OUGD405 | Studio Brief 01 - Potential Final Designs

I decided to develop some more experiments from the photographs I took of textures. I selected 4 images which I felt were interesting, colourful and unique. These included a plant, cutting board, towel, paper and a blurry photo. For each individual photo, I made some minor adjustments on photoshop to make the colours more interesting- such as adjusting the brightness, contrast, hue and saturation. I tried to vary the colours between light and dark and use these to emphasise the texture within the photograph. I then began to cut triangles from these textures and create a pattern similar to my previous designs. My triangles were no perfect shapes which gives the pattern some character. I finally added some colour block triangles to bring the design together and add another alternative texture. The design originally began as only a section of the pattern, but when I zoomed out to analyse my design I felt that smaller triangles looked more detailed. So I used the larger triangles to create the final pattern.  I only later realised that I accidentally created a larger triangle with the pattern, I decided to keep this as the white only pattern is unique and it makes the design more playful. Below is the original piece... 

Original design

 I then began to adjust the colours using only the hue/saturation tool. The reason I used this is because the hue tool has to ability selects a variety of bright, vibrant colours which work well with each other. It selects colour combinations which I would otherwise not choose. Below are my results...

Pink and green hues contrasting with a fiery orange

Harmonising purples, greens and blues

Black and white - A contrast to the brighter colours

I feel that by exploring a range of colours, the photo frames will attract a wider audience. I am naturally drawn to certain colours when buying products, so if a wider colour selection is available, the customers will naturally increase.
I then began to add text to my designs to visualise them as actual backing papers. After my previous font experiments, I have chosen arial bold with a tight kerning for my text. I feel that this text is easily readable against the complex background and it looks clean, crisp and professional.
For my first set of designs I chose to create these as 6 x 4 inches- the first size in the set of 3. I feel that the smaller triangles reflect the smallest frame size. I placed my design within a frame I found online as this is a part of the brief, but it also enables me to envisage the design in practice. I selected a turquoise colour for the text in my greyscale design. This really pops against the background - both text and image compliment each other well. I placed the text for the measurements on two lines as this fits snugly within one of the triangles. I used a darker turquoise for this to distinguish it from the title.

Black and white design within a frame 

Final black and white design

I felt that the colours of the original design worked well together, so it felt appropriate to use this alone - without editing the colours. I thought I would capitalise the text for the word "photo frame" for variation and to make the text stand out. The green colour naturally blended with the image and I used a contrasting bright pink for the measurements to stand out against the pattern. I feel that I need to ask other students whether this clash is successful.

During the process of fitting the design to the frame, the image pasted to the background of the frame on a large scale. I decided to then use this to display my designs as it bounces off the image within the frame and zooms in on the details of the design.

Original design within frame

Original design with text

For the purple/blue/green design I used a dark teal for the text as these seemed to be most readable against the background. I placed it on that particular row of triangles as these colours were the lightest and allow the text to be read. I used a more tone down pink to the previous design but still allowed it to stand out against the triangles.

Purple/blue/green design in frame

Purple/blue/green design with text

Since I was happy with the look of the triangle designs, I moved on to the next size 7 x 5 inches. I began by increasing the size of the triangles within the pattern to represent the increase in frame size. I repeated the previous process by adjusting the hue and more so the saturation. I tried to make sure the colours were not too similar to any other design.
I increased the size of the text for the frame size as a contrast to the other designs and to compete with the detail of the pattern.
Again, I placed the design within a frame to visualise the product. I used a black frame as a contrast to the first whiter frame. This seemed to make the colours really pop.

Final design with text

Design within frame

I tried a more sophisticated and muted colour palette consisting of earthy browns and reds contrasting with a brighter purple.  I feel like this design has a more masculine feel and would potentially appeal to this market. I used a the same deep red from the triangles for the text as this was easy to read and another shade of brown for the frame size. The text and image do not compete here but work together.

Earthy tones - design with text

Design within frame 

I feel that the next colour palette felt rather botanical or even scientific which I personally liked. I used a brown  colour for the text and a larger pt size to make the design feel a little more serious.

Botanical feel design with text

Botanical design within frame

I finally moved on to the largest frame size - 8 x 5 inches.  Again,  I increased the size of the triangular pattern representing the size of the frame.  For a change, I increased the brightness of the design so that the paper triangles nearly disappeared. This made the colours of the other triangles stand out when I adjusted the hue. When playing around with the colours I came across this palette which I felt resembled apples with the reds and greens. This matched the wooden frame which I selected for the final designs to add another variant to black and white frames. I feel that these designs successfully make these boring frames much more appealing and therefore they could be sold at higher prices.
The larger design behind the frame was fairly grainy and perhaps a low quality. However, I liked this effect as it adds to the textures of the design.

Apple coloured frame design 

Final apple coloured design with text 

I then did the opposite to the previous design and lowered the brightness. This meant that the paper triangles appeared far darker which scared me at first, but once I played around with the hues- it gave that triangle a new look. I decided to be a bit braver with the colours and go for some really bright turquoises. This is successful because it is brought down by the new darker paper triangles. 

I used a dark blue and large text to match the louder design. I especially like the close up background of the turquoise triangle with bright pink lines across as well as the patchy lime green-  I feel this looks quirky and interesting.

Brighter design with frame

Bright design with text

I then completed my final set of 3 with a brighter version of the purple/blue/green design. I find it interesting that the neon blue triangle began as a plant from ikea! I flipped the design upside down for this back paper to add another element of variation. This provided a flat edge within the larger triangle for the text to sit on. After trying a few colours - dark brown appeared most readable against these hues.

Brighter purple/blue/green design within frame

Brighter purple/blue/green design with text 

I am pleased that although these designs are simple, the frame still appears far more appealing. I feel that it appeals well to my target market (teenagers and young people) more so the female side but I think that these design would appeal to either gender as geometry doesn't particularly shout male or female. I can imagine these frames on a shelf together and as a set I think they would sell each other.