For the competition submission I was really nervous as we had to condense all my work into one video and 4 images. Once the video was created I became a little more relieved as that is the main outcome. These images I wanted to use a user journey to show off as many images as posible in a contained environment but then the messages are easily red and visuals are clear.
Overall, I am extremely happy with my outcomes but I do feel the social media isn’t what I can do as well as the video has a few hiccups. My idea is clear and focuses on menopause and how it can be happy and lighthearted. I have spent the most amount of time on this project compared to all others so far and I think it shows in the branding and concept.
The main feedback comments are that my designs shows my strong belief in the need for change and that I have a nice core idea which is strong and fresh. My design document received compliments for the layout and styling but I need to check spelling as well as depersonalise the wording to keep it professional.
They were also concerned that the hens eggs were taking over and my menopause theme needed to come through more. I need to remember I’m not selling eggs, I’m de-stigmatising menopause.
To begin reinventing my idea, I needed to get the message clear and as feedback said forget about normal eggs and disrupt the traditional packaging. I should be pressured into what is happening now, I can use the word menopause and use it boldly. The main title is contextualised by using the word menopause. It is inviting public into the female world.
The feedback also mentioned that there was no connection to the real world with my designs. Yes, there is social media but for the egg box to shine it needs to go the extra mile.
I wanted it to be only because the conversation is online; Refinery29 is online. Also in the current situation going to the shops isn’t an option for everyone. However, I was reminded that going to the shops is seen as everyones weekly outing so they are more likely to go to the shops for a conversation.
All the feedback I received praised the booklet idea of replacing an egg however felt the idea wasn’t translating well enough as some didn’t understand whether it was replacing an egg or just within the box. To over come this I spent some time on my video. This must have been the 50th attempt to get it right and for everyone to see the idea and understand it after watching this short video.
Once I explained the egg box and booklet I needed to lead the excitement to the conversation and keep their engagement. This will be through the social media especially on instagram as the audience are going towards this media and then can be shared across Facebook and Twitter for more conversations to happen.
In one to ones, the tutor felt the social media needed the most readjusting. It was a little clumpy and needed cleaning up.
I wanted to emphasise the communication power that instagram has. I wanted to show the Q & A element of the story posts. Having my video show the potential answers can tell the viewer it can be possible for people to see answers and normalise the all symptoms and side effects of menopause.
None of my feedback spoke about the articles so I questioned whether I explained the issue enough. So taking this further I drew attention to the fact there are only 7 articles about menopause in contrast to the hundreds of period stories.
Meera Syal best known as a comedian wrote this book in 1999 and then later published with Penguin in 2012. I recognised the actress from Doctor Who back in 2010 but she was most famous because of her culture and background as an Asian British woman finding success in many areas such as; comedian, writer, playwright, singer, journalist, producer and actress.
The book is about 3 Indian women in their mid 30s living in England. In a Bridget Jones style book it plays out their journey of stress and discovery. Chila, a nice Punjabi girl married Deepak in the first pages then we meet her 2 childhood friends; Sunita, the former activist law student, now an overweight, depressed housewife and mother; and the beautiful Tania, who has rejected marriage in favour of a great career in television and life in a trendy apartment with her English boyfriend.
Chila, Sunita and Tania grow as people as are expected to revert to being obedient mothers and wives but their world explodes when Tania makes a documentary, starring Chila and Sunita, about contemporary urban Indian Life. The result is an impactful story of friendship, marriage, betrayal, and the difficult choices woman face.
The book has many cover versions and the most recent is the textile, illustrative cover. I believe this to be more childish and not aimed at the adult audience. Whereas some of the others are very outdated and I could see fade into the background.
Fiona Fraser's Graphics 