Brand Vision Boards – part 3

The second half of this week was spent revising my Kyoto brand vision boards and updating my SWOT Analysis based on peer feedback.

GEOGRAPHY

History – Nature – Adventure

Kyoto geography brand vision board

Design Rationale

Kyoto’s brand is inspired by its powerful geography, a blend of nature and history that appeals to the adventurous spirit. Bamboo green, golden brown, and deep crimson colors connect the brand to the environment. The Geom Graphic type, desaturated photos, and rugged textures are organic representations of Kyoto’s landscape and alignment with nature.

The first change was to lighten and smooth the rock texture behind the design rationale to help it stand out more. I also adjusted the adventure photo placement and added a brand pattern based on elements of the logo.

MODERN CULTURE

Creative – Friendship – Modern – Energy

Kyoto modern culture brand vision board

Design Rationale

Modern Kyoto shouts with youthful, creative energy! The bright pink and cranberry logo reflects that energy with bold shapes and a friendly, smiling face. This face is shared with Oto, a welcoming character like other Japanese city mascots. Photos and textures are bright and colorful. The typography is inspired by manga comics with word balloons and LOTS!!! of exclamation points!!!

I updated the background of this board based on peer critique, even though the feedback was based on personal tastes and not cited knowledge of the brand. The new background should have a broader appeal to older individuals and those who aren’t in tune with modern art. While not as distinctive as the first solution, it retains the energy of the brand.

A secondary color that doesn’t appear in the logo was also added to the palette. It’s currently only used as the background for the city mascot, but it can be part of brand patterns and other visual assets.

TRADITIONS

Elegance – Harmony – Spiritual

Kyoto traditions brand vision board

Design Rationale

The Kyoto brand is based on traditions of elegant history. Rich purples signify the blend of royalty and spirituality. The soft purples and silk texture are accompanied by finely forged steel and a bold crimson to represent a harmonious balance of masculinity and femininity. Kyoto’s history is reflected in the photos and the brush style Sudoku font.

The Kyoto traditions vision board needed only minor modifications. I lightened the scroll backgrounds and changed the shadows to better match the rest of the design.

Personal SWOT Analysis Update

A classmate recommended incorporating experiences related to the Brand Development class. I found additional threats and weaknesses that I experienced this month, as well as new strengths and opportunities discovered along the way.

I also simplified the SWOT to concise bullet lists to keep the graphic simple. When writing my analysis, I think of it as TOWS, because I start by looking at external threats and opportunities to overcome those threats. Then I examine my internal weaknesses and find strengths to compensate. This is similar to the way Lisa Quast suggests conducting a personal SWOT analysis (Quast, 2013).

THREATS

  • Tight deadlines on school projects.
  • Distractions of non-career related side projects.
  • Peers in education with graduate degrees.
  • Peers in design with strong portfolios and resumes.
  • Not enough attention to family and personal health.

OPPORTUNITIES

  • Develop my portfolio with class projects.
  • Learn new design and branding skills on Lynda.com.
  • Connect with classmates and instructors on social media.
  • Utilize the Full Sail University online library and resources.
  • Complete the Full Sail University Media Design MFA in June 2020.

WEAKNESSES

  • Uncomfortable with self-promotion and networking.
  • Stress from juggling work, school, and family.
  • Working at home without peer feedback.
  • Easily distracted by side projects.
  • Taking criticism personally.

STRENGTHS

  • Experience in design, audio, video, and motion graphics.
  • Fine arts experience drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.
  • Creativity combined with strategic thinking.
  • Comfortable teaching and public speaking.
  • Design experience and technical skills.

References:

Quast, L. (2013, April 15). How To Conduct A Personal SWOT Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2013/04/15/how-to-conduct-a-personal-s-w-o-t-analysis/#3c896cb28d8b

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