Self Branding Final Resolutions and Evaluation

The 'Not Just For Show' self branding I have created stems from a concept that addresses my love of exquisitely crafted pieces and traditional style, which has allowed me to produce a beautifully hand-produced resolution that explains both who I am and what my practice is concerned with. The resolutions capture not only my particular practice-style, but also who I am as a person. The pieces perfectly reflect my aspirational, mature and civilised demeanour, meanwhile signifying the luxurious, high-class attention to detail I love to create.

Through critique feedback I was able to discover that my name in origin actually means 'Crown.'
This piece of information provided me with the perfect symbol of luxury, class and craftsmanship. The crown symbol enhances the message of my self branding by immediately establishing a 'regal' aesthetic that represents my aspirational personality and also preference for luxury branding.

By producing a small publication, I was able to delve into considerations regarding editorial design, relevant to me as a designer as it is this specific area I am considering a specialism in for the second year of the course. This publication format allowed for me to produce something tangible that can be explored with craftsmanship evident throughout.

I also had the opportunity explore English language and playfully poke fun at myself via overly eloquent lexis before showing that the work I produce actually aims to surpass purely aesthetic intentions to meet specific purpose - to reflect that the pieces I create are 'Not Just For Show.'

All typographic information featured on/within the self branding pieces are communicated through Georgia Regular to maintain cohesion and establish and consistent visual language. Designed in 1993 by Matthew Carter, this serif font appears elegant but legible - even when printed small or on low-resolution screens. This, and the typeface's total visual clarity as a result of its reduced contrast and thickened serifs, made the type ideal in conjunction with the process of screen printing.

Inside my small, A5 self branding publication I have feature a tongue and cheek mockery of myself and my extreme passion for luxury branding and craftsmanship, that is before establishing that I am infact serious about my practice and that its 'Not Just For Show.' The book will features only one inserted page within the cover, providing engagement with only two single A5 pages parallel to the front and back cover, and an A4 double page spread in the middle.

The double page spread within simply reads 'Not Just for Show,' spanning across the A4 sheet at a 120 point size to simply reiterate the brand slogan to those who view the publication and make it a memorable statement for myself and what my practice stands for.

Pages 1 and 4 feature two differentiating bodies of text. The first page featuring a grandiloquent body of type which has an aim of initially capturing the attention of the viewer, before proving clarity once the last page has been read - which documents my genuine feelings towards my practice.

All passages of text have been placed within set margins and a 3mm bleed in order to ensure even spacing around the type and to give the publication as a whole some diversity as the information moves from top to bottom across the pages. Type on pages 1 and 4 is set at 12 point - a standard sizing for body type. The standard setting of the type on these pages, caps for starts of sentences - lower case for all else - makes for ease of readability for those who's gaze is on the book.

The colour palette of my self branding includes deep royal blue, metallic gold and ivory - all of which work harmoniously together in establishing a traditional, regal aesthetic.

The publication, and business cards, are wholly hand produced via the method of screen print and binding, for which I have used gold elasticated thread for maximum strength. This instills the resolutions with an enhanced appreciation for the craft movement and its considered finish.