OUGD505: STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Design Production 2 // Study Task 1 - An Exhibition of Aston Martin

For this brief, I want to look into an exhibition of Aston Martin. I began by looking at their website, seeing what there was there I could find to use as a starting point to my research. http://www.astonmartin.com/ I noticed immediately, upon landing on the site, they're extremely proud of their cars, large full screen images, exhibiting the high points of their cars.  I thought it would be useful to gather information about Aston's current range of cars. 

The logos and images of aston martin, on the top left, we see their centurion logo, created using 100 dots, to celebrate 100 years of Aston Martin, in 2013. 

"A unique year produces a unique and visionary car. Created as a stunning celebration of Aston Martin’s century of sports car excellence we reveal ‘CC100’, a concept reflecting the sporting heritage and exceptional design capability woven throughout 100 years of Aston Martin history. CC100 looks back to a proud past and forward to an exciting future. A clear affinity with the legendary 1959 Le Mans and Nürburgring winning race car DBR1 can be seen in the design, with forward-looking features shaped from the same advanced materials and expert engineering used throughout our contemporary model range. Designed and constructed in less than six months, the CC100 represents a shining example of the Aston Martin flexibility. Coupling creative freedom with cutting-edge technology to consistently deliver the purity of vision set out by our design team. Revealed to the world at the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, CC100 was driven on its debut by Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez. Alongside him on this unique celebratory lap of the iconic Nordschleife was DBR1, the same car that completed the 1000km of Nürburgring in 1959, crewed by the same man - Sir Stirling Moss."

CC100 - the ultimate expression of Aston Martin’s first century. "CC100 is the epitome of everything that is great about Aston Martin. Fantastic heritage, exceptional design, superb engineering and an adventurous spirit."
Aston Martin CEO - Dr Ulrich Bez

"Designing a more luxurious and more refined Rapide would have been a phenomenal achievement. Engineering a more powerful Rapide would have seen us take our industry leading technology to new heights. But we didn’t settle on one, we did something incredible, we did both.

The result is an Aston Martin with more power and more luxury. An Aston Martin with the power of luxury, Rapide S. How to improve the design of the world’s most beautiful four-door sports car? Our world-leading design team created unique new styling. Two examples; a new rear deck profile enhances aerodynamics, a new full-face aluminium grille honed as a single piece by hand creates a striking front profile.

The all-new Rapide S is the most beautiful four-door Aston Martin we've ever made. Agile, balanced, controlled. A near perfect 48:52 front / rear weight distribution means Rapide S is unique, a true sports car with four-doors.

We took our renowned VH architecture and made Rapide S even more agile than our previous model. Weighing just 1990kg we also lowered the engine by nearly 20mm. Rapide S is a four-door car with world-class dynamics. A four-door car that's every inch a sports car.R apide S introduces the all-new Rapide Gen 4 AM11 engine. The most technologically advanced, most powerful Rapide engine we’ve ever built. Incredible figures tell the story; a sprint time of only 4.9 secs, 620 Nm of torque and potent power of 558 PS - an increase of more than 17% over our previous model.

Rapide S delivers phenomenal performance, all of the time. Driven by one but enjoyed by four. Rapide S has space for four adults to be transported in a luxurious environment with the highest levels of refinement. New exterior styling is matched by interior materials worked by hand to achieve a finish never seen before on a four-door sports car. Specifically designed materials and the largest range of colours, trims and options we’ve ever offered. Rapide S is exquisitely finished and exquisitely personal."

"It was an incredible challenge, make a great design even better. It took an extraordinary collaborative effort to achieve. Nearly 50% of all parts and more than 70% of all body panels are new, but it is as timeless and elegant as ever.

The best DB9 yet. Peak power of 517 PS. Effortless torque of up to 620 NM. A sprint time of just 4.6 seconds. Our new AM11 V12 engine ensures this is the most powerful DB9 ever produced. To us power isn’t everything; a CO2 reduction, saving 12g/km not only means this is the most potent DB9, it’s also the most advanced. New components and more advanced engineering also make this the most rigid DB9. Our state-of-the-art VH architecture has been made even better. The figures speak for themselves; a 20% increase in stiffness in DB9 Coupe, a huge 30% increase in DB9 Volante, we went further, our engineers made more of less – the new DB9 is 15 kg lighter. The best DB9 braking system we’ve made sees advanced carbon ceramic brakes fitted on every car. Giving a better response with a longer life and bringing improved performance with virtually no fade.

The New DB9 feels great whatever the speed, whatever the environment. We didn’t settle for a standard interior. We reached new heights in material artistry. Master designers worked with expert craftsmen and produced a level of fit and finish unheard of in a Grand Tourer. Take the flowing leather welts - custom made by hand in new facilities, the control switches – made of real glass, the leather – the finest Bridge of Weir hides. The result? The most luxurious Aston Martin DB9 in history."

100 years of Aston Martin. 100 years of producing the most beautiful and desirable cars in the world. We knew our centenary demanded something special. Our mission was to produce the greatest Aston Martin in history, the car to lead us into our second 100 years - a new flagship. We did it. With the most advanced engineering, the most beautiful design and the finest materials, we created the best Aston Martin ever. We created Vanquish. Our greatest car had to have our greatest engine. Introducing the New AM11 Gen4 V12 - the most powerful production engine in Aston Martin history. 573 PS. 620 Nm of torque. 0-62mph in 4.1 secs. Vanquish has the greatest performance numbers ever reached in an Aston Martin, it’s not a Grand Tourer, it’s a Super Grand Tourer. Clothing an engine of such immense power required a body of phenomenal rigidity and razor-sharp agility. There was only one material we could use to achieve this level of performance – aerospace engineered carbon-fibre.
We didn’t compromise. Every body-panel is constructed from the most advanced carbon available, producing a staggering strength-to-weight ratio and ensuring Vanquish is the pinnacle of a century of engineering expertise. Technologically advanced on the outside, Vanquish is as advanced on the inside. An all-new interior includes a state-of-the-art infotainment system enabling efficient and easy control of the cabin environment. Hand-crafted capacitive glass buttons now include illumination and revolutionary ‘haptic feedback’. Vanquish takes driver and passenger usability to new heights. Our Ultimate Grand Tourer now comes with the ultimate Aston Martin lightweight seat, reducing weight by 17kg. Specially developed for driver and passenger rigidity, lateral support, and sporting performance, an advanced composite structure includes both Kevlar® and carbon-fibre. With an exposed carbon-fibre weave on the rear and exquisite hand-trimmed leather and alcantara on specially designed front panels, the new lightweight Vanquish seats combine sports tailoring with sports performance. This is the most luxurious interior we’ve ever produced. A unique Vanquish design combines the widest choice of materials and finishes ever created for a GT. All new ergonomic interior environment groupings and carbon fibre interior finishes. Contrasting seat accent colours and unique hour-glass stitching.

A million stitches go into every Vanquish, along with 100 years of history.

 

The Aston Martin Vanquish, the ultimate grand tourer, the stunning product of 100 years of Aston Martin Power, Beauty & Soul. How to enhance the character and capability of our Super GT? Simple; the same engineering expertise, the same dynamic performance, the same world-leading design - but the thrill of open top driving.

Vanquish Volante - The Ultimate Convertible. Proportion, presence, purity. Vanquish Volante delivers the most beautiful body-shape in its class. Subtle changes needed extensive design work. All new aerodynamically tuned decklid and tonneau. New full-height windscreen with glass directly meeting roof. First fully carbon-fibre skinned Volante. Taking something away allowed us to add so much more. Producing the same range-topping performance achieved in Vanquish Coupe in Vanquish Volante was an engineering challenge – a challenge we passed. Powered by the same AM11 V12 engine, acceleration of 4.1secs and peak power of 573PS ensures this is the quickest accelerating Volante we’ve produced. It’s also the stiffest with a body which maintains all the dynamic agility of Vanquish Coupe. Vanquish Volante is the most technologically innovative convertible we’ve ever made, truly engineered to be a convertible. The three layer lightweight fabric roof takes just 14secs to fold, operating at up to 30mph. 1000W Bang & Olufsen BeoSound system monitors and adapts based on open-top conditions. Boot loading capacity is more than 50% higher than DBS Volante, the same if the roof is up or down. All of the finishes, the authentic materials, the exquisite details from Vanquish Coupe – but more eyes will enjoy them. The all-new centre stack inspired by One-77 combines elegance and ergonomics. A cabin that can be tailored in thousands of unique colour and material combinations offers bold contrasts or subtle styling.
Vanquish Volante is our ultimate convertible, but it’s your design statement.

OUGD503: STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Individual Practice // No. 7 Antiques - Edge Painting Business Cards

Following some business card research, to get a premium quality to the cards, I want to incorporate some edge painting into the cards. The only problem is, I couldn't quite figure out how exactly to do it. So, I've researched into a DIY edge painting method, which will probably go wrong knowing my luck. 

An example of edge painting, it adds a highlight to the business card, which could make it stand out against other business cards, which is in fact the goal of any business card. The business card looks to be letterpressed, in some shape of form, and the edge painting seems to work extremely well with iit. 

Another example of edge painting, this card as been de-bossed with a letterpress, and the two go together extremely well. Although, I think that the stock needs to be rather thick when creating the edge painting, otherwise it seems rather pointless.

http://stuffstephdoes.com/2013/06/26/how-to-edge-paint-business-cards/

I've looked at a DIY tutorial, so I could learn how to do this myself. The blogger tried three different methods, and found the most effective, which turned out to be using acrylic paint and a foam brush. 

You can see the cards have been weighed down, to stop them moving, and she has used the foam brush to apply the paint to the sides of a stack of business cards. 

An example of how it looks once you've completed it. It's a really nice effect, and it definitely adds premium quality to business cards, something I will try to include in my business cards for No. 7. 

OUGD503: STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Individual Practice // OAC Photography - Business Card Research

http://mustbeprinted.com/post/42577758627/translucent-photographer-business-card

http://s-lane1114-dp.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/ougd503-photographer-branding.html

OUGD503: STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Individual Practice // No. 7 Antiques - Business Card Research

As I'm branding a business, one of the key aspects of the branding, which the rest might revolve around, is the business cards. I've looked at a small range of business cards, which I feel will be relevant to influence my designs for No. 7's business cards. 

A lovely authentic, hand made looking, branding project. Business cards are created on demand by using a small embossing press and two different stamps. It's very creative.  http://www.behance.net/gallery/Sommelier-Markov-Anatoly/3243513

http://creattica.com/business-cards/fennica-business-cards/8323

http://pepper-cinnamon.net/28-HongKong-Street

http://www.davidairey.com/kikisoso-letterpress/

http://www.davidairey.com/business-cards-by-oomph/

http://grainedit.com/2013/02/12/belinda-love-lee/

OUGD505: STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Design Production 2 // Study Task 1 - An Exhibition of Aston Martin

I think looking into the history of Aston Martin would be a good place to start. I looked at the heritage section of their website, you're greeted with a slideshow, showing some amazing photographs taken throughout the early days of AML. I saved some of them, to mirror here.

As shot of one of the first Aston's doing a hill climb, whilst a crowd watches. Company history 1913 - 1920 - an icon is born. A rich and prestigious heritage defines aston martin as something truly unique within automotive history. Founded in 1913 by robert bamford and lionel martin as 'bamford & martin ltd', the company has developed into an iconic brand synonymous with luxury and elegance. 1914 saw the birth of the name ‘aston martin’ following one of lionel martin's successful runs at the aston hill climb in buckinghamshire, england. Within a year the first aston martin had been built and registered with the name and by 1920 the business had relocated to kensington.

Company history 1922 - 1928 Racing debut. Competing in the 1922 french grand prix saw aston martin take its first historic steps in overseas competition with two cars completing the race. Financial problems plagued the company over the next decade with the business forced to close in 1925 only to be rescued by a group of investors in 1926, forming 'aston martin motors ltd'. The business was soon on a sound footing, with a competitive range of sports cars and an increasing reputation for engineering and design. This progress lead to the first entry of an aston martin in the le mans 24-hr race in 1928.

Company history 1930 - 1939 Production increases. Aston martin won great acclaim at le mans, when the 1.5l model took a clean sweep of the podium places within its class at the 1933 race. Road car production numbers continued to increase throughout the 1930s with 140 cars being built in 1937, the highest pre-war figure. 1939 saw the production of the aston martin atom, an avant-garde prototype developed using an early form of space-frame chassis and independent suspension - a further development of aston martin's engineering excellence.

Company history 1963 The aston martin db5. Frequently acclaimed as the most beautiful car in the world, the aston martin db5 entered production in 1963. The following year saw the birth of a relationship that has left an indelible mark on popular culture, as the db5 was chosen to be james bond’s car of choice in the classic film ‘goldfinger’.

Company history 1988 - 1991 A new model. 1988 saw the introduction of the virage at the nec international motor show, ensuring the company moved into the 1990's with a new sportscar at the heart of its revised model range. Aston martin also returned to the track as the works supported 'amr1' came sixth in the world sportscar championship. In 1991 walter hayes was appointed chairman and work began on a new model.

Company history 2008 Race success. 2008 saw the dbr9 take gt1 class victory at the le mans 24-hr race for the second consecutive year. The same year saw the marque's love affair with james bond continue as dbs made a second james bond appearance by featuring in 'quantum of solace'.

Company history 2013 Into a second century. 2013 sees aston martin celebrate its centenary and 100 years of creating the most beautiful cars in the world. A global set of celebratory events is planned to celebrate with the owners, supporters and partners of aston martin, including a special centenary week in july 2013 where the largest gathering of aston martins in history will take place in central london. With an unrivalled history and heritage, aston martin strides forward into a second century with new investment and the strongest model line-up ever created.

I also looked at all the past models AML has produced over their 101 years of production. 

And the current models, which you can purchase today. 

OUGD503: STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Individual Practice // OAC Photography - Logo Design Research

As part of the rebrand, I'm redesigning the logo of OAC Photography. I'm researching into existing logos for photography companies/individuals. To see if I can draw any elements of their design, to perhaps implement into my own logo design. 

The Wedcake logo seen in the top right of this image is extremely well thought out. It uses the zoom of the lens to cross represent and three tiered wedding cake, using negative space to separate the tiers. The Weddring logo is also very creative, using a wedding ring as the lens (as possibly flash?) for the camera. 

This logo is extremely clever. The Red Snapper is a fish, constructed from the aperture symbol. Very playful. 

This logo uses negative space to suggest the lens of a camera, which with the shapes around it create a whole camera, putting across the theme of photography extremely well. 

I like the idea of using the view finder framing in logo design, it really screams the theme of photography, making it easy to communicate the client's skill set. 

Another logo using the view finder framing, it works really well, and definitely puts across the theme of photography very easily. 

OUGD503: STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Individual Practice // OAC Photography - Branding and Identity Initial Research

A small range of stationary for a photographer, using minimalist iconography. Although this a very small range of stationary and branding collateral, I feel it's slightly excessive for what I'll be creating. I don't feel I need to create a custom letterhead or a custom envelope. I think the idea of a custom SD card is very clever, however I feel it would be hard to achieve in this time scale. http://www.behance.net/gallery/Photographers-Branding-and-iD/8934039

The branding for this mobile photography business, featuring a small ranfe of collateral and what I assume are web proposals, which the client could take up with a web developer if they saw fit (or the designer could have fully coded them, I could be wrong). The designer has used an almost skewmorphic element http://www.behance.net/gallery/Eleanor-Finch-Photography/7963431 - Realised upon viewing the profile of this Designer that it is in fact Sam Lane, a current level 6 at Leeds College of Art. 

Another small selection of branding and stationary for a photography business. Using off white papers throuughout and not alot of imagery, which is surprising. Portrail business cards are used, perhaps to promote the style of photography. http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/bureau-kayser