Project Introduction

Now that we have the Logo, Colors, Typography and basic branding elements built, let’s put them to the test! This week, you will create a number of Mockups to expand your branding knowledge, but also to get you into thinking differently about your designs. You will find, download, and edit “free” resources in order to create clean and consistent branding mockups. A real professional would be able to make their own mockups using Smart Objects and warping/blending techniques in Photoshop (but we aren’t there yet).  For now, you will be stuck using the Photoshop files created by other artists, and learn how to process the creative work of others to your own ends. It’s a common practice in the industry, so better for us to get used to it sooner rather than later. Half the battle of this project is simply finding good mockups for the products you want to showcase, so get to searching right away!

You must also carefully choose WHICH mockups you are going to create, in order to show the client what they want to see. Re-read your Design Brief, and read it carefully! They all have things that they want to see with their logos on them, so choose carefully!  This is the time for you go be REALLY creative! If you are doing T-Shirts, make them catchy and interesting! If you are doing hats, make sure they are creative and attractive! Doing product mockups like these are a GREAT way to flex your creative muscles during a branding project, so enjoy it!

“Mockups are the best way for you to put your design ideas into the minds of others, it will show them exactly what you think a design should not only look like, but feel like. From this point on in your design career, if you are going to show anyone your work, you need to mock it up first.” – GD

Sample Branded Products

Based on my Design Brief for Forma, I determined that Packaging, Shirts and Mugs would be great ways to showcase to the client where I see the brand growing to. The logo or icon of the project is prominently featured in each product, and the colors are consistent as well. The target audience for Forma is made up of photographers of all kinds, so I tried to be crafty and creative with the sayings, and make inside references to jokes only we photographers would really understand.  Can you do better than my “dad jokes”? I bet you can.

 

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Project Requirements & Helpful Links

• You will submit a minimum of three different product/promotional item mockups for your chosen Design Brief.
  • The final images will be 1920x1080px, 72dpi, RGB for showcase on your website.
  • The images must all be on a consistent background, like the examples above.
• Your submissions will NOT include:
  • Business Cards, Letterheads, Envelopes, Notepads, etc. These will be created as part of an upcoming project. Stay away from “stationery” mockups, we will get to those later.
• Your mockups will be consistent with your branding endeavor so far, and include the Wordmark, Icon or Logo for your project.
  • Helpful Links & Resources:
    • Use free online resources by googling your way through the various sites, and visiting places like MockupWorld, GraphicBurger and FreeMockupWorld in order to start the process.
    • 99designs has a great article about Professional Design Mockup Techniques that may better help you understand how to produce solid mockups.
• You will submit your work on your Online Portfolio, and email a direct link to the Instructor on the date the project is due.

 

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Project Grading Rubric

The final grade for this project will include your Creativity, Execution and Technical perfection using Photoshop files and Smart Layers created by other designers, customized to your own needs. Additionally, your grade will include the quality of mockups designed, as well as your ability to create items that will go well with the Design Brief you have chosen to work on.

AMAZING 90-100	GREAT 80-89	GOOD 70-79	SUB PAR 60-69	POOR <60
You did an amazing job of finding mockups, editing them, and following your design brief.	You did a fair job creatively or technically, but part of the project wasn’t quite right. The work you did was acceptable, but could have been a little better.	Sure, you covered the basics and requirements, but the end product wasn’t amazing or particularly strong or creative at all.	Student followed most of the directions, but produced an inconsistent set of mockups, or executed the tools poorly overall.	Student did not follow directions, didn’t demonstrate proper use of the tools, or did a far below average job creatively.