Evaluation

This module has enabled me to learn about myself as a designer and my ability to work with other people. Working collaboratively was really enjoyable, particularly because Angus and I were equally willing to put in 100%, which in turn made the project really rewarding. It was great to work with someone who I hadn’t worked with before (nor had I spent much time with) and it taught me that sometimes it is better to work with someone completely new to bring all ideas ‘to the table’ and utilise our combined skills.
I realised that I put more pressure on myself within collaborative briefs because I don’t want to let the other person down, which can be a bit more stressful but is good as this makes me work harder.
I also discovered that I am more motivated and interested in idea development or concepts within projects and do not enjoy the intricate technicalities as much within the final details. It was fun getting involved and active (for example when taking the bubble photographs and making the vector) and even though vacc forming was perhaps too time consuming it was really great to learn about a new process.

I am really pleased with the resolutions to this brief and that we were able to answer the brief with a slightly different approach. The links across the different areas including packaging, booklet &leaflet, carrier bag, animation and promotion ideas really makes the concept of connectivity tie together which I think we established successfully.

Packaging design has been one of my interests so working towards this brief has been yet another learning curve which I can benefit from. We depended predominantly on producing our resolutions with software which has been fantastic as I’ve become more confident within certain areas. It was also good learning more about digital printing and little details that we hadn't initially considered, for example when constructing the package we had to score the lines of the folds before folding, as none of the papers from the print room could prevent the ‘cracked’ appearance on the folds which spoil the print.

The freedom of being able to take the brief in any direction and to use any media or methods we wished was very exciting. We managed our time very effectively and I think had we been given this freedom last year it would have been a bit more daunting. Working in collaboration perhaps made the project move along faster as we could discuss and make considered but quick decisions between us.

This module has been really beneficial as it has made me realise that I enjoy working both collaboratively and independently. It really helps to combine skills and to have someone to discuss all the details with. I learnt new things in every aspect of this project, which will definitely be useful in future!

Final Package Solution

Poster Designs

These are the posters we designed which look really effective and in keeping with our designs although the feedback we got from crits persuaded us not to pursue making posters and to rather focus on the other aspects of the project.

Promotion ideas

A wider advertisement using the same connective type concept would be great to use on a hot air balloon or blimp.

I thought it would be a really fun idea to use the same connective type on balloons, which could be handed out in the street or in store; children love balloons and in turn could become o2's personal little promoters by carrying them around.








I've been thinking of a few ideas for in store promotion, but have been trying to focus on using an idea which will be in keeping to the style and ideas we have already established. It needs to be a continuation on from the packaging style and the other bits we have been working on.

o2 stores- internet research

Although this wasn't in an o2 store, it is a really effective and unexpected way of advertising:

Point of Sale

We have been thinking of promotion ideas for point of sale so I went to the o2 store and took a couple of photos from the outside... Unfortunately when asking if I could take photos of their in store point of sale, they called the manager and then marketing manager, who said unless I had a letter with permission from o2 I couldn't take any photos... sad times.


It would be great if our animation could be looped and played on the screen of this kind of prop.

Booklet Cover, Slipcase & flyer

We wanted to incorporate our connective type and packaging theme into the booklet cover (which would go inside the mobile package) and the flyer which could be handed out in store or could be included in the package as well. I found it quite a mission to get the type to line up properly as folding didn't work as well on the satin printed paper as it did on the thinner paper mock ups.





When making the flyer card I thought about adding more information inside, but we decided to keep it simple and only include the O2 website. We discussed that o2 could use this method to add promotional information inside.




Flyer mock-ups:

Animation storyboards

We've thought of a few ways of using the connecting type mechanism to illustrate the concept of being better connected and I've drawn up a rough storyboard to outline the direction we hope to take it in. Angus is going to work on the animation whilst I'm looking at ideas for point of sale promotion.

Final carrier bag

We decided to focus on using the two layers of the bag to work together and 'connect' through type. This works really well, although I'd like to see a few of these bubbles on a smaller scale on the carrier bag- perhaps the circular shape would appear more 'bubble-like' if there were a few smaller versions 'floating' on the bag.

Bubble making

In order to create the plastic bubble (which we wanted to use in the packaging presentation of the mobile), we had to first create a wooden vector and then use the shape in the vacc former to create the plastic mold afterward. Once the plastic shape was created, I used a dremel to cut the base of the bubble off smoothly and then sand it down for a smooth finish.



The image below shows the bubble inside our mobile packaging...

Carrier bags

I've started looking at possibilities of designing carrier bags using the images and theme we have from designing the mobile package.

Getting better, connected

This is our mock up which focuses on the mechanism between the slip case and box. The ‘connected’ type works well as the word only becomes fully legible once the slip case is in place. The use of the slits in the letters is suited to the sleek style but still has a ‘funky’ appearance. It also works better in white rather than in colour as it is in keeping with the O2 logo in the right corner, but doesnt look too stark because the slits break up the flat colour.