Stage one - Choosing a cassette (revised)

After some careful thought into the first stage I realised it would be more useful for the user to choose a coloured cassette instead of a brand of cassette.

Originally I wanted the user to choose a brand of cassette such as an Alfa or Memorex, based on the similar idea photography app Hipstamatic implements with its style of camera lenses.

See blog post here.

My reasons behind the idea was because different brands tend to have different styles and looks to the tape and it would be nice for the user to choose a vintage looking tape.

See tapedeck.org

However, I realised that there would be no need for the user to choose a brand.

- The sound quality of the branded tape would have no relevance to how the final product would sound, as music was stored on the USB and not the cassette tape

- The unique design of the branded cassette would not be seen as the theme sticker would cover the front of it

- Realistically, even though the product is recycled being able to get hold of the exact same branded cassettes would be a very difficult task.

Instead I have decided it would be more realistic if the user chooses the colour of the cassette tape. For making the product this is more realistic as the majority of cassette tapes I have collected tend to be of set colours:

- black

- white

- clear

- cream

- baby blue

scanning materials

Today, I sourced some materials from a local haberdashery. I scanned each piece of material into the computer and using photoshop adjusted the colours and tones.

The images will be used for the cassette stickers. I want the product to be as organic as possible to give it a more hand made feel. I choose materials with different textures which will hopefully come across in the design of the sticker.

Each piece of material will be for a set tape theme.

Proposed Colour Schemes

Cassette tape labels

For the cassette tapes, I will design stickers which will compliment the cassette inlay themes. The user will be able to change the design of the sticker with other options. I will produce some of the same patterns in different colours.

The label design will flow on from the design of the website and will have a scrapbook/collage feel to it. I will collect materials to scan into my computer which will then be printed out as stickers. The textures will give the tape a DIY feel to it, like it has been made personally.

Inspiration was taken from the book: Cassette from my ex

[scanned image here]

My target audience

[research goes here]

[questionnaires]

age group

income

location

sex

interests

musical interests

style

Gift wrapping the tapes

The tapes will be advertised as gift wrapped in brown paper with card labels. The website logo will be stamped/printed onto the tag and the address handwritten on the reverse.

postsecret blog

[about the design here]