RESEARCH...

Ancillary Task 1- Billboard Design:
My first ancillary task is to create a billboard design displaying what would be Vanessa Carlton (Melissa). Thinking about what I wish to incorporate, I instantly visualise quite a large, dominant image of Melissa. Having seen many billboard displays before, especially whilst driving, I already have quite a clear idea of the common codes and conventions used; however to refresh my memory and to be absolutely clear on what my design should look like, I conducted further research on billboards in general.

Immediately it became clear that the majority of billboard designs are landscape. This is largely due to their location and positioning; the following image conveys this well:

Here is a billboard image used in America, advertising the: 'Concert For Hope.'
It too includes dominant images, an eye catching colour scheme and is landscape.

This then led me to consider the colour scheme. Having referred back to our Style Guide, I already have the basic colours in mind: red, black and white and plan to include Gothic conventions, therefore I shall place greater emphasis on the font- ensuring it is also eye-catching.

After analysing further existing billboards, it seems their designs can go either two ways: simple and quite clean-cut or busy with every inch of space covered. Here are two rather prominent examples:

 

Simple, clean-cut.
This design incorporates a simple colour-scheme (similar to my own). It has a large key image, yet includes all the necessary information. However, there is a risk of 'dead space', so if I were to use this style, I would need to ensure it didn't look empty.

Here is the second example:



Quite busy.
Even though it is displaying three artists, it still portrays the same message.
It incorporates a large key image that fills the space entirely without using a background. There is an extreme emphasis on the artists themselves.

After listing several various similarities and differences in terms of conventions, I have decided that personally, I prefer the more clean-cut version. I think with the other, there is a risk of getting carried away and over-crowding the space. Also, the main aim of a billboard is to quickly convey a message and I think that to use a simple design will reduce the risk of confusion. If done correctly, the product should achieve its aim.

Lily-May Smythe