Another research area.

As anther area of research I would like to look into obscure things which have possibly become a brand. For example a band. A band isn't your average everyday brand yet some bands seem to have a brand like stature or presence. I couldn't really say a band is ever a company though, but I think they can have as well as be a brand. I also want to look and find other items which may have a brand.

Research area.

My essay and module about companies becoming brands can include a range of things for testing as well as research. For some research however I do want to analyse companies which I consider to have a "brand".
These companies can include

• Microsoft
• Apple
• Corsair (computer parts)
• Nike
• BBC

I have different opinions about all of these companies, however I do consider them to be brands for similar reasons. Microsoft, Apple (boooo), Nike and BBC are all well known brands which is why I have chosen them to study. I have also mentioned a brand called Corsair, these are computer part manufacturers, which I consider to have a really strong brand throughout everything they do, almost to the point of Apple.

Case studies on brands such as these will make the bulk of my research, however I will also be looking at other peoples case studies on brands as well as their ideas on branding etc. This will come from a variety of sources such as books, articles, and online.

Essay topic revised again.

Essay topic revised again.
I have taken the idea of "semiotics within branding as an idea for the essay, and I want to differ slightly and have "When does a company stop being a company, and start being a brand?" as my essay topic question.

I want to know how, when and what a company needs to be and have to be considered a brand, and not just a company with a logo.  Branding is more than just having a logo, business cards etc. So I want to find out what actually helps develop and create a strong brand.

Over christmas action plan.

Over the christmas period, I hope to actually make a edcent start on the creative reflection module.
As so far I have done more or less nothing towards this module and been focusing entirely on the other module. That being said, I am coming to a close with that project so I will have chance to do the same for this project.

• I will start by correcting my statement of intent to what i am actually doing the project about, which is the semiotics and messages behind branding. This is similar to what I originally wanted to do which was semiotics in advertising.

• After I will be looking at a couple of reflective models. Then I will be identifying and using one to use throughout the project.

• After that I will be researching into my topic, as well as conducting some primary research. This could consist of survays as well as experimental work, creating deceptive logo's or changing existing logos to get across or see if i can successfully changing the meaning or peoples perception of the logo/brand.

I hope to have the bulk of my research done as well as the statement of intent done by christmas. Although it is a lot of work I do believe it can be done simply due to other work getting done.

Essay Topic change.

I am leaning toward changing the subject of my essay to the semiotics with branding and logo design. I know there is an abundant source of information on this available. Many of the big designers also write about their views on branding which would make a key source of information and views. Wally Ollins is the first person to come to mind with his book called "On Brand". The research and findings as well as papers read so far would not be wasted due to the overall topic being semiotics.

I think the slight change in subject from advertising to branding will interest me more. I also think i have a lot more to gain from researching this. As branding is a core part of what I do and what I would like to carry on doing.

Presentation of work.

Regardless of what my actual Essay and research subject will be bout. It will be presented in a particular manner to be more interesting than just a folder.

Some ideas I have so far.

• Magazine style presented, could use Issuu.
• In the style of a well designed annual report.
• Book. Which could possibly be printed using Blurb.

I think a strong printed piece would be the way forward for myself to do, due to my interest in print and layout. Keeping it with a clean design with lots of white space will allow the information to breath. The publication would have all of my research, comments on it, case studies, results of surveys etc.

During my HND at Salford, one of the modules was to create a double page spread and ad for a magazine. After the module, we put some of the work together to make a small magazine.
http://issuu.com/artdessalford/docs/the-magazine Was the result.

Time Mangament!

Since these past few weeks have been really slow. I think its time to prepare some form of time management for this module. I think seeing how little time I have left to do things put in front of me might just give me the enthusiasm to actually do some reading and research. I am leaning towards a Gantt chart as well as a reading list i will compile to help give myself some direction.

I would also like to be doing a some sort of mind map of possible ideas for primary research and test pieces for my essay. This is due to me not having the slightest idea what to do about them yet. I feel as if this part of the module is throwing me off a little, even though I have done essays in the past, generating this level of research for an essay is a little foreign to me.