GDES3003 Early Student Rough Concept Work - ZCB/Covid Green Shoots of Recovery Brief

Here's a set of student rough concept and visual work at this interim stage on this new 2020 brief for live clients at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales.

[ Alphabetical surname order: please click on an image to expand it on screen]

Lauren Anderson
Going for a more simple style that both conveys the message and grabs the attention of people as they look at it; the prototypes have a clear-cut meaning and message. Going forward, the information (that is currently Lorem Ipsum placeholder text) will be about the retrospective topics - energy and transport. The footer at the bottom allows for a link to both CAT and the University of Worcester to be made, the website for more information also allows for people who are interested to look up and read into the topics, educating themselves more.

Tutor Andy: Well worked in with the 'Worcester' refs here Lauren - it fits in well. I appreciate that these are positionals at this time but the basic ideas in them seem strong and feasible.. Don't forget the 'Green Shoots' of Post Covid recovery idea - can you work that in still in some way? Good that you've thought about ID's too - I'd suggest that the CAT ID, ZCB and maybe UW as 'partner' in this poster venture are all appropriate potentially. lso be thinking bout how these might work on social media - are they the same or do you vary the way they look slightly or suggest animations, sound or similar too? Some design refinements to go I'd suggest but for prototypes these are coming along - maybe even ready for some kind of basic user testing to see if a lay audince 'gets' what you're trying to say here?

Perran Britton
Admittedly I need to do more as not ready to do screen stuff  but do like the car idea I plan maybe making it neon style. The 'middle finger' one I probably won’t develop it more but do like the idea.

Tutor Andy: I think that you yourself know Perran that you've some catching up to do here to get up to the place of some of your peers here.. This isn't really the level of work and focus we'd expect in week 7 or so of semester.. Please look here at your peers' work and remember to think carefully about the two areas you've chosen of ZCB to focus on. Make sure that you work it so that it can apply to either 'Worcester' or any other geographical place, make sure you think about a 'green recovery' too post Covid if possible. Remember that your design will need to incorporate ID's too - definitely CAT, ZCB and potentially (as partner in this) the UW logo too. If you think you need tutorial help then (as ever) there's an informal video tutorial on offer if you want to take me up on it.. I'm sure that you can do this Perran and do it well too - it just needs more time and TLC on this projct from you to show what you can really  do here.

Cameron Clayburn

The image is meant to feel expansive and open, with the message being that sustainability doesn't mean we have to go back to a simpler way of life, there is no sacrifice involved, it's just a more healthy way of living as we go forward.

This idea is much simpler and cuter, it doesn't focus on any specific areas of sustainability, but rather the message of protecting the world in the same way that we protected ourselves and loved ones during this pandemic.


I would still like to experiment with other ideas and refine these ones, but I am happy with how the early drafts are turning out.

Tutor Andy: I appreciate that these are really a 'first shot' at taking ideas to screen Cameron and hence they're more visual style experiments than specific solutions per area of ZCB you've chosen to focus on. I think their strength is their simplicity again (or the simplistic/uncomplicated visual style of them). I definitely think the 'Worcester' ref needs to be included in both areas you choose and ideally the title/statement be accomoanied by a 'call to action' of some kind to help maintain the good practices (which could help a Green Covid recovery). I mentioned the strength too of using templates in Photoshop of some kid and how they could help add to the final professional look - some are free (like this bus poster scenario - it's been used on and off by students for a few years now) and some a small one-off fee but more bespoke. Good, this all bodes well, possibly more focus on the two areas chosen needed from here and some further thought on the generic detils or asks you're suggesting linked in with (the geographical place).

Asher Kate Fisher
No explanatory text supplied.

Tutor Andy: Simple, bold type-heavy points here Asher put across as a series. The ideas have much potential but at present don't seem to be (too) much further along the line than I'd seen the last time we talked in session (about 2 weeks ago).. As such some more progress expected here really Asher in line with some of the early screen prototype work you can see with other solutions from your peers here. What I think could be added here is the 'Worcester' ref in some way (i.e 'Plants are the new power in Worcester'?) and a call to action i.e. Plants are the new power so (please do or consider this..).. At present they're a set of statements and not really a consistent campaign explaining the  situation and then getting viewers to do (x).. Lots of potential Asher but some more TLC needed to bring these along more at this point.

Ali Grimsell
These designs are just a couple of my initial sketches but in a digital format, evolving the imagery that I had drawn and starting to play around with composition and colouring. The next steps that I will be taking is finalising my moodboards, recreating the rest of my drawings in a digital form and continue to improve the existing imagery that you see here.

Tutor Andy: Some good simple points raised here Ali, I appreciate that these are early prototypes too so there's still room to refine things further.. Definitely be thinking abiout the 'green shoots of recovery post Covid' too if you can - I know it might be a juggling act.. Also think about the ID's that you'll need to make ref to in the footer or similar - CAT, ZCB and possibly a 'partner' logo with UW.. Grids - are you intending to work to a grid/columns too? I think with a bit more refinement that this could be ready to go to some form of external user testing for a wider feed in after the clients have fed back..

Alex Holloway
Concept is to show how the first Lockdown has caused Carbon GHG's to decrease and biodiversity to increase. Red arrows show Carbon Dioxide and green arrows show Oxygen. This is currently a basic idea, there will be improvement made to the trees, a strap-line in the cloud as well as flowers and woodland animals to represent biodiversity.

Concept is to persuade young audience that exercise if much healthier than relying on Transport. Hence Exercise is in green (meaning good/go) and transport is in red (meaning bad/stop). 

Tutor Andy: I think I can see the basics of both of these early screen concepts Alex and they would seem to hold much potential definitely.. I appreciate that it's early days and that you haven't yet put all elements and wording on them but suggested 'additions' from me would be some kind of clear statemnt (like you have on the transport example) and then a linked 'call to action'.. Can you link in 'Worcester' (or a system so it can  be any geographical place)? Additionally I'd say it needs the ZCB, CAT and UW ID's worked in too - maybe at the foot of the poster or flyer.. Some good early progress that shows lots of potential though Alex.

Jordanna Jose
I've developed one of the sectors into a prototype, as a clearer visual of what it could look like. I'm still working on icons that could be incorporated within the type, but this is potentially what the design for building & solutions could look like. It encourages the use of older trees so that newer trees can be planted in its place which will then create a cycle that can benefit the environment as well as construction.

Tutor Andy: Good to see ideas progressing here Jordanna - even if it's just the one are so far.. I like the visual style of this and that you've got the Covid green shoots of recovery writ large in it too. I'm assuming at this point that it's the power/energy area of ZCB thst you're focussing on in the main here. I think it needs a ref to 'Worcester' here and also some ID tucked away too - ZCB logo, CAT and potentisally he UW one too. Do make sure thst the 'call to action' is clear thought too - rememebr thhat passers by only have about 3 seconds or less to engage with it.. It'd be grat to see the other area worked up like this by next week if possible too.

Jack Mackenzie
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Lauren McCormick
I think that the two designs at the bottom for this idea would be more successful in terms of being eye-catching and understandable to each of the audience members. I think that with the first idea it did need to be fuller and more exciting and I think that adding more illustrations and having text scattered around the page this will be a better way to go with this design. 

Some rough ideas and drawings to get more of an idea of what I want for the final pieces. I like the idea of using a big typeface at the top with something snappy that the audience can read easily straight away. I want to make sure that every single person in the audience being a child to elderly, can see these illustrations. keeping it positive I want to make characters out of the objects in some of the illustrations to keep it comical and entertaining for all the audience as to not scare them. climate change is a very serious problem for the world but no one wants to think that it is getting worse. 

Keeping it light and positive I have created some characters for the food and diet illustrations. I want the whole audience to see these and smile because having an illustration that can do that will make them want to read the facts more. if its something dark and potentially scary it becomes too real for the audience and a lot of people will want to not think about the massive problem.i want the colours to be natural for both categories however still bright and happy as to make sure they have a positive feel about them. 

Tutor Andy: These seem to be coming along well Lauren. I think I can see a set of key points and a clear call to action to the viewer too. Maybe bullet point or similar devices will help you with the key points. I think there's potential to tweek the 'keep them growing' idea with a leading the eye visual device with the lines of trees and the keypoints so the eyes's flow down the page is like a snake or 'S'. Make sure that 'Worcester' is involved (or any geographical place can be), think about where the ZCB, CAT and UW ID's might live (maybe in the foot of the posters?)..

Cam Pickstock
No imagery or text supplied.

Mark Smith
Currently I have designed 15 ideas for my one theme, but I will be designing 15 more for my other theme later. My style has tended to be collage as I feel this is the best was to make my design cover all the aspects of covid and my two pollution themes.

Tutor Andy: Some progress here Mark definitely, good that you've got down a range of possible ideas and I can see the Covid aspect is writ large in most of your thinking here.. I think progress-wise most have mocked up ideas for (both) areas they've chosen now for ZCB so I'd urge you to finalise your second area mockups asap really.. Then don't forget the 'linked to Worcester' bit of the brief, where you'll fit the CAT, ZCB and potentially the UW ID's in on your designs (maybe at the foot of them?).. Take a look at some of the other work here where they have taken the next step too and moved their final ideas per area to screen mockups which thy'll look to get some external user test feedback on from there.. I look forwards to seeing these ideas narrowed-down a bit more next week.. Lost of potential here though Mark - definitely making some progress but some more time and focus needed from here..

Becky Turner

I am focusing on:
• Food and Diets - Ambitions
• Transport - Solutions

I am approaching the food and diets theme on composting, using the visual input of digital illustration/vector graphics. For Transport I am looking to approach possible solutions within transport, using photographs layered with digitally added type or vector graphics. I am wanting to make the image as effective but simple to understand as possible, allowing the viewer to investigate and develop into their life. 

Tutor Andy: Green recovery worked in there Becky - good.. The ideas you have here seem good on the whole too and I can see them being relevant across the country.. I do think the broef asks you to add a place name though so 'Worcester' is needed in there somewhere on each solution. You've already thought ahead to ID too which is good - the CAT logo, the ZCB logo and maybe the UW logo as a 'partner' in this instance? I think some folks are ahead of you now in terms of progress with mor worked through screen mockups starting to appear so I think that's where I'd expect your chosen option to go next wit hthis for next session. Good thinking here though - holds a lot of potential..

Claire Walker
Here is my working consists of a mood board and 2 pages of sketches focusing on renewable energy. 

Exploring different concepts for promoting renewable energy. Sketches explore direct links to energy and renewable energy. Some sketches explore using the term ‘wit’ to create a positive approach. Mood board explores an illustrative route using a pastel colour scheme.

Tutor Andy: Some great ideas here Claire and well-mocked up in the sketchpad too. You've obviously thought in some detail about how these might vome over and the various 'hooks' you might use to catch people's eye too. The mood board's additionally useful here as ithelps us see how you mighht possibly visually trat one or more of the posters. Do remember the ask to fit in 'Worcester' here (so that any place could be addd really) and also do remember that you'll need to work ID into it too - maybe at the bottom of things - CAT, ZCB and potentially UW as 'partner' maybe in this instance? Well done, looking forwards to seeing how these may be taken forwards more next week.

Amy Warburton
Moving on from my initial roughs, I developed some more detailed ones for both my sectors, Nature & Transport (Photo 5 &6). After doing this, I then picked a few favourites of different topics for each sector - such as plastic pollution for nature and cycling for transport. Having picked these favourites, I then developed them again in circumstances for both flyers/bus posters (7&8) & social media (9). Within both sectors for my ideas the presence of animals can be seen which is because animals are quite heavily featured in nature – which is no surprise – but I thought that using animals lightly in the transport posters would not only help link for consistency but help to create a fun and positive feel for visuals as it can’t be too serious if animals are seen – for example, my idea of a polar bear on a bike. Furthermore, animals are quite universal and can appeal to everyone. 

To also help consistency I've decided to use the repetitive tagline 'A single swap can help save OUR planet'.

For the sub theme for my designs, I decided to go for solutions/people doing things, as a positive feel – which is what the clients want – can be created by using facts but then spinning them into positives of how these can change and suggesting alternatives/solutions instead. As well as this, I have also been experimenting in including location names within my designs that can be changed - as the clients asked for this consideration.

Tutor Andy: Loving the styles on the moodboard Amy.. I think there's huge merit in the kind of stats that you're using on the ideas here too - they're clear, simple and I suspect that they're the kind of stats that immediately hit people's awareness.. Useful to see social media possibilities too and how the larger formats might work in the smaller, square formats.. Try to remember the need to work in the 'Covid green shoots of recovery' idea in some way too if at all possible and fitting in the geographical reference (easiest to put 'Worcester' I think). Remember that there's some space needed for ID's too - definitely CAT and ZCB - possibly a 'partnered with' UW logo too.. All bodes well Amy - some good progress..