Print Ad Project

Creating an Effective Print Ad

Ads come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one main purpose, to sell a product, service or brand.

There are 5 major parts to a print ad.

1. Artwork
2. Titles
3. Body Copy
4. Contact Information
5. Extras

Assignment

Create a print ad for one of your two candy/power bars. It must include the first 4 parts of a print ad.

• Find a large graphic that catches the attention of the viewer.
• Create a Headline that will send the viewer to the body copy for more information about the product. (ie. Bacon to Go!)
• Include body copy that describes the product and it's benefits.
• Include contact information at the bottom. (Company Address, E-mail and Corporate Identity Symbol)
• Place a 3D product shot at the bottom of the ad. Use Layer Style/Bevel Emboss to make it three dimensional. Use Layer Style/Drop Shadow to add depth.
• Use the ad below as a model.

Candy/Power Bar Project

Assignment:

Your assignment is to create a new candy or power bar! As you may know the candy bar market is over saturated with different varieties. You must find an unfilled niche and monopolize on it. (Create 2)

Some possible ideas:

1. A super "pick me up bar", perhaps with twice the sugar and added caffeine.
2. The "Love" Bar - An aphrodisiac?
3. Headache Bar - Cures your headache and your sweet tooth.
4. A repellent Bar - What could it repel? Mosquitos? Door to dor salesman?
5. An unusual flavor - I know this is a rip off of Harry Potter, but vomit and earwax flavors could make for an unusual product.

What does the bar need to include?

• A catchy name in a bright color. Make sure it's easy to read. Your want your bar to stick out from the many other bars in the rack.
• A simple background: Don't confuse the shopper with too much visual information.
• A description: A High Nutrition Bar, etc.
• Flavor: i.e. Grass
• Weight in ounces.
• Size of the front of the bar: 2"x5 5/8". Add an inch on each side so it will wrap around the bar.

Each bar will be presented as a 3D mock up.

Why do you have to run?

Football Helment Design

Assignment
Your company has been given the job of creating a new "Corporate Identity" for a relocted Arena football Team. (You decide where and give the team a name.)

• The design must include a “Glyph” and “Logo”. You must create the artwork yourself. (No cutting a pasting from the web.)
• The image must use complimentary colors for contrast.
• It must convey an impression of strength and moving forward.
• You will find the template for the football helmet in the Student Commons/Boccini/Football Helment Logo directories.
• Design the image first, then encorporate it into the helmet.
• Provide the client with 2 completely different ideas.
• Using your stationary, write a business letter to the client (Mr. Boccini) describing the ideas you are submitting for review.
• Place your finished images on your blog. Include the same description you are "sending" to Mr. Boccini.

How to write a business letter.

My Letterhead, Business Card and Envelope

Select the design that you like best and apply it to a letterhead, business card and #10 business envelope.

You will find the template for the project in the Boccini directory in the Student Common directory. Inside the Letterhead Project Directory you will find the file letterhead template2.psd. Guidelines and crop marks have been created so all three items can be on the same document.

Insert your logo and text where appropriate.

My example.





Your Corporate Identity Symbol

We've spent a bit of time looking at the many different Corporate Identity Symbols that are currently being used in different areas of business. Now it's time to create one for our own graphic design firm.

One of my ideas.

Your Assignment

You are a new graphic designer, fresh out of college, and ready to take on the world. But before you can go out and start selling your design skills, you need to develop a symbol that identifies you and your company. You will produce 3 different ideas for your symbol and place them on a 8.5x11" document. Each symbol must be a combination of a Glyph (simplified image) and a Logo (Phonic Name). Your Glyph must be an abstraction of a graphic design tool (like a T-square). Think about basic color schemes for your design.

• Complimentary
• Split-Complimentary
• Triadic
• Monochromatic
• Analogous

Procedure:

1. Start by making preliminary sketches or thumbnails on white drawing paper. These don't have to be highly detailed, but should allow you to quickly explore different ideas.
2. Use the "Grid" or "Guidelines" to help you construct your glyph. With the snaps on, the "Polygonal Lasso Tool" will make defining areas easy.
3. Consider the use of "Gradient Fills" to create the illusion of curved objects.
4. Use "Layer Styles" to raise text and create outlines.
5. Select an appropriate font for you logo and integrate it with the glyph.
6. Create a symbol that will work well when enlarged or reduced. Avoid very small text.
7. Create each symbol as a separate Photoshop file.
8. Document your progress on your blog.

Refer to my presentation, Creating a Corporate Identity Symbol,For your Graphic Design Company.

Corporate Identiy Project

Our objective for this simple project is to produce a slick sheet with 30 different interesting logs. Make sure you have examples for this list. Pick designs that you like. These will be inspiration for you own Corporate identity design.

• Sports Teams (Mets, Knicks, Mahopac Indian etc.)
• Oil Companies (Shell, Mobil)
• Technology Companies (Dell, Microsoft)
• Restaurants (McDonalds, Burger King"
• Grocery Stores (Shoprite)
• School Districts (Mahopac, Arlington)
• Apparel Companies (Nike, Calvin Klein)
• Hardware (Lowes, Home Depot)
• Automobile Manufactures (Chevy, Ford)
• Airlines (United, JetBlue)
• Sporting Goods Manufacturers
• Other?

Here is my example. Use "guidelines" and the "snap to" to help line up your symbols.

• Post your collection to your new blog.

• Make the image X-Large.

• Write a few comments about your choices. Which is the most recognisable?

• Which do you like best? Why?

• Do Corporate Identity Symbols influence your purchase decisions?

Vanity Licence Plate Project

You've purchased your dream car, and its perfect in every way. But something is missing, that personal touch is what you need. How about a vanity plate?

I can't give you the car, but we can create the ultimate licence plate.

The Assignment

Create two vanity licence plates.

1. The first plate should be a reflection  of your personality. Are you an artist or a cheerleader? have your plate reflect your likes and dislikes. Who are you in 8 or less letters?




Mr. B during the American War for Independence.















2. Select a famous person and create a licence plate that reflects them.

Hero or Villain?

1. Start by thinking about what message you many want to send to other motorists. Read the dictionary of Custom License Plate Terms to generate ideas for you plate.
2. Create an RGB document that is 6x12" in size.
3. Place guidelines 1/4 inch from each edge.
4. Use the rectangualar markee tool to select the inside rectangle created by the guidelines. Inverse the selection then smooth the selection by 6 pixels. Fill with the color of your choice. Save the selection and use Channel Operations to make the border raised.
5. Type out your plate "number/words" in Arial Rounded MT. Scale the text, then rasterize it. Use Channel Operations to make it raised.
6. Place an appropriate graphic between your text.
7. Place an appropriate background behind the border. Reduce it's opacity so it won't interfere with the text.
8. Include the State and or Country/Planet.
9. Add a Slogan (ie. I love NY)

Post your two licence plate designs to your blog.

• Write about how your plate reflects your personality.

• Why did you chose the imagery you used?

• Why did you chose a particular famous person?

• How does the imagery and text reflect that person.?

My Example:

In my Benidict Arnold plate, I selected an image of the Battle of Saratoga for my background. Most people know that Gates was the commanding general during the battle, but few know that Arnold's actions lead to the American victory. Naturally the location is the "State of Dishonor", Arnold betraying his country by conspiring to give the British plans to West Point.