Primary Research

This afternoon, I went into town and took photographs of existing frames for my primary research as it did seem the most logical step. I went to TK Maxx, M&S, Wilkinson's and Urban Outfitters as I wanted to go to a range of different shops with different prices. 

TK Maxx I found a complete mess, the frames were all over the place, and most of them had random pictures of children or women or something else random. 
Which made me think, something I really need to consider, is how my frame is going to be displayed in the shop (or on the web) and how I can display the frame at its best potential. 

For example, this frame on the left with the new born baby, the frame colour is a delicate blue. The colour compliments the new born, and portrays the idea that this is the best frame suited for your families photos.

Marks & Spencers

M&S had really minimalist and plain backing paper, it was clean and looked elegant on the shelves. However, they seem to have no real effect, your eyes were drawn to the frame not the backing paper. This is something I actually need to consider whether or not I want the customer to be drawn to the frame by having really minimalist backing paper or, something really different and of high impact that draws your eye into the frame. All the frames had the same M&S house style which does work as they look smart on the shelves.

















Wilkinsons had a wide range of photo frames at affordable prices. A repeating pattern that keeps coming is that with wooden frames, the backing paper is usually of trees and leaves. The backing paper was really plain and not very interesting.

I found the best frames were in Urban Outfitters, they are spot on. They are highly illustrative and of high impact. They've got there target audience spot on, which I think is around teens to 30's? The backing paper is really eye-catching, sometimes clashing with the frame which only draws your attention in, it makes you really look at the frame (I think it almost compliments the frame). The only thing is I need to use some photographic elements in my backing paper designs. However, something that I really want to explore and consider is the use of hand-rendered typography, which is something I am quite passionate about.  

From my primary research the main thing I learnt was that people, the customer, pay for the frame, we aren't really bothered about the backing paper, as long as we like the look of the frame. However, my initial thoughts about this brief is that I want to make a backing paper of high impact, something you wouldn't expect to see in a frame. 

My Initial Thoughts and Ideas:

• Photographs you wouldn't expect to see in a frame
• Pattern 
• Hand-Rendered Typography 
• Scanning Techniques ( scanning in textures (sequins/beads))