“Hygge – a lifestyle” in context with Fidea Design was the starting point of my groups Design Jamming module. I was eager to develop my group work skills working alongside others of different skill sets, whilst also learning how to incorporate illustration within a product related context. The research phase started quite broad, looking into the main themes of hygge and our client’s values and brand. It became apparent the importance of the swiss made and story-telling factor of the products within Fidea and through our discussions with them it provided useful information and creative brackets to work within, encouraging a focus on creating something small and simple with a twist. This assisted in deciding a solution ‘hygge on or around the table’ in which the main focus became on games and coaster concepts. I personally was interested in looking into vintage Swiss design and packaging, researching into promotional posters of the mountains, old Coop branding and the shapes and colours of the Bauhaus movement.
Carrying on from the Swiss design research I selected Risograph printing to realise my ideas. I chose this process because I felt it could mimic the old print style in a contemporary fashion. I played with the idea of creating a ‘Top Trump’ card game about all things Swiss, considering tourists or visitors as the target market. The unpredictable nature of riso printing caused uneven prints. When collecting ideas back with the group it was decided that coasters would be the best solution forward, in which I developed my illustrations from card game to coaster design, exploring the laser cutter and phototransfer paste to aid this.
As we presented four individual coaster concepts we could only carry one forward, that being the Tangram coaster idea. I was involved in created pictures of the tangram shapes and of the specific trees we used as our materials. The tangram idea suits the Fidea identity well and our response to hygge.
My experience of the IDA module has been very positive. I found the insight into Fidea Design particularly inspiring due to the brand’s passion for design and friendly business attitude. It has clarified my love for creating Risograph prints and using primary colours, as well as teaching me the importance of working with different individuals to gain different insights.
Text: Hazel Laing
