OUGD505 - Design Practice 2: Studio Brief 2 (Final Development)

Thankfully, as I was able to get the remainder of my work to Flexipress to be printed, I have been fortunate enough to be able to produce the further development of my brief as opposed to simply proposing it. I decided to design the swimming safety flash cards the same size as the road safety flash cards to keep consistency across the range. I also sent a second file to Flexipress of all of the flash cards reduced in size to place at the end of a lanyard. 

Below is all of my final development, cutting all of my work out and completing my range of products. I used my laminator to laminate all of the flash cards as I thought this would be appropriate, seeing as the materials would be used before going swimming and so they need to remain a high quality and don't get damaged. 

During the final crit, I took all of my black wheels along with me which I had bought on impulse over the Easter break. Initially, I had planned to attach the wheels to the keyrings, but when they arrived I realised that they were probably too big for this. I received some feedback from James who suggested that I should create some spinning tops. This suggestion was absolutely perfect! I went down to woodwork and asked the man (who made my box as well as other things in the past), for some wooden strips but took me through to the other workshop and handed me over to a lady who showed me metal rod alternatives. In the end she found some small strips of metal which I could feed through the centre of each wheel. All I had to do was attach it with some strong glue. With more consideration, I decided to create one red, amber and green example. 

I am really pleased with this addition to my collection of products as the idea of including spinning tops works perfectly well for autistic children, as they absolutely love wheels on cars purely for the fact that they can spin them round and round. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2: Studio Brief 1 and 2 (Whole Collection Summary)

All Products

Keyring

The keyring was designed to distribute at the book stall I had at Waterstones. It is related to road safety as it is to be attached to car keys to raise road safety awareness. The design of it is really simplistic so that it fits in with the rest of the branded materials. I also didn't want to overcomplicate the design as this wouldn't be well suited to autistic children as they would experience sensory overload.

Road Safety Flash Cards

The road safety flash cards are quite self explanatory. They have been designed to be used by autistic children to help them understand the rules of the road. To keep all of the flash cards together, a red band has been used with a buckle on it to represent a seat belt. This is to get the children used to fastening their seat belts when they get in a car.

Swimming Safety Flash Cards

The swimming safety flash cards are to be used prior to going swimming. The idea of them is for parents or teachers to give them to their children or pupils to educate them about what they should and shouldn't do when they go swimming. Both sets of flash cards are only starter sets and so they would be extended given the time.

Swimming Safety Lanyard

I also developed the flash cards and printed them out at a smaller scale to attach them to the end of a lanyard. I laminated both the full sized flash cards and the miniature ones to protect them and keep them clean. Once again, the red webbing and buckle has been used to maintain consistency across the whole range of products.

Poster

The poster was designed for the Waterstones stall. I wanted to inform my audience about the cost of the products which were for sale on the night. I also wanted to try and make it clear what it was that I had produced.

Autism Publication

The publication was produced for studio brief 1, but it is also relevant to be used for studio brief 2 as well. I have therefore incorporated it into the second brief as well. The glasses were bought to allow the recipient of the publication to understand what it feels like to experience sensory overload. It is more about the concept of the glasses than them being scientifically accurate, as the professional glasses which are available are much more expensive.

Red Folder

I bought the red folder to demonstrate the way in which the products would be distributed to the children. I have decided that all of the products are provided by the government and they are not for profit products. They would be distributed to schools and rest bite care to then give to the children for them to use at home with their parents or on their own. Inside the folder there are several colour separators which would be for each range of products, for example the blue separator would be used for all of the swimming safety materials.

Coloured Pencils

The coloured pencils are just an additional part of the branding. They have been secured together using the red webbing to once again maintain consistency. The pencils would be for the children to use to fill in their swimming experience forms after they have been swimming.

Rubber

The rubber is self explanatory, it is simply to demonstrate the breadth to which the range could stretch to. It could be distributed in shops as well to raise awareness, in places like WHSmith.

Spinning Top

The spinning tops are an ideal way of interacting with autistic children and getting them to engage with a product. This toy will help them to get used to red, amber and green and it will also enable them to have some fun with the products which will make the collection memorable. 

Air Freshener

The air freshener is another way of extending the range of products. I actually bought an air freshener and cut it up so that I could glue a strip in between the card with the traffic lights and text on. I wanted it to be as realistic as possible and not just a proposal. 

Sensory Flash Card

I experimented with creating a sensory flash card. This would be produced a bit more professionally if it was to be mass produced in shops or distributed from schools or rest bite care to the child's home. I am really pleased with the outcome of this design and think the corrugated paper works well to add another sensory dimension to it, giving the same impression as a seat belt texture.

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2: Studio Brief 2 (Investments)

Below are two key investments I made during this module. I found these glasses with coloured filters on Amazon and thought they would be ideal for studio brief 1 and 2. As my publication is relevant to both briefs I am able to combine the two together and then create my further range of products which is really positive. 

More recently I came across this talking paper in the pound land. I had been looking for a recording device for quite a while but hadn't been able to find any which were affordable. I have been able to use this to create a sensory board for submission which I am really pleased about. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2: Studio Brief 2 (Areas of Graphic Design Covered)

Throughout this brief I have created a wide range of products. We were asked to consider at least two different areas within graphic design. In total, I have looked at product and packaging, branding and identity, information and way finding, retail and promotion and editorial and publishing. I have tried to cover every aspect so that my range of products is as believable and applicable to real life as possible. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2: Studio Brief 2 (App Development)

I feel as though it is important for me to have a digital aspect to my work as well. I have developed this app design to demonstrate what my flash cards would look like on screen. The app would simply be used by swiping past each flash card to reveal the next one. 

Ideally, if I had the skill set I would love to have been able to develop this app and code it. This is something I could perhaps look at next year as it would be a good skill to have for future use. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2: Studio Brief 2 (Crit with Becca)

Now that I know I am going to create some materials for road safety, I need to carry out some further research. I was talking to one of my flatmates about the brief I am working on and mentioned how I was going to create some printed materials for autistic children. Coincidentally, she said that her uncle teaches autistic children and actually takes them out swimming so she said that she would get in touch with him for me. 

He responded to her straight away and said that my idea was really interesting and relevant. He told me to basically carry out further research online in order for me to be able to design the materials. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2: Studio Brief 2 (Final Crit)

Today we had our final crit for Studio Brief 2. I took my work along for Studio Brief 1 as well though, as the two work together as well. I placed all of my work down on the table, demonstrating everything which I had at the Waterstones event, as well as proposals for further development before the submission date. Last night I spent some time thinking about the work I could produce to develop my range. I also drew out an idea for an app design proposal as I think this could be really successful. 

I wrote down some information for people to understand where my work could potentially go and how it could develop. I then wrote down a set of questions to get some feedback. 

Below is a list I made to keep myself organised. I also had this out on the table so that people could give me feedback on the ideas. Most people ticked which they preferred or put a smiley face next to the preferred ideas. This helped me a lot as I could identify the most relevant pieces of design work to produce. 

Below is all of the feedback I received. I was really pleased to have received two pages of feedback, as this is more than the last time. Although most people have suggested that I should just propose anymore work that I produce, I have decided that I am going to try and physically produce as much of it as possible as I think I would get more out of this than just a digital proposal.