Research

While doing my research I learnt the difference between layouts for print and layout for screen. I think that the two types of layouts are completely different, the only thing they have in common is the information columns. Screen layout tend to use columns of photos, whereas print layout use columns for text and information. On some of the print layouts that I've seen they don't use much of their space and only dedicate a small percentage of their two pages to two columns of text and may add a photo on one of the pages. Screen layout however use the majority of the page to fill with three or four columns of mainly photos/albums and maybe text. 

These are my examples of how layouts have changed over the years. My first example is clearly a very old magazine layout. Even though it's old, grids/columns were still used and there were still some form of system of organization. The images are also black and white as around that time they would not have colour print. My second example is from around the 1930's when colour print was used. I think that on my example you can sense a change of style and a completely different layout being used. The main focus would be the big image of a woman using 1/2 of the page. You can see new fonts being used and a more developed style coming from this. Columns still being used to give the information order. My third example is a more up to date/modern example by Alexey Brodovitch. I think this example tries to interpret a vintage look even though its a modern magazine. The layout of this magazine is completely unique. Alexey has given the column of text a shape that is parallel to the woman's dress in the image on the first page. I think this is very creative and effective. You get a vintage sense from the pages being black and white and also from the featured image and the style of that. Overall I think layouts have slightly developed over the years. Apart from magazines being of a better quality now, layouts are mainly the same and all have the same concept to them.

These are my examples of how important grid systems are. My examples show that it is very important to have some from of order when laying out a magazine/website. On my first example you can see the clearness of where the information is. This is important as people know where to look and the information stands out. On my second example the information on the website stands out as its all aligned and in four columns, so people know what column of information is what. If there were no grid systems magazines/websites would have no form of order/organization.

I prefer a more modern/unique layout as I think they are very creative, well thought through and clever. I think when a layout has an edge to it, it grabs more of an audience and works well as a piece.

Summer

Over the Summer I enjoyed the sun and visited my family. I went on outings to the beach. I also went out for meals to Sambucas and The Quay Taphouse in North Shields. I took my puppy out to lots of new places and went for ice cream in Whitley Bay. I also started my own freelance business called JCT Design. We started off by designing a menu design for The Quay Taphouse, then some Business Cards for a Window Cleaner, 4/5 Logo Designs and much more. I did this to gain more experience, and to build a really good portfolio when needed. At the end of the holidays I went to Flamingo Land with Priory Coaches.

I would like to complete my second year of college resulting in achieving a Extended Diploma in Graphic Design. I would then like to apply for a new Higher Education course in Graphic Design which results in a Foundation Degree in Graphic Design. Gaining more experience and qualifications in Design. 

I would really like to develop my skills on Adobe Illustrator this year because I already feel very comfortable on Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator however, I feel I lack confidence in using it and have very little knowledge of it too. 

On The Surface

This image is of a design I did for my 'On The Surface' Project. I had to create my own surface pattern. I was inspired by nature surface patterns that I found when researching. I liked the illustrative style some designers had. I then tried to create my own in that same style. I was hoping to achieve a nice nature/feminine styled surface pattern that had my own edge to it. I created this by drawing a Swallow bird filled with finer detail inside the birds body etc and then added some flowers that I had hand drawn from a image I had taken for my Still Life Studies. The thing that I think works is the repetition of the bird and how it all links together and still stands out very well. If I were to improve this further I would try a different layout for the pattern and see what works well or better. 

You're A Smoothie

These are images of a Smoothie Label design I did for a my 'You're A Smoothie' Project. I was inspired by actual current smoothie products that are of a greater quality. I was intrigued by the posh/modern style some products had. I was hoping to achieve a nice, fancy, feminine smoothie label which would be targeted at more upperclass women. I created this digitally. I created my logo by scanning a hand-made texture into the Mac and making it into the shape of a strawberry for my logo. I then found an illustration of a women which was similar to a one I had done in my experiments. I chose to use this one because it was more realistic. I then created the label using a strict colour scheme and style. I then found brushes to add on to create a more organic style.  The thing that I think works well is the feminine style that is automatically given off. This was one of my aims when creating this and I think I achieved this. If I were to try improve this further I'd try different layouts and move things on the label around to see if there is a layout that maybe looks better. 

Album Artwork

This is an image of a design I did for an Album Artwork Project. I was given the task of choosing a music artist of my own choice and design an album artwork for my chosen artist and base the whole design on their actual style. The things that inspired me were mainly things in my research into album artworks and Nicki Minaj herself. I found that she was from Trinidad. I then researched Trinidadian fashion, styles and history to try and interpret this in the artwork I'd be designing. I found that they have a lot of festivals and wear face paint etc. This is mainly what I was trying to achieve when making the piece. I made this piece digitally. I did everything on Photoshop. I found an image of Nicki, some relevant brushes, and font to put together. The things that I think works well is all the brushes blending together, the color scheme. I think this because the brushes create extra detail within the piece and the colours suit Nicki Minaj very well and the piece as a whole. I would not add anything or change anything on this piece. I am very happy with everything, the only thing that is a problem is the quality of the main image of Nicki. I would have to find a better quality image to make this better. 

Typography

This image is of a design I did for a Typography Project. I was given three words at random to base my Typography project on. The word I chose to use was 'Believe'. The things that inspired me were Disney and Peter Pan as they are all fairytales and fictional. Which children and people 'believe'. I was hoping to achieve an almost magical piece which interpreted Disney and Peter Pan very well. I created this digitally. I used Photoshop to design this piece. I found brushes that were fireworks and glitter to create the magical feel. The think that I think works well is the whole script style font and Disney Castle and Characters all blending as one. If I were to improve this further I'd take away the stars on the 'B' because I think they look tacky and maybe experiment with other Disney Characters. 

Carried Away..

This is an image of a design I did for a college project called 'Carried Away..' Which was basically all about creating your own bag design for a shop of your choice. I chose to do a bag design for the shop called Accessorize. I was inspired by my research into Accessorize and the style of store and products they have. I found that the store was very feminine and full of patterned products which were very much to do with Summer as the Summer Collection was currently in the store. When creating this design I was hoping to achieve a very detailed, unique and bright piece which was very feminine at the same time. I made this by hand drawing everything and scanning it into the Mac and using Photoshop to add colour and more pattern. I added more patterns by finding Photoshop brushes that suited the style of the piece. The thing that I find works well is the largely detailed shapes on the piece. I think this because the detail interprets the whole style of Accessorize. If I were to improve this piece I'd change the whole thing because I personally think its too busy. I'd go for a more simple design but still keeping the colour and detail in the design.