OUGD602 External Brief DBA Hyperloop Final Presentation and Feedback

Hyperloop presentation v4_26.02.16 from Crystalbeth
This is the final presentation that we pitched along with all the notes that guided our presentation.

Slide 1:

• Hi
• From the feedback in the last Crit we have built on 1 concept.

Slide2:

• this was majorly based on making the technology accessible

Slide 3:

• and this is what we came up with
• Words we tried to communicate
• Slimmed line weight
• Softened edges
• Round shapes related to technology (Dyson)

Slide4:

• breakdown of how we have applied the brand
• Colour, key and 2nd colour used to create hierarchies and help with UX design in digital formats.

Slide5:

• chosen an open source font to match with the project.
• Sits well as submissive to logo type
• Uses of type in different applications

Slide6:

• alpha document was a large inspiration
• Open source info, by the people for the people
• Accesable technology to all
• Make it human and accesable (same as written)

Slide7:

• to do this we created a diagram/ info graphic to simplify and explain the tech
• Talk through diagram
• Makes it less scary ( soft simple forms)
• Show animation

Slide 8&9 website

• Animation goes on the homepage of the website
• Function of website

Slide 9:

• top up card
• Air miles, playing on tech
• Enviro friendly
• Journey is simple and fast so getting on needs to be fast (airport)
• Link with app to top up

Slide 10:

• shape comes from glyph form and this is used throughout applications.
• Active zone on the edge of card for ergonomic reasons

Slide 11,12,13: app

• UX design and active blue
• Secure log in
• Time layout for simple function

Slide 14:

• promotional example
• Playing on the reason customers would use hyperloop
• Info taken from alpha document
• Making link to audience experience to make hyperloop more accesable

Slide 15:

• Signage environmental mock ups
• Active blue blue comes back into play
• Blue arrows, the customer has to do something
• Only see the blue stripe when the train is moving

Slide 13: end

The blue areas are what I talked about and the black are war Becca talked about. We decided to split the talking between two of us so that the presentation didn't feel too bitty and had a more professional tone.

Feedback: There were a few reasonable and helpful points of feedback that we got to guide further briefs of a similar nature.

-presentation should have build up (we should create a story around what we have made)

-more aplication expansion (more mock up and visualisations of how the brand could work beyond the logo)

-talk about how explicitly you made technology approachable (stipulate the aims of the project and how you have fulfilled it effectively, leave no doubt you have done so)

-overall good concept and design.

Personal Evaluation:

I have really enjoyed this project. The team that we had was great. we didn't argue but were able to discuss the project fully and make informed decisions as a group. I was a really successful collaboration. Also I am proud that we were able to really take on the feedback that we got during the interim crit without pride or qualms and try our best to create the effect we wanted. Although I can see that there are areas that we could have improved on, this was a really educational process that will really help me in the future.

OUGD602 External Brief DBA Hyperloop App Design

In conjunction with the top-up card I designed myself and Becca (who designed the wen=bsite) worked together to create an App that acts as a means to topping up your card and organise journeys. 

Because the experience of using hyper loop should be simple and seamless we wanted the app to be the same. We created a hierarchy of information and decided that the first thing people would want to see upon logging in would be their current balance on card. 

The second would be the departure or arrival times to organise their journey. This all functioned with changeable location buttons at the top and a way to search by date and time to plan further in advance.

Again we wanted to keep the home/loading screen simple and open and to the brand that we have developed so far. This is also something that we have applied to the app icon which we have kept simple and minimal with a slight soft gradient as established by the iPhone 5 display.

OUGD602 External Brief DBA Hyperloop Animation and Diagram

Because the focus of our branding has been to make technology approachable we thought it would be a good idea to create a small simple diagram that would act as the decoration inside the hyper loop pod where there would normally be a route map. I used soft rounded vectors and the key logo blue to create this.

We decided that this could work really week as the central information on the website homepage, as shown below.

I kept the wording simple and the information minimal to make it universally understandable.

I also took this and made a short animation that would hypothetically sit on the  website that expanded on the functions of the pod and drip feeds the information.



Hyperloop Animation from Beth on Vimeo.

OUGD602 External Brief DBA Developing Top-Up Card

It was my delegated job to develop a design for the top-up card that we wanted to pitch instead of a ticket. The idea being that the hyper loop train is intended to be widely accessible and repeatedly usable so an Oyster like top up card would be much more conducive to repeated use and ease of doing so.

The first thing I wanted to create was the overall shape of the card and I needed this to fit with the logo that we have created so far. I too the glyph forms for inspiration and based the curvature of the card corners.

Then was to fit the logo in place on the front of the card. I looked at a very light blue grey background to introduce more colour.

However, I soon came up with the idea of having the key blue around the edge of the card. This would mean that when the card was put down it would reflect the light slightly and create a gentle blue halo around its edges. I also came up with the idea of calling the card and Air-Mile card, because it draws a parallel with the speed of air travel as well as  being a clever reference to the fact that the pods travel on air. 

I went through a couple of options for the sub font and font that source sans pro was by far the least offensive. It worked because it fell to the second place on the information hierarchy and let the logotype be dominant. I also found a really nice way of positioning this extra information because the ascenders and descenders create the perfect negative space. I tried both upper and lower case but felt that the uppercase worked better because it was less texturally bust than the ascenders and descenders of the lower case and again allowed the logotype to come to the fore. 

Because these cards have to be scannable upon entrance and exit to the so I took inspiration from the large circular curve on the Oyster card and used the 'o' from the logotype to create an active zone towards the end of the card. Thos was an intentional ergonomic decision that ensures that the holder doesn't have to bend the card to hold it over the scanner. Instead the curved edge sits in the palm and the majority of the card can be held while the corner is scanner.

I used the soft grey on the bad of the crds to add a little more visual texture to the design and to allow a signature/name space to help return of last cards, as well as an ident number and top-up info.

The next stage is to bring together the designs each of us have done for the different applications and make any tweaks to bring everything together in a cohesive way.

OUGD602 External Brief DBA Hyperloop Post Crit Decisions

After the Crit with the DBA representatives we took the original type sketch I created and annotated it, looking at ideas we could generate for ways to make the logo type more open and approachable. As you can see most of these were based around forming rounded terminals and quirky little affectations.

We each took the vectorised file (through google drive) and these are the small developments that I made to the file based on the annotations we made together.

I looked at flattening off the terminals and adding a looped descender to the 'y' which really helped in my opinion because it alludes to a smile in a very subtle but playful way. However, I found that through including this curved edge the subsequent 'p' looked far too light especially in the bowl. This will be be developed further if the other members of the team feel that the looped 'y' is worth pursuing. 

I looked at separating out the two syllables of the word. This was inspired by the way the DBA representatives talked about the name its self and the way that the 'hyper' part communicated technicality and enhanced performance, while the 'loop' part has more playful connotations that help to make the word its self a meeting of technology and people.

Something that we talked about at length as a group was the idea of raising aspects of the word to communicate the floating nature of the lift mechanism and to add a sense of playfulness to something quite technologically advanced. However, I think this could be seen as overkill slightly and perhaps we need to look more to the forms of glyphs for the majority of our communication.

I also tried very rounded terminals as an escalation of the slightly round corners shown earlier. I only did this on a couple of glyphs because as i did it i once again felt that this was too much. Although I will show this to the rest of the team, at the moment I feel tit is unnecessary to pursue it further.

The next step is to bring together everyone's ideas for developing this type and decide on a direction together.

OUGD602 External Brief DBA Interim Crit Feedback

Dba interim 10.02.16 from Crystalbeth

Above are the boards that we used to present/ talk to the DBA representatives. we talked them through our research strategy and the amazing technology that is behind hyper loop.

Becca made some great notes during the meeting that cover all of what they said. However, the main notes are as follows:

- Consider how the technology can be made a selling point for the customers
- Make technology approachable and trustworthy because this reflect the accessible process of the creation of hyper loop and the affordable vision of its creators.
- Look at timeless tech branding and be careful not to overcook the aesthetic because this will make it dated.
-look into type only branding, (pointing at my lettering) refine this possibly.
- Dyson in particular in their type and use of spot colour are great at making technology approachable.

OUGD602 PPP Work Experience Planning

Over the last 4 or so months I have made many contacts concerning work experience and also just about chatting to people to get advice about getting work and work experience. This post will detail all the places I have contacted successful or not, so that the full extent of my effort on the matter can be recorded and understood.

Dalton Maag:

Over the summer I applied to Dalton Maag Type foundry, to be considered for their intern programme. To do this I had to create a type specific portfolio of approximately 6 pieces including development work, I put this together along with new self branding which is also detailed on this blog.

application from Crystalbeth


Although this application was unsuccessful it did give me a chance to re work my self branding in advance of  my third year as well as do some self initiated projects involving lettering, which were rewarding on their own. I also allowed me a chance to refine my CV which is now once again due for an update and although I didn't get the placement I am first on the waiting list if anyone drops out!

True North:

Although when I made contact with True North (August) they were already fully booked in work placement terms for the whole academic year, Kevin Lee Said that he could get me in for a day to look around the studio and talk through some other places they know that might be able to take someone on.

The Print Project:

After talking with Nick for some time earlier in the year for the research of my Context of Practice essay I thought it worth a shot to get back in contact to say thanks for his help and also ask if there was any chance that he might take anyone on for a work experience placement. I was hopeful because he mentioned the need for someone else to help around the place and I would love to work at the Print Project. In response Nick was really positive. although he has already taken on someone else to help him out he said that there is no guarantee that that they will be staying around for a long time, so if and when he needs someone he will be in touch. He also suggested I have a look online for similar letterpress printers and let him know which ones I might be interested in contacting and if he knows them he will put in a good word. Overall a pretty hopeful outcome. 

Split:
I recently sent over a short email to Oli at split. This is a design studio that I really just like the look of. They seem friendly and open and might be an option for a work experience placement or if that fails a great, illuminating conversation over a cup of tea! Oli has been lovely and we have set on a date for a meet up and just have a chat.


Gorilla:
This is a Manchester based studio that I have been following on Instagram for some time. I sent them an email just asking how I might go about applying for work experience with them if they are open to it but am yet to receive a reply.

Tiger print:

This is a lettering and print studio based in Bradford. They are a small subsidiary of the Hallmark group. I have been looking into setting up a stationery and print business of my own based around lettering so this would be very relivant work experience for me. I have been re working my CV and digital portfolio to apply for there work experience program but have sent off an email first, just asking if the portfolio should include the development process of each project or simply the final pieces. If I don't receive a reply in the next couple of days I will call up and ask and then apply as soon as possible.

Side by side:

I stumbled across side by side on Instagram and really liked their work and realised that they were based near by in Sheffield. So, I took the plunge and gave them a call. They had already advertised the fact that they were looking for a new full time member of staff and so I simply said that I might be able to lend a hand in the mean time while they are short staffed. They seemed positive and asked for me to send some stuff over. I have sent them my CV and Behance for them to look over and am waiting to hear back.

OUGD602 PPP03 Brief 01 Self Branding Planning

Since I spent some time over the summer re doing my skef branding and I am still very happy with it, and I have also created some temporary business cards for my chalkboard commissions which are under the same name, I Thoth it worthwhile to plan how I am going to apply this self branding to my best advantage.

There are three areas that the branding needs to apply to, these are my lettering and graphic design, my chalkboards and my stationery and print selling business. To a certain extent I think the same brand can stretch over the lettering/graphic design and the print and stationery, but I am uncertain about the chalkboards. The cards I have at the moment for chalkboard commissions are under the same name Elittlebeth design, but in a different style, this could be confusing.

I think what I need to do is find some way of applying my branding or structuring the material I apply it to to communicate these three different strings to my bow. I can also use these different strings to define what it is that I will require in terms of print and digital promotion.

- business cards 

- fully updated behance

- website with three different sections (possibly a separate sales website connected)

- branded CV

- creative CV

- branded short portfolio (for studios)

- printed scale portfolio for interviews

- invioces

- delivery packaging

- branded emails

Because there are so many outcomes I will think during the design process how some of these might be combined to reduce the workload. Such as business cards made from stamps which can be in a different colour for packaging branding.

OUGD602 PPP 03 Reflection on Students' Union Work

Over the last several months I have been working in the role of communications Officer. So far I have found it fairly good. There have been moments in both major projects where I felt the sheer amount of outcomes that were required were too much for me to be able to complete on time but I always manage and when I really felt worried I brought in Billie to help me out.  I have had to say no to doing some things because in my third year I have to prioritise work that is either going towards my degree or establishing myself outside college in terms of contacts. This has sometimes got me down but it is none the less good practice and I definitely need to practice saying no to things! So, overall I think this is and will continue to be an enriching learning curve.

OUGD692 PPP 03 Brief 01 Self Branding Development Sketches

Starting from the issues I found through analysing my self branding from last year. I knew I wanted something that communicates the fact that it was hand made and human in shape and essence. Using small caps made sense to start with because it was the lettering style which got the best feedback during cries on work last year. However, this because highly ornate and this is not necessarily what I want to communicate with my self branding. I want something more simple yet human and approachable. 

I thought that this might be more achievable if I used a handwriting like style with connected cursive lines. This connected/continuos line approach lead to the idea of a dotted finish to the line to suggest ink spots and blots. It also occurred to me that this could be a visual hook to achieve visual continuity by applying the line and dot motif where required.

To establish the line and dot as the visual hook I looked at using it at two points on the lettering. I used graph paper in and effort to regulate the line weight and angle of lean. I also came up with an emblem. Reduction of the full word logo, which is a combination of the large capital 'e' and the lower case 'b' helping to communicate the pun of Elittlebeth. 

Naturally, as with any lettering piece, there have to be several drafts before I have something that is fully legible and well composed. I re drew the type again and found that in isolation from the grid of the graph paper I could see a lot more issues with the designs. All the crosses that can be seen below were issues that I identified at this point.

Finally I had a set of lettering that was completed to a high enough level to digitise. I included a slightl line drop shadow on the right hand side of the type. This was to help increase the sense of playfulness and approachable tone of voice, which I think it is effective in doing.

This is now neat enough to to start to digitise and colour for actual application.

Because the fuel behind me re doing my branding was the fact that Dalton Maag application included a CV and short portfolio, specific to type. So, I looked at how the continuos line weight could be applied for some sub titles in the main body of the portfolio again to maintain continuity.

OUGD602 PPP Setting Up Behance

Although I already had a small presence on Behance I took the time recently to fully update my portfolio contents and branding.

I was careful to include a mix of projects that communicate the breadth of my skill set as well as ensuring there wasn't so much content that it couldn't be looked over quickly. 

I also added my recently re designed self branding which sat really well within the square format

A large role I wanted my behance to play in my professional work is to record all of my chalkboard designs. I put my COP work up for that reason. I can easily show the process behind my chalkboards to possible clients, and show them what they are paying for.

OUGD602 External Brief DBA Hyperloop Digitising Type

One of the ideas brought to the table by Melissa was the use of some of the diagrams in the technical documents for hyper loop. The one below details the engine and flow of energy in one of the pod propulsion mechanisms.

I looked at creating a pattern from this diagram, using shapes to connote the flow of energy.

However, this looked far too busy so I looked to strip it back to the bare minimum required for effective communication. The idea being that the tech is suspending the pods so it should sit below the logotype. This still seemed to busy and not communicative of impressive technology, it is at once too simple and too complex.

To ensure the best and closest collaboration I set us a collaborative google drive folder so that we can all see what one another are working on at all times.

Simply by accident the diagram happen to create small speed like line from the vectors that really communicated speed. I just looked at how these lines could be worked into the other letters of the type.

I also saw how this could link in with Eva's concept of connected lines and how the 'H' and 'L' could be linked to form an emblem of a kind.

I also found that the combination of the one short and one long line could frame the type just like the tube and the pod. I tried out a few soft natural colours to try and reduce the sharpness of the design but pursued it no further because it doesn't stick to the technical transparency that I was supposed to be trying to communicate.

Because I was asked to I also vectorised the type that I sketches earlier on in the idea generation stage.

Surprisingly this type really lent its self to being digitised and I made it a blue print blue for the design oars because it was a colour that Becca had identified as an option through her work on the same concept.

I tried both rounded and sharp pointed terminals and found that the pointed ones could look very much like arrows and to bring it back to the idea of the tech made simple, I locked at making an image based aspect to the logo communicating the converging air currents used to support the pod.

I mocked p a couple of different options for this but couldn't find any that really worked.

After showing the team the type vectorised it was suggested that the 'P' should be more rounded to mimic the shape of the 'o's. Once I had done this I agreed that this was the best finish that worked in conjunction with the other letters more effectively.

I looked at reducing the emblem/icon shape down to the minimum compartments and found that they could form two small triangles that still suggest the converging air currents.

After showing the team the different options they agreed that the one above was their favourite because of the way the icon plays a more connected role with the type rather than feeling like a separate add on. So, this is the type that is going on the board for presentation, along with the other more refined ideas.