I want my name on EVERYTHING from Awesome Merch!!!!

I LOOOVE Awesome Merch! 

Ever since first came across their services early into my 1st year up here I've always said to myself i want the lot, it's all awesome! So much to choose from in order to get your work 'out there' and in buyable form. I was looking into getting some prints done last summer, but it never happened as i couldn't decide on any work that i thought warranted me spending money on and being made into quality prints. I wanted to make packs of postcard sized prints, but again i didn't have any work that i thought people would be interested in, and i didn't  have a platform to sell them on, or an event/fare to go and sell my wares. That didn't stop me setting up a BigCartel & Redbubble, store which are both almost totally unknown pretty the entire human race. My marketing skills need serious work, hopefully the next round of PPP will aid me there.

But back to Awesome Merch - as a last minute thought, i felt i needed something to accompany my prints at 'Off the Page' in term of a business card or something that visitors could take home if they did not really wan to buy a print, but liked my work and wanted to investigate me more. Rather than a traditional business card i noticed the square versions, which i've always fancied having. The pin badges are also a nice little item to be able to give away to customers too. So i thought its not to late, i'll knock up a quick design with my logo and contact details on and put in an order for 50,see how they come out...

Square business cards

Neon badges. Definitely on my list.

Front design 54 x 54 plus bleed guides.

Back design (yellow outline not inc)

As i couldn't definitely guarantee that they'd turn up in time for the exhibition i thought "wonder how good they'd look if i did them myself in the dungeon?" Couldn't hurt, plus i needed to make myself as contactable as possible on the night. So i booked myself in with James McB and he showed me ways of double-sided printing set up.

And the answer is, they came out very well indeed. I'm really chuffed with them. Even the yellow ended up a trendy shade of mustard, which attracted the eyes of a fellow student. Cutting them all out with the guillotine was a bit of 'fun' though, but worth the time in the end. I'll still get some bit and bobs made by awesome in the near future, for sure, as there's too much amazing stuff on there not too! If i find an opportunity to sell more of my work somewhere then i'll make sure i get some IANF merch made up in good time. But it's all good and well having some branding behind me, i need a product and market to go with it-which is easier said than done, for me.

After Effects continued...

I've really enjoyed being introduced to the basics of After effects in Mike's sessions, in fact the prospect of really trying to get to grips with it and all the creative possibilities that come with it has been the only thing I've really been able to get really enthusiastic about on the module at he moment. The illustration side of things is frustrating me to the point where i can't face drawing much at all, so focusing on something new and digital based, where i can incorporate my Photoshop & Illustrator design experience, and make them my work 'come alive' is something that I'm currently far more driven to do. Don't get me wrong, i love writing essays though(!) 

I was finding it a bit hard to concentrate on what Mike was telling us whilst making notes and doing it all on screen at the same time without completely forgetting everything, so I've been speeding some quality alone time with this guy…

(had to whack on the subtitles to find out what his name was)

I've been working my way through the tutorials with him ,t rying to soak up as much as possible, but theres a hell of a lot you can do on After Effects, and I'm getting cranky because i don't have enough  time to master it all! But i keep telling myself i didn't get good at Photoshop overnight, so i'll try and keep these lessons up in my spare time and it'l improve my chances of making a half decent animated sting. If i manage to create any imagery to go into it?!