I have always been enamoured by the branding, graphics, and visual identities of TV channels and networks ever since I was a kid. Even before I knew what design really was. Most of the time, the audience tends to only recognize the logo of a network, along with a few iconic interstitials that have played over the years. The network is the container of the media being broadcast—when one hears "we'll be right back", it's break time.
In my eyes, I consider each network to be "alive". There's no container. Everything works in tandem to assist the audience in continuing to watch. Bumpers, idents, screenbugs, snipes, and more function to make each network distinct and unique.
So, for my first major Adobe Illustrator project, where I was able to choose my own idea to design, I set out to create the visual identity to a fictional television network—nouveau, meaning "new" in French.
The overarching design language is bright and minimal, based around the colour yellow, with a signature gradient flowing behind most of the pieces created to visualize the network as if it were truly on air.
Examples provided below: potential logos, out-of-home (OOH) advertising, and social media stories. Work created for my Independent Design Project in the GCM 130 (Design and Layout) course at TMU.
Above: a selection of potential logos. I explored designs I considered "organic and hand-drawn", with a "for the first time" feeling to them, versus the eventual selection of a simple typeface + the minimal "circle N". I enjoyed creating the logo that looked like a sunny side up egg, but I felt that it wouldn't be able to properly scale in the real world.
Above: two poster designs intended for use in OOH advertising. The design on the left was created before settling on the final logo. Additionally, in that design, the star shapes encompassing some of the copy create a secondary, subliminal sentence: "nouveau is missing in your life."
Below: two banner designs intended for use in buses, subways, or trains. They would take up two spots next to each other. The airy, minimal design works in tandem with the playful copy to spark curiosity and engagement with the brand.
Above: two social media story designs. I think nouveau would be a very "chronically online" brand, having fun and being interactive with its fans and followers.