My chosen Google products

My Google Products

What is Google Chrome?


A browser built for speed, simplicity and security.

After watching a video on Youtube I have gathered that Google chrome is a new web browser which is much faster and has automatic links ti applications that google own for example; Google maps and youtube. When a normal standard computer boots up it loads applications one-by-one which can take a few minutes this is called an operating system. Google Chrome replaces your operating system and stores all of this data online which massively speeds up your internet. In a nutshell Google Chrome is aimed at a person who really only uses the internet and does not want to wait ages to start surfing the net.

What is Google Maps?

View maps and directions.

Google Maps is a Google service offering powerful, user-friendly mapping technology and local business information including business locations, contact information and driving directions. With Google maps, users can find business locations and contact information all in one location, integrated on the map. For example, if a user searches for Pizza Hut london locations of relevant listings and phone numbers appear on the map. The user can also view additional information like hours of operation, types of payment accepted, and reviews.

What is Google Earth?

Google Earth allows you to travel the world through a virtual globe and view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings and much more. With Googles Earth rich, geographical content you are able to experience a more realistic view of the world. You can fly to your favourite place, search for businesses and even navigate through directions.

Although the options within Google Earth are endless, here are a few things you can do:

• Discover the earth : fly to any location in the world, learn about a city and its geographical features, find local businesses and create tours.

• Explore the sky: Enjoy the wonders of the heavens and learn about our solar system.

• Dive into the ocean: Go beneath the surface and visit the depths of the ocean and explore the planets deepest underwater canyons.

• Walk on the Moon: Take tours of landing sites narrated by apollo astronauts and view 3D models of landed spacecraft. 

What is Google TV?

Google TV will the the standard television into a computer experience. There will be a customisable home screen which enables users to easily organise their favourite channels, shows and websites. The webkit-based browser will allow users to surf the web from the comfort of their living room. Access to the Android Marketplace allows users to download over 50,000 applications.

Google Tv has been made into a unique user interface for the television medium. The primary feature is the search bar at the top of the interface. It allows users to search for television programmes, movies and websites. Another important piece of Google TV is the customisable home page. This is an area that allows users to access their favourite channels, shows and websites.

Google Research

About the Google Logo

Google’s logo consists of our name, the letterforms we use to display our name and our corporate colours. Google’s logo is among the most recognisable in the world. It is the primary way people identify our company and our brand. In short, our logo speaks for itself and should therefore be given plenty of “breathing room” in the form of white space around it. It should not be modified or customised under any circumstances.

Spacing

In order for the logo to stand out from the crowd and be presented as intended, adequate space should be given around the mark. The clear space around the logo should always be equal to or greater than the x-height of the Google work mark. 

From what I gather from this information the Google logo works best around plain space. And that equal spacing should be given from around the Google Logo. Something to always bear in mind is that under NO circumstances am I allowed to change the Google logo in anyway shape or form.

Usage

A flat vector version of the logo is used for print on a white or black background. The image below is a shaded (raster) version of the logo and is used for online use on a white background, the exact same image is used on Google's homepage. The flat vector image is always used on commercial products and the raster shaded version of the logo is what is always seen online as it stand off better on the page.

What is a raster image?

A raster image, also called a bitmap, is a way to represent digital images. The raster image takes a wide variety of formats, including the familiar .gif, .jpg, and .bmp. A raster image represents an image in a series of bits of information which translate into pixels on the screen. These pixels form points of color which create an overall finished image.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-raster-image.htm

Special Circumstances which Google may be used

The flat (vector) white version of the logo is used for print and online use under special circumstances when the design calls for a solid colour background.

The flat (vector) black version of the logo is only used in print when greyscale printing is the ONLY option. This should only be used in unusual circumstances.

The flat (vector) white version on the logo should be used on top of a photography. The area in which the logo lies must be on a somewhat solid background so the logo can be seen clearly.

I found that the Google logo is all about readability on solid backgrounds as shown above. In the original Google logo colour is used but under the circumstances that a solid image is used behind a plain white Google logo can be used. This allows the logo to be still highly readable. I will consider the white Google logo if I do choose to have a solid background on the packaging 

What not to do

The four colour logo either vector or raster should never be on a colour background as one of the letters as in most cases the letter will disappear into the background. The logo is never to be manipulated unless given specific permission to do so.

This is something to keep in mind and be aware of when designing my packaging and with the use of colour. Initially I need to use a colour that does not effect the colours which are on the Google logo hence the reason why on the Google web page the background is white. In my opinion the Google logo best stands off the white background this also emphasises on the plain space that Google like.

Another thing to consider is that the Google logo should never be on top of a dense busy photograph as this makes the logo blend and fade away into the background. The Google logo cannot be used as part of a sentence. The correct way to do this is to use text in the headline and place the Google logo elsewhere on the page.

Colour in the Google Logo

The Google logo is made up of four bright colours: blue, red, yellow and green. These bold corporate colours reinforce Googles brand as simple and playful, but also strong. Equally important is the use of white space as the dominant visual element . The logo reflects their simple straightforward approach.

These are the colour values for the colours used in the Google logo (CMYK)

Secondary palette, Grey is sometimes used for body copy, grey is sometimes used occasionally for marketing landing pages.

Typography

Google use Open Sans as their primary typeface, or font. The aim of the font is that it is simple and straightforward conveying the friendly tone Google have. No other fonts should be used on external marketing materials except where specified.

The fonts above are primary fonts and the image below are secondary fonts.

Typesetting Specifications

Font size: The preferred font size for body copy is 9.5 pt, for small copyright text so not set type smaller than 6pt.

Tracking: Default tracking of Open Sans should be set to -10 letter spacing. Slight adjustments should be made to correct single widow and orphan words on a line of text.

Leading: Set the leading (the vertical spacing between lines of text) to 1.3333 times larger than the font point size; for example, if the font size is 9.5pt, set the leading to 12.5.

Kerning: The setting for kerning (the individual spacing between characters) in a layout program should be left at the default metric setting. For large headlines or very small type setting kerning to optical will give better kerning results.

YCN brief analysis

Google   http://awards.ycnonline.com/briefs/view/google2011/

Parts written in red are challenges from the given brief

We want you to create an imaginary packaging range for Google’s family of products. You are free to interpret the idea of packaging, and approach format, in any fashion you like.
What is written above is really the only part I must do. The challenge is asking me to create packaging for Google's products and I am able to go about doing this in a way that suits me.


Explore ways to bundle the products as a family (i.e Adobe Creative Suite) but ensure each product is distinct and its purpose is obvious.
This part of the challenge is asking me to make the packaging for each individual product work well together as a bundle for example the Adobe Creative Suite. The Adobe Creative Suite work very well as a bundle together but are very clearly distinct from one and other for example, Photoshop is PS on a blue background, Illustrator is AI on an orange background. This allows them to work well together and compliment each other but are very easily told apart.


You do not need to be exhaustive - but please include at least three of our top products: Chrome, Google Plus, YouTube, Gmail, Maps... and of course Search!
Here the challenge asks me to include at least three of Google's products and that I do not need to do any more than the given amount.


The packaging should inform, inspire the imagination and clearly articulate the benefits of the products.
This challenge asks me to clearly make dominant the benefits of the products on my packaging. The packaging must inform, inspire the audience and make clear what the product is and the features it has.


In addition to your packaging ideas you are welcome to create additional material to bring your ideas to life - such as merchandise, Point of Sale or other retail concepts. This is optional.
This part of the challenge allows me to add additional material such as merchandise, point of sale and other retail concepts such as images, screenshots etc. This would help me in terms of information that will appear on the packaging. This makes things much easier when designing my packaging as it states that I can use other material not just what was given in the download pack.


Outputs

Feel free to demonstrate your ideas in any way you like - flat artwork, videos - it’s entirely up to you. (Although worth remembering that Google will want to share the best ideas online.)This allows me to present my work in my own given way but something I have to take into consideration is that if Google were to present my ideas it would be online, this means my final outcome has to be done so that it could be presented in a professional way online.

Audience 

Primary: the mainstream user (you, your friend, your mum) who uses the internet but doesn’t use all of Google’s products.

Secondary: any internet users shopping for Christmas stocking fillers.
This is the audience I will be aiming my packaging at, this is very important as this will effect the overall whole design. Overcomplicating things for example would not be aimed at this sort of audience, it would need to be plain simple and to the point. Another thing to consider is that the packaging needs to be in the form that it could be given as a gift/present "Christmas stocking fillers"

I think the google brief is more targeted around the advertising of the product rather than the visual communication. I think this because the brief asks that the product must be clear as to what is being sold so from an advertising perspective how the product is designed is going publish the product. The target audience in this case is wide as it is aimed at your general public that use internet and have some knowledge of google.

The Feel Good Drinks Company    http://awards.ycnonline.com/briefs/view/the-feel-good-drinks-company/

Parts written in red are challenges from the given brief

Brief 1

Create a campaign that communicates 3 simple things: our brand name, what our drinks look like and that our drinks are choc-full of natural, tasty, fruitiness. And do all this in a way that is unique, memorable and makes people laugh.

This is one of the two given briefs. Brief 1 asks me to create a campaign that communicates to the audience 3 simple things which are : Our brand name, what our drinks look like and that our drinks are choc-full of natural, tasty, fruitiness. This can be done in anyway from something as simple as a poster to as something more complicated like a video.

Brief 2

We want you to come up with an idea that tells people the facts, so they can make an informed choice next time they’re at the chiller. Can you communicate this in a fun and feel good way?

This brief is quite similar to the first one but is to create a campaign which lets the audience know the facts that their products only contain healthy ingredients and no sugar like alot of other companies have. This company not like many others want us to advertise in a quirky fun way where as many other companies just want simple and to the point.

Creative Requirements

For this work, we’d like you to focus on our small bottle still and sparkling juice drinks. Images of these can be found in the brief’s project pack.

It asks that the main focus is to on the bottled product. Other that creating a poster which helps to make the audience more aware of the company it is more important to focus on the main product as the requirement asks.

Target Audience

16-34 year old adults who are happy to pay a little bit more for a healthy, tasty soft drink that isn’t full of junk. They are an up-beat, look-on-the-brightside, sociable bunch, who like to work hard but always find time for some feel good fun and games.

This is the target audience. This would be what I would be taking into consideration if I choose this brief. This brief is very focused on the type of people they feel that would buy this drink they give the age gap which is only 18 years but also the personality and perception of the people who may buy this drink, things like this will massively change the whole design perspective of the product and or poster.

Additional information
http://www.feelgooddrinks.co.uk/ any further information can be found at their website and also gives an insight to the type of design the company has.


I found this brief to be based around a target audience over advertising, the company already have designs and a set style so I feel the main basis of this brief is who the packaging for the bottle and who the posters would be aimed at, what are 16-34 year olds going to look for in a poster?

Swarovski http://awards.ycnonline.com/briefs/view/swarovski/


Parts written in red are challenges from the given brief


Brief 
The aim of this brief is to take the repositioning of the brand to the next level, concentrating on attracting the next generation of Swarovski fans to our fashion collection.
This is the brief of Swarovski. The brief asks to take the brand to the next level and aim it at the given target audience .


We’d like you to creatively demonstrate how you think Swarovski can relevantly and powerfully engage their fashion range with younger UK consumers.
This asks that I show my ideas into how i can help develop and engage my ideas at the given target audience .

Target audience

Swarovski are interested in reaching a new younger audience (20 – 30 year olds) primarily targeting young urban UK females who love their jewellery, like to keep up with the latest trends and fashion, and want to express themselves through their jewellery.
This is the target audience that I would have to work within if I chose this brief. The audience is very narrow as the age gap is only 10 years but it also states the type of females its aimed at, "UK females who love their jewellery" "like to keep in with the latest trends and fashion" this helps with the design ideas and may differ the ideas into when constructing a poster leaflet etc.

Creative Requirements

Your work should fit within the Swarovski brand identity, and you can find this here. Should you wish to incorporate it into your work, the Swarovski logo can be found in brief’s project pack.

This requirement asks that my work should fit within the current brand identity that Swarovski have, for ideas visit their website http://www.brand.swarovski.com/Content.Node/home.en.html#/en/aboutus/familyvision

I think the Swarovski campaign is more aimed at the target audience as it asks that you remain inside the current Swarovski design and aim it at Uk women aged 20-30 so this brief will be heavily around the visual communication through advertising.

Marks and Spencer http://awards.ycnonline.com/briefs/view/ms2011/

Parts written in red are challenges from the given brief

Background

Marks & Spencer is famous for innovation, convenience and the quality of its food, and is often the first place you think of when shopping for a special occasion like a party or picnic. Anyone attending a summer event like Wimbledon or an open air classical concert will be familiar with a sea of M&S cool bags brimming with picnic food.

Background

The background on M&S gives an insight as to what to expect from Marks and Spencer and how familiar they are. This is very important to someone if they did not know what M&S are.

Brief
Your brief is to create the ultimate picnic pack. It could be themed around a type of picnic or event, or around the type of food included eg. a romantic first date or anniversary picnic, a Spanish picnic, a picnic for an open air classical concert, a foodie’s gastro picnic etc. You should include everything needed for the perfect picnic: food (sweet and savoury), drinks, cutlery, plates, napkins etc.

This is the brief  that Marks and Spencer have given. The brief asks to design the ultimate picnic pack, the brief helps as it gives scenarios in which this pack might be used for such as an anniversary or romantic first date but it also states that is must contain everything inside the bundle. This gives the designer much more to think about also what I may be designing for, another thing to take into consideration will the package sizes.

Target audience

We have a wide customer base so you can aim this product at anyone from  young, affluent singles or couples, families, older people whose children have left home etc. Consider who your target audience will be and tailor the picnic to that group.
The target audience is very wide as this picnic package can be aimed at anyone you choose. This is an advantage as most briefs have a given set audience but this allows you to aim your design at anyone you choose making things slightly easier for myself.

Considerations 
Consider print process and number of colours – all packaging should be printed from a maximum of six colours per item. Consider whether you will use four colour process (plus two specials if needed) or all specials. Bear in mind that M&S is a brand which is known for Quality, Value and Trust and we have a strong eco policy (refer to the Plan A website), so all designs should be true to the brand. 
These are all things to take into consideration if I were to choose this brief. These considerations will help to evaluate if the design scheme I have done is to Marks and Spencer style and is to the specific audience chosen. I could also refer to the website for their typical styles.


The Marks and Spencer brief enables me to choose my target audience rather than being given one this comes as an advantage and I could choose an audience that best suits me so I would know what I was looking for in design. Things to take into consideration and in terms of visual communication would be colour as I would have to use the required font that M&S already use. Colour helps to communicate to different audiences and also the occasion, for example red signifies love so the colour red would most likely appear on an anniversary picnic pack.

ESPN http://awards.ycnonline.com/briefs/view/espn/


Brief

Create a campaign that can effectively reach out to the target audience. Suggest the right media to suit the message in order to make an impact. You can consider all of the following; Poster, Print, Radio, Pre-roll, Online Display, Social, Direct, possibly TV inc. fixtures and Direct Response element.  Ideas should work within low budgets.The brief asks me to create a campaign that reaches out to the given audience. I must choose the right media in order to give the greatest impact and give the biggest messege. What I need to consider is that I must work within low budgets.

Target Audience

We call this target group ‘Young, Loyal and Connected’. These are men aged under 35 who can’t get enough sport. Mainly they love football but they are also passionate about F1, Tennis, Cricket, Rugby, Snooker, Boxing and Golf. Of all of our target groups, these are most likely to be students and access ESPN through a shared subscription (most likely on Virgin). Young audiences are actively excited by sport. They engage with it and like all sports fans interact with friends around it. Even if they no longer play sports at uni, college or clubs, gaming allows them to vicariously enjoy the thrills of sport and to play along with the football and F1 seasons. If they don’t have access to a subscription, TV coverage is found through pubs, parents and their mates’ houses. Plus now the crucial bits can be found online or on Apps without the subscription. Stats: 88% of them visit sports websites regularly and 44% visit sports apps/sites on their mobile phones. Media choices: E4, Sky3, twitter, guardian.co.uk, myspace.com, facebook, YouTube.This is the target audience for the ESPN campaign. Here it gives the new age in which they which the campaign to be aimed at and the sports in which they may enjoy. The target audience also gives so vital stats and facts to help with the design process and is also something to take into consideration.The ESPN campaign will be highly about the visual communication as it states in the target audience given above. Some of the issues within the advertising is that there will be a strict style as i would have to stay within the current ESPN style without having to rebrand it.

Conclusion


In conclusion to my analysis of 5 briefs I have chosen to go with the Google packaging campaign. The reason for choosing this campaign is simply because it stood out to me the most and I felt that I would do very well in this brief. I wanted to pick a brief that complimented my strengths in order for me to get the best outcomes, I have some experience in packaging design and it was also something that I thoroughly enjoyed. I also like Googles style, I find their current style to be very simple and to the point and they also like the idea of having space.