OUGD602 - Work Descriptions (Elevator Pitch)

6C2 / 6D2.

In further planning for my website, it was decided that each project needed a description about the work and the concept behind things. It was decided to write these almost as elevator pitches in order to keep them short and to-the-point so that the potential audience does not lose interest if having to read through a large passage of text, and they have an instant understanding of what the project is about, which may mean more of an engagement with the work. The structure of these descriptions planned to feature, the medium of the work (what it is), for instance, a printed publication, along with the elevator pitch description, and in some cases, if needed to help the audience understand the brief and ideas better, a short sentence on the background and history behind some of the themes and topics explored within my work.

In addition, a short 'about me' elevator pitch was created in order to give the audience a feel for my personality and who I am as a designer, describing the different areas of my practice, where I am based, and how I describe my approach to design work. It was decided to keep this as friendly as possible, matching ideas around my personal branding, and for this reason, it was decided to write this description of myself in first-person so it feels more personal for each audience member, and less indirect, meaning they may feel more comfortable in contacting myself if they know I am the one running the site and responding to emails than if it has to go through someone else first.

"ABOUT:

Hi there!

I’m Megan Keighley, a freelance Graphic Designer, Illustrator and all-round creative from Hertfordshire, currently based in Leeds.

My approach is multi-disciplinary, heavily research-led and experimental.

Want to collaborate?

(email)

LOOK AGAIN:

Printed publication.

“Hurry up and get your boots on, Heather. And come on Louie, we can’t keep Grandma waiting. It’s a long way across the moors”.
Mabel, Heather and Louie are crossing the moors to visit their Grandma. What will they find? Take a look again to reveal the hidden secrets of the moors.

An illustrated children’s book, made in collaboration with Hazel Thacker, based on personal experiences on West Yorkshire’s Ilkley Moor. The story turns these experiences into a magical journey for children as they make their way through the book.

MICRO-GENRES OF MUSIC: VAPORWAVE:

Labels on floppy discs and bubblegum packaging.

Vaporwave is a micro-genre of music which aims to communicate wider issues of society, such as consumerism, technology and manufactured nostalgia through their music and album art.

These designs and objects have been paired specifically to present recurring themes of nostalgia found in Vaporwave to encourage viewers to regress to their childhood days and escape from a less idyllic reality, whilst the juxtaposition between the two objects play on ideas of neo-classicism and surrealism also found in Vaporwave.

BARCELONA:

Printed and hand-bound publication.

A guidebook to the Spanish city of Barcelona for travelling designers.

The book aims to help guide the designer’s trip to the city, as well as acting as a source of inspiration for their current and future design work. The scrapbook-esque feel allows the designer to make the book their own. The book also features a section of original gridded papers inspired by the architecture of the city.

ASPIRE BANNERS:

Shortlisted banner design concept for Whitecoate Primary School’s ASPIRE reward system.

This series of banners aimed to create a more welcoming environment for children and their parents, staff and guests for a school which fosters fun, friendship, cooperation, education and high-quality learning.

The banners represent the six key aims of the school’s ASPIRE reward system, with each individual design referencing the criteria for a specific aim; to aim high, be safe and healthy, have a pupil voice, independence, have respect and care, and enthusiasm.

The banners feature child-friendly illustrations, allowing for easy engagement and understanding.

BLACKBURN BE2C FLIGHT CARD:

Three colour double-sided screen-print, laminated.

Screen-prints celebrating the work of aviation pioneer, Robert Blackburn, and how he helped to shape the aviation industry in Leeds.

In 1909, Blackburn conducted test flights using the Blackburn BE2c aircraft, and later, in 1919, opened up an airport on Soldiers Field, Roundhay Park, which held a small passenger service conducting flights to both London and Amsterdam.

The print takes on the design and layout of an on-flight safety instruction card, informing the audience about the work of Blackburn, using simple and informative illustrations and diagrams.

SAVE PAPER CAMPAIGN:

Digital print on handmade recycled paper.

A research-led campaign concept design for the WWF on the issues of paper wastage in relation to deforestation.

The campaign focuses on the aesthetics of newspapers, something which contributes to a large proportion of deforestation and paper waste, using a crossword as a puzzle, the message of which the viewer has to figure out for themselves. Accompanying this is a second crossword which fills in all blanks with the names of toxic gases released into the atmosphere, showing the direct links between these and deforestation.

With a limited colour palette representing a newspaper running low on ink, the campaign promotes sustainability in their production by using less inks and printed onto handmade recycled paper.

SPACE CALCULATION:

ASCII art print on postcards.

This series of postcards have been designed to show homage to several Ancient tools used for calculation before the development of the electronic calculator, in presenting some of their obscure history and how some are still very relevant today. A different tool is referenced in each postcard, including the slide rule, the abacus and Napier’s bones.

Specifically referencing the tools’ connections to space, each postcard holds an image symbolising a different planet, and features an interesting or obscure fact about such use of the tools which aims to encourage the audience with their history.

The type has been adjusted so that the kerning fits with one set of measurements found on a typical slide rule, an Ancient calculation tool used for the Apollo 11 moon mission.

CREATIVE REPORT:

Digital print on postcards.

A creative report in the form of a series of postcards in response to interviews with creative professionals, Anthony Burrill and Ben Rider, on their own practice and advice for young designers.

The designs feature quotes from our conversations, accompanied by illustrative images which represents their message."