GENUINE – Clothing Company

1. Sketches are in .PDF

2. Final project images in .PDF

3. For the most part I did everything I set out to do. I wanted to design more shirts and also create a poster or editorial spread.

4. My challenges were the skateboard company at first(not working), coming up with a name, and how I wanted the logo to look.

5. The logo, though it took far too long I like how it turned out. Stationary and shirts turned out well. The website could have used some more finessing.

6. I learned that I shouldn’t have cared so much about the name. It would have saved me a lot of time. Know exactly what you want as a company and what values it has before you begin.

7. Better research. If I was to get stuck just move onto something else and come back to whatever I was stuck on later.

8. I felt like at the start it was gonna go very well. I thought I would get two projects done no problem. During about midway I thought I was screwed… Now I did a good job for making up lost time.

9. I think I deserve a “C”. I learned a lot during the process and have a fair amount of stuff to show for it. Though I don’t have a ton of work to show, I did spent a lot of time working on the project.

Weekly Schedule:

Week 1: Research. Look at existing skateboard companies(names, color schemes, etc.), Strong grasp on what the company stands for and how it wants to be portrayed. Come up with a name.
Lots of web research and magazines. I’ve been skateboarding for 14 years so I knew where to look.

Week 2: Have name chosen by end of week 2. Start sketching for a logo.
After looking at all existing names, what was still around, and what was popular I decided to do something weird. Decided to start looking through the dictionary for a name. Read definitions if name had a good sound to it.

Week 3: Refine sketches on computer.
Still searching through dictionary. Looking at skateboard websites.

Week 4: Choose logo that works best. Start working on board graphics. Brainstorm ideas for possible series and start sketching.
Finished looking through the dictionary. Comprised a list of 150 or so names with good meaningful definitions. Sent list of names to my friend. He has a whole other vision and turns out to not be in a hurry so project is a no go. Decide I don’t want to do it on skateboarding because if its’ not going to become an actual business, I already have a skateboard company I have designed.

Week 5: Scan in illustrations and start working on the computer.
Decide to do a street wear clothing company. Come up with name Keen. Looked at a bunch of fonts and made a print out of it typed out with about 30 fonts. Got excited to start working on it and ended up not being able to use it because there is a shoe company named Keen.

week 6 – Get logo done
Comprised a new list from my previous one and decided to go with Genuine. Had an idea of doing it in a script/hand drawn font. Worked on sketching logo, wrote out with calligraphy pens(all different sizes), sharpies, normal pens.

week 7 – Shirt designs started and refined, work on poster design
Started working on website. Still couldn’t come to terms with how I wanted logo. Thought about t-shirt ideas.

week 8 – Finish shirts, get shirts printed asap
Decided on logo, got scanned in and started cleaning up the scan and changing the line weight to make it more legible. Started designing t-shirts. Made two shirt designs.

week 9 – Input photos into posters and be ready to print. Finishing touches to whatever needs it.
Re-worked website. Got rid of slider, brush stroke background, etc. Added finished logo and started adding details. Finished series of animal shirts.

week 10 – I didn’t have anything for this week. Must have figured it was done by then.
Worked on finishing website. Added another page to my website. Designed business card, letterhead, and envelope.

gd_untersehert_genuine

Plans for catching up:
Get logo chosen, refined, and done as soon as possible. At the same time, work on t-shirt designs, and other apparel. Talk to a couple friends that screen press shirts as their job. Get shirts printed to use in a photo shoot, for multiple poster designs.
Last 5 weeks:

week 6 – Get logo done

week 7 – Shirt designs started and refined, work on poster design

week 8 – Finish shirts, get shirts printed asap

week 9 – Input photos into posters and be ready to print. Finishing touches to whatever needs it.

week 10 – Portfolio show.

Gonna try and get more stuff then that done, but I don’t wanna make any claims.

Choice
Classy
Elan
Elegance
Eloquent
Flow
Focus
Genuine
Glisten
highlight
Imprint
Impulse
Insight
Leisure
Plush
Poise
Precise
Stylish

Things I’ve done:
*Researched skateboard companies for; name ideas, appearance, teams, colors, lifetime of company, and a little look into types of apparel and board designs.

*Came up with a name. Might be a bad way about going about it, but I went through an entire Websters Dictionary for names. Wanted to find a big list of names for the company my friend wants to make. List was around 150 or more possible names. Narrowed it down to 27 – 14 – 8 – 4- and now 1.

*Generated a visual list of possible fonts to use for the logo. Going to start sketching and should have a logo over the weekend. I will post my logo comps to my blog as soon as I get them done. OH! My company is called “KEEN”.

Definitions for [keen]
3. characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive.
4. having or showing great mental penetration or acumen
5. animated by or showing strong feeling or desire
7. eager; interested; enthusiastic
8. Slang. great; wonderful; marvelous.

Come up with a name, make a logo, multiple series of skateboard graphics, apparel(1 or more shirts), Stickers, and possibly a poster or 2 page editorial spread depending on time.

This was going to become an actual skateboard company located in Santa Monica, California. I thought the company name was already chosen but I was wrong… I understand how hard it is to choose a company name that will work well and be around for years to come. So, I figure if we can’t come to a decision on a company name within the first 2 weeks, then I will just choose a name I find fitting, and go from there.

Might be real – might be made up. If everything works out I will have actual skateboard decks and shirts to show.

Rough Timeline:

Week 1: Research. Look at existing skateboard companies(names, color schemes, etc.), Strong grasp on what the company stands for and how it wants to be portrayed. Come up with a name.

Week 2: Have name chosen by end of week 2. Start sketching for a logo.

Week 3: Refine sketches on computer.

Week 4: Choose logo that works best. Start working on board graphics. Brainstorm ideas for possible series and start sketching.

Week 5: Scan in illustrations and start working on the computer.

Week 6: Have 2-3 series(4-5) board graphics in the works. At least one completed.

Week 7: Have board graphics done and start working on shirt graphics and stickers.

Week 8: Have shirts and stickers done. Print off all designs and make refinements to whatever needs it.

Week 9: Have finalized, printed, and ready to go!

Week 10: Finals

This is what I have so far. Needs detail, which I am working on.

I would like to be considered for the design internship at the Oregon Zoo. I’m currently a second year design student at Mt. Hood Community College working towards my Associates Degree of Applied Science. I have done numerous creative and challenging design pieces using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

My career goals are to work for a creative and strong team of designers doing editorial design. This internship will help me gain knowledge of doing design work in the real world for a company doing work that helps others.  I believe the work I would do at the Zoo would be a great compliment to the existing pieces in my portfolio. The biggest benefit would be the real-world experience of working as part of a creative team. I want to learn more about the creative process at the Zoo. How projects are started, and concepts discussed. The design process, final production and printing

I have lots of good qualities that will make me a valuable intern. I have a strong portfolio and extensive design and software skills. I have made posters, magazine layouts, a calendar, cd pamphlet, tee shirt design, and more. I have a great understanding and use of type, color, and layout.

I know I can portray the Oregon Zoo’s values and message informatively as well as creatively through my designs. I love the Oregon Zoo and make a point to come at least once a year to see the exhibits, specifically the Giraffes. I think designing media to communicate the zoo’s messages to the community sounds like fun and rewarding work.If chosen for your summer term internship I wont disappoint you. I am dedicated to getting work completed in a timely matter and love the idea of helping the zoo save endangered species and the environment through my designs. I would really enjoy meeting you in person so we could talk more about the internship and I would love the opportunity to show you my portfolio.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Thomas Unterseher