Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Helvetica Film
Link: Helvetica Film
Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
DESIGN PRACTICE - IMPORTANT NOTE
I posted almost all my design practice posts to my design practice blog (see the links to the right). However, I also posted a few blog posts on to my home blog (this blog), they are tagged with the module code. The end of module evaluation will be posted to the design practice blog.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Monday, 18 May 2009
ELECTIVE and CRIT AND DEVELOPMENT
I will start on a bad note...
The image and culture elective over the last two weeks has become a nightmare. The highly academic work relating to theories each week was out of balance with what was possible on its own. In the past 2 weeks I have put together a 10 minute presentation for the elective including preparation work, alongside two 800 word essays which also involved a mountain of research and analysis. Alongside the experience course work this has been far from "a fun run into summer".
For the experience brief I have changed my original plan which was to make instructional cards to something more manageable in the time. I am changing my original concept from informing to promoting but the focus is still on teaching students how to cook. I have decided to create posters to promote the website studentcooking.tv I proposed this in the crit and it went over well, and the feedback was very helpful. I had 3 possible websites and Tom helped me select which website, studentcooking.tv appears the most appropriate for the audience. The layout is clear and the content is interesting.
I plan to learn the screenprint facilities at Blenheim before next year and over the next few days refine my content and designs.
The image and culture elective over the last two weeks has become a nightmare. The highly academic work relating to theories each week was out of balance with what was possible on its own. In the past 2 weeks I have put together a 10 minute presentation for the elective including preparation work, alongside two 800 word essays which also involved a mountain of research and analysis. Alongside the experience course work this has been far from "a fun run into summer".
For the experience brief I have changed my original plan which was to make instructional cards to something more manageable in the time. I am changing my original concept from informing to promoting but the focus is still on teaching students how to cook. I have decided to create posters to promote the website studentcooking.tv I proposed this in the crit and it went over well, and the feedback was very helpful. I had 3 possible websites and Tom helped me select which website, studentcooking.tv appears the most appropriate for the audience. The layout is clear and the content is interesting.
I plan to learn the screenprint facilities at Blenheim before next year and over the next few days refine my content and designs.
Saturday, 16 May 2009
ADOLF THE SUPERMAN: SWALLOWS GOLD AND SPOUTS JUNK
Too many essays and presentations at the moment.
I am now writing an essay evaluating John Heartfields Adolf the Superman: Swallows Gold and Spouts Junk, 1932.
This piece was used as an anti-Hitler poster in the 1932 election. It refers to the financial backing Hitler received from wealthy industrialists who feared Germany would vote for a Communist government.
Sunday, 10 May 2009
BRITISH AEROSPACE
My elective presentation is focused on The F-111 by James Rosenquist.
My friend works for British Aerospace building Hawk fighter jets. I thought this video insightful, I'll send him it soon.
My friend works for British Aerospace building Hawk fighter jets. I thought this video insightful, I'll send him it soon.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
KNIVES TYPE
I have been learning and experimenting with how to use clipping masks.
Missed the W off by accident.
Missed the W off by accident.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
INITIAL SPREAD
The feedback was good, but I still need to build on it. The filter needed changing on the image, which I have done, and I still need to experiment with the layout and type. I also need to make the next two spreads.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Thursday, 30 April 2009
MANIFESTO - WHAT I WANT TO BE AS A DESIGNER...
What are you now?
Typographer - layout and type design
Illustrator
Photographer
Researcher
Organizer
Ideas generator
Ethical
Creative
Expressive
Commercial
3 points for the future:
Software Skills
Work Abroad
Video
What you want to be?
More ambitious.
Working with a small team or creative partner.
Vocal
Commercial
Informed
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE - PLAN
Problem - Not knowing when you are working with a bad idea or more commonly known as 'polishing a turd'.
What I shall do - Inform the coming year how to identify when they are working with a turd.
How - The concepts for delivery include pillowcase and bedding, instruction manual and t-shirt.
Monday, 27 April 2009
CMYK
'CMYK Magazine is where aspiring creatives showcase their talents to an industry driven by inspiration and new ways of creative problem solving. At the same time, CMYK Magazine is where creative directors, agency principals and art buyers recruit students and recent graduates at today's top art-design schools: art directors, copywriters, designers, photographers and illustrators.' CMYK.com
CMYK
It's a better magazine than Creative Review which has no content in my opinion. CMYK showcase's contemporary American design, it's a California based magazine. I will post examples of work once I can get to a scanner.
CMYK
It's a better magazine than Creative Review which has no content in my opinion. CMYK showcase's contemporary American design, it's a California based magazine. I will post examples of work once I can get to a scanner.
Friday, 24 April 2009
THINK OF ENGLAND
I plan to work and live abroad (again) once I finish the course. The poster design below is for a club I lived opposite. I like the illustration it's similar to Vorticism which fits Berlin very well. Below the poster is Moby's new video directed by David Lynch. It's surreal feel and black and white style suite the music. I'd like to develop towards more animation and video based work next year.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
VISUAL LANGUAGE - IMPORTANT NOTE
IMPORTANT - Alot of my new work is on my visual language blog including the evaluation. For the older research see the home blog (This blog).
Monday, 16 March 2009
BOOK FAIR
The book fair was great. Most of the designers and artists I talked to gave business cards with links. Check out New Think its brilliant!!!
Links:
Lonely Panda
New Think
Split Pin
Sarojini Lewis
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
VISUAL LANGUAGE - SEPARATE BLOG
From this point onwards I will be posting visual language work and research to my visual language blog. See links for the link.
Friday, 27 February 2009
DON'T PANIC BRIEF - POSTER DESIGN RESEARCH
I have been looking at 'Up Against the Wall' for illustration, layout and other ideas. I like Masuteru Aoba designs, they are political and simple in design, which is good inspiration for this brief because of having little time and having to generate a large body of possibilities.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
DON'T PANIC BRIEF - COLOUR
I have been focusing on colour for this brief and learning how to use it in the ideas I have created. Stuart Davis's work has influenced the work.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
DON'T PANIC BRIEF - RESEARCH
PURE - Problem being raised = Is eating meat wrong?
I am raising the vegetarian debate for my flat mate who is Muslim and vegetarian.
Debate Definition:
'A discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints.' Dictionary.com
'Debate (American English) or debating (British English) is a formal method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examine the consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examine what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is technique of persuasion. Though logical consistency, factual accuracy as well as some emotional appeal to audience are important elements of the art of persuasion, in debating, one side often prevails over the other side by presenting superior "context" and/or framework of the issue, which is far more subtle and strategic.' Wikipedia
I am raising the vegetarian debate for my flat mate who is Muslim and vegetarian.
Debate Definition:
'A discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints.' Dictionary.com
'Debate (American English) or debating (British English) is a formal method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examine the consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examine what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is technique of persuasion. Though logical consistency, factual accuracy as well as some emotional appeal to audience are important elements of the art of persuasion, in debating, one side often prevails over the other side by presenting superior "context" and/or framework of the issue, which is far more subtle and strategic.' Wikipedia
CRITICAL STUDIES - LENI RIEFENSTAHL
Hitler's speech for Hitlerjugend from Leni Riefenstahl's movie "Triumph of the Will".
Thursday, 19 February 2009
LINE BRIEF - RESEARCH
My test alphabets based on light have worked out well so far. However, I still need to progress the ideas further. I will upload some photographs soon. I plan to incorporate some of Klee's theories into the alphabet designs and possibly develop the design into a poster or small book that folds out.
1500 WORD ESSAY - CRITICAL STUDIES RESEARCH
One book I have been reading is Malcolm Barnards 'Graphic Design as Communication'. It covers all aspects of the subject and is well worth a read. The e-book link is below:
Link:
GRAPHIC DESIGN AS COMMUNICATION
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
CRITICAL STUDIES - PAUL STRAND
Paul Strand (October 16, 1890 – March 31, 1976) was an American photographer and filmmaker who, along with fellow modernist photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston, helped establish photography as an art form in the 20th century.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
100 BOOK - BOTTLE BOOK
The Bottle Book is made up of ten bottles, a key with instructions for use and a bottle opener. It is broken down into two main categories, old and new. Each bottle contains a map for the bar or pub based on the subcategories shown in the key. To find each category use the map to guide you. All the bars and pubs are in Leeds.
HOW IS THE BOOK 100?
Each bar or pub has been reviewed 10 times for the ten subcategories in the key.
10 reviews for 10 bars and pubs totals at 100 reviews.
HOW CAN A BOTTLE BE A BOOK?
Book Definitions:
'A portable container consisting of a series of printed and bound pages that preserves, announces, expounds, and transmits knowledge to a literate readership across time and space.' Andrew Haslam
'Instrument of communication.' Encyclopedia Britannica
A bottle is a form of uniting or binding.
Binding definition:
'The act of fastening, securing, uniting, or the like.' Dictionary.com
BOOK SPECIFICATIONS:
STOCK - 90 gsm CYCLUS. It is recycled and from a sustainable source.
PRINT - Laser printed. Inkjet cannot be used or the ink will feather on the stock.
COLOUR - Only used key (black) to save print costs and was appropriate for the designs.
The Key and Instructions
An example of one of the maps.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
LINE BRIEF - PAUL KLEE
Klee’s technique of ‘taking a line for a walk’ allowed his hand to be free from rational control, creating the starting point for new images. Here, the labyrinth of interlocking horizontal and vertical lines is turned into a town by the simple addition of a roof. In this context, the delicately-sprayed clouds of pink and blue paint in the background become a dense snowstorm. Klee’s works had an enormous influence on the Surrealists (Masson and Miró, in particular), because they provided an example of how automatism could be used in art.
Friday, 6 February 2009
DESIGN PROCESS - MODULE EVALUATION
1. What practical skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
My skills with Photoshop have improved, however, I still need to spend more time experimenting to learn features of the software. Indesign skills have also improved. I started off making the A5 full colour booklet which wasn't very good because I was still learning. The Photoshop booklet turned out okay after experimenting more with the software.
Drawing with Copio or Magic markers has improved. I found it hard at first because you only get one chance with a marker, you can't rub it out. But I am starting to see the benefit of them for quick drawings.
For the 20 A4 research booklet and 100 research brief I experimented practically to see what illustrations I could make made from pieces of rubbish, rubbings, spraypaint and so forth. The inspiration was the 100 research. They turned okay, they look and feel like a forgot city because of the textures and materials.
2. What approaches to/methods of problem solving have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
My primary research skills and confidence to approach people and ask questions with regards to solving a problem have improved. I have improved my ability to design effective questionnaires. I started making them simple and specific, the people I approached didn't seem to mind filling them out. I evaluated the information to see trends and patterns of preference and used the information to inform the designs. I did this on numerous occasions whenever I was confused over a decision to make.
I have also begun contacting local suppliers for materials that are not available 'off the shelf'. For example, for the book brief I needed a recycled stock so I contacted JMC, a local paper merchant. I received numerous choices which I developed into a questionnaire.
I ask other designers how the designs could be improved whether it be in a crit or just in a studio environment. For example, my A5 bar and pub booklet got a bad review in the evaluation after xmas for not being to the theme of a bar or pub. For the 100 book I took this on board and applied it to the 100 book and it turned out more appropriate. The final crit evaluation for the 100 book proved this because I got a good response for the design.
I use notebooks more efficiently now and sticking to a schedule helps because I can see what is possible in a given time.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
Organisation - Makes research and work more accessible for me and others.
Research - Keep improving on this and developing new methods.
Appropriate - Keep making interesting and appropriate designs.
Experimentation - Continue experimenting and testing, for example, with illustrations.
Documentation - Keep documenting work processes, research, development, resolutions and so forth.
Variety of Methods i.e. for researching - Keep developing and learning new methods.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?
Drawing with markers and other mediums, need to try and test more to improve this ability. Need to develop more initial concepts and ideas. I will use more worksheets and sketchbooks in future work. I am organised but I need to improve my schedules. They are too ambitious at times and need to be more directed. I will address the problem by setting time aside to make plans and schedules. I also need to improve photographic documentation and I plan to use A3 display folders in future, they are practical and relatively cheap. My software skills need to improve, this applies to all software. Knowledge of layout and type needs to improve. I was looking at a book called 'Getting it right with type', now I have some more spare time I'll read it.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
1. Use the college facilities more - for example the print workshop and photography. More possibilities and directions.
2. Use a sketchbook more often - improve my visualizing ability.
3. Develop more ideas and concepts - More choice and possibilities.
4. Experiment more with software - more possibilities with effects and directions. Quick generation of ideas!
5. Create realistic schedules and action plans - don't end up stressed or rushing the work.
Are there any things we could have done differently that would have benefitted your progress?
Not really. The tuition has been good throughout the module. If I have any problems I will inform you.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:
(please indicate using an ‘x’)
5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
Attendance = 5
Punctuality = 5
Motivation = 4
Commitment = 4
Quantity of work produced = 4
Quality of work produced = 3
Contribution to the group = 4
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self-evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.
My skills with Photoshop have improved, however, I still need to spend more time experimenting to learn features of the software. Indesign skills have also improved. I started off making the A5 full colour booklet which wasn't very good because I was still learning. The Photoshop booklet turned out okay after experimenting more with the software.
Drawing with Copio or Magic markers has improved. I found it hard at first because you only get one chance with a marker, you can't rub it out. But I am starting to see the benefit of them for quick drawings.
For the 20 A4 research booklet and 100 research brief I experimented practically to see what illustrations I could make made from pieces of rubbish, rubbings, spraypaint and so forth. The inspiration was the 100 research. They turned okay, they look and feel like a forgot city because of the textures and materials.
2. What approaches to/methods of problem solving have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
My primary research skills and confidence to approach people and ask questions with regards to solving a problem have improved. I have improved my ability to design effective questionnaires. I started making them simple and specific, the people I approached didn't seem to mind filling them out. I evaluated the information to see trends and patterns of preference and used the information to inform the designs. I did this on numerous occasions whenever I was confused over a decision to make.
I have also begun contacting local suppliers for materials that are not available 'off the shelf'. For example, for the book brief I needed a recycled stock so I contacted JMC, a local paper merchant. I received numerous choices which I developed into a questionnaire.
I ask other designers how the designs could be improved whether it be in a crit or just in a studio environment. For example, my A5 bar and pub booklet got a bad review in the evaluation after xmas for not being to the theme of a bar or pub. For the 100 book I took this on board and applied it to the 100 book and it turned out more appropriate. The final crit evaluation for the 100 book proved this because I got a good response for the design.
I use notebooks more efficiently now and sticking to a schedule helps because I can see what is possible in a given time.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
Organisation - Makes research and work more accessible for me and others.
Research - Keep improving on this and developing new methods.
Appropriate - Keep making interesting and appropriate designs.
Experimentation - Continue experimenting and testing, for example, with illustrations.
Documentation - Keep documenting work processes, research, development, resolutions and so forth.
Variety of Methods i.e. for researching - Keep developing and learning new methods.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?
Drawing with markers and other mediums, need to try and test more to improve this ability. Need to develop more initial concepts and ideas. I will use more worksheets and sketchbooks in future work. I am organised but I need to improve my schedules. They are too ambitious at times and need to be more directed. I will address the problem by setting time aside to make plans and schedules. I also need to improve photographic documentation and I plan to use A3 display folders in future, they are practical and relatively cheap. My software skills need to improve, this applies to all software. Knowledge of layout and type needs to improve. I was looking at a book called 'Getting it right with type', now I have some more spare time I'll read it.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
1. Use the college facilities more - for example the print workshop and photography. More possibilities and directions.
2. Use a sketchbook more often - improve my visualizing ability.
3. Develop more ideas and concepts - More choice and possibilities.
4. Experiment more with software - more possibilities with effects and directions. Quick generation of ideas!
5. Create realistic schedules and action plans - don't end up stressed or rushing the work.
Are there any things we could have done differently that would have benefitted your progress?
Not really. The tuition has been good throughout the module. If I have any problems I will inform you.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:
(please indicate using an ‘x’)
5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
Attendance = 5
Punctuality = 5
Motivation = 4
Commitment = 4
Quantity of work produced = 4
Quality of work produced = 3
Contribution to the group = 4
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self-evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
THE AGE OF STUPID
One of my running themes for the course is to try and design recyclable and sustainable designs whenever possible. A good book to read is Earth Odyssey by Mark Hertsgaard. It's slightly dated now but still relevent and worth reading. Further inspiration below:
Link:
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Link:
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
LINE PROJECT - PLAN
I plan to experiment and find out what effects can be made with light. I'll experiment with photograms, negatives, montages, different sources of light, filters and exposures. I still plan to progress the brief towards typography. I am considering making a series of alphabets based on light. Sepia prints and Cyanotypes are other processes I am still considering. I may develop the designs further in photoshop. Emma showed me Martin Chans light alphabets which are inspiration for what I'm work on.
Link:
MARTIN CHAN
Link:
MARTIN CHAN
Monday, 2 February 2009
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