Final Major Project
The FMP was an 8 week project that gave me the opportunity to create my own brief within whatever subject I wanted to go with. Initially, I wanted to use this project to create a game itself. However, with a lack of experience with software I decided to create the marketing campaign & as well as the concept for a 2D fighting game featuring two of my classmates. This would involve creating characters, promotional posters, character animations, trailers as well as a functional website. For these tasked I used programs such as Photoshop, Muse, Illustrator, After Effects as well as Adobe Animate. I first began to research into more traditional animation firms dating all the way back to Disney. I did attempt to create fluid 2D animation but I decide to take it in a different direction as I wanted to to focus more on concept for the game. I was always inspired by 2D fighting games as I grew up playing them on the PS1 and Gamecube. So for me this project was something that I really connected with and was something I was really interesting in creating.
Throughout the project I kept learning new programs and skills. I was self taught with the programs by researching tutorials and guides to work out keyframe animation in After Effects. This was the first time I truly used a Wacom tablet in my work, which gave me skills that I can use in my future work. My main goal for the project was to have it look as authentic as I possibly could. I wanted to make sure each measurement that I used whether it be for the cover of the case to the small pamphlet inside, getting it to look as real as possible was crucial to the success of the project.
These short animations were definitely one of the more challenging parts of the project. Id been influenced by the league of legends character animations and wanted to take an aspect of that into my own characters. Getting the correction rotation and movement to look natural and flood really tested me but I feel they came out looking great.
I would really appreciate if you wouldn't mind viewing the full blog on this project. CLICK HERE. Thank You
Skills Competition Wales
The Skills Competition Wales is a competition hosted each year by selective colleges across the whole of Wales. It features a multiple discipline of subjects, and I was recommended by my tutor to enter into Graphic Design. The brief was set on the day in this case it was to design a marketing poster to promote the creative arts in Wales, targeting secondary-school pupils. With a set limit amount of time I wanted to create something that wasn’t only visually engaging, but stood out among the rest of the competitors. I focused primarily on statistics to engage with parents of school kids as this would persuade them into knowing that the creative industry is filled with lucrative work. Initially, I focused on the typography that surrounded the poster. I wanted to make sure I was creating a bilingual poster that would work for both Welsh and English speakers. This challenged me as I didn’t want it to look like either language was forced. I wanted it to link in with the Wales in some respect, I decided to use colours, as well as a vague map using the infographic white line of the poster.
I spent some time researching into posters and what kind of persuasive techniques they had used. Among 18 other competitors I ended up with 2nd Place in the competition, as well as invaluable experience set within stressful restrictions.
These are some later redesign versions that tackled with some of the overcomplicating with the text and well as playing around with much more effective colours.
Graphics & Communication
This was a brand identity 4 day project where I was tasked with swapping two contrasting brand identities this mean swapping the visual aspects, the typography, symbolism and the imagery.) For this I wanted to choose two products that I use daily Apple & Thatchers. All joking aside, I wanted to have two polar opposites when It came to marketing. You have Apple with its clean, modern aesthetic that wants to be seen as a luxury. Compared to Thatchers where it’s a proper classic Cider. With its bold, brash typeface along with countryside imagery It’s evident who its target market is. So I knew these were the two products I was going to switch the branding for.
One difficulty I had while rebranding both products was the fact that were wasn’t really much text on the apple box. Meanwhile thatchers is covered with in your face text that wants it to stand out on the shelf compared to its competitors. I was able to come up with a solution by including some additional information from the Apple site on the can of thatchers.
It wasn’t necessary for me to explore further into programs, but I enjoy pushing myself to learn new software. I used Adobe Dimensions to create the 3D rendered model for my objects, and then I designed the packaging using photoshop. There were definitely some frustrating aspects of learning a new program in such a small time, however I was pleased with the results.
Signage
This is my most recent completed project to date. It was a 4 Week project where I had to create 4 Pictograms and 2 Directional Signs for an aspect of the signage of Lisbon. We had recently taken a trip there and we were faced with a nightmare of challenges in navigating our way around. This gave me the idea to create a navigational system that could be used by tourists that are visiting Lisbon. I first began by researching the current bus routes as well as tourist maps. They were cluttered and over complicated with useless imagery which made it difficult to follow. I wanted to keep my pictogram designs to a minimum and make them as simplistic, yet recognisable. I took inspiration from Massimo Vignelli designs of the New York underground subway to flesh out my idea for the map.
I relied heavily on Illustrator to create my pictograms. Although I successfully met the demands of the brief. I wish I could have spent a little longer on my pictograms to make them a little more legible. To display how my App would potentially work I made a simple GIF animation using Photoshop.
Life Drawing
Life drawing has always been an integral part of my work. Not only has it given me key skills that I need for this industry of game art, but it's something I really enjoy. While I enjoy drawing with pencil, mixing my medias and experimenting with Chalk, Pastels, Oils has given my a much wider skillset in the medium of drawing.
RYAN JOHN