Ode to The Handwritten Type

The first two are my entries for the AGDA Student "Words of Optimism" typography competition. The concept for my rationale is detailed below.

I remember owning a Speedball textbook when I was a little kid. I would copy the Old English Alphabet by hand and I would practice a lot until my version looks like the same version in print . Hence, my design piece "Ode To The Handwritten Type" is a tribute to the artistry, stylistic quotation, script and ornamentation of past forms and type faces which influenced me and my design. I think there is no modern typeface that could surpass a handwritten script and equal it's spiritual and artistic effect, as well as making the audience feel that they are reading a very personal message in print.

I chose these words of optimism (in relation to my professional future as a designer) - Make great ideas known, spread good words and then, come home. As a student/junior designer, I am really looking forward to my contributions in the field of design because it's such a great industry to develop great ideas. Creating designs is also a powerful opportunity to spread more words of optimism to a greater audience because every design piece creates a strong message. Lastly , at the end of all the hard work, everyone loves coming home. Those are the three things I am really looking forward to in the future.

The concept for the typeface is the handwritten script which was literally hand drawn from scratch. The idea or the effect is to burst so the message seems to spread to reach all sorts of people. Although the inspiration comes from the 19th century typography which was stylistic and embellished, I deliberately made the design a simpler version so the audience can still read and understand what the message is.

RM ANSETT LOGO | First Design Pitch

Those who know me well enough knows that I've recently taken up on the offer to do this design internship at the Swinburne Design Centre. It seems the way to go - to get my foot in he door. Getting a job opportunity as a junior designer without studio experience is as close as NIL. At the end of this program, I would have real work experience, I would've worked with fellow designers, I would've dealt with real clients, and I would've developed my design portfolio. At the end of this program, I would also most probably be broke, and I still wouldn't be guaranteed a job offer. I want to be optimistic though. They said the fact that I got a place at the Design Centre shows potential. It will also increase the prospects of me being able to find a design job after the intership. Who knows?

One of the first projects they gave me is to design a logo / brand identity for RM Ansett Trust. This guy pioneered the defunct Ansett Airlines and donated millions of his wealth to sholarships so that his fund will "assist children to take their place in life".

They said the brand could reflect:
- Sir Reginald Ansett the person (not the business Ansett Airlines)
- the main intent of the trust "assisting children to take their place in life"
- Sir Reginald's passion for flying, horseracing and innovation

My first three drafts are shown above. It will go through a design development process where we all will do a peer review of our designs and be given feedback by the lecturer. Then we revise, and then revise them again and possibly revise them again and again until we get it right and until Lucy (the head of communication design) is satisfied to present our work to the client. Who would've thought developing a logo is too much work and this hard???