OUGD601: Tutorial 4

From this tutorial I gained feedback on my first and second chapter. It was suggested that because I continue to expand on the triangulation elements within these chapters between the writers and also the first things first manifesto. From this feedback I edited the word count down within the first chapter of analysis and added examples of graphic design to expand on my argument. 

I also learned that the second chapter including the first things first manifesto can be added as an appendices rather than quoting entire elements of it, this will ensure that the word count isn't being taken up by large quantities of unnecessary text. 

Progressing from this tutorial I need to complete my third and fourth chapter, rewrite my introduction and also write a conclusion for my dissertation over the christmas period in time for my final tutorial with Richard. 

OUGD601: Hogs Rest Hedgehog Rescue

The final images can be seen below and also viewed on my Behance page by clicking here

As stated previously the logo works in two formats mainly due to the larger name of the charity but also because it needs to work in a square format for Facebook and in a landscape format which would suit signage for a tent or other forms. The consistent use of the bight green also keeps consistency and would allow Hogs Rest to stand out at wildlife fundraisers, this use of colour can be seen in examples such as guide dogs with the specific shade of blue, BHF in the use of red and also Dogs Trust by their use of bright yellow. The use of one dominant colour is design tool which is successful and I believe would work wonderfully for this small charity. 

The posters again further use this shade of green within different elements to emphasise particular pieces of information with light green and white. The posters I believe work well as a set as they are different in their layout yet similar in their consistent use of colour and the hedgehog illustration. 

Below are some samples of merchandise which could be sold, these are simple designs as they need to be inexpensive to print onto various surfaces. 

Again as mentioned previously, the website is simply a mock up and extension of the branding which Lorna may use at a later date depending on funds. But as a whole branding process I wanted to show her how her charity could be seen online as well as through a variation of products. 

OUGD601: Website mockup

The most successful websites (three examples below) are successful because of designing they are simple and use a combination of text, images and illustrations which encourages the viewer to read more. 

Through my own design I wanted to create a mock up for Lorna’s charity so that she could consider putting her information on it in the future. As a small charity she doesn’t currently have a budget but it is an excellent way of continuing to spread vital information to the public as well as using social media. 

The design encorporates the colour palette I created previously to ensure consistency throughout the designs. The website mock up also includes photographs to illustrate content which could be displayed. The simple design would allow for it to be coded on various devices and the ‘Emergencies’ button would be useful for people quickly searching for help if they have found an injured hedgehog. See the design below:

The information on the home page is the most important and relevant for the first few seconds of visiting the website and this also affects the design of the type hierarchy. The charities logo is at the top which is important to ensure the user is on the correct website, this is also alongside the important emergency phone number which is vital for quick and efficient care and admissions. The calendar also shows upcoming events which is useful for users, the emergency section as stated previously is also incredibly important and is also a break in the branding as red is used, this is due to red crosses being a known symbol for health care and therefore using this sign indicates the already known ideologies of emergency health, especially within the UK. 

OUGD601: Merchandise

As a charity it is important to raise money individually as funding can be incredibly difficult. The most successful charities tend to have their own merchandise which they sell. For Lorna's hedgehog charity she has limited funds to help be able to care for the large numbers of admissions so therefore creating mock ups of ideas which she could sell would be ideal as the money raised can go towards new equipment. 

As you can see from the board below I have found that often charities attend fundraising events and use a tent and other signage. This means that the logo I created needs to work both in a square for Facebook but also landscape for tent signage. The posters created would work in this setting as they would be pinned to boards. 

For the branding pitch I will also create as stated above some examples of how the hedgehog can be used to sell products to raise money. An example of this could be through printing mugs, badges and tote bags as they are extremely popular. 

Here are my mock ups below:

A roller banner for the tent which enables the charity to stand out with their own branding and colour much like dogs trust do with their consistent use of yellow which can be seen in the examples above across their signage and van art. 

The logo on most of the products is shown as having white text for Hogs Rest, however in this example along with the mugs I have shown how it can be edited to be used across various different natural shades. 

These three samples above are often sold by companies and also charities as they are extremely popular with all ages. Through pitching this idea it would be great or Lorna to sell printed items in the spring and summer months at events. 

OUGD601: Poster Design

Throughout the process of making the posters which are the main element of this design brief I experimented with lots of different elements and I have shown below some of the changes I went through as these were extremely subtle and only based on aesthetics. I started off working with a yellow/ beige tinted background but this merged into larger blocks of colour as it meant the text was more legible as it seemed to flow easier with more room, and this meant the text could be larger and therefore seen from a distance. (see below) I also changed the shape of the sun as this allowed for more colour to be added and in infographic format, the simplistic illustration is much cleaner. 

Within this design below I created small icons for each of the three sections and I also applied this to the third poster. I worked with a lighter green on the background as this allows the middle poster to work as a set, two are light green and the other a combination. This ensures that each of the designers are consistent in their colour palette. 

After experimentation I realised that the illustrations should be placed in shapes as this creates a more interesting and engaging piece to look at. However the circles at the bottom seem to resemble medals so therefore I decided to put them above the rectangular text boxes. 

Within these examples above it shows the subtle changes to the editing of the fence in the third circle which is dark grey. After some feedback it was suggested that I change the gap to look like an arch rather than just a square cut, even though this is more realistic an arch would be more suggestive of having a hole within the fence. 

The final designs: 

OUGD601: Posters

Infographics

Representing large amounts of information clearly is a difficult task but a way of making it easier to read is through using infographics. These often use icons or signs and symbols with short amounts of text that can be remembered.

http://www.chrisnewnham.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Stealth-Kitteh.jpeg

http://www.dailyinfographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/octopus_infographic1.jpg

http://www.cruzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/024-infographics.png

http://voiceofsandiego.org/wp-content/uploads/app/credentialedimg/animal_bubble080912.jpg

The examples above posters use banners, shapes and statistics to illustrate more complex facts with a limited colour palette therefore ensuring certain elements stand out. For my own posters I will use the information points from the previous post to create infographic based posters for the charity to display and tell the audience vital information. The points should be represented by imagery and colour to ensure that people remember the information therefore for the three posters each should have a different layout. 

OUGD601: Posters/ Information

From the information and knowledge I gained from researching about hedgehogs I was able to define the important points for each poster. 

These include: 

- Baby hedgehogs out (especially during the day) without their mother may be abandoned. Or their mother may be injured or killed! Baby hedgehogs live in family groups in nests. Babies will only leave a nest if there is a problem.

- If a hedgehog is lying out during the day, it means that something is seriously wrong. Hedgehogs lying out during the day need help. Hedgehogs sunbathing or stumbling around means they are sick. 

- On finding a hedgehog please use gardening gloves to handle, very carefully pick it up and place it in a high sided box with a towel or fleece. You can add a hot water bottle to allow warmth gently. Place the box somewhere quiet. 

- Act quickly. The hedgehog should be taken to the nearest specialist rescue. If you are in Coventry & Warwickshire Area... 

Call me directly: 07866376817

British hedgehog preservation society have a list of rescues 

Contact them:

01584890801

..........................................................................................................................

- Make a nest, another way to encourage hedgehogs to spend more time in your garden is to provide them with a home. 

- Provide food, a saucer of meaty dog or cat food. Don't give fish based pet food and always supply water. Never give milk or bread as it makes them sick.

- Environment, a hole in the fence allows the chance to explore gardens. A section of wild garden allows hedgehogs to thrive. 

..........................................................................................................................

- Please check for hedgehogs in long grass before mowing and strimming the long grass in your garden. A hedgehogs natural defence is to curl up, the blades of a strimmer are to sharp and the hog cannot protect itself. 

- Ensure all ponds are covered and any litter or waste is tidied away. 

- Try to stop using slug pellets or rat poison in your garden. Its dangerous for hedgehogs and any other wildlife or pets. The amount of hedgehogs affected by these is worrying to their numbers; try to safer alternative methods. 

OUGD601: Logo

For the logo I combined the illustration I created previously and with the knowledge I gained from looking at type I have used a soft sans serif which can be easily read. From experimentation with Colour I noticed that the light green background stood out as it is light and colourful therefore resembling positivity for the charity. However to further improve this the typography needs to be more prominent through contrasting colours. 

The final image:

OUGD601: Colours & Type

For the colour of the design many animal charities tend to use blue tones: 

See examples below:

However the charity is for wildlife, I believe blue is used for animal charities as it is a cool calming colour which seems to be used quite a lot in design now, as with the Facebook, twitter and Skype logos too. A colour palette more suitable would be something selected from a natural environment therefore I put several photographs into photoshop to select a natural colour palette to use for branding and design. 

From these photographs I selected a range of greens, browns and darker tones to create a natural colour palette for the designs to keep the branding consistent. 

Typography 

The  choice of type used is incredibly important due to the wide and non specific audience. From looking at different possibilities of categories of type the most suitable would be a simple sans serif. This is because the type needs to be read at a distance and also be suitable for range of people with different eye sight. A more decorative font is only suitable as header text and it is difficult to read. More suitable fonts would be a softer sans serif  which have curves this is because the subject is nature and needs to appear friendly and natural. Fonts such as futura wouldn’t be suitable as they have harsh lines and geometric shapes.