I was genuinely exciting by the idea of studio brief 4,
augmented design was always something that interested me, unfortunately I think
I only realised the full potential of it after I had created everything and
when it was way too late to back track and start it all again. I think it
would’ve been better to categorise the brief as ‘interactive design’ as opposed
to augmented, I was rather fixated on the idea that the audience had to use a
phone, or an app and produce some ‘virtual reality’ when really it could’ve
been anything that physically engages the public and causes them to interact
with the advert. Still, I did enjoy my final outcome eventually.
Of course I had my major mistake moment, like I always do
with every brief ever. This one came with the physical production of my
designs, like it usually does. I was really pleased with my concept and my
ideas (like I usually am) but for some reason I had it in my head that I was
going to use a photograph to create the dank and full of flowers landscapes. See,
if I had had more time, over the course of a year I would take two photos of
the same field, one full of wild flowers in the height of summer and the second
with the barren and empty landscape in the autumn or winter. But seeing as I
didn’t have the time frame to do that I simply caused myself endless
frustration trying to Photoshop flowers into an empty field. No matter how hard
I tried the flowers looked fake and just didn’t fit with the landscape.
However, I’m glad I had this major mistake because it caused me to change my
approach and style. I ended up producing a vectorised cartoon style image that
I really like. It suits the family and children demographic I had been aiming
for much better than the photograph idea and it feels more ‘my style’.
I do have one major problem with my final designs though,
and it’s that the ‘before’ image looks really boring (that and I wish I had put
something like ‘download the app or scan QR code to see a transformation’
instead of ‘Use your phone to interact’, so clunky). In comparison to my field full
of flowers with a happy little bee it just feels so dull. I suppose that was
the point but I don’t think it would grab anyone’s attention; no one would
interact with it. I think a better choice would’ve been the positive image that
becomes animated once you interact with it, or that the poster smells of wild
flowers. This is the problem with my concept though, I’ve tried to give the
scary shock factor common with most conservation posters but also leave people
with a positive feeling at the end. The vectorised style suits the happy ending
but the photograph I feel would’ve best suited the dull start- perhaps a
combination of both styles would’ve worked? Who knows?
I have one more hiccough with this brief and it’s my seed
paper. The seed paper was a key part of the physical side of the campaign,
something people could plant, something to hold. But annoyingly, despite
ordering the paper 2 weeks ago and paying for first class delivery, it still
hasn’t arrived which is really frustrating. It feels like a key component of my
idea is missing and that’s genuinely sad. I can add it later yes, but by then
it’s too late.
Overall, I do like what I’ve produced, I could do better, I
always can, but despite a few problems and a lack of seed filled paper I think
the campaign works. It’s not so much about advertising the website as it is about
encouraging people to engage in home conservation and providing information about
bumble bees and I think that’s what it’s achieved.
No comments:
Post a Comment