Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols, but it's not what the symbols mean but how their meanings are created. A semiotic symbol is classed as any sign that has a random or irrelevant link between the signifier and the signified. 

Semiotics was such a broad research topic that I wanted to narrow down and eventually I chose the ampersand. A symbol that is commonly used with design and branding, although the user may not really know why it means what it does.

This project centred around showing the ampersand in ways people may not have considered before and also to show it's journey into a semiotic symbol. For example as the ampersand has been developed and styalised the origins and meaning slowly disappeared although the symbol still signifies the word 'and'. 

To do this I have researched 5 different meanings of the ampersand and to symbolise those meaning I have used the traditional process of embossing (or debossing) to show the depth and the secondary meanings behind the ampersand. 

This was a group project all about sustainability and real world clients. We were given the challenge to reduce the amount of food packaging waste in Cardiff Met halls of residence. 
Our idea was to organise and brand an on campus student market, the consequence of which would be a lot less food packaging.
These are the designs, screen prints and products that we presented, and we actually won this project.