Final Manifesto

Introduction:

I have been creating designs of sD elements for very long. I wanted to try something new. For the manifesto, I wanted something that falls in consistency with my corporate identity of 'Afnan', and also make it spontaneous, raw and dynamic. Finally, it certainly had to do with art, since I'm promoting myself as a digital artist who can also encompass my writings.

I called the manifesto 'How does the tree grow?' for several reasons:

• 'Afnan' means branches, and thus works well with the idea of a growing tree.

• My business is not just about designing, but also art, and writing, so it branches out.

• It gives the impression that my business is concerned with the environment.

Following are the statements of my manifesto:

1. For the tree to grow, it needs real emotions.
2. The tree branches out into drawing, designing and writing.
3. Beauty is beautiful, but so is functionality.
4. We care for the audience...we interact.
5. Beliefs are not compromised.
6. Our work acknowledges happiness and sadness, light and darkness.
7. Solutions don't always work, but experiments do not fail.
8. We care for sustainability.
9. Classic Vs. modern? We are more concerned with the integrity.
10. Both the designer and the client can enjoy the view from the top of the tree.

I was initially going to write the statements on a small card that I can slip inside the package. However, after some contemplation, I realized this would take me out of my comfort zone, and writing it with my hands creates a bridge that connects to the book, in which I used my hands for two little sections. The messy handwriting of mine I believe is what is  creating the spontaneity and dynamism of the design.

Things I would want to keep in mind (Manifesto)

These are the things that I came to think about more often in this class, and can be included in my manifesto.

• Some designers will give up their beliefs and credibilities in order to embrace their jobs to the optimum and give the clients what they need. Is this wrong? Personally speaking, we don't all have the luxury of turning down projects for our beliefs. Unfortunately, some people need the money and will give it their best to provide their families with their needs. However, whenever possible, avoid working on designs that collide with your standards. 

• A designer should try his/her best to create designs that satisfy both the designer and the client, and not just one of the two. 

• As we grow, we become fearful of our mistakes, and it prevents us from experimenting with ourselves and our inner voice. One must try to give this fear up. There is nothing wrong with being wrong; if that makes any sense. 

• Aesthetics and functionality both  matter.

• Aesthetics, functionality matter, but what about the environment? What can we as designers do to spread awareness and sustain our resources? Reuse, recycle and so on!

• As a designer, I would like to think that I have strong principles and an aim. Banksy for example, has his ways of embracing his talent; spreading ideas and vague messages. What would mine be? What will I talk about? Often designers become taken by fame, and begin engaging themselves in matters that will bring fame, rather than more truthfulness to their work.

• The design matters, but make sure you know which medium you use in order to get to the target audience.

• In many cases, when it comes to designs that are related to cultures, religion, politics and as such, someone out there will be offended. Drawing the line between a design that should be and should not be displayed is hardly ever clearly drawn. As designer, I would like to address all the problems I feel are essential to get across, but I must take into consideration the background of the culture, but also bear in mind that in most cases, not everyone will be satisfied.

• Always open your eyes to other designers. They do not have to be doing what you wish to do. A animation expert can inspire me with my goal, which is to be a digital artist.

• Try your best to stick to designing with your emotions. At times simplicity is all it takes. However, you may have to very often open up to new ways of creating in order to slowly change the direction of the future.

(Business for Design) poster design ideation

After receiving feedback, I made a new set of poster designs that all relate to the drawing of the tree (third one from the top).

Business for design (CV prototypes)

I finally decided to go with this one. It has no complicated pocket for the business card, yet it serves the client with it in a simpler form. For the white band, I am planning on having recycled semi-transparent paper to give layers of colors and make the best out of the logo.

Business for Design (CV experimentation)

Incase you were wondering, these are the two images that I used for these designs. I used the first one because it is my photography of a tree (with many 'branches', which is the meaning of my name). As for the top one (the one I prefer), I used it because it is a photo of my artworks and some of the tools I use to create them overlapping each other, which creates a movement and a more original, artistic look than the tree. Th tree would probably be used if I were a photographer, which I'm not...or a poet, which I'm also not...

Business for Design (Progressing with the logo)

After a lot of contemplation about which out of all the logos that I have created do I like the best, I realized I kept inclining to this one and that is so for a couple of reasons.

• This logo clearly branches out which depicts the meaning of my name.
• The branches extend in a cyclical manner all around the 'A', representing the idea that my business plan. will be comprised of more than one activity.
• Its appearance is a mixture of rigidity, flexibility, darkness and brightness. This goes well with my mood as I easily snap from one state to the other. 
• It will more likely be appealing to the general public and specifically the younger generations.

In the last photo uploaded you will see how I was making a choice that it may be the right logo with the right colors by progressing with prototypes.

Business for design logo digital sketches

These are the sketches that got me started on my logo.

After that, I began choosing the sketches that I like that most to start digitizing them, and here is what came out.

This is nothing close to what I was imaging for my business. However, out of inspiration I have received from designers in my class, I just decided to experiment for fun and curiosity.

I thought this would get me settled, but it wasn't the case. So I carried on searching for other sketches to digitize.

This is better in my opinion. However, still wasn't satisfied when I was working, so I went ahead and looked for alternatives...I need something that represents my mood, my artworks, and writings, and the meaning of my name, which is 'Branches'...

So I need something much different...And finally I came up with something that I like the most so far out of all the sketches I've done.

The only way to know if it can work was to digitize it and print it small scale...

Finally on that night on Sunday, I created business cards to print them and test...although the juxtaposition of the elements was and still isn't finalized, I needed to know!

It printed clearly! So, If I decide to use these elements for my logo, I now know it would work...

And after deciding to shut down the program, I just had to do this one more little thing...

I had to because I like having the 'A' as part of the whole name and not a separate icon. It differs from the previous ones, as the branches only open up where the text is, it is not shaped as half a circle like the top ones.

Business for Design 1 - Name and thoughts about the business

Names

Previously I was asked to come up with potential names for my future business. Looking through the names, I realized there are two that I feel are the most appropriate.

• Afnan
• Branches

Why?

This business is going to be a medium through which I am hoping to express myself through conventional art, digital, writing and speaking. Therefore, using my name to simply and clearly tell the audience that these are my works would work. As for 'Branches', I realized it is a more abstract way of saying the same thing. Except this time using the word 'Branches' because it's the meaning of my name, and trees are metaphorically related to things that branch out into several directions, similarly I express designs and thoughts in different ways.

My artworks are not merely classical, and are not completely modern either. Depending on my mood and idea I plan to convert, how modern or classical it looks can is a variable. Therefore, for my designed identity, I must use a theme that falls between classical and modern, and must flow with dynamism to suggest what my business ought to be about.

Possible Solution

Flourish art is a form that I have used for my works several times. Flourish arts are dynamic, classical and modern, dark and light at the same time. It can also abstractly depict nature, or 'branches'. Therefore, as I contemplated on my business for design task, I thought of utilizing flourish arts for my identity.

Looking through my work and photography...

Now these are not images I took for my RSA project. These are the moments that I mostly enjoy capturing the environment...around nature

This is an example of an artwork I created for my mother's birthday with flourish art.

Another artwork I have done with flourish art. It means that we are more complicated than we seem, and we consist of many different elements and thoughts that make up who we are.

Communication

• Social networks
• Website
• Presentations (If possible)
• Artworks
• Prints
• Books

I began gathering my writings and thoughts. I have also created a list of topics I wish to talk about through my writings and artworks