Vivant initially approached Stephen to help roll out a small range of inspirational wall canvases, creating typographic layouts for the quotes they contained and modifying the supplied artwork to create pleasing compositions. Over time, Franklin would become a trusted design partner of Vivant Creations, helping them roll out multiple ranges, handling product development, packaging design, and creating associated marketing materials. Eventually, Stephen would participate in the creative direction of their Spirit Range and help develop a new brand from scratch in the form of Little Yellow Cloud. In the words of Vivant Creations owner, Suzanne Phillips: "Stephen's level of understanding, commitment and ability has been extraordinary. A true professional with a great deal of knowledge in all aspects of design."
Design Direction: Vivant Creations
Creative Direction: Stephen Franklin
Graphic Design: Stephen Franklin
Stephen helped modified the existing brand design by incorporating the full name Vivant Creations, matching the original Vivant typeface, and tweaking both the shape and colour of the dancing character.
Original Vivant logo.
Refreshed Vivant Creations logo with updated name and colours.
Reversed Vivant Creations logo on a black background.
Wisdom inspirational quote and owl in tree graphic on tan canvas material.
Wisdom inspirational quote and owl in tree graphic on black canvas material.
Franklin initially helped to roll out the ‘Wise Little Owls’, a series of six canvases in both a light and dark version. These designs would later be applied to shopping bags and umbrella products.
Courage inspirational quote and owl graphic on black card.
Journey inspirational quote and owl graphic on black card.
Wisdom inspirational quote with owls in tree graphic on black card.
Destiny inspirational quote and owl graphic on black shopping bag.
Folded shopping bag product.
Shopping bag swing tag with folding instruction illustrations inside.
Courage inspirational quote and owl graphic on black umbrella.
Courage inspirational quote and owl graphic on tan umbrella.
Umbrella swing tag with usage instruction illustrations inside.
Eighth page Vivant creations ad with trade show stand details.
Eighth page Vivant creations ad in place on the publication grid.
Hand holding DL sized Vivant Creations trade show flyer.
In the lead up to presenting the full range at a yearly trade show, Vivant commissioned Stephen to create an eighth page ad for the show magazine and an accompanying flyer for handing out on the show room floor.
Vivant would later release a new 2011 range of inspirational quotes. This would initially be on canvas, using updated colours and materials. And for the first time the inspirational quotes were reproduced on jewellery
Laugh inspirational quote and birds in tree graphic on off white canvas material.
Laugh inspirational quote and birds in tree graphic on black canvas material.
Living inspirational quote and birds in tree graphic on off white canvas material.
Living inspirational quote and birds in tree graphic on black canvas material.
Clear plastic packaging for glass photo frames showing back of pack design.
Clear plastic packaging for canvases showing back of pack design.
Stephen created packaging for the canvases, updating them with the colours and graphics used on the current range.
Franklin produced the trade show marketing materials using the current range colours and graphics, while keeping the layout familiar and on brand.
Half page trade show ad for the 2011 Vivant Creations range on publication grid.
Quarter page trade show ad for the 2011 Vivant Creations range on publication grid.
Smile inspirational quote with bird and tree graphic on off white card.
Dance inspirational quote with bird and tree graphic on off white card.
Life inspirational quote with bird and tree graphic on off white card.
The 2012 range would expand beyond canvases, cards, and jewellery to mugs and even an Inspiring Breakfast Set with a mug, plate, and bowl.
Stephen help Vivant Creations visualise the product packaging in 3D before the artwork was sent to the supplier, as was done for the bracelet boxes above and bauble packaging below.
3D Render of bracelet bauble packaging.
Final produced packaging for the bracelet bauble packaging.
Stephen not only produced the mug artwork itself, but the packaging that went with it. This included two different styles of box, one of which had a clear outer cylinder to see the product. He again modelled this in 3D first to help the client visualise the product in situ.
Wish mug inspirational quote side with bird on inner lip.
Wish mug opposite side showing bird in tree graphic.
Dance mug inspirational quote side with bird on inner lip.
Dance mug opposite side showing bird in tree graphic.
Travel mug packaging pre-visualisation.
Dance inspirational quote travel mug in finished packaging.
Inspirational quote travel mugs in finished packaging
Franklin would use the same visualising techniques for the breakfast set products and packaging.
Pre-visualisation illustration of breakfast set products.
Finished artwork for breakfast set products.
Pre-visualisation of breakfast set packaging.
Finished artwork for breakfast set packaging.
Half page trade show ad for the 2012 Vivant Creations range.
Half page trade show ad for the 2012 Vivant Creations range on publication grid.
All product photography for the trade show marketing materials was shot in-house at the studio and later used for the website and online marketing created by SF Generator, Franklins separate web design and development business.
Stephen would eventually help create the backdrops used for the stand at one of the trade shows. The above is a visual of how the products would be displayed on the wall after the backdrop panels were in place.
13. A full table of products at the trade show, displaying all the products and packaging Stephen helped to create for the various ranges, including the clear acrylic tree used for the jewellery display.
