A list of client groups that use graphic design in their products and services://
- Retail, indoor / outdoor signage/ literature,
- Corporate, large businesses that require graphic design to help establish their 'brand' / identity to communicate more effectively, rebranding opportunities / promotion aswell as potential design work for new/ upcoming products that they might require packaging and other services for.
- The music industry require a wide range of graphic design services ranging from music label branding to the packaging and music video to merchandise / promotion.
- Product /packaging for everything from furniture to fruit & vegetables?
- Entertainment - Games / tv
- Literature/ editorial - Magazines, books, publishers.
- Small / medium sized businesses ranging from catering, salon and local charities to small scaled shops who require graphic design services ranging from branding to their literature, logo design to expanding and promoting through the use of the internet.
- Fashion - branding/ identity of fashion label, advertising, packaging and ultimately the link to retail design.
Currently I have ambitions to work in editorial design once I graduate, therefore literature based client groups like book and magazines would be a place to start. 4 examples of this client group are://
Local :/ No - Title
National :/ Dazed & Confused
European :/ Vice
Transnational :/ IdN
Politics://
The number of magazines out there are constantly increasing and there is tough competition in every genre of magazines as it is already, which reflects the importants of the magazines philosophy to help differentiate it from the rest. Sustainability is becoming a major issue, for publishers who distribute thousands of copies a month, it is in their own interest to consider alternative renewable resource to print and distribute their magazines with. One alternative is the use of ebooks and online publications such as the ones from issuu.com , which saves distributing and printing but lacks the quality and enjoyment of actually having a physical magazine.
Economic://
The economic factors of this client group varies depending on the size of the publisher, their target audience for each specific publication and the distribution quantity, which is ultimately reflected in it's budget. The pricing of a publication is crucial, especially if its a monthly / weekly magazine, this can sometimes put people off buying if it's too expensive as their is a sense of commitment once you buy one volume. The target audience is also another factor to consider, depending on the target audience, thorough research is essential to determine the price range. In a time where the digital format is becoming more prominent, publishers might have to reconsider their pricing to stay in competition with other publications. For European and particularly transnational publishers, the exchange rates and can have a huge price difference from once country to another.
Society://
Magazines themselves are what shapes society along with popular culture through tv and the internet, delivering the latest trends and news. However, this does not mean that publishers can just throw anything into a magazine. Careful consideration towards what their consumers demand, target audience they would like to attract would affect the content and the whole identity of a publication. Having a strong philosophy and promoting an ethical approach effects the magazine's brand and would most likely attract a specific audience that would share a similar way of thinking.
Technological://
As technology advances, there will potentially be newer, more efficient ways of manufacturing that can be considered for small and large scale publications. For a publisher, new economical inks and renewable stock can have an effect on the price of the magazine itself. Again, going back to the digital technology, many magazines are now being made available online to expand it's readership and also an alternative for smaller publishers/ magazines to start off and gain an online presence at a relatively low price.
Using the segmentation analysis to define who my desired clients could be://
Demographics://
20 - 70
Professional
Appreciates design
Geographic factors://
Local - Small businesses around Peterborough, where I would possibly return to after graduation, this would act as a start, gaining small/ medium sized briefs locally where I can work closely with the client while gaining some freelance experience.
National - London, the city I aspire to work at as it is well connected in the centre of everything. Commuting is an option as I would save money by not living in London but still having the advantage of working there.
European - Berlin, Oslo, Copenhagen, Paris
Transnational - Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York
Psychology://
Appreciates design
Strivers
Informed
Willing to take risks
Ethical
Loyal
Ambitious
Passionate
Behaviour://
Saturday 31 October 2009
Wednesday 28 October 2009
TASK 01 - Where do I stand://
What skills do I have?
As a designer going through my 2nd year of my degree, I feel that I've been developing a range of skills and qualities, that is helping me to define and pin point who I am and how I work as an individual and collaboratively as a Graphic Designer. I have a good knowledge and experience with a range of software, which has helped utilize and resolve my ideas, without allowing it to take over my work process and the way my ideas develop. As experienced from the past and particularly during the 1st year, my skills as a designer have been tested with numerous projects, which has helped carve who I am at the moment and the range of work I have produced have certainly reflected this. I don't really have a particular 'style' to my work because I feel that it restricts what you do and ultimately makes your work rather predictable as you're working towards what is expected of you already. Also, I feel that I'm still in the process of exploring different specialist areas of graphic design and have yet to define what my main field is. The way I interpret myself as a designer is the way I work and the way I challenge a brief to utilize a resolution. I am comfortable working independently, I know where my interests lie and where I want to be as well as working collaboratively with small teams, I'm vocal when it comes to pitching and communicating my ideas and as a visual learner, I find it easy to talk about ideas and offer constructive feedback. My main interests in graphic design often jump from one to another, proving that I have yet to identify my main specialist area. However I do know that the areas that I have grown a huge interest and almost obsession in include: editorial design, typography, book designs, packaging design and info graphics, while still continueing with my interest in photography. Outside college, I took part in a 3 weeks internship at Hong Kong based HK magazine as one of my first industry experience, which has helped realize my interest in the above.
Who needs them?
From current course work and the little industry experience I have, I feel that my practice as a designer would fit well in a small design studio that takes in commisioned work. I'd choose this over an in house design studio as I believe that a successful team would only require a small focused team as apposed to huge teams of people who would only deal with a small part of a brief each. I would aimed to work in a small studio with individuals who carry different specialist fields, where we can easily feed off each other's knowledge and collaborate. Aswell as offering less corperate orientated work, this approach would hopefully offer me the freedom learn from other people in the industry, gathered my own contacts, which would hopefully lead me into a freelance practice in the future.
In reflection to all of the above, I feel that I should conclude with the process of the 4 P's://
Product
typography, editorial, identity/ branding, promotion material, packaging, exhibition work + genereal print based design.
Place
Based in the south of England and would like to focus in London. Also a Hong Kong citizen so potential of moving there to gain work experience.
Promotion
Print based, ethical aware design strategy with established branding/ identity by the time I graduate.
Price
"Will come back to this one - "
As a designer going through my 2nd year of my degree, I feel that I've been developing a range of skills and qualities, that is helping me to define and pin point who I am and how I work as an individual and collaboratively as a Graphic Designer. I have a good knowledge and experience with a range of software, which has helped utilize and resolve my ideas, without allowing it to take over my work process and the way my ideas develop. As experienced from the past and particularly during the 1st year, my skills as a designer have been tested with numerous projects, which has helped carve who I am at the moment and the range of work I have produced have certainly reflected this. I don't really have a particular 'style' to my work because I feel that it restricts what you do and ultimately makes your work rather predictable as you're working towards what is expected of you already. Also, I feel that I'm still in the process of exploring different specialist areas of graphic design and have yet to define what my main field is. The way I interpret myself as a designer is the way I work and the way I challenge a brief to utilize a resolution. I am comfortable working independently, I know where my interests lie and where I want to be as well as working collaboratively with small teams, I'm vocal when it comes to pitching and communicating my ideas and as a visual learner, I find it easy to talk about ideas and offer constructive feedback. My main interests in graphic design often jump from one to another, proving that I have yet to identify my main specialist area. However I do know that the areas that I have grown a huge interest and almost obsession in include: editorial design, typography, book designs, packaging design and info graphics, while still continueing with my interest in photography. Outside college, I took part in a 3 weeks internship at Hong Kong based HK magazine as one of my first industry experience, which has helped realize my interest in the above.
Who needs them?
From current course work and the little industry experience I have, I feel that my practice as a designer would fit well in a small design studio that takes in commisioned work. I'd choose this over an in house design studio as I believe that a successful team would only require a small focused team as apposed to huge teams of people who would only deal with a small part of a brief each. I would aimed to work in a small studio with individuals who carry different specialist fields, where we can easily feed off each other's knowledge and collaborate. Aswell as offering less corperate orientated work, this approach would hopefully offer me the freedom learn from other people in the industry, gathered my own contacts, which would hopefully lead me into a freelance practice in the future.
In reflection to all of the above, I feel that I should conclude with the process of the 4 P's://
Product
typography, editorial, identity/ branding, promotion material, packaging, exhibition work + genereal print based design.
Place
Based in the south of England and would like to focus in London. Also a Hong Kong citizen so potential of moving there to gain work experience.
Promotion
Print based, ethical aware design strategy with established branding/ identity by the time I graduate.
Price
"Will come back to this one - "
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