Actions!!

The actions that came out of the brainstorming are:

1.Visit to the Science Museum: there are lots of interesting exhibitions here, one on Plastics is very good, but found that the one on Energy is very interactive. It is perfect for children because they can play and learn about alternative energy at the same time. It was soo cool, I loved it and wanted to play as well, so I guess its not just for kids.

 

2. Visit to Stanley Gibbons: Stanley Gibbons is a collector's shop. It is amazing!! I never imagined that collecting stamps could be soo diverse and so big! This store has everything collectors could want, including some VERY expensive stamps and rare ones as well. Bought a book there, for stamp reference: Stanley Gibbon's Collect British Stamps 2008. It is like a stamp design index so that the collectors can identify them properly. I really recommend if you are even remotely interested in stamps, that you go to this shop, it really is amazing. 

3. Visit to the Post Office: Actually in the Post Office they weren't very helpful, but hey, it was expected. Bought a set of stamps to see the layout of the presentation, and the design of these stamps as well. The theme for the ones I bought is : Classic Carry On and Hammer Films. Decided to buy these, because the design is different. We asked if we could get more info on where they print the stamps, and they said we should email customer services.

Also we will email printers and designers, apart from the post office. These printers and designers have been related to stamps so hopefully they'll share their expertise on designing/printing them.

Here are a few things I found interesting about the museum:

Brainstorming - Research Map

I think my project can be divided into two areas: postage stamps and alternative energy.

I've been researching a lot about different types of energy, but haven't researched that much on postage stamps, so I thought it might be a good idea to start investigating a little more in the world of stamps.

Some Ideas:

STAMPS

- Innovative and original stamp design

- package should be very eye-catching

- Special Edition

- Collectors and Specialty Shops

- Print in different paper? 

ENERGY

- global or local?

- Products: biofuel, electricity, heat and cooling, etc.

- Kinds: wind, solar, hydro, tidal, wave, geothermal, biomass, etc.

- Power of Nature?

- Nature + Household things

Nature and Stamps

I find our current situation very alarming! And what worries me most about this is no one (or very few people) care about this huuuge problem we have: the non-reversible damages we are causing to the environment and to our climate, by the ways that current energy is produced.

This is why I chose this project, because I think that we as designers/communicators need to star doing our share, and helping spread the word, FAST!

I won't bore you here with all the details from my research, but I think think there are some things worth mentioning.

When you look at the ocean or at a river, you don't say to yourself "Hmm look at all the energy that can be produced here". When you can feel really strong winds, you just think how cold it is, and probably put your coat on. Or what about all the things you throw into the rubbish bin? Do you think that they magically disappear into thin air? Everyday, energy, power, electricity, fuel, etc. are produced from what I just mentioned above, and from so many other things. How was it that someone came up with the BRILLIANT idea to create energy out of natural resources? And how is it that we: 1. Don't know about them? and 2. Not use them more? Do you know you can put fuel into your car made out of corn or sugar cane? Doesn't that sound ridiculous? Well its true, and these products are being grown specifically to produce biodiesel or biofuel.

How much energy will it take to keep you warm in your house during winter? We never think about things like that. Geothermal energy and solar energy can be used to heat your house, and if its summer and you are too hot, and can't be bothered to open a window, hot air from the house will be pulled through a heat exchanger operated by these natural resources. They also generate power/electricity, they heat water, help  plants grow in greenhouses, heat water for fish farming, pasteurize milk, among sooo many others. ALL of these things can be achieved by knowing how to use our natural resources.

What I think we need is a change of mind! Start looking at reality and start taking advantage of the natural resources we have, and definitely take for granted! And we as designers, have a role to get to people so they can "become the change". We have this power through our designs, so I suggest we use it wisely. 

There other part of the project is the medium in which I have to transmit this message: postage stamps.In saying this, I would like to explore and show you that not all stamps are the same, not all of them are just a great picture and a message, some have intricate designs an illustrations, have a look at these two examples:

One Idea...so many questions

I started thinking what ideas could I develop for my project. After going almost crazy for about 3 days, I came up with one idea/concept which I really like:

The Power of Nature. I think its probably sooo simple, and yet it communicates absolutely everything that I want to say through my stamp design. I mean we should never underestimate the power of Nature, and I think the biggest problem is that we ARE doing that! Once we start changing our habits, and way of thinking, we could really start appreciating where we live and all that is given to us by the planet we live in.

So after coming up with this concept, I chose to write a series of questions on how I would develop this idea through a research process.

The Power of Nature

1. What is alternative energy?

2. What kinds of alternative energy are most efficient and widely used?

3. How does each one work?

4. How does each one look? * This is a very important question, because understanding how they look I can incorporate them into my designs.

5. Are there any other campaign/projects about alternative energy?

6. Will researching campaigns/projects from common areas help me have a better understanding about my project? (i.e. recycling, go green campaigns, etc)

7. What elements should be in every design? 

8. How will I develop my ideas into graphic designs that can be eye-catching and at the same time create awareness about the subject?

I think researching and answering these questions, would be the most helpful tool to help me understand my project and create the designs that will represent everything I'm trying to say.

Steps in a Creative Process

1. Understanding the Task

2. Write a brief

3. Do Research

4. Re-write the brief if necessary after doing your research

5. Come up with ideas for the project and your schedule

6. Create different design proposals/ideas

7. Choose one / Resolve the design

8. Create mock up

9. Mock up should be approved

10. Make print proofs and have them approved

11. Production

12. Final Product

1 Designer and 1 Project that seem interesting to me....

1. Samia Saleem: 

www.samiasaleem.com

She has excellent design work that integrates illustration and in some cases product design. The diversity in her projects is amazing, you can find more "subtle" ones to very creative and different projects with a very interesting approach. They are just very appealing and the way she resolves and develops her designs is fantastic.

2. Glaceau water campaign by BigSpaceship: 

www.bigspaceship.com

I find it sooo interesting how they integrate very appealing illustration to the product. So if you're expecting a typical ad campaign, graphics and/or product, this is not the case. It is innovative, creative and very

different. It's originality is very refreshing. 

A very important aspect for me in both these cases is the website design. Both are different and modern and integrate the user to the products completely. Also its entertaining to open the website and have all kinds of different elements that mix together, specially in the case of Glaceau water.