Graphic Standards Manual: Pages

This is the work I have done so far on my Graphic Standards Manual. Each page correspond to a different aspect of the identity of Creativeright. The colors follow a simple spectrum and are only repeated if the area needs more space (i.e. the color section). 

I'm really happy with how it is looking and once it is all put together, I think it will pretty interesting to look at as well as a good reference piece for a designer working on identity pieces.

System Application: Digital Mock-Up

Here are a few mock-ups of the system application. It consisted of a series of mailers and thank you notes that would go to those that donate. Each series will have a piece in each color. In order to integrate my folder from my business system (it was the only piece that lacked a bar), I reflected that in the thank you notes. I did try adding the bar in the folder and it made the folder very unbalanced.

If I manage to find time and resources, I still want to include my idea of the branded pencil tin and notebook that would be included in the thank you package.

I would really appreciate feedback. This is due next week and I really want it to be a successful piece in my overall system and identity.

Graphics Standards Manual: Digital Rough

Here is my refined digital rough. The symbol will be a white binding post that will somehow have the symbol on top. If anyone has any suggestions on how to do that, that would be great! It's a little small so go ahead and click on it to see it larger. The full size is 10" x 3.4". This size and format promotes the viewer to fan out the book and see each page. A fan book format also allows for quick reference to the material. I'll post each page as I finish them, but this is a look at the whole piece.
I'm trying to decide whether I should keep the corners square or rounded. Also, is there too much white space? I really like the white space but once it's fanned out, it might be too much.

Graphics Standards Manual: Sketches

For initial sketches for the graphics standard manual for Creativeright, I wanted to do something a little bit different and creative. I thought about different formats, such as one that folded out from the center with a seal in the center, a tri-fold poster, swatch book, to a series of business card pieces. After talking with Ange, I decided to pursue the idea that reflected a color swatch book as the colors are so important to the images and identity.

Business System: Final

These are pretty similar to the edits from the previous post. However, the color of the green is brighter, the address under the wordmark is bold and I spent more time refining the typography.

Ahh! Printing Troubles! Two different Office Max stores and Kinko's both could not print the sleeve correctly. Every time I tried to print it, the color had huge streaks in it and, for some reason, the "c" symbol showed up in a ghost affect on the opposite side of the logo. Does anyone have any input on how to fix these issues? The other pieces printed beautifully, hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Business System: Edits

Here is the second ideation of the my business system. In critiques, it was mentioned by several people to focus on one of the images from my initial roughs. The image with the brightest color held the most attention and conveyed art well. While I was looking for additional images that fit the original, I began to develop the color scheme seen here. The three pieces I'm including in this system are a business card, letterhead, and a sleeve to hold them. The sleeve would then be given to the high schools.

This is pretty different from my roughs, so any additional suggestions or critiques would be great!

For those of you that like type...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/1033729476/

This has really nothing to do with my assignments, but it's still pretty cool. It's an image of the Martin Luther King Jr. High School in New York City. I wish I could do this to my house!

Business System: Digital Roughs

 

I chose to create a letterhead, event mailer, and folder that would hold materials that would go to schools with information on the program. The first option utilizes the symbol as a dominant element in a black and white design. This idea uses typographic elements to relate to my audience and give a really clean look to the system. I plan on using the symbol as an embossing motif throughout, I just have to figure out how to do that.

The second option focuses more on the use of images from actual events juxtaposed with images of students and their artwork.

During my small group critique today a couple of really great ideas came up. It was suggested I push the shape of the folder to give a more creative edge while integrating strong splotches of color on the rigid black and white of the first option.

Standards Manual: Research

These images come from the idenity manual the Communications team has been working on for the Solar Decathelon project. This is an earlier version, as our logo has since changed. I chose to include this example because it is an example of a concise manual. The following from STAR Data Services is about 30 pages and gets very in depth. The explain the width of the letterforms in the logotype and specific methods to scaling. The third image actually has a table showing where, when, and how the logo is acceptable to use. It is set up quite nicely, especially in the title pages. This, however, gets lost in the mass amount of text that follows.

The intentions for my Graphic Standards Manual will fall somewhere in between the utterly simplistic and overly elaborate. I want to reflect sophisticated style with an artistic feel.

Company Logo Design: Final Critique

Wednesday's critique brought up many questions on the juxtaposition of my logotype with the symbol and the application of my logo. I've been working with the application and will upload those soon. As far as improvements on the logo itself, the question of color was brought up as well as further differentiation of my logotype from the Century Gothic I'd originally chose.