Individual DA Iteration - 7323670
Group Progression
Since further progressing our brand IM/PERFECTION we have increased our posting on our social platforms through continuing to create and edit Instagram reels and photos, as well as officially launching our website. Continuing to create and generate AI designs for sublimation printing we now have a total of 8 designs available on our website. Challenges have been limited as we have all worked productively and efficiently to produce our designs, thoughts and plans in due time. However, our biggest challenge overall as been the unreliability of the sublimation printer. There were many sessions where the software would not connect to our devices or the colour settings selected resulted in incorrect prints on our tote, thus limiting the amount of bags we had to print on.
Individual Progression
In the beginning of our project I started using Canva AI and MidJourney to generate designs to be printed onto the tote bags via the sublimation printer. Here, I learnt how to download and navigate the software on my own computer and the process needed to support the software. Through researching mental health awareness and non-for profit organisation I was able to draw on my own experiences of Suicide awareness and Prevention. I used my knowledge of the semi-colon and wanted to find a subtle way to incorporate this into my design, that only those in our audience who knew about this community would understand; see source 1.
Once finalised on my first design, I started to explore the tangible media available in the makers studio. Using the sublimation printer to print my base image of the brain with flowers growing out the other side, I then decided to explore the embroidery machine. The original mock up design had “your mind is beautiful” above the brain image and then “cont;nue” underneath. However, this positioning was not possible due to the volume of fabric our pre-sewn bags held. The needle of the embroidery got caught on the back of the bag and sewed the bag together. I then began the lengthy process of unpicking each thread caught between the front and the back of the bag. Due to this, the word “cont;nue” is now on the back right hand side of the bag, however I now believe that this position on the back of the bag is more appropriate as it is a subtle nod to the community who have personally been affected and only they would understand. See Source 2 for a full timeline of my first successful design.
Continuing to further my contribution to the brand I focused more on the data collection and analytical side of the business. For about 3 weeks I collected data through a Google Survey from our customers and target audience. This survey discussed topics of what our audience would like to see more, what they know about non-for profits and our brands values, as well as the price point for each tote if they were available for purchase.
Personally, I have furthered our project through my contribution to the media platforms. Through my experience in Journalism with camera and video recording technology, I took it upon myself to hire a Canon EOS-90D camera in order to further our professional exposure. Using my prior knowledge, I was able to capture our products in correct lighting, positioning and overall high quality. Our last two sessions of the semester I captured two of the girls in my group modelling our products in different settings around Building 29. After catching candid and positioned photos of both the bags and the bags being modelled I took them into a mobile editing app called “ColourTone”. In this app I fixed any over-exposure problems and adjusted the focus of the image to be solely on the bag. Through using this technology I have learnt more about the photography and film side of media, learning how to adjust and monitor the exposure of the lens, correct positioning of products in focus view and finally how the background in the image will affect the overall aesthetic of the image. See Source 3 for examples of images of our Tote bags using the Canon EOS-90D camera… these images are now featured on our website and Instagram @im.perfectiontotes which you can find here: Website Instagram
Social Utility
When coming up with this idea for our brand we wanted to create something that was relatable and accessible for our target audience of young adults who are passionate about mental health and may even have some personal experience dealing with these topics. When researching in the early stages I took to Pinterest to find inspiration of affordable and relatable tote designs. A local inspiration has been the Cotton On group, they have always had a $5 tote bag available with any purchase, these bags are 100% cotton and 100% of proceeds support local youth initiatives. This local inspiration alongside other brands such as Lorna Jane and Lowes set us up a base model for what we hope to achieve. If our brand is to progress we hope to reach out to online non-for profit organisations such as the Black Dog Institute and Headspace. These two organisations have been such pioneers in the young-mental health advocacy scene, creating a safe space in schools, workplaces and casual environments where people can be educated on mental health as well as talk about their experiences.
As our brand continues to grow everyday we hope to bring more advocacy and discussion to mental health issues and topics which we feel as young adults need to be discussed more frequently; see our group iteration to follow along our process…
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