VEEERY rough concepts – Somehow blending old and new imagery to reflect the nature of the city (old town and new town) and pay homage to its rich history as well as its modern growth.
I will preface by saying that I have not settled on an idea for this project yet.
I’ve had random ideas floating around all summer but none of them made me excited. They were all too focused on the materials I planned on using instead of the concept, which is something I wanted to play with more for this project.
My current idea is to rebrand (rebrand? Brand? Depends on the place) a city or a country. I’m currently thinking about Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been my favorite place that I’ve ever been in the whole wide world. This would allow me to exercise my branding brain as well as create/explore different types of design, from print pieces to photography campaigns to user interface designs to tone & messaging. And more- we’ll see what I think of.
I haven’t really fleshed the idea out yet, but here are a few people I’ve found and thought of that may be able to help me.
VCOM Faculty: Jesse Weser
Jesse is a professor in the design department at Winthrop University, and someone who has helped me realize my love for design throughout my years here at WU by giving me space to do essentially what I think looks good as long as I can tell her why. She has a knack for pushing opportunities at me and tipping my ideas a little farther than I originally planned – something I’m grateful for, given my tendency to stay in the visual and conceptual places where I’m most comfortable.
I haven’t actually seen a ton of her work, but I understand that she has worked with brands/branding/identity in the past. I know she has a great grasp on concepts and the way that they play out which I could use help with for the project.
Winthrop Faculty: History?
Honestly, I have been sort of at a loss for which department to look to for help on my thesis. Until now, I didn’t have much of an idea for what I wanted to do. Now, since I’m thinking about branding a city, I think someone specializing in the history of that location/region would be helpful. This could either be traditional or art history, since my project would be visual. I’m not sure of the city I would want to rebrand yet, so I haven’t been able to find anyone specific at Winthrop.
From this history faculty member, I’d like to be able to get some information about the location that I may not be able to get just from googling- information that would help me make the brand I create reflect the city’s feel and spirit.
Regional Subject Matter Expert Idea 1: Hannah Maschoff
My first idea for a regional subject matter expert was Hannah Maschoff, who is also an adjunct professor here at Winthrop. She’s taught the corporate identity class in the past, so I know she has a good grasp on branding and identity projects. Hannah runs her own design project called Goldenrod Design Co. that helps create identities and brands for businesses. From what I’ve seen in my research about her and her work, she likes taking the brand’s story and visually manifesting that. I think Hannah would be able to help me really nail down some of the visual aspects of a brand.
Regional Subject Matter Expert Idea 2: Tamara LaValla
When she heard about my project, Jesse said that Tamara was the first person that came to mind. Tamara helped found Social Design House, where I currently work (Social is also the place that introduced me to branding). She Tamara is more of a fine artist these days it seems, but I do think she would be able to really help steer me in a new and interesting direction with my thesis. She truly seems to have the mind of a raw creator, which I think could be really interesting and insightful.
She’s started up multiple ventures in the past. I believe she currently is in business for herself at Batch Co, through which which she makes art and chocolate. Winning combo.
Subject Matter Expert Outside the Carolinas Idea 1: Studio Eduardo Aires
When I came up with the idea to brand a city or country, the branding for Porto, Portugal immediately came to mind. This brand was created by Studio Eduardo Aires (White Studio) located in Portugal. I’m not sure if they’d respond, or how easy it would be to communicate with them, but I think being able to pick their brains about the experience of creating such a fun and interesting brand for a whole city would be very valuable to my project. I think learning about that process would be invaluable. In general, though, their work is really great and I think they would overall be a pretty positive influence on my process and final product.
Subject Matter Expert Outside the Carolinas Idea 2: Edinburgh Historian
My other idea (that I think would be very helpful) is to have someone living in the place that I plan on branding. Somebody that knows the city well and can advise me on the real feeling of the city and what they value as a community. The population of the city is, obviously, really important for this project so having someone advise me who lives there would be great.
Apollonian, of, relating to, or resembling the god Apollo. Friedrich Nietzsche used the term in his book The Birth of Tragedy to describe one of the two opposing tendencies or elements in Greek tragedy. According to Nietzsche, the Apollonian attributes are reason, culture, harmony, and restraint. These are opposed to the Dionysian characteristics of excess, irrationality, lack of discipline, and unbridled passion.
Encyclopedia Britannica
…minimalism is about designers expressing only the most essential and necessary elements of a product or subject by getting rid of any excessive and, therefore, unnecessary components and features.
Creative Market
Go big or go home, so the saying goes, and that’s certainly the maxim that applies to maximalist design. So forget what you know about modernism and minimalism. Ignore functionality and rationality. Leave white space at the door, and kiss Helvetica goodbye. When it comes to maximalist design, it’s all about decadence, excess, and extravagance, so be courageous with color, play with pattern, and create mesmerizing motifs.
Canva
Melancholy 