OUIL505 Project Report

505 Design Boards

SB2 Finished Illustrations

Applied Illustrations

Here are some slides showing the different applications I have created, some are repeats showing variations on the same format but with different illustrations.

I'm fairly happy with how they look, and in some instances (like the bus banner, web banner, and the leaflet) I managed to re-jig the designs slightly so that they would be more suitable for that particular application.

The applications shown in my project report will be much more narrowed down, however this is just to show the breadth of mockups I've made.

OUIL505 Proposal - Version 2

Visual Research

Since I first wrote my project proposal, a lot has changed. Although the same starting point remains (collections), much of the articles and contextual references no longer apply to my project as it stands now. I was worried that because the texts and articles are no longer relevant that I wouldn't have any suitable sources, however as my project has gravitated from editorial to more of a public campaign, this doesn't matter.

However as the project has progressed into its current form, I have gathered a few new contextual references through looking practitioners that either relate to my chosen theme, the applied contexts I want to present my work within, or the tone of voice. I will rewrite my proposal so here is a list of those references for me to go back to.

POLISH POSTER ART (HENRYK TOMASZEWSKI) - Unusual compositions and arrangements, combination of hand-drawn and processed type, using the art form of the poster as an interesting image first, and a piece of information second.

JAN LENICA - Especially the works with less of a darker tone. Interested in his aesthetic style and experimental use of different media and processes. A tone of voice that is both humorous and strange.

MARION DEUCHARS - Her use of primary colours, playful use of materials, as well as how her publications and other works appeal to an audience of any age. A childish tone that goes beyond just being for children.

 

WILLEM SANDBERG - Not only the visual qualities of his publications and designs, but their applications and purposes. Often for public institutions (Stedelijk), that encouraged a wider audience to engage and participate with the space and collections.

ABRAM GAMES - Similar visual qualities to the others mentioned, bright colours, very analog appearance, funny and playful atmosphere. But also their contexts, posters that are for public-facing ventures (travel companies, government schemes, newspapers and magazines) which are seen by everyone.

Finished Posters...?

After working on the finishing touches including colour schemes I think I may have finished my 6 posters. However I'm going to take a break from them and have a look tomorrow to see if I can spot anything different that I'm unsure of.

Me when I finished colouring, yahoooo!

Apart from some possible small amendments on the posters, if everything is okay I can move on to the applications of my poster designs. This will be interesting because up to now they have been flat images, hopefully these contexts can bring them into the real world.

Applications

Although I've been continually thinking about the contexts and applications of my illustrations, reviewing my proposal recently and having feedback from today's peer review has made me come to the conclusion about potential applications, as well as what would be appropriate for my project.

For me, it's important that they are mainly visual applications, not too corporate, and nothing too merchandisey/product-based. Although some products could be fitting, I don't want them to be gratuitous so if I did mock-up some products I will make sure they are considered.

POSTERS & BANNERS

• Why? - The illustrations will be utilised as both public art and pieces of information design, in order to encourage an audience to attend these institutions.

• Where? - Public spaces, walls, transport, outside of the locations?

PRINT-BASED MEDIA

Leaflets + flyers, pamphlets

• Why? - Other ways of advertising, like posters but portable, people can take copies for themselves if it appeals

• Where? - Tourist information offices, the institutions themselves, places of learning, art spaces, cafes and bars - wherever!

SPATIAL

Wall mural

• Why? - The 'branding' (unsure of this word) used across the posters and other items will be integrated into the spaces in which the collections are held. Art always looks different on a large scale, and adds this playful tone to an environment as well as on paper

• Where? - Possibly the gift shops, cafe, reading rooms of the institutions.

WEB & DIGITAL

• Why? - Because of the number of different platforms available, people can read about and look up events online (see: online publications). A way to capture a wider, possibly international audience.• Where? - Website mockups, banners, tablet/mobile/screen

Penrose Annual 1962

Talking to Teresa I felt more reassured about my images, and now it was just a matter of colouring them in. She also said that at this stage, they may just look like a bunch of drawings and maybe when I apply them, then I will feel like they are 'complete' images.

With this module I've realised that out of all the stages of making things, I find finalising illustrations to be the hardest! I much prefer the sketching, the process, and the thinking that usually comes at the beginning.

Teresa also brought this book from the library called the Penrose Annual, which had lots of mid-century designs. There were loads of images, texts, and even paper samples from printing companies. Here are some pages I liked...

Mega Crit

For this crit I presented my sketchbook, development work, some design board templates, as well as my final 6 poster designs in black and white. I've really struggled with colour schemes so I was unsure of what to do for them.

Comment on the quality and quantity of the final images/products and their proposed applications

• Endearing, love compositions and style

• Playful characters, can clearly see the links to the research carried out

• Cut + paste style done with personality and care

Comment on the quality and quantity of contextual information and images on presentation boards

• Clean layout

• The style of the illustrations has been linked to a professional campaign succinctly

• Tone of voice

Constructive feedback on how deliverables could

• Use the space the best you can for the design boards. Show how much work you've done

My Questions

Final compositions - any big changes needed? Do they work well together?

• Clearly work as a set, can't see any development needed

• The images flow and interact incredibly well. Definitely tie in with the context and advertises the museum in a new and exciting way

• Work perfectly as a set - tied together with the use of media and type

Picking colours has been difficult. Any suggestions?

• Bold + playful. Bright colours and black?

• Lots of primary colours

• Maybe neutral earthy colours? Think it would work with the artefacts and statues

• I think playful would fit the tone of your images. Textures?

• I'm seeing red + yellow, maybe brown

Peer review

This was a good chance to pitch our project and discuss any concerns we had about our own work. Everyone in the group was very supportive and had some helpful suggestions.

• Applications - consider a booklet for tourist information office? stickers

• Hand-drawn type - this type could even work on its own for banners, etc.

• Colours - Primary colours worth considering, or even CYMK for a twist on that. Look at books in the library on colour palettes.

(Even though I like primary colours and can see how appropriate this would be for my project - the tone, the educational element. I was worried that this is too overdone as a palette. However in the group, they said what's overdone in illustration may not seem as overdone to the public - and my applications would be in public spaces.)

Progress With the Designs

Today I've worked on nailing down all of the different analog pieces, making a set of more solidified digital designs. It has involved a lot of small decisions and too much arranging and re-arranging, and because I've been working on my own I think I'm tired of my work.

For some reason I'm still not completely satisfied with the designs so I'm a bit nervous for the group crit tomorrow.

I still need to add colour, as I'm really unsure of how to do this (flat, textural, filters, which palette???). Maybe I can get help with this tomorrow, and maybe adding those finishing touches and even seeing them in applied mockups may change my opinion on them.

Here are the layouts:

Going into the Computer

I've began assembling the basis of some of the posters in photoshop. Although they are far from being finished, I'm not happy with them. Something's missing but I don't know what.

I really don't want to over-work them, and add too much fuss. But I'm finding it difficult to decide when something is done and if an image needs more or less.

Here are some examples of tests I've done - changing around layout, type, colours, and what images I include. There's still a long way to go with these.

Focusing Ideas

Around Easter I had created lots of developmental work and materials which I could put together to form my finished images; lots of monotype prints, collages, drawings, textures, paintings, a whole pile of stuff. This module has had me a bit lost at times because a big part of what I do is in my process, and this time process doesn't count for much (compared to 504, for example).

I had tried using photoshop to bring it all together but there were just too many options and I found myself aimlessly moving objects around the screen for a long time. I really like my project idea but I'm worried about the finished outcomes not being very good so I've been put off from making them.

Today I went back to the sketchbook to try and refine my 6 final designs into something more complete. This would narrow down the options for me, making it easier for me to bring them into the computer.

Thinking more about what kinds of type I'd use, what layouts are best. Next I need to think about colour more so I'll be good to go.