The Rear Of The Card

Part of the competition brief from UK Greetings is that i have to think about a range name and logo to be printed on the back page. So it'll need to look something along the lines of:

Range Name

Logo

My Name + Copyright

Examples of this:

This is a very standard looking, sensible card with it's message clearly given along with the publisher and its website. SImple, but perhaps not what i'm after as this doesn't really shout excitement, and i feel that it would  have to reflect the card range in some way.

This is a more to what im looking for; the colours relate along with the text and details. I will thrive on this research.

This is a very simple et recognizable design. They can get away with something this basic because of their market/ audience/ customer base. Something that perhaps one day will happen to me? Anyhow, i cannot draw too much from this at the moment, but an example it is none the less of branding.

This is nice and simple; brand with logo, and the brand website. All i would need to add is the range name.

Again, another fine example of the simplicity of a card range name, logo and details.

I am thinking that i will use one of my front page images as that would refer to the range and in the time that i have left, it seems most sensible. I dont think i will use the Coffee Table or the Wood Burner simply because i think that the Sofa and the Chimney stack are stronger images. I will create thumbnails in my book of potential outcomes:

Prior to using the stamper.

Now with the stamper in use, here are some more detailed thumbnails:

I am unsure of which one to chose in terms of layout. I think i am set on the Chimney as the logo image though.

In my opinion, i fear that if i were to place 'I Wish You Were Here...' above the Chimney stack it would become too tall and uneasy to look upon, however, placed underneath, i think it would be a bit too much text in one big chunk to take in.

I should produce the outcomes in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to get a better idea:

 Text Below...

Text Above and Below...

I think i prefer the latter after all, and with peer feedback this confirms my decision. It appears more symmetrical and pleasing to look at. 

Kitty Crowther

Kitty Crowther is a children's book illustrator but she was pointed out to me because of her naive style of image making in her furniture. For example the armchair below; It suits her intended audience and is finished to a strong quality and produced using colouring crayons.

"Kitty Crowther is the master of line but also of atmosphere. She maintains the tradition of the picture book while transforming and renewing it. In her world, the door between imagination and reality is wide open. She addresses the reader gently and personally, but with profound effect. In her deeply felt empathy with people in difficulty, she shows ways in which weakness can be turned into strength. Humanism and sympathy permeate and unify her artistry."  

The citation of the jury

Methane Studios

http://methanestudios.com/

I would rather enjoy collaborating and creating work with Methane Studios. Their image making approach is strong and cemented and therefore very recognisable. 

Methane Studios  got its start in 1998 when Mark McDevitt and Robert Lee formed a partnership to produce silk screen posters for the East Atlanta club The Echo Lounge that featured some of the best independent bands in the late 1990′s.

The roots of this partnership started in the mid 1980s at  Columbus College of Art and Design located in Columbus, Ohio.  Robert and Mark,both from small Ohio towns, majored in Illustration and bonded over bad 80′s haircuts, corndogs, good music and creating art to form a friendship that would transcend into creating award winning artwork recognized worldwide. Our status as well-known designers has led us to win awards in design competitions in How, Print magazine, and the Graphis poster annual.

In college we learned in a more traditional way  which allowed us to explore techniques that we use today. We never let our posters “look” computerized. We use the computer like a pencil or paint brush. The computer has allowed us to speed things up and to explore more options for sure, but we still belly up to the drafting table often. We draw inspiration form many artists be it musical or visual and our work tends to have a vintage influence.

Today we exist as a two man studio creating package designs, logos, and posters for clients such as Turner Broadcasting, Honda, Liberty mutual, Blue Q, Dave Matthews and many other of your favorite bands. Recently featured on CNN, you can also find our work in many books that feature designs relating to t-shirt, music packaging and of course posters. We dig David Stone Martin, Jasper Johns, Ralph Bakshi, Mort Drucker, Robert Rauschenberg, Warhol, Edward Ruscha,  Push Pin, Alex Steinweiss and countless others.   Our goal was always to tell a story, convey a message, and to make someone stop and think a little with our designs. We have a sense of humor as well and it’s important to not take ourselves so seriously all the time.

Contact:

Mark McDevitt – mark@methanestudios.com


Robert Lee – robert@methanestudios.com

Publications:

                          1000, Music Graphics: A compilation of packaging, posters, and other sound solutions

                          1000, Garment Graphics

                          Gig Posters Rock Show Art of the 21st Century

                          New Vintage Type: Classic Fonts for the Digital Age

                          New Master’s of Poster Design: Poster Design for the Next Century

                          Naive: Modernism and Folklore in Contemporary Graphic Design

                          Swag 2 Rock Posters of the 90′s & Beyond

                          Swindle Magazine No. 9

                          Coupe 2007 International Design & Image Competition

                          Print Magazine 08, 07, 06, 05, 04, 03, & 02 Regional Design annual

                          Communication Arts Magazine 2003 Design Annual

                          Step Magazine 03 & 04 Design Annual

                          How Magazine 02, 03 & 04 Self Promotion Annual

                          The Art of Modern Rock – Chronicle Books

                          Sonic Visuals for Music – Die Gelsten

                          Graphis 2004 Poster Anuual

       

Clients:

                          American Cancer Society

                          Coke

                          Cartoon Network

                          Third Man Records

                          Penguin Publishing

                          Turner Broadcasting

                          How Magazine

                          Sony

                          RCA Music Group

                          Liberty Mutual

                          Death Cab For Cutie

                          Iron & Wine

                          Sonic Youth

                          Spin Magazine

                          HBO

                          Phish

                          Bon Iver

                          LiveNation

                          Smithsonian Folkways

                          Honda

                          LA Marathon

                          Blue Q

                          University of New Mexico

                          Dave Matthews Band

                          Wilco

                          OK Productions

                        Mellow Mushroom

Interviews:

http://printsy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/interview-with-mark-mcdevitt-of-methane.html

http://www.lookslikemusic.com/methane-studios-10/

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ip1y_htIw5sC&lpg=PA124&pg=PA124#v=onepage&q&f=false

No Guts No Glory


http://www.ngngdesign.com/

I would like to continue working with No Guts No Glory, they are an ever growing presence in the South West Illustration movement, and although i don't intend this particular project to sit comfortably alongside their other collaborators, im sure it will do well in this 'handmade' scene.

True to its name, No Guts No Glory was founded amidst a global recession and with a mere 300 pounds to start up with, the project was built on a strong D.I.Y ethic, a lot of perseverance, and the most invaluable help from friends. A testament that in order to succeed, sometimes you have to take a risk!

With the sole intentions of helping aspiring artists to gain exposure in the industry and providing a physical outlet for their work, people were quick to show their support for the project. From those early days, and everything that has happened since then in fact, we have come to place our values and appreciation in people as opposed to money. 

Striving to find our own way to do things, NGNG is all about a creating a friendly and honest way of working, by trading responsibly and building open and sustainable relationships with our artists and customers alike. Our shop in Exeter, Devon, is put together out of completely recycled materials. The NGNG Shop is full of all the things that we wanted to see in Exeter - as well as our own range of organic Limited Edition T-Shirts, we stock zines, prints, greetings cards and handmade goods by artists from all over the UK. We also have an ever growing range of specialist independently published Books, Graphic Novels and Magazines!


Contact:

Nathan Blaker & Hayley Marchant


No Guts No Glory



McCoys Arcade


Fore Street


Exeter


EX4 3AN




info@ngngdesign.com

Having worked with No Guts No Glory before, I know that they take 35% of your sale price as commission, and base your product(s) on a sale or return basis which usually last around a year, so that if it’s not sold within this time scale they’ll happily return your item(s) to you.


I took the time to email NGNG:

On 27 Nov 2012, at 12:21, Nathan Jeffries wrote:

Nathan and Hayley,

Good morning. I trust that you are both well. It looks like you thoroughly enjoyed Berlin!

I'm emailing because I am looking into collaborators and clients and how people would go about working with me or seeing my portfolio as an illustrator and no longer a student. For example i am researching how you guys would go about telling me how you think a certain piece of my work would suit your shop and from then how i'd submit it to you, or arrange an appointment or pitch a new concept idea. I'd also like to know about the money side of things too if thats no trouble.

I hope you're day is swell. 

Nathan Jeffries.

The reply to this:

Hey Nath,

Hope you're well! 

Sorry for the late reply dude, we've been pretty flat out! 

Berlin was incredible - you HAVE to go if you ever get a chance, such a beautiful and creative City.

You're definitely doing the right thing by sending emails out and gathering research.

With regards to how people see your portfolio, the first thing you need to do is get one set up.  I'd really strongle advise that you set up a clean website to show your best work, and as you're wanting to shake off the 'being a student', think about what work you want to include and what you want to discard.

You can make some good portfolios on cargo collective, or using wordpress etc - I'd also advise buying your own domain name (nathanjeffriesillustration.com - or similar). Keeping a blog also helps, as a way to regularly post about work you like and things you're working on.  Sometimes, it'll do you a world of good to write about an artists you like (say Philip Harris has made a new zine for example) and if you link them and let them know, chances are they're re-promote that to their followers etc.

Once this is set up, you yourself will be able to see what direction you think you'd like to head in as you'd have selected the work that you deem as your best work.

Once you have a web portfolio, you can contact clients and talk confidently about the work that you are producing, because you can back it up with actual images to show them.  Then, the person you are emailing can get back to you with feedback on how to adapt/submit your work etc.

If you'd like to arrange an appointment with some one, just email them explaining a little about your self, your work, previous clients etc (in a  nice friendly, but well constructed way) and explain, even in a couple sentences, about what it is that you'd like to talk to them about.  That way they have enough information to get back to you with an answer.  

With regards to the money side of things, every shop you stock with will differ in their approach.  generally 35-45% seems to be a going commission rate, depending on whether the product is brought on wholesale or sale and return.

With regards to commissioned work, this also totally depends from artist to artists.  People like Philip Harris charge hourly (at £10 per hour - select a price that you think fits you) and they'll think about how long a job would take before quoting a customer.  Once the quote is given, that's the price, unless the customer want's anything else done.  If it takes longer, thats your fault for not weighing it up right, but it it takes less time...result!

If you're starting out, work cheaper for a while, so that you're more likely to get work and built a client list, but also so that you can find your feet and get used to how long jobs will take etc. Phil, for example, has become very efficient, so he can judge how long a job will take.  It might take a new illustrator longer to come up with ideas, or produce a piece that they're happy with.

With Payment, it's up to you whether you ask for payment up front, or upon completion, it'll probably vary from client to client, and had obvious pros and cons for each party.

It's up to you whether you include research and conceptual time into your fee.

I hope this helps dude?  Sorry for the late reply, wanted to give a proper reply!

Cheers,

Nath