OUGD501 | STUDY TASK 5 | STRUCTURING AN ESSAY

Suggested research question: 

"Why do graphic designers choose Apple over Microsoft, and what effect does this have on design?"

Which Academic Sources will you reference?

OLINS, W. (2003). Wally Olins on brand. London, Thames & Hudson.

KLEIN, N., JHALLY, S., ALPER, L., GARNER, K., MONAHAN, T., & KLEIN, N. (2003). No logo brands, globalization, resistance. [Northampton, Mass.], Media Education Foundation.

LASN, K. (2000). Culture jam: how to reverse America's suicidal consumer binge, and why we must. New York, Quill.

PACKARD, V. (1957). The hidden persuaders. New York, D. McKay Co.

QUART, A. (2003). Branded: the buying and selling of teenagers. Cambridge, MA : Perseus Pub.

What graphic design will you analyse? 

I will look at the apple logo/branding to see how its achieved such a trust with consumers, and how customers feel they can rely on apple, rather than windows. 

Essay map:

Microsoft vs Apple - Why do designers choose Apple? Are they taken in by consumer culture just like everyone else, or does Apple truly enhance your design abilities? 

Print is dead - Now that everyone has been convinced they need a computer to create good design, what has happened to print? More and more people are turning away from the traditional methods of design and are moving with the advancements in technology.

Branding strategy - How does Apple retain its customers? How does its brand make people feel that apple is a reliable and trustworthy company? What makes people want to buy an Apple product?

Consumerism - Society has now formed around the consumer self, and how we all feel we must buy to feel self worth. 

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OUGD501 | STUDY TASK 4 | ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS OF YOUR PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION

What is your research question? 

"Why do designers pick Apple over Microsoft, and what are the effects on design?"

Do you have a hypothesis? 

In my essay I'm going to discuss how designers usually prefer to go with Apple over Microsoft, and how this effects design. I'll be focusing on how "print is dead" with the rise in technology, how Apples brand strategy and the idea of the consumer self has constructed the design industry we see today.

What are the contexts of your research interests?

I would like to look into brand strategy, and how brands create a trust between the consumer. I also would like to focus on consumerism its self, and how people crave the latest new item. This fits in well with my chosen question, as many designers want the latest technology or apple device.

Sources of primary research:

Questionnaires, Facebook posts and Twitter polls.

Sources of secondary research:

Hidden Persuaders, On Brand, Branded, No Logo, Culture Jam

How will your practical work link to your written work? 

For my practical work I am going to design a re-brand for Linux, an operating system that isn't very well known. This will link into my themes of branding and consumers wanting a brand that they know and trust.

What methods will you use to research, develop, create and test your work?

I will be using primary and secondary research methods that include looking at online resources, books, magazines and asking classmates. I will develop my work through a series of drafts and revisions and create it based upon the feedback I have been given. To test my work I will ask my classmates and others not interested in graphic design to give me feedback.

Provide a proposed timeline for your work to completion: 

2nd November - 23rd November: Begin research and start off the essay

23rd November - Christmas: Finish essay as much as possible, start to plan practical work

Christmas - 11th January: Have final draft ready for Turn it in submission

11th January onwards: Make final revisions for essay, complete practical work