Design Development
From feedback on initial designs I wanted to explore using wildflowers (those which are most likely to be grown within the community) this meant an instant connection with the individual. Below is a sample of scans from the collected wildflowers exploring ‘busy’ and ‘lonely’ captures. I have purposely scanned some together and some on their own. This showing that they may pop up in bunches or randomly on their own. This is the beauty of wildflower meadows / growing.
The next steps is to start working with these and text to start constructing visuals for ‘seed initiative’ I hope to use these on packaging and potentially for promotional areas.
Thinking how the packaging and guides are going to look at work. Each packet of seeds is going to have it’s own batch no and contain a personal sticker which talks about what’s inside at a glance. Thinking below how the guides which will come with the seeds can fold and wrap around the seed packets to make it less bulky.
Could the guide and or seed packet become something? E.g blank paper area to note down sow date etc?
On the guide I want there to be a very visual side to the guide but then a more informative ‘how to’ so everyone can understand how to take part.
Also within these packs I want a sticker so you can add this sticker to your front window and show the community ‘I’m Wilded’
Packet label designs.
Design drafts
How can the seed packets be personal and connect to the audience? Exploring how hand written stickers / labels to packets can enhance the design. Super early draft ‘logo’ a stamp style visual which would be stamped across materials. What’s currently not working here is the overall scale and design. These onto packets wouldn’t be practical due to printing. Is there a way I can utilise these visuals in a different way? Can the visuals be more shape based to reference the wildflowers?
Mixing photo and vector work
Starting to work with more vector based shapes referenced from the wildflower scans. These become more versatile to use across multiple different mediums, this also gives me the chance to play more and make each one different. This would also make printing easier and more affordable. (could even be stencils)
What’s next? Continue to explore with the vector shapes but also original scans. Don’t want to loos that tactile lo fi feel. Below I have started to mix both together which is providing an interesting concept. Could these also become ‘posters’ or collectible prints when you get a pack? I could test a poster within the community ‘notice board’
Need to keep in mind what I want to achieve with this project. It’s to encourage more new build communities to adopt and explore their green spaces, this hopefully to expand out into more public areas (encouraging property developers) So the design needs to be simple and not overwhelming.
With the thinking of adding a sticker to the pack which allows the community to add this to their window when they have ‘wilded’ I feel this needs to be tied into the overall visual. Here I have started to play with how the ‘going wild’ sticker can be incorporated into the seed packets and even posters? Does this distract and start to become overwhelming or should ‘going wild’ potentially be the name over seed initiative?
Seed packs for main pack design drafts (early stages)
Sketching up drafts for the seed packets which will be the main feature within the pack. These will contain a mix of wildflower seeds which each person can use within their garden or area of choose. Alongside these packets will be a guide on how to sow them (both visually and written)
Each packet will be individually packed and dated to add the personalisation. The community will also be encouraged to use the packets as tags to know where they have planted there wildflowers. (inside a wooden stick will be provided to make this)
What’s next? Trialling these packets out through the printer to see how they’re looking and will work with the wrap around guide. Should they have colour? Should the packets be white? Should they be brown paper bags which I can buy and print onto? What if I created stencils and painted on the wildflower designs?
How to sow and grow guide (visual) flip for information
below is an early visual on a visual only how to sow guide. On the left is the seeds spread on the area of growing (could be a pot or ground) moving to the right where the wildflowers are starting to sprout and grow, populating that area. These designs have been referenced from wildlflower meadows I visited and the dispersed nature of the flowers. On the back of this there will be simple instructions on sowing your seeds. Each different variety will have a different visual (colour way) This would depend on geographical location and plant type.
Posters to support asset set.
Posters to support the asset set for the community. These could obth be provided within the pack and also be used to post around the new housing development (for example in notice boards) or even in peoples windows.
Is there a need for these and do they work?
Research
Existing seed packs and rewilding products. Cam across these seed packs which were being sold. All come packaged in similar packaging (something to consider for my ‘pack’) but all seemed very similar in their design approach – felt over manufactured and didn’t draw upon the connection with the physical gardener or individual, family, couple handling and growing these. The simplicity works as it makes it clear but for my packs I want them to feel more personable (this to be achieved through the use of more lo-fi developments)
Books around rewilding your garden and how to already exist which is fantastic to come across as I don’t want to create a how to wild your garden etc I want this to be more of a movement within a community to act upon and have impact around other communities. These were all being sold within a high end retailer and for my target audience this would not be the place to buy them for 2 reasons: 1. I want the seed packs to be free / very low cost to make it more accessible. 2. They need to be within the community, a ‘lead wilder’ for example who would deliver them and support the programme.
Primary research out and about within the local area. What is being done already. These images are actually from a wildflower and sunflower ‘pick your own’ we arrived quite late in the season so there was only pockets left but it was fantastic to see such a vast area covered in wildflowers (and on top of this so many bees, butterflies and wildlife) These images could almost form part of promotion of what you could achieve. This was just a segment of a large field showing the colour, variety and joy you can get within a small area.
Weekly Reflections
James Shaw 