Sick Boy, Inc. Blog

+ Closed +

2011-08-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

... For now.

Money Baby

2011-07-07T13:12:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since my last post...
What's new? - I'm Money Baby!

Reflection

2011-05-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

Contents:
1. Personal Reflection
2. Work Influences
3. Project Reflection (Creative Meaning / Student Set Project)
4. Sustainability Statement
5. Self Evaluation
6. Curriculum Vitae / Covering Letters / Curriculum Vitae & Letter Rationale
7. Evaluation Sheets
8. Portfolio Visuals
9. Colour Management
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Personal Reflection

Since beginning my time at The Cardiff School of Art & Design I feel I have learnt a lot, academically and personally. I feel I have grown up, gained more confidence in my work in regards to designing, gaining new creative abilities and presenting while always realizing that I am able to get better and not losing my creative hunger to learn more. All this has been done by never turning down constructive criticism from others and always taking other peoples opinions on board, as I feel – to be a creative these are very important things you need to remember to become a successful designer.

One of my largest developments since beginning this course at The Cardiff School of Art & Design, is most definitely my thought process. Now, whenever I am briefed, to tackle the creative/communication problem, I will always start to tackle the problem correctly with a pen and paper. My design process will not even begin until I have created a multitude of mind maps and scribbled notes as I feel this is the best way to get the best outcome. After making all my scribbles I will then always get a second opinion and discuss my idea thoroughly whether it be with a friend of a tutor, as long as I get an honest opinion on my idea I feel confident that I can move on to begin the design process with a strong concept backing the format that I’m creating.
In regards to my personal development as a person I feel there is a lot I have learnt and done, and there is also a lot of improving to do. Now, when presenting, I am always a 100% confident with what I am showing, I will always make sure that my work/concept is strong enough to have my confidence before even considering sharing it with an audience. One very important piece of advice I gained off the tutor Olwen Moseley was to always sell your work with confidence and never point out any weaknesses within what you are showing. I’ve found that a very important piece of advice that I now I follow whenever presenting a final outcome. Even though I’m a open perfectionist, I do understand that perfection is never achieved which I feel is a good balance and attitude to have while being a creative, as I feel you will never leave a job half hearted, so you will always put a 110% effort behind it to get it looking the best it possibly can, but you also understand that it will always be able to be improved.

A huge part of my personal development is the work and opportunity’s I’ve done and been given outside of the course, and together I feel they (as a learning process) have helped each other. Throughout the summer I worked full time as a junior designer at the Bridgend based design agency Pentagon Design, this was a huge opportunity and expanded my portfolio majorly, filling it with projects like designing a full re-brand for 2 large companies, and then being given charge of the design of all the stationary that went with the new logo. As well as these projects I also designed multiple business cards for different agencies and websites. While working on these, as I was always getting feedback and constructive criticism, my confidence was growing not only in my standard of work but my usage of the applications on the computer as well. All this was a huge part in my development of understanding how the industry works in the “real world” as I was also given the opportunity to sit in business meetings and see how things are printed and proof ready correctly when handling large expensive prints. 
My second opportunity was when I was working with Peacock Design in London over the Easter. I was very much involved in the production, and given the responsibility of the animation of the television commercial advertising Hugh Laurie’s debut album. During my time with Peacock, this was the second brief I'd been given by the TV Graphics team - (But I had to keep quiet about it until it was officially released, to avoid anything getting leaked). As well as it being a huge privilege, it was also a great project to work on, and even though at times I found it challenging, with the help from the guys in the studio, I was still constantly learning new things which helped me feed my constant hunger to improve and maximize my current potential. I'm extremely thankful that Peacock gave me the opportunity to work on something so big, as well as helping me through the process of boosting the quality and quantity of work within my portfolio by showing that I'm very capable of creating interactive outcomes to an industry standard as well the print and web based pieces that all ready exist within my portfolio.

Overall I am happy with my development as a person in general while my time at The Cardiff School of Art & Design is drawing to a close… I plan on always learning more about design and life in general, and I am now taking Ian Wier’s advice and planning things ahead so that when my time with the course is over, I will not be sad to leave but excited for a new beginning, always remembering what I have learnt here.

Work Influences

Over the summer I worked as a full time junior designer with the Bridgend based design agency Pentagon Design as well as half of the Easter break with them and the other half with Peacock Design in London. During my final couple of weeks with Pentagon before returning for my final term at The Cardiff School of Art & Design a brand new 27-inch iMac arrived at the studio followed by a handshake and a "Welcome to Pentagon Design!" I officially have my own desk and a place waiting for me at the studio when I graduate. This is very exciting for me and is a good starting point in my career as a young creative. Now, rather than leaving the course with the worry of trying to find a job and supporting myself during the process, I have something to look forward to and a good beginning to actually start learning about design in a real life situation rather than in an academic surrounding. Even though the course has helped me tremendously, and has changed my whole thinking process and view of design, there is only so much they can offer you before you go out into the real world and start making your own mistakes and learning from them. As well as this Pentagon ad Peacock design have come to an agreement that I will travel back up to London to work with Peacock during the times that things might be quite in Bridgend. This is very exciting news as Pentagon see this as a great opportunity for me to learn new things to bring back to the company and also gives me the chance to get the best of both worlds.

Project Reflection

Module: Creative Meaning (Site Project)
For this brief I was asked to research and analyse a self chosen site in order to come up with a final outcome of my own accord.
My answer to this brief was to choose my bedroom bin as a site.
While researching the bin I recorded my thoughts on how I felt when using the bin, as well as what content was placed in the bin, the different ways I threw rubbish into the bin as well as the history behind the bin and any stories that came with it.

Module: Student Set Project
For my 'SSP' (Student Set Project) I wrote myself a brief that would challenge my creative abilities as well as the communication problem of revealing the stereotypical male student house, housing 6 different characters from different backgrounds. After thorough research into each character it was clear to see I had to reveal the different relationships between each housemate as well as the group dynamics and how 6 different characters from different backgrounds have all come together to form a strong bond while living together throughout their time in university. My answer to the brief was to create a fly on the wall type documentary with a twist, by including narration and animation as well as the natural footage caught on camera during the production of the project throughout, to give a sense of wit and emotion whether it be happy or sad. I'm happy with my final outcome and had great fun making this project, even if it did get tricky at times I put it all down to experience.

Sustainability Statement

 Sustainability is (these days) an important part of life. To today’s youth it is something they should grow up with and feel natural around, where as I feel personally this wasn’t the case for me. I first became aware of sustainability a few years back when my parents started separating the tins and the paper, and then over the years the number of bins in the utility room grew and the contents become even more separated. This is just one of many ways of being sustainable.
During my second year we were given the brief of promoting sustainability to clients that were experts in the field. As I feel I had a very limited view on the scene in comparison to how much we can actually do to save this world and be sustainable, it made the communication problem that little bit more challenging.  For this brief we had to create a print based outcome for a client, that would send the message on how to be a sustainable designer’ out to to an audience.
We chose to give the serious almost boring message some ’snaz’ and ‘wit’ by telling them to double check the briefs given to them by clients to see if there was any way to create a design in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way.
We used a pun on the word ‘Brief’ to make it a more fun and light hearted.
The message is delivered in a little box that is built using no glue to keep it sustainable and to give the audience a more interactive experience.
It was designed with a minimal look to engage the audience and make them want to look at ‘the package’.
Inside the box you were given a number of goodies, which included a set of briefs with the ‘do your briefs fit’ logo on them, a recycling bag to get you started, and a booklet containing, facts, and info on the best way to be a sustainable designer.
The client was very impressed and a self confessed HUGE fan of the final outcome.
This was our team effort to help bring design and sustainability together, and add the little contribution to such a big worldwide effort.

It was after this brief that I realised how important being sustainable is and how we as designers have the advantage to contribute to the problem.
Even though the underling problem of global warming etc is much larger than paper and electricity it is never the less a small positive for a designer to contribute with the support of sustainability within the work place as well as in the household.
Even though our efforts might be minute in the grand scale of things, it is still important to remember, every little helps and it is just another way of tackling the situation.

Self Evaluation

1. What have you enjoyed the most about the course? 
a) One of the biggest enjoyments I’ve gained from the course has been the change within my thought process in regards to the concepts I produce for the communication problems delivered within my set briefs.
 b) Another enjoyment is finding people that work well with me as I feel if I have good surroundings and helpful feedback my projects always come forward to a higher level outcome than if I was to do it with no feedback at all. 
c) In regards to the modules my most enjoyable and probably most stressful and time consuming was my Student Set Project, where I created a documentary about the student house of 225 Macintosh Place. The feeling I had when I saw the feedback, comments and reactions to the final outcome was enjoyable to say the least.  

2. In what ways do you think you have developed or changed in the last year?  Write about personal as well as professional issues pertinent to becoming a responsible, self-motivated student and becoming a creative and original designer.
 a) When I started off on the course I was always confident with my technical skills on the computer (Which at the time was all I thought I needed) but I soon learned that wasn’t the case and began to put more thought within my work and always tried to communicate through my designs, by doing this I become more confident in challenging my creative abilities, which is something I’ve attempted to do with all of my projects this year.
 b) Within the academic side of the course I really had to push and motivate myself to do well, as it is a very weak part of my work abilities. The dissertation helped me do this especially since I had an opportunity to research and write about something I’m passionate about. This also helped me along the route of research with other projects on the course as the dissertation asks of so much research and effort. 
c) Since the beginning of this year I have been motivated to be experimental with my work but I’ve found it very important to keep the attitude that if I’m going to do something I haven’t done before it’s important that I do it well and not be half hearted about the format / outcome.  

3. What do you think your strengths are in relation to Graphic Communication and becoming a designer or working/training in a related area? Think about such things as creativity, appropriate working methods, skills and media, group and individual abilities, study skills etc. 
a) Personally I’m quite proud of my capabilities of getting my work handed in, on time in full to a high standard. I feel I do this due to my hunger to learn all the time as well as always aiming higher and working to be the best at what ever I’m doing. 
b) Within a team things can become stressful and frustrating, and personally I feel I take quite a confident and comfortable role as a team leader, as I’m always willing to listen and take constructive criticism, but I also have the ability to see what will work and what wont work. 
c) As a creative I always try to keep myself aware of the most recent design trends, but I feel it is very important to set the trends not to follow them, because once you begin to follow, whether you’re an excellent designer or not, your just are cutting yourself short.  

4. What has hampered your learning? This should include things that are to do with you and who you have been with, as much as about the course itself. 
a) During the first year, I had to undergo a knee reconstruction. This lead me to be bed bound for a few weeks and also left me with the pressure of learning to walk again with my right leg. Even though I tried very hard to keep up with my work and handed in all my projects, I didn’t do very well with my CCS essay which dampened my spirits a little. 
b) Another thing that affected more my way of thinking than anything else, was seeing everyone getting work placements. Even though I tried extremely hard and sent out loads of portfolios and CV’s no one seemed to be interested in giving me any work experience, and when I saw others on the course were getting placements in the places that I had tried with, it made me question my abilities as to whether I was actually any good. 
c) During the beginning of year 3 my relationship with a former girl friend ended, and even though I made sure to leave it outside of the course and not ever let it effect my learning etc I know it did slightly, but even though this happened I’m still confident I didn’t let it effect my work in any noticeable way as I believe it is important to keep personal life and work separate.  

5. If you work outside college (voluntary or paid), what skills do you think you have gained or developed through doing this?  Name of organisation/workplace: Pentagon Design / Peacock Design. Skills gained or developed: 
a) While working with both agencies, I have developed multiple amounts of different skills, from sitting in on meetings with important clients, to little helpful shortcuts on the keyboard for different programs.
 b) I was given the responsibility to animate a job for the debut album from Hugh Laurie, while working in London with Peacock, later to have the advert broadcast on National television. 
c) I have also been in charge of many successful company website designs as well as rebrands and other form of design work that meant working with important clients.  

6. What plans do you have after you finish the course to continue your development as a designer or related profession and make further progress in your field? 
a) I have been offered a Junior Designer position at the Bridgend based design studio Pentagon Design which I will start after graduating.
 b) As well as my junior design position at Pentagon, I have been invited back up to work with Peacock Design in London, as a Junior TV Graphic Designer when things are quiet with Pentagon. (Pentagon thought this was a great opportunity for me and released them of the burden of having me there if there wasn't much work for me to do.) - So I get the best of both worlds. 
c) I intend on going to America at some point, as it’s something I have always wanted to do. I’m keeping my social networking up to date (twitter, linked in etc) and hopefully gaining contacts and building networks that will help me creatively when going over to the USA.

Curriculum Vitae
Click on images to enlarge:

(Page 1 - Front)

(Page 2 - Front & Back)

Covering Letters
Click on images to enlarge:

(Letter 1 - Front)

(Letter 2 - Front & Back)

Curriculum Vitae & Letter Rationale
For the design of my curriculum vitae and my cover letters I went with a corporate design style using Black White and Magenta.
The concept behind the design consists of 3 dots, 2 the same colour and 1 different, but always using the colours of the corporate style.  The reasoning for the different colour dot is that it represents me as a creative individual that keeps me standing out from the crowd and the rest of the creative’s in the same position as me as a graduate.
The corporate font used for the designs is DIN. Any of the weights can be used as long as the typeface does not change as well as the colours.

Evaluation Sheets
Click on images to enlarge:

Portfolio Visuals
Here are some visuals from my current portfolio displaying 4 pieces of work that I have created during my 3rd year on the Graphic Communication course.
Click on images to enlarge:

Colour Management

The Big Idea

2011-05-29T12:52:00.001-07:00

For my last ever project on the BA Graphic Communication course, I was given a word, and with that word I had to create something big - So I did. Literally.
My chosen word was 'Professional', so after researching into the word and breaking it down with multiple mind maps, I then came up with the concept of 'The 4 states of mind within Professional', those being 'Professional', 'Not Professional', 'Unprofessional' & 'Private'. My next steps where to create a narrative that would explain these different mind states, and I felt the best way to do so was to create a fictional character that would explain his 4 states of mind to an audience. My aim was for this to be projected on to a big screen using the mixture of print and animation formats. This was a risk because it wasn't something I could check was working through the work process, instead I had to wait until all the hard work was done i.e animation and expensive printing, before seeing if it was an effective outcome. When it finally came to projecting it, it was a success which has been given great feedback so far, including "Creepy but very enjoyable!" and "Weirdly 3D, but not...".
I'm happy with what I produced in my presentation on Thursday as I feel I had once again set myself the challenge that was to challenge my creative abilities while at the same time producing a piece of work that spoke for itself.

Hugh Laurie

2011-05-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

Recently Hugh Laurie's new album has been all over the charts like a tramp to a bag of McDonald's chips, and I'm very excited to say that I was very much involved in the production, and given the responsibility of the animation of the television commercial advertising it.
During my time with Peacock, this was the second brief I'd been given by the TV Graphics team - (But I had to keep quiet about it until it was officially released, to avoid anything getting leaked).
As well as it being a huge privilege, it was also a great project to work on, and even though at times I found it challenging, with the help from the guys in the studio, I was still constantly learning new things which helped me feed my constant hunger to improve and maximize my current potential.
I'm extremely thankful that Peacock gave me the opportunity to work on something so big, as well as helping me through the process of boosting the quality and quantity of work within my portfolio by showing that I'm very capable of creating interactive outcomes to an industry standard as well the print and web based pieces that all ready exist within my portfolio.
The ad was released on the 9th of May so keep an eye out for it if you haven't all ready seen it.

Simply Unstoppable

2011-05-03T16:57:00.001-07:00

One of the biggest motivations for me when I train is music, it's almost like a steroid of some sort that takes my mind off the physical pain of hitting "the wall" and helps me through those physically draining last couple of minutes of a heavy session.
In the new Lucozade advert they have used the collaboration of music and training as a concept which I believe is a really effective approach to exploiting the brand, as well as female boxer Katie Taylor, and musicians Tinie Tempah and Travis Barker.
I love every single thing about this piece: The HD filming, the grading, the camera angles, the lighting and even the positive typography saying "YES" at the end. Makes me want to put my boxing gloves on and get straight down tot he gym! (Watch it here).

Astroid Boys

2011-04-22T14:48:00.001-07:00

I got told about this group that live by me in Cardiff called the Astroid Boys, they were discribed to me as "Kind of Dubby" but I didn't take any notice, until I heard their name again off another friend, this got me interested so I did my research, and turns out... I'm a fan.
They're an original mixture of Hip Hop and Dub Step and from their videos on YouTube, they look as wild as their songs. As well as having some sick tunes, they've got some really nice cinematography backing their music videos, which makes a huge difference to how the group come across. Considering the fact that I'm told they live on the same road as me, from the quality of their beats and videos, you'd think they were living it up in the big smoke with other artists earning big pay cheques. (I think it's only a matter of time before this happens).
My favorite tune at the moment is called "Welcome to the Zoo!" It's sick, check it out.

Tron

2011-04-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

I've become a little bit of a Tron geek recently! I seem to have a Tron desktop wallpaper as well as a Tron phone wallpaper, but I'm ashamed to say I haven't seen the films properly!... I remember seeing the original when I was very young but I can't remember it enough to claim that I know the plot, so this evening I'm going to watch the original before watching the new one later on this week. I've heard mixed reviews about Tron Legacy, but I don't want to judge it until I've seen it for myself because the trailer for it looks quality as well as having a fantastic updated re-brand that doesn't steer away too much from the original brand design!

Peacock Design (Day 5)

2011-04-16T01:38:00.000-07:00

Day 5
Today was my last day and I went all out in an attempt to finish my set brief before I left.
As soon as I arrived there was a DVD of assets waiting for me in the studio to work with. (They had been provided by the product managers over night.) This made a huge difference to my work flow and made it possible for me to do everything that was needed to be done before I headed back to Wales.
Due to some assets that still haven't been provided yet, the project is still waiting for some audio and a couple of stills to be dropped in, but other than that it is ready to be submitted to the BACC early next week, ready for clearance before getting broadcast on television.
After work I finished my week in London by going for a meal and then a late night session on the XBOX, trying my best to beat Ali on Fight Night Champion... I tried my best with a selection of boxers from Calzaghe to Tyson (in his prime), but I still couldn't beat him... Eventually he beat me virtually and physically, as I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and had to throw in the towel for bed... I WILL beat him though, my time will come!
I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this week, I've learned loads and my understanding of working in this industry, out of the comfort zone of Wales has expanded. I hope to take back the things I've learned this week and expand on them further.
My aim for this past week was to get stuck in straight away, be helpful within the studio and leave behind a good impression when finishing, I hope I ticked all the boxes and completed my list... Thank you to everyone at Peacock for making me feel welcome and giving me the opportunity to work on some of the projects that I did, I had a boom ting week and a great laugh in and outside the studio!

Peacock Design (Day 4)

2011-04-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

Day 4:
Today I was the first in and last out of the studio, and I began to feel the pressure a little bit, but it didn't worry me, it gave me more of a buzz! The current brief I'm working on goes live next week and I've been handed the responsibility of more or less creating the final outcome that will go on National TV! The editors upstairs were cutting the footage, the producers next door were on the phone getting last minute assets and I was animating the whole thing. I'm really chuffed that I've been trusted with this and it has boosted my confidence with work in general. Of course, I'm always asking second opinions and often being guided by others experience but that's what being a creative is about, and it was today that I felt like part of the team, being involved with the project.
After work I met up for a drink with Andy Niven my good friend (and star of my internet blockbuster - 225 Macintosh Place... "AWWWW! MY CHINOS!!!")...
He is also currently working up here. It was great to see he was enjoying his work placement and from our exchange of exciting stories it sounds like we have been doing very similar things throughout the week. Our main topic of discussion throughout the night was how much we love London and how it's the place to be. It's my last day tomorrow and I will be sad to leave, but I'm very eager to get back to the studio and do a really good job on this final brief so when I do leave, I leave behind a good impression.

Scream

2011-04-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

Due to the release of the new Scream film I thought it would be interesting to see the growth in design that the film posters have had over the years... I'm a big fan of the most recent one, using the shape of the mask to turn into a knife is cool! The first is a little too 'Silence of the Lambs' for me, and I suppose the other two worked for the era they were designed in, still not a massive fan though. It's nice to see that they have kept the same typeface and the same distinctive 'm' throughout all 4 posters. When you take a step back and look at them all, you begin to see the links throughout each design - The Evolution of the Scream poster... I think I'm going to have a 'Scream Marathon' before heading to the cinema to watch the new one!

Peacock Design (Day 3)

2011-04-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

Day 3:
Today was an other excellent day in the studio, the more I learn about motion graphics the more I love it... So far, my confidence in Adobe After Effects is growing daily and I'm learning how things are done for big named clients to an industry standard.
After I finished the first project that was given to me on Monday, I got briefed on a new project that goes live next week, which means I have to work very hard, and at a fast pace, in order to get everything done on time... Can't wait to get back in there tomorrow to crack on with some more boom ting motion designing, but until then I'm going to finish my day with some XBOX, and some Walking Dead!

Twenty Twelve

2011-04-12T22:59:00.001-07:00

I've been watching a comedy on BBC iPlayer recently and I think it's superb. It's called 'Twenty Twelve' and it's a 'Mocumentary' type series, about the team behind the London 2012 Olympic Games. The audience is given a behind the scenes look of the work process that is going on during the count down to the Olympics by the different characters from different work sectors within the team, including multiple positions from the head of deliverance to the head of sustainability. It's shown on BBC4 which I was surprised with, which makes me feel that personally the show is slightly under rated, never the less it doesn't stop you having a watch... Twenty Twelve.

Face Text

2011-04-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

Recently there have been a few film posters being produced using one image with some typography over the top... Personally I'm unsure of this new trend... The 1st and last poster work very well and are strong designs, but I feel 'The Social Network' poster and the new 'Thor' poster are quite weak, especially since 'The Social Network' is such a good film.

Peacock Design (Day 2)

2011-04-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Day 2:
It was an early start this morning, (the alarm was set for 6:15am). When I got into work I continued with what I was working on yesterday... Considering the duration of the composition I'm working on only amounts to 9 seconds it has taken over 9 hours to produce, and I still haven't finished. After today my confidence in motion graphics has grown a little, and I'm hoping the same thing will keep happening until I finish this placement - It's great having second opinions from people that have been regarded good enough to produce work for musicians such as Mark Ronson, Simply Red and even the late Michael Jackson. After finishing work today I was fortunate enough to be invited along to the opening of Liverpudlian artist Dave White's exhibition 'Americana'... There was some very impressive and expensive work there.
Over all I've had another great day in the big city and I'm excited to get back to it tomorrow, especially since I've been briefed on a new project after finishing the current one I'm working on.

Peacock Design (Day 1)

2011-04-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

Day 1:
As soon as I sat down in my seat on the Megabus I knew it was going to be a long journey... The leg space was tight, the bus was stuffy, and I was sat next to a stranger but it didn't stop my excitement for having a weeks work placement in London with Peacock Design.
Once I got off the bus I made my way to the tube station and headed for Tottenham Court Road, but it was typical that on my first day in London, while lugging my suitcase, laptop and the rest around - None of the tubes were running to the Tottenham Court Road station. After getting a little lost and a couple of phone calls to my dad on 'Google Maps' I managed to get to the studio. Straight away, I was given the responsibility of working on a big job. Due to me having to travel from Wales this morning, it was all ready arranged that I would do a half day today. Over all it was a great first day, and I can't wait to get back in there tomorrow morning to carry on with my work.

Warrior

2011-04-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting to see this trailer for ages, and it has finally been put up on the apple website.
I'm a huge fan of Tom Hardy and I think he is a fantastic actor... His latest film is called Warrior where he plays a war hero who becomes a cage fighter... Film looks great, check it out... (Trailer)

225 Macintosh Place

2011-04-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

For my 'SSP' (Student Set Project) I wrote myself a brief that would challenge my creative abilities as well as the communication problem of revealing the stereotypical male student house, housing 6 different characters from different backgrounds.
After thorough research into each character it was clear to see I had to reveal the different relationships between each housemate as well as the group dynamics and how 6 different characters from different backgrounds have all come together to form a strong bond while living together throughout their time in university.
My answer to the brief was to create a fly on the wall type documentary with a twist, by including narration and animation as well as the natural footage caught on camera during the production of the project throughout, to give a sense of wit and emotion whether it be happy or sad.
I'm happy with my final outcome and had great fun making this project, even if it did get tricky at times I put it all down to experience.
Feedback and peoples thoughts would be much appreciated.

Robin Hood

2011-04-06T02:38:00.001-07:00

I haven't blogged for a while, I've got loads of stuff to put on here just waiting for me to upload, but I need to find the time... I'm heading to London for a placement next week so I'll make sure to try and do one an evening. Any way... After work and then a training session last night I decided to settle down to the new Robin Hood film. It was a really good watch but I didn't expect any different from a second time team up of Ridley Scott and Russel Crowe.
I was interested to see at the end of the film, the closing credits were designed using a painted effect animation which was really quite pleasing on the eye, especially since the animators could have gone for the easy option of animating on old textured paper giving off an old scroll effect with Old English script typography. The film is a definite success with a plot that you don't expect when first putting the film on. Great job.

Like an Egg Productions

2011-03-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

'Like an Egg' are the new guys on the block, and are producing work as if they have been in the game a long time! Here's a promotional commercial they have created for the Valley of Kings Mixed Marshal Arts night that is being held in Newport (Wales)... Real high quality stuff!
Check out the 'Like an Egg' website (here).

Studio Work Space

2011-03-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

Today a brand new 27-inch iMac arrived at the studio followed by a handshake and a "Welcome to Pentagon Design!" I officially have my own desk and a place waiting for me at the studio when I graduate. Here are some snaps of me unpacking my new bad boy and setting up my new work space - Exciting stuff!

Nike Better World

2011-03-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

Here's a really cool scrolling website design from Nike titled 'Nike Better World'...
Check it here: http://www.nikebetterworld.com/

Heartbeats

2011-02-28T00:52:00.000-08:00

Cool poster design for the new film 'Heartbeats', not sure what the film is like though.

Tron Concept Art

2011-02-25T08:22:00.001-08:00

Here's an interesting selection of images from the Tron movie concept art collection.

Dirty Eastwood

2011-02-23T03:31:00.000-08:00

3 Film posters from cinemas hardest police officer.

Self

2011-02-23T03:04:00.001-08:00

Here's a self portrait with a twist.
I like my dirty daps, I think they add character - Very 'Trainspotting'.

Layer Cake Fight Scene

2011-02-22T11:45:00.001-08:00

Even though the stills say a lot about the fight scene in Layer Cake, they do not do it justice.
After seeing the way this was shot I decided this was one of the best fight scenes in cinema (Personal opinion obviously)... Watch it here.

Run

2011-02-22T03:28:00.000-08:00

Behance

2011-02-21T01:56:00.000-08:00

Lovely illustrations lifted off Behance.net

Azerbaijan

2011-02-19T22:17:00.001-08:00

I'm fighting today (Waiting to get picked up as I type)... The small one is Raphael Aghayev, an Azerbaijan Karate team member. I'm not sure how many times he's won the world championships, he's pretty wicked though.

Motivation

2011-02-19T03:49:00.001-08:00

This has been the source of my motivation this morning, it's a little like filling an empty car full of petrol, the more i listen to it the more I feel like my 1.4 Mark 4 Golf ready to fly down the M4 at a rate of a 140MPH. As Tony the tiger would say "It's grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeaaaat!".

2011-02-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

On the left is a t-shirt designed by Pelayo Diaz made out of safety pins.
Simple yet effective - I'm going to by some this weekend.

Baterine

2011-02-17T02:11:00.001-08:00

Like many designers I went through a faze of designing with a style inspired by Olly Moss, and even though he is a very good and highly respected designer it is only original when he does it, so i promised myself - with it being a new year and all that jazz, I would not design anything in that style again. Doesn't mean I can't put his nice stuff on here though... Very clever.

3D

2011-02-16T18:28:00.001-08:00

Get hold of some 3d glasses and watch Callum jump out of the screen.

Diesel - D&AD

2011-02-16T18:08:00.000-08:00

Create an illustrated interpretation of a musical track that is experienced by the viewer in an unconventional and pioneering way.

Songs:
1. The Streets - Weak become the heroes
2. The Streets - Blinded by the lights

Background:
To convey my concept behind the brief I’ve expressed my 2 chosen songs by creating 2 different room installations that will be promoted and held at festivals.
These rooms will give the target audience an opportunity to experience the songs while interacting with the expressed environment as well as each other.
The rooms will be used for socialising and relaxing with friends while ‘pre-drinking’ before seeing the chosen line up at the festival.
To use the room, people will have to sign up on a first come first serve basis. Once in the room they can drink and relax with each other while also getting the opportunity to sign in with Skype and interact with friends that might not be able to be there.
Another element I would like to bring into the concept is giving the users a chance to ‘Party with The Streets’ by using Skype.
Once signed in they could chat and socialise with Mike Skinner and the band while at the same time ‘pre-partying’ with their friends.
This would open up several different opportunities for both Diesel and The Streets, for example, limited edition clothing that could be sold at the festival as well as other forms of merchandise.

Room 1 - Weak become the heroes: The design style used in room 1 is a homely urban ‘weekend offender’ look and feel.
I decided to go down this route because the song ‘Weak Become The Heroes’ was one of Mike Skinners first releases where he sings about the effects of ecstasy and the normal working class environment he lived in.
My challenge was to create a room that expressed these feelings as well as the normal homely interior surroundings, while also keeping it a comfortable area to relax and socialise.
Room 2 - Blinded by the lights:
The design style used in room 2 is a more modern disorientated club look and feel.
I decided to go down this route because the song ‘Blinded By The Lights’ was released after The Streets had gained fame. In it, Skinner sings about a more paranoid sense of awareness where he has taken ecstasy and he is out of control rather than ‘feeling the love’ unlike his first song.
My challenge was to create a room that expressed these feelings as well as the disorientated club interior surroundings, while also keeping it a comfortable area to relax and socialise.
Taking into consideration all the design elements used in my final outcome, I believe I have fulfilled the brief in question while also leaving space for other creative opportunities.

(Now that I have had feedback from my critique I will be making some changes and the updated version will be added to my online portfolio... Watch this space).

Crown

2011-02-16T18:00:00.001-08:00

Here's something I designed last year, but like many of the designs I've done, I never get around to posting them... This is going to change.

Blind Faith

2011-02-16T10:24:00.001-08:00

Here are some stills from the Chase & Status - Blind Faith video.
The video is filmed with an old 1990's handy cam and the concept of it consists of a group of friends that are living for the weekend and are 'having it large' in an underground rave.
I'm a huge fan of the song and video - Very well done... TUNE.

Bombay Bad Boy

2011-02-16T09:40:00.000-08:00

This is a reflection of my day in uni today.
I'm trying out different design styles - If people can look at a piece and know that it is me that designed it but at the same time think it looks different I will be happy.

Chris Welsby

2011-02-16T09:25:00.001-08:00

I don't care what anyone says - Chris Welsby is easily one of the most successful Graphic Designers that the BA (Hons) Graphic Communication course has ever produced. His work is phenomenal... Check out more on his site chriswelsby.co.uk

Kate Loves Me

2011-02-16T08:43:00.000-08:00

This guy runs the Kate Loves Me Blog - He is VERY cool.

N&B

2011-02-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

I'm just loving it at the moment! (Last post on it I promise).

Black & Navy

2011-02-15T16:32:00.000-08:00

Just to clarify from a previous post... Black and Navy is in.
Don't be afraid of it! - I've been rocking it for a couple of weeks now!

Knuckle Duster

2011-02-14T04:03:00.000-08:00

One of my class mates is wearing this ring today. She got it from urban outfitters - Quality.
I love it because it looks like a knuckle duster, and Mike Skinner had one just like it back in his Original Pirate Material days.

EVOL Portfolio

2011-02-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

Here is some fantastic print and fashion based design from New York based company EVOL.
Check out the site (here).

Scenes

2011-02-13T14:19:00.001-08:00

Day V Lately

2011-02-12T01:23:00.001-08:00

While watching TV last night, this 'Yell' advert came on.
It consists of someone looking for an old trance track and having no luck.
The build up of the backing music of this advert is fantastic and sets the mood so well - It gave me tingles when I watched it. Huge fan. (Watch it here).

Cool Film Posters

2011-02-11T03:33:00.000-08:00

UFC Photography

2011-02-11T03:24:00.000-08:00

This is UFC fighter Kenny Florian - Great Photograph.

Portfolio Update

2011-02-09T02:54:00.000-08:00

I've updated my online portfolio.
Check it out... (here)

Hip Hop Alphabet

2011-01-31T02:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a cool little idea: The pocket Size Alphabet of Hip Hop. All of this was done by hand using different Hip Hop stars from over the years to create the full alphabet. (Source to be found.)

Sick Boy, Inc. Tee

2011-01-14T09:46:00.000-08:00

I picked up the 1st Sick Boy t-shirt today and it has come out really nice.
They will be for sale, if anyone is interested in buying one send me an email:
sion@sionrees.co.uk

Dissertation

2011-01-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

The dissertation has been something that has been worrying my since year 1.
I hate writing, because I'm not very good at it, so this part of the course has been a real tough part for me, but it's all done now and I'm very proud.

Build Work

2011-01-12T02:54:00.000-08:00

I know I've done a few posts about Build.
They are an agency that I find very influential and inspiring.
They never disappoint with the designs that they produce.
(I went a little over board with the images but i couldn't help myself - I'm a huge fan.)

Worst Brands of 2010

2011-01-12T02:48:00.001-08:00

Here are a selected few brands from underconsideration.com's worst brands of 2010 list.

Best Brands of 2010

2011-01-12T02:43:00.000-08:00

Here are a selected few brands from underconsideration.com's best brands of 2010 list.

New Toy

2011-01-06T04:44:00.000-08:00

I have a new toy!
Now I don't have to carry a huge Digital SLR around when I'm not on photo shoots.
Been snapping away loads all ready but I'm bit too busy to put them on my flickr at this moment in time, but watch this space.

It could be worse

2011-01-03T16:55:00.000-08:00

Something I tell myself when I feel a bit down.

Harcourt Litho Ltd Photoshoot

2011-01-03T12:14:00.001-08:00

Here are some of the photos from the Harcourt Litho Ltd photoshoot.
When I arrived at the printers it instantly gave off a get stuck in and get your hands dirty vibe, which is what it's all about. It was a goldmine for some great shots.

Rule Number 1

2011-01-02T11:04:00.001-08:00

Don't Mug Yourself - The Streets.

Diane Rees

2011-01-02T05:14:00.001-08:00

My mother now has an online portfolio.
Check it out... HERE.

Moss vs. Munn

2011-01-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

Every designer gets inspiration from some where.
Here are two very highly respected designers who are currently quite popular in the industry: Olly Moss and Jason Munn.
Here are some prints from both designers, but who inspired who?...

2011

2010-12-31T04:17:00.000-08:00

So we are now embarking on the new year of 2011.
During 2010, there have been ups and downs, which I'm sure many people can relate to.
I'm very excited for 2011 because I have set myself a load of goals that I hope to complete during the next 365 days. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and enjoys themselves this evening.
Lots of love,
Sick Boy
x

Wrapping Type

2010-12-30T07:04:00.001-08:00

Best designed wrapping paper I have received this Christmas.

Rambo

2010-12-29T07:16:00.000-08:00

Rambo Poster.

Rocky IV

2010-12-28T06:25:00.000-08:00

Rocky IV Poster.

Cop Land

2010-12-27T15:43:00.000-08:00

Cop Land Poster.

T-Shirts

2010-12-27T05:35:00.000-08:00

These will be available in the New Year.
Anyone who is interested in buying one can email me here:
"I want a Sick Boy Tshirt!"

Double Rainbow

2010-12-27T05:27:00.000-08:00

Double Rainbow Poster.
If you're not sure what the Double Rainbow is yet, watch this: Double Rainbow

Christmas

2010-12-27T05:16:00.001-08:00

I've had a really great Christmas this year. It started off a little slow, having my mum working Christmas morning and my sisters being poorly throughout the majority of the holidays, but over all it has been yet another success.
I've been spoiled rotten once again, with my main present off Santa being a wad of cash.
Here's some of the stuff i got myself.

Limited Edition Bud

2010-12-26T01:20:00.001-08:00

Me and my sister collaborated on this project as one of our father's Christmas presents this year. He was pleased with them.

Dredd

2010-12-25T05:50:00.000-08:00

Judge Dredd Poster.

Cobra

2010-12-24T11:25:00.000-08:00

Cobra poster.

RocknRolla

2010-12-23T06:42:00.001-08:00

RocknRolla Poster.

Typefunkography

2010-12-23T02:48:00.001-08:00

Typefunkography - Adapted from the Bello Pro font, by Behance user Rodrigo Francisco.

R is for Rambo

2010-12-23T02:39:00.001-08:00

R is for Rambo - Fantastic illustration by Behance user Grzegorz Domaradzki.

Roke1984

2010-12-23T02:31:00.000-08:00

Roke1984 is a display free font based on gemotric forms and mathematic symbols. This font includes accents and numerals.

Music & Math

2010-12-23T02:25:00.000-08:00

Music & Math by Behance user Tatiana Plakhova.

Design & Data

2010-12-23T02:18:00.000-08:00

A selection of pieces named 'Design & Data' posted on Le Creative Sweatshop Behance Portfolio.

Channel 4 - Twist Our Words

2010-12-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

Following my first Channel 4 - Twist Our Words video, I decided to try and make one that would be shown on TV. I kept it simple and got myself put in 'The best ones' category, but didn't quite make the 'The ones that got on telly' category. Still I'm quite happy.

Watch it here: Channel 4 - Twist Our Words

Ice

2010-12-22T04:00:00.001-08:00

Walked into my kitchen this morning to see a massive collection of icicles on the balcony outside the window. My back garden looks like it's been attacked by the White Witch from Narnia.

Nice.

2010-12-21T15:15:00.000-08:00

Here's my Channel 4 - 'Twist Our Words' message...
Nice.

Bath

2010-12-20T14:52:00.000-08:00

I just had a bath. Just after I finished my bath I decided to take 3 pictures with my phone to post on SickBoy, Inc. Why? - I'm not sure, but here they are.

It's CHRRRIIISSSTTTMMMAAASSS

2010-12-20T08:25:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from SickBoy, inc.

One Hundred Years of Solitude

2010-12-20T07:14:00.000-08:00

Here's the final draft for the book design - 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'.
While having a 'group crit' mixed with the second years of the course, it was easy to see that the competition was at a high standard.

One Hundred Years of Solitude' is a complex book that spans over the time period of a 100 years, with its central characters taken from the different generations of the Buendía Family.
Since the book is set in Columbia, I researched into the cultural art and landscapes of the country. These were good sources of information for me to come up with content for the project.

The outcome is a design showing a tree from the columbian jungle (where the story is set), to represent the family tree and the multiple generations and characters throughout.

The design shows a cross-section of a tree trunk with a palm motif (insipred by Columbian woodcuts) on it. This represents the seclusion of the family and the solitude that they lived in, while cutting themselves away from the rest of the world. My colour choice was chosen from key colour points within the book, a dark green for the lonely jungle they live in, and the yellow of the leaves on the tree that represents the death within the book. unfortunetly I didn't get the positive feedback I was hoping for, but I'm a strong believer that there is always room for improvement, and a designer that is arrogant enough to say that his work can't get any better than what it is, isn't a very good designer at all.

My next step is to take on board the feedback i was given to improve my work over the Christmas holidays, in order to submit my designs to the Penguin Design Awards.

James and the Giant Peach

2010-12-20T07:13:00.000-08:00

This is my final draft for Roald Dhal's classic - 'James and the Giant Peach.'
This design was a slightly more enjoyable experience than 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' but still just as challenging.

My main aim with this design was to do something that stood out from the rest of the designs, I wanted to avoid using a peach and think of different ways to represent the adventure within the book - Thinking outside the box.

Unfortunately I'm not happy with this final outcome - especially after seeing the standard of the others.

My next steps will be to take all the feedback I gained during the 'group crit' on board, in order to create a piece I'm proud of by next term.

Spread

2010-12-20T04:15:00.001-08:00

I watched 'Spread' this morning, a film in which a young confident man (Played by Ashton Kutcher) moves to LA with the dream of an easy life.
This film is worth a watch. It's aesthetically pleasing in many ways, from the typography of the opening credits, (point size, use of caps and lower case, colour), to the style of clothes Ashton's character wears. When discussing clothes, this film is a perfect example of how one or two accessories added to your outfit can make such a difference. I will definitely be getting myself a pair of thin black braces and a couple of scarfs from Topman in the January sales. Very cool.

The best use for Helvetica

2010-12-12T04:05:00.000-08:00

Rees Snr sent me this link with the caption - "Probably the best use for Helvetica". I agree. He knows his shit.
Follow the Pentagon Design studio on twitter (@PentagonDesign), for more links and interesting reads.

Creative Meaning

2010-12-07T07:06:00.000-08:00

I received my marks back for my last module yesterday. I earned myself an A-... It's not an A*, but it will have to do for now.
For this module I had to take on as much research as I possibly could on my chosen site (which was my bedroom bin). All this had to be done during the module time period, in order to gain enough ideas to produce a final outcome of my own accord.
My feedback was great, and I agree with everything that was said, so I'm ready to take it on board in order to move on to the next module.
See more shots of my final outcome over at my site: http://www.sionrees.co.uk

KenFlo Tweets

2010-12-06T12:33:00.001-08:00

Here are some poster designs that are based on twitter user @kennyflorian's tweets.
Kenny 'KenFlo' Florian is a highly respected UFC fighter from America who gained MMA fame from being a contestant on the original 'The Ultimate Fighter" show. He's well known for having razor sharp elbows, and being a genuinely humble fighter who makes an effort with his fans. What a legend.

Sanchez

2010-12-05T14:03:00.000-08:00

Here are some beautiful stills from a short film on Diego Sanchez, one of the most exciting and eccentric UFC fighters I have ever seen.
In regards to Sanchez's self belief and confidence when he competes, he's my hero. Very committed and will never give up... The guy's an animal.
Watch the short here.

James Cox 18+

2010-12-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

My class mate James Cox asked me to be the face of his dissertation poster.
He is writing about censorship in film, and wanted to create a shocking and offensive poster that communicated the message of his topic.
I understand it is an offensive design, but at the same time it is very powerful which is what is needed when discussing censorship, since it is such a controversial topic.
I'm a fan of his final outcome.

Cool Men

2010-12-04T17:32:00.001-08:00

All these men are cool... Every truly cool man models themselves on one of these men in one way or another.

Christmas Social

2010-12-04T08:15:00.001-08:00

BAGC Christmas Social 2010.

Alfie

2010-12-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

I watched Alfie today. (I've seen it before - But it's a really good film.)
It's a remake of the classic that Michael Caine originally starred in.
There's something about the editing of this film that makes it cool, the on set photography is superb and the posters just ooze 'cool', or as the Sunday Mirror said: "Sexy, Stylish & Smart."

Bugs

2010-11-28T00:48:00.000-08:00

Some stunning 'bug photography' found on the Graphic - Exchange blog.

Christmas

2010-11-27T02:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas is around the corner.
Here are the three things that I need to see on TV for me to feel as though it Christmas.

1. The Toys 'R' Us advert...

2. The Coke advert...

3. Home Alone... Vintage!

Channel 4

2010-11-27T02:43:00.000-08:00

Channel 4's home page is always changing, and it never seems to look crap.
The home image changes on a daily basis.
They use great photography in order for the menus to stay in place and work well as an aesthetically pleasing piece of web design... This is what they have provided over the past 2 days.

Misfits

2010-11-25T15:16:00.000-08:00

Started watching the TV show misfits the other day.
What a fantastic show, a mixture of horror, comedy and with a sort of comic book super hero story line all set in Britain. Check it out.

Italic

2010-11-25T15:11:00.000-08:00

The italic poster - excellent.

Pentagon Twitpics

2010-11-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

Just like a previous post a year or 2 ago I enjoy looking at peoples 'Twitpics' and seeing what pictures they have on their phones...
Here are some of Pentagon designs Twitpics... Follow them on twitter = @PentagonDesign.

Sick Boy, Inc. Blog

+ Closed +

Money Baby

Reflection

The Big Idea

Hugh Laurie

Simply Unstoppable

Astroid Boys

Tron

Peacock Design (Day 5)

Peacock Design (Day 4)

Scream

Peacock Design (Day 3)

Twenty Twelve

Face Text

Peacock Design (Day 2)

Peacock Design (Day 1)

Warrior

225 Macintosh Place

Robin Hood

Like an Egg Productions

Studio Work Space

Nike Better World

Heartbeats

Tron Concept Art

Dirty Eastwood

Self

Layer Cake Fight Scene

Run

Behance

Azerbaijan

Motivation

Pin

Baterine

3D

Diesel - D&AD

Crown

Blind Faith

Bombay Bad Boy

Chris Welsby

Kate Loves Me

N&B

Black & Navy

Knuckle Duster

EVOL Portfolio

Scenes

Day V Lately

Cool Film Posters

UFC Photography

Portfolio Update

Hip Hop Alphabet

Sick Boy, Inc. Tee

Dissertation

Build Work

Worst Brands of 2010

Best Brands of 2010

New Toy

It could be worse

Harcourt Litho Ltd Photoshoot

Rule Number 1

Diane Rees

Moss vs. Munn

2011

Wrapping Type

Rambo

Rocky IV

Cop Land

T-Shirts

Double Rainbow

Christmas

Limited Edition Bud

Dredd

Cobra

RocknRolla

Typefunkography

R is for Rambo

Roke1984

Music & Math

Design & Data

Channel 4 - Twist Our Words