OUGD603: Creative Networks- Brief

Create a poster for the creative networks talks, starting with Andrew Graham Dixon and Daft Punk.

Make the design eye catching and interesting, it needs to appeal to a wide target market and generate interest for the Creative Networks talks.

How can you make this design stand out from all the rest of the posters? How can you make Creative Networks exciting through advertisement. 

Consider how to present each design, will there be a theme through all the posters or will each poster be tailored for the individual guest speakers?

OUGD603: You be You Further Development

After sending off the initial ideas and receiving some feedback I set to work on further developing the plant idea- their favourite and first choice.

They had explained how they wanted it to be more detailed and that due to some gentle persuasion I now had free reign on what font to use. Instead of re sketching out ideas I took what I had already and continued to develop it digitally. 

In contrast to the original font I had been given I chose to go with a soft and delicate san serif. The choices of futura light and avenir next were made because they are very unimposing fonts whilst still being beautiful. I didn't want to force too much character into these designs leaving room for them to be open and accessible yet eye catching.

I sent these designs for further feedback and ended up in a development conversation with the other designer I'm collaborating with. He sent me some examples of gradient based work suggesting this style may be more suitable for the app icon.

I chose to take these elements and apply them to the design. I also made the choice to simplify the branch idea back to the letter y, it still connotes the idea of a plant but is more more suited to the environment of app icons, all of which are very minimal.

Once again these have been sent off for feedback so I will continue to develop them further when I've heard back from them. I think the next stages from my personal view is to try and develop my initial squares idea and push it as a good concept as well as experiment with more colours.

OUGD603: You be You- Initial Ideas

My first idea was based around a photograph or a mirror. The offset squares represent the vision of self skewed due to self esteem and various issues addressed within the app. The overlay of another square is the support provided by another who 'is just as askew as you'. Not only do these overlaid squares represent support but also the stages of 'straightening oneself out'. Going from someone thrown off balance by problems and difficulties and using the app to re centre yourself.

This idea is a more literal representation, the life ring is a symbol of safety. Saving someone from drowning within their own issues and problems is the suggested concept. The app acts as a life ring offering safety and salvation to the audience who use it.

The third idea was based around growth and new life, the application is designed to help the user grow and progress as a person and deal with troubles and issues. A plant as a visual also connotes the idea of nurturing and new beginnings and that it represents a seedling it also shares the feeling of vulnerability making it an accessible and gentle visual.

OUGD603: You be You- Brief

The Brief

You be You is an social network currently being developed in LA and to be launched in the state of California. The aim of this app based network is to provide support young people/adults facing challenges either in mind (mental diseases, depression, anxiety etc), body (body image, anorexia, bulimia etc) and heart (gender identity, LGBTQ etc).

Produce a logo and application icon for the social network app You be You. An app designed to provide support for teens and young adults in California facing challenges in mind, body and heart.

Consider the target audience, colour choices, font, layout and how the design will be viewed and received and where the logo and icon will appear.

How can you make it stand out from the other social media sites/apps?

Take the audience into consideration, not just the age group but the cultural audience.

Make it work with the layout and look of the application.

What does You be You do?

Allow young people to connect with others experiencing the same difficulties and issues, as well as noted and certified experts in various fields. This creates a support network where an individual can be honest and anonymous, allowing them to talk through problems in a way they may not feel comfortable doing with their family and friends. In short it can help a teenager discuss their problems with people who understand allowing them to be themselves- hence the name; You be You.


Research
In order to get a better understanding of my target audience and the issues they deal with I researched into various areas and troubles that the app is designed to support as well as the use of traditional support tools and engagement with technology.

The majority of teens and young adults often hide their problems from those closest to them.

Bullying
In the state of California (where the You be You app is due to be launched) 12.2 per 1000 13-17 year olds receive sustained maltreatment and abuse.
160,000 students stay home from school everyday due to bullying.
2/3 of students who are targeted become bullies.
28% of US students in grades 6-12 experienced bullying.
16% of US high school students were electronically bullied last year.

The bullying methods have adapted to a technological age, why hasn't the support?

Suicide
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 13-24
In grades 9-12 1 in 6 students seriously considered suicide in the past year.
9.1% of children aged 13-17 experienced at least one depressive episode in the past year.

Drugs and Alcohol
8.5% of children in the 8th grade, 19.4% in the 10th and 25.5% in the 12th grade reported illicit drug use.
19% of 18-24 year olds admitting to drug or alcohol abuse or dependence in 2012.

LGBTQ
Any young adult who identifies as LGBTQ says the 2x more likely to be physically assaulted at school.
92% say they hear negative messages about being LGBTQ at school, from peers and on social networks.
26% say their biggest problems are not being accepted by their family, being outcast at school and a fear to be out/open.

Body Image
95% of individuals with eating disorders are between 13 and 25.
Only 10% of people suffering with an eating disorder will seek help.
87% of female TV characters on the most popular kids' shows aged 10-17 are below average in weight.
Tv programmes focused on appearance are swaying the self esteem of girls as young as 5.
Technological engagement
91% of teens go online using a mobile device.
71% of teens say they use facebook.
Teenage girls use visual social media platforms more frequently than boys with 61% using instagram, 51% using snapchat and 33% using pinterest in comparison to 44%, 51% and 11% of boys.
47% of teens use video call and chat. (skype, oovoo and facetime)
On average 33% of teens use twitter.

Support Materials
You be you is aimed at 13-24 year olds dealing with depression, addiction, body image, gender identity, bullying etc. The current tools available aren't up to date and mostly include PDFs, pamphlets and councillors available in schools, as well as articles and support groups. 

Initial Collaboration Discussion

In initial discussions with the other designer on this brief we came up with a few of the requirements and design decisions. We chose the colours to be as neutral as possible while still having enough character and personality to make the overall product interesting. The light blue, almost green remains eye catching whilst not strictly applying to a masculine gender, and the purple-grey balances well with the blue to create a strong contrast whilst still being gentle. The font was chosen by the app developer and is something that I feel will need to altered along the way, the bold over imposing type feels far too in your face and demanding for an application that exists to support and help people. I'll work with it for now but will push to have it changed later on.