Courtney Richmond Photography Design Boards

Callum O’Reilly

Courtney Richmond - Photography Book

OUGD603

Brief/Rationale

Create a book design, which will consist of fashion imagery based on a surrealist nature and the notion of ‘the marvellous’. Taking into consideration a surrealist nature, the focus should be around the surrealist context of the photography, to which the design will highlight and compliment.

The design solution to a photography collection based around the notion of the marvellous and surrealism. Surrealist qualities are highlighted through layout, typographical choices, and design features.

Callum O’Reilly

Courtney Richmond - Photography Book

OUGD603

Research

The research stages for this brief latter investigation into surrealist photography itself, notice again and understanding of what is already out there in the industry within this very specific part fashion photography.

This also allowed an exploration of the type of images that may be included within the book. Surrealist layouts within surrealism photography books were also taken into consideration identifying the fact that obscure placement in a modern and simplistic manner highlights the surrealism within the image itself rather than creating a disrupted image.

Investigations were also carried out towards the way in which surreal and obscure pieces of information presented, such as mythology books as seen here, which are traditionally bound with a leather casing and either embossed or debossed and gilded with gold in order to offer a traditional style.

Type investigations also allowed me to investigate into the way in which time manipulation can be interpreted as surreal, in an almost op art style through pulling and dismembering type in unusual positions it becomes uncomfortable to be able to view, and therefore surreal as it is different to what is normally expected.

Research allowed for interaction with the photographer on the level of her specialism, to the extent where a photoshoot was attended in order to gain a greater understanding of the way in which the photographer likes to present her imagery, and the concept overall.

Courtney Richmond - Photography Book

Callum O’Reilly

OUGD603

Initial Ideas

Initial ideas allow for experimentation with layout, playing on the idea of acceptability is found within the research, in order to represent surrealism in a visual manner. The majority of initial ideas carried out were in regards to the typographic choices throughout the book. This was experimented with in order to present a multitude of manners that the content type provided by the photographer could be presented in the book to complement the work and enhance the surrealist nature. This was done through exploring both obscure and traditionalist typefaces. traditionalist typefaces allowed room for experimentation to contrast against the modern style of presentation which was decided on due to the research carried out and the fact that the photographer wanted the surrealism to come through the images rather than the layout design. To adding a traditionalist typeface such as Baskerville it allows for a complimentary style to the way in which the book’s exterior will come together, as previously researched traditional leather case.This type of typography could also be experimented with using the same typeface within many different fonts and typesets therefore giving a surrealist nature to the way in which the sentence reads, to offering the multitude of different visuals within one piece.

Obscure type such as Warnock was experimented with this is due to its unusual serif shape, and edition of stylistic choices such as a diamond shaped tittle. the small touches which the eye does not normally expect represented the surrealist nature of the book. and the dish ran away with the spoon.

Callum O’Reilly

Courtney Richmond - Photography Book

OUGD603

Development/Design

The design stages of this brief allowed for the development of a modular grid, allowing for a consistent structure throughout the book, but also the room to manoeuvre typing away that offers obscurity and therefore complements the surrealist nature of the images without taking away from. The tradition is type Baskerville was decided on due to the fact that it complemented the exterior of the book in contrast against the modern sleek style of the interior, once again further representing surrealist nature. This type could also be manipulated in many different ways through the use of weighting and kerning in order to create different styles of fonts, four different styles were set in use consistently throughout the book to offer further visual coherence and bring together the multiple styles of images as one body of work.

Typographic choices were also considered on pages which did not include images creating visuals that seemed surrealistic in nature due to their un-natural method of presentation.

The format of the book was in A5 to resemble the size of traditionalist book as previously researched.

Callum O’Reilly

Courtney Richmond - Photography Book

OUGD603

Application/Production

Due to the fact that this book needed to be speciality bound, the production was sought externally. A company was found through recommendation, to which the book was formatted in the correct manner and sent to the printer. The cover design was not applicable due to the fact that it was done through plates that were already created by the company and therefore was their responsibility, as the leather could be any manipulated within a particular way.

Collection of the product itself the product had been mis-bound, therefore another copy was produced, which had been mis-cut, therefore get another copy was produced, which had a poor bind, and allowed for glue to seep through and affect the imagery itself.

In terms of application due to the fact that the printing company could not comply to the order, a mockup was created showing exactly the way in which the book should have been produced, and the standard of which the design should be upheld.

This included designing a traditional style cover to be able to represent the way in which the expected outcome will look, featuring vintage golden flourishes and the title ‘Oh Darling, Isn’t It Marvellous’ within two different fonts of the typeface Baskerville.

Callum O’Reilly

Courtney Richmond - Photography Book

OUGD603

Evaluation

Overall I believe the design I created was consistent allowing the fashion imagery provided to represent surrealist nature, and the notion of ‘the marvellous’. This was done in the respect that typographic choices and design choices were specifically explored in order to highlight the surrealist nature of the image rather than overbear it, allowing the focus to remain on the image but be complemented through design choices. I’m pleased with the outcome of the design itself in terms of being consistent visually, while offering various obscurities to be able to visually reaffirm the surrealist nature behind the book itself.

Production issues were dealt with professionally, and a solution offered was the issue is being escalated. The issues allowed me to approach the design in a way that would be appropriate to be able to offer a solution to the client, whilst also allowing for the design to showcase in the correct manner.

Working with the client was successful and each of the design decisions were discussed over, in terms of being justified with research, and applied in a manner that complemented the images.