DESIGNING SECTION

1. DESIGNING SECTION 14 MARKS OUT OF 60

2. INITIAL SKETCHES EVALUATION DETAILED FINAL DESIGN 4 MAIN IDEAS DEVELOPMENT AND MODELLING

3. IMPORTANCE OF SURFACE GRAPHICS and MODELLING • You are reinventing a product • Concentrate mainly on the surface graphics for this piece of coursework • Include 2D / 3D modelling and trialling of important details and areas of interest

4. RANGE OF GRAPHICS MATERIALS • Paper • Card and board • Foamboard • Sheet plastic up to 1mm thick • Modelling foam • PVA, spray, glue gun, glue sticks, epoxy resin, tape, double sided tape, velcro, sticky pads, paper fasteners, eyelets • Polymorph, thermochromic inks, photochromic inks, • Staples, press fasteners, plastic nuts and bolts

5. RANGE OF PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES • Isometric • One and two point perspective • Freehand sketches • Orthographic • Use of CAD and ICT • Geometric shapes • Scale drawings • Dimensioning • Assembly drawings • Colouring crayons • Felt tip pens • Fine liner • Computer print out • Pencil drawing • Stick in models • Annotated photos • Thick thin line technique

6. ANNOTATE DETAIL • Environmental issues • Sustainability • Does it meet your design brief? • Does it meet the points on your specification? • Does it meet the needs of the user? • What is it made from? • How is it made? • Colours • Printing techniques • Layout

7. INITIAL SKETCHES • 30 minutes to produce some initial sketches • These do not have to be full ideas – it could just be part of your product • Annotate details • Use a range of presentation techniques • One page

8. 4 MAIN IDEAS • You have got 2 lessons to complete your main design ideas. 4 is an average amount – you may want to do more. • Your designs need to be varied, original, creative, detailed, well presented • Use a range of presentation techniques • Annotate details • No more than 2 A3 pages

9. What does creative mean? CREATIVE Embossing Pop ups Relief – parts of the image raised Interesting features Shape

10. Things to think about STAMPS • Presentation pack, information, layout, surface graphics • Images • Range of skills and techniques • Creative design • Shape of presentation pack • How does the pack open and fold • Range of stamps, how many • Use of CAD/ICT – photoshop, own images • Use of CAM/ICT – stika cutter • Target market • What are the stamps for, theme? • Materials • Perforation, queens head, self adhesive

11. Design Idea 1: Designs are photographic images of each animal. Hedgehog: This image is a close up of the Hedgehog, clearly showing its colour and details of its prickles. Again the collectors would find that this is a natural photo of the animal giving a clear and precise representation of it in its natural habitat of a garden. Again, this image could easily be converted to appear on a postage stamp and still have room for the Queen’s head and 1st class number. Squirrel: this is a red squirrel which is the native type to Britain. It is a traditional pose that most users would recognise. It is a clear and detailed photo of the squirrel in its natural habitat. This could make a good stamp image as it appeals to the collectors for the above points. Even as this size the image is clear and therefore would be aesthetically pleasing on a postage stamp. Fox: This image is of a fox, it is clearly taken and shows the detail of the fox colouring, however again it only shows part of the foxes body and not the whole. Which I feel does detract from the image and would I believe stop potential collectors from buying the stamps. The fox is in focus but the grass around it is slightly out which makes the user locate on the key image, which I think is a good method. The image does allow the Queen’s head and number one to be placed onto it without it interfering with the foxes body. Which would still allow the image to be clearly seen and not come across too busy. Badger: This image is a close up of the front of a badger, again it is clear and detailed, it would appeal in some respects to the collector as the image is a good one. However, it is disappointing to only have the front of the badger body and not the main body colour or detail of the badger. In this photo, the background is fussy which detracts from the clarity of the other images, which in some ways does not link them together, or allows the user to understand the badgers habitat unlike the previous two images. Despite the fuzzy areas, the image would be easy to add the Queen’s head and number 1 to it and still leave enough space not to interfere with the image. 11 John Adams Candidate No: 3445

12. Design Idea 2: Designs are cartoon sketches of each animal Fox: This image is a fun representation of a fox. You can clearly seen from the colours and detail within the cartoon character that it is a fox. The colours are bright and bold to allow for the image to stand out on the page, which would mean that this image would be good on a plain background for a stamp. There is enough space to allow for the Queen’s head and the number 1. I am not sure if these cartoon images would appeal to the collector as they are different to the normal style of stamp designs used. But, could encourage new and young collectors to start. Squirrel: This image clearly shows that it is a squirrel. It has been sketched in the similar method used for the rest, which links the images. This would allow for the collector to see the links and know they are a promotional package. It is simple in detail, but still effective in the style and colours used that would appeal to the collector to use the stamps. I feel that the image allows for a different approach to be used for the design style of the stamps. I am however, unsure of whether I like the pencil shading to be as clearly evident on the image as I feel this detracts from the essence of the image, unless the pencils represented the animals fur. Hedgehog: The spikes on the character tells the user it is a hedgehog. It clearly uses the correct colours to help identify that it is this animal. Again one can clearly see that it links to the other cartoon images. They appeal in a young and friendly way to the potential user. I feel that this image may have the Queen’s head and number 1 on top of the image as it does fill the square, unlike the other images which are taller, the image would have to be made smaller for it not to interfere or narrowed – which would loose the rounded effect of the hedgehog itself. This sketch is better in not showing the pencil shading as much. I feel some habitat would need to be included in the image to help represent it. Badger: I feel only the head of this sketch tells you it is a badger, I feel that the rest of the body does not help it, however, I do feel that it is linked to the other drawings. This is the only character that I feel lets the pack down – it would need to be improved to make it to the same standard as the rest. Otherwise potential users would not buy this one of the pack. Or as a promotional pack it would not be brought, which could mean that new design styles would not be encouraged into future stamp creations. However, the sketch would allow for the other information to be placed onto the design without interfering with the sketched image. Due to the colours of the badge it does not come across as bright or bold, which also does not make it aesthetically pleasing. 12 John Adams Candidate No: 3445

13. Design Idea 3: Designs are formally hand drawn images of each animal. Badger: This is a very simple but effective sketch that clearly shows a badger. The sketch shows the detail of the fur colouring and that it is fur, his sizes as a animal. I feel that this sketch style would appeal to a collector and that it is in the design style of stamps created. From the plain background the badge stands out and that the Queen’s head and number 1 could be placed on without interfering with the image. I feel at the moment the design is too simple and needs to be enhanced to appeal more. This sketch would need to have some detail of its habitat too like the other sketches, so that the user can see where it lives. Squirrel: This is a simplistic sketch but at the same time shows clearly the detail of the squirrels fur and its classic stance to eat nuts. The sketch gives information of its habitat too. This sketch would appeal to the user as it gives all the information needed about the animal. It would appeal by its simple nature of the image. Simple but effective. The image allows enough space for the other detail to be added without loosing the image detail. Maybe a touch of colour would make it stand out more and appeal to the collector, but to keep its style in keeping with the others, I feel the colour should not be bold, but delicate, nothing more than a highlight to make it appeal and be more aesthetical to the user. Hedgehog: This is the most detailed of the four images, but it captures the essence of the hedgehog really well. I feel that this sketch would appeal to the collector as it is a clear portrayal of the animal and its habitat. Although being more detailed one can see that it fits in with the other sketches making them appear as one. The image allows for the other details to be added without being put on top of the sketch. It clearly stands out from the plain background. To make all the stamps be one, I feel that they would need a border edge or something to link them together. I feel for this image a touch of light colour could spoil it, but needs to be considered to see if it could help it. I do think though that the black and white image gives a clean and pure image that appeals to different users. Fox: This sketch does show the detail of the change in colour and pattern of the foxes fur very well. One can see from the very simple sketch that it is a fox. Again it has very simple lines and style that portrays the animal well with a slight indication of the foxes habitat. One can clearly see that the four images are in the same style and that they work well together for a promotional package. This sketch would work well and benefit from some enhanced colour to the fur of the fox to make it stand out more from the plain background as it is a larger animal hence more white space to fill. The sketch still allows for the Queen’s Head and Number 1 to fit around and not interfere with the image. 13 John Adams Candidate No: 3445

14. Design Idea 4: Designs are images of well known children’s characters from Beatrix Potter for each animal. Fox: Character name: Mr Tod This is quite a fuzzy picture as it is very detailed in the background, which detracts from the key detail of the character. I do not believe that this image would appeal to collectors of stamps as it would not have a clear image of Mr Tod. It would have to be developed to reduce the background detail and only have the character present. This image would easily be able to have a Queen’s head shown and a number one. Also all these designs would need the characters name on it. Badger: Character name: Tommy Brock This is a very detailed drawing of the character and is actually different to the others found. Although they are of the same series, obviously the artist is different. This would need to be altered to allow this character to be linked with the others, otherwise collectors may not wish to purchase the stamps. It is good that the background is plain as it helps to enhance the character from the page. Also there is enough space for the other essential detail to be added without interfering with the key drawing. Squirrel: Character name: Squirrel Nutkin This image is quite detailed as a sketch drawing of Squirrel Nutkin, it does appeal as a character and would make a nice image to put onto a stamp, especially with a plain background to help make the character stand out. I believe that this character would appeal to the collector and for users who wish to use a stamp, more so than the above too images, which would need to be altered to fit in with this sketch style to make them a complete package. Again there is space to add the details required as well as the image. Hedgehog: Character name: Mrs Tiggy-winkle This image is similar to the squirrel Nutkin character and has the same appeal to the collectors, it would make a very good image for a stamp, however, I feel that the image would need to be enhanced with colour to make the very fine details stand out. Again the details that need to be added to the stamp would easily fit in the space and not crowd the image of the hedgehog. 14 John Adams Candidate No: 3445

15. EVALUATION • Write a conclusion to explain your personal opinion about each of your main design ideas • Evaluate each of your main design ideas against your specification points – which one is the most successful and why? Which one are you going to develop and why? • You may want to get some user feedback about your designs to help you decide which is the best one to continue with

16. Selection Process of the design ideas: Overall comments Idea 1: I like the use of actual pictures to create the images of the animals for the stamps. With today’s technology to create very good digital images then the animals would have a very good image on the stamp and appeal to the collectors. However, I feel that the image like the fox could loose its clarity as the image is reduced to the size of the stamp and then the fox would not be as clear or appealing. Although these are really good images, not much development would be needed to make them into stamps, only to add a Queen’s head and the number 1, which could be lost within the images as the whole stamp would be coloured in unlike the ideas shown in 2 and 4. I do believe that the backgrounds of the stamps need to not detract from the actual image of the British animal. Idea 2: I like these sketched cartoon characters of the animals, I think they are fun and appealing for an everyday user of stamps. However, for the serious collectors I do not think that they appeal and therefore the promotional packs would not sell. They do link well together as a theme and as a glance you can see that they match. On the whole they are bright and bold and can clearly see which animal they are. I feel that they would need to be improved with the shading in to make them true quality images for the stamps. The images could easily be changed to fit a stamp size and the detail would not be lost as they are simple in their detail used. The additional information could easily be incorporated onto them as well. Idea 3: I like these more formal sketch ideas of the animals – they seem to capture the essence of all the animals in a simple but effective way. I believe that these would appeal to the stamp collector more than the others as they show the animal, the habitat clearly. There is ample space to add the other details required and scope to improve the images and styles of the sketches to be in keeping with other stamp promotional styles. Idea 4: I feel that Beatrix potter characters have been created before as a stamp promotion. From looking at the images found, there would not be very much to develop in the style or design of the stamps to allow for a promotional package to be created and link the stamps together. The only one that would need a great deal of development would be the Fox. Also I do not believe that they represent the British animals in the real context. They would appeal to collectors of children’s stamps and or children who wish to start – in this way it could encourage new collectors of stamps. Which is always a good idea. I very much like the backgrounds of the majority of the characters being white or plain as it helps to enhance the image of the animal. I do not feel that these designs for stamps would be in keeping with other styles already used in previous promotional stamp packages. 16 John Adams Candidate No: 3445

17. Selection Process of the design ideas: Against Specifications Will look at these later in the developments None of the design ideas have the perforated edges or the queen’s head and number 1 added yet, or in the Should section the materials considered. Idea 1: This idea does not meet all of the MUST specifications points, hence I will not develop this idea. I am not going to do this one. Idea 2: This idea does meet the majority of the specifications in all the categories, however, I feel that these will not appeal to all stamp users. Hence,I am not going to do this one. Idea 3: This idea does meet the majority of the specifications in all the categories and would be simple and very cheap to reproduce than the others. I am going to do this one. Idea 4: This idea does not meet all of the MUST specifications points, hence I will not develop this idea. I am not going to do this one. John Adams Candidate No: 3445 17

18. Things to think about STAMPS • Presentation pack, information, layout, surface graphics • Images • Range of skills and techniques • Creative design • Shape of presentation pack • How does the pack open and fold • Range of stamps, how many • Use of CAD/ICT – photoshop, own images • Use of CAM/ICT – stika cutter • Target market • What are the stamps for, theme? • Materials • Perforation, queens head, self adhesive

19. DEVELOPMENT AND MODELLING • What materials are suitable to make your product from – do you need to do some testing? • What can you change/improve about your design? (ICT, by hand, colours, fonts, printing methods, layout, size, shape, design) • Include evidence of all the trialling you do and include personal reflection on this so the examiner knows what you did, why you did it and what impact that has on your design.

20. Development of Chosen Idea: Bordered edge: I have added a black border to the images to see if this helps to enhance the pictures. I feel that they do help, but I think black as a colour is too contrasting, however, the edges will be perforated so some of the block of colour will be lost. I think that the border helps to make the pictures link more together and gives them a better professional appearance that will appeal to stamp collectors. I added the border within Adobe by selecting the image and adding a line border to it. It was very simple and quick to add this detail, but by doing it I feel that it very quickly improved the images to the potential user. I do feel though that maybe an inner border line needs to be included too that is thinner and maybe a colour that works with the queen’s head and number 1. Such as a gold colour to be used. The image to the left shows an additional border, which I think helps to add more appeal, but again the colour needs to be right to help enhance rather than detract from the image. I will continue this development. Colour Applied: Here I have put the images into Adobe and added a new layer to apply colour to each image for the fur. I believe it works well for the hedgehog, but not for the others. I feel that the colour makes the stamps less professional and therefore will not appeal to the collector to wan them. I feel that the colour addition does not make the stamps look linked and detracts from some of the sketch detail you can see in the black and white image. I found it relatively easy to add the colour detail to the sketches by using the airbrush tool and making the colour slightly transparent, so that not all the sketch detail will be lost. I do not feel that I will continue this development. I have noticed on the Squirrel sketch that I have scanned in the written title squirrel. I feel that this helps to add to the appeal of the stamp and is in keeping with other stamp designs created before on promotional stamps. I will look to add this to the other scanned images to make them linked in a better way. 20 John Adams Candidate No: 3445

21. Development of Chosen Idea: Border and the name: I have re scanned the original art work and added to the badger the grass to make it more linked to the other sketches. I now feel that they link well together. I have also added the names in pencil to them too. I feel that as a design they are simple yet effective to a potential stamp user. I feel that they have the right style of previous stamp designs in the UK market and would potentially sell very well. Border Colour and Font styles: I have investigated below into different font styles and colours for the internal border to see which would suit the stamp designs. Border Colour: Gold Most stamps on the market have gold lettering. However, this colour does not suit the style of the stamps – I feel it would stand out too much detract from the animal sketch. I am not going to use this colour. Border Colour: Light Green This would emphasise the nature aspect of the animals. But, again I feel that this would stand out too much and make the sketch fade into the background. I am not going to use this colour. Border Colour: Silver This is again a colour that is used regularly in stamp designs. I think that this would suit the stamp design and not be too bold and would still allow the sketches to be aesthetical. I am going to use this colour. Border Colour: Brown This colour brings in the nature aspect again, I do not think this would detract too much from the sketches, but I do feel that they would not make the stamp designs as appealing. I am not going to use this colour. 1ST Font: Bauhaus 93 I like this style, however I do not think it is suits the sketches of the animals – maybe it is too modern to use with them as they are very traditional. I am not using this one. Font: Arial I think this is a very elegant type font which suits the sketches, it is in keeping with the style used. I am going to use this one. Font: Britannic Bold This is similar to above, however there is more emphasis on the letters having a hand written style especially with the letters being think and thin in the stroke. This could be good to use with the images as they too need to look 3D and stand out. I am not using this one. Font: Elephant A very modern style, but I feel it takes up too much space and that is limited on the stamp and could detract from the image design. I am not using this one. 1ST 1ST 1ST 21 John Adams Candidate No: 3445

22. Development of Chosen Idea: Changing Borders and adding detail 2D modelling of the stamp, each design has been created using Powerpoint and Adobe Photoshop to enhance the detail. I have added an extra thick border to this design and enhanced the 1st text. I feel that this does improve the edging of the stamp and highlights the other features. However, by adding this detail it does mean more colours are used and it would use more printing colours, hence it would not meet the Specifications well. I have added a very thin border to this design and have left the 1st text as a plain silver font, this helps to keep the emphasise on the sketch rather than the other detail. I feel that this does improve the aesthetical appeal of the stamp to the user. It also meets the rest of the Specifications. I have also added the stamp perforated edge to see what it looks like. I think this works well with this design. I have added a very thin border to this design and have left the 1st text as a enhanced text as above. I feel that by minimising the internal border it helps to keep the sketch as the key feature rather than the eye being attracted to the borders. I have moved the Queen’s head to the top left to see if this keeps the stamp more balanced, I feel by having all the extra detail at the top, this is what the users see first and not the sketch. This design develop meets more of the Specifications. I have taken the second design on the left and developed this. I have added a perforated edge to help give the design a true stamp theme. This has helped to show what the design will look like. I do think it works well. I have also made the Queen’s head less on an effect to the design. By toning the colour shade down and removing one of the edges. I think that this still shows the head, but also that it always the eyes not to focus on it more than the sketch design. This design develop meets more of the Specifications. Some print outs of trial runs, as you can see by having the queen’s head as a bright background it stands out, also it shows up that they are not in the same corner. I am going to do this one. John Adams Candidate No: 3445 22

23. Material Testing and Trialing Samples of Card: Material to use: Cartridge Paper SAMPLES of Printing: Discussions on the print outs: Image 1 is a print out of the 4 stamps onto cartridge paper from a inkjet printer. You can see from the photo that the images are darker and they are more grainy than the laser. They seem to show more pixels and are do not look as professional from this type of printer. They seem to be more blotchy in colour, i.e. not so matt or uniform in the printing output. They would not give a perfect print each time for the stamps. Image 2 is a print out of the 4 stamps onto cartridge paper from a laser printer. You can see from the photo that the images are lighter and seem to have a more 3D effect, they are more consistent in the application of the colour across the stamp and I feel that this type of printer would give a more professional finish than the inkjet. That each set of stamps would look like the first. Image 2 John Adams Candidate No: 3445 23 Image 1

24. Model • Make a rough model of your final design. • Include evidence • Evaluate your product, does it meet your specification, does it appeal to your target market? • What changes and improvements are you going to make to your design?

25. DETAILED FINAL DESIGN • Use your technical drawing skills or CAD skills to produce a detailed final design. • Someone else should be able to make your product by just looking at your final design. • Dimensions, materials, layout, colours – EVERYTHING!

26. ProDesktop Net layout of Stamps Prodesktop Drawing of Net layout: This diagram shows the net layout of the four stamps together for a perforated sheet. This design allows for easy tessellation of the designs and for the designs to be transferred into an Adobe Illustrator document for being processed for the Roland Camm. It was easy to create the perforated edges for the stamps in the design section of ProDesktop, I created one side edge and then mirrored this one side to create the four sides for one stamp. I then copied this image 3 times to create the other images for the layout. Once this was done I opened it up in Engineering Drawing to create the final net that can be exported as a DXF into Adobe Illustrator. Adobe Illustrator: This diagram shows the net layout of the four stamps together for a perforated sheet, but also the four final design images layered onto the perforated lines. This image can then be saved and exported into the Roland Camm for the cutter to cut the image out. Once the images have been created, dots are added to the image, they are then printed and sent to the cutter for the images to be cut out of the sheet. It was easy to take the net layout and to add additional layers to add and crop each animal design from Powerpoint. I then rescaled them to fit within each perforated square. This then allowed the image to be flattened to become one layer for easy printing and cutting. John Adams Candidate No: 3445 26

27. Final Chosen Idea: Badger 27 John Adams Candidate No: 3445