new visual language form. follows. function.
An Exploration of Modernism & Post Modernism 1
contents
what’s inside
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modernism post modernism city in flux earth artifact type transcription final thoughts
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modernism
what is modernism?
From the 19th century to the early
The idea of ‘modern’ movement
1960’s, modernism became the
in Graphic design was that the
term used for the success of art
exploration of colour, mixed
movements which then dominated
media and traditionally unused
Western cultures. As part of this
materials became used in art
research I have learned about how
experimentation. This was a
the movement provided a learning
new method for the artists to
platform for art and design culture.
depreciate and reinterpret.
The movement associates the
Artists’ like Wassily Kandinsky
Modern arts with the idea of
were involved in movement
Surrealism and also Futurism.
and is an example of how the
Some other key words to take
era created many brand new
into account and research into
opportunities to break the
would include, Fauvism, Cubism,
rules and to express yourself
Dadaism, Constructivism and
through work. New outputs
possibly even Existentialism.
were then to be the explored.
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post modernism
what is post modernism?
Of all movements in art
As we approach the 80’s,
and design history, post
Post modernism took a
modernism is perhaps the
new turn. This included
most controversial. Post
the designer decade. With
modernism allows the this
vivid colours, exaggerated
movement to expand and
prints and more theatrically
then develop through the
infused design, everything
unstable mix of theoretical
was a new style statement.
and theatrical exhibition.
Surfaces were all made to
The movement provided
be over the top, fun and
multifaceted styles that
combined the subversive
ranged from the colourful
statements with a strong
to even the destructive.
commercial demand.
The 1960’s and 1970’s
This era showed the likes
showed experimentation
of Terry Jones. His work
with architectural styles
is pictured and shows the
from the past. This was
true vibrancy and how the
attacked by hostile critics
colours and gloss were
as a retreat, as pastiche
put to use and created
or as merely ironic. The
statements. He was the
era contained a dramatic
founder of i-D magazine
turn that when it came in,
and is a perfect example
everyone wanted to be
of post modernist design
doing it in their own work.
and the culture in the arts.
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city in flux
first brief
For my final idea I wanted to create the idea of the city as an art form and making this through individual collages and mirroring these images to create a patterned illusion. I wanted to make a visual book
I worked with a mixed set of
through digital image form,
media to work through this
typography and photography.
project. I experimented with
It is a collection of art created
the idea of collage and taking
by the city in flux environment.
physical elements from within
I thought the audience to be
the city and working then with
of tourists who have visited
taking little snippets of line
the city and can take elements
drawings from these. With
home in a small book. Also,
the personal study of findings
fellow artists and architects
in my own experimentations,
who appreciate landscapes.
I was able to create these.
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city in flux
Development
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city in flux
final piece
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earth artifact second brief
I firstly looked at creating pieces of infographic to use as a warning sign to lifeforms off Earth that we were corrupt and that we had no way of survival if the world was as it is today. However, during this exploration, I developed the idea of turning this into a cover for a DVD or CD containing the golden record. The cover has the significant title included however, the I personally found I didn’t have enough time to complete an image based on what would be found within the disk. I feel that If I was to do this project once more, I would try to evenly spread my time between development stages. I also developed an idea of elements in this project and this is evident on the facing page and contained the 4 elements of earth and an image developed from the idea of these.
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earth artifact final pieces
These final images although a development of all of my works combined in this project, were not my most successful work. If I was to do the project over, there are many elements I would have changed to ensure I had much stronger final pieces.
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type face one
type transcription
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These are images created
If I was to create this again
and they were inspired by
I would use the tools in
the work shown on this
Adobe Illustrator to create
page. The general shape
a more complex type face
was taken from the work
as I have now developed
of Weinhart’s and the use
my skills in the program.
of the shapes are taken
I would use the shapes
from pieces of Herbet
shown in Bayer’s work
Bayer’s work shown here.
to create a more clean
My typeface engineering
cut edge to the typeset.
was initially inspired by
This would create a more
the idea of the modernist
detailed overall image and
colours . My final type
also be interesting to the
contains curvature and
eye. However, for my first
the exploring of shapes.
typeset this was successful.
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type face two
type transcription
This typeface I designed was inspired by an image I found on the internet. I was routing through Pinterest and my eye was caught by the idea of curled Iron gates. The tricky part then was trying to create the curves I wanted to achieve in my typography.
My finished typeface was, I think, successful however, when related back to my research, I feel has a more post modernist feel to it, slightly breaking the boundaries and usual traditions and conventions of modernism.
If I was to design it again however, I would use my skills I have since used to create a much more finalised and clean cut image.
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type face three type transcription
This typeface was based on my ideas and inspired by a past brief, Earth Artifact. The idea was based on a space feel and the idea of blocks and shapes also being taken from post modernism. I feel this typographical face was not as successful as the other two images as it contained less detail and was a little more rushed in terms of creation and attention to detail.
If I was to recreate this typeface I would start by using a thinner line of stroke and then working my way into the design through a process of elimination in the letters as all were not successful and needed a different approach applied.
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final thoughts
my first year as a design student
“The overall experience of this first year has been a challenge and definitely one to remember�
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As this year ends, the challenges in my design worked can be looked back on and can be used for my own personal judgement of how far I have come with my work ethic, my skill sets and in my general enthusiasm for graphic design and art, design theory. In the beginning, there wasn’t much that I had learnt in terms of digital design and I was a very hands on, physical student when it came to layouts as I generally used sketch books. Since this year is over, I can now look back at my sketchbook work and my progression into using InDesign as a tool and being able to try and experiment within the program was key. In doing so, I feel I have matured as a design student. The overall experience of this first year has been a challenge and for definite one to remember. I am excited for what the second year has in store for me and to expand on my skills I have learnt.
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