adler-graphicdesign

[adler-graphicdesign]

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK THIRTEEN

Randomly I became unhappy with my previous festival designs. I started to create a new wordmark for the festival in hopes I would draw inspiration from a new design that I was more satisfied with.

After playing with geometric patterns in the new wordmark for the festival, I decided to change the map to reflect the same style of my new wordmark design. Once I finished the map for the craft’s market, I decided to feature a few arts & crafts vendors and include short artist descriptions. I also gathered a list of other art vendors and categorized them for the user’s benefit. I could not decide whether the layout on the left was too busy, so I quickly changed a few things to produce the design on the right. 

QUESTION: Should I keep the featured artists’ information in a box or not?

FINAL STEPS (LAST WEEK):

1. Revise map and “Crafts Market” layout.

2. Add new wordmark to already existing festival designs. Revise designs of the festival to show unity and cohesion.

3. Behance for critique on monday.

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK ELEVEN

Festival Maps - Continue designing the maps to include in the booklet. Create one for each section: 1. Music Stages, 2. Arts & Crafts (Activities and Vendor Spots), 3. Ithaca map that includes top locations (waterfalls, restaurants, shopping highlights)?, 5. Mural Map (Use already existing map!)

Festival Schedule - Create a schedule for the music line-up and for the art shows and/or activities. Design a layout that displays a unified design throughout all festival materials. Digitally design a layout for the schedules.

Artists - Search for potential vendors at the festival to include in the booklet. Find a blurb about their artwork/business to include, as well as images. Digitally design a layout for “Artist Highlights” and for the artists and crafters list.

Food Vendors - Gather a list of local food vendors to include in the booklet. Find images and a blurb to include if necessary.

FESTIVAL ILLUSTRATIONS

FESTIVAL MAP

NEXT STEPS (FOR WEEK TWELVE)

Festival Maps - FINISH THE MAPS!!!!!

Festival Schedule - Create a schedule for the music line-up and for the art shows and/or activities. Design a layout that displays a unified design throughout all festival materials. Digitally design a layout for the schedules.

Artists - Search for potential vendors at the festival to include in the booklet. Find a blurb about their artwork/business to include, as well as images. Digitally design a layout for “Artist Highlights” and for the artists and crafters list.

Food Vendors - Gather a list of local food vendors to include in the booklet. Find images and a blurb to include if necessary.

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK TEN

Festival Booklet - Determine the sections for the booklet. Start organizing the information for each section.

Festival Maps - Continue designing the maps to include in the booklet. Create one for each section: 1. Music Stages, 2. Stewart Park, 3. Arts & Crafts (Activities and Vendor Spots), 4. Ithaca map that includes top locations (waterfalls, restaurants, shopping highlights), 5. Mural Map (Use already existing map!)

FESTIVAL MAPS

MAP SKETCH

MAP OF ITHACA

CLOSE UP MAP OF ITHACA COMMONS

SYMBOLS SKETCHES

FESTIVAL BOOKLET 

Wonderfall Design on the Cover

About the Festival 

Ithaca Map

Festival Music Line-up

Map of Music Stages

Music Schedule

Music Highlights & List of Artists and Bands

Stewart Park Map?

Arts & Crafts Vendors

Art Vendors & Art Activities Map

Food Vendors

Public Transportation?

Sponsors

NEXT STEPS (WEEK ELEVEN)

Festival Maps - Continue designing the maps to include in the booklet. Create one for each section: 1. Music Stages, 2. Stewart Park, 3. Arts & Crafts (Activities and Vendor Spots), 4. Ithaca map that includes top locations (waterfalls, restaurants, shopping highlights), 5. Mural Map (Use already existing map!)

Festival Schedule - Create a schedule for the music line-up and for the art shows and/or activities. Design a layout that displays a unified design throughout all festival materials. Digitally design a layout for the schedules.

Artists - Search for potential vendors at the festival to include in the booklet. Find a blurb about their artwork/business to include, as well as images. Digitally design a layout for “Artist Highlights” and for the artists and crafters list.

Food Vendors - Gather a list of local food vendors to include in the booklet. Find images and a blurb to include if necessary.

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK NINE

Revise sketches for map and begin digitizing ideas.

Research festival brochure layouts for inspiration.

Create a schedule for music line-up and a schedule for the art activities. Create an entire event schedule to add to brochure along with map.

Search for photographs to use if necessary.

RESEARCH & INSPIRATION

BROCHURE LAYOUTS

Four panel double-gate fold. 8.5″ x 14″ 

Four panel accordion fold. 11″ x 25.5″

WONDERFALL MAP

Sketch of a map that shows all of Ithaca

Downtown Ithaca Map

NEXT STEPS (FOR WEEK TEN)

Festival Booklet - Determine the sections for the booklet. Start organizing the information for each section.

Festival Maps - Design maps to include in the booklet. Create one for each section: 1. Music Stages, 2. Stewart Park, 3. Arts & Crafts (Activities and Vendor Spots), 4. Ithaca map that includes top locations (waterfalls, restaurants, shopping highlights), 5. Mural Map (Use already existing map!)

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK EIGHT

Revise poster designs based on class critique. Edit mockups.

Social Media Mock-up for publicity of the event. Include photographs, profile icon picture, and any other promotional work that was designed. Create a mock-up for Instagram and Facebook.

Research Ithaca maps and other festival map designs

Start sketching and designing the map for the festival

WONDERFALL DESIGNS

Poster Design - background colors can be changed at any time as long as the design does not lose any of its information when placed above.

Tickets & Merchandise design - I chose a black background for both the VIP passes and the one day tickets due to printing costs. The background will remain either transparent or black when the design is placed on merchandise (t-shirts, backpacks, souvenir cups, etc.).

Profile Icon - For social media such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Banners - These can be all sorts of things when a simpler design is necessary. For instance, either design can be placed on promotional materials and images that are meant to be posted on social media. They can also be used as snapchat filters.

Border Design - I created this border design mainly for the line-up, but it can be used for other purposed when necessary. For example, social media posts and other promotional work...

WONDERFALL POSTERS

WONDERFALL TICKETS

WONDERFALL MERCHANDISE

WONDERFALL PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

WONDERFALL SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Photos were gathered from other Ithaca festivals’ websites and instagram accounts. Some were edited to fit the style of Wonderfall. None of the photographs were taken by me for this Instagram mock-ups.

WONDERFALL MAP

RESEARCH

NEXT STEPS (WEEK NINE)

Revise sketches for map and begin digitizing ideas.

Research festival brochure layouts for inspiration.

Create a schedule for music line-up and a schedule for the art activities. Create an entire event schedule to add to brochure along with map.

Search for photographs to use if necessary.

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK SEVEN

Place FINAL logo on all festival materials. Adjust designs if necessary. Include festival tickets and/or wristbands, festival advertising materials for print and online, social media promotional work, festival flags and banners, festival tent. Create mock-ups when necessary.

Revise poster designs based on class critique. Finalize the designs and establish unity throughout. Create a final music festival line-up poster with the established style. Add color to poster designs if necessary.

Finalize all poster designs and festival materials by the end of midterm.

Begin to research Ithaca maps and start sketches for festival map.

NEXT STEPS (FOR WEEK EIGHT)

Revise poster designs based on class critique. Edit mockups.

Social Media Mock-up for publicity of the event. Include photographs, profile icon picture, and any other promotional work that was designed. Create a mock-up for Instagram and Facebook.

Research Ithaca maps and other festival map designs

Start sketching and designing the map for the festival

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK SIX

Compile a list local Ithaca musicians, artists, and crafters. Find other musicians that reflect a variety of genres of music to include in the festival line-up. Find other non-local artists and crafter for potential vendors.

Explore color options for the top logos that were chosen in class (during week five).

Mockup logos on festival materials - posters, tickets, tents, flags, banners, etc.

Create three poster designs that reflect a unique style.

Present in class and chose FINAL logo. 

LOGO PROCESS

LOGO #1:

LOGO #2:

POSTER PROCESS

POSTER DESIGN #1:

POSTER DESIGN #2:

NEXT STEPS (WEEK SEVEN)

Place FINAL logo on all festival materials. Adjust designs if necessary. Include festival tickets and/or wristbands, festival advertising materials for print and online, social media promotional work, festival flags and banners, festival tent. Create mock-ups when necessary.

Revise poster designs based on class critique. Finalize the designs and establish unity throughout. Create a final music festival line-up poster with the established style. Add color to poster designs if necessary.

Finalize all poster designs and festival materials by the end of midterm.

Begin to research Ithaca maps and start sketches for festival map.

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK FIVE

Digitize more logos if necessary

Revise and edit logos and wordmarks - narrow it down!

Sketch designs for music line-up and artist list

Present logos & word marks to class - get feedback and make a final decision!

Finish sketching symbols that can be used for website and print materials

LOGO PROCESS

I am always searching for more inspiration whenever I am working on a design project. After the discussion during week four, I decided that I needed to digitize more logos to give myself a better range of options. I also abandoned the cursive letter mark because it did not seem to fit the appropriate style I wanted to establish. 

LOGO #1:

During week four of class, we discussed the importance of reduction and simplification. The first logo I presented was way too busy and needed to be reduced and simplified. I was also told that the W looks like a M and it needs to be manipulated and adjusted to appear more like a W. I separated the top portion more and then moved the bottom portion closer together. I am providing the class with two examples on how the W logo can be placed for other design purposes. It can be placed in the center of a illustrated design to reveal that it is a waterfall, or it can either be substituted for the W in the word mark.

LOGO #2:

For week five, I realized that I needed to digitize more logos and provide more options to the class. After I reviewing my sketches, I decided to try to digitize the sketch that combines a waterfall and a water droplet. I purposely made it appear more illustrative to fit the art nouveau style I would like to appropriate for my festival’s designs. However, I struggled a little on how to combine the symbol with the word mark and the headline. I explored different variations to create a combination mark. I hoped that the water droplet in replace of the O in Wonderfall would work, but I am unsure whether it loses its appearance when reduced to a very small size.

LOGO #3:

During the digitizing process, I created a variation of logo types because I was still unsure what direction I wanted to go in. I explored different ways the word mark can be designed to fit within an illustration since it seemed to be a common approach for festival graphic designers. I wanted to highlight Ithaca’s features, which includes the beautiful scenic environment, the waterfalls, and the town itself. For Logo #3, I focused on just the natural scenic environment. I wanted to keep it simple in case I needed to place it on top of a designed background on some print materials or the website.

LOGO #4:

For Logo #4, I continued to explore ways to illustrate a design around one of my favorite word mark choices. Since my festival is going to be spread across the town of Ithaca, I did not want to just focus on the waterfalls and the town’s surrounding nature. Although it is an important aspect of Ithaca, NY,  I also wanted to incorporate the town itself somehow. For this logo, I placed building above the word mark to portray Ithaca Commons, which is where the arts & crafts market will be hosted. Below the word mark, I created an illustrative water design to resemble a waterfall. This logo may be my favorite, however I realized I may end up just choosing the typeface as my word mark and then using this design for future deliverables.

OPTIONS FOR CLASS TO CHOOSE FROM

NEXT WEEK (WEEK SIX)

Compile a list local Ithaca musicians, artists, and crafters

Find other musicians that reflect a variety of genres of music to include in the festival line-up. Find other non-local artists and crafter for potential vendors.

Explore color options for the logo/wordmark that is chosen in class

Revise sketches to also include the chosen logo/word mark

Digitize your sketches for the music line-up poster - at least three rough drafts of illustrated designs

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK FOUR

Research Art Nouveau style to help enhance the appearance and style of promotional materials. Establish a unique style for the festival.

Digitize 3-5 best logos and wordmarks

Explore color palettes further and provide logo options in color

Create symbols for festival that can be used for website and print materials

INSPIRATION & DESIGN DIRECTION

LOGO PROCESS

INSPIRATION:

During week four, I continued to sketch more logos after comparing my previous sketches to logos I found through Google search. I realized that my ideas were not as creative as I had thought since there were many similar designs on the internet. I found images of logos for other festivals that are similar in concept for inspiration. 

In class, we discussed the five basic types of logos:

1. Emblem

2. Word Mark

3. Letter Mark

4. Symbol or Icon

5. Combination Mark

After discussing the types and reviewing the handout, I realized I wanted to continue the sketching process to include all of the basic types. I could not decide which I prefer to use for the brand of my festival, hence the reason I continued the sketching process before digitizing. 

SKETCHES:

DIGITIZED LOGOS:

Once I was done sketching, I went back to review all my sketches and narrowed it down to the top three logos for the digital logo process. As I was digitizing my logos, I decided to combine certain successful elements from a few different sketches to create one design. 

LOGO #1: 

LOGO #2:

This logo is a work in progress. I need to go back and make sure that everything is evenly spaced and that the outer circle is clear. I also wanted to include some water droplets or other designs to incorporate a waterfall look where both the curves end. I used the typeface Glam Queen to help create the outlines for the cursive initials and then I traced over it with the pen tool to include the circle element. I did not have time to explore the logo in colors since I am still unsure how I want to create a successful waterfall look within the circle.

WORDMARKS

After researching Art Nouveau and exploring the movement’s style even further, I decided to search for more typefaces to use for the word mark. I searched for typefaces that seemed to give off the essence of Art Nouveau and created another set of type studies before narrowing it down to only a few of the best for the final word mark.

Once I was satisfied with the amount of options I had that reflect the style of Art Nouveau, I then narrowed it down by reviewing all of the type studies I had gathered. I highlighted the most appropriate and legible ones and then began to explore what typeface to pair it with for the headline “Arts & Music Festival” that must be included within the word mark. To create the distinction between the festival’s name and the headline, I tried various styles of lines to break apart the two sections of type. 

NEXT STEPS (WEEK FIVE)

Digitize more logos if necessary

Revise and edit logos and wordmarks - narrow it down!

Sketch designs for music line-up and artist list

Present logos & word marks to class - get feedback and make a final decision!

Finish sketching symbols that can be used for website and print materials

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK THREE

Present a minimum of 30 DIFFERENT sketches for logos to show in class

Present 30 possible type studies explorations (the company name in a variety of fonts). Look at the relationships of the letterforms

Present mood boards to class to convey possible visual direction.

I want to see one board with styles, images, fonts, keywords, patterns, colors etc. that represent similar businesses and possible competition.

I want to see a second board with styles, images, fonts, keywords, patterns, colors etc. that represent the direction you are proposing to the class for feedback. We need to compare and want to see where your influences are coming from.

LOGO SKETCHES

During the sketching process, I got stuck when it came to finding a variety of symbols that represent the brand. I chose the name Wonderfalls/Wonderfall for the festival’s name, which includes a pun about the waterfalls of Ithaca. I wanted to highlight the pun of the name by creating a logo that incorporates a waterfall, but many of my ideas seemed to already exist after I compared them on Google search. 

Other ideas I had include artist materials and musical instruments. The only issue I had with those symbols is figuring out a way to portray waterfalls as well. I tried combining a waterfall with a guitar and with a paintbrush, which you can see in my sketches below.

QUESTION: Can anybody think of any other symbols that could represent the name I chose for the festival? Other than waterfalls, what symbols can I use to best reflect the brand?

TYPE STUDIES

Wonderfall Typefaces:

First, I began the type study process searching for typefaces exclusively for the name of my festival. I was still unsure what I wanted my festival’s logo to be: word mark, symbol/icon, letter mark, combination mark, or emblem. If I were to choose a word mark as my logo, I decided I wanted the typeface to be fun and unique, but still legible and pleasing to the eye. I was inspired by the Art Nouveau style, thus I searched for typefaces that seemed appropriate for the style I was trying to portray. I found various sans serif, script, and decorative typefaces to chose from and compiled them together. I showed examples of all uppercase, all lowercase, and the occasional mix between the two for some as well.

Headline & Body Copy Typefaces:

After I felt satisfied with the typefaces I gathered for the word mark, I continued the type study process and searched for typefaces that could be used for headlines and the body copy on my website and print materials. It is important to find a typeface that fits together with the one I choose for the word mark to create cohesion and unity. I created a lot of type studies to give me a variety of options to choose from. I focused on finding typefaces that had an entire family with a variety of weights. I also tried to stick with just sans serif typefaces because I felt that their organic and curvilinear forms would pair well with the art nouveau style I intend to appropriate.

MOOD BOARDS

1. Competitor’s Mood Board

Bonnaroo Brand Identity

“Previously, the Bonnaroo brand’s logo and identity system was redone each year. Moving forward they wished to create a new logo and identity that would not change yearly, but instead be refreshed by a yearly theme. This would, in turn, create a system that was evergreen. ST8MNT was brought on to create a fully integrated theme that would carry through, year over year, and create the feeling of a refresh simply through changes to color and select elements. [ST8MNT] needed to provide fans a refreshed version of the “once-in-a-lifetime” experience that did not alienate long-time attendees and created something that could be rallied around by all.”

Keywords: 

ST8MNT Mood Board:

Color Palette:

“ST8MNT created a color palette that exudes joy, movement and party; and had plenty of depth for the multitude of branding needs.”

Brand Fonts:

“When it came to font selection it was about so much more than personality. The fonts had to allow for variation and legibility, while serving up both classic and forward aesthetic to match the brand and have longevity for future years.”

Style:

Fun

Bold

Bright

Vibrant

Neon

Cool

Hip

Pop

Retro

“ST8MNT crafted a neon treatment to the logo that felt like the existing neon stage signs fans see and love year after year.”

2. Wonderfalls Mood Board

Keywords:

Nature

Peace

Positivity/Positive

Community

Artsy

Welcoming

Friendly

Carefree

Music

Rhythmic

Waterfalls

Color Palettes:

For my festival’s color palette, I chose blues and greens to represent the surrounding natural beauty of Ithaca, especially the waterfalls. I want the colors to be vibrant, bright, friendly, welcoming, and fun. I want the colors to be unique to the festival’s brand and representative of the festival’s aspects. 

Brand Fonts:

I prefer to stick with sans serif fonts for the project due to their organic and curvilinear forms. The font should be fun and unique, but legible and pleasing to the eye. The brand fonts should have a clear and consistent aesthetic that reflects the personality of the festival. 

Style:

Fun

Welcoming

Unique

Nature

Vibrant

Bright

Colorful

Eco-Friendly

Artsy

NEXT STEPS (WEEK FOUR)

Research Art Nouveau style to help enhance the appearance and style of promotional materials. Establish a unique style for the festival.

Digitize 3-5 best logos and wordmarks

Explore color palettes further and provide logo options in color

Create symbols for festival that can be used for website and print materials

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK TWO

Present project overview/summary (your current pdf works here with the added opening paragraph summary)

Present Company name options to class. Expand the current list to at least 15 names.

Present 3 personas of the potential attendees

Get feedback

Decide on name

RESEARCH & COMPETITION

BONNAROO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

GATHERING OF THE VIBES

STRANGECREEK CAMPOUT

WORMTOWN TRADING COMPANY

BURNING MAN

ELECTRIC FOREST FESTIVAL

FINGERLAKES GRASS ROOTS

PORCHFEST

SLOPE DAY / LIBE SLOPE (CORNELL)

PARADISE CITY CRAFTS FESTIVAL

CAYUGA SOUNDFEST

ITHACA FESTIVAL

SUGARLOAF CRAFTS FESTIVAL

TEMPLE TERRACE ARTS & CRAFTS

PLACENCIA SIDEWALK ARTS & MUSIC

RIVERTOWN MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

OKEECHOBEE MUSIC & ARTS FEST

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Insert Festival Name is hosted by the town of Ithaca and it offers the ultimate Ithaca experience that promotes community and togetherness in an extremley diverse culture. Ithaca is a hub for artistic culture, and its a home for many artists, crafters and musicians. As a loyal supporter of arts and crafts, including music, the town envisioned a world where people gathered together to celebrate the best in music and art amongst the spectaculor scenery of nature. This festival was founded to allow locals and tourists to re-connect with eachother and to honor the land and our environment . This unique festival offers a transformative experience where people can fully immerse themselves within all aspects of art. The town of Ithaca believes in the importance of breaking the human barriers that caused us to separate and isolate ourselves from our community. This festival offers a community building experience where people can revel with friends old and new by gathering together and sharing passions, tastes, and stories in the same natural surroundings.  We welcome all ages to explore the town of Ithaca and the intersecting paths we created in appreciation for art, music, and nature at this ever-changing event. We promise the experience of a lifetime!

MUSIC

Festival Name has a multi-genre lineup of singers, bands, and DJs from the country to reflect the diversity of our community and our world. The diverse variety of music includes rock, bluegrass, jazz, reggae, rap, R&B, folk, and more. There are two main stages at Stewart Park that will alternate bands all day and all night. We will also be hosting local musicians in various locations spread out around Ithaca’s downtown and the Commons. Please don’t forget to check out the east side of the Commons in front of Simeon’s, the Bernie Milton Pavilion, the west end of the Commons, DeWitt Park, and the Ithaca Underground stage for local performances!

ARTS & CRAFTS VENDORS

Festival Name will be hosting over 200 arts and crafts vendors from Ithaca and beyond. What separates us from other festivals is our well-curated art and crafts market where attendees can find top-quality goods at a low overhead cost to artisans. Visit the Commons to find unique creations with the focus on contemporary crafts and fine art. The Commons is exclusively for juried works, in which the judgement was based on the quality of design, workmanship and materials. In order to promote all types of arts and crafts, other vendors will be spread out in other festival areas.

FESTIVAL NAME IDEAS

1. ITHACA ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

2. ITHACA IMMERSION FESTIVAL

3. ITHACA MUSIC & ARTS TOUR

4. ITHACA PROJECTS

5. IVO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

6. RENEGADES MUSIC & ARTS FEST

7. WONDERFALL

8. VIRTUOSO MUSIC & ARTS FEST

9. CAYUGA MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

10. ITHACA BEATNIKS FESTIVAL

11. PARAGONICS FESTIVAL

Potential Attendees

SARAH

Female | 22 years old | Ithaca College Student

Sarah is a senior at Ithaca College and she loves attending local events with friends she has made in college. They are always searching for something new and fun to do in Ithaca. Her and her friends love to hang out at Ithaca commons to shop, eat, drink, and seek out local entertainment.

LAURIE

Female | 65 years old | Ithaca Local

Laurie grew up in the ‘60s when music festivals and concerts were prominent social events, and a new counterculture was established. Her love for the town and the unique things it has to offer, Laurie recently moved back to Ithaca. She has a taste for high quality crafts and devotedly attends any crafts festivals or markets nearby.

NICK

Male | 25 years old | Ithaca Tourist

Nick is a music festival enthusiast and he loves to travel the world and attend various festivals. He also enjoys nature and he embraces being “lost” within his surroundings. Once he heard about Ithaca’s new music and arts festival, he insisted on attending because of its local scenic beauty and the unique experience it offers.

KESH

Female | 32 years old | Ithaca Tourist

Kesh has a passion for art of all kinds. She has a taste for unique crafts including ceramics, jewelry, and clothing. She seeks out craft shows and market to do her personal shopping rather than go to the mall or a department store. She loves to support her fellow artists and enjoys traveling and meeting new ones.  

JOE

Male | 21 years old | Ithaca College Student

Joe is a homosexual male who majors in Music at Ithaca College’s School of Music. He is passionate about all genres of music and he loves “getting lost” in the beat. Joe loves partying at concerts with his friends as they dance to the rhythm and beat of the music.

MANDY & CHILDREN

Females | 30, 9, & 4 years old | Ithaca Locals

Mandy and her children have lived in Ithaca all their lives. They love spending time outside surrounded by nature’s beauty, especially at Ithaca’s gorges. Mandy and her children love attending Cayuga Sound Festival, at Stewart Park, in tribute to Ithaca’s local band, X Ambassadors. Mandy and her children love listening to music, relaxing, and enjoying the outdoors.

[adler-graphicdesign]

WEEK ONE

A short document (maximum of 2-3 paragraphs) that begins with a Problem Statement. 

This is followed by a detailed project proposal including your initial research that supports the proposal. 

This becomes the first posting in a project blog that you will maintain weekly in a dated and organized which contains the following: 

Schedule - A weekly schedule listing each step and commitment to deadlines—what has been accomplished and what is planned for the week ahead.

Research – Gathering data that supports your decision making and the project’s direction.

Ideation Development – Brainstorming and sketches. This includes type studies, mood boards, and potential design direction.

Design & Execution –This includes content creation (writing and image collection/making) and proof of concept such as mock-ups or prototypes.

PROJECT PROPOSAL

Surrounded by its natural scenic environment, Ithaca has always been a hub for art and music. The town of Ithaca can be found hidden behind the gorges and trees in upstate New York, and it is known for supporting art and music. In the center of town, Ithaca Commons, is a place locals and tourists can gather at to get eat, drink, and shop. There are many restaurants, bars, and stores in the area. Rather than the retail stores that people are commonly accustomed to seeing, Ithaca has a variety of unique shops spread across the commons. Ithaca is a huge supporter of high quality crafts, which is evident by the three crafts cooperative stores that are spread across the commons. Other shops include various glass shops, headshops, a consignment store, thrift stores, vintage stores, a consignment store, a used book store, a fair-trade store, a music store, and other local shops. Local bars and small venues house an abundance of music and musicians, which provides entertainment to the locals and tourists. Moreover, as you walk around the streets of Ithaca commons, a public gallery of murals greets you at every corner. The problem with being a huge supporter of the art and music culture is that locals and tourists begin to expect more.

Recently, my mom moved back to Ithaca and realized there were no local crafts festivals like there were in Connecticut. She found this odd and very surprising considering how art seems to have such a heavy influence on Ithaca’s culture and philosophies. Since Ithaca is known for its beautiful scenic trails and its natural gorges, many people visit the town during the spring, summer, and even the fall… before it gets too cold. However, the town is small and people run out of things to do and places to visit. Hence the need for more events and markets is evidently necessary to entertain locals and attract more tourists. Therefore, I am proposing to create a theoretical music and arts festival that can showcase the artistic skills of Ithaca individuals, as well as musicians and artists outside of the area.

The music festival movement began in the 1960s and continued to grow and spread across the world. People from everywhere began to embrace the music festival culture and its prevailing philosophies, thus they focused on personal empowerment, cultural and political decentralization, and ecological awareness. Both art and music have a huge impact on society and they give people the opportunity to freely express their individuality. Given Ithaca’s prominent ideals that promote free expression, individuality, culture awareness, and ecological awareness. Both art and music have a huge impact on society, as they allow the opportunities for people to freely express their individuality. Given Ithaca’s prominent ideals that promote free expression, individuality, culture awareness, and ecological awareness; a music and arts festival seems to be the ideal event the town should host. Ithaca is in desperate need for arts and crafts festivals given that there is an obvious appetite for high end arts and crafts in the town. However, I think it is important to combine both aspects of art and music for this festival because it provides people with the chance to fully immerse themselves in all aspects of art. This music and arts festival will benefit the town of Ithaca in many ways including attracting more tourists, entertaining locals, and providing more opportunities for local artists and musicians. Musicians and artists around the world are given the opportunity to showcase their work and sell it in a new location, surrounded by a unique scenic environment. Moreover, locals and tourists will finally have a place to gather, socialize, shop, eat, and be entertained all-in-one!

Initially, I will come up with a list of names for the festival that encompasses the ideas and values that this music and arts festival is intended to promote. There are various deliverables that can be included in this project. First, I will design its brand identity, including a logo and a website prototype. Although music festivals have become a growing industry, their branding and marketing is different than most companies. During my research, I compared various festivals websites for both music and arts and crafts. Most of the marketing and promotion is done digitally and online. Thus, there is no need to create business cards, letterheads, and more. It seems that the social online presence is the most important. Once I have established a name and a look and feel for the festival that is most appropriate, I will begin to gather the rest of the information. Location is very important, especially since Ithaca is small. It is possible that the festival may be located right outside the town depending on how big it will be. After researching various musicians and artists, I will design a line-up and other promotional materials to advertise the musicians and artists attending the festival. Since this festival is not exclusive to just music, I want to design a brochure or pamphlet that features high quality artists and crafters. In addition, whether it is a separate printed booklet or not, I want to create a booklet that details what visitors will see at the event. This booklet will be handed out to all of the attendees to help guide them through the festival. This booklet will contain a list of musicians with a select amount of them featured, a schedule of the shows, a list of food vendors, artists and crafters, a festival map, and possibly some tips and tricks for the festival goers. 

In regards to marketing and promotional materials, I will create banner ads and other digital materials that promote the event. Although most festival marketing is digital, other print materials will include the tickets or wristbands for the event, flags and signs for the event, posters, and maybe even festival merchandise. I intend to make this music and arts festival an all ages, three-day event that includes stages for musicians and performers, walls for artists to paint on, installation art and sculptures, interactive art and art activities, and more (similar to Bonaroo Music & Arts Festival.

There are only a few existing music and arts festivals out there, but most of them do not showcase juried artworks or high quality art. The benefit of the location of my festival is that there is a large range of high quality artists and crafters that are already local. Although I would like vendors that are non-local as well, there is the advantage that Ithaca is a hub for art and music and only an hour away from the Corning Museum of Glass, which is a famous center for the glass craft. This festival will include a large shopping area for local and non-local vendors that includes high quality artwork. I want this festival to promote art of all medias and to encourage individuality and free expression. Therefore, I also want to include an art activity area where people can create their own art if they want to.

CAREER OBJECTIVES

This project has a lot of different components included in it which will benefit my portfolio exponentially. This project allows me the chance to brand something from start to finish all by myself.  I have only a little branding experience prior to this assignment, and both previous projects were done with a partner. I want to challenge and push myself to brand a festival rather than a company because of my passion and background knowledge for festivals. I grew up attending music festivals and crafts festivals with my mom, thus I know what it is like to attend such events and I am aware of what people are looking for or need to successfully enjoy the event.

People spend a lot of money to attend music festivals, and most craft festivals have an entrance fee even though it a shopping market. If people are going to spend that much money to attend only a three-day event, it is important to ensure that their experience will be worth the price. Some festivals lack the means to successfully ensure a good time, thus I am hoping that the booklet/pamphlet I create will help guide them and ensure satisfaction. This event may be an experience of a lifetime for some people, so I want to do what I can to make it memorable.

As a graphic designer, I would say my skills are more focused on the technical aspects including strategy management, content development, and project management. I am a very organized person, but I love to think outside the box and create things most people would not. I think that this project will hugely benefit my career path because it will showcase my strategic and organizational skills, and it will also challenge me to get in touch with my creative side more.

I typically stick to layout designs and presentations that are clean and simple. Even though I recognize layout design as one of my best skills, I realized that my portfolio does not exemplify my layout skills enough. Layout design is a huge component of this project, thus I will be able to provide people with more proof of my skills.  Furthermore, I believe this project will challenge me to explore how to make my designs more fun and lively through illustrations, designs, and playful typography. I want to play more with the creative and artistic aspects of graphic design rather than the underlying geometric structure behind the design. I am very specific and technical when it comes to alignment and simplicity, and I want to break away from that this semester.

PROJECT SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE)