Presentation

Here are the slides for our presentation, we went for a more relaxed and personal approach to our slides as this represents our whole company. Including an explanation to sampling and the whole concept of our studio.

Sampled Branding

Above shows the experimentation and progression of the branding. The concept based around the idea of our music orientated studio, relating to the technique known as sampling. The typeface is blender and we applied subtle manipulations to communicate the idea of re-contextualising something that existed and giving it a new exciting design. Kerning altered to give a wider, cleaner design.

For the presentation I created this little illustration to show the studio we have now, then the type of studio we want to have when we improve, it shows the progression from one to another but also shows the homely comfort value that our studio hosts for a creative environment.

On the left shoes our current working studio, providing places to sit, chat, listen to music and work in a comfortable environment. On the left shows the improvement to the studio room, having a place to sit, chill and congregate, with the same comfortable environment as the bedroom studio, but underneath is a studio environment, with Mac's, areas to draw, and produce, but still being able to hear the music flowing round the studio.  

Taking Care of Business

After being given the brief, the class divided into groups which provided our studio groups. Our group consisted of Jake Simmonds, Will Morrell, Harry O'Brien and Me. This also works out well for us as we will be sharing a house next year so communication between the group will be simple. Brainstorming and discussing what type of studio we actually want, how it would manifest itself and what our strengths were. Below is our Manifesto.

Manifesto 

• We are rooted in honest, straight forward COMMUNICATION
• We are ETHICALLY driven in the sense that we do not want to exploit people/the system
• We want our work to have purpose and strive for CHANGE
• We are CONCEPT driven
• We want to create TIMELESS design (f*ck trends)

Even though we highlighted some broader cases to our collective, we became aware that we need to develop an identify our own unique selling point which will offer something different in the market. It became apparent that setting up a multi-discipline studio at this moment in time would not be successful and more knowledge is needed to develop a understanding about the industry.  An individual idea and concept must be realised to generate interest in us as a collective and develop a distinct body of work.

Northbound? Studio

After spending 30 minutes quickly throwing ideas and possible names for studios at each other, we came up with Northbound. Relating to us all working in the north, producing work in the north, staying northern and branding us on location. 

The identity was based around using the typeface and colour found in the motorway way finding signs as this related to definition of northbound. The (NB) logo can be seen above, this was a play on the (NW) (S) (SW) direction signs. A subtle arrow glyph was added to the body type to reinforce the idea of direction, location and geography. Whether we would keep identity was unknown but it was a fun task that got us thinking.

RESTART

After a few discussions and finally deciding that the initial ideas around the whole name and branding of our studio needed changing. The actual manifesto and philosophies remained, but we needed to produce a more interesting and relevant concept to our studio. After a few conversations and ideas being thrown at each other, we decided to focus on a specific interest that we all shared and actually aim to design for. This was music. From this devised our studio name: 

SAMPLED

This can name can be explained through two definitions:

> Music

In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a sound recording in a different song or piece giving it a completely new context.

Here is an example of a sample. This could be the most famous loops of all time. "Amen Break," a six second drum sample from the single from 1969. This sample was used for the basis to create jungle and drum and bass. This six second clip managed to spawn several entire subcultures.
http://youtu.be/GxZuq57_bYM?t=1m20s

Here is an example of a song that Amen Break was sampled and implemented. It shows the use of the song, and the reapplying it into a different format creates an interesting and unique composition, that was generated from a 6 second loop. 

http://youtu.be/Uj7EO2uVfDQ?t=1m18s

Our idea was to take inspiration from the art of musical sampling and apply it to the world of graphic design/visual creation.

> Our Philosophy

The idea of taking/building upon elements from different areas and using them to create something fresh and innovative. 

Studio Inspiration/Competition 

We started to look at some studios to get an understanding to the type of work the produce, how they run their studio, the location, and price to try and get an idea to the format of a studio, and how it can be formed.

Our competition would be other northern based studios and emerging design students who will be competing in the same way as us. There will always be competition but we believe we offer a unique service to set us apart from the rest of the studios. Aiming to focus on a highly personal and relaxed approach, actually building a relationship instead of sticking to a professional business strategy. Proving the clients a feeling of connection and being part of the whole creative process rather than being #3321DSJ. We also agree that taking risks and pushing eachother within the industry will provide more attention and expansion.

Below are a few examples of studios that I find interesting and  would like to work in myself, so this is good to look at before actually deciding what our studio should be like.

http://www.weareraw.co.uk/

"We create effective pieces of design and creative communications, with a focus on craftsmanship and collaboration.

Ours is a simple approach: we take the time to get to know our clients, we do all that we can to understand the people they’re trying to reach, then we take what we know and create memorable, relevant pieces of work."

http://www.huntingtowndesign.com/

"We're crazy enthusiastic about the work that we do and the people we work with. We approach all of our projects with the ethos, "this has to be our best work yet". After all, a design house is only as good as it's last project. Making sure that the designs you're getting are at their very best is ensuring that Hunting Town is at its very best."

http://www.fokestudio.co.uk/

"Based in Manchester, Foke love to create well thought-out, balanced and cohesive graphic design, from brand identity and development to packaging and promotional work."

Our Studio 

There are planned steps in order to achieve our upcoming studio, we have started off small, very small. Using a bedroom to host a suitable working environment, using the desk to hold a set of vinyl mixers and an alcove to host seating arrangements makes a fun and interesting way to design. The comfort of the studio creates a creative and active setting.It isn't the largest of studio spaces, however everything that is required is available to us, working from Mac's and using resources in the college, such as the studio space, screenprint, digital print, laser cutting, means we have the resources to effectively complete our briefs effectively. As we have another year left at college to make use of the resources, we are able to building up a body of work, and progressing towards a studio, and saving and preparing for the move from bedroom to studio. We didn't see the purpose of starting a studio straight away, to then lose money as we don't have the experience or work load to carry on with. In addition, the thing I like about working in a bedroom environment as I enjoy the comfort, and relaxed atmosphere that comes with it. Making it a fun and exciting working environment, as well as being cost effective.

Skills & Services

We will have a versatile studio, not limiting to the outcomes, working with aspects such as print, publication, web, digital and branding. Understanding there was a range of design aspects we can produce allows us to take on many briefs and allows us to work with the client on a range of formats. Problem solving and realised solutions are a set of skills all 4 of us have developed through the 2 years on the course, and will only grow when we progress into third year, making us professional graphic designers. In addition, we all produce very experimental ideas that range on formats and stay away from the generic work that would be produced if the client went elsewhere. This makes us a more interesting and quirky studio as the way we produce work and the ideas that flow from the team will be completely different and adventurous. 

How we will Compete

Being a team that is very relaxed, laid back and easy to talk to, and the use of a music based studio with a range of vinyls to play giving the studio an uplifting beat allows an easy way for the client to bond, and work with the team as a client, but also, work with us as a friend, discussing different ideas, making the whole experience more enjoyable, and more personal as the client will connect with the studio, and produce the work they want to, as well as the experimental, intuitive designs that we apply. Taking risks and experimenting will be the main way to push our studio further and make our end designs stand out from the current and emerging Graphic Design studios in Leeds. Networking and making friends will be the way we keep clients. If a client works with us, and building up relationships with this client through the design process of their work, allows us to create a friendship with the client and potentially working with them again. 

Target Market

With the passion of music present, with both the concept of our name, and the studio style, we agreed that music related design would be the key target market. The culture sector is another target market as we would like to work with other creative and like minded people. Independent businesses that allow a relationship, and as growth and expansion for an emerging company, much like ourselves, will provide great opportunities.

Third Year 


As 3rd year is quickly approaching, and understanding that the possibility of owning a studio now isn't likely, we decided that a year of progression, promotion, and self-initiated work is the best option. Using the resources provided at college, making sure that work and prints are cheaper due to digital print, and the ability to emboss, laser cut, screen print is available whenever, this then provides another year of gaining knowledge and experience for when we actually go into business. The Sampled team will be living in the same house when starting third year, it provides a good working environment with constant communication between team members, creating a platform to work, and save up money at the same time.

Future Studio 

As we are currently working from a bedroom, these are just planned costs for when we want to start the studio. The prices per hour may change depending on the expansion of the business

Costs 

Coming to the agreement of having a rate of £20 p/h and working 10-6 a day (1 hour for lunch). Giving us a 7 hour working day . Providing a weekly charge of £700. This calculation will be split 5 ways, giving a total of £140 each week per brief. There are only 4 of us but the 5th division will go back to the studio to maintain studio costs.

When starting the studio, we intent to take a loan of £3000 to cover resources and equipment such as mac and printers. With research into renting studio spaces around Manchester and results around £150 a month with is affordable and in a location we would like to work. With furniture and actually decorating the studio, we will have access to all our own possessions, not only to save on costs, but to create this homely, bedroom environment that will make the studio interesting and comfortable.

Responsibilities and Structure

Creative Structure -  NONE, we all share a collective sense of anarchy. Working as a group and having the friction between people allows creative ideas to arise. This provides a cross-pollination of concepts and ideas.

Business Structure - The business structure for our studio will be more professional, having Harry and Jake act as studio managers, general organisation, running, and cleaning of the studio. I will be in charge of financial issues, dealing with invoices, tax, making sure we get paid (receptionist). Will will act as the client communicator, dealing with relations and helping promote sampled by building relationships. 

Promotional

Promotion will be a huge aspect of gaining success and clients, there needs to be adequate material to get us known. Social media will be an obvious, easy method to get our name out there. however I believe the plan we have, to take third year, gain knowledge, work, a professional portfolio, with a collection of all our work, collaborative work, the best work from second/third year and any other freelance or competition work that gets completed. This allows a massive range of work that the team has produced and allows clients to browse through the work, see our different styles and methods and make a judgement to where there brief should lead.

We will design a website that will hold an archive of our work and provide access points for potential clients to view, share and admire our work. This is just one platform that we use, expanding to twitter, instagram, providing quick and easy methods to get our work out there and noticed.

With a selection of self initiated briefs that will provide new, interesting content to update to the website, keeping it fresh, regular and interesting, and with the year remaining to really use the resources and acquire skills that will take us through to be a professional studio.