign. I feel that the briefs that have strict guidelines will give me good experience for working in the industry; where in which I won’t always have free reign. As a designer I prefer briefs that are completely free and open so I can do what I enjoy most and express myself ; typographically, contextually and when using composition. For this semester the briefs I feel have been the most successful are the briefs that have some set guidelines to them so although I can make decisions as to how the design will look, I always have the guidelines to keep me going in the right direction.

2.) Intergral elements

Typography is always an important integral element in my work, I feel typography is always the central asthetic of my work and I build the design based on that asthetic. I have always preferred to create my own imagery; whether it be drwan by my own hand or in Illustrator, I feel that creating my own imagery is extremely important because it is a skill that is fundamental to any designer. Shape is another element that consistantly presents itself into my work, I feel that even a small use of shapes can bring an editorial spread to life or bring something extra to a logo design. In the future I would like to build upon my skills in all the Adobe packages but in particular Adobe Illustrator, I am extremely keen to start working as a designer so that I can improve my skillset for the future.

3.) Success

I feel my strengths lie in composition of layouts and in the use of typography, after I earned my MISTD I realised that I am good at interpreting briefs through the use of typography and composition. Interpretation for me, is the most important aspect of a brief; If the brief is not interpreted well from the beginning then there is no point in completing it. I have always had a good sense of colour theory in my work but in the last semester it was starting to get a little repetitive so I decided that I would broaden my colour theory in this semester. Doing so well in my first semester has given me enormous confidence, as has achieving my ISTD and being chosen to exhibit at New Blood, all these events have made believe that I am a good designer and in the past I have thought the opposite.

4.) Problems

This semester has been relatively problem free, however during completing the D&AD brief I ran into a few struggles with mocking up the packaging, but teaching myself some more techniques in Photoshop helped me overcome these issues. I have had some problems with confidence I my work, I almost pulled out of ISTD because I didn’t feel what I had produced was good enough, but my tutors helped me overcome these problems. I feel the best way to avoid issues is to always be extremely well organised and plan ahead which is what I always do in my work.

5.) Personality

My biggest interest lies in growing as a designer, I never want to stop learning about my chosen career. I have a great interest in illustration I feel this comes across in my work particularly in projects such as my Lindt chocolate packaging and wedding stationary. This semester I have created a manifesto that ties in with an idea that is very important to me; equal opportunity for women. For my last brief I decided to do something that was completely new to me; Art direction. I feel completing this brief really paid off because even though I’ve never done it before I feel it is very important to take risks and try new avenues.

VISUAL SUMMARY

D&AD WHISKY BRIEF: TAIL FEATHER ROSES: CAN YOU CREATE A NEW BRAND

YCN: M&S PICNIC WEDDING STATIONARY

LINDT CHOCOLATE RE-DESIGN IMAGINE THAT: FRONT COVER COMPETITION

DISSERTATION MANIFESTO ART DIRECTION: ETHEREAL MAGAZINE

D&AD WHISKY: OVERVIEWIntroduction

A competition brief set for D&AD by the studio Design Bridge, the brief was to create a new contemporary Scotch Whisky that appealed to a female demographic. I decided that my target audience would be younger women of the ages 18-30, because they are the least likely consumers to buy Whisky. I thought about how I could make Scotch Whisky appeal to younger women like myself, that thought brought me to the idea of cocktails. Cocktails are extremely popular with women from the age group I chose to appeal to. By packaging the Whisky in a cocktail shaker it make the idea that it is meant to be used in cocktails far more obvious and my idea was that the shaker could be used after the Whisky was used. It also came with a small cocktail menu around the neck so that the consumer could make drinks easily with the Whisky. The packaging itself shows off the colour of the Whisky by the pattern that is on the shaker.

D&AD WHISKY: SOURCE

D&AD WHISKY: TRANSFORM

D&AD WHISKY: PRODUCTION D&AD WHISKY: REALISE

ROSES: OVERVIEW ROSES: PRODUCTIONIntroduction

A competition brief set by The Chase design studio, the brief was to advertise a new brand, after creating the brand yourself. Since I was creating a new brand for the D&AD Whisky brief I thought I would advertise my new brand using this brief. The idea behind this advertising was to represent that Tail Feather Whisky is a fun drink to be enjoyed at the weekend, the bird of paradise represents letting loose and having a good time and the pigeon represents just any other day of the week, I chose Monday because it’s renowned as being everyone’s least favourite day of the week.

ROSES: SOURCE

Monday

saturday!Shake it up!

Shake itit

S C O T C H W H I S K Y

Monday saturday!

Shake it up!

Shake itit

S C O T C H W H I S K Y

ROSES: REALISE

YCN: OVERVIEW YCN: TRANSFORM

YCN: SOURCE

Introduction

A competition brief set by YCN the brief was to create a new range of packaged picnic’s, They asked us to design the picnic itself including all the packaging inside it once I had chosen what food should go inside it. They also asked for the picnic to be designed around a certain event or special day of the year. I decided to base mine around a festival theme, I chose all the food inside to coincide with this theme and the picnic box itself in the same way. The picnic was aimed at anyone who goes to a festival, which can be people of all ages. I decided to make my packaging fun and engaging do that it appealed to all ages and types of people.

YCN: PRODUCTION YCN: REALISE

WEDDING STATIONARY: OVERVIEW WEDDING STATIONARY: TRANSFORM

WEDDING STATIONARY: SOURCE

Introduction

For this brief I was asked to create a stationary range for a young couple getting married this year. They required a ‘Save the date card’, ‘Day invite’, ‘Evening invite’, ‘RSVP card’, menu and table plan. All the illustrations and layouts for this stationary were designed by myself, but the theme and the copy were provided by the client. I liased with the couple for months any they were extremely happy with what I produced. The stationary was featured on the illustration website ‘Fuel your illustration.

WEDDING STATIONARY: PRODUCTION WEDDING STATIONARY: REALISE

LINDT CHOCOLATE: OVERVIEW LINDT CHOCOLATE: TRANSFORM

LINDT CHOCOLATE: SOURCE

Introduction

This brief was a self directed brief that I decided to complete on my own, Lindt has always been one of my favourite brands and I decided that their packaging needed updating. I tried to keep in mind the current trends of retro illustration coupled with contemporary typography, I created four variants of packaging for four different flavours; Dark, White, Mint and Milk. The packaging has been featured on The Dieline, Trendhunter and will be featured in the packaging book Pack-age by Chois gallery.

LINDT CHOCOLATE: PRODUCTION LINDT CHOCOLATE: REALISE

IMAGINE THAT: OVERVIEW IMAGINE THAT: TRANSFORM

IMAGINE THAT: SOURCE

Introduction

This brief was a competition brief set by design and illustration magazine Imagine_That, Their brief was to create a magazine cover based on the word ‘big’. My first thoughts were not to just create big typography, it was to create more of a ‘show’ piece of work so I thought about neon signs and circus’ etc. The finished cover was chosen as a finalist and featured in the magazine and on the website.

IMAGINE

THATWOW THIS IS

{

{V VWE’RE SO EXCITED

IMAGINE THAT: PRODUCTION IMAGINE THAT: REALISE

DISSERTATION MANIFESTO: OVERVIEW DISSERTATION MANIFESTO: TRANSFORM

DISSERTATION MANIFESTO: SOURCE

Introduction

This brief was set for the year 2 Graphic Design students but I decided that it would fit very well with my dissertation, so I created a poster campaign, a manifesto, dissertation booklet and badges advertising the message of the manifesto. The manifesto was to promote the interests of women in advertising which was what my dissertation was based upon, the entire manifesto had two tag lines throughout; one being: Ideas are not gender specific and the other being: Creativity is not gender specific.

DESIGN

IDEAS

ILLUSTRATIONFOCUS

Creativity INTUITION

DISSERTATION MANIFESTO: PRODUCTION DISSERTATION MANIFESTO: REALISE

CREATIVITY IS NOT GENDER SPECIFIC

IDEAS ARE NOT GENDER SPECIFIC

MAN-IFES-TO

CREATIVITY IS NOT GENDER SPECIFIC

Advertising has been a largely male dominated industry since it began, as advertising evolves

through the 21st century; the industry must take a long look at it’s ideas towards women. Advertising

needs women and women must to feel they can compete in the industry.

DESIGN

IDEAS

ILLUSTRATIONFOCUS

Creativity INTUITION

1.) WORK HARD!Hard work always had been the key to success for women in the advertising, you can’t make it to the top on good fortune alone.

2.) BE CURIOUS ABOUT ADVERTISINGAs Graphic Design students you should be actively seeking out advertising as inspiration, it’s communication design at it’s best and a highly rewarding vocation for women.

3.) COMPLETE ADVERTISING BRIEFS WHILE STUDYINGIf you find that while studying Graphic Design, advertising briefs are sometimes not readily available, question the reasons why and seek out advertising briefs for yourself.

4.) ACCEPT CRITICISM & LEARN FROM IT!One of the main pitfalls that hinders women’s elevation in advertising is not being able to take being criticised, many take it too seriously and therefore are considered weak.

5.) WOMEN MUST BE SEEN AS EQUALAbove all the other points in this manifesto, this is the most important; whether it be a woman applying for a job or pitching an idea, women must be seen in equal standing to men.

6.) DON’T BE INTIMIDATED BY THE INDUSTRYFor too long women have shyed away from advertising because of it’s male dominance. It’s time for women to be able to apply for jobs in advertising and think nothing of it.

7.) BE YOUR OWN PERSONThroughout a women’s career, the most important point to remember is to always be your own person and not imitate others.

8.) HELP EACH OTHER Women have come a long way to gain some good standing in the advertising industry, don’t see each other as competition; help each other.

9.) MAINTAIN A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR No one likes to be too serious, another major reason women don’t succeed in advertising is their inability to laugh at themselves. A good sense of humour will get you further than you think.

10.) MAKE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS KNOWN No one likes to be too serious, another major reason women don’t succeed in advertising is their inability to laugh at themselves. A good sense of humour will get you further than you think.

11.) DON’T FALL INTO THE ‘BOYS CLUB’It seems logical to believe that thinking and behaving like a man will get you far, it may for a while but it’s hardly worth losing the respect of your female peers.

12.) ALWAYS STRIVE FOR MORENever believe enough is enough, always be hungry for more; the women at the top of their game are pit bulls and damn proud of it!

13.) ENCOURAGE THE YOUNGER GENERATIONYou’re doing well in your career so why not shout about it! There are millions of young women just waiting to graduate and break into the industry, tell them your story.

MAN-IFES-TO

IDEAS ARE NOT GENDER SPECIFIC

COCA COLA

DOVE

AUDINIKE

WALKERS

BRITISH AIRWAYS

Advertising has been a largely male dominated industry since it began, as advertising evolves

through the 21st century; the industry must take a long look at it’s ideas towards women. Advertising

needs women and women must to feel they can compete in the industry.

1.) WORK HARD!Hard work always had been the key to success for women in the advertising, you can’t make it to the top on good fortune alone.

2.) BE CURIOUS ABOUT ADVERTISINGAs Graphic Design students you should be actively seeking out advertising as inspiration, it’s communication design at it’s best and a highly rewarding vocation for women.

3.) COMPLETE ADVERTISING BRIEFS WHILE STUDYINGIf you find that while studying Graphic Design, advertising briefs are sometimes not readily available, question the reasons why and seek out advertising briefs for yourself.

4.) ACCEPT CRITICISM & LEARN FROM IT!One of the main pitfalls that hinders women’s elevation in advertising is not being able to take being criticised, many take it too seriously and therefore are considered weak.

5.) WOMEN MUST BE SEEN AS EQUALAbove all the other points in this manifesto, this is the most important; whether it be a woman applying for a job or pitching an idea, women must be seen in equal standing to men.

6.) DON’T BE INTIMIDATED BY THE INDUSTRYFor too long women have shyed away from advertising because of it’s male dominance. It’s time for women to be able to apply for jobs in advertising and think nothing of it.

7.) BE YOUR OWN PERSONThroughout a women’s career, the most important point to remember is to always be your own person and not imitate others.

8.) HELP EACH OTHER Women have come a long way to gain some good standing in the advertising industry, don’t see each other as competition; help each other.

9.) MAINTAIN A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR No one likes to be too serious, another major reason women don’t succeed in advertising is their inability to laugh at themselves. A good sense of humour will get you further than you think.

10.) MAKE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS KNOWN No one likes to be too serious, another major reason women don’t succeed in advertising is their inability to laugh at themselves. A good sense of humour will get you further than you think.

11.) DON’T FALL INTO THE ‘BOYS CLUB’It seems logical to believe that thinking and behaving like a man will get you far, it may for a while but it’s hardly worth losing the respect of your female peers.

12.) ALWAYS STRIVE FOR MORENever believe enough is enough, always be hungry for more; the women at the top of their game are pit bulls and damn proud of it!

13.) ENCOURAGE THE YOUNGER GENERATIONYou’re doing well in your career so why not shout about it! There are millions of young women just waiting to graduate and break into the industry, tell them your story.

IDEAS ARE NOT GENDER SPECIFIC

COCA COLA

DOVE

AUDINIKE

WALKERS

BRITISH AIRWAYS

Advertising has been a largely male dominated industry since it began, as advertising evolves

through the 21st century; the industry must take a long look at it’s ideas towards women. Advertising

needs women and women must to feel they can compete in the industry.

CREATIVITY IS NOT GENDER SPECIFIC

Advertising has been a largely male dominated industry since it began, as advertising evolves

through the 21st century; the industry must take a long look at it’s ideas towards women. Advertising

needs women and women must to feel they can compete in the industry.

DESIGN

IDEAS

ILLUSTRATIONFOCUS

Creativity INTUITION

ART DIRECTION: OVERVIEW ART DIRECTION: TRANSFORM

ART DIRECTION: SOURCE

Introduction

This brief was a brief that was given to past students a few years ago in their second year but it wasn’t given to us when we reached second year and I had always had a great desire to do some art direction. The brief was to take a word and interpret it through art direction, then taking that art direction and turning it into an editorial. My chosen word was Ethereal, I interpreted this word through art direction and developed it into a fashion editorial.

ART DIRECTION: PRODUCTION ART DIRECTION: REALISE

Work Experience - Freelance

The Melting Pot nightclub

Fantasweets Cupcakes

Tik Box Records

Alex and Jade’s Wedding

Stanwix Arts Theatre

Featured

The Dieline

Imagine_That Magazine

Imagine_That Blog

Designspiration

Trendhunter

Chois Pack Age (in book: TBA)

Fuel your illustration

D&AD New Blood (June)

Competitions

ISTD

UCSU - Runner up

Imagine_That - Runner up