Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot

To make my weekend even better, we had our pre-wedding photo shoot in the middle of a poppy field on Saturday! It was so much fun, and actually felt very natural! We were a little worried it'd have to be postponed as the weather was so temperamental, but we took our wellies, and the stormy-looking skies ended up actually adding to the feel of a typically English countryside outing! Many thanks to Nicky, who made the whole experience such a fun one, and the resulting photos so stunning.

c-miss x

Results are in...

Results are in... and i'm so happy!!! As expected, I was full of nerves on the day, and it didn't help that I was feeling poorly too!! One of my main concerns was my dissertation mark, as I just didn't have a clue how i'd done, and whether the person that marked it would get where I was coming from! I honestly had no idea what kind of overall result i'd get, and I certainly didn't expect it to be as good as it was. I'm so happy, and I think it will take quite a while to shake off this cloud 9 feeling!

c-miss x

Final Assessment

My final hand in of my degree went really smoothly! So smoothly I wandered if there was something I'd missed? But I think the main reason was time management this year. I really worked on sorting things out early, so that I had time to spare at the end to finish off the little things that I usually run out of time to do. I managed to re-work all of my four projects from the last assessment, to a standard that I was really happy with. I also put together a 48 page A3 portfolio, with an illustrated cover page, as part of my self promotion, which I got bound with white comb binding. It's so good to see all your hard work from over the last year put together like that!

So... now my final uni assessment is underway, and the pressure of deadlines has passed, what do I plan to do with myself? Firstly, I'm moving out of Norwich for a while, until I can afford to move back and rent. Secondly, Craig and I are going to push our business and try to get some work over the Summer, and hopefully while we're traveling! And thirdly, we will (of course) be wedding and honeymoon planning!

c-miss x

Website (Live!)

My Flash website is finally live!! Corr... it's taken ever so long, and i've almost given up on it more than once! (Special thanks to Craig who kept me on track!) It's quite rough-and-ready, but I like it like that! All illustration is my own, and I even recorded the sounds! (Which was lots of fun!) It was a challenge, but I'm now pretty confident with the software so it's all paid off. It has lots of opportunity for me to develop in the future too, when I get a minute! I'd like to eventually add more pages to the About section, so it flicks through them, and I might have a link on there somewhere to purchase mugs that I've designed... just an idea! The address is www.imbue-creativedesign.co.uk/carrie/carrie (which i'll be changing to just the one carrie in the near future!)

c-miss x

To get inspired I...

Lay on my bed under the duvet (in the dark)
Do the washing up
Read
Make a cup of tea
Go shopping
Have a bubble bath
Stumble!
Write a list
Keep a pen and notepad by my bed
Phone my mum and talk about my work
Make plans
Nap
Tidy up
Walk around town absentmindedly
Watch a film (any genre!)
Write in my diary
Do some silly photo-manipulations

c-miss x

Start-rite

Finally completed one of my re-workings! This was my re-branding of the children's shoe brand Startrite. Looking back, the first attempt looks rather poor... I'm really happy with my second attempt though, it feels properly finalised now. I've designed letterhead, comp slip, business card (printed onto a miniature shoe horn), shoe box, bag, and 2 pages of the website.


This is their original logo, and my first attempt at re-designing it...

This is my second attempt, with two possible variations...

And here are my branded items (inc stationery, website etc)

Now three more re-working to get through and i'm done! Yay!

c-miss x

Presentation

I've been so busy of late I haven't had a spare minute to update this! Amongst other things, I had a presentation to a client (eek!), Norwich Housing Society. I was pretty terrified to be honest, my hands were shaking like mad, but it actually went really well! The people were lovely and really flattering about my designs which was such a boost! Even if they don't ultimately go with my idea, i'm so pleased that I got so far in the competition, and put on a brave face and actually presented my designs!

c-miss x

Diamond Anniversary

Here is a card I made for a diamond wedding anniversary, for which we also did the invites for the party. What an amazing achievement, 60 years! It really is something to look up to, and aim for!

c-miss x

Little Sister's Neon Birthday

This was my little sister's birthday card from this year, she had a neon party so colours are loosely based on that theme. I designed the invite too, i'll see if I can locate it in my chaotic folders. It was really fun, ofcourse Craig and I dressed up and joined in! We did all the decorations and disco-y bits too!

c-miss x

Found it! Hehe! Child-based design is so fun!

c-miss x

Mother's Day Card

I was just looking through my folder of cards that i've made over the last year or so and thought i'd pop one or two on here. This one is my mother's day card from last year. Speaking of which, must start on this year's!

c-miss x

Invitations

We've started our invitations! Almost got the designs finalised, gone for more of a graphic/illustrative style in the end, as it's just more us. We've ordered the card (and name places) from this great craft website, Mad About Cards, which is really affordable and has so many little bits and pieces to look at! It really inspired me to get back to making cards! Here's a section of the front design - colours aren't final, and some bits need a little work. The outer card will include a slightly smaller main formal invite, an rsvp card, a mini map, and an info card, which will all be slotted inside. Yay!

c-miss x

Hyacine

 

Just an update on what we're upto with Imbue. Our latest branding client is Hyacine, a human resources business. The name Hyacine was chosen as it relates to the flower hyacinth, and is also an anagram of the founder's name. This is our finalised logo, and we're now working on stationery.

c-miss x

Tried, Tested & Ultimately Failed

Well... you can't say I didn't try. Here's my attempt at the beautiful origami heart invite mentioned earier. It took a lot of time (i'm pretty pedantic), and the finished result just didn't look quite as nice as I thought, possibly because I went wrong a few times... Considering i'd have to make quite a few if I were to use them as my invite designs, I think i'll pass. It was fun though! Makes a cute ornament!

c-miss x

CV Cover

 

Here's something i've put together for the front cover of my CV. Just a rough at the moment, testing how I feel about the general theme and colours (the pile is from my web design).

 

c-miss x

Curriculum Vitaes

So i'm attempting to start my self promotion project, thinking i'd design something personal, pretty, and a bit original. But hell, everything's already been done! And well! I've been looking up creative CVs to see what's out there, and there really are some beautiful designs out there. Now i've got too many ideas going on in my head, and they're all mutations of other peoples'! Eek!

So i'm going back to the drawing board, and looking at the initial web design I created in previous Flash workshops. I think i'm going to stick with this style and see where it goes. Makes life a bit simpler...

c-miss x

Flower Girl

We bought my little sister's flower girl dress from Monsoon this weekend!! She looks so beautiful in it! It's pure silk and really special! (After all, she only gets to be flower girl to her big sister once!!) The silk ribbon is a little more pink than in the photo, and we're going to get her a net petticoat to puff it out a bit. Ooo wedding planning is so exciting!!

c-miss x

The Moorish Lounge

An identity we designed last year for a restaurant in Woodbridge, of which we are still heavily involved in branding material and promotion. The Moorish Lounge was one of our first big clients, and it's been a huge learning curve for us as designers, and has pushed us to overcome any confidence issues we once had with clients, as we were thrown straight in at the deep end! The business is now up and running, and has proved itself to be a huge success! If anyone is in the area, pop in and see for yourself! They have great food, and a lovely relaxed, comfortable atmosphere...

Moorish Lounge
3 Quay Street
Woodbridge, IP12 1BX
013943 88508

(we didn't design the website...)

c-miss x

New Site (In progress)

Our Imbue site has had a bit of a face lift, and looks much better for it I think! We loves the Flash! Parts are still under construction, but it's nice to have some of it near completion! (You may notice that it's a little rough in places, and still needs a bit of work.) It's been a struggle... www.imbue-creativedesign.co.uk

(a rather chilly) c-miss x

First Birthday

1 year this month. Can't believe it!! She's grown up so fast! What a beauty. Happy birthday Penny!!

c-miss x

Just a note to say...

Our Imbue website is a temporary one, and we're developing the other as we speak! (Just incase you visit, and observe how crummy the current one is!)

Many happy returns,
c-miss x

Final Major Project

So this is the series of books i've chosen to re-design. There's a fair few in the set, but i'll probably design these three for starters. They seem like pretty good, effective books, but they just don't say "buy me!" And i'd feel pretty embarrassed if anyone saw me buy or read one. I think that books of this content ought to be designed to appeal to a wider audience, and younger one. They are issues that effect people of all ages. Anyways, i'll see how it goes! :)

c-miss x

Ori ga mi

Ooo this design is so cute!! DIY Origami Heart Love Note! I may just have to borrow the idea for our invites! (If i'm skilled enough at folding!)

c-miss x

i used to think...

A book I designed, illustrated & published called I Used to Think..., featuring an array of childhood misconceptions donated by friends, family, & students at NUCA. This took sooo long...

c-miss x
All work is copyrighted 2010

Norwich Housing Society

A live competition brief to design identity & branding for Norwich Housing Society. There's a prize for the winner! So, my logo designs have been chosen to be in the finals, so i'm now doing the finishing touches, as well as designing stationery & basic website concept. This is what i've come up with so far... (letterhead, compliments slip & web)

c-miss x
All work is copyrighted 2010

Save the Date

Here's our Save the Date card design, which we sent out a while back.

c-miss x

Simple & Useful Product Designs

For my current (and final) uni project, i'm designing self-help book jackets, and an event promoting both the book series, and issues surrounding the book topics (ie. self-esteem/confidence etc in young people). While I was browsing the net for some inspiration, I stumbled across these Book Hooks. Such a simple idea, yet so useful! I admire the designer!

On the subject of simple, yet useful designs, I found these Mobile Charger Tidies on Amazon the other day which I think are brilliant! I'd buy everyone I know one if I could afford to!!

c-miss x

Lollipop Events & Designs

This site is so cute!! The design as well as the contents! It's called Lollipop Events & Designs and it makes me want to eat it!

c-miss x

Our Photographer!

Wedding plans are well under way and i'm feeling quite on top of things! Here's our photographer, Nicky Thurgar, who's ever so friendly and makes you feel very comfortable and relaxed in her presence. I have complete trust that we'll get some lovely shots of the day! We've booked the venue, and bought my dress too, so I think the main things are pretty much covered! (Food & flowers-wise we're going to be sorting out ourselves to save money.)

c-miss x

Colour Palette Generator

Really useful Colour Palette Generator! You enter the URL of any image, and it gives you the colour palette that matches the image! Amazing!

c-miss x

Typography

Accurately titled, Mind-blowing Uses of Typography, this stuff is pure genius! Love it!

c-miss x

Style ME Pretty!

This wedding blog is amazing... i've just got to post it!! It's called Style Me Pretty, and it's jam-packed with beautiful ideas for wedding themes and decor.

c-miss x

Where I'm At

So... i'm in my third and final year at NUCA, studying Graphic Communication. I'm also part of a freelance graphic design business called Imbue Creative Design, which has really taken off in the last two years. We've had a variety of different kinds of clients, the majority being brand/identity jobs, and photo restorations. I intend to post some of this work on here, along with my uni work.

Also, i'm getting married this August!! (Which might explain some of my trails of thought!)

c-miss x

Lift Off

My first blog. The aim is to feature some of my design work, and other bits & pieces. Mainly to keep people up to date with what i'm getting up to (for those who are interested!), and maybe to get a bit of feedback on my work too!?

Ooo and ofcourse to have a nosey at other peoples' work and such! :D

c-miss x