It’s been a busy week, with another one to come, and a lot of exciting stuff going on.
The website is extremely close to being done. The design is done, the content is ready, and I’m currently working with a dummy site, uploading product and testing various details, etc. The whole process has taken much longer than originally planned, but that’s the way it usually is with these things, and it’s always a learning process. I’ll be continuing with more specific updates as progress is made, and am hoping that it will go live …. in about a week! I’ve been hesitant to give specific dates, as there are certain factors beyond my control, but there you have it!
This past Wednesday we shot the remaining product for the website, and also headed out to the street to experiment with some look book shots. We didn’t have very much time, but were able to play around a little and get some gorgeous shots of our model Erika posing on the porch and on the bike. How perfectly do those shoes match the bike!?! Below are a few selects, all still rough drafts and in various states of editing and treatments.
I’m curious, what shots are you drawn to, and in terms of the editing, what do you like and not like?
photo cred: shelby fenlon
I picked up my new business cards today, which is always a somewhat daunting experience. I’ve dealt with printers enough times to know that you never really know what to expect and there are always surprises, often unwelcome. It doesn’t help that I still haven’t found a printer with whom I’m ready to enter into a monogamous relationship with. I wanted to try something new with this batch, and decided to print on vellum, which is a semi-transparent material that would allow me to play around with dimension a little by printing on both sides.
I’m still not sure how I feel about the final product. I’m really happy with the overall design, but I was expecting the vellum to be more transparent, and so the text that is printed on the back side is hard to read unless the card is held up to the light. Part of me thinks that it adds something and makes it more interesting and “interactive”, but I also know that it’s not the most legible design and will probably not go over well with everyone.
Thoughts?
As you all know (especially if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook), I’ve been busy putting together the various props and pieces for the school exhibition that opens tomorrow. Having gone through about 8 cans of spray paint and countless hours fiddling around with various ideas and whatnot, it’s finally starting to come together and look like a cohesive collection.
And breathe. Seeing as I’ve already been marked on my capstone and the whole exhibition portion is more for myself and exposure, I’ve had a few “why am I doing this?” moments, wondering why I’m putting so much time and effort into this. But I think it will be worth it, to get that greater sense of bicyclette through the exhibition set-up and have a space that truly represents the brand. Ask me tomorrow and we’ll see what I say then … !
So, without further ado, allow me to show you a few sneak peaks of the progress I’ve made …
Thrifted, repainted frames showcasing various brand elements
Laser cut book cover. Look closely for the etched bike in the corner ...
Repainted vanity drawer, Eiffel tower sculpture and the brand book itself
Dolce Vita dress from the new shipment (that perfectly matches the branding...)
I decided to include the last photo because I’m thinking I might buy/wear the Dolce Vita dress for the exhibition one of the nights, as it perfectly matches the colour scheme and, well, I kind of love it. Plus, I’ve been promising some snaps of the new shipment, but haven’t had the time to organize it, so this was a good excuse!
Hoping to see some of you at the exhibition tomorrow or Thursday!
As promised, the details of my thesis exhibition (which opens next week), via a lovely little invite done up by the volunteer committee. Like I mentioned before, let me know if you’re thinking of coming, and I’ll make sure I’m there to greet you!
So …. this has been an odd week. A major lack of posting (obviously), and the posts that did make it are completely random … welcome to my life, as of late!
Yesterday I went to do some laser cutting for my book cover, which I can’t wait to show you, and then to pick up my finished book, only to flip through it and discover that there were issues with my file that I hadn’t been informed of. Anyways, the whole process with getting this book printed and bound has been a major headache and source of many wasted hours this week, but it’s fixed now (fingers crossed!) and should be ready on Monday.
I’ll be painting the vanity and finished up the frames this weekend/early next week and then I’m ready to go for the exhibition. Which, by the way, I would like to formally invite everyone to. It opens next Wednesday, April 7 and goes until Friday afternoon on the Ryerson Campus (Yonge and Dundas). I don’t have an exact address but I’ll post it when I know. If you think you might come, I would suggest coming on Thursday, which is the media/industry show and the only time there will be a cash bar. Very important, obviously! And let me know if you’re thinking of coming, so I can make sure I’m there to say hi.
I’m off to enjoy the last few hours of sun and warmth, but Happy Easter!
Hectic week, once again. The countdown is on until the end of school (less than a month now!), which makes it all the more crazy.
Brand book is in production … frames have been gathered and spray-painted for the exhibition … thinking about getting bicyclette buttons made as a giveaway at the exhibition (fun idea or lame?) … trying to plan what I’m going to wear … oh my!
We put up our visual merchandising class “mini-window” today, with a vintage Paris travel theme. Thought I’d share some pics of it, apologies for the segmented images and poorly lit photos, my little iPhone can only do so much!
Today’s brand spotlight is on … well, bicyclette. As you all know, I’ve been working on the brand book for awhile now, and I thought I would share the progress I’ve made thus far. Still have minor details to update and a few additions, but … this is the essence of it, through a few of my favourite spreads.
I would love to know any thoughts or feedback you might have before I get it printed and bound for the exhibition. Like I said, these only represent a selection of the layouts I’ve done… a teaser, if you will.
The idea is that I’ll have the bound book to share with attendees, which will be displayed on the vanity that I found and am repainting in one of bicyclette‘s branding colours (thoughts? Aqua or blue-purple?), and I’ll also print off the individual pages and frame them, displaying them in a more gallery-worthy setting and adding an extra element of bicyclette. That’s one of the techniques I want to use in the merchandising of the store, so I thought this would be a good chance to execute the idea and create a portion of the store environment at the exhibition. That’s where the thrifted frames I’ve been collecting come in. Next step is spray paint, silver leaf and sand paper … craft day, anyone?
I’ve spent the majority of this weekend working on the bicyclette brand book and the storyboards for an interactive Flash interface that has a paper-doll-meets-collage feel to it. Many hours on the computer, but I think I’ve finally grasped the look and feeling of what I want bicyclette‘s brand to be. Not saying that I’m close to being finished, but I;m happy to be able to move past the creative block I had.
Thought I would share some sneak peeks at what I’m working on. These aren’t full screen shots or fully finished, but they give you an idea of where I’m headed with it.
FLASH INTERFACE:
BRAND BOOK:
Note: The images used in these mock-ups are not all my own, nor am I taking credit for them
I’ve been working on the biyclette brand book for awhile, and recently have found myself lacking in inspiration. My daily blog roll is a constant source of new ideas and visuals, and it is through this that I came across Promise Tangeman, a graphic designer and photographer whose talent and vision is undeniable as evident through both her blog and website. I think one of the challenges I’m finding with the branding is coming up with a cohesive visual identity that can be applied in multiple situations, without being locked into something too corporate and repetitive. I want the essence of bicyclette to come through.
Promise’s style is evident in all of her work, and her use of colour, layering, textures and collage-like elements is impressive. I love the look and feel of it. She does a lot of work on weddings, and the personality really comes through there, as she is able to capture the essence of each individual couple, and create a brand for them.
Enjoy…
… And various branding concepts for Matilda Jane, a children’s clothing line. I love her use of colour, type and textures, and how she is able to create such a strong identity for the line. Inspirational, most definitely.
All images courtesy of Promise Tangeman
I’ve been a little obsessed with brand graphics as of late, due to the fact that I’m taking on the task of branding bicyclette, and so I’m constantly looking for new sources of inspiration. I recently picked up the oh-so-beautiful coffee table book Fashion Brand Graphics, which shares some of the best examples of graphic design in the fashion world and is a great visual resource to see how certain labels and stores share their brand identity through various mediums, keeping it consistent but never boring.
I must say, the whole process of creating an entire brand book for bicyclette is indeed a daunting one, but nonetheless, I’m excited to begin. Here are a few brand graphics that are inspiring me. If you want to take a closer look, click on the photos and they’ll get bigger. A lot bigger…
Giraffe is a specialist tie brand developed on the concept of “Dont let people tie you up around the neck. Let’s tighten up our own necks nice and tight and stare into the distance from on high like a giraffe”. Interesting. I love the simple photos, fold-out product cards and quirky tag line.
Mezzanine is a small boutique that delivers fresh style that intermingles two elements of avant garde and basic. The collage-like layout of their print materials and the sketches mixed with photographs really appeal to me, as does the catalogue, which has each item printed on a separate card.
Selframe boasts military-look casual wear for women who want a feminine, delicate silhouette. The design of the materials is consolidated by graphics overflowing with a classic taste. Simple, consistent and clean, enough said.
L’Appartment was developed from 25 keywords including art, night, vintage and rock, and offers selective items for female fashionistas with the concept of “my grown-up closet.” The graphics allude to a Parisian atmosphere, with a certain elegance. The whole concept behind this store, and the eclectic graphic style is very much in line with where I see bicyclette.
Milk Fed‘s brand concept is California Cool and features simple clothing for girls without relying on fads. The branding materials are kept extremely clean and simple and the brand is not afraid to flaunt it’s girly roots.
I know I’m a sucker for good branding, and have often been swayed by the strength of good design and overall brand image. I’m curious how important this is to everyone, and if there are any brands (fashion or otherwise) that stand out as exceptionally good or bad?
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