Project #3 Packaging

For this project we were asked to develop a packaging concept for our item-if you'll recall mine was a bird stencil. I researched and observed stencils and their packaging on the internet and at Michaels. Most had nothing really fancy about them: they were either in a plastic sheath or as is with a a piece of cardboard at the top.   So I began thinking about my design and the flaws I saw in current design of stencil packaging. 

For my target audience, the average crafter, they are a resourceful bunch. They are all about dual use of items and I wanted my packaging to reflect this. The package needs to be able to contain the stencil and protect it from damage. I wrote these thoughts in my sketch book and started sketching ideas as seen in these 2 photos. I began to examine each idea further to help me edit my ideas. I had to think about what I could feasible accomplish and which would actually protect the integrity of the stencil best. The plastic sheath seemed the easiest and most practical idea. Stencils are relatively cheap so the more "stuff" you add to it, the higher the cost to produce therefore the higher it

 will cost for the consumer. The plastic allows the consumer to see what they are buying (real size and shape) and it could be saved or tossed afterwards. Plastic has a temporary and "toss-able" connotation to it so it did not reach my goal of being reusable. 

The next idea was a folder that would have ribbon to hold down the stencil (you would slide it in and out) and it would also contain ideas for projects using the stencil. This would encourage buyers to hold onto the folder and refer to it often for its ideas. My last idea was to create a box that would have an impression of the stencil so it would hold it in place and maintain its shape. Prof. Anderson gave me the idea of using the duality of my stencil to my advantage. Since I had mentioned the reusable quality and longevity of items I would like to create, the fact that a stencil has a positive and negative image should be played upon. From there I investigated the idea of using the bottom of the box that contains the stencil impression as the negative and the stencil itself as the positive. The stencil would have a handle for pulling it out easier from its mold and if, for some reason the stencil breaks or is damaged, you can pop out the mold and use the negative of that to continue using it. And even when the mold is removed, the box can then contain other items so that after you are done using the stencil you can save the packaging and use it for something else.

So this week I will be constructing a box either out of chipboard or foam board....

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Project # 2: Branding

I read the description for this assignment and inwardly said to myself, "I know NOTHING ABOUT ADVERTISING!!!!!" We were to "develop the optimal graphic strategy for representing the object in a way that highlights its unique qualities, assets, and potential uses." So with K.I.S.S engraved in my brain, I started my brainstorming. I decided I either need to buy an actual stencil or make my own. With the given time constraints, it was best for me to buy a stencil. I went to Michael's and looked at their stencils and picked 2 that I liked. One was a chipboard cut out of a bird and the other was a boarder stencil. 

Bird Stencil

I was drawn to the bird because it reminded me of the Twitter bird. It was cute, fun, and it just spoke to me. My goal was to highlight the most important and unique aspect of a stencil: replication. I wanted to convey this idea without being too overbearing. My target audience is the average Michael's or AC Moore shopper. Since I am one of those people, I started thinking about what would draw me to buy a product if craft items had advertisements. One idea I had was taking a well know thing in pop culture, Twitter, and using that iconography to translate my vision and entice people to buy my product. I came up with this sketch:

My 1st Idea

I was going to highlight the 're' to drive home the idea of repetition, replication, and uniformity. It was a cute idea I thought, but I wanted to push it a little farther and focus on the actual stencil and manipulating that more.  My next idea was to make a graphic using the stencil

My 2nd Idea

Here I also started to think about the name of my product and I came up with idraw. I liked this name because one of the great things about a stencil is anyone can use it and the name personalizes the experience translating that idea that everyone can use it. I knew I wanted use a stencil font when I made my final product. For my next idea I used the boarder stencil to create a wallpaper motif.

My 3rd Idea

I thought it was an elegant take on a stencil but it didn't really say stencil to me. When you first look at it you wouldn't know I used a stencil but you would just thing it was wallpaper. So after my critique I decided to go with my 2nd idea. I was originally going to hand make the ad and take a picture of it and print it out but once I started doing it I didn't like the direction it was taking. It wasn't looking as crisp and clean as I wanted to so I decided to do it all in photoshop. I know a little bit about the program but am no where near an expert. It took about 7 hours playing around with it to produce the final product below.

Final Product

I used different patterned paper to show the variety a stencil can offer.  I added a drop shadow to each stencil to emphasize each individual piece. I used a bulletin board as my background because I wanted it to have a crafty, retro vibe. This was a clean simplified version of my original idea and concept. 

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Project #1: The Postcard

Our first assignment was a bit of a daunting one for me. I found it a challenge to start training my brain to think another way. We were given a very broad topic and instructed to pick an object based on it. The object we choose was to follow us the ENTIRE semester in ALL of our projects. We then needed to make a postcard that would translate the essence of our object to the receiver. Heavy stuff, so I figured I needed to choose my object wisely. My topic was "printed media" and immediately the idea of graffiti popped in my head. I don't know why, but it literally was the first thing- specifically a picture I took while in NYC a few years ago. The photo is a graffiti tribute to the legendary artist Fernando Carlo, tag name "Cope".

Harlem, NYC

My thought process to get to this inspiration image was this: All printed images start with a template or stencil---------> the stencil is always the same but the way the image is manipulated can change-----------> the stencil allows you to replicate a work quickly------------> some graffiti artists use stencils to quickly reproduce their work in the streets------------> so my project would be a piece of graffiti, using a stencil, based on my picture. I had this image in my head and I had to find a way to make it work (my first lesson to learn).

I used black card stock and colored pencils to do my postcard. I wanted to do my take on the picture I took of the graffiti. The stencil I used was my handy dandy triangle (I was pressed for time and it was the only stencil I had in my possession at the time!).  So the triangle remained the same I just manipulated how it was on the page. I was pretty happy with my work but once we had our critiques I did see its shortcomings.

Postcard Assignment

It didn't translate the essence of the object. It leaves the viewer wondering what the actual object is. My idea was too conceptual and had competing ideas. In hindsight, I totally agree. I was so stuck on my idea and making it work vs. really focusing on the translation and understanding the essence of my object.  I was thinking too abstract when I needed to be more literal. So I was forced to go back to the drawing board for the next assignment with this phrase stuck in my head, Keep It Simple Stupid............

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Blog Review

I wasn't all THAT moved by the given blogs so I did a little google searching and found this blog called Loish Blog. It is by a Dutch digital artist and animator named Lois Van Baarle. I am drawn to her vivid use of color (I happen to be a color fiend!) and her juxtaposition of real and carton caricatures. I am also stunned with what she can do on a computer! It looks as if she hand drew most of her work. Ms. Van Baarle also showcases some of her favorite works by other artists. I think she gives a great deal of variety in her blog that I aspire to give in my own. We see how I do!

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