Overview:
Starving Writer is a new YouTube content creator looking to enter the gaming scene to provide entertainment through Let's Plays and value through a unique review method.
Challenge:
Starving Writer presented the idea of a faceless bartender and a sketch of a bar scene. The challenge was to create a cohesive channel scheme utilizing the presented elements.
Goal:
To bring Starving Writer's ideas to life. Starving Writer needed an Avatar, Banner, Background that could be used with a green screen, and wordmarks for videos.
Starving Writer's - Faceless Bartender Avatar
The Process
The Faceless Bartender
Overview
Starving Writer envisioned a faceless bartender cleaning a glass as their avatar. With time and references, I can flesh out a nice-looking person. From the full photo, I referenced the bartender's pose, clothes, and lighting. In the final version, I used my digital painting style to flesh out the Faceless Bartender.
Challenge
My illustration skills when trying to create realistic humans.
Goal
Creating an avatar that would have realistic characteristics but fit the vision and branding of Starving Writer.
The bartender photo I referenced is by LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS and I purchased an extended license from Adobe Stock.
1st Sketch
Reference Photo By LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS (Extended License Acquired by Adobe Stock).
Referenced the pose, lighting, and clothing.
Using my digital painting style I fleshed out the Faceless Bartender creating Starving Writers Avatar
Starving Writer's Unique Gaming Review System
Starving Writer's gaming review system is based on five tiers. Each tier is represented by a bars beverage designation. The name of each tier, starting from the worst to the best rating: Swill, Bottom Shelf, Mid Shelf, Top Shelf, Special Reserve.
The Bar Sketches
Overview
Starving Writer presented a sketch of a bar that envisioned a depiction of his unique gaming review system. I then created a digital version of that sketch.
Challenge
To create an inviting feel while also making sure that each tier of his review, represented by the shelves, felt different.
Goal
To create a representation of his review system and to create a warm inviting feeling.
The Bottles
Overview
I needed a bunch of bottles for the shelves. Each shelf represents a different rating. I started with some references to make some silhouettes. I also did some barrel silhouettes.
Challenge
Diversify the bottles to create a distinction between each shelf.
Goal
To create an array of bottle shapes and bring some more color into the scene.
Bottle References
Bottle Study Silhouettes
Barrel Study Silhouttes
Bottles with color for shelves
Bottles With Color blurred for background of banner.
The Bar Wall
Overview
I was helping to build an establishment, it needed a foundation and that was the wall. When you go to your local hardware store there are many of tiles, panels, and vinyl styles to choose from. So I created several patterns for Starving Writer to choose from. The panel that Starving Writer chose was a good balance between basic and complex.
Challenge
Already having wood shelving and barrels could clash with the wood wall. Trying to create a background with a warm welcoming feeling a stone wall didn't feel homely and the glass from the bottles didn't do well against a grey wall. Too complex of a pattern would make it feel noisy and draw your attention away from the more important aspects of the banner.
Goal
I didn't want to just have a plain background color. I wanted a background that made you feel like you were in your local hangout.
Final Pattern
Light wood minimal grain texture background.
Medium wood minimal grain texture background.
Checkered wood with alternating grain direction background.
Alternating wood pattern with grain textures.
Brick colored pattern.
Stone colored background.
Final wood pattern with grain textures.
Starving Writer YouTube Channel Banner Progression
Starving Writer YouTube Banner
The Final Starving Writer Banner
Starving Writer Background (For use with a green screen)
Starving Writer Green Screen Background Final Image.
Starving Writer Green Screen Background example. Text & Image overlaid by Starving Writer for YouTube Live Stream.
Starving Writer Animated BRB Screen
The Starving Writer establishment ready to serve up the next gaming review.
Starving Writer Thumbnails
Overview
I wanted to provide a thumbnail style and some insight into how to tie the thumbnails back to the Starving Writer idea.
My idea was to grab the Logo of the game that was being played. Then use Courier New Bold a common font. This font also appears as if the text is from a typewriter. This made a thumbnail that appeared like the heading in a script.
I tested creating these in Microsoft Paint and GIMP both accessible to newer creators.
Challenge
A layout that Starving Writer could replicate on their own with minimal access and knowledge of graphic software.
Goal
A clean thumbnail style that embodied the 'writer' portion of Starving Writer's name.
Starving Writer Animated Sliding Glass Lower Third
Overview
I suggested a wordmark for Starving Writer to use on various social media. This led to the idea of an animated glass sliding revealing a wordmark.
Challenge
Creating the transparent glass and making sure the video was transparent so it could be overlaid on other videos.
Goal
I wanted to find good fitting typography and create a short animation to draw the viewer's attention and then let them get back to the content.
Starving Writer Sliding Glass Story Board
Starving Writer provided a basic storyboard of what he was thinking.
Starving Writer Favorite Glass Reference
Starving Writer also took some photos of their favorite glass.
Starving Writer Typography
Overview
For the wordmark, I provided some typography choices and clarification of each.
Challenge
Providing something bold, clean, and fun.
Goal
To call back to the 'Writer' portion of "Starving Writer" by finding typography that had that typewriter feel but also solved the challenge.
1-4. Same font family, type writer feel but rounded and heavier.
5. Rounded, slight curve in the lettering.
6. Flat with rounded corners.
7. Rounded, type writer feel, thin, the rounded bottom of the "w" I think is too much.
8-9. Same family, flat with slight rounded corners with added curved flair. 8 is heavy, 9 is thinner.
10-11. Same family, rounded, almost balloon round. 10 is heavier, wider, and feels more spaced. 11 is cramped, condensed.
12. Type writer feel with rounded corners. The serif on the "w" really adds to the type writer feel.
13. A basic round style but that rounded bottom of "w" doesn't feel right.
14. Type writer feel but rounded serifs and very thin.
15. Rounded, no lower case option, slightly curved, and almost bulging.
16. A basic round style, a little condensed but also airy. The air feel could be because its bold nut not heavy.
Glass Version 1
Glass Version 2 - More opaque highlights and shadows.
