OUGD501 - Study Task 6 - Initial Branding Ideas

Initial Branding Ideas for the Workbook

Key Definitions 

Key definitions for each of the words associated with workbook were considered in a mindmap. These were refined to key points to help simplify concepts and ideas.

Discovery:
- reveal
- aware of something that wasn't previously known
- action / process

Research:
- systematic investigation
- study
- establish facts 

Insight
- accurate
- deep
- complex situation

Collect
- bring / gather together
- aquire and seek

Creative
- original ideas
- imagination
- power or quality

Inspiration
- an idea
- mental stimulation
- sudden idea
- an act / activity / action

Document
- written or printed info
- record - written, photographic or other

These definitions provided prompts for branding idea generation for the work book.

Initial Branding Ideas 

Idea 1 

This idea plays on the word insight by representing it through an eye to create the idea of a line of sight or inner sight / knowledge which comes from research. To create the shape of an eye it was considered that this could be reflected through an oval around two circles however this made the design look too obviously like an eye. Refining the shape down to a circle within a circle is a more subtle representation of an eye. Placing little triangular shapes either side of the circle could reflect the joins of the eye in a more abstract way. 

Idea 2 

The first branding idea is based around the concept of inspiration being a sudden idea. Using a circle with radiating lines around it aims to reflect a flash or spark of an idea. Placing this along a line creates a sense that there's a spark of inspiration along the design process, which better reflects how ideas occur from design process and research rather than from no where. Using a wiggly line could reflect the non linear aspect of the design process. It was considered that the exercises and page numbers could be placed within this shape with the line being extended to form a long line across the page creating the structure a frame for the page.  

Idea 3 

This idea focuses around the idea of document meaning to record something in written, photographic or in another way. It was considered that the branding could be broken down into the different ways in which someone can document something. Creating three categories write, define and document would reflect the main ways in which things can be recorded as well as the ways things will be documented within the workbook. To represent each of these categories different shapes were used, which when combined created the brand logo. For write a line would be used to reflect lined paper , for define a dot would be used to reflect bullet points and for document a square would be used to represent a space for collecting / drawing / sticking things into. Placing each of these elements within a box represents a page suggesting how these things are done within the workbook. 

Idea 4 

To reflect the idea of insight meaning a complex situation it was considered that connections could be made between shapes to create a network. Using lines however between the shapes made the logo design look too technological. Getting rid of the lines and using only circles created a more refined design however this potentially lost the link to the idea of a complex situation.