Project Two
Boring Brands
Design school is a fantastic place to learn because you have so much control over your projects and assignments.
Many times as a practicing designer projects are assigned to you that aren’t as inherently fun or cool as things like a food truck or brewery. Designers often say that these projects only pay the bills or are “boring”. They are really neither of these things and are instead unique challenges with a different set of rules. For this assignment you will be assigned to rebrand a “boring” company and give it a new unique brand that turns on its head the ideas associated with that industry.
For this project you will be creating a logo and brand system for a organization / company. This list of your choices is below.
This project will involve quite a bit of research both to understand what your organization/company does, as well as the existing landscape of design.. You will also need to create an additional group of applications extending the new brand you have created.
In addition to an overall branding system you will create some specific applications to show how your brand system can be applied. For all of these think about what would be functional and useful for your specific business.
1) Stationary System - Business card, letterhead, envelope, mailing label, invoice, etc?
2) Vehicle Branding/Uniform - Truck, car, larger vehicle, employee uniform, etc?
3) Poster Set - 3-4 Posters that showcase company values, specific projects, or other components of your brand.
4) (2) Additional applications specific to your brand / concept
(Self Storage)
(Concrete Provider)
(Pawn Shop)
(Waste Removal)
(Septic Tank Service)
(Used Auto Parts / Pick & Pull)
(Locksmith)
(Military Surplus)
(Scrap Metal Salvage)
(Ice Producer / Distributor)
(Highway / Roadway Signage Rental)
(Gravel, Mulch, Etc)
(Lumberyard and Millwork)
(Junk Removal)
(Welding Supply)
(HVAC)
(Laundry Mat)
(Pest Control)
SCHEDULE:
8 / 28 / 25
IN CLASS
Introduce Proiect 2
Discuss HTBADS (1-5)
Mind Mapping (In-Class)
Moodboard Introduction
HOMEWORK
-Finish and Expand Mind Map
(4) Distinct moodboards
-What is your concept and how do you show it visually?
-Think undesigned imagery
-Find the source material
-Research! Become an expert
-How can you turn non-design into visual tools?
-Mix visual ideas together
9 / 2 / 25
IN CLASS
Present & Discuss Moodboards
HOMEWORK
Refine two Chosen Moodboards based on
in-class feedback.
Read HTBADS (6-10)
9 / 4 / 25
IN CLASS
Review Refined Moodboards
HOMEWORK
Begin sketching on the company/organization that you chose. (100) sketches. Use a pencil and paper here. Explore lots of different ideas. Reference your moodboards and find things to be inspired by while sketching.
But do not look at Pinterest, Behance, Dribbble, etc! Your sketches will be overly inspired by things you see. Focus on using your concept to build off while sketching.
Think about your concept? How does that concept manifest itself visually? Typographically? Symbolically? Etc?
Explore literal and abstract concepts for a wide variety of solutions.
Also think about monograms and characters / mascots.
Remember to explore ideas from both of your moodboards. These are where your two concepts will come from.
9 / 9 / 25
IN CLASS
Review Sketches
Discuss HTBADS (6-10)
HOMEWORK
Begin to move your top (50) sketches into the computer. These don’t necessarily need to be just logos. Also think logotypes, patterns, icons, etc. Lots of different ideas and styles. Don’t bring in a bunch of things that look exactly the same.
Read HTBADS (11-14)
9 / 11 / 25
IN CLASS
Review Sketches (In-Progress)
In-Class Workday
HOMEWORK
Continue to move your top (50) sketches into the computer. These don’t necessarily need to be just logos. Also think logotypes, patterns, icons, etc. Lots of different ideas and styles. Don’t bring in a bunch of things that look exactly the same.
9 / 16 / 25
IN CLASS
Review Computer Exploration
Discuss HTBADS (11-14)
HOMEWORK
Using the template provided here and your computer exploration. Explore two directions for your brand. Think about how to expand your visual system.
Read Chapters (14-20) of HTBADS
9 / 18 / 25
IN CLASS
Review Two Directions
HOMEWORK
Using the feedback you recived in class today, move forward with one direction.
Refine and expand all the elements from one direction using the template from last class.
9 / 23 / 25
IN CLASS
Review Refined Direction
Discuss (14-20) of HTBADS
HOMEWORK
Make final refinements to your brand system.
(10) Explorations for Uniform and/or Vehicle (What makes sense for your business?)
(10) Explorations for Two additional applications specific to your brand. Think about what makes sensre / is cool or unique to your biz?
9 / 25 / 25
IN CLASS
Review Collateral Explorations
Presentation Samples
HOMEWORK
Refine Collateral and beign to build out your final presentation.
Final Presentation will be in the 16:9 format. Set your document size to 1920 pixel Width by 1080 pixel Height.
9 / 30 / 25
IN CLASS
Project Due
In additon to the deliverables above please also prepare some images for the department to use. Use the following guide: Guide
HOMEWORK
Project Due. Please review deliverables above and make sure that we have everything we need to grade your project.
Homework for Project 3