Level 6 Brief Updates

After thinking through my briefs I have decided that some of them need to be a bit more specific and narrowed down in order to see what I am getting out of the briefs and if there is a substantial amount of work to complete. I need to make sure I have a range of briefs which will be carried out over different time scales. I need to also make sure my projects are focused and have a direct outcome and research topic as I have found that my sacred geometry brief is a bit open ended so I have picked a particular aspect of sacred geometry to work on.


Brand Some Booze

I have decided to choose rum as my alcoholic drink as this gives the project more focus and will make it easier to do research which is less broad. I also think rum has quite a bit of history / culture to go along side.

Context

The alcohol industry is a competitive sector to compete with, a strong brand and identity is essential for alcohol if you want to make an impression on the shelves. Think of unique interesting concepts that people will engage with. The target audience is people who appreciate fine spirits and who are willing to pay that little bit extra for something interesting and different. There are loads of different styles of packaging but how can you create something that has the wow factor.

Brief or Tasks

Create the branding and packaging for a series of Rum. Consider interesting concepts for how the Rum can be packaged. Think about how the drinks will stand out on the shelves/bar. The product is aimed at drinkers who like to spend that little bit extra for something Unique and special so consider how this can be represented with your packaging.

Preparation/Research suggestions

-       What’s already out there

-       Unique concept or theme

-       Creative Packaging

-       Drinking Traditions

-       Target Audience

-       Legal Requirements

-       Shelf Presence

-       Promotion

-       Types of Rum

 
 

Evidence – for this project students should submit

Branding & Packaging of Drinks

Promotional Material

Extras / Accessories

Why am I doing it?

• Experiment with packaging 
• Improve branding skills
• Concept Generating
• Designing in series
• Alcohol is fun to package. 

Brief Length : 2 weeks  




Sacred Geometry Publication

I have decided to specifically focus on mandalas instead of all the other aspects of geometry. I was going to look at how the geometry is used in design as well but I think I am making the project too big. I think that by concentrating on mandalas then the project will be much more focused. Mandalas interest me most as well in terms of this topic. It is a form of open eyed meditation which is supposed to be a visual representation of whats going on with our inner selves which I think is a really harmonious beautiful concept. I think it is the simple things in life which makes us happy and after drawing mandalas I have seen the therapeutic aspects of it for myself which I found a really pleasant experience. I think it is important to love one another and be kind to others and The mandala represents balance and unity of the universe and these are morals which everyone should follow. 

 

Context

 

Sacred Geometry is something that can be found in all aspects of nature. Over the many years these geometric patterns have been studied and used to create many religious buildings, and aided in the creation of religious art called mandalas. In sacred geometry, symbolic and sacred meanings are ascribed to certain geometric shapes and certain geometric proportions.

In the ancient world certain numbers had symbolic meaning, aside from their ordinary use for counting or calculating; plane figures, the polygons, triangles, squares, hexagons, and so forth, were related to the numbers (three and the triangle, for example), were thought of in a similar way, and in fact, carried even more emotional value than the numbers themselves, because they were visual.

Mandala  'circle' is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the Universe. The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the general shape of a T. Mandalas often exhibit radial balance.
The term is of Hindu origin. It appears in the Rig Veda as the name of the sections of the work, but is also used in other Indian religions, particularly Buddhism.

In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of aspirants and adepts, as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation and trance induction.

In common use, mandala has become a generic term for any plan, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe. 

Brief or Tasks

Create a publication based on mandalas which teaches the viewer about the history of mandalas and the benefits of this form of open eyed meditation. The publication needs to be informative but also teach the user how to create their own mandalas. The publication needs to emphasize the beauty of the geometric formations whilst also highlighting the spiritual connotations behind the art form. The publication is aimed at people with a cultural and spiritual interest or those who apreciate geometry and patterns. Although maandals have spiritual connotations, the art of producing them is fun for all and is a very theraputic art form.

Preparation/Research suggestions

-       Where did mandals Orginate

-       Universe

-       Religion

-       Mandala designs / meanings

-       Nature

-       How can it be used

-       Golden Ratio

-       Patterns

-       Architecture

-       Proportions

 

Evidence – for this project students should submit

Research

Publication - mandalas and how to create your own.

Why am I doing it?

•  Improve on photoshop skills
• Hand drawn element
• I like the concept and message behind this art form.
• Interesting research and theraputic
• Unity is the message - worth fighting for
• Cultural
• Highly Visual 

Brief Length: 2 weeks


Fot the time being these are the briefs that I have narrowed down slightly as they needed a more focssed approach. I think the other briefs are a bit more focussed, although me and Lisa need to come up a concept for our bar as a starting point as this will make the research much easier.

What Will I concetrate on 1st...

Allong side my COP practice I need to crack on with one of these briefs. I have already made a start researching mandalas so I might get this one on the go. This is schedueled in at a 2 week brief, so I think this will be a good initial brief. If the branding work I have been offered for an IT company I will make a start with that but I don't want to put any time into that until I have it in writing and have confirmed pricing etc. If this falls through I think It might be a good idea to start on one of my collaboration as I feel working in a pari will help to spur one another on and help get back into the swing of things. I am already feeling the pressure of third year.