Ila's Tea Room - Final Project Update

Hello there! Since I handed in my final project from the 10th of May, I have been following upon the guidance of my tutors at Nottingham College and have embedded a more contemporary version which I produced over the weekend. Following advice from my brother and tutors (Richard/Sarah), I have implemented changes to further improve and make the design more suitable for mass audiences. What I have submitted below are the re-worked versions of the newer improved logo design, with carefully selecting colour palettes seen in Ila's tea shop I have went about - capturing the teapot and tea leaves with a suitable colour.

The amended design, after initial studies of Yumchaa's logos and more contemporary brands I pushed for a simplistic design - with a hand-drawn typeface and vector doiley effect, in keeping with some of the previous ideas in my file.

I have implemented a few situ images that tie the contemporary branding for Ila's here, they are an alternative branding concept to make it more accessible to a larger demographic. Understanding that the majority of her current audience base, consistent of more maturer ages having a clear and appealing brand image. Understanding the research that goes into a brand is one of the more critical aspects – who is your audience/market? What they want and how can your service/or product solve their problems and emotional needs. In this case for Ila's tea shop it was about creating a warm pleasant experience that will attract consumers from a myriad of ages, not just a maturer demographic – this was to be communicated through the branding elements I suggested in my proposal, such as the menu/flyers/business cards/brand guide-lines and the vinyl print.

Reflecting back to this Final major project, expanding upon more contemporary examples would have been much more beneficial earlier on. Having explored this then at a later, has definitely improved my design and confidence overall – and the execution of specific ideas. The additional situ designs showcase the additional contemporary brand assets, they are significantly different to the original submitted designs on the 10th.

Templates - available from Graphic-burger. Putting the logo & Ila's slogan (personal) onto the chalkboard for effect. See the current chalk-board below to see the difference in execution.

Applied with chalk-paint, how the display looks on Trinity walk.

For the business cards, I followed the theme of having less repetitive elements and included Ila's name (first) to be placed on the front. And the back to include social media pages and contact information.

The front of Ila's contemporary (version) businness card.

Here are the tote-bag ideas I had in mind just to see how the applied branding could appear on bags and accessories. Looking at templates on Graphic-burger (great resource).

Currently I'm in the process of double-checking all the elements to be verified and sent to the printers, I have been receiving additional support via the ACES team at the Nottingham College, and they have been instrumental in helping me manage my schedule and progress.

Final Major Project : Ila's Little Tea Shoppe : Chapter One!

For my Final major project, in the back of my mind I was thinking about how I could help Ila Gamble months ago back in September. Since been given the initial brief, my immediate thought was of Ila and her Tea Shop on Trinity Walk. A few days after our college briefing I popped in and started chatting with her about my final major project, the proposal and what I intended to create for her. With my new found interest and development in Calligraphy (thanks to some historical essay writing!) I thought this kind of project would help push my skills in Calligraphy as well as logo design & branding. Combining both my interest in historical illustration and the techniques and processes going back to the mid 18th/19th centuries - would prove to be an interesting project for me to tackle! 

The front frontage shop of Ila's Little Tea Shoppe. As seen from the front, there is currently no visible applied sign display. Speaking to a few of her customers and regulars they sometimes would mention it can be challenging to find/locate in Nottingham. This photograph proved to be a template for me to experiment further, such as 'mock-up' tests to see things in situ.

Since researching the origins and development of Afternoon Tea and how tea-houses in general have been developing and surviving up till now proved to be insightful. More established brands such as Betty's (1919) and the Hotel Ritz (London) all offer a distinct and glimpse to the past of England's favorite afternoon activity. Through examination of their existing branding, you understand how important the historical context is when tasked with redesigning a brand for a tea-shop.

First initial thumbnails for the shop's logo for Ila. Ultimately this proved to be one of the stronger designs out of the others I had then proceeded to develop later on. With a more customized calligraphic inspired typeface. 

Here is my selected menu concept cover for Ila's shop, utilizing a new logo design with refinement to the illustration as well. The illustrations give flavour and bite, inspired by the menus from Betty's I desired to have hand-designed aspects present on it.

Since then I have been trying to produce more consistent illustrations in keeping with the two (above) more to come very soon! The finalized menu will still showcase Ila's original selected foods and drinks (which in my opinion are very tasty) to a more fully fleshed depiction. The illustrations are to be used in conjunction of calligraphic styled type as well.

The finalized logo and my favored design for Ila's Little Tea Shoppe. With some modifications and use of symmetry this design was utility for - business cards, gift cards and stamp signage for instance.

One of the stronger logo designs implemented onto her shop signage, more pre-visualization to show Ila and also for my VIVA presentation on the 22nd of March! For the window display my intention was for the illustration to be produced as a vinyl, to grab the attention of passerby's.