So and Sos // Primary Research

Lisa and I took a trip into town to have a look round pre-existing cake shops/ cafes and alternative eateries.  We took notice of things like packaging, menus, napkins etc while also becoming more and more interested with the interior design of the places and the lighting used.

Save the Bees // Possible Logo Idea

 After having a mini crit with Josh, he seemed to think the project was going well.  He did suggest however that the logo which I had developed and chosen was perhaps too illegible.  He suggested that the type should surround the Bee.  He also helped me with the type setting.  I am happy with this bumble bee logo.  It also make the logo more versatile as the bee in the middle could be replaced with any of the other coloured bees.  It also means that the logo will be more recognisable and easier to use.

 

I have created a repeated pattern from an earlier illustration.  This is just experimentation for the publication. 

DIY Crafts // Planning and Recapping

After some thought about the photography of our 'How to' Photographs which were shot at home, we have decided that for these particular photo's we needed to shoot them in the photography studio where we could hire out appropriate lighting etc.  

As we initially did the step by step photo's as we were actually making the crafts, it made doing step by step pictures easier.  In order to do this now, we had to recreate each step.  We also decided that it was unnecessary for some of the crafts to have a step by step, and that these crafts could be more of an idea suggestion than a 'this is how you make..."

The photo shoot went well in the end and we now have some better quality images to work with.

 

Before the shoot we had a tutorial with Brian Hindmarch which was helpful in the way that he gave us a completely different perspective on the brief along with some constructive feedback.  He got us into thinking and considering things about the design of the project in ways which we had not considered before.

The main issues which we brought up with him were concerning format.  Our original intention was for the design to be a book, but with the amount of crafts we had we felt that it was not going to be as large as we first thought.  

Brian made us consider things like words and the book being more hand crafter 'it is what it is.'  The idea of the book being more hand crafted is something we were really interested in doing from the beginning because it just seemed to make sense.  But then there are other things to consider like distribution and mass production, which we feel could be an important part.  And then there is the idea of it being more of a one-off, something that you'd find at a book fair.

Definite decisions are still to be made.

We have now moved onto the idea of a series of smaller books.  We have categorised our crafts so far and have come up with a list of different books:

Dreamcatchers
Restoration
Fabric
Obsession
Re-purposing

Other than crafts we want the books to feature interesting photography and interactive elements.  It will have a friendly colloquial language, craft how to's and craft suggestions, suggestions on how to cheer up a friend or draw a silly picture.  Thoughtful quotes concerning our disposable society.

The idea of obsession reflects the obsession with crafts, the generosity, the collection of items other people deem as rubbish, one mans treasure is anothers mans gold.

Save the Bee's // Planning

I often do all of my planning/ thinking and working out in my notebook, because my idea's flow better when writing with a pen than typing on a keyboard.  

Save the Bees // Further Research // Interesting Gardening Article

For the first time in a long time we've had a proper cold winter, and that makes getting back into your garden even more exciting. It's inspiring to discover what has survived, and to see the noses of the plants pushing through the ground after last week's warm weather. It even seems to have affected the birdsong, which sounds tremendous and clear this year - it's as though the birds have just woken up, too.

In spring our gardens are undergoing a metamorphosis from gloomy-looking, lifeless patches into budding, growing areas full of activity and promise. The rosemary and snowdrops in my garden already look exquisite. When the world is crashing financially and the news is so negative, it's wonderful to witness something so beautiful. It's the perfect time to breathe in the invigorating scent of spring, and get a bit of earth under your fingernails.
I'm itching to start gardening again, but because there are more frosts to come I know I must be cautious. Luckily I can start planting now under cover. I'll start sowing my vegetables this weekend in my greenhouse; the light level is fantastic at the moment and germination will happen so quickly - if you grow your seeds on a windowsill in a seed tray, by next week you'll be transferring them to a pot.

With the emphasis very much on self-sufficiency this year, growing from seed can be a very economical and satisfying way to stock both your garden and your cupboards. I remember the pleasure of watching a tiny seed grow into a handsome plant as a young child. It still thrills me. In my herb nursery, where I grow hundreds of thousands of plants, I never cease to become excited by walking through the glasshouse in early spring and seeing tiny seedlings emerging.

It's really very easy to grow your own, whether you have a large garden, an allotment, a tiny courtyard or a windowsill. Prepare the ground first - clear the weeds and winter debris, fork it over and give a light dressing of organic fertiliser. If you're planting in containers (terracotta pots, old watering cans, sinks, a half beer barrel ... ), make sure they have drainage holes and, if it's a tall plant, use a container with a wider base to prevent it from toppling over. Choose plants that you will use and enjoy, and even if you're new to gardening, you can still be adventurous. Try a salad herb such as Red Frills Mustard from seed, sowing directly into a pot or in the prepared ground (but only if it's warm enough to sit on). Sow now, and by summer you will have your own cut-and-come-again crop that will keep on growing as you harvest. These mustard leaves have a warm, peppery taste and can transform a salad, a sandwich and a stir fry. You will never want to buy a bag of leaves from the supermarket again.

Even if you only put in a little effort into gardening, nature will double it. I had no formal training, and now I have my own nurseries. Even with a window box you can grow a cut-and-collect salad to transform your lunches.

Growing your own plants connects you with other people. When you have grown too much produce, you have to share it. And it's so wonderful and old-fashioned to look over the fence and chat about gardening. I remember when my husband and I first moved to our derelict cottage; we were living in a mobile home while we did up the house and an elderly vet who lived nearby heard I liked to grow herbs and brought round some meadow-sweet vinegar he had made. It was so wonderful, but typical of gardeners. I have never met a selfish gardener.
Many more plants than you would ever believe are edible - often the flowers, too - and having an edible garden doesn't mean you have to compromise on aesthetics. Your garden can look beautiful, yet still give you a tasty selection. Make sure you position it as close to the kitchen as possible, though; the importance of this is never clearer than when it is raining.
Spring is such an exciting time in the garden - plan it, sow it, plant it now, and by summer an abundant harvest will be your reward.

taken from:  http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/mar/05/spring-gardening-advice

Save the Bee's // Further Poster Experimentation

After receiving feedback I now understand that this typeface is too hard to read.  Especially considering the purpose of the design being a poster.  The typeface may still be suitable for the publication.

I am much happier with the layout of this poster design.  These poster designs are better than the initial designs as they are more informative.

Save the Bee's

Type Experimentation

Type, unfortunately is not my strongest point.  I feel that for the project (and after speaking with peers) the design of the campaign would suit a more hand - rendered typeface.  This is because of the playful nature of the illustrations.  An ordinary san-serif font does not seem to do the designs justice.

 Postcards

(I have decided to call them postcards rather than flyers as flyers are so much more disposable than postcards.  The idea of a post card is more thoughtful and something which people are more likely to keep, for example pinning it on the fridge in the kitchen rather than people often put flyers straight in the bin. 

This simple design could be posted out to people to invite them to a campaign.  As it features the logo, it should tie in well with the other products from the brief. 

Save the Bee's // Post card and further logo development

This is a developed version of the logo.  The 'Sow Some' is now type set along a straight line rather than a curved one.  It looks more uniform and is now more legible than previously.

Save the Bee's // Developing Illustrations