ROAD TO NOWHERE Ashley Ludlow Graphic Design 3 Fall 2014
Table of Contents
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3
Project brief
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The Journey
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Research
10
findings
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layout sketches
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work in progress
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Final book
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process essay
Project Brief This project required creating an eight-page, saddle stitched booklet. The subject of the book would be based around a expedition to a place that you had never ventured before. While on the journey, an item had to be obtained and used somehow in the subject of the book. The book dimensions could be chosen by the maker and the book needed to show a linear progression from start to finish.
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Arkwright Falls 10.7.14
Getting to the falls required a long hike through the woods on very steep ground. Entrance to the water required descending a steep cliff of tree roots.
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While walking the trail along the creek to the falls, I was forced to jump from rock to rock and since I was wearing boots, I decided to walk through shallow water most of the time. Along the creek were many rapids, clusters of rocks, leaves covering the ground, and floating logs and small branches. I really enjoyed the the smell and colors of fall in this natural environment.
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The Falls
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While exploring, I discoevred a hidden waterfall that required passing through a very slippery and narrow passage of steep rocks. Even though it was a difficult climb, the view was worth it. Walking further down the creek, I reached the big Arkwright Falls. Since it was autumn, the water level was low, the waterfall wasn’t as big as it usually is at other times of the year. Nevertheless, it was still a very beautiful sight.
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Research Arkwright falls + + + + + + + 8
The town of Arkwright, NY was formed from Pomfret and Villenova on April 13, 1829 Highest points in the area range from 1100 to 1200 feet above Lake Erie The soil is well adapted to the raising of crops, but agriculture is not a leading industry The main source of wealth is dairy products The banks around the falls rise 100 to 150 feet The creek trail spans 22, 083 acres of land and is 36 miles The deep gorge has a 22 foot waterfall
Map of ARKWRIGHT FALLS AND CANADAWAY CREEK
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Findings Arkwright falls
gold rock
acorn
fossil rock
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red rock
moss
leaves
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Layout Sketches Front Cover
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First Spread
Middle Spread
Back Cover
Third Spread
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Works in Progress Arkwright falls
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Final Spreads Cover
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Scanned moss with
overlay of topographic
map of the Arkwright, NY
Ins ide spread
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The first spread highlights my walk through the woods and some of my findings along the way
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Middle spread
+ 20
The middle spread highlights the typography of the area and the rocky landscape
Last spread
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The the last spread highlights the fall, my main destination.
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Back cover
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The back cover finalizes the
book by making references
to things seen on earlier pages.
Final Booklet Dimens ions 8in x 12in Typefaces Adobe Garamond, regular & italic Berthold baskerville book, italic
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Process Essay For this project, I decided to go visit Arkwright Falls. With a love for hiking and nature, I wanted to explore this area I had never been to before. Arkwright was a sensory experience. Autumn had the colorful leaves falling from the trees. I could hear the rapids of the water and the splash of the waterfalls. I felt the chilly wind and the cold of the water seeping into my boots. One of the things I noticed most were the textures of nature. I saw the shale rock walls, the crunch in the leaves, the green moss, the dirt beneath my feet, and the rock shaped by moving water. When beginning the process of bookmaking, I first looked at layout. In my initial sketches, I tried to figure out how to tell a story of my journey and create a linear progression. I chose to use minimal text because I wanted the book to be more of a sensory experience. I used diagonals in my layout to create movement through the book and to reference the slope of running rapids and falling leaves. I brought back a lot of rocks, moss, leaves, and acorns. My use of cutouts with the leaves references this ‘taking from nature’. I chose to combine the organic shapes of nature with a geometric layout. The colors in my book are almost strictly from the photographs I
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took. The other areas remain white or tints of grey or black. This was done purposely to highlight the unique colors of fall. During the composition of this book, I first struggled with creating a linear progression. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to highlight from the trip and I felt that my original graphics were not translating the idea of nature the way that I wanted them to. To solve this, I started scanning in the objects I brought back. They ended up scanning really nicely and that inspired me to change directions and focus on these clear textures and quality of tangible objects as if you were holding them yourself, observing them in nature. I manipulated the scan of the moss to resemble an overhead view of a topographic area. I chose to overlay my illustrated translation of the map of the falls to enhance this topographic aesthetic. Overall, I am happy with the layout of my book. I like the textures and the mix of organic and geometric forms. One thing that I would probably go back and work on is the back cover. Since the front cover is so bold, I want the back cover to be the same way. I want it to make the reader want to go back through the book again. I don’t mind the back cover now, but it just seems
too flat. With more time, I would like to try and find another solution. From this project, I learned a lot about the progression of books. I have never had to make a project in book form before and I learned that by manipulating page layout, you can create a visual flow through the pages. I also learned how borders can be used, as well as broken. I learned that crossing the middle dividing line of spreads can allow for more creative layouts and more opportunities for experimentation. Bounding the book was a learning experience as well. Since I hadn’t had to bind a book yet, I struggled with the adhesive and cutting. I ended up having to reprint one of my pages that got really messed up. I know I could get better with practice, and I actually plan on rebinding the book for portfolio review. Overall, I am happy with the outcome of this project. I like the tangibility of having a printed book in your hand versus just a digital layout and I would like to learn more about this book making process.
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