05.06    Photoshoot 

04.06    Printers // Poster Building

4 down 196 to go, at least I've got a couple more weeks to build them all to be sent out officially.

03.06    Printers // Benwell Sebard

Sign off the proofs of the as clear as day poster at Benwell Sebard, took a few attempts but after they cut away the die to ensure the heat didn't warp the paper round it, they came out really well. 

02.06    Corner Frame

I'm thinking about making a corner frame for the corner pop-up poster. A product designer I met through Designers Are Wankers, Marc Nicolau has designed some previously so he has sent over some preliminary designs. 

29.05    Print // Ripping Image

I spent most of the day at Ripping Image today as they needed samples of all three posters and the enveloped mocked up, so when they get sent to the relevant printers they can see what needs to be done. I also wanted to test the materials to see how thick they would be when folded. Whilst I was there they decided to put the 'Sight for Sore Eyes' poster on the litho press so I could watch the process. It was incredible, so hot next to all the machinery, and they print 300 more than we needed to ensure we got the best copies! The plates needed cleaning  to begin with as we spotted some marks coming up on the paper. This poster is then off to be creased.

30.05    Face // Co-creation continues...

Spent day at Face continuing work for the co-creation project. Really interesting working alongside members of Face, the client, and other co-creation team members. I'm currently within a team of three students, we have our presentation to the client on the 17th of June, which is pretty perfect timing after the private view. 

29.05    Print // A Sight for Sore Eyes

Before we printed the Pete and Andy explained to me about 'Trap' and 'Burying' inks, this was relevant for this design as it had 2 PMS, with a fluro green which is semi-opaque so this affects whether you can print over black, and how much trap that is required to ensure you don't get any white gaps between the outline and fill of the shapes. The posters came out really well, and my client managed to wangle me the detailed black printing plate for me to keep. 

29.05    Printers // Benwell Sebard

Headed over to the printers who are dealing with the Japanese paper this afternoon to test the Japanese paper on the heat debossing machine. The first to attempts didn't work, so whilst my heart skipped a beat, we waited in his office whilst they tried on a hotter machine that could allow for a longer delay of the plate. Finally he came back with the results! Managed to finally get transparency!! I'm heading back on Tuesday to sign it off on the actual design, can't wait... Meanwhile I'm just dreaming about using the salmon pink foil I saw at Benwell's on some matte black stock...

27.05    Printers // Ammends

Meeting at Ripping image - change on envelope design, as the stock we are using for the envelope is new from GF Smith, and only comes in a certain size. I kept a 5mm bleed around the design, but the foiling and creasing machine needs more to grab hold of. 

25.05   Typeface // a sight for sore eyes

24.05    Artwork // A Sight For Sore Eyes

Finished art work with folding technique, the A2 poster folds down to A4 format.

23.05    Copy // 

Received the copy from Robert today, great representation of Hawaii. 

22.05    Development // Typeface

Been playing around with the typeface to use on the a sight for sore eyes poster. Quite like the idea of maybe introducing some fluro here. 

21.06    Order // Japanese Paper

Ordered the Japanese paper today. It has to arrive in the next few days otherwise the printers won't have enough time to experiment with heat settings etc. fingers crossed.

20.05   Copy writer // Robert Urquhart

Briefed the copy writer Robert Urquhart with the client today, Robert regularly contributes to graphik magazine. Check out his profile.

18.05    Art work // Pop Up

Template for final art work minus copy of pop up poster. The white lines show the creases and die cuts. 

17.05    Experimentation // x42

Busy at work with the pop-up's lots of trial and error, about 42 errors to be exact, though have almost finished. It is really difficult to figure out the three dimensional aspect of the work.

12.05    Typeface// NB5070

Chosen typeface for the pop-up poster, to reflect and emphasise the architectural feel to the final 3D poster. I  have increased the size of the counters to increase the legibility as it will become quite difficult to read on different platforms.

11.05    Experimentation // Heat-reactive Paper

Did some experiments at Grahams, came home and tried it on the iron, just to make sure. I would love to have fluro litho on the back, as it effects the colour of light coming through (as shown on one of their samples). However, after speaking to the printers they said that to print on the 1 PMS on the reverse would require a much larger print run. damn.  

14.05    Face // Co-creation

Project for Face group, for the next few days. Really good opportunity to be working closely with a blue chip company whose work I love. They have some weird ways of getting ideas out, but they work really well, knot of people (left).

11.05   Experimentation // Pop Up

Been playing around with different styles of pop-up, for the all shapes and sizes poster, I think I will need to opt for a design that will allow the type to sit boldly within the pop-up, due to the amount of letters it will need to be structurally strong. 

10.05    Japanese Paper 

The paper arrived today, they sent lots of different samples and weights so I headed straight down to Graham Bignell's to use his letter pressing facilities. I was in the studio with Hawaii which is just around the corner, so took a risk and called in. There were about 25 kids there on an educational day, but managed to squeeze into a corner and test some debossing in different typefaces to get a feel for how the paper would respond. The transparency didn't work, so I realised it definitely had to have heat as-well in order to activate the silicon within the material. Now I just need to find a printers that could handle this weird paper. Japanese printers are notorious for loving a challenge, and won't let up until its perfect. 

30.04    Materials // Japanese Paper

Just got back from a lecture with Sara de Bondt, her work was incredible, so considered and beautifully executed. She mentioned in one of her case studies that she found this new type of paper made in Japan, it has unique properties that allow heated and embossed portions to become transparent. She didn't end up using this paper as couldn't get a particular result. I have just found some suppliers in Japan and I have emailed them asking for some samples pronto!  

15.04    Idioms appropriate for the different aspects of Hawaii.

// As Clear As Day

// All Shapes And Sizes

// A Sight For Sore Eyes

14.04   Hawaii attributes:

• They are a small studio
• They specialise in diverse and innovative creative solutions
• They take pride in the beautiful finish and craft of their design work
• They work closely with each of their clients, avoiding the red tape and bureaucracy associated with liaising with larger more corporate design agencies.

13.04    Timetable

Click the image to enlarge. As this project features a number of different print processes (on each of the posters) it is essential that I maintain close contact with the printers throughout the design process, so I don't run out of time on any of the jobs. 

12.04    Hawaii Chair

Came across this by chance the other day. Very amusing 'infomercial' of an actual product, the 'hawaii chair'. Wonder if it actually works...

09.04    Concept // Print

As graphic design is increasingly appropriated to be viewed via the internet, sample pdf's and websites are the viewing method of choice. It is becoming a rare experience to receive design via the post, allowing you to experience the tactile considerations of certain print techniques. 

Coco Chanel pioneered the concept of giving away free samples, realising that consumers were far more likely to build a relationship with the brand and its product when they held the product in their hand. This is particularly relevant for Hawaii, as they are renowned for their expertise in print and special finishes. 

08.04    Promotional Work // Jonathan Davies

A simple promotional mail out in a calendar format, illustrates the tone and wit of the agency effectively. I have considered creating something 'useful', such as a calendar that people will keep on their desks as a constant reminder of the agency. Taking inspiration from the name, I thought about creating a tear away day calendar that emphasised design escapism, allowing you to count down the days until your holiday or a longer after bank holiday, emphasising the suggestion that you can find inspiration away from your desks. However, this could also have implied that Hawaii design just can't wait to get away from their desks... Not really what we were going for.  

07.04    Promotional Material // Build & Generation Press

The Not for Commercial Use project is a selection of posters that showcase a range of lavish printing processes. These posters were then posted around London the whole process was documented on film.

06.04   Personal Work // Lost formats

Experimental Jetset have an on going project that features simple monochromatic illustrations of lost formats. Although this is a simple and interesting idea, creating something tactile emphasises Hawaii's approach to print design and passion for print techniques.

06.04   Personal Work // Things I have learned in my life so far

The book by Stefan Sagmeister features self initated work created in a years sabbatical, predominately typographic, the work illustrates not only the current Sagmeister style but his philosophies and attitude towards design and life.

05.04    Personal Work // Made in Bunch

This design agency asked other designers to submit designs reflecting how they see the company logo. These submissions were then compiled within a book featuring recent work from Bunch and the submitted designs creating publicity for all parties involved. For the Hawaii promotional piece, although there is a certain resonance to work that requires an active involvement of the audience, I have spoken to Hawaii and believe that they would like this particular piece of promotional work to be something that can be judged on their design alone. 

03.04   Audience // Existing & Future Clients

The promotional mail out will be sent to Hawaii's existing clients and to potential clients and art buyers.

Although Hawaii has agreed for the mail to be hand delivered, aspects that need to be taken into consideration are the size of the mail out in it's entirety in order to allow ease of transportation and storage. 

Considering the calibre of Hawaii's design savvy audience, it is essential the mail out is unique and original.

02.04   Brief // Promoting Hawaii

Since Hawaii began in 2005, the studio has been featured in a number of different magazines and publications for the design work produced over the past three years. 

Hawaii recognises in order to develop and grow creatively it is essential to promote not only a showcase of past work, but work that solely represents Hawaii's unique philosophy and approach to design. 

In order to both gain new exposure whilst nurturing existing relationships with clients, Hawaii would like to produce a unique mail out promotion that reflects the studios personality and innovative approach to design.

01.04   Hawaii // Background

Hawaii specialises in design illustration and art direction. They pride themselves on creating unique, original work for all their clients from concept to print.

The aim of the studio is to stay small and build a close relationship with each of their clients. They have a diverse mix of clients to date including Arts Council, BFI, Gap, MTV, Universal and Virgin Holidays. 

Hawaii were recently shortlisted by the Design Museum for Designer of the Year.