JOE MITCHELL DESIGN

Now my research is complete it is now time to strip down the Light Phone so that I can think about a rebrand for the market identity. Taking into consideration minimal shapes and numbers found on the device as well as a contemporary font, I have developed ideas that could possibly be used for a rebranding opportunity. I took the cross, the triangle, and the numbers listed above.  After speaking to the tutors, we both agreed that the concept needs to go deeper than it already is. I then came up with the idea to research into the 5 senses; taking on board this concept of appreciating your environment rather than what is on your smartphone. I now want to go out and take my own photography, looking more into this idea of the 5 senses which will hopefully add a more ambiguous feel to the project. I also want to look further into the text, making sure that the kerning and letter form is 100% correct so that when layering it above an image it will look its best. 

When starting upon thinking about ideas for a rebrand of The Light Phone, I found an article online that is all about an ideal user experience. The article talks about a speculative future of design that combines Contextual, emotional, anticipatory and ethical design. I researched into each of these themes extensively and it produced some interesting findings.  One that I found most interesting was anticipatory design. Researching this idea brought me upon an episode of Black Mirror called Nosedive by which they used anticipatory design to predict that the future would be this pastel-filled the happy world that is run by technology and this social media presence. I researched into this pastel-hued world and it really is a trend in today's aesthetics - being voted colour of the year and being found among multiple platforms - from film to photography. The trend of this opened up more research to which I found artists that work with this colour to produce interesting images based o...

When researching the future of design, rebranding and identity, I have come across a unique contemporary device that is a future development of the smartphone - I believed it was relevant research due to the extensive research I completed on the branding identity of Apple.  The smartphone is a futuristic device that links to your smartphone. It only accepts calls and is designed to enable us, as humans, to appreciate our surroundings more rather than looking down at our phones. The idea is that, in the future, everyone will leave their smartphones at home and opt for the smartphone for a social-media less world. I thought that this was a unique spin on speculative futures - many other people I found were looking into an increased social media world whereas I wasn't.  After increased research, I then looked at the branding identity which in my opinion looked dated and odd in comparison to a device that looks very futuristic and like something that would be found...

Today we were introduced to our new brief which is surrounding Speculative Futures. First initial ideas that I had all related back to the concept of the future of Graphic Design and what the subject could evolve to over the next ten years for example.  I started by researching this topic and there were a few examples of articles surrounding the future of graphic design. They all related back to this idea of Rebranding which is a new marketing technique that some companies are employing which is the process of stripping the brand right down to its bare recognisable essentials. This process, which is adopted by many brands such as Apple, McDonalds and Nike is a common feature in their identities.  I then used apple as a case study to research deeper into the way in which this big company has done this - from a minimalistic design that now has such an emotional experience with the user - from the opening of the box to use it in social events, there's a big e...

For the final outcome, I have decided to curate Play Magazine. Play Magazine will be single editions each tackling a cultural talking point so that imminent self is completely explored. The idea will be a trial by myself and two other friends so that the different aesthetic can be fully explored and seen through comparison. The first edition, as seen above named Play 001, tackles sexuality and being gay in the 21st century.  Play Magazine is a final product of extensive research based on imminent self. Its inspired by the human being journal and T-shirts design by Stussy which both celebrate the human in the editorial. It is also heavily inspired by my childhood - growing up in the late 90s I have a fascination with VCR Recorders and Disposable Cameras. Play, which is a development of a free VCR Font, works as a title for a story of someone's life - you can read through the editorial and get the same personal feel as if you were watching on tape. Research regarding zine cu...

I have developed further work surrounding my recent studio project Imminent Self. Working on feedback from tutors as well as looking at the direction I want to take my project, I am now developing previous work to hopefully come up with a concept idea.  Developing from Photography from before, I have now decided to look at the work of Deutsche & Japaner who create more ambiguous work based on personal items that relate well to imminent self. This inspired me to take more different photos, looking at ideas that would only be able to be associated with my friend Niamh.  I also looked more into this idea of VCR recordings and disposable cameras and how these relate to much to myself and my childhood; being one of the most personal ways we used to document celebrated events. This then inspired me to try to edit the pictures in this glitch and vintage manner by which would relate to this very personal way of documenting work. There is a real trend at the ...

Today I completed a photoshoot inspired by the brief on Imminent Self. The idea of previous research was all based on real photography that challenged perceptions of self and argued about the human behind editorial. The idea of this shoot was to focus on my friend Niamh. As a student interested in fashion and art, we based the shoot around the student area of Headingley looking at the grunge feature of the place, the feel of the movement and the contrast behind dark and light. I also looked at inspiring features looking at the letter of her house, her choice of footwear and also other things such as her handwriting, choice of clothing and visual aesthetic. The whole shoot was based on the idea that the person defines themselves so they should design the theme of the project. To make it seem even more personal we switched between a DSLR and a disposable camera.