Andrew Coimbra Media Review 24

http://fuckingyoung.es/andrew-coimbra-fallwinter-2015-lookbook/

Really liking this collection. I checked out his runway stuff and his silhouettes and patterns are really awesome. One of my favorite pieces is the high neck blue camo thing. His description for the collection talks about a "Canadian confidence"created by blending military with thug. His style of inside jokes through serious designs is really funny. Seems like a cool guy without a big following.

Branding Final Essay.

1. Create a vision statement and explain your reasons for taking on this project?

I aim to create marketing materials which will promote a personal art show that will happen at the end of this school year, exhibiting art across media in a vision of an aesthetically interesting future. I desperately want to show my art in a form that I have control over, and present my vision as a whole instead of just snippets (like those posted on instagram or other social media sites). I am also attempting to recreate my self “brand” and change perceptions around myself, because it feels like I am not often taken very seriously by my peers outside digital media, probably due to my relaxed/ lazy demeanor. I think demonstrating professional skill as an artist will definitely allow people to see that I and the rest of digital media are working hard.

2. What you will do to elevate the current design by recreating it?

I am creating new art.

3. What choices and design elements are you using to tell a story?

I am using mostly monochromatic and tonal coloring, trying to convey simplicity and calm in my designs. This is accompanied by simple line style/text which highlights the content that does exist on the page.

4. What story are you trying to tell?

I want to present a vision of the adolescents of a futuristic society, and many of my designs try to use technical elements which suggest that the world will become more difficult to live in. That said, this promotional material does not reflect most of that. This promotional material draws on skills I know I already have- intricate linework, careful text placement and minimal styling. I want to present simple material which is intriguing without being ridiculously “loud” or visually annoying.

5. What issues prompted you to make changes to or create this project?

A burning desire to display my art on my own terms, and show the world what I am all about.

6. Why should anyone care about our brand?

Hopefully people will care that I have taken the time to plan and design the gallery and work which will be displayed inside. That said I can’t expect this from people who are not my peers, so I hope people will come for my interesting ~aesthetic~.

Rough Branding Project Update.

Final Nilla Rebranding.

Kanye West Media Review 22

Kanye x Adidas Originals FW15 Collection-

Kanye recently released a huge (50+ piece) collection as a collaboration with Adidas Originals. The show included Kanye's mixed aesthetic suede Yeezy 750, and the Nike Roshe run rip off the Yeezy Boost. Kanye really drew a ton of inspiration from his favorite designers in this and made use of his favorite styles- military wear, sportswear and lots of nudity. Mimicking MMM, Kanye dressed most of the women in nude bodysuits. The men wore mostly oversized silhouettes, hinting at Kanye's own size and experiences (Kanye is 5'8"). I think the styling was excellent, but the pieces could've used more originality and focus. 7/10

Nilla Nostalgia: A Rebranding Project

Nilla's branding was generic and outdated in style. It was heavily laden in drop shadows and macro photos of the wafers, but didn't evoke an aesthetic other than "junk food". I will change the branding to a simpler, vintage looking style which uses less flashy graphics and emphasizes Nilla's colors and market. Nilla wafers have been around since 1967, so for most people, they can bring back memories of childhood and summertime fun, and maybe banana pudding. This simple branding will go perfectly with the simplicity and fun of childhood, while capitalizing on Nilla's signature yellow theme.The rebranding will make Nilla wafers stand out amongst the sea of regular flashy branding, and change the company's appeal to that of a classic American snack. "Simple goodness" is true- and the simplicity of the design goes with the simplicity of the wafer, and childhood.Ultimately, the consumer is buying into the nostalgia of these delicious vanilla snacks, and reminding themselves of their childhood.  

Branding Assignment

A) What makes a successful brand in your opinion? Give at least 3 examples.

 1) The brand must create a "world" and invite the consumer into it. Apple's ultra modern and trendy life in which everyone is beautiful is desired by the consumer.

 2) The brand must present something different, whether it is looks or design.

 3) Just outside or normal reach. The fact that a company is desirable and a little difficult to get to is incentive to save up and purchase it.

B) Talk about a brand that stands out to you and answer the following;

Rick Owens

1. Why do you follow this brand over a competitive brand selling the same product or service?
   
   
   Honestly, no one creates things just like Rick. He has created a world through clothing that he applies to everything he designs and does. There are, however, brands of similar quality and price. For me the choice lies in aesthetics. I will pay an incredible amount of money for something just because it looks cool.

2. Explain how the brands logo and marketing materials speak directly to what the company does? In which ways does it work or not work?
   
   
   Rick Owens is mysterious and hard to learn about, which creates an intrigue for the consumer. The marketing materials are mostly the fashion shows, which convey the ideas of the brand visually. These ideas are radical and different, in fact, Rick Owens' most recent show had men walking in full frontal nudity. It often doesn't work because it scares "normal", non-art people away.

3. Explain how the brands philosophy lines up with your values and beliefs?
   The brand aligns with my belief in creating clothing which is both derivative, original and beautiful. As a fashion designer, the aesthetics of the brand agree with my design sensibilities.

C) Give examples of 3 successful and 3 unsuccessful brands.

Successful: Adidas, Nike, Gusting

Unsuccessful: Circuit City, Blockbuster, Kodak

*Due tonight by midnight on your blog!

Independent Project Update

In the place of the past 2 film projects, I have created a bunch of individual work for my portfolio. I have branched out into 3D work and created a fabric piece (the shawl) and 2 plaster sculptures which I decorated with paint and wire. I also remained true to my design roots, but focused my graphic design on clothing and humans. I also began to eliminate color from my designs and focus on shape. Maybe I'm too trend obsessed, but I'm very reluctant to use colors unless they truly accent a piece. Some of my inspiration has come from strange places, as I attempt to branch into my futurist, tech wear dream. Star Wars, Gyakusou, Blade Runner, and Undercoverism have been huge influences on my latest work. Additionally, the boundary between art and life has begun to blur. I am attempting to define my style as I define my aesthetic, and constantly think about the aesthetics of things I do and things I purchase. Money has been extremely preventative in style, so DIY is the direction I am leaning. Hopefully I can create my clothing and hold my own exhibition by the end of the year, which I have envisioned and planned.

https://docs.google.com/folderview?id=0B6_fQBedYwJKfmFPeW5SUEdlRVNFUlh1bzVTMmFHYWFndUtWY21wY2ZVbWVrdml5RzFSMDQ&usp=docslist_api

Media Review 21

Julius FW15- a collection of dystopian looks that one would expect to see in a mega city. The jackets were the highlight of this collection- and included radical cuts with often used materials. My favorite is the huge white down jacket that is cut like a moto leather jacket. Its massive silhouette provides a contrast to Julius' crazy skinny pants. The footwear blends right into the pants seamlessly, similar to uniform of the future. 8/10