Evaluation product range and distribution

Evaluation of Product, range and distribution

Overview

Initially I had focussed on the briefs which had print based editorial outcomes as I wanted to make something and also wanted to test my typography skills.  As my PPD development has progressed I find myself being engaged with Branding and Identity and I can envisage this is a good direction for me commercially.

The Brief

My husband, David runs a guitar school and has been asking me for some time to re-brand the school.  Following a conversation with him we were discussed the possibility of a journal for the students.  Also he has started taking the business into primary schools and as a result needs some promotional material suitable for Schools, Head teachers and parents.

The outcome

I have asked several students and parents for feedback about the logo and prospectus and have received some very favourable comments.  The kids think its ‘cool’ and want a t-shirt!  The parents think it is representative of David and the school.

Learning outcomes

This has been challenging in terms of limiting the ‘range’ of what I could achieve within this brief.  Also the whole project has led to us developing the business as well and it has been difficult to keep focussed on the Module dead line.  I have kept reminding myself that this is the foundation and now the work can continue.

I have also challenged my practical skills by applying some book binding techniques.

The other challenge has been trying to produce something special whilst still being able to reproduce the prospectus/journal and leaflets economically.  I have accommodated this by designing products for the brief and then sourcing cheaper short run digital printing for the real products.  Going forward I plan to screen-print the posters to keep costs down over the summer.

Conclusion

Overall the whole project has been positive in terms of contributing to a business that has real meaning to me and also in terms of the learning outcomes. My design direction is becoming more defined as I enjoy Branding and Identity and also the layout skills I have employed.

Product, range & distribution boards

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Photos of final products

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Following some last minute feedback from Lorraine I was able to amend the PDF copy:

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Revised the poster layout after crit feedback

Following feedback from the Crit, I moved the 'key' to the left.  The suggestion was also made to add the "brand logo' of the guitar such as Fender, Guild etc however I think this may contravene Copyright. Instead I have written the make and model of the guitar.

I intend to extend this range of posters to include a purple and blue one.  Ideas for other images include Chord boxes - open, major and minor and b chords,  Scales, a who inspired who family tree different genres

A full range of leaflets for SGS!

Four gatefold leaflets to promote the range of services that Slaithwaite Guitar School provide:

Developing a leaflet for the Rock Band Club

The promotion and distribution of the SGS Rock band Club will be to local primary schools, initially to Head Teachers using the SGS look book, then to children through a free workshop then to their parents through a leaflet.  the leaflet will also be used do the children can join on completion of a form.

The format of the leaflet will be A4 gatefold.  Design ideas for the leaflet are based on the roll down banner.

SGS brand and the colour

Originally the colours where going to differentiate between different 'levels' of achievement at the Guitar School.  After developing the product range and some discussion with David we have decided to use the Colour system to differentiate different elements or services the business offers as follows:


Red - One to one/group tuition


Green - The School Rock Band Club


Purple - The recording Studio


Blue - The Studio Rock band Club - Summer holidays and Saturdays.


The Black will be the overarching logo which holds the brand together.


I have also changed the logo design as when I printed the book the SGS did not quite 'sit' comfortably.  This is the final logo set:

Each element will have promotional material printed in the relevant colour so the one to one tuition starter packs will be red, leaflets promoting the Rock band Club will be green.. The "brand' will retain its identity through the SGS logo.

All the copy on web and print will use Trebuchet.

Developing the range

I had become a bit too focussed on needing to physically make everything whereas after the crit I realised that some of the 'range' can be mocked up.  This expanded what I could propose:


T-shirts
Hoodies
Plectrums
Gig bags
Straps
Button badges
CD covers
Flyers/leaflets
Stickers
Cap
Ipod/phone  covers
Pencil cases/ pencils
Coffee mug

Final crit Prospectus

This is the PDF version of the Prospectus however it does not convey the french folds nor the Japanese stab biding of the printed version!

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Prospectus further development

I realised on the Monday morning I was printing with James that the 10pt Trebuchet I had used in the prospectus however I wanted to get something printed to check the french folds,colours and general layout margins etc would work with the Japanese Stab binding.


  

I worked out how to quickly change all the point size copy from 10 to 8 in Indesign.

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I also was concerned about how David was going to reproduce these in the real world!  It cost me £9 to print this is the digital dungeon.  I have been pricing up some shortrun brochure prices as the other problem is the school wont need more than 100 copies.

I found a printer that will reproduce A5 brochures fro one copy onwards.

The Indesign layout was reasonably easy to adjust to A5 landscape.

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Final crit feedback and actions

Development for student pack

Design development for content for the Guitar journal

Logo development following crit

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The colour was a lot more vibrant vibrant on the laser printer compared to screen so I check the colours on the Pantone swatch books.

Letterhead ideas

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Business card ideas

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Progress Crit

Questions I wanted the group to consider:

1. Please can you look at logo development and advise if this is the best solution(Colour way/typeface)

2.  What do you think about the binding of the look book (prospectus)?

3.  Do you think a customised ringbinder for the Starter pack is the best solution