LCA Christmas card // Research and ideas

Last year two third year graphic design students were chosen for their card design.

Their design is pretty impressive, as the focus is more on the packaging rather than the design of the card itself.  It is packaged like a present, which is very much appropriate. The illustration for the front of the card is quite underwhelming and a very childlike - it doesn't seem to represent the college in all its diversity and creativity. However, the cracker package it comes in makes it very strong overall.

I am feeling quite overwhelmed by my dissertation, so I do not want to give myself too much to complete. As I want to expand my illustration skills, I want to create a one sided card with a simple, festive illustration on the front.

I need to create something that reflects how much talent and creativity LCA has, without symbolising our course's skills in particular.

It also needs to be festive. So the important thing to research here is Christmas symbolism.

In the brief it stated that these key words need to be considered:

Christmas, friendly, creative, vibrant, specialist, independent, unique, innovative, quality, and contemporary.

What do we associate with Christmas?

• Santa Claus
• christmas crackers
• party hats
• mistletoe
• holly and ivy
• presents
• snow, snowmen, frost
• christmas trees
• christmas pudding
• reindeer

I started sketching from these symbols to get the ball rolling.

It occurred to me that a drawing of a building with lots of windows could give a lighthearted insight into the practices of the students. It is a cosy way of showing creatives at work. But this could possibly lack a clear festive feel.

I have thought of making the building into a subtle christmas tree shape, to make it more festive.

Another idea is to have 'students' creating the christmas symbols on the card, to connote our skills in creating things. I definitely want to embody what we do and to remind the receiver that we're here and we're talented.

Using black ink and watercolours, I did some neater illustrations, taking the idea of painting the festive shapes further. By using a paintbrush I'm trying to create naive illustration that has a 'crafted feel', which was in the brief, aswell as 'friendly', which this feels rather than sharp and clear cut shapes.
The illustration in which I used colour was a little too unruly and messy. I prefer the black outlines, which I may or may not digitally edit. The naivety of the style is friendly and personal, giving a lighthearted feel - something important when it's Christmas.

 

I have begun creating a hand rendered typeface to use with the illustrations, as it fits in with the aesthetic well. I've tried out different styles to figure out which is best and which suits the tone of voice, which needs to be friendly and informative. I've concluded that the letters at the bottom of the first image work the best - the way that they are mismatched gives character and warmth - the other styles seemed a little too harsh or messy.