Brand Design
This project involved designing three postcards that reflect York University’s Design Program’s core values of innovation, creativity, and inclusivity. Each postcard highlights one of the program’s pillars—Interaction, Communication, and Information Design—using a vibrant, student-friendly aesthetic to engage and inspire prospective students while reinforcing the program’s welcoming and dynamic brand identity.
Project This project involved designing a set of three postcards for York University’s Design Program
Role
Brand Designer and Researcher
Timeline2 Weeks
Tools
Illustrator
Size5 W x 7 H
This project centered around the creation of a cohesive set of three visually engaging postcards, designed specifically for York University’s Design Program. The primary objective was to capture the attention of prospective students, while reflecting the program’s creative spirit and academic values. Each postcard was thoughtfully conceptualized and crafted to not only inform but also inspire potential applicants, offering them a glimpse into the dynamic, innovative, and collaborative environment that York’s Design Program fosters.
MoodBoard:
Through my mood board, I explored both graphic and typographic inspiration, focusing on the modest use of simple, bold shapes and balanced, cohesive color palettes. I was drawn to creative, modern manipulations of type forms, thoughtful use of empty space, and the dynamic interaction between graphic elements and typography. Overall, the harmony between bold shapes and unified color palettes stood out as a key visual approach.
Step 1:
Conducting research and selecting key words and phrases to help guide the design structure.
Version 1:
- I combined research on York’s Design Program with previous research on other design schools, focusing on the program’s three main areas: Interaction, Communication, and Information Design. I developed sketches that kept the middle section consistent while adapting the surrounding elements to reflect each focus area.
Elements:
- The Victor Dahdaleh building (Design Faculty) with the two background towers—referencing Schulich’s tower and the second student centre.
- The sun, symbolizing a bright future in design.
- The growing thought bubbles from the eye in the corner, representing a designer’s evolving perspective and creative process
Version 2:
- Digital Rendition of the sketches in colour
Critique Notes
- They look a bit similar, try change the colours or even the placement of the DESN
A key challenge was balancing creativity with clear communication while representing three design disciplines within a tight timeline. Each postcard had to be engaging, informative, and cohesive, all while appealing to high school students.
Goal:
The goal of the project was to create a set of three postcards that visually represent the core values of York University’s Design Program, innovation, creativity, and inclusivity. Each postcard was designed to highlight one of the program's key pillars, Interaction, Communication, and Information Design, using vibrant, student-friendly aesthetics to engage and inspire prospective students.
The design aimed to reflect the program’s dynamic and collaborative environment, reinforcing its welcoming brand identity while effectively communicating its academic values.
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Emphasis on Core Program Values:Showcases York University Design’s commitment to innovation, creativity, and inclusivity through visually engaging postcards tailored to prospective students.
Representation of Design Disciplines:Each postcard is dedicated to one of the program’s pillars—Interaction, Communication, and Information Design, providing focused insight into each specialization.
Cohesive Visual Identity:A consistent visual framework unites the three postcards, reinforcing the program’s dynamic brand while allowing for unique thematic expression in each piece.
Student-Friendly Aesthetic:Utilizes vibrant colors and approachable graphics to create an inviting and youthful tone that appeals to high school and early university audiences.
Inspirational Messaging Strategy:Blends informative and motivational content to not only describe the program but also spark excitement and curiosity in potential applicants.
Brand Reinforcement Through Design:Strengthens the Design Program’s identity as welcoming, collaborative, and forward-thinking by aligning the visuals and messaging with its academic culture.
Solution:
The solution was to create a cohesive set of three vibrant postcards, each representing one of York University’s Design Program pillars: Interaction, Communication, and Information Design. These postcards reflect the program’s core values of innovation, creativity, and inclusivity, engaging and inspiring prospective students while reinforcing the program’s dynamic and welcoming identity.
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Designed by Me (Daniel Santos) 2024