Thursday, 22 April 2010

Final 20 Images for Project 3.

These are the final 20 images which I have decided show the setting changes on the camera best.
The page that I have printed for my portfolio has printed the darker pictures really dark. This is due to the screen & printer calibrations. On screen the dark picture are reasonable, not particularly good photos but I wanted to show what extreme shutter speed and aperture settings do to a photo.

Project 3 - 20 Images with Setting Changes.





For project 3 we were asked to take 20 photos and change a setting on each photo.
I have been taking photos over the last 2 months or so. I have taken an unbelievable amount of photos over the 2 months. I've enjoyed it. When you actually have to pay attention to setting on the camera rather than shooting on 'auto' all the time you realise how hard photography actually is.


Tuesday, 20 April 2010

Adjustments to Project 1 - Article Layout.

I went back and looked at some of my previous projects for the Introduction to Digital Technologies and Print Production module. Project 1 being the very first project I was set I felt it needed some alterations.
For starters I decided to move some of the title text around. I also took the boxes off the quotes. I also changed the colour of the sub-heading text as I felt it didn't look right with the headline text.
Here is the altered version.

Trend board for Fashion Industry 1 Project.

For a project in our Fashion Industry 1 module we were asked to go out and take pictures in 2 Northern cities in England of things we think could emerge as trends for Spring/Summer next year.
From my photos I picked up on a trend of digital print & bold colours. I called my trend 'DIGITAL POP.'
This is my trend board for the project.
I feel it relevant to include such projects on my blog because they are very layout and typography co-ordinated.
For this board I took lots of time over presentation. I wanted to get the layout and look of the board perfect and parallel. I also wanted the typography to complement the trend.

Concept Board for Project 5.


This is my final concept board for project 5.
I have featured my concept in 3 different locations including, the end of a bus stop advert, an in store computer and a New Look store window.
The board also shows how the concept works.
1. The models face is cut out and replaced with a screen.
2. A camera is mounted nearby and linked to the screen.
3. When the camera senses motion it turns on and the screen activates.
4. The screen then displays the picture being transferred from the camera.
5. The person stood in front of the camera has their face on the models body.

This concept allows the consumer to see what an outfit would look like on. It allows them to see if the garment suits their face shape/hair colour etc.

The in store computer also tells the consumer whether to garment is in stock and in which sizes. It will also tell the consumer where to locate it in store.

Storyboard for Project 5.


This is my storyboard for project 5 - digital retail communications.
The storyboard shows my influences for my idea, locations for my concept and what technologies will be used to make the concept work.

Tuesday, 6 April 2010

Concept Generation for Project 5.

I've had an idea for project 5 (digital retail communication).
Instead of just having stand alone billboards which displayed information I decided that I wanted to make my digital signage interactive so potential customers could get involved.
My idea is based on the seaside 'face in the hole' boards. As I chose New Look as my client I wanted to create a billboard which lets customers put their own face on a models body wearing New Look clothes to see how they would look.

To demonstrate my idea I found a website in which you can put your face on to many different backgrounds. (http://www.faceinhole.com/gb/) Here is an example of how the website works. You choose a scenario in which you want to place your face (See below) Here I have chosen a cover shot of Elle magazine.
Once you have chosen a scenario you upload a photo of your face which is then loaded in to the white space of the scenario photo. (See below)
Applying this concept to billboards for New Look creates a new fun way of advertising and communicating with its potential customers.

Here is an example of this concept I came across whilst shopping in Huddersfield. The board was featured in Thorntons shop window. The idea behind the board is different to that of my New Look idea but it's still useful to demonstrate my concept.
For a chance to win prizes from Thorntons all you have to do is get behind the board and put your face in the hole and have your photo taken. Then you upload the photo of your face in the hole to the Thorntons website and are entered into the competition to win the prizes.

Sunday, 4 April 2010

Digital Signage Research - Project 5.

I have just found this site which covers the topic of Prada's interactive dressing room.
http://digitalwellbeinglabs.com/dwb/?page_id=172

The video on the website goes through the steps a consumer goes through when using such a dressing room.
Such technology makes the dressing room experience much more exciting and easy for the consumer.

Like the Prada interactive dressing room, my retail communication concept of having interactive billboard adverts and in store computers is to make the customer experience with New Look more exciting and easy.

Thursday, 1 April 2010

Digital Signage Research - Project 5.

As technology has advanced and traditional signage now seems very dull digital signage is a lot more common. The advantages of using digital signage include being able to change the image or information featured as regularly as you like without having to scrap huge boards/large amounts of paper and also digital signage means once you have brought the machine used to display/project your image there isn't anything else which needs to be paid for e.g. printing of billboard, delivery of the billboard and mounting of the billboard making it much more cost effective for companies. As well as these reasons changes to any information or images displayed can be made instantly if errors are made or it isn't working well as an advert.
(Image scanned in from 'Advertising Outdoors by David Bernstein, 1997)
This is an example of how digital advertising can be used almost anywhere outdoors.
Ministry of Sound have projected the image of their logo onto the House of Parliament building. The placement of this advertising is quite controversial in that the Houses of Parliament is a political building in which lots of quiet important discussions take place which is juxtaposed with the loud party scene which is associated with Ministry of Sound.
This use of digital signage is very eye-catching and due to its location attracts lots of attention.
The only problem with such signage is that it can only really be seen at night.
(Photo taken by myself outside Bank in Leeds)
This is an example of a digital sign featured in a shop window. The display runs through a series of images from items which are available in-store. This not only promotes the products but is a much better way of displaying more than one or two products in a window at once.
(Photo taken by myself in Topshop, Leeds)
Digital in-store communications are also used in some stores. In Topshop in Leeds this computer system is used in-store. On this computer you can search through the current Topshop online catalogue. The computer then allows you to pick a certain item and see whether they have it in stock in their store in your size. This can help speed up service in-store because it forces less people to ask shop assistants whether they have certain items in store. It may also be more accurate than shop assistants as it knows exactly what is in store and in what sizes. The computer also allows customers to see what items can be styled with other items in the store, giving inspiration for looks.

Traditional Signage Research - Project 5.

Traditional signage includes billboards and print media. Traditional signage is used both indoors and outdoors by companies trying to sell a product, create an awareness of their company or cause.
(Image scanned from 'Advertising Outdoors' by David Bernstein, 1997)
As this billboard states outdoor advertising on such a large scale has 'more impact than any newspaper ad.' By putting advertising on such a large scale in an open space gives it much more of an audience. Any passers by would not be able to avoid looking at such a display. It therefore creates an awareness of a companies product. The more people that know about a product means more people might possibly buy the product meaning more profit for the company.

(Image taken by myself outside Topshop, Leeds)
This is an example of classic traditional advertising. Topshop have made use of nearby building works by using one of the boards concealing the build site to advertise their store. It not only advertises their store but it also hides the plain construction site board.
Traditional signage became somewhat dull which forced companies to get creative with their adverts. This advert featured above by Wonderbra is a perfect example of a company creatively using a space to sell their product). The advert above is featured on the side of a bus stop and creates the illusion that the woman stood in her underwear is actually stood the other side of the board.
(Image found online at - http://uaddit.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=642)
This is another example of using a space creatively. Instead of selling a product this is an advert for a job search engine.
(Image scanned in from 'Advertising Outdoors by David Bernstein, 1997)
Not all traditional advertising takes place on billboards and in magazines. Transport methods are also used to advertise. As vehicles drive around the centre of towns & cities all day nearly everyday it's the perfect way to get valuable attention for a product or service.
(Image taken by myself in Topshop, Leeds)
Finally, not all traditional signage takes place outdoors, in store communications can also be on display in stores. Above is an example of in store signage which I found in Topshop, Leeds. On each face of the block is either a photo of a model wearing a Topshop item which has been styled with other items to suit or a picture of a pattern which can give inspiration to customers on what colours to buy or patterns to look out for.