Long Road Applied Media Diploma

Produce at least two variant colourways for your cover design showing different choices of palette. Use ink spots to identify the colours in each version.

Sussex-based illustrator Matt Taylor has recently completed a Little White Lies cover illustration for the magazine's Filth issue

Matt began by compositing a screengrab of the main actor's face taken from the film's trailer with a photo of Matt's own hands to create the visual reference he needed for his composition. 

He then proceeded to work up an original sketch

And then a combination of the final pencils with sketching out ideas for the lighting

The final image successfully manages to achieve Matt's goal for the cover which was "to convey the manic intensity and claustrophobic nature of the journey of the lead character, but also try and get across with his expression that this is a pitch black comedy, and not deadly serious."

You can see more of Matt's work at http://www.matttaylor.co.uk/

The final deadline for getting your finished cover design uploaded to flickr is 4pm Friday 18th October.

Update your production schedule taking into account what needs to get done in the next nine days to complete the project.

That means getting up-to-date with your blog as well as finishing your front cover.

Use the link here to download the assets.

TASK:

 Annotate your two draft designs with notes and ideas based on the comments posted on the LRAMD blog under ART EDITOR FEEDBACK. Visually highlight specific areas/aspects of your design, such as parts of the illustration, composition, colour or choice of font and add notes from the editor feedback. Use arrows, highlights or any other types of annotation to show what elements you will look to change or develop and add to the editor's feedback with your own ideas and responses.



Beth 


The first one is the more interesting idea, the second is too photographic and not stylised enough.
To improve the first one – could the grid/maze be used in a more creative way? For instance certain parts of the grid be raised or offset and give it a ‘cut-up’ feel. Or they could punch through the picture. 
Think about fonts as well – could they be part of the grid or could different shades of the grid form words.

Keiran Gee


The second is the more interesting in terms of composition (over the shoulder look). The idea for the first one is the more interesting – could the blocks be bigger or could they be used to construct the face or punch through the portrait in a interesting manner.


James Buckmaster


Both are OK. The vector one stands out and is more eye-catching, the problem with it is that it is too flat – it look likes clips art.
It needs highlight and shadow too bring it too life.
Could some of the empty space be used to include some detail – perhaps the reflection of a battle in the visor.

Jacob Foulds


The first one is bold but looks odd.
The second one has some good line drawing – could the two ideas be combined – work up the pencil drawing to include more detail and then introduce a bold colour pallet. Working with layers you could experiment with the treatment to get the best look.

Josh Matthews


The second one has the better composition and the likeness – the first has the idea. The issue is that the use of the lense flare effect is interesting but might not appear on a LWL cover which often have a more tactile quality – not that it’s bad idea – it might be a departure for the style.
Key for you is too work on composition on detail – perhaps have a rethink on ideas.

Kaylee


Interesting idea – but I would like for the pattern to have real relevance in terms of relation to the film. Could you find a logo (perhaps the academy logo) and bring that into the pattern.
Another idea is for the face to be seemingly constructed by the pattern and the threads have come loose – separated near the edge of the portrait.

Matt


The second is that one that stands out – however you need to think about what pattern is going to be in the visor. The vortex thing doesn’t work as it looks a little like he’s a Cyclops. Also change the background – the heavy set paper doesn’t work with the sci-fi images especially when there are blank spaces. Why green skin?

Mel


Well it’s got to be 1. There’s a lot of work gone into this.
What makes this a portrait relevant to the film and not just one of the actor?
The idea of trying to age the child is interesting – could it be developed further as at the moment he look quite tired.
The background doesn’t feel right – the purple – begin with a near black (dark grey) and experiment with different shades.

Munro


There’s only one ideas so it’s just as well it is a really good one. Bold, striking, interesting colour. Very good.

Things to improve – what’s happening with the mouth – pixilated or not?
The space invaders is a nice touch but the pixelated look creates enough of the idea of retro gaming so are the space invaders necessary? Could you use a logo from the film (academy logo) and make it look like a space invader?
Other ways to develop it – have the space invaders shooting our the text or make it more like a Spectrum loading screen.
Could the LWL Logo be pixilated?

Ollie


Use the pencil drawing and those the orange and blues. There’s not much of a concept but it could be striking if it was maybe full bleed and something interesting was done with the colouring. Or the text.

Ryan


Both really good. The second has that cool 70’s retro movie-poster look, stands out, good contrast – makes the kid look like a bad-ass.
The first is the most interesting – stands out (especialliny in a news stand) has a quirky Power Ranger/Daft Punk type feel, use the text very well. Great use of the white space and colouring.

Sam King


Think about the use of text – the most interesting parts of the text are Ender’s Game, yet the largest type is for The and Issue – have a rethink.
The second one is too much in terms of colour and textures. The first one is bold and striking – but do you need so much of the face? Could it be constructed with just the tattoo with the feature only suggested?
Could you crop in tighter and just have the tattoo?



Scott


Don’t move the logo.

Tom C


If you can get something as dynamic and Boys Own comic type feel as Michael Duzyj’s work then design-wise and thematically in terms of the film – that would be a strong choice.

The table above shows everybody's progress in terms of completing everything that's been asked of them so far. People in GREEN are doing well and are on track for a high grade. People in ORANGE are missing some work and require a bit of catching up, but people in RED are in currently in danger of NOT PASSING unless they get up to date with their blogs as there is too much work missing. Every task you have been asked to do is required to pass the unit. So every post that is missing from your blog is a gap that needs filling, as soon as possible.