Studio Brief 02 - Research scope

Carrying on from the study task on Public Information Videos, the leaflet design will revolve around the dangers of pylons and electricity. It will inform the public of why they should take extra caution when dealing with electricity and pylons in general. The design of the publication however will be based around the times of the 80's as compared to a design for the now. The choice of designing the leaflet around the 80s is from a visual standpoint. I want to expand my design practice from the typically clean, bold and flat style and experiment with something different.

Here are some of the areas in the 80's which could be incorporated into the leaflet design.

• VHS tapes
• The typical 80s neon colours
• 80s cars 
• The outfits used in Back to the Future, The Breakfast Club, Tron, Beetle Juice, Miami Vice, David Bowie
• 80's typefaces
• Memphis group design studio

The choice to mainly look into pop culture of the 80s is to engage with the younger audience that the original video was targeted for. In order to capture their attention, the leaflet needs to have a level of "cool" that would appeal to them. Therefore with the current research scope it would be relevant to some iconic 80s movements inside.

 

Analysing the designs for the old VHS tapes, there are some similarities to that of a modernist style. The graphics and typography have clearly been ordered by a grid system and is done in a high impact sans serif style that strays away from the typical neon/chrome coloured writing. Furthermore the colours used in the design are done to a minimum which doesn't detract from the body copy. And unlike the graphics of today, these designs have an almost film like veneer over them that alters the colours and overall image making it slightly faded. My leaflet design could be based around a VHS sleeve, where the cover informs the reader of an informational "video" about the dangers of electricity and pylons. However past the cover page will be the actual leaflets information. 

Another icon of the 80s was the bold neon colours and artistic style which ranged from the typography to the backgrounds. With this in mind I could possibly combine this style with the VHS cover sleeves. 

Despite maybe not including on the cars of the 80s within the leaflet it could maybe be a source of inspiration for design. The cars would definitely be aimed more towards the boys who were more likely to be endangering themselves with electricity. 

If I were to include human figures within the leaflet I could incoporate some of the fashion that was present in the 80s. Made famous by iconic shows and characters. From these outfits I can also get a gauge of the colour schemes that were popular in the 80s.

 

The Memphis Group was an Italian design and architecture group founded in Milan by Ettore Sottsass in 1981. They designed post modern furniture, fabrics, ceramics, glass and metal objects from 1981 to 1987. The work done by Memphis Group can be taken as inspiration for any colour schemes, shapes or patterns that may be included within the leaflet. For example these shown below.