OUGD503 - Banner Design Brief - Whitecoate Primary's Existing Branding

As part of my research, I decided to look into the existing branding of Whitecoate Primary School, specifically through studying and analysing the style of their website. The first thing which stands out as you enter the website is that it is a very colourful interface. The bright colours have been paired with a simple, yet effective illustration style which does not prove to be too complicated and detailed, allowing their young students who might visit the page to engage with the content more easily. Some moving image elements have also been utilised on this site, through movement of the butterflies and adding a small show reel of picture of some of the current students at the school which represents the school as a fun environment.

All of these elements will be taken into consideration when designing for the school banners. Research suggests that engagement with subjects becomes easier for children when colours are involved, therefore the use of bright colours should be utilised as a main feature to allow the students to engage with the meanings of the banners as they walk through the halls of their school. The illustration style used for the banners should also not be over complicated in order to represent the students themselves through an 'innocent' and 'childish' nature.

Navigating my way through other sections of the interface found the use of pictogram icons representing different subjects and links for the user to engage with. These are situated within the 'kids zone' of the website meaning the icons must clearly represent the different subjects they are referring to. This is especially important if the younger students' reading is not perfect, therefore even if they cannot read the text, the icons allow them to accurately understand what subject is being conveyed. 

This simple, yet effective pictogram style is something which I will experiment with in my banner designs, producing imagery which the young students, as well as parents and visitors, will be able to engage with and produce a universal understanding amongst them. Again, these use specific colours which is scientifically said to improve children's engagement with a subject since they start to associate different subjects with specific colours, and as a result this is said to make learning more enjoyable. Therefore on the banners these should represent learning within the school as fun so they experience the joys of learning.

The dove is also a symbol found to be used as the school's mascot, something which is used consistently throughout all school materials and promotions. Therefore to continue with this consistency, the symbol of the dove could also be used throughout the banner designs since this is something which students and visitors can identify with as being something independent of Whitecoate Primary.