Blog has moved home

My graphic design blog has now moved to http://www.adnewall.co.uk

You can also find my portfolio at http://www.adnewall.co.uk/portfolio

Kindest,

Ashley Newall

Google Speed Test

Render times for Google Chrome.

I was originally just going to post this, but while posting I came across another video which I also love:

Not sure who the owner is as a few different people have posted it, will update if and when I find out.

Business cards

Going to print some business cards soon on my press. Got my stock sorted and colour.

Though I want a message on the rear, or front which ever you feel is more important.

Hmm, maybe that should be my message: ‘Please turn over for details’

Also thought about:

- Inspired to design, Design to inspire

- Printed by Ashley Dean Newall

- White with one sugar please

Portfolio advice

A month ago I was given the project of my portfolio. As part of our portfolio development we have been asked to delve into the wide industry for criticism and advice to help improve our work showcase. This also gives me the option to keep in touch with people in the industry and make connections to aid me once I graduate.

Instead of sending an email, I decided to go down a different route. I personal love the post, and always receive a hint of joy when the letterbox goes. I hear a lot also, that many people in the design world enjoy snail mail too. So with an excuse to get my stamps out, I also thought I could make it a reason to break my inks open too.

So over the course of the week, I created a series of postcards. Hand set type took quite a while of time, but gave me a nice reason to learn my skills in the medium. It also took a lot of time to get the ink consistency right for the print, but after a few alterations I was pleased with the result. I am now waiting on the replies from the agencies that received these limited special prints.

If you had one through the post, please reply I would greatly like to meet you.

FedEx moving on

I liked the idea of the arrow being filled in the logo, and then driving away.

But as previously stated the Ex resembles the tail of a missile. So over the course of the day I developed this idea:

This idea just highlights an outline of the arrow in the first frame to ensure the back doesn’t look like a warhead.

I’m not quite sold on this idea so I kept developing and came with these two suggestions:

I really like these outcomes. I can’t choose between the two.

I have been talking through both ideas with Guy and he prefers the arrow behind as he feels it makes it more abstract. Though I’m more drawn to arrow at the front where it is more legible. I also appreciate Guy’s opinion and agree with his reasoning. I will get some peer feedback to aid in my choice.

FedEx Storyboards

I have started to bring my sketches to the digital world now. And they seem to like the clean environment.

First off I had the idea to had the arrow filled in, and slowly it pulls away from the logo. Like the delivery van driving away.

The main problem I found with this was at the start if the animation the back of the logo looks like the tail of a missile. Which isn’t what I necessarily wanted.

Another idea I had was to have again the arrows like vans travelling around the screen. As if driving to all the delivery points finally stopping in position for the logo to fade in around it.

I like this idea, though it is quite plain and though simple doesn’t hold that wow moment.

These arrows got me thinking, and I came to the conclusion that I could split the X into arrows too. So here’s two ideas that incorporate this:

I like these two ideas, especially how the arrow is nudged towards to audience so more will see it. But not enough to give it to everyone because then it just isn’t so special anymore — but then is it time everyone needs to see it?

FedEx sketches

This week has been a ball. Or maybe a point… an arrow point.

I have been sketching idea’s out onto paper and have a few clean idea’s that I would like to push forward for my final animations.

I will upload some scans in a few days.

FedEx Sting

Been a busy week and a lot of things are moving along.

Tutor, Guy Lawrence, briefed us last week about designing a logo sting for the animation section to the course.  A logo sting is usually at the end of a digital commercial, and reveals the logo to the consumer; it should ensure the audience knows what the company is about, even if the advertisement didn’t.

Each class member was given a different company. Little I received the FedEx company.

An inspiring logo. Many people do not see the hidden gem in the identity. If you are one of these people: look between the ‘E’ and the ‘x’ to see an arrow.  Now on one sense this is a very nice logo to work with because the ident is so strong, but on the other side I need to make sure I give this justice.

Going to be a fun project. I shall be animating in Flash.

Not so innocent after all

Slightly different drink (and now veg) than the Feel Good, being a smoothie. But the target audiences are so similar it’s like the ocean and the sea.

Innocent have gone down the cute route (as you’d expect from their name) and playing their cuteness to the point of humour – making everyone smile (sounds very similar to Feel Good Drinks).

Even the face on the container looks cute and of course innocent with his/her halo – Hmm what’s that, they’re unisex?

Feel Good have a much more masculine approach in their logo, obviously not on purpose – they’re no Yorkie I’m sure.  Maybe for my advert I should push the approach that women can and should drink them too.

Anyhow, something else that I have noticed that Innocent have done through advertising was very clever indeed and I am mightily impressed. A few months back they introduced a rabbit as their mascot – presumably because everyone loves them and of course bunnys are innocent. But Innocent had another ploy, now they have released their vegetable range it seems even more understandable why a bunny rabbit is there – since everyone remembers bugs bunny and his carrot. The best part of this is that we don’t need to grow to love another character just because a new item has appeared, and also makes the change seem natural. And I’m sure none of you guessed a smoothie company would start selling pots of veg.

It’d be like me opening a pencil shop, closely related but not enough to be ordinary.

V Water stop motion

A nice way to improve a company is always to see what the competition has. So for my Feel Good brief I have been looking into how other drink companies with a similar consumer advertise their goodness.

I came across this V Water advertisement a while back and have always loved how smoothly the video ran, and also how the man comes across ordinarily negative occasions that the target audience would face. Then with a little humour we have the creator who changes these outcomes, with the appearance that he is V Water fueled.