ECB Logo Development

Initial sketches when designing my entry for the Essex County Buses logo competition:



Developing selected ideas on the computer. The logo-mark is based on how bus routes appear on a map. The circles represent bus stops while the dynamic lines represent the route-path itself.:



After much tweaking and testing the final logo emerges:

On the buses

I've just designed a logo for Essex County Buses, a dynamic transport company offering a variety of travel services - not just bus travel despite the name! It's a simple and unique looking logo inspired largely by the way bus routes appear on the map. I'll upload the result in the next couple of days...

Hearing Shapes

We are all capable of "hearing" shapes and sizes and perhaps even "tasting" sounds, according to researchers.



Read more here

Patience, and persistance

Jay-Z's not your typical role-model: as a high-school dropout he sold crack before he began his music career. But his ambition, work ethic, quest for perfection and sheer talent—never-mind his wild success—is inspiring.

Site Update

Yes, it took a while (ok, 2months) but I've got round to updating the my website with my work at Propeller, an identity for Video Rescue. Check it out on www.jacklarner.co.uk for a closer look.

Food for thought

My time at Interbrand

Two months and a fair few train tickets later my two months at Interbrand have flown by!

Whilst there, I was involved in work for several global brands at various stages - from research to development. I enjoyed my time there and learnt first-hand the thorough design and research process larger agencies go through compared to smaller ones. I also got to know my way around a lot of central london on foot too in my attempts to avoid the tube!

I am now getting on with some freelance jobs while I search for either a full-time job or more placements.

Designer Vs Client

haha so true!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfprIxNfCjk

From Ipswich to London!

It's been a great week at Propeller where I have been working on a new identity for a successful storage area network company. I had a lot of fun working with the friendly and talented team and learnt a lot from the whole experience. It's a shame the week went so quickly!

Next week I begin Interbrand in London, which I expect will be a big contrast to Propeller's relatively small studio. I'm looking forward to the challenge and expanding my design skills further over the next month.

I shall upload my latest work on the site very soon, so watch this space!

Jack

Some train sketching

Some sketches I did for a placement project while on the train to Propeller Design. It's design designing a bug-like mascot for a Storage Area Network company.

Placement at Propeller Design

I'm looking forward to beginning a placement with Propeller Design in Ipswich tomorrow. Specialising in Design and Brand communications, you can check out their website here: http://www.propellerdesign.co.uk

Branding at it's best haha

Had a great week in Zadar, Croatia, helping out at the Vivid gallery. It was great to meet the others involved and check out the artwork. Zadar is also a great city full of friendly locals and interesting bars - check it out!

Toothbrush? - check

Tomorrow I fly out to Zadar, Croatia where my friend Ray's vivid paintings are being exhibited. I'm looking forward to seeing the art and design there and meet new people...as well as the clear blue skys and golden beaches :)

The Future

"I'll buy anything shiny and made by Apple"

Computer Arts Graduate Showcase 2009

I have just posted off my Royal Mail for this year's Computer Arts Graduate Showcase - fingers crossed!

Design Appreciation

I'm loving this distinct identity created by Two Points for the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona. Check it out in full here: http://www.twopoints.net/en/project/montjuic-de-nit

Degree show photos

Here are photos of my degree show stand from last week:

Thanks to Fresh Communications

I had a good day working with the Fresh Communications team in Leicester today. Working on three test projects, it has reminded me of the importance of being able to work quickly as well with quality to meet tight deadlines. Andrew gave me a great logo creating exercise to improve my design speed which I shall check out by the end of next week.

New portfolio

After a day of consistantsizing (if that's a word) my portfolio, it's ready to present at my interview at Fresh tomorrow morning.

Photoshootin'

In in the process of updating my portfolio, Marcus and I got down to the photography studio to take some shots of my work. You can see the results on my website's project pages.

Ourworld, round 2

Following feedback from Saatchi, Matt and I are currently revamping the Ourworld project in an exciting new way:



All shall be revealed soon..

My Website Identity

My website, and myself as a designer, is lacking a visual identity. Today I have developed my website's identity. Have a ganders at www.jacklarner.co.uk

The Degree Show

After all the preparation, the degree show industry viewing went really well. It was great to see everyone's hard work and make new contacts. I'll go back when during the week when it's less busy to take some photos.

Coffee?

With the industry degree show coming up tommorrow I have been preparing the Coffee packaging series from my Sesa project to present.





With the photogaphy studios fully booked until next week I created my own makeshift studio in the living room:

Business Cards

In preparation to the degree show I have created a simple and clutter free business card to go on my exhibition stand.

Placement at Interbrand

I have just been accepted for a month's placement at Interbrand this summer - goodtimes!

Late night doodle

I'm looking to expand the Berghaus Opti-Stud Project (shown earlier), expanding the campaign into magazine ads and posters. Here is a quick mock of an idea I've had to get the concept across.

To refresh your memory, the campaign is promoting a type of walking shoe grip. As with the booklet, the visuals represent map contours and the numbers, the altitude, like on an ordinance survey map. As the numbers increase up the hill, they begin to wobble and tilt, suggesting the uneven surface and the need for grip.

Looking at the mock, it may even make a good screen-print illustration. I'm going to aim to get this complete for hand-in on 15th May. Watch this space!

Getting messy

..with linoprint. For my final major project I have taken on the task of creating the name and brand of a musical coffee house.  From research and several mock concepts, I've decided to base the brand identity around ancient african tribe culture due to the heavy influence of music and community surrounding which they lived.

It's been a fun day experimenting with linoprint to create an authentic african style.

RSA Evening

I've just come back from a portfolio crit evening at the RSA in "Landan" with friends from my course. Set in a funky brick basement, it was a great opportunity to view the rest of my course's work and meet people from the industry. The next show like this will be the NTU degree show in June!

Feelin' Lucky?

After a bit of a break from the project to work on some othe briefs I have completed my booksleeve for the 'On This Day' brief. My day? Friday 13th (wooo)



Inspired by the day's mythlogical roots, heavily involving Paganism and Christianity I decided that a more biblical style would be the most appropriate to get the right vibe across.

The final design uses a combination on hand drawn patterns and vector drawn shapes. I have also designed some page layouts for the inside of the book which document the history and fables of this widely-feared day.

Reach Your Peak...

For this years YCN Awards entry I have been tasked effectively communicating the benefits a unique type of footwear grip by Berghaus, Opti-Stud, to the potential customer.

Here's what it looks like:



The Berghaus brand’s vision statement is, “We are on top of the world’s highest mountains. We are at home in the most inhospitable places on earth. We are found on the backs of the best outdoor athletes out there. We are in front of everyone else. This is where we have been for over 40 years and it’s where we are going. We’re on an adventure. Join us.” and the "Potential Customer" is a passionate Outdoor Athlete, always looking to reach their full performance:



The first concept I had for the campaign revolved around the insight; "Get a Grip". The shoe would be presented instore upside down and have a general muddy, gritty style.



After getting feedback from fifty Outdoor Athletes I talked to (my Saturday job is at an Outdoor Shop), the general thoughts were that this slogan, although snappy, seemed too cliche, condesending and did not fit in with the brand values.

My second concept, 'Reach Your Peak' went down much better with the outdoor enthusiasts. The tagline can be interpreted either literally, as in the footwear will get you to the top of the hill or metaphorically, as in peak performance. This got great feedback all round and was the clear winner.

Visually, a map contour style was used. This is as they represent altitude on a map, making for a familiar visual language:



I tried several illustrative experiments using a developed map contour style before coming up with the final promotional piec for Berghaus:



The final piece is inspired by the visual style of the Ordiance Survey Maps widely used by Outdoor Athletes.



Which leads me nicely to my final piece. This booket explains the benefits of Opti-Stud in a clear way with supporting infographics. The logo is inspired by the contour symbol on many map keys. The illustration makes the shape of an Opti-Stud in the centre with contours branching out, suggesting that Opti-Stud is at the peak:

Our World

A collaboration with Matty Ivy, a D&AD brief this year was to 'Create the brand for a radically new customer reward scheme'. You can view it by logging on the D&AD Awards site here.

We were tasked with creating a global brand name and identity for a radically new customer reward scheme, where customers will be able to form groups around their shared interests, passions and tribal loyalties. They will be able to ‘lobby’ for incentives from brands that match their profile and brands will be able to be ‘bid’ for these customer’s loyalty, no matter how unique the interests are.

From our research we came up the brandname Ourworld and created the visuals and campaign around it, making sure to keep things simple and globally recognisable.



Our research included lifestyles, globally iconic designs and symbols, marketing and business strategy:




...and who's this Zack Marmer guy? ;)

Royal Mail 2020

My next Futurebrand entry is complete! It involved a lot of research into the current Royal Mail brand and the problems it faces as well as a range of visual research, I'll get it up on my website soon.

Futurebrand 2020

I've just discovered my Royal Mail rebrand design for the Futurebrand 2020 competition has gotten through to the next round of judging - goodtimes!

They've given me lots of feedback to keep me busy before the next round of judging commences. Watch this space!