Friday, April 29, 2011

Consumer Behavior Result

In our Consumer Behavior group, we had to find a high end user product that people have to take time on to purchase and find the core value as to why people make these decisions.  Our groups' high use product was the purchase decision of attending college.  Through our ACV chains we discovered that our core value people gained after selecting a college was self-fulfillment.

We were asked to create a paper explaining our interviews, research, ACV chain, and MECCAS model.  For our MECCAS end of the project, our group decided the advertisement that would be most beneficial to reach a wide variety of students both verbally and non-verbally was through a commercial.  While Durham College is a real college, we took their commercial and turned their sound off.  Then we created our own narration and the end result is below.  This project was fascinating to find the process as to how to reach what really drives a consumer in their purchases.

Commercial Architecture (Revit)

This semester, we had to create a multi-story commercial facility and one level had to be a bank.  My concept for this project was Wonderland (like in Alice and Wonderland) and was looking for unexpected adventures when one journeys through the space with pops of colors on the upper floors.  The project I completed to this point mainly focuses on the space planning and exterior structure with attention paid to a few materials that will be incorporated (ex. flooring, counters, and walls).  I am looking to complete the material selections for this project and update the renderings over the summer.

I've truly enjoyed learning how to operate Revit and I cannot believe the abilities we have as designers to use this program and create highly realistic renderings in minutes.

 
 Both of these images are a rendering of the exterior of the bank.  Light colored asphalt and building shell materials selected to watch for solar heat gain.
 (Left) Roof top with seating areas and lighter colors selected to watch out for solar heat gain in this space.(Right) Interior perspective of Bank on the first level.  Meant to be reminescent of an older bank with stones and marbles found in England. *More lights to be added

Advertising Projects

For this groups last two projects of the semester, we had to create a radio and a television commercial.  Our target market was Americans and we were trying to create everyday conversations for all of us to relate to.  Hopefully, once one hears these advertisements-the next time these commercials occur-they will remember the spontaneous Aussie saying, "How About Outback?!" (Below is our groups television ad)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Project Update!

This semester has been flying by and there is only a little over a month left.  Group projects have been going over well this semester and we all seem to be coming together to make some innovative concepts!  Here is a wrap up of what the first half of the semester has looked like:

Advertising:  Our group came up with the company name Orange Global Advertising and I created a logo for the group.  


Next, we had to choose a company to advertise for this semester and we chose Outback Steakhouse.  The first project was to create two print ads for different target markets.  We chose middle aged Americans and middle aged South Koreans who reside in America.  Conceptually, I sketched up the ads for the group and we edited the sketches to what the group was ultimately looking for.  Next, we "Photoshop"ped the advertisements and I created the American Ad (left) while some group members took on making the South Korean Ad (right).
Now, we are working on radio and television advertisements for the American target market and our current idea is to take various everyday situations and have people discussing what they want for dinner.  Then we are going to have one of us play the Australian character and randomly pop up to inform these people to "Go To Outback".  Then by the end of the ads we inform the audience that "We're always just right Outback".  So soon to come will be our group television advertisement!

Commercial Architecture:  This class we are learning about the construction methods and various materials that are used in construction situations that deal with commercial architecture.  For the project, we are given the freedom to make the structure how we feel fit on Revit.  We were given a layout for a bank on the main level and the freedom to make the rest of the structure how we would like.  I have decided to make the main level a bank, the second level a daycare (for employees within the building to have a place to take their kids), and the third level a cafe (for everyone to enjoy and relax).  The third level stairs go up to the roof top and people are given the option when the weather is nice to enjoy the rooftop.  Conceptually, I am thinking of using a "Alice in Wonderland" theme, where the bank is very sophisticated and English looking with dark woods and marbles on the main floor.  Which leads to Wonderland on the second floor and is enticing to children of all ages with state of the art technology and vibrant colors and textures.  The third floor is the cafe and plays on the idea of the Mad Hatter and his tea party's.  The cafe and the rooftop will have defined paths with unexpected elements found within.  Currently, this project is about half way complete and the interiors are being created.  When I make perspectives, I'll try to print and scan a few to add to the blog!

Consumer Behavior:  This class we have two group projects that teach us to look beyond the first layer of  reasons why people consume what they do and find the underlying meanings of consumer purchases.  For the subculture project, our group has chosen Harry Potter fanatics and this subject has turned out to be deeper than I expected.  While our second project, we were to chose a high end consumption and figure out what is in common between our research subjects.  Our group chose to look at the purchase decision of why people chose the college that they did.  We just got done conducting our one on one interviews and next we will find the common factors amongst are discussions which will then be the basis of our report.  Stay tuned for our Harry Potter and College Consumption presentations/outcomes!  


Ultimately, the end of this semester is going to come fast and there are a lot of projects that need to get wrapped up.... So I better get back to a project!





Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Beginning of my Final Semester

Time at home during winter break really flew by and now I am back at UCM to finish up the last semester before I graduate.  On my plate this semester are three marketing classes, one commercial architecture class, and one general education course left. 

I am looking forward to my marketing classes and should have some group project work to keep everyone updated on.  Projects for these courses include: making our own ads, creating radio and television commercials, and creating sale pitches to our peers. 
In addition, in my commercial architecture class we will be creating a four story bank on Revit!  This project will take the whole semester to develop, but I am really looking forward to getting my hands and mind back to work and stay tuned for updates on this project!
Another side project that I will be working on this semester with a small group of classmates is a design charette that will last 2 weeks for the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) competition!  Last year we had a blast working on this project and I look forward to what we can create this year-so look forward to this project as well...

This semester will soon fly by, but there are many projects in various classes to stay updated on in the next sixteen weeks.  So I will keep everyone posted!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

An End to Graphics & Illustration course...

The end of the semester is coming around and that means the end of my Graphic Design course.  This class has been a great course that I feel has allowed me to develop new skills that will be useful to my career.  Through the use of Adobe Creative Suite software, I have found new avenues of designing various elements in a space for clients and have learned to enrich my hand skills with computer skills.  Over the semester, I feel I have grown a better understanding of how to simplify not only images, but layout designs for projects through this course.  I feel my proudest project that I completed during this course was our first logo design project because with outside advice and my own knowledge behind the subject matter.  I feel I really pushed this limit to a simplistic logo that expressed everything I wanted to say in an image!  Our second project (my name expressed through photographs) was my favorite to work on because I got to spend this project with friends and seeing how my direction could lead them to produce the visions that I had for each letter!  Ultimately, I feel this course was not only an enjoyable class, but one my clients and I will benefit from in the future!