Brand new everything!

So there has been work done. Lots of it. New cv cover from my cv booklet. Now with a spin being more book like in design and format. A front cover, back cover and a little blurb. And there is a new logo! Didn't take me long, but I do consider branding one of my more stronger elements. So without further ado, let me show you what I've got.

Brand new logo! The classic lightbulb. 

I'll let you know how the hardback sales come out. 

While there is always a serious element to design it should be noted that really, ANYONE can be serious when they try. But being funny and still interesting is (personally) tricky. I think it shows a certain level of humanity in work and not being so plain faced. Hopefully I will be able to explore the humour a little more later down the line. But right now I am getting the feeling that with a less cluttered cover and a personal logo I have a higher chance of at least gaining some attention. 

She's a killer cleaner! Gunpowder, gelatine! Dynamite with a laser beam!

Well there are things that are going to be happening soon. First of all there is a massive amount of working going into my latest CV. I've been doing a lot of thinking and I'm starting to think that I could do with something a little more streamlined. The booklet was a fun way to break into new ground. But it lacked a focus and a means of getting to the point. So, within the next few days I'll be working furiously on a new form of CV. My main target for it so far is an inforgraphic style presentation. Something that shows both my skills in design practically as well as having some nice hard fact to back it up.

This also means that there will be a new logo in the mix, that does mean there could be a chance that I may change the name "Daykin Design" though I do have one or two design solutions that. Keeping that in mind though the blog title will most likely stay the same for the time being. I will need to see if blogger will allow for changes in your own personal blog title.

So, while I've been working on that, I've also been having a little fun with some designs for someone's cleaning business that they needed work for. I've had a pretty large free range with the name, visual image and the whole kit and kaboodle for it. It was more of a process that focused on coming up with something more unique that didn't feel too generic. I don't see why a cleaning company has to have a generic logo that does it's job. I feel that any logo should have personality behind it. A little bit of life and soul that makes you want to pick this person.

So there was much fun to be had. And yes the title was purely because Killer Queen was stuck in my head over the weekend. But it's a kick ass song that got me thinking.

Guarantied to blow your mind!

I had so much fun making this one it should have been criminal. It all sparked really from the concept that I hate generic logos. I like something with personality and a perhaps a little bit of daring silliness. The original title (and most probably the one that will be used. Ah well) was Shining cleaners. And of course me being me I went off on the ramble with "The Shining". That some how mutated in killer cleaners. The idea that something is "Killer" being slang for "Awesome" though do you young and hip things still say that today? If not can we bring it back? Anyway. We blended murder and cleaning. It's silly fun with no real idea if it will ever make it. But I thought I would throw it out there because I really did have too much fun making it. 

Anyway, that's my blog post for the day. If anyone needs me I'll be over here listening to Brain May being the god of Guitar Solos.

Bodily fluids...

You get the title you win a glorious no prize!

So here is a nice little something I created for a friend. I am wanting to do more along this style. Currently I am being massively influced by the work of Mr Hipp with such wondrously illustrated mock covers such as http://mrhipp.blogspot.com/2011/11/does-tintin-dream-of-electric-sheep.html They just seem to work so well. Sure hope Tintin finds that unicorn...maybe he should try asking Adama. (Oh there I go more hidden jokes within jokes.)

So here's my contribution to the cross over cover/poster world.

I think this is probably one of the most enjoyable posters I have made in a long time. Perhaps up there with the Cabespace one. Perhaps it's because all the elements just work somehow. I still think the Saul Bass-ness in my is hanging around for a little longer than predicted, but again, somehow - it all seems to work. There is a wonderful simplicity in the look to it. Stark colours reflecting the shot of scene, bold text with the primary words filled in leaving the text to a much thinner stroke. It helps give a sense of foreground and background with elements filled in being closer to elements behind them on the landscape.


While not the same scale and complexity I would love to perhaps one day make something in the same vein as Mr Hipp, being a fan of the Tintin books as well makes it something even more I want to attempt. Cross overs are always fun for their madcap silly nature and I think it would be a nice project to work on that would show just how crazy/creative I can be.

We get the point, you like swords.

I apologise for the pun. But it had to be done.

Still, what else have I been up to? Well this for one!

West Fife Fencing need a new logo for branding and shirts and what not. I'm just chucking out ideas at full speed, see what ones they like and tally ho off we go and use that one.  The first three though on the left at the top where their own ideas while the others where more what I had in mind. 

The primary colours of the club are red and black so I've tried to keep to that using thinner line work to stop it looking a little too bloated. Red and black works some times, personally I feel that if that if you over use one in contrast to the other it sort of looks bloated and doesn't have a nice sense of balance. 

The red diamonds. Quite a sneaky one. But it's ment to be the rail bridge. I wish I could say I came up with that one, but it was part of their original concepts. Still, I like it. It works nicely. Right now I am seeing how much I can play/distort the original elements used here and see what I come out with in the end. 

The main part is the text, how far can I tinker with that before it becomes too illegible. Well thats what I shall find out. You'll see in the next post! 

TTFN 

Drip - 3d mockups.

Sp, I said I would have some of them lovely mock ups for you didn't I? And well lets see what we have here...

I know there are a few bits and bobs that normally sit on the front of packaging. The usual legal gubbins that hangs around there so no one gets sued. However, I'm trying to use the white...or um. Blue space to help really single out the title. It's a little harder to work with it on the smaller product. Perhaps it could be made smaller? Answers on a post card. Very little has differed from the original concept that we saw in the last post. The text is better aligned with all the other parts and perhaps the colour isn't a 100% match but it works for this preview. 

So now that I have a design I am more comfortable with working with and I feel is perhaps much stronger than it was than last time. I think I can move full steam ahead with producing visuals on a larger scale for the product. 

Drip continues.

Yikes this is a late post. But as they say time+effort over late hours = design...or something like that it's gone one am...don't judge me.

Anyway. this is one of those uber quick blog posts to reveal more astounding work! Hurrah. Basically a new layout with improved text, colouring and basically a feel that better holds the brand togeather. The thinner text was nice but I feel it wasn't holding it's own weight and there was very little to play around with.

I also felt that while the stark white was nice, there could be more variation in colour to breath more life into something that otherwise could be missed in a product market where white is an overly used colour. They retain the sleek elements but have more life to them.

I'm a little wary on the black as vanilla. While that is the colour of vanilla pods, unlike the plant that is the vanilla/white colour I was going for a more traditional feel in linking the colours to the scents rather than the colour of the packaging. An odd duck, but I'm picturing it as a fabricated product that could sit on shelves. I went with an off black so as to not feel like your looking into the void, but rather something with a little bit of substance, that could be completely different if it were ever in print. But hey, it's something to consider at the very least.

No doubt even more tinkering will commence soon, I can see a few little bits that need tinkering work. However a 3d mockup will be arriving very soon. I only wish I have the resources and the skills to produce a full sized version. I think I would pick the black. Just to prove to you how awesome it would look.

Until then though it's still working my way though it. Though at 2 am (by the time I finished this post) it's probably the oddest uses of the word fun I've come across in context with typography at 2 am. Man I bet Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann where like this back in the day...like a boss. Or bosses... 

Drip

So here we are - this is the concept in a more visual form. I think you people out there will find it interesting. My main concern with a project was trying to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

So - Tetra packs!

So here is the design, it's a little cruder than I had hoped. Google Sketchup is a nice free program but it sometimes lacks the power to make the more complex objects. But still this is still a good example for what I have in mind. This being, showing off the new creative brilliance that I have.

Like I said ealier. I am always focused on the environmental concerns. And packaging is a real pain for this. Mostly shampoo. It's always one that gets on my nerves, there is such a waste in packaging there that costs so much to produce, and little can be recycled. So, I looked into what would work best. BOOM! Tetra packs. Almost too perfect for the job. It's paper, it can be recycled, it's durable, perfect for storing liquids, water proof, the list goes on.

So yes, shampoo in a tetra pack. I'm not sure if it has been done before, hopefully I've started something interesting. Naturally there are more details to add. I've not too keen on the "Tangy lemon" text. It's a little off but it works for simply telling you what it is. I'm looking into the other details that would be on the container. I am looking to make them look/feel a little ultra modern/minimalist to really try and give the "Wham" feel for a design like this. 

I'm also thinking of exploring outside of the confines of larger bottles for just shampoo, I think something like the smaller units could be used to perhaps traveling, or maybe even liquid soaps. Who knows? With the right ideas I think the possibilities are endless really.