Brand Evaluation

The reason I chose Ellis Faas was because when doing different brand research, this one stood out to me. The first thing I noticed was that she is a photographer and a make-up artist and I don’t know many brands who can say that. Secondly, it was the fact she had designed these unique pens, different to any other on the market. The bullet shaped click-pens can be stored in the Ellis Holder or the clips, making them easy to store in one place. The design of these products came from when Ellis could never find her lipstick in her jumbled bag so the shape of these pens make it easier to be found. I was also impressed that she ‘only tests on supermodels’ making all her products animal cruelty free which is an important factor to me. The brand also asks for an empty pen’s back which are then given to visual artists e.g. sculptors and fashion designers. They will then use the pens to create one-off works of art, which are then sold in aid of War Child, a charity which helps thousands of children in war-torn areas.

Whilst researching into more depth about the brand, I noticed a few things about her style of work. There are no advertising images that promote a particular product or look, only images that she showcases through the use of social media and videos. To me, a good make-up advertisement consists of a picture of the model, and the product and sometimes a description so the buyers know exactly what it is they are purchasing. I personally don’t like adverts which are misleading or don’t specify what they are advertising and leave viewers confused. This is why in my own style; I have decided to specify what the products are making it easier for consumers.

I have noticed that often Ellis Faas only focuses on the makeup with her work quite zoomed in to the face. The models often appear to be unclothed and hair designs are minimal being kept of the face or in some photos are not visible at all. Throughout my designs, it is apparent that I have not done many detailed hair charts or sketches. The reason for this is because I am following Ellis’s style of work as a brand, by solely focusing on makeup designs and leaving the hair natural or away from the face. If my brand focused more on hair in her photographs, I would have included a lot more drawings but because they are left natural I have only written about the hair style as opposed to designing them.

I feel I have done a good job in using my understanding of the brand to create a series of different images in the style of her work. I have done this by taking inspiration from her monthly visuals to create my own mechanical themed background which resembles the inside of the human body. My images only consist of human colours which are the only colours that Ellis focuses on. By following this concept, it had helped lead me to create my final designs. I have included Spring/Summer 2016 trends into the brand by using hints of the colour blue which is a current trend and a human colour. I have also incorporated the idea of freckles into my work which again is another current trend and human colour. Overall, I think I have represented this brand well from her style of face charts to recreating her visuals in my own style. Being recognised twice by Ellis Faas on Instagram has got to be the best part of project, knowing that the brand you have chosen has seen your work feels incredible.