1 Dec. 2024
1/12/24 - 22/12/24 / Week 11 - Week 13
Lin Chenyi / 0367008
Publishing Design / Bachelor of Creative Media Design (Honours)
INSTRUCTIONS
EXERCISE
Finding Inspiration
Before starting anything, I decided to look for some inspiration on Pinterest. My goal was to find inspiration to get some qualities that I thought would best suit the Mellow brand.
Fig 1.1 Inspiration
Fig 1.2 Inspiration
Fig 1.3 Inspiration
Fig 1.4 Inspiration
After observing many existing works from other designers, I found references to use relatively neat and regular forms. In order to be able to maintain the elegance of the Mellow look in the following work.
I started by researching layouts and references that were similar to what I wanted my brand guidelines to be. After that, I started working on the layout design. Here is a progress image.
Fig 1.5 Different layout arrangements
Fig 1.6 Different layout arrangements
Fig 1.7 Different layout arrangements
For the margin exploration, at first I was going to go with a full balanced 50pt, but then I realized that my navigation bar (at the top) needed some space, so I ended up adjusting the margin higher. Probably around 56pt.The main number of columns is 4.
Fig 1.8 Front Margin
Fig 1.9 Main Column Numbers
In this project, I added a jump button function to the page design.
- Page navigation button: A jump button is set for each page, so users can easily navigate to other pages.
- Interactivity of the last page: The main logo design adds a single-click color change function, which jumps directly to the cover after clicking, which provides users with an intuitive and interesting way to quickly return to the beginning.
- Theme navigation in the lower left corner: A navigation button is set in the lower left corner, so users can jump directly to each theme page for more efficient content access.
I used the buttons and bookmarks feature in InDesign to make interactive PDFs and connected navigation bars to different sections.make interactive PDFs
Fig 1.10 Make interactive PDFs
Interactive Mellow Brand Guidelines Thumbnail
Fig 1.11 Mellow Brand Guidelines
Fig 1.12 Mellow Brand Guidelines
Fig 1.13 Mellow Brand Guidelines
Fig 1.14 Mellow Brand Guidelines
Fig 1.15 Interactive Mellow Brand Guidelines Thumbnail
Final Submission
Fig 1.16 Final Submission - Brand Guidelines (Interactive PDF)
*This is an interactive PDF file, best viewed in Chrome or Microsoft Edge after downloading
Or open the following link:
FEEDBACK
The arrow on the cover that jumps to the next page is not very clear. I need to add a dark arrow on the cover. Some of the button jump details need to be paid attention to and checked multiple times. I don’t like putting the title too close to the edge of the image. The logo and the sense of space on the website are very good.
REFLECTION
Experience
Working on the brand guideline project was an intense but rewarding experience. Each week brought new challenges and constructive feedback that pushed me to improve and elevate my work. Learning how to create an interactive PDF was particularly interesting as it was a new concept for me. Exploring the functionality of buttons and navigation while maintaining a consistent layout was both a creative and technical challenge. Receiving ongoing guidance from the instructor helped me better align my designs with the project requirements and taught me the importance of meticulous attention to detail.
The process of tweaking the layout, incorporating visuals, and enhancing navigation greatly improved my design skills. While revising my initial ideas based on feedback was frustrating at times, it ultimately helped me create a more cohesive and professional brand guideline. Understanding how to balance aesthetics with functionality was a key lesson learned in this project.
Challenges
One of the main difficulties was managing feedback and ensuring that all elements aligned with the theme while maintaining consistency throughout the guideline. For example, I had a hard time balancing space in the layout, especially for elements like the vision and mission statements. Adding interactivity like clickable buttons presented technical hurdles that required additional research and practice. Additionally, ensuring the table of contents was accurate and visually appealing was another time-consuming task that required constant iteration.
Discovery
This project not only improved my technical skills, but also deepened my understanding of brand identity and user-centered design. Completing this guide has prepared me for future projects where precision, creativity, and functionality are equally important.
FURTHER READING
Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler is a highly regarded resource for understanding the creation and development of successful brand identities. Divided into practical steps and principles, the book provides guidance for both novice and professional designers. Here is an overview of its contents:
Key features of the book:
The basics of brand building
- The essence of brand: A brand is the consumer's perception of a product, service, or company, covering visual, emotional, and experiential levels. The book explains the difference between brand and identity and emphasizes that brand building is a dynamic and ongoing process.
- The importance of brand: Through data and examples, it shows how strong brands drive business growth, increase customer loyalty, and create sustainable competitive advantage.
- Key content
- The core value of brand: Successful brands require clear vision, mission, and values. Wheeler emphasizes that the cornerstones of brand strategy are clear positioning and meaningful stories.
- Modern challenges of branding: such as digital transformation, globalization, multi-channel marketing, and how to achieve brand consistency in these contexts.
I used these YouTube videos as a reference when I was trying to make interactive buttons and bookmarks in my e-book.
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