This module is a very self initiated and independent due open briefs. For studio brief 2, it allowed me to explore a wide range of in depth research surrounding my chosen topic as well as around many possible topics too, this caused a more comprehensive understanding on how to approach the brief, resulting in an appropriated outcome.
Studio brief 1 encouraged us to look in to the future of the banknote and the actual meaning of what money is, and what it stands for today. Throughout this brief we had to bear in mind that these notes would be exhibited alongside each other in Bank House. I interpreted this brief as a way to stand out and create something different to the designs that would be surrounding my note. After deciding on focusing my research on the British banknote, I looked in to what makes us British, aiming to celebrate something light hearted. This idea of designing something which is more timeless, not celebrating the dead and instead focussing on the future and no specific person being on the notes makes them more neutral. In a way this links to the utopian ideals, however with added humour. Humour is something I definitely wanted to incorporate in to my banknote design as this is something we don’t often see in money, and with a light hearted design the serious, heavy connotations we have with money might seem to fade. The notes were screen printed which allowed them to be a lot brighter than they would have been in produced digitally which I think shaped my notes. One was embossed, however due to the bright colours the embossing wasn’t very visible, so it was’t carried out through the second note.
If I were to extend this brief further I would screen print the £20 also, as well as creating coins in the shape of circular British biscuits; such as Jammie Dodgers, Digestives and Party Rings.
Studio brief 2 allowed for a lot of self directed freedom in terms of a creative out come and especially research. The extensive level of research undertook resulted in a well refined, appropriate resolution of issue orientated design. After exploring different areas and keeping my options open, I ended up focusing on establishing the problem of the lonely elderly, I spoke to someone who had worked with the elderly all their lives to grasp a better, more in depth understanding the issue, this allowed me to see what the underlying problem was and how they really feel. This informed my decision to make the campaign personal, which then encouraged me to gather peoples thoughts of what they relate their grandparents with. Acting on this information, a range of possible pathways were created and through developing these further and asking for feedback, the embroidery idea became strongest. This allowed me to create something physically, off the computer with my hands which I really enjoy doing. After this decision was made more research was undertook exploring different ways of embroidery / needlepoint tapestries.
I directly wanted to talk to the general public specifically 18-26 year olds, because this is the new generation which are old enough to help, but still unaware of the loneliness in the elderly and how it affects them. What I wanted to change overall is older people being lonely, and get more people aware that it is a serious issue. The solution to this is people calling up the lonely elderly and visitors coming round. Realistically, this can be achieved by donating money to the charity Age UK so that they can fund people to work in this sector. Ultimately my aim was to spread awareness for this issue so that people act on it. This is why I created posters for Age UK, attempting to make them brighter and bolder so that younger generations would get more involved.
As this brief was spread across a wide time schedule it was up to our selves to plan and structure our own time wisely. I feel that I was successful in this aspect as I always had this in the back of my mind while other ongoing briefs had to be completed also. The research part took up most of my time and was most varied which I think allowed me to generate a range of different ideas for outcomes which was beneficial, this is something I am going to extend in my other briefs as it resulted in a wider range of responses to the brief.
If I were to extend this brief further I would create 2 more posters (perhaps develop the battenburg design as well as the ornament idea) and have these as a set, distributing these not only over all the platforms I have done, but on packets of things we like to buy for the elderly, such as Werthers originals etc.
