IKEA's vision: To create a better everyday life for the many people.
I would like to begin by looking into the company IKEA, by looking at the catalogue and advertisting methods. I would like to look into their target market and the type of aproach they take when visually representing the company.
Do they have a particular pattern which is unique to them?
Their logo, how is it used?
Colour schemes
Typography methods?
The placing of the text in the catalogues
What way are the products displayed?
What is the over all look of IKEA? and how can it be improved?
Here are some Images i colleted from IKEA's catalogue:
On the cover there is not a lot of coulour use. Everything is very neutral and minimalistic. The type is also quite simple, with block capitals and brief descriptions placed upon the page. There is nothing too interesting about the typography and I think there is definitly room for improvement there. The productsare creatively displayed as they are stacked up and pushed to one side. This is a very clever manner as it shows the way in which IKEA products can be stored, and IKEA are very well known for their storage products.
The other posters and images used in the IKEA catalogue are all very visually effective. I also think that the images are all quite inventive, and you can almost see a similarity between them.
Here are some words that came to mind:
Cluttered, Colourful, Retro, Urban, Gritty, Modern, Contemporary, Sculptural, Industrial.
They seem to make use of old, dated properties and use their products to almost make it seem new and tasteful. This is also a very creative way to display their products as it gives the impression that no matter the house, IKEA products can make the space look beautiful.
Typography and Symbols
I have decided that I would like to make use of Typography and symbols to represent the IKEA cataglogue. I feel like there is no improvement to be made in regards to their images and their representation, however I do think that the type has been pushed to one side because of this. There are no interesting typography skills being used at all.
My next step is to look at how type and symbols have been used to advertise other companies products.
Above are some Advertisements that have made use of interesting typography methods to premote their products.
The first Image is an Advertisemet poster from the Fire Service, used to premote Firework Safety Awareness. This image is extremely visually effective and will make people stop and look and take in the image and the message. The way in which typography is used in this particular image is quite morbid but also very clever as it demands attention, especially since it is of a scarred child.
The second Image is an avertisement for Samsonite Travel Bags. Again, this Advertisement is quite visually effective. The typography is very clear and suggestive. It will make a person stop and look as it is not obvious what exactally the poster is about at first glance. A person would need to read the writing in order to know what the product is. This is an interesting take on advertising.
The third image is an Advertisement for Coca Cola. It is very obvious upon first glance that this advertisement is indeed for the well established Coca Cola. Coca Cola are intentionally always using the same shapes and colours as they are well recognised by the public. This is a different take, but still a very effective one.
The first Image is a Logo/Symbol for Pepsi. Straight away we know who this Logo belongs to. It is a very long lasting and well established logo. However, Pepsi have played around with the Logo to produce a fun charachter. This could definitly improve the general appeal for the product as this Pepsi character would make any of us smile.
The second Image is a Logo/Symbol for Adidas. Again, this makes use of a very well known symbol. The paint splatter effect gives an Urban feel which works well with Adidas' image. It is almost Art.
The third Image is some symbols for my personal favourite, Mc Donalds. Everyone will recognise the Yellow M. This idea of using symbols to suggest a meaning is something similar to the sort of idea I would like to persue for IKEA, a series of symbols to premote the company.
Think : EYE KEY AAAAHH.....IKEA
I was thinking that instead of using the word IKEA, I could make things a little more appealing and use symbols and letters to communicate the sounds of the word. There are many ways in which I could do this, photography, drawing/painting, Software programs or Moving Image.
In regards to the Advertisements we were talking about earlier; Adidas, Mc Donalds, Pepsi etc. Their logos almost speak for themselves. The symbols automatically link sales with the products and so the symbols become just as important as the product.
IKEA have used similar ideas before which makes me more enthusiastic about my idea, as now there is more of a chance that they will like my idea. I feel that the images below communicate the product very well. I like the way they have used IKEA products to make words that generally make us feel good, like 'joy'. They have also used the word 'help' which is quite clever as it indicates that if you need help, then IKEA is the place to go.
I thought I would begin by using text to display the word.
EYE
KEY
AHH
I think this idea is quite an interesting one as, at first, it is not obvious what this is, it will make people stop and think 'what is this for?' and as their minds figure it out, it will stay there, making the person remember the words and what they stand for.
I began by using an image i had taken of the waves and playedaround with it on photoshop to give the text some feeling of texture and movement. I thought that because some of IKEA's previous images are quite gritty and urban then it would put across this sort of feeling through the image.
I then wanted to see what the words would look like as images and so i used a photograph of my sisters eye and a key, along side the letter 'A' and the word 'Aahh'. I played around with different effects on photoshop and different backrounds and also played around with the text. I did this until I came up with a few very different but effective Images.
And so, I come to my final design. When I think IKEA, i think storage. IKEA are well renound for their impressive storage options in all aspects of the home and so I thought it would be apropriate to use one of IKEA's storage units for the backround of my poster. I then used text and the images of the eye, the key, and the letter 'A' and a few special effects and this is what I came up with. It could be used as a flyer, or a window sticker, or the cover of the catalogue. I like my final design and am very happy about my idea as i could see it being developed into television advertisements and other things surrounding IKEA.
