Brief 3 - JB Springs - Initial Idea 1

The idea came from research into springs and the manufacturing of them, which then opened up the pathway to wire forms, which is how certain items can be custom made, coming in any shape or size that may be needed. Therefore the outlines of existing wire forms have been drawn over and around, which then seemed to create certain shapes of characters, with abstract arms, heads and legs. The designs have come straight from existing wire form shapes, which represents the making of springs and therefore Springtelligence, it gives an insight into how certain things are made and how wire forms can be moulded and formed into new things. 

The most successful shapes and outlines were selected which looked most like abstract human forms or could have the possibility of being manipulated into doing so. The lines and shapes were then developed to be more symmetrical and have a stronger shape to them. With the experimentation of adding feet and eyes, they began to look more like avatars and noticeable characters. 

The most successful shapes, which from feedback looked most like avatars and characters with abstract human forms, also illustrations that children would relate to the most. These were further developed to start experimenting with facial expressions, eyes, mouths and hands. To cover the 4 emotions and stances which were required from the brief which were; Neutral, Excited, Pensive and saying Hello/Goodbye. Developments with the placement of eyebrows and hands to get the most effective expressions were experimented with. 

Below shows the design with some initial colour added to them, to see if they work outside of monochrome and black and white tone. Using the blue from JB Spring's identity helps to see if the designs work alongside their personality, logo, company and website. Also experimenting with negative space, seeing if the design could work on coloured backgrounds and in the shade of white. 

From feedback and in relation to the requirements of the brief, this approach to the character design and the avatars themselves are appropriate for the target audience, in the way that they look friendly and approachable. However one criticism could be that the shape of them and the root of the design solution of wire forms may not come across or be understood by young children, maybe using more relatable and well known objects and outlines may be more engaging. In other terms of answering the brief this design does tick the three boxes of being, fun, engaging and is definitely inventive as the malleability of the wire forms comes across in the design of the characters.