Typefaces For The Name

I have looked at various typefaces for the main part of my design - the theme and the name. I really like the typeface 'Jellyka Delicious Cake', as it shows elegance and looks very professional. However, I would take away a lot of the swirls as it looks quite confusing to read, especially for the younger or older generation, or someone with a disability. I need to make sure it appeals to everyone and that they can easily read and understand my designs, and comfortably doing so.

I am going to be using 'Chalkboard' for the typeface of my body copy - what I am selling. This is because it is still really easy to read against the textured background and it gives my theme a quirky feel. I did not want my designs to be really basic, like the majority of what is already out in the market, so I chose a typeface that would look interesting for the younger audience, yet still be easy for the adults and older generation to comfortably read. 

Experimentation

HEALTH AND SAFETY

There are many issues to think about when working throughout my project. These are listed below:

• Don't work at a mac too long otherwise it will strain my eyes.
• Sit correctly on chairs, wrists straight, back straight, shoulders up.
• Be careful when using a scalpel and scissors when cutting though different materials. If I do injure myself, wash with warm soapy water and hold pressure until the bleeding stops.
• Make sure that none of the materials that I use go into my eyes, if they do, wash with cold water.
• Be careful with tree bark, making sure I do not injure myself in any way. 

I sketched out the name of my restaurant on card in the typeface that I am very fond of using. I used a scalpel and a cutting matt to cut the letters out, creating a stencil.

I chose to use soft pastels for my first experimentation piece. I used a brown shade because this relates the most to my wooden theme. I really like the effect that the pastels give the typeface, as it creates an adventurous feel, like the bark of a tree in the woods. which is exactly what I am aiming for. However, the overall look is very blurry and smudged, making the structure look crooked. I do feel that the structure of the characters have been kept really well compared to the other media I used, shown below.  I am interested to use this medium, however, the type design isn't crisp or clean, making it harder to read, especially from further away.

A closer view:

 Coffee granules

This was my first attempt at using coffee granules. I feel that it went particularly well as the typeface kept its shape. I used this type of medium because it links to what I will be selling at my cafe/restaurant.  

This was my second attempt. It was harder to keep the structure of the typeface for each character because the stencil wasn't very sturdy, therefore it kept moving. I used the end of a brush to refine the structure, however it does not keep the same effect. I do like this idea, however I do not think it is very effective. 

I also experimented with the reverse idea, spreading coffee granules on a sheet of card, then using the end of a paintbrush, I wrote the type. This idea is definitely effective as the handmade reverse type stands out so well against the brown granules acting as negative space. I did however find it difficult to keep the structure of each character as the coffee granules kept moving into the letters that I had created. This makes it harder to read, which isn't what I am aiming for. I need my type to be legible and grab the consumers attention. I feel that the reverse type would grab their attention, however the lack of structure of each character makes it harder to read and understand. Therefore, I do not think I want to use this form of media for my final idea design.  

 Watercolour

I really like this effect, as the typeface looks really delicate and fancy, which is the theme that I am trying to go for. The different tones and shades of brown and black used link to the wooden theme. However, I do feel that this particular structure of the typeface is too delicate to be easily read and understood from a faraway distance, as it needs to be able to catch the viewers attention. 

This is another variation using watercolour, however it is definitely harder to read because of the way the paint has been applied. It looks blotchy, which creates my eye and the viewer's eye to be confused. It is pretty hard to read against the white space, and I doubt it would be any easier against a black negative space because the structure of the typeface is so delicate. I am not really that keen on using watercolours for my final outcome because they create a very delicate design, making it harder to read and understand for different age groups. 

Name Of The Restaurant

I created a mind map of ideas for the name of my restaurant:

• The Fireplace
• The Cabin
• The Wooden Fireplace
• The Nutcracker
• The Nutcracker's Cabin
• Coffee 'n' Cream
• The Cake Gallery
• The Cake House
• The Coffee Corner
• The Little Owl
• The Coffee Owl
• The Owl House
• Honey Cake's
• The cherry On Top
• Spiced Chocolate House
• The White Mountain

In the end I went for 'The Cake Gallery'

This is because it is the name that stood out to me and my class mates the most, sounding interesting and relaxing. I want the vibe to be cosy, a place where customers can sit and relax with family and friends.
The gallery aspect could be where there are pieces of art work and photography of the food and/or the nature placed around the cafe.

Theme Of My Restaurant

These are all of the ideas I have for the theme of my restaurant: 

• Sea life - themed on a life boat - serving sandwiches, drinks, cold food, hot food etc
• Riverside - ice cream parlour, drinks
• Cabin - hut, shelter - tea room, serving hot drinks, cold drinks, cakes sandwiches etc. 
• Beach based  - ice creams, cold drinks - perfect on a hot day

The chosen idea:

A cabin hut

I gained my inspiration from designer Lauren Hom, and her christmas laser cut out typographic designs on wood. I love this effect, to which the idea came to me for a wooden cabin hut. I have also been inspired by the interior design of the restaurant Chez Jerome, with its wooden design. I will be serving hot drinks such as teas, coffees, hot chocolate etc, cold drinks such as milkshakes, fizzy drinks and coolers and food such as sandwiches and cakes. This menu would work really well in all seasons, with a fire in the winter and a fan in the sumer.

These are a few images taken from google images, showing how my mind is thinking. I want it to be a traditional cabin hut, with a fire place, and a wooden interior, feeling all cozy.

I will be using warm colours, such as reds, yellows, oranges and browns to create a cosy theme, especially for the interior of the restaurant, as this will create a welcoming feeling. Places like Wetherspoons and Chez Jerome used wood and brown leather seating for their interior design, creating a cosy, comfortable place for the customers to feel relaxed in. I need to make sure I create this same feeling in my designs.

Artists Of Influence - Lauren Hom

Lauren Hom
http://homsweethom.com/
Typographer

The link to her website
http://weburbanist.com/2009/05/10/the-art-of-words-15-creative-typography-artworks/

Magazine Design

This design is more professional than the second design, as the layout is a lot more relaxed. The white space allows the typefaces and text in the front layer to stand out more, making it more noticeable to the viewer's eye. The imagery is crisp and clear, full with various colours. The two main typefaces used are legible and fancy, instantly seeming professional. I love how the phrase 'Cheap Eats' overlaps the main name of the magazine. This suggests that this type of magazine is well known, therefore the design of the front cover is allowed to be a little quirky. Vogue is another example of this, but I wont go into that now haha. 

This design is a lot more fun, with colours bursting out everywhere! The typefaces are a lot more 'out there', with brighter colours against the gradient background. The main image used is very crisp and clear, instantly grabbing the viewer's attention. 

This is the original design before it gets laser'd onto the wooden slate.

 I think this design is gorgeous! The effect that the wooden slate gives overall design creates an eye catching piece of design. I adore typography, so this piece of design instantly catches my ye. The swirly typeface creates a snowy, winter effect, reminding me of falling snow and glistening icicles. The harder typefaces create a stable design, making it easy for the viewer's eye to read and understand. However, it does create a harsh feeling, making me think of the harsh winter weather. This looks very interesting as a menu design, as it gives the restaurant a quirky, cabin like feel, which is different from the rest. This definitely gives me an idea for a cabin themed restaurant, with the wooden themed design. 

This is exactly what I think of when I think of typography and menu design together. The effect it gives is so eye catching and simple. The difference in the characters, the strokes and the placement of the type. It makes me think of a professional dinner with an important person, with the layout of two forks and spoons, it creates delicacy. As I look closer, I realised that the plate included all of the letters of the alphabet, making the theme of this design take a turning, as I now wonder why the designer has decided to illustrate this. 

This is a very simple, yet beautiful design. The way that the type is designed, is exactly what I love to design. It flows really well as there isn't a lot going on at all, which puts all of the attention on the typographic design. On cups and mugs, this design works really well, however for a menu design, I would need to create more of a story, a theme to catch my audience. 

Artists Of Influence - Brett Ryder

Brett Ryder
Illustrator
http://www.brettryder.co.uk/

This was the first design I saw from Ryder, taken from CreativeReview.com. Design studio Horse teamed up with Ryder to create some charming packaging for a new range of mineral water from Chinese drinks company, Nogfu Spring, depicting wildlife in the region where the water is sourced. The product is aimed at the youth market, and Horse came up wit the idea of creating packaging inspired by the local landscape and wildlife, and commissioned Ryder to create an image for each season. The spring label features the Asiatic grass frog; summer, he red deer and red crowned crane; autumn, the Ussuri brown bear and winter, the Eurasian lynx, along with local plants and flowers.  Ryder's illustrations will also feature in advertising and point of sale displays, and have been made into large scale artworks for the company's factory, which is open to the public. Horse co founder Sarah Pidgeon explains why they went down the path they did.

"Because the product is targeted at young people, we felt very conscious of the importance of highlighting protected species. We wanted to try and use this as an educational tool about valuing natural wonders like the Changbai Mountain region, in a way that would appeal,Crucially, we didn't want the illustrations to be literal; they had to be really imaginative and fantastical to express how bursting with the life the source is."

I find these designs gorgeous, they are so delicate, they create such a beautiful persona. Each illustration has its own unique characteristic, whether it's a frog with wings or a deer wearing a jacket, they are all different in their own way, making each purchase to the consumer more interesting.

Work from his portfolio

Dr. Stuart’s Herbal Teas Range of Dr Stuart's Teas. The layout of each label includes a different image, making the idea of buying this brand a lot more interesting. I love how the layout design flows throughout all of the labels, linking all of them together. The type is legible, and the difference in the strokes, means that hierarchy is easily shown to the consumer.  

I am in love with this design by Ryder, as it is so colourful and intriguing to look into. It reminds me of a jungle, overpowering mankind, growing and interesting to the viewer's eye. All ages are drawn to the colour and detail that has been included, as the colours are bright. I love how the elephant's trunk points up to the name of the album, which is where my eyes are lead too. The typeface is very simple, with a thicker stroke, meaning it is creating a statement over the jungle themed design. The design is layered out from the bottle left corner, diagonally towards the top right hand corner, again drawing the viewer's eyes towards the name of the album, against the negative space, making it legible and more distinct. The guy in the corner relates to the viewer, in my opinion, because we are buying this album, uncovering the work that the artist has sung. The man in the corner is about to uncover all that is in the jungle, he is preparing for the journey ahead. 

This magazine design is so simple, yet creates a passionate and vibrant atmosphere. For me, this design resembles family, as the baby elephants are al linking with each other, even the animals are hidden in the coloured elephant. 

 BE Magazine(Australia) Charity Tree

This is a very intriguing piece of work, showing me that one person can hold a lot to themselves. There isn't much delicate detail, however the illustrations are easily understandable. The whale in the tree confuses me, but there isn't much reason why all of the objects are included in this design. For a menu design, it would be intriguing, yet most customers wouldn't understand the resemblance. 

 Punch Brothers Album cover

This design is simple, yet intriguing. The type used is gorgeous, making me feel relaxed. However, when looking deeper into the illustration, it becomes more confusing and mind boggling. To me, the guy's head in the glass is being filtered of all that he knows, becoming someone he isn't. 

Ryder amongst installations based on is artwork at Nongfu's factory.  

In real life, these creations look amazing! I can't take my eyes off of them, which is the same reaction I want with my design. For children, creating interesting and quirky characters/animals intrigues them, which can be a really good idea.  

Artists Of Influence - Natasha Searston

Natasha Searston
Illustrator

Searston also worked on the Chinese water bottle packaging back in February in 2015, which sells in luxury restaurants, bars and hotels. The bottles are shaped like a water droplet and the range features 8 designs, each depicting a different species of local flowers or animals, alongside a fact about the region.

Animals

Her illustrations are so detailed, they create a powerful idea in the viewers minds. 

I find this illustration so interesting! The irony behind it is so correct. The bird is the only part of this design that is in colour, showing that the bird is free to be who he or she wants, whether as the people are trapped, and in black and white - showing sadness. 

White against a black negative space makes the illustrations stand out further. The flowers are beautifully designed, showing life and blossom. The bird is so delicately created. The way the bird is drawn creates a perfect angle of its flight. 

This is pure illustration and captures my eye instantly. For me, it looks like the people are climbing around the buses, bumping into each other and each thing they see. 

I adore this design as it is so easy to real and as I look deeper into the design, I notice how much detail has been designed and included.