A BOOK ABOUT A BOOK BY AMBER WEBSTER
The process and creation of
The Contents
8 7
The Introduction
The Inspiration
12 10 The Brand
Pattern
14 The Drawings
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How it works
Final Photos
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Introduction A look at how mark making has influenced many in their illustration and design asethetics. This book will take you through the inspiration and process of my degree project “Make A Mark,” and how that influened my mark making and design. The process of making this book has inspired a huge fluxuation in my design aesthetic, from a heavily digital style to a combination of digital and analog. These two work together to make readable and enjoyable designs, such as in “Make a Mark.”
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The Inspiration
JACKSON POLLOCK
The artists who think outside of the realistic box. They explore tools that create marks that create works of art that inspire people like me. Overall they make art that just puts me in a really good mood. I can look at their work and feel at ease with not having to find deep meaning in it. It is simply beautiful just for it’s visual intrigue. Some things so simple can be so bold.
HAROLD COHEN
YAYOI KUSAMA
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“IT’S ART THAT PUTS ME IN A REALLY GOOD MOOD.”
JEAN DUBUFFET
CY TWOMBLY
JIM FINER
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The Brand
I wanted to create a purely analog brand that hinted at the concept of the book. The logo went through several different stages of digital and analog processes but ultimatley combined bother with the logo being drawn first and cleaned up in the computer. The colors are playful and promote a fun and intriguing experience. The pattern balances the colors nicely and works nicely when it the mark is placed over it.
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The Logo & Color Palette
Pattern
C 0% M 54% Y 72% K 0%
C 1% M 82% Y 80% K 0%
The Typography
MUSEO SLAB NEUTRAFACE TEXT
C 0% M 37% Y 72% K 0%
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The Pattern
The pattern that branded this entire project was drawn with the pens that accompany the book. I used fine, chisle, and brush tips to create contrasting, abstract marks. The pattern is laid over the colors in the palatte and shows up in parts of the project such the cover, fly page, and packaging for the pens. It is playful and works well witht the poppy colors that add a little more joy to the experience. I just wanted to make something enjoyable to look at that has so many parts. With different shapes, sizes, angles, that also spoke to what is going on in Make a Mark.
“I JUST WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING ENJOYABLE TO LOOK AT.�
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The Drawings Make a Mark was inspired by my drawing process and it influened several drawings. the process is as follow. I create a range of marks using a grid. When I am satisfied with the amount and quality of marks I create an outline. This outline incluences how the marks interact with one another on the page. Depending on the look and feel the outline will stay or go based on the look it adds to the illustration.
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“YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE A LOT AND ALL THE TIME. ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU COULD DO NEXT.”
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Pen Packaging To accompany the workbook I created packaging for pens that come with the book. I started the design for the pens first and the design influence the brand direction of “Make a Mark.�
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This is Make a Mark
Make a mark take the user through my process of developing illustrations that I later implement into my design work. The book have three exercises that take you step by step through the process. It also has two other activites and a sketchbook in the back so you can continue to work on what you have learned.
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“Make a Mark� was printed on 80Ib sketchbook paper for the user to test out with the included pens. Beyond that the workbook starts with a few pages that describe how I get ready and inspired to create my illustrations. The book promotes idea development and experimentation as well.
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