To begin this collaborative project, our group made a shared Pinterest board where we could easily collect inspiration and ideas throughout the first few steps of the project. Not only this, but it also made it easier to see how different everyone's initial ideas and themes were without having to constantly check with the different members of the group.
We initially thought about how we could make a 'brand' which could encompass all of the schools and disciplines which would be involved in the 2017 Degree show. It therefore had to include: Fine Art Critical Practice Moving Image Photography Painting Printmaking Sculpture Visual Communication Graphic Design Illustration Performance and Visual Art Media Studies Digital Music & Sound Architecture Fashion & Textiles with Business Studies Interior Architecture 3D Design and Crafts MA in Interior Design MA Architectural & Urban Studies MA Architecture
This is an extremely vast amount of disciplines and they are all extremely different so we decided that we didn't want a theme for the show that would limit how it would be able to tie into each of the courses. We soon began to decide on a 'makers' theme; the idea that in one way or another everyone who is involved within these courses is producing something to show and the idea that our hands are used to do this.
Having decided on this 'Makers' theme, we began to think about the different formats that it could take, especially within the aspect of advertisement. We wanted to look at not only posters and flyers, but also street art, workshops and sculptures that could but placed around the city to help to promote the degree show. During the briefing of this project we were told to consider every idea that we had, no matter how unusual or unlikely it may be. Having had a professional practice lecture the week before from a producer from the company 'BlinkInk' we had become aware of the ex John Lewis advert named 'The Bear and The Hare'. The company had made a 'making of' film that showed the process of how the made this stop frame animation advert and this gave us one of our first major ideas. We decided that it would be a great promotional as well as educational material to have our own 'making of' film showing how all of the different courses produced the work that they were planning on showing during the degree show and how the show was then put up.
In addition to this, we found that we also needed to consider how people could find their way between the numerous different venues at which the degree show is planning on being held around the city. We considered how when you verbally give people directions, you often use you hands to point and create gestures to aid how well they understand what you are trying to say. We thought that we could use large hand sculptures that could be placed at various points between the number of venues to point the audiences in the right directions to get to the next site. There could also be a possibility of each course designing there own pointing hand an decorating it so that it would suit their own styles. This idea was also slightly inspired by the Brighton 'Snow Dogs' which were placed around Brighton and Hove over the winter period and acted as a trail, each of these dogs were decorated by a specific company of artist so whilst they were all the same model, each had its own recognisable design.
Following on from this, we wanted to consider how we could reach tourists as well and the general public of the Brighton and Hove area. We have thought about how we could involve and utilise the biggest tourist attractions of the areas such as the Palace Pier and the i360. Having particularly looked at the hight of the i360 we are looking at the possibility of having a 'blimp' or a large inflatable which could be positioned on the roof of the Grand Parade Campus that could be seen from all over the city but also from these attractions and would advertise the degree show.
In addition to all of this, we have decided that the best way to get people interested in the Degree Show is to make it as interactive as possible. this could be through the use of QR codes and hashtags that could allow the audiences to interact and communicate with both other visitors and the students whose working is being shown.
Our group made a presentation for our first proposal of ideas (file shown above). Our Initial proposal is as follows:
Concept: Handmade/Making Of This theme will focus on the way in which each school uses their hands in their practice, to make and create different things. This will allow us to showcase the atmosphere, individuality and tactility of each subject, whilst still keeping a thematic concept. With this in mind, our concentration will be on the way in which these images contribute to the ‘making of’ and creation of the grad show work.
Presentation To advertise, we will use a three variation concept, to allow us to maximise the utilisation of different mediums and provide a fully immersive experience. Approach 1: Intimate – This will be viewable inside the grad show only, and will be the final stage of advertisement. A filmic ‘making of’ video will be screened and projected at the entrance of the show, with emphasis on an atmospheric sound and music soundtrack. The content will be a presentation of how each school uses their hands in their subject to make work. Approach 2: Street View – This will be the most visible aspect of the campaign, represented as a combination of ‘flat’ and ‘3D’ designs, directing audiences to the show throughout the streets of Brighton. Poster designs will be inspired by the hands of makers in each subject, separated by each school’s represented ideas. There will also be interactive hand sculptures and erasable graffiti further giving directions and information. A hashtag will be included next to the artworks to encourage public engagement and viral campaigning, e.g. #brightongrads2017. Approach 3: World from above – The most ambitious part of the campaign will be a large scale 3D design, viewable only from the Brighton i360, and at glimpses from other buildings and ground level. This will encourage investigation from the public, and more engagement at the grad show. The 3D design could be a sculptural hand design, or a large scale balloon positioned on the roof of the Grand Parade building.
Inside the Show Subjects in the show: Fine Art Critical Practice, Moving Image, Photography, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Visual Communication, Graphic Design, Illustration, Performing and Visual Arts, Media Studies, Digital Music and Sound, Architecture, Fashion and Textiles with Business Studies, Interior Architecture, 3D Design and Crafts, MA in Interior Design, MA Architectural and Urban Studies, MA Architecture. Venues: Each school’s individual venue and subject specific needs will have to be considered when organising the space and its branding. To give full attention to the works, branding must remain unobtrusive, and fluid within the rooms, whilst still encouraging viewers through external advertising. Workshops: On the private viewing, as well as the film screening and ‘finger food’, a hand - casting and hand marbling workshop will also be available. This will create a more dynamic and inclusive atmosphere for viewers and grad show participants. Overall To better understand the needs of each school, we will ask all subject reps to provide us with a description of how they would like to be ideally be represented. To get each school more involved with branding, we would like to set a brief for each subject to provide us with visuals of what they see as representative of their making process. This will then inspire the branding process, with the possibility of using the work provided within the advertisement campaign and individual poster designs.