Tea and Coffee Packaging

The other day when I was showing off my portfolio to a friend who asked me to design an album cover for his band I was looking at a packaging project I had done for my Graded Unit back in HND at college. The Graded Unit was built up of four different projects made simply out of a title that we all had to choose one from. The one I chose was "Commitment to Grow" and with this we could do anything that we wanted to do. What I decided to do was create tea and coffee packages for a new company who grow organic foods.

Why did I do this? simply because I had never done this before and thought I could have a lot of fun with it. The idea was originally a brochure for a baby trust fund package for the bank or a package for a nursery. I had even come up with an idea with something to do with plants before I came up with the tea and coffee idea.

This got me onto thinking about packaging and went back onto the DieLine website which I have used as a great influence ever since HNC as I find that all of most of the packaging very interesting and unique and even looks that the people who designed them even had fun coming up with the design. It was now from this that I was looking at more tea and coffee packaging on the site.

When I was looking at the various forms of packaging I came across a very fun and clever design that was made for coffee. The name of this was called Rise and is in my opinion aimed at young teenager starting to drink coffee as it has been designed using a comic style with a comic character that is a zombie. It even has a coffee flavoured chewing gum with it. Again I would say this is for it being aimed at a young audience. I think this is all very clever and would actually like to see this on the supermarket shelves.

The very top image is the packages I did for the Graded Unit and the other two are for the coffee Rise.

That's So Graven

Yesterday we were given a lecture from a women (Emma Murphy if I remember correctly) who works at Graven Images based in Glasgow. This talk was very different from others we have had before as we were listening to someone who has plenty experience with design and is still in the market working in a studio and with actual clients. The sort of things she told us about were what has to go into the process of an entire brief, how should it begin? What research should be included? There were many aspects that I thought were quite interesting and helpful.

The lecture was broken up into two parts, the first I thought being the more interesting and I thought that how she explained what research and how those who work in Graven work as a team could be helpful to me for doing future projects at university and hopefully even in an actual design studio.

There were many project that she had worked on that I thought WOW! they really worked on that and gave me an insight into just how many areas a design company can cover and how everyone works together to come up with something that each area all harmonizes together with the final outcome. What I also enjoyed hearing about was how they all think how can we make this a place to remember? What can we bring to it that is unique, stylish but can make people who stay in it or work in it comfortable and enjoy the experience. Other thing she mentioned were can it be sustainable? and this was something I think a lot of companies do not really think about and could possibly benefit the environment if more took an attitude like this.

There was a topic she also went over about how can we help attract people to come to this place and she had used and example of Tesco and Sainsbury's and how they tend to use the next celeb of the moment kind of thing, Such as Jamie Oliver in the Sainbury's ads. I think this is a good example as this is a man who has never really been out of the papers, he is a famous cook and family man, has done so much to try and get healthier meals for school canteens and appears to be someone who can be an influence to a young generation. This is probably why he is used in the advertising to show that this is a store if Jamie Oliver can come to it then so can you.

This also got me onto thinking of the past Sainsbury's advertisements which used to feature John Cleese. This was brought to our attention by our lecturer who mentioned a failed advert he was in which brought down the sales of the company. It was this that got me thinking about the Jamie Oliver adverts and made me think that they realized that the older ads were no longer successful and needed to come up with something new and fresh. This was more of an away with the old bring in the new, younger, more popular person.

All in all I did enjoy yesterdays lecture and will try to use some of the techniques that she explained and use them myself to see if they can help me.

The Shipping Forecast

Well we yet again had to do one of our famous lucky dips for the next project we are doing this semester, only this time we had to pick out areas around the British Isles that are on the shipping forecast. The area I picked out was Fastnet. At first I thought this was going to be a bit of a boring project but once we looked at the brief I thought it became a bit more interesting.

There are a few things that I have found very interesting about the area I have. Well number one is that well it is just south of Ireland. There is small island known as Fastnet Rock which is the home of the tallest Lighthouse around Ireland watch company Rolex organize a yacht race that starts off at the Isle of White goes all the way around Fastnet Rock before heading back to Plymouth. Even though this has gone on ever since the early 1900's, Rolex took over about 2000, 2001 and have done it ever since.

I also discovered that during the 1979 race a thick patch of fog had covered the entire area making it difficult for anyone on the boats to see. Eventually in the race a large majority of the capsized killing almost everyone on each vessel, which resulted in a massive search where not only the coast guard but fisherman and volunteers from all over did what they could to help search for survivors. There is a stone monument with all the deceased's name carved into it.

There was also another incident about 20 years before round about 1959 where too Royal Air Force Avro Shackleton MR.2 were involved in a mid air collision killing about thirteen men. So from looking at events and tragedies around Fastnet I have noticed it is a place I would personally avoid.

So now I have to come up with ideas in my sketchbook on what I could end up doing. So far the idea I have right now is a paranormal research center than is looking as paranormal activity from all the deaths that have occurred. I would also be thinking of doing this as Ireland has a very famous name for folklore with all the wonderful myths and legends they have. Even a few UFO sightings have been seen during the night but this is most likely just aircraft flying by.

I have only just begun this new project and have not decided what the final outcome will be, but will blog later on with what I will eventually do, so make sure you keep looking to see when it will be up.

Bingo Pics

Pictures from our time at the bingo.

Assignment 3A and B

For our third assignment this semester we were to continue reading through the module handbook where we were to choose a location to go to to observe people in the place we went to on their behaviours and attitudes. we were also to do this in groups so that we could discuss what we all thought and compare our findings. The place that we decided to go was the Mecca Bingo in the town center.

I will admit that I was a bit nervous about going at first as normally you associate this sort of activity for women as this is who its target audience is aimed at in advertising, but when we got there I saw that plenty of men were heading in on their own. When we went inside at the reception we all had to register and become members to actually play and thought that all of us that were becoming new members were sort of pushed aside while those who were already members were getting the main priority of getting in first. I noticed that once some of us had got our membership cards that the guy at the desk was looking at every ones cards then calling them by their first name. This was probably to create a friendly sense of atmosphere. Another thing I thought was peculiar was when one of the regular members came up to the desk and asked for some glasses and the man brought out a whole box of specs to let her choose from.

Once we had bought our numbers for the first few games ( I just followed what everyone else was getting and got the 80p game and got a dabber to mark the numbers with) we walked through a small gambling area filled with puggy machines then into the main hall which was pretty silent at first because everyone was listening to the number caller calling out the numbers.

Now we were all seated and had to wait for the game to begin and just before it started the caller gave out a welcoming hello then announced which game was to be played next. I was very nervous at this point as I had no idea of how to play bingo and did not realize that the number were all in columns so after six or seven numbers had been called I was actually given tips on how it was done. Still this was not enough as because I was so far behind with the rules compared to everyone else and when I got a line I called out 'house' then another 'HOUSE' just to be heard but sadly my winnings were taken from me as I had already missed not only the first line but the second and everyone was waiting for the whole set of numbers to be filled in.

It was at this point I realized I was never going to win at this game.

Once we had finished this game we all either got a drink or something to eat, me being on the irn bru as I had the car with me. We then had to wait what felt like a long time as the girls had bought another few rounds to play, I think this was another six games they had left.

I think at this point because me and some of the other guys had not bought anything for the next games we were getting a little boards but those who did buy them were getting well into the spirit of things, especially when Karen won her two games and everyone screamed with excitement. Then it was time for us to go and wait till the next day to discuss what we had all noted.

Most of the things we talked about in our discussion were more or less the same. What we all talked about was that there was a varied age range in the bingo hall. Not the stereotyped retired cranky old women who's life lives, breathes and eat bingo but their were young, middle aged and elderly men and women their either on their own to pass the time and have a bit of fun or in a pair or small group to spend time with friends and family members.

There was a very tense atmosphere with a lot of concentration on the numbers, everyone hoping to win ready to shout out 'HOUSE', everyone was silent, but when someone did call it out suddenly the room was full of talk. Most people seemed to be of working class and came to the bingo to also let off some steam and relax a bit and win some money for a bit of fun.

There was a women who sat at a table next to us who was paying the game a reading a magazine at the same time. Something that we all couldn't believe because we all had to concentrate so hard and she was doing with such ease.

Everyone was dressed in casual clothes as well such as jean, jogger, t-shirts and shirts, nothing fancy. The staff all wore their matching uniforms to it was easy to identify who they were, even if some of them didn't know their on name or the fact they had a name badge after a very funny incident.

Someone had mentioned that the whole experience of being at the bingo made them feel like they were at a caravan holiday park, most likely due to the atmosphere and the look of the bingo hall, which was pretty bright and colourful. Someone else had also mentioned that they thought even in the bingo the whole place was aimed at women, this bright attractive colours, the posters on the walls, even in the men's toilets they used more advertising aimed at women. This is probably why bingo is so stereotyped.

The hall was a bit spaced out, not a lot of people sat near anyone, probably to get some peace to play, and we noticed that when the advertise it to be a place were you have fun socializing with your friends we saw that no one was really speaking to each other, but maybe people prefer to do this in their own way.

We all got very confused as no of us had any idea of what game was currently being played at that time, as the speakers were talking very fast. We also noticed that the rules weren't explained at all which is quite difficult if you are someone playing for the first time like all of us were. Even in the pack we all received there was no information on the rules. I think they should do something to improve upon this.

I think that the behavior of people is kept to a strict guideline, where you need to keep focus, quiet and ignore others around you. I would say this could be uncomfortable for someone like me but when observing others, well they must like it and it appeared that there would be no other way to play the game, as I think this could ruin the experience of the game.

All in all I thought it was not too bad a night. I am not too sure if I would go back personally, but if I did, it would be in a group about the size we went in last night as I wouldn't go back if it were me and a couple of friends. I would however recommend others going but not during a week night, as when I walked past thing bingo on Saturday night I saw that it was a lot more busy than the night we all went. What advise I would give them would be to learn the rules before hand, and do not have any alcoholic drink before hand as they would need to keep their brains about them.

Inglourious Basterds Poster

Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France...........

For this blog I will be quickly going over a poster I found made by a fan of the film Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino. First of all what a name, wish mine was as good as that. Second I have seen this film and think it was one of the best films of 2009, I went to see it on the opening night at the cinema and bought it the day it came out as I loved it so much.

The plot of the film takes place in an alternative version of World War II in Nazi occupied France, where a team of American Jews led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) are to go behind enemy lines and kill as many Nazi's as the can, with some quite humorous and sickening scenes, but all in cause to entertain the audience.

This poster is very different from the designs made for the actual promotion of the film where each has the members of the cast in the usual tacky poses in their costumes for the film. This poster however has not used photography like films posters usually tend to use but uses vector images with a texture. This one is also centred around a very pivotal and the most exciting scene in the film where the Bastereds are meeting up with a double agent and one of them blows their cover by a very simple mistake where he says three glasses with his fingers but does this by using the way Brits and Americans would say this where the Germans use another version of this.

I think this is a really good, simple and very affective poster and is one of the best I have scene. It makes people who have not seen the film think about it and want to see it whereas people who have already scene it think it is very clever and think that it goes very well with the film.

T in the Park 2010

Its that time of the year again where people were booking their T in the Park tickets last Friday, getting up early to book it on the net or by phone, queuing up outside Groucho's all day and night just for one ticket. It is crazy what people will do for a ticket and also quite funny.

The line-up for this years event is sounding really good. Kasabian, Madness, Muse, Florence and the Machine are to name but a few and should out do last years festival, which would be pretty hard to top. I am glad to say I was not one of the people getting up early or queuing outside places selling tickets but had already bought my ticket just after the last T in the Park, so I am glad to say I am already well prepared. I have even bought a new tent with more room and space to store mu stuff and move about in.

What is so good about not only T in the Park but any music festival is the atmosphere and the people you go with. Everyone is there for the music and to just simply have an experience we will never forget by obviously seeing bands and musicians we love but to meet new people and have fun with your friends, and YES even the camping is quite fun. As long as you don't camp next to any of the toilets, to which thankfully I have yet again booked a camping site just a few minutes away where I can get a proper breakfast and even walk to the local swimming pool and have a swim and shower and feel all nice and refreshed for the day to come. I can even use the toilet without having to hold my breath or have to pay for it and actually has a proper flushing system, which we are ever so grateful for.

Hopefully this years weather is as good as last year, apart from the few hours of rain we had on the Sunday the weather was brilliant and is where I got most of my tan for the entire summer. It makes the experience as a whole more enjoyable and you can just let loose.

In the actual arena I will mainly be eating at the healthy T as this place had really good food at a fair price. One thing my girlfriend said she will never forget was when we first walked through this food area and I saw a stall selling Arbroath smokies and I went crazy as I had been craving one for months, she thought this was very amusing.

The two main things I am so glad about this year are that both Razor Light and Snow Patrol are not playing, as I was made to go and see them and just thought they were some of the worst things that I have ever seen. Sometimes they forgot the words and were mumbling through half of their songs. Both groups were just too full of themselves and seemed really arrogant. Was RUBBISH. Admittedly am not too keen on Jay-Z so will avoid that at all costs.

The highlight of the whole weekend for me last year was going to see Seasick Steve. His music I just absolutely love and would go and see him over and over again. He was that good that when he came down to the crowd to pick out a girl to take up on stage and sing to I was offering my girlfriend as a sacrifice, but sadly we were not close enough, but just thought the way he played and acted with the crowd was what made the whole weekend worth it. This was the only time during the whole weekend where you actually forgot about anything else in the world and just felt free and alive more than you ever have before.

Even the pricing is reasonably fair. It has gone up in price so much over the years but when you think about it you pay between £170 - £200 to see as many musicians as you want over the three day period where when you go to see someone like Lady Ga Ga who cost £150 for a few hours on the one night. And she played at last years T and wasn't even that good so was well not worth all that money but is good for T in the Park where you can just walk away to go and see someone else.

So now I really can't wait for T in the Park 2010.