Sketching Ideas

I started with sketching some images that I could use for my cards. One of the occasions that I wanted to use was Birthday, with images being birthday themed.

After getting some patterned paper, I experimented by cutting different shapes which relate to birthday.

Ideas

I need to think about the themes for the cards and who the cards will be ideal for. I also need to think about what will be on the cards - image wise.
These are some ideas that I've come up with:

Themes

Birthday Themed - bunting, balloons, presents, cake, party hats, candles
Gardening Themed - flowers, gloves, green house, green
Boat Themed - dock, nautical, blue and white, stripes, boats, sea
Car Themed - car, racing, stripes
Jungle Themed - trees, monkey, lion, giraffe, green, tiger
Princess Themed - dress, castle, wand, fairies, tiara
Outdoor Themed 
Space Themed - stars, space/planets
Flower Themed - flowers, indoor, outdoor, vase
Woodland Themed - picnic, trees, birds - owls, squirrels, rabbits, sun
Pirate Themed

Who the card will aimed toward

Male
Female
Middle aged
Specific milestone birthdays
Elderly people
Children
Teenagers
Young adults

* I'm thinking of mainly targeting females, which could be from teenage + *

Textures/ Materials

Knowing that I wanted to use textures and materials within my card designs, I started to think of different materials that I could potentially use.

- Buttons; different shapes and sizes

- Ribbon

- Foam

- Felt

- Foil

- Velvet

- Pipe cleaner

- Lace

- Plastic

- Fake fur

- Cord

- Silk

- Paper; different patterns

- Tissue paper

- Fabric; different patterns

- String

- Thread; material or paper

- Corrugated paper

- Card

- Sequins

- Netting

Rough Ideas

After having a look at the UK Greetings website and having a group discussion and looking at some ideas, we then moved on to prepare for a rough initial pitch. The idea of this was to come up with at least three ideas ready to tell the group for feedback. 

To begin with I started to think about the occasion that I want to make my cards for. The two that initially stood out for me was Birthday and Christmas, I also wanted to come with a third occasion which I referred to from the list I came up with during the discussion. 

The main idea/ theme that stood out for me was the idea of using materials and textures, I liked the idea of having a card that looked home made. 

These are some materials and textures that I have come up with. I quite liked the idea of using materials that could be recycled. The materials that I would use would be used to make the imagery for the front of the cards. With the use of these things, it will help to give my cards a home made feel.

My first idea that I came up with was for Birthday cards. To start off with I thought of imagery that I could use which relates to theme of 'Birthday'. As you can see down the left hand side I have come up with a list of some ideas. On the right I have started think about what I could use for the imagery. The first thing that I thought of was the use of a balloon outline; I liked the idea of having bits of fabric and patterned materials cut out in the shape of a balloon, which I thought to be quite quirky. I found some examples on line of different patterns and ribbons that I could use; what I'll need to do is go out and have a look around for materials that I could potentially use. As well as using fabric, I also thought of using buttons to make an outline of a balloon; I would need to experiment and try it out in my sketch book. Another thought that I had was using ribbon on birthday presents, which I will also need to try out.

I then moved on to my next idea, with the occasion being Christmas cards. Again down the left hand side, I made a list of images that relate to the 'Christmas' theme. On the right hand side I started to come up with ideas. Sticking with the idea of using materials and textures, I thought of using bits like tinsel and sequins to come up with an image of a Christmas tree. On line I found a quirky looking Christmas tree made using twigs and decorations which I really liked. Another idea that I came up with is perhaps using old cards and to use them to make new cards. I thought of having a bauble outline and using old cards cut them up and collage them to fill in the centre of the bauble. 

This is the third idea that I came up, although it is not as clear as the previous two. The occasion for third idea is New Baby cards. On the left hand side I have come up with a list of possible image ideas relating to the theme of 'New Baby'. I still want to go with the idea of using materials to make the imagery.

Feedback/ Discussion from my Initial Pitch

I received good, positive feedback from the discussion of my idea. Although I did receive some good pointers as to what I could do to improve/ develop my idea further. It was suggested that I could link my cards to charities, so that some of the money of the card price will go to a charity. I liked this idea and thought of some charities that I would quite like to do it for, also the Christmas cards that I looked at on the UK Greetings site had cards that were linked to charities. 

I am now going to develop my ideas further ready to officially pitch my idea to the group.

UK Greetings - Website

As well as thinking of initial ideas, I have also had a look at the UK Greetings website. On their site you can read about them and also have a look at some of their brands.

http://www.ukgreetings.co.uk/

This is a screen shot of the UK Greetings homepage.

These are the brands which are included on their website. I found that within these brands there were more brands, which I have had a look at. I was surprised at how many cards I recognised when I had a look through the site, when I go out and buy cards I don't really take much notice of the brands which are on the back.

Carlton Cards

These are like the sub brands within Carlton Cards. I have had a look and taken some screen shots of the top four brands which are in the list.

When clicking on the list down the side, it shows you some of the cards with in the range.

Gibson

Above are the sub brands within the Gibson range.

These screen shots are of the top four brands which are in the list for the Gibson range.

Camden Graphics

These are the sub brands which are in the Camden Graphics range.

I have taken some screen shots of the top four brands which are in the list for the Camden Graphics range.

Hanson White

These are the sub brands which are in the Hanson White range.

I have taken some screen shots of the top four brands which are in the list for the Hanson White range.

Forget Me Not

These are the sub brands in the Forget Me Not range.

I have taken screen shots of the top four brands which are in the list.

Collage

These are the sub brands which are in the Collage range. I didn't really look in much detail at this range as it looks more at wrapping paper and gift, which isn't required in the brief.

Special Editions

These are the sub brands with in the Special Editions range. I found that within the sub brands the cards are linked to charities, which I quite liked the idea of. 

I have taken screen shots of the top four sub brands, which are in the list.