BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN
LEVEL
Module Code
OUGD303
Module Title
FINAL MAJOR PROJECT
6
Outcomes 1
FINAL MAJOR PROJECT STATEMENT OF INTENT Name: Hazel Gage Blog Address: http://h-gage0912-fmp.blogspot.com Rationale A print based investigation into publications within the culture sector with a focus on display and ornamental font development. Primary focus of my design practice is font development with the application of these to deliverables and tangible products in order to add contextual purpose to the type. The fonts will be digital in the end so they are usable and can be sold on font foundry websites, however they may all start off as hand renders. Print application of the fonts is secondary but necessary to show context. I am interested in mechanical printing techniques, both high end print processes as well as lo-fi, however it is not a driving factor and will take on any budgeted project. It is beneficial for me to take on a range of printed work of varying budgets and requirements to show breadth. A passion of mine is for booklets and especially pagination. An opportunity where the physical form and audience interaction with the turning of each page can be explored is of interest to me. Digital application will have to be taken into consideration if I am to become successful. Generally, research drives my design decisions and this helps me think of another creative avenue, especially primary research and theoretical readings. The knowledge that there is a reason why something works, and not going off on too much of a tangent, but just enough so that it is different to the norm are how my outcomes are formed. My dissertation has altered my perception of production methods of my designs and helps me encompass the best of manual and digital creativity. My intentions are to work in a small design studio in the Manchester area, working on small collaborative projects outside of work to develop a name for myself as a designer as well as in a team. This can be done also by entering competitions and attending exhibitions. I intend to work more with imagery, specifically photography to broaden my portfolio.
Subjects / Themes The culture sector is an area of interest to me, politics is not as I am in my own little bubble sometimes and can be a philosophical individual at times. I do not necessarily want my designs to have longevity, the culture sector is always current and a good area to have a grasp of many topics of interest to me. - galleries - exhibition guides, identity, promotion - journals - headline font, layout - font foundry - specimen booklet, promotion Another subject or theme I could design for, but with not as much enthusiasm is retail. - retail - identity, price tags, bags, simple packaging - restaurants - identity, menus, napkins, crockery
Design Disciplines / Creative Development Typography for sale on font foundry websites Independent publishing Identity for exhibitions Budget appropriate print processes
Practical Skills / Workshops – what, why and when? Practical skills to develop: Fontographer - in order to digitise and make my typefaces usable Photography - as a documentary tool and to visually show my work to a high standard in my portfolio Stock knowledge - an understanding of different stocks and the suitable uses for different gsm Practical skills to obtain: Manual development of letters - how to be more creative and knowledgeable with type design Print processes - letterpress, foiling, photocopier, mass production, Layout - understanding layout in a detailed academic way, not purely on an aesthetic level Client contact - more discussions with the client and build a relationship, exploring and giving the client a range of solutions Professional skills to develop and/or obtain: Time management - push myself harder at the beginning of a project to open more avenues of possibility Innovation - Push designs further Not tunnel vision - See the bigger picture and not to focus on what I think could be the deliverable, but discover the deliverable
Brief 1: Interior Design Yearbook
Deadline
Rationale: Understanding of print processes suitable for budget. Layout development. Working with a client.
Main Skill: Mass produced informative and promotional book. Brief 2: Practical investigation into aura
Deadline
Rationale: Link between dissertation and design practice. Development of typefaces manual, mechanical and digital print techniques and knowledge of stock.
Main Skill: Print knowledge and stock knowledge. Brief 3: Craft Magazine
Deadline
Rationale: Working with a client. Print processes. Book binding. Knowledge of stock. Font development.
Main Skill: Layout, branding, editorial. Brief 4: Independent Film Promotion
Deadline
Rationale: Working with photography and typography to create the branding of an independent film/re-release of set of films.
Main Skill: Photography with type Brief 5: Design Context Booklet
Deadline
Rationale: A printed product to showcase what work I want to create. Main Skill: Interesting to me and informative. Contextual references / Designers / Studios / Companies (specific) Studios: Playtype Process Type Foundry You Work For Them Colophon A2/SW/HK Is Not Magazine Elephant Studio Makgill Eskimo Creative Print: Mass produced modern print practices Induction into methods of production at LCA such as foiling, laser cutting, letterpress and book binding Themes: Visits to exhibitions/museums/galleries Editorial; books, booklets, zines, journals
RESEARCH ACTIVITY : Experiment with print
Deadline
Details: Test out different print processes from high end to lo end and from mass production techniques to one-off production. Letterpress as the first method to experiment with.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY : Cultural visits
Deadline
Details: Understand culture more and identity where graphic design is used within this sector.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY : Theoretical readings
Deadline
Details: Understand alternate theories on graphic design to have an academic grasp
of why some methods work better than others and therefore be able to make better informed design decisions.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY : Visit studios, type foundaries and printers
Deadline
Details: Gather contacts and a professional understanding of the industry and where I fit into it. Need to figure out whether I want to design typefaces and work in a font foundary, or if I work in a studio with a range of deliverables.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY : Experiment
Deadline
Details: Experiment and play with designs in the reseach stage to see what works
and what doesn’t. Have more fun with design and make my own decisions. Listen to my own thoughts and experiment with trusting my judgement to become more confident in my design decisions.
BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS / TEXTS - (Harvard Referenced) Walter Benjamin Typography Sketchbooks Production for Graphic Designers Lettering & Type Typo Mag 500 Years of Printing
MAGAZINES / JOURNALS / ARTICLES – (include publication date and details) Elephant Eight:48 Blanket Independant publishers as featured on Stack
ON LINE REFERENCES / WEBSITES / ARTICLES (include specific urls)
OTHER REFERENCE MATERIAL (Films, events, exhibitions, conferences)
ACTION PLAN – use this section to identify specific tasks that you need to complete in order to resolve the brief. Brief What do you need to do? Deadline Set up another meeting with Steve. Find out what the budget is. 15.02.12 1 Research designers, architecture and sustainability he suggested and showed interest in. Design some layouts and concepts individually and collaboratively.
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Finish dissertation. Email contributors informing them it is 01.02.12 finished and update them on this brief and when they can expect to receive this ‘thank you’. Experiment with printing techniques for digital, mechanical and bespoke/manual printing techniques. Establish how I can communicate aura and my understanding how designers can harness all production methods with varying effect.
3
Research layouts and possible forms for the magazine, possibly a 02.02.12 zine as this is more craft specific. Push for content and dates from Sally so I know what to work to.
4
Research typography with image and pick a film I can create the 09.02.12 identity for. Needs to be one I can get imagery from and be creative with the typeface and one which is well known so professionals can see where I got my inspiration from.
5
Decide upon a competition brief and think about a different 09.02.12 avenue to take it in. One which I can develop an effective typeface and expand the brief to include more deliverables. Write up brief in detail.
6
Research printing processes and discover more studios I admire, 02.02.12 especially in the Manchester area. Contact these and arrange visits and interviews. Need to get business cards printed ASAP in order to make professional contact.
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