OUGD503 FEVER TREE - COUNTRY RESEARCH

From the country list that was supplied by Fever Tree, three continents were shortlisted which I thought contained the more interesting countries, which may have more specific landmarks that could work as the key illustrations

1) ASIA:
Afghanistan
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
China
India
Indonesia
Iran
Nepal
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Yemen

2) NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Belize
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala

3) SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
French Guiana
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Venezuela

Italic = Initially favoured countries based on initial perceptions and knowledge

To get a bit more knowledge about each country, to decide which one to pursue with, brief research will be undertook into key landmarks, and related imagery for each country.

ASIA
Bangladesh

Key aspects:
Baklai Falls, Harinmari mango tree (reportedly the largest in the world), Ahsan Manzil (Palace built in 1872 for Dhaka Nawab family, currently a museum), Somapura Mahavihara (ruins of largest Buddhist monastery in Indian subcontinent, built in 8AD), Puthia Temple Complex (largest group of historical Hindu temples in the country, have some terracotta temples).

Puthia Temple Complex.

Somapura Mahavihara.

Ahsan Manzil. This palace has beautiful colours, the pink brick and the luscious green grass. This could work as a really aesthetically pleasing illustration for the wrap, one that would hopefully be easily recognisable as well, as this is quite a large landmark for Bangladesh. 

The Bengal Tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh (and also India).


China

Key aspects:
Great Wall of China (Mutianyu in Beijing essence section, built 1,400 years ago), Summer Palace (largest and best preserved royal garden in China), Temple of Heaven (complex of Taoist buildings four times the size of the Forbidden City), Big Buddha in Hong Kong (Unveiled in 1993), Xi'an City Wall (built between 1374-78), Chi Lin Nunnery (Buddhist temple complex).

Great Wall of China, Mutianyu section. This is a very iconic landmark of China, what it is most known for, so this would be the most obvious thing to illustrate which would be recognisable.

Summer Palace.

India

Key aspects:
Bollywood dancing, Taj Mahal (one of the seven wonders of the world), Indian culture and look of the people, Swaminarayan Akshardham, Agra Fort, Qutab Minar, India Gate (national war monument).

India Gate.

Taj Mahal.

Traditional Indian dress.

Indonesia

Key aspects:
Nearly 400 volcanoes (70 active), 170,000 islands make up the country, The worlds largest flower originates (originates), Komodo Dragons are still living in this country, rice terraces of Bali, Borobudur Temple (9AD Buddhist Temple), Ubud Monkey Forest, Prambana (9AD Hindu Temple), Royal Temple of Mengwi.

Prambanan Hindu Temple.

Royal Temple of Mengwi.

Rice terraces.

Nepal

Key aspects:
Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Mount Everest, Pashupatinath Temple (Hindu Temple for Lord Shiva)

Boudhanath Stupa

Swayambhunath Temple.

Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Pashupatinath Temple, Hindu Temple for Lord Shiva.

Papua New Guinea

Key aspects:
Kokodo trail (links north and south coasts),

Kokodo Trail.

NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA
Dominican Republic

Key aspects:
Santo Domingo Colonial City (UNESCO World Heritage site), Eastern National Park (112 species of birds), lots of marine life (humpback whales calve during January and February), Samana Peninsula (jungle covered islands, unique rock formations emerging from the sea), Salto El Limon waterfall, Lake Enriquillo (largest saltwater lake in Antilles, flamingoes and iguanas found here), Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia.

Colonial City.

Samana Peninsula.

Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia. This is a really unique piece of architecture, one which cannot be mistaken, and is quite famous across Latin America as well as a leading pilgrimage centre, so it is easily recognisable.

Mexico

Key aspects:
First introduced chocolate and corn to the world, Pyramid of the Sun (built 2000 years ago), Mayan Pyramids, Catedral Metropolitana (In the centre square Plaza de la Constitución), Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Pyramid of the Sun.

Mayan Pyramids. This is a very distinct pyramid, with a clear shape and structure, which is very different to any other kind of pyramid, so will be easily recognisable in an illustration.

Catedral Metropolitana.

Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Costa Rica

Key aspects:
Largest Oxcart (national symbol of the Costa Rican transport device), it's 112 volcanoes (most have been made into national parks), mysterious stone spheres (235 registered, created from 400AD to 1400AD estimated, when the Spanish colonised Costa Rica), Whale tail beach (one of the best spots to watch humpback whales).

Largest Oxcart.

Mysterious stone spheres.

Whale tail beach.

Guatemala

Key aspects:
Tikal ruins (Mayan), Cerro de la Cruz (installed 1930), one of the biggest coffee producers in the world, Tamales (wrapped in banana leaf).

Tikal ruins.

Cerro de la Cruz.

Tamales.

SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina

Key aspects:
Iguazu falls (border of Argentina and Brazil), cattle ranches and cowboys (much older than the USA, third largest exporter of beef), Argentinian Tango (evolved in bars, ports and brothels of Buenos Aires), Obelisk (in Buenos Aires).

Iguazu falls.

Argentinian cattle ranches.

Obelisk. This is a strong landmark, which would produce really effective imagery, however America has something very similar in Washington, which may be slightly more famous, and may be mistaken for this.

Brazil

Key aspects:
Football (Pele), Christ the Redeemer statue (constructed 1931), Sugar loaf mountain, Iguacu falls (on the border with Argentina), Rio carnivals, the Amazon river (second longest in the world), Samba (national dance of Brazil), Brazil nuts, coffee.

Christ the Redeemer Statue. This is a really iconic image for Brazil, possibly what it is most known for, and would make a really iconic image that is unmistakable. 

Rio carnival. Los of colour, feathers, glitter, barely there costumes work by attractive women. There's a lot of music and the performers dance to Samba.

Peru

Key aspects:
Machu Picchu Inca ruins, Nazca lines (produced thousands of years ago), source of the Amazon river.

Inca ruins at Machu Picchu near Cusco.

Nazca lines.

Venezuela

Key aspects:
Angel falls (highest waterfall in the world), Mount Roraima (table top mountain), Merida cable car (longest and highest cable car in the world), Los Roques Archipelago National Park (largest marine park in the Caribbean sea).

Angel falls.

Los Roques.

After researching into each of the different countries that interested me the most, I shortlisted the ones which based on the research had the most iconic and recognisable landmarks that would translate to interesting illustrations easily.

Asia:
Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia

North & Central America:
Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica

South America:
Brazil, Peru

As for this brief there need to be four countries for the continent, the only continent where four countries were shortlisted was Asia, so this is the continent the designs will be based upon, and the specific countries listed just above.
The next stage will be to choose one image for each country that represents that country the best and produce illustrations for it in different styles. Also researching into different styles of illustration as well will be beneficial to see which is the most appropriate for all four countries.