London.

Monday 21st November
Basically vistited everywhere. Nando's with the group, then Westminster.
Photos:

McDonalds Advert I've seen previous - got a bit excited at this..

£100 for this? No.

Tuesday 22nd November
Inferno
On the Tuesday of our London trip we visited the agency 'Inferno', where Paul gave us a talk about being a creative in general, and a little about what they did there at Inferno such as Nokia Lumia which since then I've see this for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX2Gd-kqV5s

Pizza Express, visited the bar with the rest of the group, threw up multiple times, came back..

He also directed us to the YCC website that he also takes part in. As well as showing an interest in Oli & Alex's work and how Oli got his Virgin complaint mail in the media.

Wednesday 23rd November
On Wednesday we visited a really friendly guy called George at Eurostar, who gave a brief to do some roughs for Flora and hot HP Sauce.
As I was ill I dont think I did many creative ideas, but we began by looking at words relating to light and hot, and began from there. As we had a feedback session we were able to quiz George on his time in London and how he got there, and although at the moment it seems a little daunting, I think that London, if I was to move on in the creative area may have to be on the cards.

CAMDEN. McDonalds. Camden. Train back.

Few photos;

The underground was quite easy to use having experience of the metro, although on the way back for the train we were told that Euston stop was closed due to someone under the train... Lovely...

Home time, lego tree in the London station.

Overall I enjoyed the London trip and seeing the people who work at the agencies there. I was disappointed to find out that Adam and Eve were too busy to see us, as that was the agency I was looking forward to meeting. That being said all the people I met seemed very down to earth and friendly. I got a few emails and although I didn't do anything there I want to continue on they confirmed what I'd already been told about being in a creative job. However I was ill the duration of the trip so I don't feel like I got full advantage of being there. All the more reason to go back?

Research

Thinking of the use of silhouettes and music I immediately thought of the iPod advertisements;

Looking for silhouettes in advertising I found the name "Kara Walker":

I also found this advertisement by Samsung which links in with our 'senses' idea, with Elvis singing into the mans ear. 

images that have given me ideas:

Alight Brief

Background
A build up festival for the Olympics and part of Music Nation and The Cultural Olympiad. Based in Sheffield and representing Yorkshire. Alight will take place on Saturday 3rd March 2012, with three segments, Daylight, Twilight and Into The Night. There will be music, dance and visual art performances.

What we want to achieve
To let people know about the event and let them know its a once in a lifetime event that they shouldnt miss and be a part of. Everyone should attend and it's all about celebrating and enjoying music and dance. People should be excited about it.

Target Audience
Daylight - General Public
Twilight - Families and Friends of performers.
Into the Night - Families and performers of the students.

Proposition
Communicate an exciting, once in a lifetime event to the public that they will want to go and attend as they do not want to miss out on this opportunity. Must engage the audience and persuade them to go. We also must communicate that Alight is for everyone.

Tone of Voice
Friendly, enthusiastic, welcoming.

Media
Possibilities include; posters, flyers, banners, web banners and street performers.

Mandatories

• date
• "Alight"
• website - www.alightmusicnation.com
• strapline
• 3 events; daylight, twilight and into the night.
• sponsors (tbc)

Alight.

• celebration of music, dance and visual arts.
• 4 year countdown to the olympics
• 3rd March 2012
• low budget
• music nation
• unite, arise, alight
• daylight, twilight, into the night
• media coverage - bbc

DAYLIGHT

TWILIGHT

INTO THE NIGHT

after discussing ideas with my creative partner we decided to research further on:

• music; lyrics, quotes, notes, sounds, vibrations, lack of sound
• "Sheffield"/"Yorkshire"
• Senses
• Once in a lifetime
• dance
• low budget advertising
• silhouettes
• march
• questionnaire

John Lewis | "For gifts you can't wait to give."

Whilst watching the ever falling show that is X Factor, during the one of many, arguably more entertaining, ad breaks, I saw two very good adverts.

The first of which every one remembers according to the twitter buzz and every one receives the same thought. I am of course talking about Coca Cola's "holiday's are coming..." ad. Since I can remember that song has always meant one thing; Christmas festivities have begun. Oldie but a goodie.

The other advert in which I'm referring to also created a buzz on twitter and that is the title of this blog, and that's John Lewis', also festive advert, "for gifts you can't wait to give." it starts by showing a young boy hurriedly eating his greens in order to get to bed early to wake up to Christmas.
However on the Christmas morning he walks past his own presents and to his wardrobe, picking up a present and carrying it across to his parents bedroom to wake them up. We're led to believe the stereotype of a child not waiting to open their own, when in fact it's because he can't wait to give it. There's such a nice moral meaning behind this and the thought of it is really warm. Just what's needed for the festive good will feel. My favourite Christmas advert this year so far! Bring on the rest.

I then searched for a news article, which ironically told me it was created by Adam & Eve, an agency I will be hoping to visit in London during a trip with university.

http://www.youtube.com/johnlewisretail

Action Plan & Strengths/Weaknesses.

Strengths:

• Coming up with ideas
• Sticking to the brief 
• Working in a group
• Development
• Making decisions/team leader

Weaknesses:

• Organisation time/work.
• Background research
• Explaining ideas vocally

Action Plan:

1. Start a separate blog to organise my work and outside activities as well as keeping this one up to date.
2. Get more involved with design and advertising specifically outside of required work.
3. Link my blogs together so that they are accessible through each other.
4. Look for more advertising based work experience, rather than just design that I already have.
5. Visit London and advertising agencies there.
6. Work with different people as I need to find someone I work well with, and although I worked well with my group now I believe I haven't found the right person yet.
7. Develop on explaining my ideas vocally to people in larger groups
8. Organise my work better, keep sheets of paper organised and safe together so I dont lose anything as well as organising my time better as I've recently just got my first job I need to organise my time more.
9. Research better, and keep my findings.

How I've found advertising:

When I decided on my specialism I was debating between Motion Graphics and Advertising, because although I like to think of ideas and be quirky and I also like to search out adverts through Ads of The World, etc, I also like the 'making' side of it. When we did the Print to Pixel project, I enjoyed that project the most out of the ones we did last year, so I was debating between the two for a while. I decided on advertising as I came to SHU intending to do advertising and I've always had an interest in it. After having spent my time doing this module I think I've made the right decision as I enjoy coming up with ideas, and although the whole vocal side of things is a little shaky for me at the moment, I believe I will start to enjoy this more and come out of my shell that I've been gradually doing for a while whilst as Sheffield Hallam. 

Final Designs

"The Full  Picture." - Bluestar De-Icer.

Medias

• Magazne foldout - Cliff.
• TV advert - Child.
• Interactive Billboard - Deer.
• Poster - Dead End.
• Magazine pages - Fallen Tree.

Fallen Tree final design

Photos used to help draw:

Creative Writing

As writing and speaking aren't my strongest point I was a bit horror-struck when we were told we were having a creative writing workshop. But then when we got into the swing of things I found I was actually quite enjoying it.


Paint tube, book, guitar pic, paracetamol, shell. - who's items are they?
My first thought for this was Chris Halliwell, our lecturer from last year who always invited us for drinks at the pub and played his guitar to us during a lecture.
Male
Older.
Interest in playing guitar
Creative musically and artistically.
Likes oddities. (shell)
Hungover. (paracetamol)

Deep dark cave - what can you hear?

• Wind hitting the walls
• bat wings flapping
• echos
• eerie silence?
• water, dripping, crashing against the cave?
• ground dirt underneath your feet

think of a slogan to go on to final designs

find/take photos to use as a template for final designs

John Hegarty

After watching guest lecturer Sir John Hegarty's speech I was greatly chuffed with my time spent there. I found him interesting and enjoyable to listen to and a great insight into the advertising world. I picked a few of his quotes that I'd either heard before, which, he confirmed my thoughts about, or some I'd never heard of but thought they definitely rang true.

"Writing is just describing pictures."
"Words are a barrier to communication." - I always find writing much more difficult than reading pictures, I think when Hegarty mentioned this I felt a little better in myself knowing that it's not just me who finds words limiting in some aspects.

"Do interesting things and interesting things will happen." throughout this course we've been told to push the barrier, and be risky, and imaginative. I think this quote from John is relative to this, as if we're daring and push the limit, then more doors will open and we'll see what we're made of.

"Tell the truth" or "Find an interesting way to tell the truth." I've always thought that advert in which are honest, but funny and smart about it, always capture my attention most. A recent one I've seen is for Rice Krispies "Squares" and this stuck in my head for weeks, even now.
"It's all lies, they're not even square." Not only made me laugh, but I'd never even thought of the fact that they're rectangle and called squares before, so this statement from John definitely works.



"You know someone else has something good when you hate them, as well as their product." - Far too many times have I seen something and though, damn, that's really good. Wish I'd thought of that. And I think this is what John was getting at.

John's example of something he wished he thought of.

He also mentioned he asked someone "what makes a great photograph?" "Something you haven't seen before." - New things catch your idea, so new smart ideas, will stand out from the rest.

Definition of creativity; expression of self. 

Inspiration is everything, you just have to see it.

Follow opportunity, not money.

When the world zigs, zag. - Black sheep, logo.

"When do you do your best thinking? When I'm not thinking."

Fearlessness - put ideas in front of people. Fight for it. Believe in it, even if they says it's wrong. 

I will definitely keep an eye on for more of John's work, as I was really interested and he had my full attention throughout his speech. I also didnt realise he'd done the Xbox advert that I think was banned of a shooting baby growing up and then landing in a grave. Sure everyone remembers that one, even if it were banned.