FMP - Brief 2 - DE Logo Variation

Within the brief pack there was a document telling you how to correctly use the logo. I have created a variation of the original logo, sticking to the brief guidelines, to use within my packaging range. This consists of brand layout, reductions, seal variation and colour palette. This gives me a clear idea from day 1 as to how to apply the logo and keep it consistent from design to design.

FMP - Brief 5 - Laura Ashley - Book of home decorating

I found this little gem in a charity shop. It gives a background of the company and the secret of it's style which will give us a better understanding on the company and where it draws it' inspiration from. It also gives decorating directions and instructions which may come in useful if we wanted to push the brief further.

'When planning our Home Furnishings Collections I take into account the factors which are common to most homes, such as as the part played by history and a love of domestic arts. Most of us live with one or more pieces of furniture from other times, old books, china and pictures, and this greatly influences our choice of prints for the collections. We aim to make them as timeless as possible.'

- Common Factors in homes

- Consider how pattern design would work alongside furniture

Dickson, E, Colvin, M, 1982, 'The Laura Ashley book of home decorating', Octopus books, London

FMP - Brief 5 - William Morris

As pre-mentioned I wanted to look into William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement after studying it within Art at college, finding him a highly inspirational surface textile and print designer. I went home over the weekend and found my mum had kept a card given to her with William Morris's 'Cray' (1884) printed cotton design on a hallmark card - which is evidence to how far a surface pattern design can be pushed, to extend into stationary.

Source: Morris, W, 'Cray' 1884, Printed Cotton - Hallmark Card print

FMP - Brief 5 - Joules

I managed to get the chance to visit Joules while I was in Leicester, which has always been a favourite store of mine, down to its pattern range and its design considerations - each of its seasonal ranges has a considered theme, the Spring one for instance concentrating on the 'Seaside and Adventure'. The surface pattern designs found across an array of clothing, shoes, accessories, home ware and even the store design and store window display relate to this theme. This changes quarterly. This is what we want to achieve with the Laura Ashley Spring / Summer Horticultural collection, to bring together the brand, the items its sells, the print collateral and the instore design material.

The brand explore it's concept behind it's products:

'Inspired by the love of the sea and made by highest quality materials available..'

'Drawing inspiration from the character of the British coastline, we're celebrating British style and flying the flag for colour, detail and quality.'

FMP - Brief 5 - Horticulture Research

After deciding our direction and concept regarding horticulture, I came across a book in a wonderful little charity shop which looks at seasonal flowers, each season having a chapter. This will help me regarding content, I will be able to get a clear understanding of what flowers / plants to use within my surface textile pattern design. It also provides accurate photographs and illustrations to draw from.

Spring:

Shrubs

-Berberis Linearifolia

- Ceanothus Impressus

- Chaenomeles Superba

- Magnolia Stellata

- Paeonia Lutea ludlowii

- Paeonia suffruticosa

- Rhododendron

Climbers

- Wisteria Floribunda

- Clematis Montana

Roses

- Rosa

Perennials

- Gerenium Macrorrhizum

- Peltiphyllum peltatum

- Primunla (Primrose)

Alpines

- Gentiana Verna

- Hepatica transsilvanica

- Pulsatilla Vulgaris

Bulbs

- Anemone nemorosa

- Crocus vernus

- Fritillari meleagris

- Hyacinthus

- Narcissus (Daffodils)

- Tulipa

Summer

Shrubs

- Ceanothus

- Fuchsia

- Potentilla

- Ribina hispida

Trees

- Magnolia

Climbers

- Clematis

- Lonicera periclymenum

Roses

- Rosa

Perennials

- Aconiturn napellus

- Aquilegia

- Astilbe x arendsii

- Chrysanthemum

- Campanula lactiflora

- Clematis integrifolia

- Dianthus

- Delphiniums

- Echinops ritro

- Geranium

- Iris pallida Dalmatica

- Lupinus x regalis

- Iris sibirica

Alpines:

- Dianthus

- Geranium cinereum

- Linum

- Allium christophii

- Gladioslus byzantinus

- Lillies

Source: Kelly, J 'Readers digest: A garden for all seasons', 1991, The Readers Digest, London

FMP - Hessian Packaging

I wanted to reflect the heritage and history of Douwe Egberts Coffee beans, with a new fresh approach to the packaging material. I also wanted to consider the ethological impact, for the packaging to be re-usable within the home. I then considered the use of hessian, and how it could be a nice way to reflect the Douwe Egberts history, and the fact it's been around so long.

I came across a 'Happy Rice' project which looking at stitching hessian to form a bag, and screen printing the design onto. The product itself I'm not to keen on, due to its unprofessional stitching finish and its mixed array of type. The hessian packaging I will produce will be an internal packaging to a card / paper based outershell.

Source: http://www.behance.net/gallery/HAPPY-RICE/1588441

'The objective of this brief was to design packaging that was sustainable and to satisfy a target audience. My product to package for was rice, and the idea behind my packaging was to be as environmentally friendly as possible; made from Hessian fabric and the branding was screen printed onto the fabric with water based paint. My structure is also completely hand made; fabric is cut by hand, put together by hand and then using a sewing machine, sewn together.'

This packaging design is solely driven by stock, as is Eco considered so has decided to use a organic fabric, which is this case it hessian which is biogradable. The packaging itself can also be reused with the resealable pull tie. The printing method of screen printing was also highly considered - a more sustainable way of printing, especially onto such a fabric as hessian.

FMP - Statement of intent