Creating sketch books.

In conjunction to my website I have created these seven sketch books to send out to design studios like Hey Studio, Studio Fernando Guttierez both in Barcelona and to the artist and designer Rafael Rozendaal in New York. Showing information on my contact links and website. The designs were loosely based on these sketches shown below, I picked out shapes and elements of the sketches that I felt would work together and create an interesting composition for the cover. I have binded the sketch books myself and featured 12 blank pages in each this emphasises this handmade personal feel to the work. With the collages on the front I wanted to create simple engaging designs, implementing what I had learnt about how the artist Rafael Rozendall picks his colours and them being intuitive and instinctive, making sure each of the designs had a distinctive style. Created a varied series of sketchbooks would then make each feel individual and special. For me it was important to create something with a purpose and a use that could then when being draw or written in would remain memorable.

Putting together my Square space website

I began by simply experimenting with some dynamic typefaces to give me designs a really punchy and eye-catching feel these three being, Didot, TIMMONS NY and Mfred. I thought the TIMMONS NY type had a exciting edgy feel to it and felt current and up and coming something that hopefully would reflect in my work.

I also wanted to create a smaller logo with just SH for my initials this could then be used on the icon for the webpage. I again used the TIMMONS NY typeface and used the large dot in the middle to give the design a little more character and break up the letters.










I then decided to use some of the alternative characters in the typeface here the M and the I is different and personally flows better and feels more consistent.

This image above shows the main front page of the website showing a range of three very different pieces of work I really enjoyed creating and feel have been designed to a high quality. As part of the squarespace site the typefaces options included this DIN condensed web typeface that I personally think shows the information clearly yet remains consistent and extremely clear.

Here shows how the posts are laid out after they are clicked on on the front page. I think looking at keeping all the type and type spacing more consistent is something I could improve upon but the large full images is something I defiantly like and shows of the work.

Looking at some successful websites in my research has shown me how the different subsections are laid out and what the content usually shows. I wanted to feature a 'ABOUT' page to give more of an insight into me and what I want to achieve in the field of graphic design. 

The Contact page I wanted to keep very simplistic yet I might change this slightly later on as it does in a way feel like a contrast from the other pages. Showing my email, and moblie number along with some social media links this for me is one of the most important things as it allows further connection with viewers of the site.

Creating this site will really open a lot of opportunities for me as I can pass it on and be confident they will see some high quality images of my work displayed in a professional way. I can reach out to designers and creatives and show my work and not be worried about the work not feeling professional. 

Squarespace.com

 Looking at the various options of creating websites I have come across squarespace it gives slick modern designed site that can be changed and built upon with ease. The way it works is much more simplistic than other sites like sitebuilder for example and has a much more professional and creative feel to the designs. 

I then had the task of picking a theme out of the various options. Avenue shown here I felt would emphasis my work and put the focus mainly on it but remain customisable and interesting to a extent. I wanted to then customise the designs to give it more of a distinct style that I felt reflected my design practice and what message I wanted to communicate on the whole.

Instagram

For my personal branding creating a creative and graphic design focused Instagram is something that can really get your work out there and boost your online presence. I have began to feature more and more work that I have been creating recently. Instagram is a great way of showing what you are up to at that time and get across more the personality of the designer. I see it more as an on going blog or diary giving an insight into what any one person is doing at the time. As online and the digital world has began to dominate the way we get information I think creating a really strong consistent online presence across a few varying platforms is very important.

Asking NewRafael about colour

The Abstract digital artist Rafael Rozendall is someone I have greatly admired for some years now his design process and the way he goes about a project is extremely inspiring. His experimentation and use of colour is one of the defining factors to his work being so engaging and interesting. I wanted to ask how it is he comes to the colours he uses and whether he is influenced by anything else in this picking process. What better way to find out than emailing him! Not only did he reply but almost straight away! Contacting professionals  about their design practice is something I had never really done before now and I found it very humbling the fact he responded so quickly. Hopefully I can use all that I have learnt about how NewRafael picks his colours and transfer it into my own work.

Matt Willey

http://www.mattwilley.co.uk/

This website is for the designer Matt Willey the display is much more simplistic and lets the work be much more of a main focus. I think the simplistic design could be more impacting and the images could have been displayed a little larger.

I think that when looking at making my own website this simple style will be much more effective in showing off my work and being easy to use.

Camille Walala

I have decided to look at Camille Walala's website also for inspiration as I feel she has been able to perfectly reflect her own graphical style of working into the design of her web page. The bold lines and large bright shapes is a real feature of the artists work and is shown clearly within her web page. 

This smaller image is taken from the shop link on her sight I think the consistency of the designs is kept throughout.

 Her 'about' page shows a concise description of her ambitions in the creative industry as well as where she studied and what kind of work she creates.

This image shows how she has utilised the different social networking sites icons to quickly allow the viewer to see other platforms her work is displayed on.

http://vincefrost.com/

Looking at self branding and the best ways of displaying an identity with the graphics world I have started by looking at http://vincefrost.com/. The designer Vince Frost is an Australian designer specialising in editorial design. I am particularly interested in his website and how it can be seen and interacted with. 

I feel for my self branding creating a dynamic and engaging website is something that will be personally useful and be a good start in getting my work out into the creative industries.

This is the first image shown on the site with the large letters in MFred typography displaying the name VINCE FROST I love the immediacy and bold feel to the design it reflects brilliantly the kind of impacting and punchy work that the designer is famed for.

 As you scroll down it shows further information on the designer, their work, how to contact them and other information.

Their is also at the top of the page this drop down menu making the webpage very easy to navigate around and move from section to section. 










 Their is again this use of impacting typography throughout alongside bold images this website is extremely eye-catching and exciting. The website is easy to use and not overcomplicated which I think is very important. I would love to try and look at using similar design techniques within my own design for a self branding webpage.