Pour Tu

Have you ever bought coffee from a vending machine? Mmm, it’s not always pleasant experience. Did you know that the coffee industry in this country is worth £5.8bn?

The editor has sampled ‘instant’ coffee in many a service station and even when travelling on the French motorways . . . it’s never a highlight. So it came as a little of a surprise when a ‘live’ brief arrived in the department from a local food company.

Aimia Foods have a coffee product delivered in very graphic cups from really stylish machines [although they are mainly situated in Scotland and the SW] and go under the banner of Pour Moi.

The brief was to create a new design that must not date, must not be tied to a specific event this year or next. The design cannot be tied for copyright reasons to specific events e.g. World Cup / Commonwealth Games.

The students had to work to a specific size and a limited number of colours. The designs had to tell a story of some sort but what that was, was up to the designer.

Although a FD1 student had already had a look at the brief when it arrived during the summer, the FD2 group took the challenge onboard as one of their professional practice module live briefs.

One of the massive benefits of the FD course is that you get to meet really nice people ‘out-there’ doing the business. People like Domenic Lippa [Pentagram], Trevor Beattie [BMB], John Winnard [Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls], Brian Cannon [of Oasis and Verve design fame] and working with Aimia Foods brand manager George Thomas.

For a couple of weeks George fielded questions from the editor and the students so that the final product fitted the requirements of the brief. The first stage was to provide initial concepts to be considered by the company and then feedback would be given to the group.

George came to the FD studio and explained the reasons behind a design being or considered or rejected. Three designs made the podium and Danny, Hayley and Dean were asked to develop their themes further with direction from Aimia.

A couple of weeks later the final designs were in and a decision had been made. George returned to the studio to announce the winning theme. All three solutions were strong and fitted in with the Pour Moi tradition  . . . but as always there can only be one winner – and the prize which was a hefty sum, a visit to the print works to see the designs in production and a box-full of finished cups went to Dean.      

FD2Magenta : from the right : Chris / Rachel / Billy / Hayley / Dec / Ben / Chris / The Winner Dean / George / Megan / Mel / Emma
and below the winning designs.

Doctors Surgery

Foundation Degree had an unexpected visit from the GP. Messer’s Golpys and Page popped by the studio to talk about their work, their expectancies, their approach to two very different but very similar disciplines within the design industry.

Both are former students of graphic design courses at Wigan & Leigh college, both had an insatiable desire to succeed and both have the business acumen required to make it ‘BIG’ in the industry.

First to visit was Andy Golpys from Shape http://madebyshape.co.uk [top] who recently employed one of FDpurples graduates and also lectures at the University of Salford. He spoke about his journey, which led to him pitching design solutions to a huge, well know Knight of the Realm and Shape won! As Andy said “It really will be a life changing moment” for the company and those lucky enough to impress as he adds to his creative team.

A couple of days later Matt Page http://mattpagedesign.co.uk arrived on the eve of being offered his first ‘desk-bound’ position having travelled many-a-mile working freelance in London and up north and creating some amazing websites and inter-active multimedia presentations – in fact it was difficult to know how to describe what Matt actually specializes at as he seems to lend his hand to just about everything and anything graphic – and does a fantastic job too!

Having been a member of the very first FD course, having gained a First at the University of Salford and then created some amazing work – by in the first place experimenting and then mastering new digital art he was about to take a giant leap up to the stratosphere.

It’s a brilliant experience for the students to be able to pin down the guests and pick their brains or relive their experiences and hopefully follow in their footsteps so even those who from time to time are under the ‘weather’ their arrival was just what the [design] doctor ordered. 

Buried Treasure

While wandering through a few blog links the editor came across this image of some of FDPurple in the Mortar Boards accepting their BA [Hons] in Graphic Design from the University of Salford back in June 2014.

From the left : Danny Humphreys, Chris Wordley, Adam Ascroft, Josh Hurst, Dec Woodward and Tom Saunders . . . all very smart too!

Cann Do!

Back in November 2011 Brian Cannon graced the pages of the FD blogsite after opening a photographic studio in the middle of Wigan. Although he has created many fantastic designs he will always be best know for his work with the groups Verve and Oasis.

Through Jordan in FD1, who has regular contact with Brian in the local Northern Soul music scene, the Foundation Degree course was graced with his presence one Thursday morning before Christmas.

The editor, being a few years older than our guest, recognised Brian’s traditional way of working and his graphic terminology and smiled at his design analogies.

For an hour he held students from both FD courses, level three graphics and art & design under his spell as he recounted the events that led him to meet both Richard Ashcroft and Noel Gallagher and then the sky-rocket ascension to design immortality!

It would be remiss of the editor to pass on those stories – other than to say "a pint of milk and adidas trainers".

Brian has recently moved into the old Wigan courts and refurbished an office and in moving all his ‘stuff’ he came upon all kinds of original design work, which on Friday 12 December he auctioned online.

To have a look at his move/office/auction follow the link . . .

http://vimeo.com/113736813    

Creative Pitch

The first module in year 2 is Design and Production. Within groups, the teams select a company to re-brand or re-launch and that is the easy bit – what is difficult is that they have to put together a proposal and sell the idea to an industry professional who to all intent and purposes is the client. This year Will Bentley, principal of BD2 accepted the challenge [see “Where there’s a Will”].

Once those first meetings had taken place and direction given the groups had to go to work in designing, costing and considering how best to create the new look or new message.

The culmination of two months hard effort, the odd ‘fall-out’, the odd creative spat, the teams were ready to present their ideas once again to Will. In taking them all out of their comfort zone the editor booked a room in the professional studies building, top floor . . . ready to act like real professionals.

Each group had the opportunity to customize their presentation in hanging posters, providing an aircraft seat, providing food and drink as part of their presentations. First up were Visceral and their repositioning of BP after the Gulf disaster explaining the Big Possibilities [BP] that the company had in an attempt to re-establish all the good things the company has undertaken over the years.

Visceral present BP to Will : Dean, Chris R and Chris P

 Second group, ESM Creative took on the challenge to smarten up and add a bit of class the eastJet with great ads, new livery and iPads for hire as the main thrust of their presentation. A sparkling new logo also caught the eye.

ESM deliver their new easyJet branding. On the right Mel, Simone and Emma

The next group, Milky Coffee took on an urban challenge by identifying a gap in the market for one of the worlds biggest and best know sports goods companies [but not fashion wear] Puma. Linked with clothing ‘styled’ by Pharrell Williams the group created a ten second viral ‘sting’, flagship stores, publicity and break-in opportunities in cities and towns the night before a Pharrell gig. The group also screen printed t-shirts, hoodies, sweats and presented one of their creations to Will.

Milky Coffee urbanize Puma and provide Will with his own bespoke Sweatshirt. On the left Dec, Danny and Billy

The penultimate group was one, which Will was really looking forward to. 2’s Company had decided that the tired and unconnected corporate look of Wetherspoon’s taverns and hotels was in their sights. A nice corporate wood-cut look and a simplification of their overly complicated menus. Their gift was three relabelled bottle of beer.

With free beer as a gift [or bribe] to Will, megan and Ben deliver the new look for Wetherspoons

The final group stole the show, Rachel, Heather and Hayley, the 3 Peas took on Boots lunchtime menu and their Shapers range of sandwiches, drinks and bars. Although not the worst design ever, the group who spent time in the local store to watch the shoppers snack selections completely re-branded and renamed the range and blew Will away. 

Hello delightful! Rachel, Heather and Hayley blow Will away scoring 9.9/10 - he never gives a 10!

Hello delightful is fresh, colourful, engaging and the publicity that surrounded it linked the whole new look into a new store position and new proposition to entice the hungry shopper to go for a healthy under 500 calorie alternative with the Boots assurance of quality. The girls had taken the time to discover the type of sandwich Will likes and presented his choice in their new packaging.

Even a visit from the new head of Higher Education didn’t put the group off.

Salford Key?

In mid-November all of FD went over to meet the staff of the University. It is a tradition for the second years to receive guidance before they apply to complete they creative study.

The University’s new home [on a very wet Wednesday] at MediaCity is really starting to come to life – and it’s a fascinating place to study with great views over the Quays and the Lowry.

 

From the left : Jo, Tim and Gary explained their different Pathways and took questions from the floor. Once the talk and tour was over the course student reps and the editor sat down for the first semester student & staff committee with Jo.

Andy, [stand-in rep] Ben, Jo, Naomi and Heather cleared the table of agenda items and then spent time looking at examples of Level 6 design work around the walls of the spacious studio.

Top : 24 hours without sleep due to deadlines Andy, Ben, Jo, Naomi and Heather during the SSC meeting. Below : the group look out of the windows at the Quay's [and work] and then chat with Mel departed from FDPurple about the illustration pathway she is to complete in June 2015. 

Before the group departed, Mel one of the courses ex-students in her final year of illustration dropped by to say hello and provide some insider-information.

Being Organised

As part of their first years Personal & Academic Development module in groups of two the FD1 LIME students had to research and present information of five industry-based organisations or publications. The five under scrutiny this year were D&AD /  Pentagram / Tate / Design Museum / Creative Review.

The groups had to research their origins, what roles they play what membership costs and how they can assist in the group becoming better designers and artists.

From the left : Creative Review with Lucy and Jordan, Tate with Hannah and Jack and Design Museum with Naomi and Luke. Later presentations by Andy, James and Zeta ended up on the cutting room floor.

Initial contact with the audience was through a poster [or in the case of Tate four posters], a handout and finally a five-minute presentation, all created in the graphic style of that organisation.

The editor is very keen to take the students out of their comfort zone by presenting to their peers and feeling the pressure of ‘talking’ to an audience. The results were impressive – and no expense was spared . . . by Andy who provided D&AD t-shirts for each of the group . . . and several ink cartridges for his flyer!