OUGD603 - Degree Show Branding - Final Design Developments

In finalising design developments the typeface was initially refined, making the letterforms clearly distinguishable from each other through their shape and form whilst ensuring the consistency between each letterform through a limited selection of shapes which make up the type. The varying shapes and colours have been used in order to represent diversity within the university in a more general manner, avoiding the problems associated with assigning different colours to each individual course.

It was decided amongst the group that the most effective design featured the pictogram-like people, which were refined by giving them a rounder form. These pictograms were then placed amongst the letterforms in order to make it seem as if they are building up the typeface from the shapes surrounding this in the background, representing the idea of community within the university and everyone coming together for the end of year show, as well as reflecting the idea of collaboration in the creative community. These additional shapes were kept to a minimum and, unlike the main typeface, featured no shadow, which were both done in order to keep the typeface as the main centre of attention, since utilising the shadow for the additional shapes was found to merge with the typeface and drown it out amongst the other shapes.

Additional information, such as the opening dates of the show, were added at the bottom of the designs, aligning these with the edge of the main type. It was decided to use a san-serif typeface for this, rather than the initial serif typeface, in order better match the aesthetics of the main type.

It was also thought that the blue variation worked most effectively in colour, therefore this was utilised as the main colour for the branding material, however in order to create a bit of variation and change amongst all the blue, variations of this main promotional poster were also created, utilising green and pink from the university's existing colour scheme in addition to the blue which is also a part of this, giving the designs clarity and directing them back to the university itself.

Other poster variations were additionally created which utilised the typeface in spelling out each course's name which would be used as internal signage that would be placed outside each course as a marker for each studio area that can help guide visitors around the exhibition.

However, due to the length of some course names, banners were also created which better contained the longer course names without having to cut them down too many times or manipulate their size and risk not being legible. Although not a requirement for the submission, it was decided to show these ideas anyway as a potential way of overcoming such problem. These banners would again be utilised internal to the university outside each studio area as markers that would help visitors work their way around the exhibition.