V Energy stand visuals

I worked as part of a team to create 3D visuals of an experiential stand for this years V Energy campaign. The campaign for this year is called "Green Energy".  My role was to create the graphics for the visuals, these graphics were then sent to a 3D visual specialist to create a fly through animation.

The object of this visual was to allow the V Energy executives to understand our concept.  The concept itself was very similar to last years successful campaign.  There would be a portable beach volleyball court, where the brand ambassadors would play matches with and against the general public. There would be a bar handing out refreshments in the form of free V Energy drink samples, all accompanied by a live DJ.  The overall goal was a fun and exciting outdoor event. Last year was a real success, appearing at Summer festivals throughout the UK. This year we have stuck with the same formula but refreshed the graphic style.

Adobe Master Suite CS5.5

I'm super excited to announce that I've finally upgraded my software from CS4 to CS5.5. Not only have I upgraded to the latest version, but I have gone from Design Standard Suite, to the much coveted Master Suite Collection. If you're unaware what this means then I'll try to explain and you will see what a huge step up this is.

Adobe Design Standard Suite comes with the following software:

• Photoshop
• Illustrator  
• InDesign 
• crobat Pro 
• Bridge 
• Device Central 
• CS Live online services

...and the Adobe Master Suite Collection comes packed with the following software:

• Photoshop Extended
• Illustrator
• InDesign
• Acrobat Pro
• Flash Catalyst
• Flash Professional
• Flash Builder Premium Edition
• Dreamweaver
• Fireworks
• Contribute
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• After Effects
• Adobe Audition
• Adobe OnLocation
• Encore
• Bridge
• Device Central
• Media Encoder
• CS Live online services

As you can see, this will allow me to rule the world.

Andrex Washlets set floor plans

Please see previous posts for more details on the Andrex Washlets campaign.  With this job so massive I feel I have been repeating myself a little on the blog lately.

So I had completed the set artwork a couple of weeks prior, sent them to the printers and they had now all been printed and were ready to tour the country. Many shopping centres would be graced by the visit of this experiential campaign.  The set itself would need to be constructed at each location and then dismantled at the end of the event.  This is very typical of this type of event, but due to our technical design of the flooring and the varying sizes of the floor spaces - each shopping centre has differing specifications - I needed to painstakingly create floor plans for all of the various sizes.

The floor graphics were too large to print as one single piece, they had to be cut into circles and arranged much like an over-sized jigsaw.

Andrex Washlets animation

This was one of the most enjoyable jobs I've ever had.  I was asked to create a looping one minute animation which would appear on two large plasma screens. The screens were built into the walls of the Andrex Washlets set I had previously created the artwork for.  The job took around three days to complete.

The reason I enjoyed this so much was because it was my first Adobe After Effects job. Usually the agencies I work for out source this kind of brief to expensive London based specialists. When the brief appeared - and before it could be out sourced - I jumped on the opportunity and announced that I now have sufficient knowledge of creating animations.  This was somewhat of a surprise to one of my long time clients. They have pigeon-holed me as simply an art-worker in the past. This is slowly changing as they are starting to recognise my versatility. I've been working for this particular client for over a decade, so there is a lot of trust and honesty between us.  They have come to understand that if I say I can do something, I can.  Equally, if I am unable to do something, I'll clearly say so but perhaps give them a phone number of who can.

My knowledge of Adobe After Effects is actually very new.  It's something I've always wanted to understand but didn't have the time. I have just embarked on a large side project - an independent movie - in which I could either out source the After Effects expensively, or do it myself.  So with this new incentive I have been taking various courses in the software.  I feel I'm at an intermediate level, but I'll continue to hone these skills with more courses. 

Known as someone who always strives to create polished and professional work, I am a win win solution for future animation work for my clients.  Besides, I'm much less expensive than the London based specialists.

Here is a low resolution of the HD video.

V Energy drink - 2012 campaign concept

In 2011 I worked on the V Energy drink experiential campaign. The idea was "V-Ball", you can read about this is a previous post. The campaign was a success with the general public and all involved behind the scenes. V Energy wanted more of the same for this years campaign.

The concept was simple, don't fix something that isn't broken.  We would keep the event the same (appearing at various festivals throughout the Summer): a portable beach volleyball court where brand ambassadors could play matches with and against the general public, a large set including huge branded banners and flags, a bar serving free samples of the energy drink accompanied by a DJ.  A perfect social experiential event.

The only difference for this year would be updated and refreshed graphic elements. I created the concept board to the agencys' art directors' specifications and we now await the feedback from V Energy. 

Andrex Washlets 8 page gatefold leaflet artwork

With the Andrex Washlets experiential set artwork complete, and in the hands of the printers the next job was to complete the gatefold leaflet.

This 8 page leaflet had been through various design versions, eight in all. The final design had been chosen and it was time to move it forward.  The artwork was simple to create because I had previously done the bulk of the specifics while in the previous design stage.  In fact, all I had to do now was check everything, and then recheck everything before collecting for output and supplying it to the printers.

Andrex Washlets stand artwork

Almost everyday for the last month I have been working diligently on the experiential campaign for Andrex Washlets 2012. Today was the final day for set artwork in a frenzied final push between account handlers, project managers and printers.  I made the final tweaks to the artwork and supplied the various items to the respective print companies.

All of the artwork was for a large set which would tour the country appearing in the largest shopping centres.  The object would be to spread the word of the new Andrex Washlets product. The set would stand in a 10 x 12m floor space, and would be 2m tall.  It included artwork for floor graphics, desk wraps, wall panels, interactive i-pad software and uniforms for the brand ambassadors on set. 

Using Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and a lot of mathematics, my role was complete and it was then in the hands of the print companies. Of course I would remain on call in case any problems arose.

Andrex Washlets floor ripple development

With the Andrex Washlets experiential campaign looming, I had to put some time in on New Years Eve and New Years Day. I was working from home and I'm not one of these people to moan about working on public holidays.  Being self employed I tend not to have weekends at the same time as other people.  This makes me happy, as it gives me a sense of freedom and choice.

In various previous posts I have spoken about the large impressive stand Andrex have commissioned us to create.  The stand will tour the country, making stops at many of the largest shopping centres in England. The objective is to spread the word of the new Andrex Washlets product - which I have used by the way, and like a lot. That isn't marketing speak, or an attempt to sell them - I genuinely like them.  You know, if I were to say that on the radio they would no doubt send me free boxes full of them!

This touring set would need to be reconstructed in each location.  The company that does this for us is used to it, it's what they do. However, on this occasion I don't envy them.  The floor to this set is particularly complicated.  It's jigsaw like, made up of circular prints varying in size from 1.8 meters in diameter, to 0.9 meters in diameter.  If you were to look directly down from the ceiling you would see water ripples overlapping. It would be impossible to print something that large, so each ripple had to me cut separately and placed correctly. The artwork for this part of the job took me the best part of three days.  It was mathematics intensive and the files were extremely large. 

Check the other posts for full stand graphics and layout.