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. 

Week 6.

Good lord, slow week.
I have been slacking and putting off reading to a professional level this week. So I guess I really should start reading some semiotics related stuff.
ctrl+c, ctrl+v last weeks plan for this week.

week 5 actions

Well it seems I've lost track a bit on this project. falling behind on schedule. Even so I am still in the research stage of the project, and although my essay topic questions is not final. I still have some good ideas in what I would like to know about semiotics within advertising.

• How far can an audience really be manipulated into thinking something. (how specific can the signified be?)
• How can an audiences perception of something be changed. 
• Are people aware of the hidden messages within advertising.
• A case study of a advertising campaign, or a few small campaigns or individual adverts.  

I am sure more questions and topics will be raised as I delve into semiotics properly over the next couple of weeks. I am not stressing over coming out with a definite question just yet, as i think one will reveal its self as I learn more. 

So as of week 5 my actions are just to read or at least start reading some books I have purchased, as well as learn and define the key figures in semiotics. I would also like to review and add a little more to my statement of intent and create a good 2nd draft for it.

Introducing Semiotics

I have purchased the book "introducing Semiotics" by Paul Cobley and Litza Jansz. At a first glance it seems like a really basic and a pretty near comic like introduction to semiotics as a whole. Introducing various theorists and writers in the subject. I hope this will be the light read introduction to semiotics i have been looking for to help give a first basic look to it.

Reflective writing over view.

Having spent today's class learning about reflective writing and the difference compared to descriptive writing I have learnt and gained a better understanding of the subject and how to flesh out on what can at first seem like a small topic.
This will help both now and later when it comes to the essay, it will help me explore and understand themes and topics within an advertisement to gain an understanding into the semiotics contained within it. Being able to understand these will allow for a better essay and a better project mark as a whole.

Semiotics in advertising.

I will be doing my essay topic on Semiotics, and more precisely on the semiotics within advertising. I still am not 100% sure where to go from there but I have some ideas.

• Directly comparing and evalating 2/3 adverts in detail and how they use semiotics.
• Comparing 2/3 adverts in different ways using different theories of semiotics.
• Critically analyse some of the methods and theories of semioticians.

Topic of essay

I found the information and theory behind semiotics very interesting, and also a potentially important thing to learn properly for design. Due to these I will am going to look firther into and potentially base my essay on something within semiotics, such as its use within advertising and use a few case studies on it as a base for the content of my essay.

Questions on semiotics

Semiotics Questions and Answers

Summarise what semiotic theory is used for. How could it be useful to your specialism?
-Semiotic theory is useful to know how and why signs are used and how they may be utilised to make an audience think something. They are also important for indirect communication.

Name 10 different signs you encounter every day. eg. sound, body language, adverts…

-wave hello.

-fire alarm.

-flashing lights on emergency vehicles.

-traffic lights.

-facial expressions.

-people wearing hats, scarves and gloves.

-leaves falling off a tree.

-flags.

-shivering.

-game screens flashing red to indicate low health.

What was Ferndinand de Sausuere banging on about? Whats his theory on this?

Hid theory was that there are two parts to semiotics, the signifier and the signified. 

How did Charles Sanders Peirce differ from him above?
Charles added that there is different types and variations of semiotics. Index, Icons and symbols.

Define the Signifier. Give three examples of a Signifier.
The signifier is the things that you actually see or hear etc.

-The alarm sound of a fire alarm.

-The actual movement of the hand gesturing.

-The leaf falling.

What is signified?
The signified is the message that the signifier gets across.

Give an example of a sign system.
Sign Language, or even a normal spoken language.

What is intertextuality? Give an example.

Semiotics

After reading a little bit on semiotics and discussing it in class. I now have a good or at least basic grasp of the theory behind it. Having studied graphic design for a few years, I have been using them already. However now I know more information about it and differences between varying semiotics.

I think this puts some or answers what topics I could discuss about signs I mentioned in a previous entry. I could well base my project on a variety of smaller subjects within semiotics.

Some decent possibilities.

After spending some time discussing and thinking about some possible topics for this module, I have come up with a list with some decent possibilities on it, some of which are quite specific and others still a little bit open but still an interesting possibility.

• Laws around Graffiti.
• Influence and power of suggestion within colour.
• How important is branding for a small/new business.
• How much is enough with advertising and how far should it be aloud to go.
• Signs and icons. (A little open but there's something in there regarding there global usage etc.)
• Should we be able to choose if we want to see advertising.
• How far can a company go with a re-brand?
• When is it the right time for a re-brand?
• Possibilities and effects of post-design things, such as printing methods.

These are some possible areas I could base my essay on, I think some may have more resources and information on than other but I will have to look into some, as well as try to think of some more. 

Mind mapping for a starting place.

In order to generate some initial ideas and think of potential areas to look into for the subject of this project. I decided to create a few small mind maps. I decided on creating 3 smaller ones for some large areas i was interested in looking into, rather than just one big mind map. I though this was it could help me focus on a specific area and try to explore more of it.

I spent some time on these, and I was quite disappointed of not being able to come up with some detailed or specific things to look into. Even so I was still able to get at least a couple of specific areas, and I was able to at least get a start into looking for an area. 

I think I was unable to generate ideas on the topics as I felt a little in the spot whilst doing them. I think a better way of getting ideas is just to jot them down as and when I think of them.

Week 2 actions.

Actions for week 2

• Mind map to generate a good amount of potential areas for this project.
  - This will give me a starting point to be able to work from and to generate a lot of potential possibilities for the essay and module topic.
  
• Follow through with some basic research into a few chosen topics.
  - This will give me a better idea of what would be a better topic for the essay as initial findings may be bad and not much information about the topic may be available. I may also find I am not very interested in the topic or the topic has little relevance to what I want to be doing.
  
• Look into different reflective models, and reflect on how each might help.
  - By looking into some reflective models I will be able to find out an effective way to reflective creatively upon my research as well as any experimental work. There are different reflective models and some may be better than other given the subject matter of what I will be writing about.
  
• By the end of the week have a good idea of what specific topic to do the project about.
  - If I manage to do this by the end of this week I will have a good start to the project. Allowing for a comfortable pace o be set for the rest of the project. As the most important information will be cleared up.

ideas for a re-brand essay.

Corporate rebranding: destroying, transferring or creating brand equity? 
Laurent Muzellec, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandMary Lambkin, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/case_studies.htm/case_studies.htm?articleid=1562580&show=html

This article would make a great starting point for an essay on rebranding. Simply reading through this would allow the generation of other points and areas to explore for the topic, such as why a company would rebrand? How they would do it? etc.

I think small articles like this coupled with case studies on companies that have re-branded would create a good basis for an essay. finding 2 case studies on the same re-brand and comparing and contrasting would raise different points and arguments.

thoughts on topic

I think looking into layout and the effects of a successful layout maybe something worth looking into for a topic, there is potential for lots of experiments for it and there is tonnes of good resources for research. On the the side of it I also have a particular interest in layout and editorial design, specifically for magazines and catalogues etc.

The same can also be said about branding. However this is a large subject area with multiple smaller topics and elements, and will need to specific question to answer or subject matter.

first idea generation attempt

In order to start getting some ideas for the subject of the Creative Reflections module. I have began with a small brainstorm/mind-map to allow me to generate some ideas. None of these to me stick out as particularly strong. However it is just a starting point to allow me to think of more detailed and more distinctive topics and subject matters for the module.

Questions and answers about me as a designer.

1. What is your current practice/specialist area?
   I currently would say I do not have a specialist area. Even though there are areas that I do have more experience in such as branding, editorial based work and advertisement. At the moment I am trying to develop my specialist area from a small list of subject areas I have tried and liked. After dismissing other areas of design I am not to keen on such as animation, motion graphics. It is down to wanting to learn web as I currently see web design as a necessity to some level, I also have a interest in interface/layout design as well as branding.  
2. What are you passionate about?
   My passions tend to lie in and outside of design. I love playing games and skateboarding, these are the two main things in my life which I can always go to to relax and have fun, regardless or what mood or situation I might be in. Design is obviously a passion of mine and it is a wide spread passion having interests in a lot of areas, this relates to my specialist area above. I have the passion to design, but I am yet to find where to put it. 
   
3. What and who are your influences/inspirations?
   My first and major influence in design was the workings of Saul Bass and in particular his movie posters. Seeing them for the first time made me realise I do not need to be a technically good drawer to be good at design, sure it may help. But you don't need to be able to draw life like drawings to be able to be creative and to create a good solid piece of design.
    
4. Where and how do you get inspiration for work? (reading about..? drawing from observation? Listening to…? testing theories, science, philosophy and nature., architecture., automatism..)
   My inspiration usually relies on the given topic I am working with. for instance if I were doing a packaging brief i would search for great looking packaging until I find something which breaks the mould of conventional packaging and has a great look and feel to it. Finding something like this helps me think outside my current box and hopefully come up with something more creative and original.
   
5. What is your working process? (research, gathering info about what already exists, direct observation, test pieces, gallery visits, talks seminars, entering alternate reality)
   I have used the same process since college, I start of by researching around the given topic of area, looking at competition, target market etc.  If there are currently any seminars or galleries related, I will try to visit, however it it not priority.  I tend to work primarily with sketchbooks as it is a method i am very comfortable with, however i have used blogs in the past. I find using a blog better suited for some projects such as anything video related as it is much easier to store and show video related research. After research I will then create some concept ideas and work with a few of them till it is obvious or clear which is the idea I will go with. I enjoy having feedback on all areas and all times of development as i find the more the better. However when constant feedback is not available I make sure to at least gain feedback on chosen concepts and when I feel the project is coming to a close I will want feedback then.
   
6. What are the most exciting strengths about your work? what makes you stand out from the crowd? sell yourself.
   I have been told I have good determination and i strive to get things done as best as i can, even if they are not particularity working for me. I felt this was correct as I had been through an example of this with a recent project. I worked and put a lot of time into a design and it would not work for me, however I was running out of time for the brief and was too late to start a new idea from scratch, so I had to stick with my current idea and make the absolute best out of it that I could. At the end of it, I can honestly say I came out with a piece of work that i liked and was happy with. 
   
7. Would you like your work to change/ improve something in the world with your work?
   Cheap and tacky packaging and adverts.
   
8. Are there any areas of weakness that could be improved? Explain how they could be developed, consider technical and theory issues
   I would definitely like to improve on my knowledge on people in the industry as well as technical skills and industry standards for things. I feel in education things like this are left out a bit. The creative side is encouraged and developed which is great, but its not use when you don't know how something simple would be published in the real professional world. 
   
9. Is there an area you would like to investigate specifically that you haven’t had the opportunity to do before? (use of sound, graphic design theories, visual communication, semiotics, human computer interaction, interactivity, chance)
   I would say I have at least touched every part of design I am interested in. However as above I want more opportunities in it to really know what I want to do. I would like to know more about going past the design aspect of things like advertising, as a whole campaign will involve more than a few posters and some banners.The things I have tried and would like to know and practice more of are;
   Web design/programming.
   Magazine and editorial work.
   Branding and logo development.
   Advertising.
   
10. What benefit would that have on your current practice?
    I think having known more about these topics would allow me to create a fuller and better piece of design. Having more knowledge in the subject also allows for more creativity and experiments within the given subject.
    
    
    After answering this questionnaire, I have understood more about what I want to achieve out of this and other modules. I want to find out more about the subject areas I am interested in, and I think something like this brief will almost force me to do so. This is a good thing however as it will help me in both long and short term, as well as learning more about the industry I am preparing to go into.

Introduction

My Name is Nicholas Ainsworth and this is my blog/journal for the Creative Reflection module for the BA Creative Media and Visual Communication course.
On this blog will be posted research, experiments, mind maps etc. as well as my on going thoughts about the project.