Design Event 2010

Today my friends and I, we have visited a design event that was held in Newcastle. The event consisted of several exhibitions of modern art and graphic design samples. First place that we have attended was Newcastle Art Centre.  It was a graphic design exhibition there. Pictures were divided into different sectors.

Here you can find few of them that I liked the most:

Also there was a part of the exhibition and a special activity on the second floor of the Newcastle Art Centre.  There was a table covered with paper plates and a certain number of colorful markers. People were encouraged to create their own design of a paper plate. Unfortunately I had no time for that activity as my friends were waiting for me outside, but I have noticed a lot of nice plate designs there.

Next was Electric Ship gallery (shop).

I was amazed hoe this shop managed to be both: shop and gallery at the same time. First room of the shop was dedicated to the clothes and goods for sale; second room was full of paintings. Paintings were everywhere: on the walls, in the stacks in the middle of the room, behind the walls. I was very impressed by the author’s style. The main accent was made on hands. Those hands were a bit disproportionate however they looked suitable for the bodies that were depicted on the images. The line was so true and tender.  As for me those pictures were full of some kind of Indians tribal mystery but with a modern urban sense.

Afterwards we had a launch at the Stateside café. I have never been there before. The style was made as if it was a real American diner. The funny thing happened with me there. As usual I have ordered a medium cooked stake. In 15 minutes waiter have brought it to me. It was very dry and I couldn’t even cut it. I have tried to chew it and I didn’t succeeded. It was just overcooked. So I explained to the waiter that stake wasn’t cooked according to my order, that it was dry. The waiter apologized and promised to bring another one medium cooked. He did like he said. Ten minutes later another stake was on my plate. It was juicy and fresh… however it was probably too juicy and too fresh. ). Now it was undercooked and I have struggled with chewing it as well. It was funny.

Here you can find a picture of the second stake:

The last exhibition we have attended today was at Northern Stage and its name was Northernness: Set of Drawers”. Main theme of the paintings was Northern part of U.K.  There were few artists from Newcastle city.

I really liked one painting. It was a depiction of the tree made in pencil and ink. Its branches were covered with sneakers shoes. There was a “Converse” logo on one of the main ones. This brand is one of my favorite brands. Probably that small thing made a main impact on me.

Here you can browse some pictures from the exhibition: 

Jif Lemon creative process

Me and my team partner LA we just finished the last creative exercise. We did associations, Thinking hats and the last one was "Ping-Pong" exercise. Few ideas were created out of it but they are not that good as we wish them to be. They are pretty standard.  For example: Jif Lemon as a cartoon character dressed in different national costumes. It  wears traditional suits of different nationalities and it is eating dancing, or even drinking in the style that suits to this or that culture. By this idea we are trying to say that Jif could be used for cooking a wide range of dishes of different nationalities. Also we thought to attach short and useful  recipes to the Jif Lemon bottles. Those recipes would be gathered from different parts of the world and they all would use lemon juice.

Struggling with the brief

The brief appeared to be even more complicated and challenging as I thought before. My team partner L.A. and me, we are currently struggling with an idea generating process. All the ideas that we came up with appeared to be rubbish. They are not creative and we are unsatisfied with ourselves. In addition our tutor Neil said that he expected better brief solving executions from us. Also he said that this probably one of the projects that is going to be in our portfolio. Now I don’t even know what to do as it is only one day left.

Jif Lemon Brief

Client: Jif Lemon

The proposition: Increase sales between March and January/to push Jif out of season of Pancake Day.

Target audience: Housewives and young people.

Media: Any kind of media.

Mandatories: Jif Lemon logo, brand colors.

Today we have got a new brief. I didn’t know this product and brand before. It means that module would be pretty challenging task and it will need a huge research to be done. As understood this brand makes the most sales on a Pancake Day holiday. It is very traditional product with a long history of brand-to-consumer relationship.

First thing I am going to do is to ask my classmates and tutors all the information they now that is related to brand. It would be a primary research. Also I will buy the product to study it carefully (logo, packaging, taste etc.).

Jif Lemon

So the first project has come. Brand's name is Jif Lemon. This is a concentrated lemon juice in a yellow plastic bottle that has a shape of real lemon.

BRIEF:

Jiff lemons are plastic lemons containing real lemon juice. Their sails peak at around Pancake Day.

Our task is to make people aware of Jiff at other times of year as well. We should create a campaign that uses traditional print media as its basis, but then extends across at least 2 other forms of non traditional media.

This task is a bit complicated for me and for my team partner LA as we are not used to such kind of spice. Another thing is that Jif Lemon is very traditional product in U.K. It was used as a Pancake spicing for ages and know we have to break this stereotype.

Second Year

So this is it. My second year of study just have began. I am a little bit worrying as it is the final year of my Foundation Degree at Newcastle College. As I know this year would be dedicated for creation of portfolio of works for the next stage (work placement or final bachelor year). Also we will have to get an internship in one of the local agencies. This would a part of studying process and would be marked.

Another curious thing is that we have a new tutor. His name is Neil Bestford. (It is probably cool to have word "best" in surname :)). According to the information that was given, he just came from industry. this means that he knows what is what due to the date in the creative business. I think he has a lot of useful connections as well and there will be a lot of professionals from advertising sphere visiting our college studio.

This year should be exciting and I can't wait to start a first project.