Quick way of working.

I came across the blog/site of a talented young designer called Andrew Kim. He had recently done a proposed re-brand for Microsoft. During this project he gave himself a very small time limit to come up with something and finish the project.

The calender shows he only spent three days on the project. I thought this was a great way of working, giving yourself a very short deadline enabling you to really force a good design out as quick as possible. I personally think shorter deadlines are better for design rather than really lengthy ones. I would like to try out this form of working.
Since the wheelscape project is a shot project. It might be worth setting aside a few days, to try this out on it.

Time management

I am stopping the weekly tasks from now on. Simply due to me changing and doing other things throughout the week than originally planned. I still create small paper lists of weekly and daily tasks, but even they change on a regular basis.

From now on I will just be using my Gantt chart for time management due to it covering the project as a whole.

PC Paramedics

A potential client from a while back only just got to emailing me back asking if he could still get some work done. I will not be doing any work for him as part of this module as I feel I have sufficient workload with a re brand and potentially something from Wheelscape. I may undertake work from him personally however, but definitely not part of this module.

Sketchbook

I have finally started sketchbook and development work for the Zen Web Solutions brief. Initial ideas and a breakdown of their current logo are in. I will be mostly working on the sketchbook now that a lot of the research is completed.

I will be exploring potential new logos within their current logo, experimenting with what is possible with it, before starting a fresh idea. I think this is a good way to undertake a re-brand. Most companies that have re-branded successfully have done this such as Starbucks and KFC. On the other hand Gap re-branded a few years back which led to dreadful feedback since it was so different to their well known and well regarded old logo. 

Although starting sketchbook work is a little behind schedule to say the least. I still think I can hit the other deadlines from now on as well as stay on track on my Gantt chart.

Wheelscape update.

I have had a lot of contact with Wheelscape however their last email stated they were busy but would come back with a brief for me. Currently I do no think I will undertake the brief as part of the module due to time restraints. If this week gets me a lot of work done then I will consider it. However if this turns out to be another lazy week, I do not feel like I will have time to undertake a brief from them as part of the course.

Week 7

Still not been doing much of anything as of late. No idea why, just not really motivated to do so.
Feeling much more motivated now. Might actually be able to get back on track of things soon.

Week 7 plan is much the same as the past 2 weeks.

• Gantt Chart 
• Final Statement of Intent
• Intellectual Property research/statement
• Start sketch book for Zen project!
• Finish Zen research for folder. 

Intellectual Property

Four kinds of Intellectual property.
Finish at home, and do research page on it.

Week 5 review and week 6 plan.

Wow a pretty slow week this one. I really could of done more.
On the plus side I have received the brief from Zen and with a little bit added and a quick touch up it can be a rather nice and full creative brief. I am happy with the content and the deliverables as well as some of the directions on the brief I think it will allow for a good creative challenge for me.

Now that I have the brief and everything is more or less confirmed I don't think there will as much wasted time. As before receiving the brief i felt it potentially wasteful doing lots of research for it when I things could fall through or go cold.

So now my plans are all good, I will continue research and I will also start developing ideas. I will also redraft a second Gantt chart which fits in with some of the dates and times on the brief.

Week 6

• Refine and complete brief to a higher standard.
• Second Gantt Chart draft.
• More Zen related research.
• Start sketching ideas.
• Statement of intent draft.