New Virgin Atlantis Logo

Here is my new logo for Virgin Atlantis. The shape of the object around 'Virgin' is now a lot more simpler. Also I have changed the placement of the word 'atlantis' and altered the kerning to bring the letters closer together. Also I have changed the colour of the word from black to a mid toned grey.

Double Page Spread

This is my double page spread for Virgin Atlantis. It is basically an altered version of my billboard poster

 

What Makes A Successful Freelancer?

Pros
  •    Independent with all projects
  •    Easier to start business
  •    Decide when you work
  •    Choose when you work and your holidays
  •    Tax & VAT: Claim a percentage of expensive and overheads against your annual income
  •    Opportunity to create a business that is as you want it to be (a venture that truly reflects your enthusiasm, passion and values)

Cons
  •    You will be the alpha and the omega
  •    You will be responsible for costing and quoting, generating sales, attending meetings, taking briefs, production, invoicing, cleaning
  •    Responsible for debts
  •    If you don’t work, you don’t get paid
  •    Try not to be sick or hung-over

Use ‘F’ Words
  •    Fear:
     ~ Motivational tool
     ~ Fear of paying bills
     ~ Fear of loosing success
     ~ Don’t let it control you
  •    Ferocious
     ~ Approach like a lion, attack and devour
     ~ Chase and hold on
  •    Focus
     ~ Laziness is the bane of most freelancers due to no management of supervisors
     ~ Staying focused = Success
     ~ Eliminate distractions
     ~ Use technology to get more done
     ~ If you are really lazy use a calendar with a reminder via email or text message
  •    Fast
     ~ Work faster = Paid faster
     ~ Impress client by doing great work in fast time
     ~ Work hard and fast and reward yourself when your done
     ~ Working faster doesn’t mean producing low quality work and cutting corners
     ~ This means slicker, streamlined designs
  •    Feedback
     ~ Seek often, show concepts and ideas as often as possible
     ~ Saves hours of revision
     ~ Aim for the clients centre
  •    Fun
     ~ Enjoy what you do
     ~ Not all projects are fun and things DO go wrong
     ~ If your stressed have a break, get out, go for a walk, watch television, etc.

What You Need
  •    Communication
  •    Dedication
  •    Desire
  •    Drive
  •    Empathy
  •    Energy
  •    Enthusiasm
  •    Expertise
  •    Honesty
  •    Humour
  •    Intelligence
  •    Knowing the price of ‘a pig’
  •    Passion
  •    Personality
  •    Professionalism
  •    Time management
  •    Trustworthy
  •    Values

What About Your Studio?
  •    Outside
     ~ Location
     ~ Accessibility
     ~ Parking
     ~ Transport Links
     ~ Amenities
  •    Inside
     ~ Atmosphere
     ~ Décor
     ~ Defined Areas
     ~ Equipment
     ~ Facilities
     ~ Furnishing
     ~ Layout
     ~ Lighting
     ~ Smell
     ~ Storage

5 Questions For Freelancers
  1.    What is it that I do?
  2.    Why should customers care?
  3.    Is there a need for what I am offering? (Unique Selling Point)
  4.    Will there be sufficient demand?
  5.    Will that generate sufficient reward for me to move my business forward?

Design Workflow

Stage 1

• Enquiry
• Research
• Brief
• Estimation of cost & production
• Conception work
• Concept Presentation

 Stage 2

• Application of concept
• Final Artwork

Stage 3

• Proof Printing

Enquiry and Related Research

• Web
• Contacts
• Previous Work
• Pros & Cons

Brief

• Part 1: Sit, Look, Listen to what the client(s) want
• Part 2: Take notes in verbal brief, this helps you to remember everything and form an 'estimated cost'

Estimate of Costs

• Rough estimate of cost and email client based on the brief so far
• List what needs doing and then break down into separate costs. Always follow up estimate with client(s). This will save time, focuses the clients attention and produces a formal estimation
• Both you and the client should clearly understand both costs and requirements of the proposed project
• Create a branded proposal
• Consider creating a Adobe InDesign document based on 'ballpark' email. This can help you keep time and looks very professional
• At the end of each part and process of the project give a total cost for that section to show how the budget is spent. Keep each element seperate (e.g. Web design and web development are different sections)
  Consider...
• A section for your terms of payment
• A section for any project start-up costs (any software, services, or materials you don't have and need)
• A section for a deposit... a contentious point but worth considering

Production Schedule
Time management (offline monthly template). Time management is the key to everything (move on to the next step in time and finish the project itself in time).

Once estimate of costs and production schedule is completed, create a 150dpi PDF document and email it to the client. This will give both you and the client a detailed outline of the project and make you look professional.

Concept Work

• How many concepts? Based on the budget, bigger budget with lots of time will need more concepts than a project with a small budget and time period
• Application of concept - Use on letterhead, business card, website, vehicle, etc.

Print specification & quotation

• How it's supplied
• Format
• Printing
• Delievering
• Billing

Artwork Stages

• First stage artwork
• First stage amendments
• Final artwork approval

Reproduction, colour proofing and proof  approval, 'Show & Tell'

Press Pass

Designer goes to the printers and looks at the items(s) being printed, check quantity and quality.

• Pros - Check quality. Being in right place at the right time if something goes wrong and rectify it. Dealing with the press minder
• Cons - Time consuming, very early starts and very late finishes, hanging around for hours, dealing with printers

Delivering Invoice is the BEST part of the process!

Job Bag

• Copies of emails (dated) (to and from)
• Desk diary (calls, emails, letters, work done, etc.)
• Proof
• Samples

Cruise Ship

Another one of my orignal applications was placing the logo on the side of a cruise ship. This was harder then I expected. I had to scew and change the perspective of the logo to make it follow the shape and flow of the ship itself. I also added a red stripe down the side of the boat to add a little colour. I think the final outcome turned out rather well.

Typefaces

My current typeface for the word 'atlantis' in my logo is Verdana. When I first designed my logo I didn't really look much into typefaces and came up with using Verdana fairly quickly. Because of this i decided to look into other typefaces I could possibly use for 'atlantis'. This meant I needed to create a page with the word atlantis repeated over and over again in different typefaces.

 

Research into Current Virgin Logos

To help me complete the changes to my Virgin Atlantis logo I decided to go back to some previous research and look at current Virgin logos. Looking at these logos can help me define a certain style that Virgin use and how slight tweeks to my logo can help my achieve this.

Virgin Atlantis Bilboard

For one of my applications for my logo I created a bilboard sign.
It is a photo taking of a cruise ship at night with my logo added to the side of it.
For GDA2 I needed to add a 'call to action' which I did with the website address.

Current Virgin Atlantis Logo

Here is the logo for Virgin Atlantis which I designed for Graphic Design and Advertising Practice One. The colour codes for the logo are in CMYK and are as follows:
Red: C:17  M:100 Y:100 K:7
White: C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0
Black: C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100

Proposal

Customer Profile:
Virgin Atlantis is a middle class cruise liner company, aimed at families and couples with an average income, which travel worldwide. They take pride in given the customer a luxury holiday for a very reasonable price.  Atlantic serve to every customer need and take pride of offering the best price for the high quality service they give.

Changes I need to make:
          •    Logo:
                    o    Size – Play around with the size contrast between the words Virgin and Atlantis as well as the size of the red shape behind Virgin

                    o    Colour – Try out different colours for the typeface and the main shape of the logo, such as blues and greens which symbolise the sea
                    o    Typeface – Look at a variety of typefaces to use for the word Atlantis
                    o    Shape – Slightly alter the size and curvature of the main shape. Also, explore different cut aways in the shape
                    o    Placement – Move the word Atlantis closer in towards the Virgin logo as it seems to be floating away from the main logo

          •    Poster:
                    o    Image – Look at a variety of different images to use on the posters
                    o    Size – Play around with the size of the logo and the size of the strap-line
                    o    Placement – Try moving the logo and strap-line to different positions on the poster
                    o    Information – Add a ‘Call to Action’ such as a website or phone number

Applications to apply logo to:
My current applications which are posters, billboards, website and iPhone app just need slight tweaks to them, such as a call to action.
Other applications I can apply the logo to are:
          •    Stationary
          •    Business Card
          •    Letter Head
          •    Tickets
          •    Brochure Cover
          •    Livery on Ships
          •    Carrier Bags
          •    Bus Stops
          •    Uniform
          •    Toiletries
          •    Card Key

Graphic Design and Advertising Practice Two

Date Set: 1st November 2010

Date Due: 16th December 2010

Tasks:

• Design a detailed self-identified project brief
• Research target audience to define design and advertising objectives
• Develop and produce a creative design or advertising project in response to the self-identified brief
• Suggest improvements to the project as a result of evaluation

Assignment Outcomes:

AO1 - Practice coursework negotiated in proposal to one of the above briefs including a development sketchbook. 75%

AO2 - Research file to include a 1000 word written evalution of your project. 25%

Brief:

Following your project work for Graphic Design and Advertising Practice One you are required to expand an existing brief or take forward your project in a different direction. You are required to write an update proposal to state your aims and objectives in outline format or respond to of the new headings stated below.

1.  Self-devised Branding Project:
   Make any necessary changes/adaptions to your existing brand marks/logos, customer profiles and project proposals in light of review feedback.
   Create an identity guide and explore and show how the chosen brand could be applied using at least two appropriate communication channels. This should be presented to a high standard.
   
   Or alternatively:
   
2. Open Brief:
   Submit a proposal for a self-identified project.
   Ensure you identify problem to be solved, define audience profile, examine marketing and define/analyse tasks in proposal