During the summer holidays, Scarlett O'Lorenshaw, a student at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), was commissioned to create social media assets and a tote bag for the upcoming Freshers' Week. Her primary goal was to make the designs feel playful and fun, drawing inspiration from Bournemouth's natural environment.
O'Lorenshaw developed a bug-themed concept, beginning with the project's logo. Initial ideas involving numbers shaped as bugs were refined into a more subtle design that referenced insects indirectly. For instance, the polka-dotted 'two' alludes to a ladybird's spots, and the 'six' incorporates a butterfly's wing. The logo's colour was later adjusted for cohesion with other assets.
The tote bag design, a favourite part of the project for O'Lorenshaw, features a circular frame showcasing various Freshers' Week activities. The process of filling in shapes felt almost sculptural, with careful consideration given to negative space. While symmetry was a consideration, elements like swapping a worm for a caterpillar were introduced to enhance visual interest. The final design uses a white print on pink, aligning with the Student Union's brand identity.
Illustrations for specific Freshers' activities were created, including an asset for the 'Freshers' Fair' depicting bugs interacting with society stalls. A dancing butterfly and other multi-purpose individual characters were also developed. O'Lorenshaw also animated a waving bee for a 'coming soon' teaser and designed social media borders and a website banner.
The project culminated in seeing the designs used on AUBSU's Instagram page and, most rewardingly, at the Freshers' Fair itself. Witnessing students wearing the tote bags and receiving positive feedback boosted O'Lorenshaw's confidence. As she enters her final year at AUB, she aims to build on this experience to pursue further illustration opportunities.
