BRIEF - Participate

Brief: Create posters that encourage political participation through both conventional means (voting, petitioning, debating etc.) and less conventional means (protesting, activism etc.). The posters should not place emphasis on either conventional or unconventional means of participation, but rather should motivate the audience to simply want to get involved.

Background: In the run up to the election, it is increasingly easy for young people to feel disenfranchised by the endless spew of repetitive political lexis. This is particularly so when one considers that much of the rhetoric will ultimately amount to nothing. Despite this, there is a desire by young people to be more involved in politics. This brief is about tapping into that desire.

Considerations: While it is important to break away from the redundant imagery and lexis typically associated with political campaigns, a fine balancing act must be undertaken as such imagery and lexis can be used as a means of relating the subject matter. Furthermore by clearly satirising such imagery and lexis, the general sentiment towards mainstream politics is expressed.

Mandatory Requirements: At least 2 posters communicating politically based messages encouraging youth involvement in politics.

Target Audience: University students of all backgrounds. Particularly those with some political knowledge who are disenfranchised with the current political system.

Tone of Voice: Firm and somewhat indignant, however with a satirical edge that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Deliverables: At least wo posters, print or web based (mocked up). Supporting developmental material.

The aim of this brief is to encourage political participation. Whether this be through voting or other means is irrelevant, the point is that people do something.

The target audience for this brief is younger audiences over 18. This age category has the lowest percentage of voter turnout, and yet has the most to lose/gain through the implementation of political policy. It is therefore important that these younger people get more engaged with political discourse and ensure that their voices are heard. 

voter participation by categories in 2010 :

https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/2613/How-Britain-Voted-in

ARTICLE ABOUT LOW US PARTICIPATION
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/05/midterms-youth-vote-drops-republicans-democrats

UK VOTER APATHY
http://survation.com/apathy-in-the-uk-understanding-the-attitudes-of-non-voters/


MADE UP WORDS FOR ONE POSTER OUTCOME:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/robinedds/17-made-up-words-all-twentysomethings-need-to-start-using#.bggD5Dn2d

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Made_up_Words

good way of combining colour and text:

specific colours though?


here are some of the developmental designs:

Evaluation -

The main shortfall of this brief has been that it was not implemented properly. It would have been good to see the posters up around the university, as this would have allowed for a better understanding of their efficacy. While they were originally going to be displayed around election time, it became clear that knowledge about election time was already fairly high, and that the real issue was a lack of political motivation the rest of the time.

Conceptually, the posters had a lot of potential, particularly the 'more than 5 sides to politics' one, however unfortunately their execution was too slow and motivation was lost to continue them given the burden other briefs were placing on my time.

A lack of proper planning was one problem with this brief, while I sought to communicate cleverly considered messages to inspire political action, much of the development of these messages occurred on indesign and in my head, rather than in a sketchbook where the could be refined before application. If I were to do the brief in future, that would be the main thing I would change.

A further action I would do in future would be to extend the brief to include more material. While part of the nature of the message was that the audience are supposed to decide their own actions, it would be good to provide them with a starting point for those actions, in the form of a website, app, or publication. Such an outcome would also allow for a platform where actions could be shared and compared to one another. 

BRIEF - End of Year Show

Brief: Create a set of promotion and wayfinding that can be applied to the leeds college of art end of year show. Communicate the ethos of the college, particularly the extent to which the college functions as a whole. Design the outcomes to be placed on poster towers as well as in art/design oriented settings.

Background: End of year show branding is often relatively muted, this can be a good or bad thing. The work exhibited comes from all courses, and the exhibition is a representation of the college as a whole. This applies to the promotion for the show as well, as the college does not often take an actively outward role in promoting itself.

Considerations: Balancing professionalism with enthusiasm for the work is a key part of the brief. Furthermore, the imagery has to stand out among the multitude of posters and other printed ephemera that are scattered around leeds. Generating the right imagery to compete with those ephemera while at the same time appearing professional is important.

Mandatory Requirements: 1 A-format poster. 1 postcard invitation. 1 e-vite mockup. wayfinding examples.

Target Audience: Prospective students, professionals within the creative industry, current students at LCA, and people in Leeds who may enjoy the show.

Tone of Voice: professional and unafraid to show work.

Deliverables: 1 A-format poster. 1 postcard invitation. 1 e-vite mockup. wayfinding examples. potential gifs any supporting ephemera boards

After analysis of the briefs, it seemed prudent to look at previous themes for the end of year show/end of year shows of other universities.

Having considered the main attributes we seek to show about the college, we ascertained that the key ones were:

Variety in the types of people that are students.

Collaborative potential of different courses.

Our year are the new hot stuff, fresh off the press.

For that reason, and the varied visual potential of the theme, we went with the idea of presenting the college as a mad lab, where new elements are being created every year.

My task within this has been to create the wayfinding symbols that represent the courses. These can be used in the wayfinding but also in other elements of the proposal.

The symbols for the courses will be constructed and presented as elements are within the periodic table. This will allow for consistency across the theme but also adheres to the overall concept that the graduating students are fresh new elements on the scene.

Elements appear in the periodic table as seen below:

Colour codings refer to what type of element: noble gasses etc...

This image better illustrates the layout of individual squares:

Courses to create symbols for are:

Animation
Art & Design
Creative Advertising
Fashion
Fine Art
Graphic Design
Illustration
Photography
Printed Textiles
Visual Communication

Foundation Diploma
Extended Diploma
Access to Higher Education


gif:

Evaluation :

While the concept for this brief was strong, its application was poor. The possibilities created through the use of the LCA logo shape as an integral part of the imagery would have enforced the brand well, while at the same time creating a visually engaging metaphor for the collaborative work that occurs at the uni. The main reason for this poor application was the lateness with which it was carried out, and the fact that it was not going to submitted for the marketing board but rather used as a portfolio piece for jordan, joe, and I. However at the last minute we decided to complete it for them, hence the rushed and unrefined aesthetic.

I think the main reason it was not picked was that the imagery was too strong for the sort of refined look the college usually presents itself through. In the future I would have refined the imagery more, so that the conept is still evident, but does not overwhelm.