THE BEAUTY OF LANGUAGE

A selection of designs produced by

second year Graphic Communication

Students from the University of

Wolverhampton, School of Art and Design

P r o j e c t k i n d l y s u p p o r t e d

b y S h e a f f e r

T h i s m o d u l e w i l l e n a b l e y o u t o e n g a g e w i t h

t h e c o n c e p t s a n d s k i l l - s e t s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e

p r o f e s s i o n a l p r a c t i c e o f g r a p h i c d e s i g n . Y o u

w i l l b e e n c o u r a g e d t o c o n s i d e r c o n t e m p o r a r y

c o m m u n i c a t i o n i s s u e s a n d t o f u r t h e r d e v e l o p

y o u r p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e i n a c h i e v i n g

e f f e c t i v e a n d r e l e v a n t d e s i g n s o l u t i o n s . Y o u

w i l l u n d e r t a k e a s s i g n m e n t s a r o u n d v i s u a l

i d e n t i t y , n a r r a t i v e a n d e f f e c t i v e

c o m m u n i c a t i o n u s i n g h i e r a r c h i c a l s t r u c t u r e s .

Y o u w i l l h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o w o r k w i t h i n

m e d i a c o n t e x t s f o r b o t h p r i n t a n d s c r e e n .

Visual identities are not necessarily just the logos/symbols thatprovide distinctive and enduring marks for companies ororganisations. Visual identities can frequently have the role ofcharacterising and drawing attention to events, exhibitions,shows or festivals and therefore have a limited life span, andoften very specific target markets. They can be applied in moreinnovative and less restrictive ways, across a broad range ofmedia and in varying contexts.

Students are to choose an event from the provided topics concerned

with the overall theme of THE BEAUTY OF LANGUAGE.

Students will research and expand upon the supplied information and

design an appropriate visual identity which involves considerably more

than creating and applying a logo/symbol. Students are to produce a

whole ‘palette’ of elements that must include:

• a namestyle and symbol, using the supplied name or an amended

version (namestyle to function with or without the symbol in both

single or multiple colour)

• a strapline

• typographic detailing that covers all levels of text (headlines, sub-

heads, bullet points/buttons, body copy, captions etc.)

• image detailing that includes all aspects of photographic/illustrative

content (cut outs/squared up/focus/media/composition/cropping etc.)

• a texture/graphic pattern

• spatial/compositional character – relating to groupings and to the

general style of and distribution of space

• selected colours for print and screen use (please note that visual

identity palettes will need to be ale to function in both full colour and

within a limited colour palette)

• materials (type/s of paper, plus any other appropriate surfaces)

Students have no externally imposed restrictions such as numbers of

colours, or techniques, but must analyse the circumstances and

determine the practical and aesthetic parameters for themselves.

S e l e c t a t o p i c f r o m t h e

f o l l o w i n g l i s t :

B o o k S T o r e P l a c e

e - r e a d e r S

T a l k i n g T o r e P l a c e

T e x T i n g

W r i T i n g T o r e P l a c e

T Y P i n g

During the first weeks of this project students will develop and design a

branding palette for their event. The palette will clearly outline the

design approach and explain simply and clearly how all the various

design elements, typestyles, colours, shapes, patterns, imagery, materials

etc can be applied in differing contexts (as explained and shown during

the second presentation during the first week of the module). To

undertake the research necessary for this project it is vital that students

have a good understanding of their event (based on their outline of their

own elected festival/exhibition/conference/campaign) and also have a

broad overview of a range of branded items from both 2 and 3D

contexts for similar events. Knowledge and awareness of similar,

possibly competing or associated events and audiences is vital. Students

will analyse the use of typestyles, type relationships, combinations of

typographic detail, symbols, shapes and language (both visual and verbal)

that is used within the context of their selected variety of event whilst

appealing to their specified audience. Particular note should be taken of

colour use and possible shifts in priority. The research that underpins

the development of the branding palette will go on to examine the

employment and function of imagery – is there are recurring style of

photography or illustration and how are images grouped, positioned or

cropped? Graphic detail such as rules, dotted lines and dashed lines will

be analysed and spacing will be noted. The spatial elements of

typography will also be studied and observed. Patterns and textures will

be examined, as will key materials that may already form part of pre-

existing design convention that relates to the selected event.

By the end of this project, students will have developed an identity

palette that, not only reflects, enhances and functions successfully as a

consistent communication and promotional aid for their own individual

event, but they will also have applied this identity within a number of

contexts.

c h r i S k i n S e Y

M i c h a e l B r a S U e l a

h a n n a h F o Y

l o r r a i n e B e n n e T T

P h i l l i P e g e n U S

S a V V a S g e o r g i a d e S

r e B e c c a h a r d S