Our first project: Package design

Here are a select few photographs I got of my models. My initial idea was to make it quite creepy-quirky but as I was making the models, I just let the style naturally develop rather than aiming for a particular look. They turned out to be quite cute looking so I went with the Beatrix Potter-esque aesthetic,. My favourite from the shoots was the rabbit photos. There are plenty more interesting images to work from on my OneDrive. The justification of the scenes that I've used, is that these photos are shot in Penrith (the place that the brewery is situated) so I wanted to go around the town for inspiration. Images are taken from an allotment (rabbit), Thacka Beck (mouse and pine marten) and a walking path close by booths, next to another allotment (squirrel). 
These are a few of my mock label designs. I need to change the logo - it doesn't fit the images very well. I need to think more about the composition at this point too. 
Another thing to consider is to stylise the images to step back a bit from photograph towards an illustrated image,
After a feedback session close to the deadline, I was told to experiment with making the typeface for the graphics out of 3D materials just to tie the photograph into the label a little bit more. Before physically trying out making an alphabet, I downloaded a transparent image of felted letters and edited them on photoshop. I like the outcome but the only issue is that the original download was multicoloured and that is why the ones below are different shades of grey. Next step is to transfer the lettering onto the label template and see how they look alongside the images.
I worked out a colour palette for the flavours we were given and found some images that inspired me alongside an example of drinks package design of similar flavours.
I took a trip to Booths and Sainsburys for some inspiration on the craft beer/wine shelves; Here are some that caught my eye. 
After my critique on Tuesday, I was made aware that the thumbnails that i've produced so far have lost my personal spirit. I spent a bit of time reassessing the brief and the concept of the client approaching me personally finally clicked. I looked back at all the projects from the past and decided that I wanted to focus on making more sculptures in hopes to improve my skills using fimo clay. Now, I know that my chances of winning the bottle label competition has considerably dropped but I am approaching this project with the mindset that the final outcome will benefit my portfolio better than something I wasn't as passionate about. ​
I've done a little bit of research on youtube. This is very much a 'learn as you go' method, so as I'm going along, I'm realising that things could have been done a lot more efficiently so I adapt accordingly. 
Tuesday night after the critique, I visited Hobbycraft to buy some floral foam, felt and copper wire to start sculpting. What I found difficult about using the floral foam is that felting the fur onto the shape pokes loads of holes into the foam and makes it break apart within the structure I carved out. I potentially need to rethink my approach.
In the video above, the lady makes a wire frame armature which she sculpts her head, hands and feet on before cooking the clay. After the fimo has cooked, she began to wrap and felt wool around the armature frame so that she can add the fur to the base. This approach would be a lot better than what I have been doing. 
I have been using these videos by a lovely woman called Sara Renzulli (she needle felts animals and little woodland creatures) to create the armatures for my sculptures. I used the chipmunk tutorial for my squirrel considering they aren't too far off eachothers size. Her measurements of wire were useful but in my models, I used a thicker gauge wire for stronger support. With my rabbit model, I added an extra bit of length to the measurements because the version she is making is very small, where my rabbit head is a lil on the big side so I have to make a bigger frame. 
I took a little time out from crafting the models to consider what I would like the style of font to be for the front of the label. Here is what I've came up with so far. 

I tried experimenting with the shape of mountains (signifying the lake district where the drinks were made) to include that in the brand design but was struggling to make all the elements fit together nicely. From that, I wanted to play about with the expressive typography opportunities. LAKES - water - dynamic flow and movement of words - bubbles. I drew some rough wave guidelines to shape my words and came up with the end result. (The middle image).

flavour selection

  1. ORANGE AND ROSEHIP (mouse)
  2. DANDELION AND BURDOCK (rabbit)
  3. WILD RASPBERRY LEMONADE (squirrel)
  4. COLA AND WILD CHERRY (pine marten)

PLAN OF ACTION

A.) Once I have finished making my models, I will take a trip up to Penrith with a professional camera and a grocery bag full of all kinds of fruits for the shoot. When I arrive, I'll determine where the best place would be to take the photos and organise a set up of the animal interacting with said fruits.
This approach better fits the clients brief.
B.) Thumbnail sketches of potential backdrops I can craft to create a specific scene for them to lay in rather than relying on nature to help me when leaves are falling and weather is temperamental. In a similar way to Chris Sickels (linked above), I'm going to attempt to create a backdrop and scene to narrate a story-like image of the animals in nature. In the thumbnails, I need to consider composition of the photograph and where I will be able to fit type and logos from the label design.