By Nino Meriano![]() Visual sequential communication is pictorial storytelling, using frozen frames in sequence rather than standalone pictures or moving images. VCS sits between still single images and film or video. Often but not always includes written language to further communicate a message or story. Storytelling is possibly older than speech itself and in caves we can imagine stone age peoples communicating in the flames and images on the wall, a successful hunt or alien visitation. Storytelling is the essence of how we communicate, whether it is through spoken word, writing or visually. It is an innate human instinct to share our story with the world and mark it down in history. There are many methods and ways of telling our own stories and some of the oldest forms showing the humans desire to share what is happening in the world around them are cave paintings, some have been dated to around 39,000 BC. The next method of sharing information is writing, and we have found ancient writing systems that were first used in around 3400 BC, this somewhat having a pictorgraphic nature. Moving further in history, storytelling has had such an impact in how nations carry on their legacy’s. From folk law to fairy tales we can communicate so much emotion, knowledge and meaning through stories that no other form of communication can. We can activate people’s compassion and emotions making the message we are trying to convey really embed in people’s minds. When something has meaning, and emotion tied to the information you are trying to convey it will stay in someone’s memory much longer. Bringing this into the 21st century we now more than ever are fighting for people’s attention with the internet and social platforms providing so much information that is rapidly evolving and changing. This brings me on to what we do at Corporate Comics, we provide visually engaging content that engages the viewer by taking them through a story of what you do. We illustrate your story, allowing you to engage and create deeper connections with your target audience. Our mission at Corporate Comics is to foster intergalactic visual sequential communication as we become an interplanetary species. More short term, we aim to become the number one corporate comic organisation on this Planet, helping businesses achieve super heroic feats. How will we achieve this? Through Visual Sequential Communication, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then a comic is worth many thousands more. Why not bring your message across in an easy to understand and entertaining format that speaks to a new generation? It has been proven that people will spend more time when looking at an image than if looking at the written word and in this fast-paced World you can at best expect a 3 second glance of any content you have. Not so with comics, a few panels denoting a story will instantly grab attention, in a way words alone and single images don’t do. Comics both personifies content and stimulates interest. Looking at some of the most successful brands and products out there today, we can analyse how and what they did and do so well to be where they are. A perfect example is Apple, they have created a product that people get attached to on an emotional level even to the extent you get “apple people” that would never even look at getting another product in the same market. You mention a PC or Android phone to them, and they almost bite you head off. Apple has created a premium experience from when you get the product in the store to how they lead you through opening the package and finally the design of the phone and the way it functions. Apples computers, laptops and phones are some of the most expensive in the market and there are plenty of cheaper options with better specs, yet they still have such a large number of customers. Why is this? Well they have built a story into the brand, that allows people to build a connection beyond Apple just being a product people use to serve a specific task. For example, the ‘think different’ campaign, “because the people that are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” This shows what apple stands for and this gives something people can stand by. We trust people that believe what we believe, in turn you unconsciously trust the brand. Building an audience for your brand is so important, having clients is one thing but an audience is a different animal. A client will pay you for a service or product but an audience will follow you whatever you do, they will support you if you make a book, start a podcast or make a clothing line whatever it is you do an audience will show up. Why is this? Well if you build a fan-base that believes in the same ideology and ethics as your brand, and if you teach or share value, they will get on board all the more. How can building an audience be achieved, well there are a few different methods and ways to do this and personality is a key factor when it comes to finding an audience. People don’t fall in love with corporation’s People fall in love with personalities, so to capture your audience you need to find your voice and embrace ‘you’. In other words, building a character that people can relate, empathize and comprehend will put your company much further ahead in capturing and engaging an audience that will show up for your brand. To create an attractive character there are four main traits, number one is a compelling backstory, everyone needs a meaning for being where they are and a reason why they are doing what they do. Secondly, character flaws, this allows the audience to see how you progress because if you are flawless there is nowhere to improve and that doesn’t make for a good and compelling story. This follows on to ‘parables’ a story that is used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson giving value to your audience. Finally, you must be polarizing, take a stand as when you are polarizing you incite passion. To have people love your brand you must risk having people on the opposite side of the fence, as if your brand doesn’t stand for something no one will stand with you. “To think you have to risk being offensive” PR. Jordan Peterson.
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Aidan McCormack - Illustration and Visual Media Whilst constantly working for others I found it important to sometimes attempt to take a step back and remember to work on myself more as a creative pushing the diversity of my outcomes as I continue to develop my identity as a designer. As I was learning a lot of transferable skills within my placement it was also important to put some of these into practice within my own design. I therefore designed and screen printed 50 t-shirts for my debut release of garmentsnamed the Observer T-Shirt Collection. Taking a step back and focusing on my self felt great and also gave me time to reflect on my time at my placement. ![]() Pushing to achieve a unique brand identity which would invite an audience to invest more time and attention into the release of the T-shirts I independently planned several marketing techniques which I felt would help push sales and communicate my product to a wider audience. Presenting a deeper insight into what to expect from me as a designer I began by releasing a short video sequence which teased one of the three t shirts, I felt this was successful in creating an initial insight of what was to come. I followed this up by completing my first ever give away, which I promoted using another new animation which, to win, had to be shared on your Instagram story. This resulted in the garments being exposed to a much wider audience of similar interests which ultimately lead to more sales and increased my audience. Lastly, I sent a small amount of t shirts out to various people who I felt would both represent my product well and expose it to the correct people, mainly through the sharing of photographs on social media. As I had spent previous weeks, formulating design concepts, creating digital mock-up’s, selling works to customers and promoting Laurens work on social media etc it was nice to formulate a similar process to instead promote and sell my own work for a change. It became evident that taking a step back and realigning my focus Is a key element for me as a designer and my process to enable me to move forward. Selling all t-shirts I had for sale, was very pleasing and I look forward to producing some more as I truly believe I can produce something better design wise in the future and see another collection of t-shirts sell out. I believe the animations were a great marketing technique and painted a greater story behind the t-shirt itself, therefore is something I will repeat in the future. Aswell as focusing on myself I also took time out to continue with a collaborative project I was working on alongside some of my closest childhood friends, I find something refreshing about being creative with those closest to you, especially as were all reaching a point of perfecting our skills as creatives. This collaborative, editorial project we are creating focusses on the fashion worn to navigate through diverse and unfamiliar terrain. Visiting diverse locations from the mountain tops of Wales to the busy streets of London to shoot for Issue 1 which is coming out in June of 2020 was a fun experience and was refreshing to get out of a studio and away from my computer screen for a change. After neglecting the process of painting for over a year, revisiting it was very relaxing and rewarding as I began painting from one of the photographs taken on the shoot. This reminded me to be careful and not always get lost in a fast paced digital world, as sometimes its important to take a step back, slow things down, and pick up a paint brush. Although not perfect I know this is a process I am skilled at but never give enough time, I therefore plan to attempt to dedicate more of my time to the process of painting in the future as I always love the meticulous, lengthy process and more importantly the results.
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March 2022
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