A few posters

I have produced a few posters advertising and promoting the neighbourhood. I have chosen to work on a elongated format as i feel they can look aesthetically pleasing with landscape imagery. It is a format i have worked with before with my alphabet book and i feel i could be successful here

Routine Timetables

This is a timetable i have designed for the citizens in the neighbourhood. Each timetable would be specific to the individual (F-16 in this case) and how much processing, recreation etc is needed. Initially the piece was white however i think i now prefer the piece with the darker, more textured background, adding a contemporary feel to the schedule. I also like the way the text looks on the the coloured surface. However if this piece were to be displayed in the small room i am creating the sharp, clinical look of the white piece could work better.

Although the top two look the same in fact the second on has a slightly lighter background.

Video test

Sorry about them being the wrong way round...

Video/Exhibition test

Exploration with different stand sizes for the laptop. A white cover to represent the clinical feel of the rooms and the Neighbourhood.

Naming system

From the start of my project i was intending to use some sort of code name for the citizens in this community rather than their original names. Using Aristotle's four levels of happiness as part of the name defines how happy the citizen currently is and how much 'processing' they need.

Initials will be taken from the levels with a number on the end to distinguish the different citizens at that particular level.

LEVEL OF HAPPINESS - CITIZEN TO REACH THAT LEVEL

Some examples would be:

L-40

F-16

B-37

SB-7

A citizens level and number will change over time as they strive to become SB, the highest level of happiness in the neighbourhood.

Citizens could be judged and perceived differently depending on their level, for example someone at level 1 (L) could be seen as inferiors to those of a higher level, a communal hierarchy.

Final Exhibition

For my final exhibition i am hoping to create an environment to display some of my work in. I will attempt to create a small room environment painted white containing the pills, picture frames, audio and visuals on laptops. The items will be based around a white chair and table, with walls made from chipboard panels, white floor tiles and a roof of fabric.

It should be similar to the rooms featured in the dystopian film THX 1138.

Elation/Joy/Bliss

Final prototypes from the three pills. Decisions still need to be made on the mounting of the labels onto the bottle but it is likely to be spray mount.

Joy

Some Joy prototypes. Here i have experimented with colour with one of the three tablets, Joy. A few elements need editing on the labels now i know the specific details of the pill, and the labels would be fastened properly when the final designs are finalised.

Also the way the product is photographed suggests different intensions from the product. A photograph from a low point suggests the product could be intimidating and powerful whereas the photo from above makes the tablets look much more like a product with commercial purposes.

Pill Label Designs

I have tried to stick to strict colour schemes like current existing labels used for this sort of packaging, I have also tried to make the labels aesthetically pleasing as well as attempting to continue the Neighbourhood design styling used for previous designs.

I feel this last design is the strongest, however i need to experiment further with the other two tablets Bliss and Elation, working with different colours, layouts and imagery. The tablet details aso need adjusting now i have the quantities and weights of the tablets.

Pills Red

I managed to get my hands on some old pills which i might use for my Neighbourhood tablets. They are red which was not initially planned however it could provide an interesting edge to the product.

Smiles in frames

I have taken a few photos of smiles and happy emotions however i didn't want to show much identity of the figures featured in the photos. The 'N' logo features in all the images, i feel when the logo sits more central on the face it suggests the smile or happy emotion is a product of 'N', whereas when the logo is in the bottom corner it seems to be more of a decorative feature.

Pill Bottles

Spare tablet canisters from the TESCO pharmacy. A collection of large and small bottles.

Four Levels of Happiness

After deciding a possible grading system could be used i thought it might be good if the grading system could tie in with the level of happiness of the citizen in The Neighbourhood. I came across the 'Four Levels of Happiness' theory by Greek philosopher Aristotle.

Websites: Four Levels of Happiness

Explanation

The four levels consist of (in ascending order):

Level 1 - Laetus/Immediate Gratification

This is where we are when we are trying to feel better about ourselves and need a quick perk up.

Level 2 - Felix/Gratification Through Achievement

Using our talents to achieve goals create something good. This may over time lead to becominge fearful of failure, isolated, jealous, and cynical. Happiness becomes something to be worked at endlessly and after time the burden can become overwhelming.

Level 3 - Beatitudo/Gratification Through Contribution

We take our eyes off ourselves and serve others - taking the focus of ourselves and focus on being a part of a community. As we stop grasping happiness for ourselves it increases.

Level 4 - Sublime Beatitudo/Transcendent Gratification

The purpose that is greater than us, something worthy of our life, living for something that will outlast us, something that will contribute to many, many lives, not simply our own.

I feel these titles could be used to represent the different stages of happiness the citizens are at. All citizens strive to be happy at the highest level. Whether the Greek titles are used, abbreviated or even the Levels are used is yet to be decided, they could well sit beside numbers or initials for the names of the citizens.

Possible Citizen Name Groupings

• Real Name
• Initials
• Numbers
• Age
• Date of Birth
• New Name
• Star Sign
• Greek Alphabet
• Sex of Citizen
• Colours
• Letters
• Eye Colour

The name could depend up on whether then citizens are starting a fresh, new life or continuing their own in The Neighbourhood.

A grading system could be used, a similar concept to A Brave New World. A ranking system could be used, ranking from citizens who need intense 'processing through to citizens who have a lighter experience.

Neighbourhood Pills

Just some pill bottle ideas using the images from The Prisoner...

Bottle Scale

These are screen shots from The Prisoner 2009 series, used by Number 2 to keep his wife 'dreaming'. I feel the small bottles are much more intriguing than the larger bottles. They seem more discrete and sensitive, it is ironic how they draw the viewer to them more even though they try to remain hidden and invisible. It could be argued that in this case 'less is more'...

Back to pills

When i am considering packaging design for the pills i am creating a few aspects have to be considered.

1. Packaging Type - bottle/boxed packed/tub
2. Type of tablet - existing/fictional/unknown/emotions
3. Scale
4. Bottle opacity
5. Label Info - detailed/ingredients/none
6. Label size
7. Tablet size/colour
8. Message intended - positive/enjoyable/none/informative/unknown

The Prisoner 2009 ID card

A fairly simple design displaying a photo of the citizen, his name/number and the village logo.

ID Cards

I am considering designing an ID card of some sort. This could enable the citizens to access various facilities and areas in the Neighbourhood, like a keycard sort of thing. I have taken a few photos of some different types of cards.

These cards all feature photos of the card holder as proof of identity. Fairly simple layouts are used with a minimal colour scheme. What is also interesting is that the cards have some form of number representing the card holder, this could be taken into account when deciding on what names/numbers/title the citizens are known by.

This card uses photos of the environment. Images of the Neighbourhood could feature on the card to advertise the community also.

This card reminded me of the credits/units used in The Prisoner to purchase items in the village. A currency or credit system could be devised.

The storage of the card can also be though about, a plastic sleeve or some type of keychain could be used to keep the card with the citizen at all times.

Espionage

Spying and espionage could be looked at in greater depth in my project. In the film Fahrenheit 451 citizens are encouraged to inform the fireman government about anyone they think is holding and reading any books and literature. A photo or name is anonymously posted into a small postbox looking thing next to the fire-station. The subject of spying and espionage was also raised in this week's peer learning session, looking into spying in the American Cold War.

This concept could perhaps be adapted for The Neighbourhood. Espionage is encouraged for inform the authorities of citizens who are not as 'happy' as they should be or citizens who have been seen not participating in compulsory tasks. This would give The Neighbourhood an even more of a dystopian quality, the fact that you cannot trust anyone and that all the citizens obey and follow the authorities intensions.

Julie Christie as Linda Montag informing the authorities in Fahrenheit 451