Paper Eaters 4 presentation!

Project Evaluation

STRENGTHS:

• I was anxious of the shoot because my last one was not particularly successful and i was worried that the photographer and make-up artist would not get the look i was going for but i prepared as much as i could, sending them images online and taking storyboard with me on the day and this really helped to communicate my ideas. I have definitly improved my team-working skills and feel more confident to organise a shoot again.
• I feel i have finally found something i am good at and feel much more confident about my work. In the previous project it was commented that my sketchbook and design work was good yet i didn't get a very good mark and i think this was because my construction skills let me down and i felt stuck in the middle of both pathways. Now i am more focused on what i want to do and more confident to speak to my tutors about my strengths and tailoring a project around them. Because i have been more inspired by this project and have really enjoyed it, i feel my work is really coming together and i have come up with lots of ideas for further developement. The fact i want to carry the work on from this project says alot as normally i am sick of doing the same thing for weeks!
• Greater volume of work now i have discovered blogger! It has been so much easier to take pictures of things as they happen and write it up when its fresh on my mind as opposed to having print pictures, stick them into my sketchbook and think about what to say. I have covered alot more areas as it is so much quicker to work this way and more to the point as i previously have spent too much time debating the layout of sketchbook pages rather than getting the information down.
• Feel more prepared for life outside of uni - developed team working skills as discussed and am getting my head around thinking about my work in a professional context.

WEAKNESSES:

• I have made a questionnaire and sent it out in recent weeks but did not get a substantial amount of replies, not enough to come to firm conclusions. This could be a really useful tool, especially next year when i'm going to really need to be focused on what my target consumer want. I will send them out via different means (look at guerilla marketing and unusual ways of promoting my blog which the questionnaire can be on) and at specific points in the project to ensure i meet my consumers needs - eg before designing to see what they want, after designing to see which ideas they think are most successful...
• Unfortunatly the print quality of my work is not as clear as i had hoped as i printed at uni and when i went to Staples to make more prints, i could not afford to have everything re-done. This is particularly a problem with the smaller 'summary sketchbook' as this is for a professional context. Luckily the text is still readable though, but for next year i will need to look into different printers as soon as possible.
• As making a sketchbook for a professional scenario was only something i discussed and decided to go ahead with in the last couple weeks of the project, it i literally just scanned in sheets re-printed. If i'd of had more time i would have made it alot more creative and exciting, especially as it is important in promoting myself - i want it to reflect my personality and style as much as possible.
• I haven't pursued as many influences in my visual sketchbook as i probably should have as one of the inital print ideas i made became the one i developed and used so i didn't push for many more different ones.
• Left ordering the storage boxes to the last minute. Although in this project this worked out well as i prefer the replacements i found, i may not be so lucky next time to must make a strict timetable once i have worked out my project and stick to it (especially with ordering dates!).
• Although the storyboards i made for the shoot were really useful, i need to plan each outfit in relation to a pose to ensure all outfits get worn. I found we got carried away in the first outfit and alot of the bet shots were in this. Not too much of a problem as the shoot was about the jewellery but also not ideal - must plan better next time!

OPPORTUNITIES:

• I have made industry contacts with The Girls and had the opportunity to work on a live project which is something i have never done before and has allowed me to experience working to a set brief for someone in the fashion world.
• I have had really positive feedback from people i have shown my jewellery to (designers, The Girls, local events, my peers) which has encouraged me to pursue it further and i am going to exhibit at local art events throughout Devon and Cornwall in the summer. This will give me the chance to see how well the pieces sell and interact with my consumers to find out more about their likes and dislikes to ensure a successfull product.
• I am developing a range of paper wedding bouquets inspired by my jewellery and am due to shoot a look book for this and my inital jewellery range in the coming weeks. None of this would of happened without this project allowing me to develop my own strengths. I am hoping this will be unique as i cannot find anyone who makes paper bouquets and the USP's are that the flowers can be kept as they are as a reminder of the day, customers can have a say in every single aspect (colour, paper, weight, size...) and even get involved in the construction.

THREATS:

• Time - i will be working full time in the summer and therefore it will take me longer to plan and arrange the shoots and make more pieces to sell. Could get a group of friends together to help?  
• Hand-made crafts are really big in Devon therefore there could be too much competition here for my pieces to be a success and even if it does sell, this may not be a true representation of my target consumer. Need to pursue questionnaires and branch further afield!
• Money - prior to the events i am having a stall at i want to make sure i have enough jewellery made so people who are interested will not go without, but at the same time i can't afford to make loads and it not sell! Again, pursue questionnaires and interact with consumer more - perhaps just have a display at one event just to see how much interest there is.

Hand-in Requirements

As well as the hand-in requirements listed in my Learning Agreement (research book/blog, design ideas, realisation of designs, storyboards for shoot, final images) i have also made a condensed version of my project in a book, a jewellery box and considered packaging for my jewellery.
In previous projects i have just handed in what is required and not developed this any further. Following a tutorial with Tammy she suggested I needed to think about my work post-hand-in and in a more professional context.


As a result i made a small book to show professional employers in an interview situation rather than carrying multiple sketchbooks/design sheets/presentation boards. I included a few sketchbook pages to 'set the scene' of the project, design development sheets, final illustrations, my work being worn by The Girls, samples of shoots/text from Amelias and the final spread. I scanned in all the sheets for a clean-cut professional finish as opposed to having a scrappy sketchbook! In some scenarious my original sketchbook with more texture will show my personality more but now i have the option of both depending on the situation.


I further developed my design ideas by considering how they would be stored and it lead me to create the jewellery box/necklace stand which i feel is a real asset to my project and individual boxes for the pieces. This shows i have considered the different contexts my jewellery could be in; stand for in a shop to show necklaces off in a way which is consistant with my brand image, cupcake boxes to create keepsakes which can be displayed in the boxes yet still seen in a retail scenario or in the customers home.

Final Stand

I have finished my final display stand/jewellery box (see development sheets) with beads from broken jewellery to compliment the eco-friendly re-use and recycle aesthetic of the jewellery.

I kept the rest of it neutral so any of the pieces of jewellery can be hung on it and will stand out.
Although i considered it, i didnt want to use my brand colours of orange and pink as i thought this would be too much but the pastel green compliments these.

The stand is for use in a shop situation to show off the jewellery as opposed to for customers to buy. This is because it was very time consuming to make (therefore labour costs will need to be reflected in the final price) and the 1/2" ply wood it is made from costs £30 for a sheet. As my target consumers are 18-35 year olds, those at the younger end may not be able to afford the pieces and even if any of my consumers can, i would not be able to keep up with demand as it took 6 hours to make just 1.

To get around this i would have to contact a manufacturer about getting the pieces pre-cut in bulk to save myself time and money, but i would have to be guarenteed that they would sell so could perhaps make them to order?

Development: different sizes? different shapes instead of heart? covered in fabric? painted? paper? hand-drawings directly onto wood? prints to match decor of customers room? different shaped jewellery box? dividers inside?

Cupcake Boxes

http://www.littlecupcakeboxes.co.uk/clear_square_cupcake_boxes.htm

wow! amazing cupcake boxes! some as little as 50p - will buy for summer festivals/events i am hopefully selling at. Could display them all on a giant cake stand with different tiers? (each level for different price? colour? size?)

Packaging 2

I was passing a cake shop on my road and saw that they had cake boxes in the right size for my neckalces and they were only 20p each so won't make the final retail price too much. I also found little cupcake boxes which gave me the idea to put my rings into baking cases to make them look like little cakes - a fun, contemporary, quirky and unusual way to display them, complimenting the nature of the rings. I am so pleased with how they have turned out! I found packs of loveheart sweets for 10p a pack and included these so people feel like they are getting more for their money and they would also make ideal gifts.

Unlike the black boxes, the rings can be permenantly stored in these boxes at home as they can be seen into so you wouldn't have to go through opening loads of boxes until you find the ring you want.

I really want to develop the packaging in different colours, prints, sizes (eg big over the top ribbon) but as it is so close to hand-in i will have to stick with these for submission.

Packaging

Although I have made a stand, it can only hang one necklace at a time so i looked at packaging the pieces individually - this is especially important if i am to retail the jewellery so it can be transported/unpacked/displayed/taken away by the customer easily and without getting damaged.

I ordered some boxes from the internet but unfortunatly they all came in black and i asked for orange (to fit in with brand colours) and the necklace boxes have been sent in the wrong size so i will have to look for something else for these. The smaller pieces fit fine th0ugh. I like that the label is over sized compared to the box because it gives an almost 'Alice in Wonderland' feel, an influence which i looked at in my sketchbook.

Point to consider: time management/organisation - although it is not my fault that i was sent the wrong order, it is too late to send them back and get replacements so in future i must not leave things which need to be ordered until the last week!

Rob Ryan

As i looked at Rob Ryans work in my sketchbook and am really inspired by him I contacted him for some feedback about my jewellery, I got a brief response back from his assistant but a positive one!

Hi Katie,


We think your jewellery looks lovely and very imaginative - well done!


Best of luck for the rest of your course.


Kind regards
Hazel

Inital Business Cards

I have begun to draft some business cards with a link to my blog on. I am looking into selling my jewellery at local art festivals throughout the summer and until my look book is completed (in the last few weeks of May) i could post these to the organisers so they can follow my blog, rather than attach afew pictures of my work in an email. I would like to look at printing these on swing tags as they are a similar size but a bit more unique than just a piece of card. This could aid with displaying them at the events. Rather than just having a pile on the table i could make an artificial tree to link in with the paper/recycling theme and hang them off the branches - this will emphasise my brand image (girly, ecclectic, eco-friendly) and hopefully attract interest and give people something to remember. This last part is important as i dont want people to just pick up a business card, put it in the bottom of their bag and never look at it again.
I will develop a way of selling pieces via my blog if i have enough interest, or from here have a link to somewhere where they can be bought more easily.

As these are only inital business cards they are very simple and could be developed but having looked at them all arranged in this way i think they complement each other really well so i will print all 3.

Paper Directory

I have begun to research into more paper companies and set up this post to keep them all in one place!

• www.papershed.com - lush handmade papers!
• www.dupont.com - splash and tear proof paper
• www.paperchase.co.uk - amazing wrapping papers!
• www.papermart.com - every kind of paper and card

Saloukee

I sent emails out a while back to jewellery suppliers and designers, asking for feedback on my pieces from a professional perspective. This is important as these people are established and have made it in the industry so know what sells and what doesn't. I need to constantly be developing and moving myself forward to not only meet the needs of my consumer but also keep up with competition.

I have heard back from Sally from Saloukee - http://www.saloukee.com/ who makes amazing, intricate paper jewellery and has won many awards for her work - 'Excellence in Jewellery' 2009 by the British Jewellers Association, 'Shell Livewires 'Grand Ideas' Award'.

Here is what she had to say:

Hi Katie,

Good to hear from you!

Your work looks fantatic and very accomplished for a second year project :)


Some feedback:

-Great use of colour- good combinations and sensitivity...something I always find difficult :)

- I think perhaps you could consider changing the scale of the pieces? More diverse sizes might create a more dramatic collection?

-Great photography- gives an idea of your target market/puts your jewellery in a fashion context (which I'm sure you'll know is important for a designer) personally I think it's important to also get some shots of the product on it's own- you may have already done this?

-Have you used origami papers for these pieces? Obviously I realise this allows them to be folded and bought easily etc and I'm sure you have trialled other papers but the problem with this sort of paper is that it limits your creativity. Perhaps it could be worth experimenting using softer papers too or ones that you have made yourself? Perhaps this would give the work more fluidity? I just think this may allow your shapes to be gentler on the skin and sit more naturally with the curves of the body?- But this is only a suggestion and may be worth considering should you use paper in a project again.

- Great composition and form, I love the tesselating pattern and I feel the two chosen shapes are really complementary of each other, adding good dimensions to the pieces.

I also think it's fantastic that you have taken the initiative to get in touch. I hope my feedback have been useful and I wish you the very best for the future.



Kindest,



Sarah Kelly



Saloukee.com


Different papers are something I didn't really consider in depth as I was just looking for specific colours in a lightweight paper (if they are too thick by the time it has been folded they are too stiff and less accurate). Since I made the jewellery I bought some new paper with different transparency, thickness and texture as I am looking at devloping a range of eco-friendly wedding flowers over the summer. I love Sarah's idea of making my own paper as it gives a more personal touch and I can tailor this to the customers needs - perhaps even making paper with them so they can play a part in creating the flowers for their special day...

Changing the scale of the pieces is also something i would like to develop - i was limited by the size of the paper before. Something to consider is that the paper will need to get thicker as the shapes get bigger or they will be too floppy and not stand up - or i could find a way to treat the paper to make it stiffer?

Sarah's comments have also encouraged me to pursue the idea of a look book using the close-up shots i took and individual ones of each piece on the stand - if i do not have time to do this before i hand in this project it is something else i will develop outside of uni time. This will allow me to post to possible suppliers, and it's always nice to have something physically to look at rather than pictures online!

Katie Louise 2

Possible colour schemes - the pastel colours reflect the girly delicate nature of my current colleciton, yet they are vibrant enough to also be ecclectic and memorable. I could combine 4 colours as i have started to do on the last name, to give me more to work with as having only 2 associated with my brand could be too repetative and just too much! However there is nothing to say i can't use other colours, as long as my chosen 2 are present and dominant, preferably in the title. My favourite combination is the pink and orange but i think they all work well together so the others could be a palette for smaller elements (eg border around letters, colour of string on swing tags, stitching on canvas bags...)

Kate Louise

Above: looking up fonts from dafont.com to use. I have looked up simple ones so my name is easily read and so i have more scope for designing an elaborate 'K' which will stand out.

Above: Experimenting with colour schemes. I could have 2 set colours to represent my brand and incorporate these into different advertising elements and the differentiating factor could be differnent fonts? font sizes? combination of capitals and lowercase? or none at all - consistant colours and fonts could be more professional and recognisable to my target audience.

Above: Further variations of text. Although there is alot of room for development of an elaborate 'K', in the examples above they don't look right as they are too separate from the rest of the name.

Options:

• Incorporate the ideas for the 'K' (eg illustration) into the rest of the name? Risk of being too busy, must be something v.recognisable and unique. May look tacky!


• Go down the route of establishing recognisable brand colours and font?

Initals

Amelias Magazine Issue 06
Liberty London Magazine

I really like the style of the 'B' in particular, as it is ecclectic and colourful like my jewellery. Having the whole brand name like this would be too much but i want to design a 'K' that people will recognise and can stand alone and work in the whole name. The illustrations around the 'G' are an example of how i could keep the same font but introduce/change elements for different projects or componants (eg a swing tag, stitched in label, packaging - bag, screen printed tissue paper, ribbon - website, look book, letter head, blog header, general logo...).

Branding

My work is a reflection of me and i although i have established a target audience for my jewellery, it is one i have personally decided to reach out to, as opposed to one given to me in a breif. As a result, i want my brand image to reflect myself and i have started to think about different combinations of my name:

• Katie Tremlett (Although straight forward, to the point and promoting myself it doesnt have a ring to it! Too many syllables)
• Katie Louise
• Kate Louise (Simple, girly)
• K Lou
• Kate Lou
• Katie Lou
• KLT (Easy to remember, short, more intriguing than simply using my name)
• KT (Initals and also my name)
• KT Lou

I want to create a logo based around the typography of my brand name, keeping the font the same so it can be recognised but having an element i can change for different projects (eg colour?)

Preliminary Final Spread

Here is a inital draft of my final spread to discuss with Tammy. Im worried the illustrations seem too repetative but at the same time I didn't want to introduce too many elements as the jewellery itself has alot going on so the pages could end up looking too busy. I am generally pleased with the layout and think it is compatible with the style of Amelias but think i need a fresh optinion on whether the illusrations are too much.

In Amelias they have different symbols representing each member of the team when credited, which I have copied as they are consistent throughout each shoot and each issue, for example: 'photographer * Charlie Whiteway'. My mum did the nails for the shoot as she is a trained nail technician (as opposed to Farah doing them) so i have found a new symbol to represent her: 'nails + Rachel Tremlett'.

As i only used 2 outfits for the shoot in the end, and these were very simple, the credits on each page look bare, especially as some only say 'leotard from H&M', which isn't a problem but led me to think about coming up with a name for each piece. My starting point has been the colours/prints used in the pieces. In order of spread: Polka Blush, Burnt Viola, Aqua Dotty, Mustard Blush, Cerise Sea.

Final Spread Experiments

I have paired these shots together on facing pages as i feel they compliment each other well as the first one has a very busy background and the second is alot plainer. As the pink and blue necklace is in so many of the final shots, i wanted to spread out the shots it is in, by putting them first and on the very last page (last page can be seen below)...

I'm not too sure about the arrangement above as the second image does not have a clear outline. This is something which i think is essential to divide the 2 images as they are laid out in an unusual way, with one crossing onto the other page. Therefore this image would perhaps work better on its own page, so i have substituted it with the image below...

Developing Illustration

I wasn't too pleased with the previous illustration mock-up, i feel there was too much block white space yet at the same time i didnt want to pick out too many details in the tree and risk taking the attention away from the shot. Instead i have played around with the idea of a dandelion as it is something else which 'falls apart' linking in with the title. Above are my variations, my favourite being the last one.

I created the illustration on Adobe Illustrator, making just 2 seeds (one plain and one with cirlces on the ends) and making duplicates of them. From here i played around with scale and rotated the seeds to form a circle.

I am really pleased with the effect these have on the spread, they are alot more delicate than the trees, and by picking out the colours of the jewellery there is some continuity. This is something i could carry over to each page making each different as this will also double as a colour palette for the jewellery.

I decided to use Arial font as it is simple, clean and easy to read, as anything too fancy would have been difficult to pick out and look too fussy. To blend the text more with the illustration I have filled in the o's in the word 'good' to fit in with the circles on the end of the seeds.

Although the text is small and i therefore could have fitted in the full title, i like the simplicity of 'Good things fall apart' on its own so i may not include the full title, although this on its own is a bit pessimistic!