Game Jam | General Update….

A couple of weeks ago, I took part in the University Of Portsmouth: Game Jam…. it was a week of working 9 – 5 with a lunch break in between, working in a team to build a game in a week. We had three themes to work with, Canadian  Master Chef Episodes, Water Jousting and Sickle Cell Anaemia. Safe to say, all the outcomes were pretty awesome, my team named Pickle Shark, based out concept on Master Chef and Water Jousting, you can see the out come here.

It was very fun and I learned how easy it was to create UI Graphics. (yeah… all right, I did the easy bit… the programmers and the other artist did the harder work).

Other news, I’ve applied to several design opportunities, unsure if anything will happen but trying to stay hopeful. Also, in two weeks I will be exhibiting at New Designers – Part 2, which is going to be exciting!!!!

In this break, I have been practising some lettering, which can be seen on my Instagram, among type hunting and a Ziggy Stardust Scarecrow, which became a bonkers Friday night… Who knew there was such a thing, called a ‘Scarecrow Festival’? It’s pretty insane and fun too!

That’s all for now folks

Personal Projects and more

The Graduate show, on Friday evening, was great! I spoke to many people, including the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, he was a lovely man very interested in what we do in the Graphic Design Basement Studios, also spoke to many visitors, had long conversations about Adrian Frutiger and my work / others work. Really enjoyed the evening and was honoured to exhibit with my peers and friends.

The day before, I purchased a screen printing set, from the art store….and this gave me ideas to start making prints… GOOD prints… for personal projects, while applying for a career in Graphic Design. The aim of the game, (I’ve had this inclination for a while, but never got round to starting) is to sell these prints on. Perhaps at events such as Comic Con, Waterways / Craft festivals and see how and where it gets me.

I think I might start small and get into the Free Art Friday community, perhaps even document my adventures / progress on my new found Instagram account, Twitter and on this blog as well.

I’ve had an idea as a starting point. The nursary rhyme, ‘One for Sorrow’ about the superstitions around Magpies. It’s got so many versions and I want to do them all!!! Perhaps even to start off with, to practice  hand lettering, screen printing and on screen. The reason is, since I heard the rhyme and Band of Skulls: Patterns, the rhyme has had a bit of an impact on me. I’m not majorly superstitious, other than Fate, Destiny and everything happens for a reason, ghosts / kindred spirits kind of thing. (Still… not majorly, but enough to be open minded).

Updates on progress to come soon!

Proffessional Practice: Promotion & Employability

Behold, my promotional materials!!!!

1 A3 portfolio
Business cards
Lookbook / CV Mailer

and my website: jasminehotham.co.uk

All going towards my career in Graphic Design, if I am to be lucky enough to get into the industry, which I’m sure I will!!!! It’s my next goal in my life!!!!

Major Project in Graphic Design | Familiar Phrases and their Nautical Origins

Behold, my Major Project in Graphic Design!!!

Familiar Phrases and their Nautical Origins!!! 20 postcards of 2 different dimensions, 10 posters A2, AND a wooden box!!! The packaging has a screen printed logo, for the project and each print, shows a phrase, what it means today from several people, and the origin on the back, in a postcard format. The posters, are just plain on the back but the print from each postcard is the main attraction.

Lots of hard work, blood, sweat and tears it is finally finished!!!!

A Mahoooooosive update!!! + Messy Fun Time(s)

Well, I spent some time in Berlin recently and what an incredible trip that was! Such a wonderful cultural experience, the East Side Gallery and all the street art were amazing! The Bauhaus was even more impressive (although, it did seem a little orderly and way too clean). It is a trip I shall remember for a while.

BUT some sad news, I didn’t pass the ISTD Awards, which is a shame but I have an incredible piece of work for my portfolio and that’s what matters. Other news, is I have deadlines fast approaching, so the pressure is on to complete my projects.

One of which, I spent THREE days in the screen printing room, producing these little post card prints, depicting the phrase, with nautical origins, and survey responses in connotations. I wanted to use bright colours, layers and typography to show this. Next I would like to choose the best 10, out of the 30 prints (1 of each) to print on a large scale and maybe chromo blast / dye sub onto some fabric. AND make some packaging for it all.

(Images below are enhanced in photoshop)

ISTD Submission | Adrian Frutiger in the Round

Alright, here are the long awaited photos of my circular book, about Adrian Frutiger titled ‘Adrian Frutiger in the Round’.

It was really difficult to put together, because of the format so a lot of trial and error was used here. Also not to mention, before I had an acrylic template, to cut out the blasted thing, I had to cut out my prototypes 1/4 x 1/4 and stick together with countless strips of masking tape…..

Yeah….

BUT on the whole it was a frustrating but incredible challenge to do this, as it tested my abilities as a designer. This whole year has been about experimenting more, for me so it was a good experience to have (Plus the pride of my lecturer not binding a circular format, before now! So that’s a first).

This in the end is a perfect bound circular book, celebrating the life and works of Adrian Frutiger, a well known typeface designer of Avenir, Frutiger, Univers and many many more. I looked at his life, and some of his typefaces as well as depicting my own homage to him in respect of his death and contributions to design.The circle idea came from the Lumitype Photon plate, which is circular as well as general boredom of square and rectangular formats. (I’m not saying I dislike square and rectangular formats, I just wanted to do something different to my peers and be completely experimental (which Frutiger was, in his approach) so I saw fit in doing so my self. I will have better photos of this, on my behance and website portfolio (Once that’s under constructon), when my book is returned from the judging of the ISTD.

 

Business Card Development 2 | ISTD Update

So yesterday I handed in my ISTD submission, all went okay I suppose bar a few mishaps BUT I am proud of what I have achieved and pictures to come this weekend!!!! (That’s a promise).

Today, has been a chill out and do Promotion and Employability day, where I updated my sketchbook with a lecture, and annotated Monday’s business card designs. Now I have made new ones, following advise from one of my lecturers.

I’ve used the same card stock as before, but off white and cream paper stocks on either side. (This time I decided to use Spray mount, so much easier and less sticky on the edges too! My house mate / course mate can eat his words!!! muahahhahah!).

Well here are the photos of the new and improved business cards for my unit.

You may notice that these look really different, that’s because I scrapped the full block colour designs and left it simple with the double J speaking. The colours are very muted though, so I might need to test other paper stocks if I have time, but next I can choose my preferred card out of these (Maybe one of each) and then start doing everything else I need to do!!!

Business Card Development | ISTD Update

So while waiting for my turn to use the Large Format printer, I printed off and put together some business card designs. (They are very messy and sticky due to double sided sticky tape, but this will improve for submission and also bad photography here).

I went onto Moo.com, to see their colour values and their triplex cards, which look and feel amazing! I was assured by the sturdiness, in the sample pack. I want to eventually use an off white stock and a blue middle, to match my ident (seen on the front).

I have used Baskerville Semi Bold and a range of pantones (for the purple) colours, after testing them with a range of blue pantones. I’ve also tested Gill Sans, Helvetica and Futura in contrast to Baskerville.

Unsure on the layouts and which one to go for just yet, but I think I prefer the single offset J, but I will decide soon!

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Calm Messy Fun Time | Design Council | Uni General Update

Last week the Design Academy finished, with a trip up to London, Angel Building in Islington, where the Design Council is housed. My Team, presented first and I was proud as to how we handled the questions from the Industry Panel, and how we presented over all. The feedback was really helpful and the day was enjoyable.

ISTD is going well, I’m finally putting in the content I want and have my design layouts sorted and of course there is now TWO WEEKS, till the deadline so I’m pretty scared yet surprisingly confident! I just need to keep going!!!!

Promotion and Employability is also going well, my logo is finalised and I am now starting to develop my business cards using some really nice Pantone blues and purples. Hopefully some of these will be up here soon.

Major Project, has been slow and I feel it’s really behind. But after today I realise I’m in a good place to start re-developing my prototypes ready for my VIVA presentation and hand in, within two months time. BUT I wanted to show you what I’ve done today, in terms of experimentation.

 

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These are tests with dip pen and ink, and tea staining to create the effect of aged paper. I’m going to start making my ‘proverb sails’ but I want to also design an aged book, that looks like it’s been off of a ship, to accompany and reveal the meanings of my phrases as well as house some of the experiments and final outcomes. Other ideas may include designing and building a cardboard or MDF box from the Laser Cutter and glue, to house the book in and some of the folded up sails. (I may even go further to make a few masts in a row to house some of the best sails, and maybe hang them from my studio ceiling pipes if allowed, in the Graduate Show….)

Other News, I’ve been very busy but I have had a day trip the the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which is where the inks came from and some more of my inspiration. I have also purchased my Web Domain, which I will reveal very soon, once my portfolio site is up and running. (Might be April Time). I cooked a wonderful midweek Lamb roast, for me and my boyfriend yesterday and it was so tasty I felt like a balloon with weights in. I’m really looking forward to my trip to Berlin, at the beginning of Easter, I hope it will be inspiring and one to remember as my final year, here at Portsmouth University comes to a close.

Tuesday and Wednesday Messy Fun Time

Here’s an update on my Major Project:

I found a tutorial online, which shows you how to design and paint your own rustic wooden signs. So, I bought some plywood to test this out by using Acrylic paints and Carbon Paper to transfer the lettering onto the material.

Both of these were featured prototypes on Thursday (Both also failed to communicate my topic which is The Obscure Nautical Phrases / Sayings in our language as everyone who looked at this, thought it was about sign writing or sign painting.)

Oh well…. more ideas to come soon!

Other uni projects are also going well, I’ve had a set back on my Promotion unit where a lecturer called my last logo designs ‘Dumpy’ so I’ve been working hard to make them less so. Digital versions to be made this weekend. ISTD (International Society of Typographic Deisgners) is also pressing forward, I now need to add content to my book about Adrian Frutiger and continue adding the ‘Wow’ factor to my format (which is a circle!)