Brand Development

MUST Social Media Development

I’ve been carefully developing a social media plan for a local fitness center called MUST, The Missoula Underground Strength Training Center.  MUST, had a somewhat developed social media presence, but hadn’t posted any new content in quite some time.

Last week, I met MIchael, the owner of MUST, who stressed to me that he needed help with understanding social media and developing social media content and a posting schedule .  After much discussion I’ve decided that for MUST, the most immediately beneficial social media outlets include Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

MUST Facebook

MUST Twitter

MUST Instagram

And, after a bit of strategizing, Michael and I developed a posting schedule.

• Sunday – Sunday Funday
  • Post with tips for planning for a week of being healthy. (Meal Planning, Workout Planning)
• Monday – Motivational Monday
  • Motivational Quote
  • Client Success Story
• Tuesday – Transformation Tuesday
  • Transformation Photo/Testimonial
• Wednesday – Values!
  • Highlight a Promotion!
  • Client Quote / Photo
• Thursday – Throwback
  • Gym Makeover Photos – MUST Growth
• Friday – Finish Strong Friday
  • Healthy Recipes
  • And/Or Workout of the Day
  • And/Or Promo?
• Saturday – Community Involvement
  • Get Involved! Group Hikes – Group Community Service Announcement – Etc.

I’ve also been working diligently to create a Facebook outreach contest in efforts to increase our “likes” and gain new followers.

MUST Contest

Before my work with the MUST Fitness page their Facebook Page had approximately 514 friends, and had not been updated since fall of 2012.  Their Twitter had approximately 116 friends and hadn’t been updated since December of last year.

Today, I’m very proud to say, that after just two posts we are already up aprx. 20 likes on Facebook, and 3 followers on Facebook, and 3 followers on Instagram.

Girls Night.

https://vimeo.com/76844995

Initially, I had a fitness theme in mind for my Pleasure/Pain Visual Communication, however, after hearing the ideas from other students in class, I decided to take a different approach. I seem to be very indecisive. The basis of my take on the Pleasure/Pain assignment is a group of girls going out and having a blast with their friends, and suffering the consequences of having a little too much fun. I had a blast filming this, and playing with settings on my new camera!

Though my camera actually takes decent sound, I used clips from FreeSound.org to amplify certain moments, namely the pouring of the alcohol, and the mood, and acceleration of the event.

 

Nickolette Lenay Personal Brand Development

For our Mid Term, I’ve continued with developing my personal brand.  I’ve created multiple professional accounts, and have begun populating these accounts with my personal information.  I’ve created a new professional logo and business card that I believe truly represent who I am as an individual, as well as a professional designer.

Nickolette Lenay Behance

As graduation nears, I’ve become obsessed with personal brand development.  However, defining oneself can pose as quite a challenge.  For weeks I’ve been contemplating the nature of who I am as a designer, and how I can depict my design ability as well as my personality and individuality as a designer.

Nickolette Lenay Public Facebook Profile

I find myself perpetually drawn to classic vintage aesthics.  The color palates, well thought typographic decisions, and crisp line work speaks volumes to my personal design methodology.

Nickolette Lenay LinkedIn Profile

However, design is more than just the aesthetics of a piece.  Design also emulates emotion.  Successful branding combines composition with passion and emotional sentiment.  I aim to emulate my personal tenacity, innovation, cheerfulness, and independence.

 

Hurt Locker – Opening Scene Analysis

Hurt Locker – Opening Scene Analysis – “Drop the Phone”

Location:  Desert Town- Iraq? This location has a very realistic war-torn aesthetic.  The rubble, and crumbling buildings along the desert streets are very realistic.

Costumes: The costumes in this film are extremely realistic, down to the padded suit on the de-arming technician.   The worn/dirty helmets and uniforms on each of the characters, and Sambourne’s gun even has dust and black electrical tape on it, signifying that these men have been in active duty for a significant period of time.

Shots: Opening shot is a medium shot of the de-arming technician’s legs, the camera then pans up to his face, medium/medium close.  We then cut to an extreme long shot of a man sitting on his balcony, and the warn-torn town.  Cut to a close-up of the technicians hands lifting the handmade bomb, cut to a medium shot of the technician with the bomb, zoom in to a close up.   Cut to a shot of the bomb resting.  Cut to medium shot of technician turning away from the bomb and heading towards his company.  Cut to a series of medium close shots between two men in the technicians company as they have a conversation. Cut to an arial view shot showing the two men alone in a desert street.  Cut to another series of medium close shots as the two men speak to each other.   As he delivers the punchline of his joke we see a quick zoom to a close up.  Suddenly, the mood changes, the music becomes eerie, and we no longer feel like everything is ok.  Cut to an extreme long shot of a tiny butcher shop across the way from the men in the company.  We then cut to a close-up/medium close of the man peering through his scope. Cut to, a “scope-view” medium long shot of a man holding a cell phone.  Cut to a close up of the man with the scope, he’s concerned and begins running towards the man with the phone, the handheld camera tracks him for a bit before cutting to a medium long shot of the man running, then to an extreme long shot of the man in the company running.  Cut to a quick medium shot of the de-arming technician. The music and eerie sounds intensify. Cut to a quick medium shot of the man with the phone. Cut to the technician in a medium close up at a canted angle.  Cut to a medium shot of the technician beginning to run away from the bomb.   Cut to an extreme long shot of the butcher shop with a zoom in to a long shot. Cut to a medium shot of the man in the company running towards the butchers shop/camera.  Cut to a very quick over the shoulder extreme long shot inside the butcher shop as we watch the man run towards the shop.  Cut to a medium long shot of the other man in the company aiming his gun, we see a quick zoom out and back in here in this shot.  Cut to a long shot of the technician sprinting away from the bomb. Cut to an extreme close up of the “butcher”, and then to an extreme close up of the cell phone as he presses the button.  Cut to a long shot of the technician running with the bomb explodes behind him, then to a low angle/worms eye long shot of the bomb exploding behind the technician.  Then to a close up of an old rusty car being jostled by the explosion. Cut to a long shot of the technician falling as the explosion occurs, then to an extreme long shot from a birds eye view as the explosion occurs, then a pan up of the fire and smoke. And finally a slow motion long shot of the technician falling.

Lenses/Camera Movement: The camera is definitely handheld for either the entire clip, or at least 90% of it.  Handheld camera gives the clip a certain “in-the-moment” feeling that is very popular with war films as well as in certain portions of horror films.  This clip has a decently wide depth of focus, but in all seems very realistic and similar to what the human eye would view.  I’d say they’re using a mid-range lens (28mm-50mm), but its also very possible their using a wide-angle lens (9mm-24mm) as well, as in some shots, the background is very in focus.

Bridesmaids – Meet Megan – An Analysis

I chose this selection from Bridesmaids because it’s absolutely hilarious, and it makes me laugh, EVERY time I’ve ever watched it. Melissa McCarthy, Megan, is a brilliant comedian, and her character is so wild, and well developed.

The shot begins with a mid shot with all three women in the shot, Megan, Annie, and Lillian. Soon Lillian exits the shot, leaving fresh acquaintances Annie and Megan to chatter.

Immediately, the camera cuts, displaying Annie and Megan in a mid-wide shot, showing the two women, essentially alone in a crowded room, emphasizing the awkward moment between them when the small talk begins.

Then, the camera begins to switch between Megan and Annie during their respective moments of dialogue, emphasizing Annie’s reactions to Megan’s outlandish story.

After one of Annie’s reaction shots, Megan begins to describe the event in detail and the camera cuts in to a medium close-up. After hearing the extremities of Megans injuries the camera cuts into a medium close-up of Annie’s unsure-of-how-to-handle-this reaction face.

The camera bounces back and forth using medium close-up shots of Megan and Annie as the conversations progresses. Suddenly, the camera cuts out, back to a mid shot, revealing a tall man standing beside Annie.

The shots ends with yet another awkward reaction face from Annie.

The sound of the crowd around the girls is relaxing, and the elevator music in the background almost intensifies the awkward feeling, as if they were two strangers awkwardly meeting in an elevator. The colors of the scene are pretty light, lots of creams and shades of blue, generates a pretty relaxed, normal feeling atmosphere.

Luv.

I truly believe that canines are capable of a love so unconditional, that humans cannot even understand the complexity of their emotions. Dogs look up to their humans in the way than humans look to God, and I think there is something very special about the unwavering trust and affection dogs and humans share.

Originally, I had planned a different shot displaying the love between a disabled man and his St. Bernard, Love, however, try as I might, I could not find them in their usual hangout spots, so I had to go with Plan B.

Dogs live in the now, they are completely unconcerned with the past or present, therefore, a dog being left to his own devices with a nearly empty peanut butter jar is the perfect portrayal of obsessive unshakable love, at least until the jar is empty.

“You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.” ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Brand Development Step 1: Define it!

This week I worked on gathering information to develop my own personal brand.  Essentially, my brand will outline everything that I, as a designer, represent; my work, my personality, my ability, and my professionalism.   Developing a unique  personal brand is a vital part of being recognized as a distinguished professional in today in the design field.

This week, I’m interested in truly defining myself as a professional.  What are my skills? What am I interested in doing with my skills? Who I am in the design field?  Do I have a defined “style”?  What makes me unique? Why would someone want/need/desire to hire me?

These questions are not easy for anyone to answer. However, in my eyes knowledge is confidence, and confidence will help better your chances in nailing that interview.  You see, truly knowing who you are and what you’re about proves a variety of things:

1. Your’re confident in yourself and your ability.
2. You’re  organized!
3. You’re committed.

So, as graduation day approaches,  the thought of being finished with school is both very exciting and a bit terrifying all at the same time.   I’m ready to be finished with school for a while, but am I ready to take on the world? Am I confident in myself enough to brave that interview?

To be successful I MUST define myself. I must be confident in my brand, my work, myself!

What are my skills?

• Adobe Photoshop: Advanced Proficiency
• Adobe Illustrator: Mid to High Level Proficiency
• Adobe After Effects: Mid Level Proficiency
• Adobe Premier: Mid Level Proficiency
• Adobe Dreamweaver: Mid Level Proficiency
• Apple Logic Pro: Mid Level Proficiency
• Microsoft Word: High Level Proficiency
• Microsoft Excel: Mid to High Level Proficiency
• Final Cut Pro: Mid to High Level Proficiency
• HTML 5: Mid Level Proficiency
• CSS: Mid Level Proficiency
• WordPress Site Development: Mid to High Level Proficiency
• Joomla Site Development: Mid Level Proficiency
• Social Media Management: Mid Level Proficiency

What do I want to do?

• Design Advertisements
• Design Images for the Web
• Design Websites for Businesses/Entrepreneurs
• Design Print Images
• Design Logos/Business Cards/Branding Materials for Companies
• Design T Shirts
• Social Media Marketing
• Design Promotional Material

Do I have a ‘style’ that I want to emulate in my work? A focus?

• Classic
• Vintage
• Retro
• Chic
• Crisp
• Clean
• Simple
• Typeface!
• Classic meets Modern
• Focus on COLOR!

What is unique about me? My personality?

1. Tenacious.
2. Innovative.
3. Independent.
4. Organized.
5. Sunny.
6. Cheerful.
7. Observant.
8. Humble.

Inspiring Art

1. Typography – Though the general population of non-artistic folks is still catching on, type awareness has become more and more apparent in recent years with the development of AMAZINGLY powerful vector-based programs like Adobe Illustrator.  Typeface plays a large role in our daily lives as artists and filmmakers.  Appropriately chosen/designed typeface and font-schemes can set you apart from other artists or filmmakers, and give you a memorable brand all your own. A gorgeous well-thought typeface can also create excitement about viewing your work, and give your audience subtle clues about what you’re all about, it’s an art all in itself.
2. Branding and Logo Design – A unique brand and logo sets you apart from the rest of the growing population of artists, designers, filmmakers, and animators.  The art world is exploding and without unique representation you could be left behind when employers make hiring decisions. I enjoy browsing branding packages and fresh logos, though the art is simple, its creative and deliberate.
3. Infographics – I absolutely love infographics! Our brains are bombarded with a constant influx of information on a daily basis, infographics were created to help display these once boring and difficult to interpret studies.  Displaying information in a beautiful, easy-to-read format with only relevant information snippets allows our audience to learn what we want them to learn, and collect factual information in a new and creative way.