The Size

It is stated on the brief that i am to produce a card range in one of the suggested sizes:

159mm x 159mm
121mm x 184mm
137mm x 159mm
110mm x 210mm 

Now that i have my imagery and text all set out, i need to find the right size. You may have noticed that all along i have been working to the size of 159x159mm, this is because it's a square and the simplest to work on.

Here are what my designs would look like on the other sizes;

121x184mm:

The cover works well with this image layout. I have extended the text further from the image towards the top of the page to fill the space, but i still feel that this layout works.

This middle spread doesn't look very attractive; the fourth line appears rather untidy on the inside cover page definitely due to the height.

137x159mm:

This cover works well. It is very similar t the 159x159mm example, but comes across more quaint due to the lack of width which is very nice in some ways, but also restricting in terms of art work.

I think that in this open spread, the inside cover appears more easy on the eyes because it only shows three lines at the bottom instead of the four. Therefore these don't com across as garishly on this example in contrast to the 121x184 example as the longer card shows all four lines. However, it does come across a little messy when compared to the 159x159 example because of the writing used for the division between the correspondence and the address. Above it sits right on the boarder of the card, whereas on the 159mm it sits well into the page suggesting a full postcard theme.

110x210mm:

This card size would only suit a portrait stance due to the chimney and the burner that i have. They simply wouldn't work as images in this format.

Again, this spread doesn't work with the inside cover image. It appears too messy, especially with the double line at the bottom. It doesn't work.

The rear, however, looks very professional, something that i have found with every example so far. 

159x159mm:

The cover fills the space completely which is what i am after.

The same goes for the inside spread filling the space. The inside cover image sits well and works.

The rear of the card again looks professional which is of course very helpful.

Over all, i think think that it's wise for me to go with the 159x159mm card sizing simply because everything fits and comes across professional. 

The Idea and Reasoning Behind It

I have mentioned that i wanted to play on the theme of 'I Miss You' and some of the more niche topics like 'Hugs', purely because they offer potential for expansion and trying something that hasn't been done in the market before. From this i have said that i would like to surround my greetings cards with the theme of 'I Wish You Were Here', and to me this is a personal topic and something that keeps cropping up. It came about because i live apart from my girlfriend and other than 'i miss you', the only topic seems to be 'I wish you were here' that seems relevant.
Not only is this a personal topic to me, but it can be used in a variety of contexts such as someone being ill, some sort of forced separation whether that be through the military/ for example, post break up perhaps, or that your child is about to embark on a journey for example university or a gap year abroad etc.
I am therefore proposing to design a series of 4 greetings cards all with the theme of wishing that a loved one was with you, or by your side. To me this whips up warm, homely thoughts; a fire place or a rocking chair for example.

'I Wish You Were Here' (the first things that pop into my head):

• Warmth
• Homeliness
• chimney / Roof Line
• Fireplace / Wood Burner
• Living Room
• Television
• Sofa
• Rocking Chair
• tandem

To get the ball rolling on my initial ideas generation i have come across some old Habitat brochures from the mid 90s, which offer a wealth of furniture and home imagery. From this i plan on taking forward and developing my drawings into final outcomes. Along the way, no doubt that i will twist and turn as my ideas develop, i am hoping to gain more enthusiasm, and ideas from this process.

Here are the sizes that i am to work to:

110 x 210mm

121 x 184mm

157 x 159mm

159 x 159mm

Statement of Intent

Statement of Intent 2012-2013

Critical reflection on your work and development is a vital part of professional practice. This Statement of Intent is intended to help you to articulate your current position and future intentions in ways that can assist you, and your tutors, to achieve your goals.

Name: Nathan Jeffries

Tutor/s: Mel Brown / Phil Trenerry

Module: AD32

Date: 26/11/2012

Project Titles:

·       Design and illustrate a range of greetings cards for UK Greetings.

·       Create a series of original cover illustrations for Little White Lies magazine.

Rationale:

The first project is for me to design a series featuring 4 greetings cards with my own range name and logo along with my chosen theme for the UK Greetings Company. This is relevant to me as a freelance illustrator because it will allow me to explore the avenue of greetings cards and prepare me for any future work I have in this field as a lot of freelance artists take up this genre of work.
The audience associated with this line of work are not only the company I am designing for, but also the buyers of the card range.

The second project allows me to create a series of front cover illustrations for ‘Little White Lies’ film magazine. I regard this as something that a freelance illustrator should be able to do and therefore include within the portfolio.
I have adapted the given brief that is no longer live to suit my own interests. So that it doesn’t appear outdated in my portfolio, I will aim to produce not only one cover but three, each featuring a character from the same film to mark an anniversary, for example Spinal Tap which is coming up to it’s 30^th anniversary. This will give a ‘limited edition’ theme. Each cover will include the films title, and an illustrated portrait of the main characters – simple, iconic and unique. This will give me a series of three front cover illustrations. My audience shall be film enthusiasts that read the magazine.

Aims:

I am aiming to achieve a series of new portfolio pieces showing diversity within my current working portfolio opening up a new potential client base.
For the first project I intend to produce 4 different greeting’s card designs within one series for UK Greetings. I will have to produce 4 final illustrations around my own theme that will grace greetings cards to the format and specifications of either 159mm x 159mm, 121mm x 184mm, 137mm x 159mm, 110mm x 210mm as suggested along with a 3mm bleed to all of my artwork. I will need to think about front-page designs, designs for the inside of the cards (this may or may not include an insert), a range name and logo to be printed on the back page and the envelope colour and/or design.

The second project that I intend to work on is a series of three magazine covers for Little White Lies. The final outcomes will be one image on each cover in the format and template provided by Little White Lies featuring their logo. I have adapted the brief that is now out of date, and have chosen to focus on the film This Is Spinal Tap which is coming up to it’s anniversary, allowing me to produce a portrait of the main characters as the defining focal point on each cover. I will consider the visual setting, historical/cultural background and the key visual images from the films when approaching my choices. I will still stick to the old brief in terms of working processes as it has said that I can work in any medium I choose and I will have creative freedom for the background of the illustration. I will include the title of the film in my own typographic style, (This could be based on an existing typeface or be an original piece of hand lettering. The typography can sit on top of the illustration or be fully integrated into the composition). Finally I will need to incorporate the Little White Lies masthead into the composition, which is on the template provided.

Timetable of Objectives:

Week 18 (26^th – 30^th Nov)

·       Start to research the market based around greetings cards and relevant themes they hold and depict relating to their imagery/art direction.

·       Start to draw up rough sketches of possible designs.

·       Look at previous Little White Lies magazine covers and draw upon what themes they pick out for each cover in terms of illustration.

·       Look at each of my 3 films chosen and research.

Week 19 (3^rd – 7^th Dec)

·       Start to work through and develop initial designs.

·       Having picked 3 films to illustrate the main character from, start to get initial drawings rolling for each.

Week 20 (10^th – 14^th Dec)

Specific Targets:

·       Finalise four final images from developed drawing outcomes to use on the cards.

·       Start to look at branding (name and logo), along with envelope and inside messages.

·       Develop drawings regarding the main characters further.

·       Start to sketch ideas for background and typographical aspects for each one.

Week 21 (17^th – 21^st December)

Specific Targets:

·       Finalise the greetings cards and produce mock-ups.

·       Start to think about final illustrations for the main characters.

·       Continue to develop backgrounds and type.

Week 22, 23 (Christmas Break)

Specific Targets:

·       Work on presentation of the greetings cards.

Week 24 (7^th – 11^th Jan)

Specific Targets:

9^th January: Deadline One & Group Presentations

·       Pull together my outcomes for the magazine covers and develop where necessary.

Week 25 (14^th – 18^th Jan)

Specific Targets:

·       Develop magazine covers where necessary.

Week 26 (21^st – 25^th Jan)

Specific Targets:

·       Develop magazine covers where necessary.

Week 27 (28^th 30^th Jan)

Specific Targets:

30^th Jan: Deadline Two (summative deadline