Updates

So I have kind of gone off track recently. I haven't made made much progress with the project, as much as I would like to find time its very hard at the moment. I have lots of ideas, its just finding an hour to sit down and work on it. On the other hand though, I have had 2 more interviews recently, for design roles, both went extremely well, and may have another lined up possibly.

I thought as I can't have much time to work, I have kind of last minute remembered this site, where you can earn royalties from designing editable templates. Its TemplateCloud, and they are owned by Printing.com who I used to work for, so I thought the extra money would definitely be handy, so I uploaded a basic template just to see if it would be accepted and it was. I did in less than 30 mins, and I feel I can design more with more feeling and more freshness, something unique. So heres a quick peek of my design up for sale, more will be uploaded in the future, and maybe it might boost things with my other projects, time slots may become available, if my current job chills a bit.

Work Update

So its been a few weeks, and I have made some progress with my ideas for a sports nutrition brand, but its still currently in development, I have referred back to some previous ideas. My part time job, has recently started to become like a full time job, some staff are off sick so my hours have shot through the roof, even though I am contracted for a minor 4 hours a week, so my spare time to do creative stuff is minimal at the moment.

I am in the process of still applying for work, my last interview, unfortunately I wasn't selected, but i have submitted more applications, and in the process of adding and improving some of my university work, and college to add to the portfolio, and update the site. This is will be done before the year is out, i promise, even with the hectic life I lead at the moment. My project and other updates will soon be appearing so watch this space, if anyone reads this. :)

Re-Design of handicapped logo

http://www.creativebloq.com/logo-design/academics-redesign-handicapped-logo-5132984

Redesigned and being used in America, how long before we see it in the Uk? In comparison to the old one, the new design shows more motion, with the bent arm. I personally feel it does work better, and the designers wanted to put across the idea of active and not just sat there in a wheelchair.

Brand/Logo Development

So since the last post I have been working on the name of the nutrition brand, and it was proving difficult, so I have managed to narrow it down to 4 names that I like the sound of, and work on logo development for each of them, and then narrow down.

So the first one I have started on is MuscleFormation. I tried a few shortened versions such as Muscle4mation, and just M4 Nutrition. Here is a peek of the developments so far. More will be posted, its just trying to find the time, with my crazy work routine and gym routine.

So this is just a starting point for me, these are likely to change even further, colours and shapes and fonts, just so I can see what works. So thats it for now, hopefully after Bank Holiday more developments will be posted. Plus I have received some good news last week, I have secured an interview with a design agency in London, and it sounds very promising, so fingers crossed.

Sports Nutrition, new brand

So I have started brainstorming words linked to sports nutrition, and thought maybe I could pair some words together perhaps as a start.

-Athletes
-Nutrition
-Protein
-Performance
-Endurance
-Boost
-Muscle
-Recovery
-Science
-Vitamins
-Gain
-Mass
-Body
-Exercise
-Healthy
-New
-Energy
-Strength
-Power

Some if these words I paired together and I came up with names, which I then typed in Google, and found most of them had been used, by nutrition companies, and other companies not linked to sports nutrition. I would like to use a name that hasn't been used, so if it works I can make lots of money from it in the future . Just kidding. Originally, my first ideas wanted be linked to science, so I came up with some names and found some of these hadn't been used:

Sci-Boost
Sci-Fx ( also a small production company in Moscow, and sounds like the music artist Shy FX )
Sci-Gain
SuperGain ( or SupaGain )
MassLab
TruGain
TotalMass
Musclotion ( play on words )
NutriFX
NuPro Nutrition ( used by some companies is similar context, nu-pro Sensodyne Toothpaste being one)
PowerLab Nutrition
FitPharm ( used already by a fitness company but has poor logo )
FinaForm
Ace Nutrition

So these are just some ideas I have thought of, going to see if I can perhaps abbreviate some like ON ( optimum nutrition ) see how that looks, maybe add the word nutrition or sports nutrition on the end but I am open to suggestions. Leave in the comments box, and any feedback is most welcome.

New Project

Well from my last post I wrote I would start a new project. I wasn't sure for ideas at first but then I thought along the lines of my hobbies, and I have been going to the gym a lot, so I thought along the lines of sport and fitness, and decided on sports nutrition. There are so many brands out there, but I feel some of them don't always get the recognition they need, and I thought I would research into why, and what it is that can be done better, by creating my own, unique sports nutrition brand.

I would then need to implement this brand into similar products as well known sports nutrition brands, such as supplements, protein, weights equipment, and normal merchandise like shirts, drinks, etc. I started looking at well known brands, and did a search in Google, and below are some of the results I found.

I narrowed my search down to a few well known brands, and had a look at them individually, to see what they have that works, and what doesn't. A lot of these brands go for the big bold text, as its a nutrition brand and their target audience is fitness buffs and bodybuilder types, so big seems better. Like the one displayed below.

The letters "MN" are large, bold and upper case, so yes it stands out, but just seems to basic and plain for me, nothing is unique about it. It stands for "molecular nutrition" and yet they could have incorporated perhaps something related to molecules somewhere with in the text, make it more interesting and appealing.

This next example is known to me, as this brand I use their products, and going back to what I previously said on the previous brand, this brand uses elements that link to science and molecules, which for me works.

Its one of the top leading competitors in sports nutrition, and their logo stands out for me, the type isn't over-exagerated, its bold and big, and the universal symbol is used to let people know that the latest clinical research goes into the making of their formula's. It kind of looks very science like too, so maybe this is what I need to consider when designing my logo, a element that relates to science/molecules.

So for my next post, there will be some further developments in logo and sports nutrition brands, more research and then I will begin looking into development of my logo.

First post in under a year

So. Its been over 8 months since I last posted. A lot has gone on. Or I could say a lot hasn't. Since June 2012 I have been looking for my second design role, with not much success. I have had interviews but nothing has come about. My portfolio has nothing new to add, so I have kind of just left things, and nearly a year has passed. It gets me down, thinking I studied to get a job in something I am passionate about, and I have kind of lost that passion a bit, considered other options, as I have to do something in order to live, have an income, even if its working in a shop.

But I can see whats happened. The market for design isn't doing great, I mean from personal experience, people do not want to pay for design, they just do it themselves, to a low quality standard, which they don't have to charge someone for, and they like it so why pay someone, if they can be satisfied with their own work? A classic example, my uncle, a London black cab driver, whinges and moans that he don't make as much money because of the mini cabs. Mini cabs are not as safe, but they are cheaper, so people in this day and age are doing everything to save money, so they go with mini cabs. It makes sense, but to him it isn't fair because he has learned the knowledge and yet his money is poor at the moment. The same applies with this industry in design; their will be a time when it picks up again, people will pay the money for good work, rather than saving and doing a poor job themselves, just not now. And this same uncle, has a fellow cab driver design their monthly magazine using Photoshop. Yes, he lays out the magazine and types it all in Photoshop. The magazine looks poorly laid out, text is pixelated, its rubbish. I have offered on occasions to help, but its the fact that someone can "use" Photoshop, so why pay me to do a better job and lay it all out properly? And he wonders why his cab trade is bad? Bit of a hypocrite really.

But back to the subject at hand. I knew from when I started working at Printing.com that the design trade wasn't doing great. It was where we made most of the money, from artwork, not printing, because customers were tightening their belts a bit, so I knew I wasn't going to be there long. It got to a point where customers were bringing in their own artwork, and just paying for print. Since I left, their company has got their big customers online templates of their artwork, so rather than the staff making amendments, the customer can amend their templates themselves. Again, taking away the design and artwork from us. They were looking at other ways to make their money.

So the plan now is to start something new. A new project, just to get the creative juices flowing again, and continue this as a hobby, and apply for work and see what happens. I know work isn't going to fall in my lap next week, then again it might do. I am just looking at things realistically. At university, they paint this picture for you, making like you will live the perfect life, find the best job. But it isn't, you have to work hard, and be prepared for the emails saying you haven't got the skills for a role, I have had loads. Its tough, not a walk in the park. And this same university, is closing now because the government upping student fees and course fees, had toppled them, so it isn't just the design trade doing badly, all areas are doing bad. Its this countries government, they are basically rubbish. I have considered if I get another job, working for a while and then trying to get into Canada. But I am thinking to far ahead now, so to anyone who does read this, watch out for some new work coming up on here, new updates, and maybe more. I am not giving up, yet. :)