09 Brief Title
The Brief
Solution
Evaluation
Context of Practice
Design a publication which shows what influences me as a designer.
A concise publication divided into three sections; words, people and work that influences me.
The brief was enjoyable, and very emotional in place. It is a strange experience compiling my main influences over the past three years. I am happy with the design, very happy, it was a test in decisiveness more than anything - over the past three years I have tried to absorb a wide variety of work, opinions and people’s journeys to ‘success’. This has really helped me develop as a designer, and I can appreciate just how much it has helped me today.
Brief Type Studio Brief
Collaborators N/A
Background
I wanted to put some of my beliefs into the design of the book. I like to think the people who use my designs are more intelligent than I am, I hate design that patronises people. I hate people that think others a less intelligent than they are. I used a simple format in the book to help divide the content without needing a contents page.
My interests have changed a lot since starting at Leeds College of Art. When starting the course I was very impressed by process, layouts would light up my morning and I lived for the physicality of books. I thought about ideas of course, but was always slightly suspicious of a complete dependence on an idea. For this reason my ‘idol’ was Sagmeister, strong ideas, presented in an elaborate way. These days I find myself leaning more towards copy-driven design - my latest obsession is writing, it is the core of visual communication. This is what the publication needed to represent, my switch from the elaborate visual execution to the written word.
I can see many strengths in this project, improved decision, a definite clarity in the work that influences me. There are a couple of weakness also, but isn’t that the same with all designers. I had the opportunity to drill out every mistake in the book, but I didn’t - I’m not perfect and sometimes it is best to reveal imperfections to people.
Considerations
Overall, this was a lovely way to bring the year to a close. I am very different to who I was when I started the course, a lot more confident, a much bette designer and more ambitious.
The main consideration is how to communicate who I am with people who don’t, and have no reason to care. I need the book to be amusing, and more so beneficial to the reader.
David M Gaskell
OUGD603
Brief 9
1/4
Research
David M Gaskell
What I did
Why I did it
How the research informed me
I looked towards my bookshelf, bookmarks and PPP blog. All the research I needed for this brief had been completed in the three years prior to making this publication.
I questioned why I liked the work I liked, how that relates to who I am now. What links the work I admire, is it process, language or scale?
It quickly became clear to me I admire copy-led work with an element of humour to it. Irreverance is something I love in work, it can be a powerful tool when used properly.
OUGD603
Brief 9
2/4
Enter the mind of David Mathew* Gaskell
1
3
*My parents mispelt my name when signing my birth certificate, it is a constant source of shame for me.
*My parents mispelt my name when signing my birth certificate, it is a constant source of shame for me.
Development
Enter the mind of David Mathew* Gaskell
2
Concept
Content
Format
Enter the mind of David Mathew* Gaskell I chose this title as the publication isn’t all about design, it is about my mind. The way I think about words, people and work.
The book is split into three sections:
The format has to be interesting with the content is unlikely to interest anybody other than my parents. I decided to go for a pretty simple visual trick, the cover is repeated, and split into three sections. Words top left, PPP top right and Work on the bottom. This is an interesting way of showing very selfindulgent content.
1 = Words Quotes, jokes and lessons inspire me. Words are a perfect way of seeing how other people percieve the world. 2= People, Places and Process (PPP) Studios and people who inspire me. 3 = Work A small compilation of images that I look toward when starting any project. The one thing they have in common is honesty.
David M Gaskell
OUGD603
Brief 9
3/4
Outcome
David M Gaskell
What the design says
Who it says it to
Why it works
The content says almost everything you need to know about me as a designer. I kept the content consise, not many words, very little self-indulgence. I am just beginning my career in the industry and don’t have enough knowledge to fill a book.
The audience for this book is myself, nobody else is interested in my motivations yet. I have no reason to think anybody would be interested in me as a designer. The process of making the book is where the value is to this project, realising who I am will help me progress to the point where one day, people may be interested in reading a book about me as a designer.
I have put my personality in the book in subtle ways, the quotes have been edited in places to fit a set tone of voice. The title reveals a fault of mine - a showing of transaprency that I try to keep in my work. All I can say is, I put a lot of thought into this book, I understand who I am, what I am and why I want to be in the industry.
OUGD603
Brief 9
4/4