”Your personal research tasks are for deeper critical reflection and demonstration of your thinking and working processes. These are the research tasks for this week, please share your findings on the ideas wall and on your blog:
I spent hours looking through studios online, but everything felt too literal. I wanted to find something loose and fun, something with range. I stumbled upon Studio Feixen during my search, and I really enjoyed its clean, playful, and sharp layout. It feels effortless but intentional. Their work spans animations, 3D artwork, print, and typography, showing off a real versatility. Everything is presented boldly, with large type and confident visuals, but there’s also humour and lightness woven in. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet still feels high-end and professional. A great example of how a design studio can show personality without losing polish.
This collection draws on bold brushstrokes, textures, and vibrant colour palettes. i like the contrast between digital and hand-drawn, abstract forms and structured layouts. I really enjoy the playful use of typography and linework, and the layered movement. This mood board captures a balance of Traditional and digital which i really enjoy. Mixed media is something i experimented with in my last module and i still feel there is more there to experiment with.
I created a physical mood board as well as the digital so i could put it up as something to look for for inspiration and come back to later on. I really enjoyed this research and I'm going to look a little further at what else i can find.
Ive come back to this research task a few days later because i realised when looking at studios i just looked for fun and aesthetics and i didn't think about practicality, which is something i really wanted to involve more in this module. I’m studying this masters in the hopes i can move into a job working for a large company, to have finantail reassurance rather than to make my own studio, so am i thinking about this all wrong? Ive decided to come back and research some companies i would love to work for, in the hopes i could create something to build on / start my portfolio for job applications.
The Coca-Cola design team, a global in-house team based in Atlanta, is responsible for the visual identity and packaging design across various Coca-Cola brands. They are known for their work on iconic branding elements, including the red colour palette and the signature typeface. The team also collaborates with external design firms and agencies on specific projects, like the recent holiday campaign identity.
Coca-Cola has used lots of interesting designs on its packaging for events throughout the years, reflecting different themes and time periods. Some notable examples include special designs for the Olympics, such as those for Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996, as well as the clever interlocking cans for Paris 2024. They’ve also launched personalised packaging through their well-known "Share a Coke" campaign, and created fun, futuristic looks for their Coca-Cola Creations range, like the Starlight and Byte editions.
What I find really inspiring is how Coca-Cola changes its packaging depending on where you are in the world. When you travel, the design can look totally different — even though it still feels like Coca-Cola. Each version reflects something about the local culture or event it’s tied to. It makes the experience of drinking it feel more personal and connected to a place. That idea of adapting while still staying true to a brand is something I’d like to bring into my own work.
I also love how Coca-Cola creates a consistent tone and look that can shift slightly depending on who it’s talking to. It shows me that design doesn’t have to be loud or over-complicated to be effective. It just has to connect with people in the right way. This is something I want to explore in my own project, finding the balance between creative expression and clear communication, especially when the message is shaped by personal experience.
There’s also something really magical about the way Coca-Cola turns these moments of travel or cultural exchange into part of the brand experience. When you see a limited edition bottle in another country, it becomes part of the memory of being there. It’s nostalgic, collectible, and rooted in place.