Brief 02 | Fia & Flora | Research 04

House of Hackney

Although house of hackney is a interior brand they use a lot of botanical illustration within their products and their branding. Botanical illustration is a requirement within the brief. Therefore analysing this brand will give me a understanding of how to apply these illustrations correctly with the use of the right colours as well as placements.

analysing these products from house of hackney has given me more of an idea of how to apply colour to botanical illustration in order to make them appeal and serve purpose. Also researching the types of illustration that can be used, the cheese plant is 'trendy' illustration and seen across a range of products on their website, however the use of the spider plant fills the space up nicely and gives a funky repeated design. Most of the colours used are fresh representing the green of plants, some use blue also indicating fresh and clean, the palettes contrast well over the products. 

Brief 02 | Fia & Flora | Research 03

a exploration into how the ingredients of the products can effect the design &
what containers which would be suited to the products?

Bath Oil 500ml

"Transforms a pleasurable bath experience into a heavenly one with this 100% natural, luxurious bath oil. Crafted by hand the delicious, invigorating blend of Rosemary, Thyme and Mint help to relieve stress, mental and physical tiredness, clear the conscience and improve breathing problems, whilst a blend of Cottonseed, Sweet Almond and Olive oils nourish, soothe and soften the skin. Bliss!"

                                                                                                                        

Ingredients : Cottonseed Oil (Gossypium Herbaceum), Almond Sweet Oil (Prunis Amygdalus), Olive Oil (Olea Europaea), Castor Oil (Ricinus Communis). Botanicals: Rosemary, Lemon Thyme. Non-GMO Natural Vitamin E (D-alpha Tocopherol), Rosemary Antioxidant (Rosmarinus Officinalis). Pure essential oils of: Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis), Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris), Spearmint (Mentha Spicata). Components naturally occurring in essential oils: Limonene, Linalool. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Fragrances from 100% natural, raw, high grade cold pressed essential oils.

finding out theres ingredients such as rosemary can influence the design, for example I could use a drawing to feature as a pattern on the box or labels etc.. 

containers for the bath oil - would be best in a glass bottle, this would make the product look higher end, as well as it being recycled and therefore environmentally conscious. It also means the oil can easily be poured from the bottle and can be re used. 

Scandinavian Orange Aromatic Wash 250ml

"A nourishing hand and body wash formulated with Organic Shea and Aloe Vera to sooth and soften the driest of skins while the warming scent of Blood Orange and Vanilla leave you smelling delicious."

Key Ingredients : Blood Orange - know to promote the production of collagen as well as increase the blood flow to the skin while the sparkling effervescent aroma quenches the nerves and relaxes the spirit. Cedarwood - soothing and grounding this earthy aroma will have you hooked.
Shea Butter - is a skin superfood is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and F. It provides the skin with essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for collagen production.

Ingredients : Water (Aqua), Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder*, Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) Fruit Oil*, Citrus aurantium (blood orange) dulcis oil*, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract*, Lauryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Coco-Glucoside, Citric Acid, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate.

blood orange is one of the main ingredients within this product, therefore the colour of this design could effect the type or labels for example.

the container for this product would work best as a glass bottle, this will enable the bottle to be reused and also easy to get the wash from the container. 

Miracle Facial Oil, 30ml 

"Lightweight yet nourishing this skin-strengthening facial oil contains Organic Rosehip, packed with natural retinol this magic ingredient fights visible signs of ageing while antioxidant rich Argan Oil deeply nourishes, improving elasticity to leave skin feeling plump and soft. Healing Blackseed Oil has traditionally been used for centuries to treat atopic skin conditions, calms redness and reduces any signs of irritation while the pretty scent of Rose Otto and organic Vanilla sooth your mind and senses."

Key Ingredients : Rosehip Oil - rich in essential fatty acids, omega 3 and 6 it deeply nourishes while fighting signs of ageing. Rich in bio-retinol it helps promote cellular renewal and improves the appearance of scars.
Argan Oil - high in vitamin E, skin loving fatty acids and antioxidants it feeds skin leaving it with a youthful glow. Highly moisturising yet easily absorbed it improves elasticity and repairs skin damage. Nigella Oil (Black Seed Oil) - with powerful anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties it has a reputation for helping fight against acne, eczema and psoriasis. Rich in Zinc, Vitamins A, B and C it encourages skin regeneration helping fade scars and dark spots while nourishing fatty acids provide long lasting hydration.
Ingredients : Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride*, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil*, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Extract*, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopherol. 

because the miracle oil is 30ml the best container would be a small medicine like bottle, the colour of the ingredients won't be very appealing due to the mix of Argan oil and black seed oil, therefore a brown bottle would be more suited. The use of the pipette also will make it easier for the buyer to remove the product from the bottle. 

Pumpkin Seed & Kokum Moisturiser 70g

"Extremely concentrated this all natural face cream contains a generous blend of skin loving plant oils and butters. Rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids it rehydrates dull, lifeless skin to leave your complexion satin soft, deeply nourished and glowing."

Key Ingredients : Pumpkin Seed Oil - rich in vitamins A, E and C it rejuvenates and revitalises dry, damaged skin while the high content of zinc help to heal and sooth.
Borage Oil - extracted from the Starflower it is the richest source of the essential fatty acid, Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). Know to nourish, sooth and heal the skin it is also effective at treating skin conditions such as eczema.
Sea Buckthorn Oil - rich in minerals it helps heal skin wounds, reduce fine lines and regenerating new skin cells. Avocado, Pumpkin Seed and Rice Bran Oil - feed, hydrate, heal and rejuvenate the skin leaving it smooth, strong and radiant.

Ingredients : Pumpkin Seed Butter (Cucurbita Maxima), Avocado Butter (Persea Gratissima), Murumuru Seed Butter (Attalea Orbignya), Sea Buckthorn Oil (Hippophae Rhamnoides), Kukui Nut Oil (Aleurite Moluccans), Hazelnut Oil (Corylus Avellana), Rice Bran Oil (Oryza Sativa), Kokum Seed Butter (Garcinia Indica), Pumpkin Seed Oil (Cucurbita Maxima), Starflower (Borage) Oil (Borago Officinalis), Blackcurrant Seed Oil (Ribes Nigrum). Non-GMO Natural Vitamin E (D-alpha Tocopherol). Unscented.

pumpkin is one of the main ingredients in this moisturiser, therefore perhaps a simple drawing of some seed would be suited to use this on the packaging of the products. 

The container best suited for this would be a shallow jar, this will enable to buyer to get all the cream out and can also be recycled once used. 

Brief 02 | Fia & Flora | Research 02

Scandinavian design

"The natural beauty of Scandinavia has lead to a fabulous Finnish organic beauty invasion" - this is a statement which the brief includes. Therefore research 2 will include a analysis of scandinavian design to see if this is a element that can be incorporated within the branding and packaging for fia & flora.

SPREKENHUS - OSLO

- modern

- basic

- plain

- mono palette 

- clean and minimal

- gender neutral

- 'trendy'

- use of medicine bottles suggest health 

KARMAMEJU - DENMARK

- simple

- feminine colours

- serif font suggests traditional /expensive

- aimed towards a older audience 

- subtle design 

- fresh and clean layour

LILLA BRUKET - SWEDEN 

- modern and minimal 

- basic packaging

- use of medicine bottle design

- clean and hygienic

- basic

- mono palette  

SUPERMOOD - FINLAND

- pro female

- 'princess like'

- simple designs

- pink palette

- use of silver indicates luxury

- clean layout and design

TRUTH - SWEDEN

- gender neutral

- use of colour makes the mono palette stand out

- type face suggests a sophisticated audience

- basic design 

- minimal 

There are a few elements that these beauty brands all have in common. Firstly they all use a very modern design using a basic layout and simple colours. However for the audience buy a piece of luxury from the products due to the good materials such as durable bottles and tubs and some have used glass to make them seem more high end. 

The theme that runs across all of them is a very basic design, with no image just type based, perhaps similar to the other brands researched they care more on whats the inside of their product rather than the outside. 

Brief 02 | Fia & Flora | Research 01

current competitors / high end products in department stores -

LA MER

"La Mer's profound powers of transformation are
derived from potent, highly active ingredients like nutrient-rich algae,
protective antioxidant extracts and semi-precious stones."

LA MER is a very high end product sold on average at £70 per bottle. Its currently on the shelves in  Selfridges and other high end department stores. The target market is women who are wanting to maintain a youthful look. LA MER uses ingredients from the sea, hence the name translating from french - 'The Sea.' This makes their product unique as theres not a lot of brands which use ingredients from the sea, which will entice a ranges of audiences from around the world.

Branding -

- clean

- luxurious 

- pastel palette creates a minimal but modern design

- glass bottles suggest expensive 

- easy to use bottles and tubs

- images on the website always use sea elements to relate back to the product

The logo of LA MER reminds me of when you wipe the mirror in the bathroom when its steamy, therefore uses the idea that the product is part of a beauty regime. The overall look is very clean, the use of the pastel colours look modern and are gender neutral therefore suggests its wide audience. However if you are unable to read french, the branding of these bottles doesn't suggest that the ingredients are from the sea. Therefore the audience would have to know about the brand before buying, as the price is high for a one of splurge. Kim Kardashian promotes this product through the use of social media, therefore will reach a world wide platform and persuade a audience to be like Kim and buy LA MER.

AESOP

"Our objective has always been to formulate skin, 

hair and body care products of the finest quality; we 

investigate widely to source plant-based and laboratory-made 

ingredients, and use only those with a proven record of safety and efficacy."

Founded in Australia out of a small salon in 1987, Aesop has redefined the way its audience think about luxury skin, body and hair-care and defied common business wisdom to become an inimitable global player.
The Australian brand shuns some of the marketing techniques widely embraced by other brands and serves as sober antidote to over-marketed, tasteless ugliness which seems to be the norm in the beauty industry. Aesop doesn’t come up with a new product on the basis of needing a new launch, or to be at war against others. The brand doesn’t look at what other companies are doing and they are not influenced by trends.

Branding -

- minimal & modern

- basic

- medicine bottles

- mono colours across all branding inc webpage

- mysterious 

- healthy?

All of the products of Aesop are paraben-free and largely ‘botanical’, drawing heavily on antioxidant-rich parsley-seed extract. The packaging of these products supports the brand philosophy, all their formulas are housed in near-identical brown bottles - like those that you would find in 19th century pharmacies- and squeezable beige tubes. It is designed this way so as not to detract attention from the products inside. “We aspire toward a certain quality, discretion and restraint in our work.”

CLARINS

"Clarins will always choose a natural ingredient over a chemical

one, if it delivers the same level of effectiveness. This is the

golden rule that all Clarins researchers follow when designing 

our innovative new products."

Branding -

- minimal

- luxurious

- plant based image

- bottles are easy to use and look expensive

- legible type, a bigger point than on other branding

- basic  

Clarins is one of the UK market leaders within beauty products, each are on a higher end budget but this is because of the raw materials which they use;

Clarins uses over 250 natural plant extracts in its formulas. All are carefully selected for their effectiveness and are delivered in an optimal formula to reveal the beauty of every woman. Each ingredient is sourced with the utmost care for the environment to protect our planet’s biodiversity.

The branding of the products looks high end and for a more mature and sophisticated lady. The main colours used within their palette are green, red, yellow and white, very natural colours possibly to match their brand ethos? 

From the three brands analysed in the first part of this research, each different and offer a range of unique advantages for their intended audience. All of the brands are proud of their ethos and this reflects within the branding of the products and tag lines used on webpages. 

The designs on the bottles and tubs of these beauty brands are very basic and tend to take a more minimal approach, this is because they care more on whats inside the product. The colours are all very basic but used in a simple and modern form.

Brief 02 | Fia & Flora | Brief

- 18 - 30 year old females

- High end product 

- Raw ingredients

- Brand Identity 

- Botanical Theme

Before starting to gather the research, I took a look at NEOM organics London. This is the brand launching the Fia & Flora and therefore it would be good to understand their style, as this will have to be introduced within the branding for the new products to ensure they are uniformed.

- minimal

- clean simple layouts

- feminine colours

- serif type suggests elegant

- glass bottles

- use of white and blank space works well

Brief 01 | Hola Paella | Evaluation

Brief 01 has been enjoyable to carry out and has widened my practice as designing menus and invitations is a aspect of graphic design which I have not completed yet. It has made me feel more comfortable and confident when foiling and screen printing and will therefore use them in the future and for other relevant briefs.

The research for this brief was very informative, it was compulsory to understand the company which the brief was based on and to also know what elements the market leaders incorporate within their designs throughout the restaurants, this was not known to me it but soon became clear what should and shouldn't be included when designing products to fit this brief. The primary research for the brief involved my personal photographs from a holiday over the summer, these photos helped to create a pattern to reflect a theme to suit the restaurant as well as the intended audience, colours from the photo also helped to determine the colour palettes used within the designs. 

Within the brief specification it stated that print finishes must be used in the designs to ensure quality, therefore researching a range of print finishes it was decided that foiling would be used as this would be most suited to the menus etc.

The process of producing the outputs for this brief went ok, there were a few problems with screen printing the glue onto the designs and therefore this took longer than it should have which means this brief wasn't finished when it was aimed for. The paper used for this brief was from GF smith which cost £3 for a A2 piece, the printing was also low cost for 1 set of complete designs and because the foiling was done inside the university this also was a good price.

When all the designs were printed and foiled I then took them to the roof top of Headrow house in Leeds city centre, the outdoor area reflects a trendy restaurant seating area and thought the background went well and was suited to the brief. I really enjoyed using the camera and taking photographs they came out really well and looked professional they demonstrated a clean and high quality design. The feedback received from this brief was extremely positive and my peers thought they looked really good and professional, the foiling added quality and the thickness of the card created durability. Other feedback received was to expand the brief for example create a website, GIF's, gifts and social media pages. However although this is good feedback to better the brief and make it stronger I began to run out of time.

If I could re do this brief I would print all the outputs again and foil them as I'm not happy with the outcome, some of the silver foil has started to come off. Id also like to have expanded in more like the  feedback suggests and print cutlery holders, posters and a website etc however timing did not make this possible. 

Brief 01 | Hola Paella | Design Boards -