Moving on...

Since finishing my degree and moving away from Leeds, it has been very odd to not have the 'blogging burden' anymore... I never thought it would happen, but here I am back again as I have missed having a digital space for my research. As I begin the next project, I thought it would be a good time to start blogging again.
My latest live brief is to design wine labels for a well known brand in South Africa, so here goes the research...



Designed by Voice




'Maintain, premium line of Genever Gin'
Designed by Dong Heuk Choi



Offset ink, debossing, transparent foil stamp
Agency: YG | Yanez Gioia Design
Designer team: Mariano Gioia, Sebastián Yáñez, Laura Ríos



The Stallion Wine by Jordan Jelev




Base Design has designed the above bottles and cases for three white dessert wines from Spanish winemakers DG Viticultors. The face of the bottles describe their wine making process. It is a simple idea but executed well and gives a unique edge.



"New wines released by Amelia Park Wines, designed by Glasfurd & Walker"





"Colier is limited collection of sparkling wine: 23 bottles of luxury sets (bottle + presentation box) and 5 premium (handmade bottle + cocoon container)."

reference for above images: http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2010/8/4/colier.html

Design context book

Below is my final context book. I bound it with a hard back cover and made the sleeve have a cardboard 'feel' by printing onto textured paper. I also made the type smaller than original mock ups and used helvetica rather than gill sans, which gives a better finish. Unfortunately trimming the pages has resulted in the center page numbers being very close to the edge. The sleeve inserts also need to be slightly longer to hold in place, but otherwise I am satisfied with the finish.



I chose to use a hard back binding for a 'sturdier' and more compact finish. Since it was not possible to glue the printed outer cover onto the hardback, I have used it as a sleeve.





Mock up below : printed onto plain paper


Origionally the idea was to use real cardboard for the cover, but after doing a quick experiment (below) the folding is not very accurate and it would not have been possible to digital print onto cardboard. I think it would be better to take photographs of the cardboard for the cover, which may give a more professional look but keep the quirky finish.

Tea cups

Looking at visual elements to introduce onto the tea bag packaging, I think a simple visual of the traditional cup used to drink each tea would add a more relative finish.

Sri Lanka


Japan

Kenya

England

China

Chinese Oolong:


Egypt

Spain

Poland

South America
called a Guampa

India

South Africa

Cross cultural understanding of humour in graphic design

Thinking about ideas for binding my context book, I would like to implement some humorous or cultural aspect since this is the subject of the book content.

I really appreciate the look of these tiny books! The binding of my book may also communicate a cultural aspect through the binding choice. The below image was found on:

http://mechanicrobotic.wordpress.com/2007/08/06/at-the-bindery/


In order to organise my context book research into chapters, I have decided to use areas of print based design to form the six chapters. The headings are:

• Logos
• Posters
• Billboards
• Direct mail
• Business cards
• Packaging
  

PACKAGING

Megan Reddish designed the below ice cream packages. The designs look classic and sophisticated, finished off with witty quips.



This range of Bread & Butter skincare for men has a great look, with the branding designed by Micheal K. Chapman. The Skincare range is based on having no irritant ingredients or alcohol, and only what the skin needs which is reflected through the simple, 'un-fancy' packaging & design. The humour is through the marker pen typeface, which communicates a 'fuss-free' attitude that men are perceived to have.

The Benfit make-up packaging includes humour and play on words or cliches. This quality make-up brand uses humour to gives off a funky and fun look.



Jim Smith's designs have given Puccino's this fun loving branding of for the past 12 years. The scratchy pen style is so simple but effectively tied with it's humour, resulting in an approachable and relaxed 'feel'.





These quirky branding and packaging designs for Brooklyn Fare gourmet store are really effective. The products have a light-hearted, fun tone, with their quips and play on over used cliches.







BUSINESS CARDS

The below idea is quirky and humorous because it is communicating 'architecture' using the childhood associations of building with a simple lego block. This would stand out over any business card as the format is unique. Although not practical for a wallet, it still works because it is small enough to fit in you pocket.

This idea is so simple yet effective. The cleverness of the idea makes one laugh. Most women would actually use the hair grips provided too, resulting in a reminder of the hair dresser each time.


This business card is really inventive and unexpected. The interaction and rubber material is what makes it especially memorable.
Clever idea, communicating the streotypical 'gangster' consequences of debt trouble.. look closely to see the broken finger.
This serious profession has been given a more light hearted and humorous slant... the business card can be split into two; allowing one for each partner.

DIRECT MAIL






The below direct mail was sent to journalists to generate some buzz for the 7-up Stand-up Comedy Tour. The promotional balloons were used to give writers a taste of how much fun the comedy tour would be: the balloons were filled with helium and a card was attached with instructions to inhale the helium and then read a message aloud.


This Year's Winner of the Silver Cannes Lion for Direct Advertising, sent by a TV channel to media planners in an effort to promote the channel’s movie line-up. Created by Saatchi & Saatchi, Auckland, New Zealand
This idea is so well executed and really genius. The viewer has to be tickled by such creativity.


Absolutely brilliant idea, by Christopher Phin,
http://www.recedinghairline.co.uk/files/category-life.html

"Emotional Appeal in Advertising

According to the experts, all forms of advertising appeal to one of the following:

• To make more money
• To save money
• Save time
• Avoid effort
• Gain knowledge
• Avoid loss
• Be more successful
• To find love and keep it
• To be sexy and beautiful
• To live more comfortably
• Fear – to be prepared for the worst
• Exclusivity – to be the first
• Profit, wealth/prosperity
• Greed
• Sex
• Safety
• Guilt
• Pleasure
• Envy
• Education
• Pride/ego/vanity

Some of the most well known ads and commercials are humorous in nature. It is a copywriter's challenge to write a piece that is memorable, but whether humor is acceptable or not depends on the image of the brand."

Read more at Suite101: Humor in Advertising: Funny Advertisement - Direct Mail Examples For Whisky http://print-advertising.suite101.com/article.cfm/humour_in_advertising#ixzz0nB9X71hR

"Humorous advertising is the most difficult to create successfully. In literature too, humor is known as the most difficult genres to master. This is because of its subjective nature. What is funny to one person may not be funny to another. But when the right balance is found, humor strikes a resonant chord in the human heart and this makes it memorable. It evokes the emotional response all forms of advertising aim for."

- Sep 21, 2009 Anita Saran

Read more at Suite101: Humor in Advertising: Funny Advertisement - Direct Mail Examples For Whisky http://print-advertising.suite101.com/article.cfm/humour_in_advertising#ixzz0nB8G8Cxx

POSTER ADVERTISING

"Are you going to ask that question with shades on? For the viewers there’s no sun."
George W. Bush, addressing a blind reporter during a press conference.
The world needs a tape like this.

Advertising Agency: Heads Propaganda, Curitiba, Brazil
Creative Director: Kike Borell
Art Director: Paulo de Almeida


Advertising Agency: SAATCHI & SAATCHI, Singapore
Executive Creative Director: Andy Greenaway
Creative Directors: Richard Copping, Andrew Petch

Advertising Agency: Lowe Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia
Executive Creative Director: Din Sumedi
Creative Director: Firman Halim




Advertising Agency: AAA School of Advertising, Johannesburg, South Africa
Creative: Rory Welgemoed


Advertising Agency: Duval Guillaume, Antwerp, Belgium
Creative Directors: Geoffrey Hantson, Dirk Domen

Sunkist oranges

Amsterdam hotel posters:


Agency: Scholz & Friends, Berlin

This funny advertising campaign is for a German recruiting agency called Jobsintown. The images show workers working inside cash machines in an attempt to lure people to change for a better through the help of this agency. They encapsulate are how some employees may feel about working in the wrong job, and therefore the humour is increased because there is something that viewers can relate to.

The aim of this ad is to draw awareness among people in Belgium to the fact that they have to register to be a donor, as opposed to the common belief that they are automatically considered donors.

Obviously targeting the male audience, the ad was published in Belgium’s leading male magazine, P-magazine.

LOGO DESIGNS

Sleep Records

Designed by Nima Jazireh

Very effective logo as it connotes the meaning of the word with a light quirkiness, great concept.

Uck

Designed by Karl-Design

Logotype Against Nazism and Racism. It is perhaps a bit controversial but there is a funny side to it being very hard- hitting. clever execution.

Antisocial network

Designed by mister jones

Logo for an anti-social network site, could not fit better. It also has a edge in which the 'anti-social' aspect makes it humorous.

Horror Films

Designed by Siah Design

So simple but such great concept behind it. One can see both the film real and the mask, but a characteristic of the mask comes through which makes it quirky.

Shocked

Designed by Fogra

Perfect interpretation about socket and shock, also with a quirky slant.

Invisible Agents

Designed by AlexWende

They provide custom data driven web and application solutions and enables designers to incorporating their graphics into this solutions. This is subtle but clear for the viewer to work out, and once recognised I had to giggle at the genius of this idea.

The below quotes were found on http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/is-there-anything-funny-about-graphic-design

by Mike Lee Mon Dec 01:

One of the questions I love to ask of a prospective client is; "How do you feel about humor in getting your message out". When it is appropriate I think it is the best way to go!

by Jan Simpson Sun Nov 30, 2008:

Humor that makes people laugh and if you are lucky enough to get them to laugh and think further about your message - then you have just gained a trusted and loyal fan - who will tell about your ad, your design or whatever even if they never use or buy it themselves - they go one step further - word of mouth - now you have two loyal and trusted fans - and so on and so forth -

Humor is the only way to go - and since I am not a graphic designer - I know ya'll put little messages in each thing you do - so the wickedly sensed of humored people will normally get it and explain it those who don't get it...

by Matthew Solis Tue Nov 25, 2008:

Laughter, generally speaking transcends cultural and social boundaries. Utilizing that technique in design only further adds to our opportunities. However like many "tools" it must be used with a hint of discretion.

by Nancy Anne Shaw Tue Nov 18, 2008:

Just be certain if you have a cross-cultural audience that the humor is understood by all.

by Brady Tue Nov 18, 2008:

In my opinion, humor in art and design is most appreciated during times of stress and struggle, like now.

by Tushar Gupte Fri Nov 14, 2008:

I've come to believe that humor and wit is THE most effective form of visual communication, because it is so accessible. The only criteria being that everyone, and not just a few designers, "get it". Why else would one still remember -and smile - at Paul Rand's Eye-Bee-M?

Eye Bee M poster designed by Rand in 1981 for IBM.

"Many otherwise very talented designers are unable to translate a good verbal sense of humor into visuals—some have the knack, others do not." Steven Heller’s Design Humor: The Art of Graphic Wit (2002).

The above logo is cleverly designed in the way that the letters ili resemble a literal symbol of a family.

"When a visual pun works—specifically, when two distinct entities merge to form one idea—the effect stimulates thought and sensation." Steven Heller’s Design Humor: The Art of Graphic Wit (2002).

Steven Heller’s Design Humor: The Art of Graphic Wit (2002).

Steven Heller’s Design Humor: The Art of Graphic Wit (2002).

The above is a brilliant visual sequence which has multiple levels of meaning: in French, dubo is an intentional misspelling of 'du beau' which means something good looking or beautiful' ; it is clear that the man is holding up his glass to the light to view the colour of the wine. Dubon means “something good,” and Dubonnet is the wine being advertised.

http://www.ted.com/talks/david_carson_on_design.html
The above image is from a video on David Carson, this poster was for a group called The Coalition for a smoke free environment, New York. Carson explains that the second line reads "If the cigarette companies can lie then so can we". Really brilliant, it grabs one's attention as it appears serious but when looking closer the concept becomes clear and the humour makes it memorable.