
First Ideas
First Ideas
1.
A Magazine cover,contents and double page spread
The concept for this would be a magazine geared towards illustrators and animation, targeting an audience between the ages of 13 - 21 (teens and young adults). The doble page spread could be an interview with the creator of a new animated show or a "how to draw [thing]"
Conventions:
Magazine conventions include a main image, 2 or 3 fonts, a focus on 3 main colours, date, issue, cover lines, barcodes, interviews, splashes etc.
Style/inspiration:
I would draw inspiration from similar products such as ImagineFX & 3DWorld, as well as comics/magazines, like MAD and Beano.
I would require a camera, sketchbook, drawing tablet, photoshop/ibispaint, my laptop and someone to model as the creator. Issues I might run into with this idea include not being able to find a suitable model and struggling to come up with a good enough idea for a show to write about.
2.
A DVD Cover and poster for a fake kids show
The concept for this would be a DVD release of a kids show aimed at tweens/teens/young adults a la adventure time, regular show, steven universe etc. I'd do a DVD cover and a release poster that feature the characters.
Conventions:
conventions of DVD covers include a front cover, blurb, age rating, cast, and a title on the spine. Movie/television posters often contain one main image with the logo/title, release date, and cast.
Style/inspiration:
I would draw inspiration from the DVD releases of Adventure time and Steven universe, as well as other popular 2010s cartoons - specifically cartoon network shows.
I would require my sketchbook, drawing tablet, photoshop/ibispaint, my laptop and maybe illustrator. Issues I might run into with this idea include not being able to access illustrator/photoshop from home and not being able to come up with a coherent story for the show/blurb.
3.
A Graphic Campaign for new sweets/snack
For this I would design packaging for some sweets or a snack of some kind, along with a poster and billboard. I'd aim to appeal to children/teens since generally they're the largest audience for sweets. I'd illustrate characters for the packaging, something similar to MOAMs.
Conventions:
conventions of snack packaging aimed at kids include vibrant colours, bold typefaces and cartoon illustrations/mascots.
Style/inspiration:
I would draw inspiration from MOAMs, M&Ms and Haribo.
I would require my sketchbook, drawing tablet, photoshop/ibispaint, my laptop and maybe illustrator. Issues I might run into with this idea include not being able to access illustrator/photoshop from home, not being able to get a quality mock up of my design due to the nature of the product - I'll probably have to draw it.
4.
A Graphic Campaign for a band's new release
For this I would create an album cover, posters, and a CD case design. The album/band's genre could be something i like or, since i have connections to a band, something more accessible, ie. folk rock/indie? It'd be aimed at young adults.
Conventions:
CD cover/case conventions include a main image, tracklist, barcode, record lable, artist & album name, etc.
Style/inspiration:
Depending on the genre/how i decide to further this idea, i could draw inspiration from a number of sources ( Five Leaves Left, Three Dollar Bill Yall $, The Fury of the Aquabats! )
I would require my sketchbook, my camera, and photoshop/ibispaint. Issues I might run into with this idea include not being able to access photoshop from home and not being able to find suitable "bandmates" to photograph.
5.
A Video Podcast/Video Essay
For this I would create a 4-5 minute video covering a topic I'm very knowledgeable about (Steven Universe, Undertale, Ideal etc)
The video would be miscellaneous footage/images that correlates with what I'm saying in that moment. it would be aimed at young adults with an interest in media analysis.
Conventions:
Video essay conventions include background music, a voice over, archive footage, simple editing and an intro/outro
Style/inspiration:
I could draw inspiration from youtubers, specifically those specialising in media analysis and video essays
I would require a mic, premier pro and stock music . Issues I might run into with this idea include having poor audio quality, it taking too long to create.
I conducted a survey to gain feedback on my ideas and narrow it down to 3 ideas.
1.
A Magazine cover,contents and double page spread

2.
A DVD Cover and poster for a fake kids show

3.
A Graphic Campaign for new sweets/snack

4.
A Graphic Campaign for a band's new release

5.
A Video Podcast/Video Essay



From this feedback I feel that idea 1, 2 and 3 are my best ones, and are most likely the ones I'll continue with. a lot of people in my survey said that I had illustration skills and should use that to my advantage, so going forward I'm going to look at ideas that involve illustration/graphics in some way.
Final 3 Ideas
Final 3 Ideas
1.
A Magazine cover,contents and double page spread
The logistics for this idea are pretty simple, all I would need to do is photograph someone, make up a show, draw characters for said show then arrange those elements in such a way that it resembles a magazine. Most of my time would be spend figuring out what to write about on the DPS or designing the characters for the fake show. Id call my magazine something like Frame or Animag since they're both not taken and good wordplay - frame as in frames of an animation, animag as a portmanteau of animation and magazine.
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id be aiming to target the ages of 13 - 18 primarily, with young adults (21-27) as my secondary audience. this means most of the animation related content would be about current kids animation/shows, although due to the secondary, more adult audience, id also include things about adult animation too. other demographics like gender and location don't really come into play with this product since an interest in animation isn't gendered the same way football or makeup would be.
Animation Magazine Moodboard:

















2.
A DVD Cover and poster for a fake kids show
Logistically i think this one would be the easiest to pull off. if things keep going the way they're looking this will probably be my final idea.
obviously ill have to create an idea and characters for a show that popular enough to have a DVD release. I'm torn between the DVD being the first complete season or a Box-set - since a box set would obviously be wider and I could design a sleave to go with it. No/limited photography would be needed and I wouldn't have to rely on anyone but myself.
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The show would be aimed at teens and young adults, so id say a range from 13 - 19. I want to say it'd be more targeted to boys but only because I want to take a lot of inspiration from shows with a more masculine appeal, like Regular Show or Adventure time. I want to draw inspiration from steven universe or Gravity Falls when it comes to narrative, since I want my show to be more focused than episodic.
I can convey this through the box art with an illustration that includes major plot beats.
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the poster will probably be similar to the box art but a different illustration. i'm thinking this poster is less promotional material and more like merchandise fans could buy alongside the dvd.
DVD/Poster Moodboard:





















3.
A Graphic Campaign for new sweets/snack
This idea is still logistically possible but harder than the others. this is because for the posters i would want an image of my design on packaging. I did this with rebrand by making a mock up of a cereal box, but this is a lot harder with a bag that has wrinkles. I'm not sure how successful id be in creating a mock up compared to drawing my product.
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The sweets would be aimed at younger teens and children, ages from 9 - 16. the packaging and design would be bold and flash so that it catches and holds their attention.
Graphic Campaign Moodboard:



















Survey & Feedback
Survey & Feedback
I conducted a survey to gain feedback on my 3 ideas and narrow it down to a final idea that will become my FMP.
1.
A Magazine cover,contents and double page spread

2.
A DVD Cover and poster for a fake kids show

3.
A Graphic Campaign for new sweets/snack



From this feedback I feel that idea 2 is the one i should move forward with. i, and others, seem to feel that its the strongest and most achievable of my ideas.
Issues with the project
Issues with the project
After receiving feedback from my tutor I've realised that, with my current project, I'm not involving enough media processes, its too reliant on artistic skills as apposed to technical media skills.
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I've decided to modify the idea slightly, so I'm still creating a tv show idea, but instead of a DVD cover ill make a short 1 min 30 - 2 min pilot of sorts. aiming to fully animate and colour this is unrealistic, so i plan on making an animatic with voice acting, foley and maybe music.
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my current idea for this short is as follows; A guy is starting his new job as a night shift employee at a petrol station. his boss is weird and his co-worker is aloof. he's introduced to the job and employees etc, but while manning the till, aliens invade! I'm thinking the aliens come in speaking gobbledygook with ray guns pointed in his face.
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it doesn't need to be narratively driven. if I was still doing the DVD case id want it to be but since I'm making an animatic id rather keep it simple for the sake of ease.
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Ill make a logo for the show too, as well as character designs etc although I don't think that will count since its not media enough.
When researching this project ill look at other rough animations/animatics, potentially other student films/thesis films. while thinking of my idea it reminded me of 2 in the am pm by JG Quintell, the creator of regular show, so ill definitely look at that... I want to take inspiration from the same shows and whatnot just different aspects since I'm no longer doing graphic design.