NEW VISUAL LANGUAGE
ISSUE 1: FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION AN EXPLORATION OF MODERNISM AND POSTMODERNISM 4/5/15
1&2 3- 10
New Visual Language
28 11 29 30 &
Modernism and postmodernism
An exploration into modernism and postmodernism 1. Modernism 2. Postmodernism
City in Flux
3. city in flux 4. blinded by our own vision 5&6. Kalediscope 7-10. final piece
Earth Artifact
Studio Breif 2 9. earth artifact 10. 7 days of creation 13-28. final pieces
Type Transcription
Creating typography 29&30. experements & Finals
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
Contents
Exploration
of
Modernism and Post Modernism
New Visual Language
Modernism
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There are many movements between the modernist periods that impacted the final result of postmodernism. Graphic design has been around since writing has been around; there has always been an organization of text and image, however the term graphic design was not distinguished until 1922. Graphic design is a product of modernism. Modernism is the period before the 1900’s; there is a noticeable difference in art and design before the year 1900 and after 1900. Modernism is the way the world used to “Graphic be. Its used to describe a style design is a as well as an ideology to the art produced at that time, about product of casting aside the traditional limmodernism” itations of what art is. It was about handmade products, emotional aspects of work, the art was about hope and after the war it’s what people needed. The modernists stuck to art conventions and followed the grid system, however movements like constructivism and de still challenged them slightly.
Movements of Modernism
Victorian: 1830 > 1900 Art Nouveau: 1860 > 1910 Cubism: 1908 > 1912 Constructivism: 1913 > 1934 De Stijl: 1915 > 1936 Bauhaus: 1918 > 1933 New Typography: 1928 > 1932 Art deco: 1925 > 1945 Late modernism: 1955 > 1990 Post modernism: 1972 > 1995 The movements of modernism through time had a huge effect on art and design. The eras did not switch from modernism to post modernism immediately
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
Post Modernism
Post modernism started in 1972 but really took off in the 2000’s. It’s about the modern society, one we live in. The technological, social, industrial and political advances, postmodern art is seen as weird for the sake of being weird where as modernists believed form follows function. Fonts in our postmodern society are fewer than the modernist era. They are simple and sanserif, styles are limited with the principles of post modernism but modernist type can be created many different styles. Postmodernism is about how as a society we are completely different, its chaotic and don’t with no purpose but boldness and creative thinking outside the box.
Movements of Post Modernism Postmodernism: 1972 > 1995 Deconstructivism: 1982 > 1995 Digital: 1984 > 2000 Controlled Chaos- 1995 > 2006 New Simplicity: 1995 > present Modernism was a reductive movement; art forms were simplified to break pictorial sensation. Postmodernism is a late 20th
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New Visual Language
ITY C IN F LUX
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The “City in flux” can take many forms, in its simplest and most literal form, “city in flux” is little more than the layout of the town and the associated directional signage. However, when we apply a more cultural interpretation, the “city in flux” is more than this alone. It is an integral, multi-sensory landscape that is realized when many factors inter-relate the way in which the space is interpreted and perceived. Major cities are in a continuous state of flux caused by building and rebuilding activities and flows of artifacts, goods, commodities and people, which dissolve and recreate different areas
as sites of activity and use. Cities are characterized by tensions between this destruction and reconstruction of spaces, the coexistence of heterogeneous groups, and the different claims upon spaces, which they advance, and contest. The fusion between the physical form of the city and its social composition promises to help us understand how the question of the cities identity and differences can become a topic of interest for the groups of persons who inhibit it’s spaces and who calculate ways and means of practically dealing with these changes.”
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
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BLINDED BY OUR OWN VISION
City in flux is a brief that enabled me to look deeper into the city, and find things that many people would not otherwise see. My focus was pattern and I discovered the beauty of the city through pattern using images of the city turned into kaleidoscope images. This really made pattern stand out to me and then the message came after... we are blinded by our own vision, we walk around mindlessly not taking in all the beauty of the city when in fact its right in front of our eyes. Representing the blinded by our own vision message,
Was the most important part, the piece needed to clearly represent this? So I created 3 booklets all with images of eyes, incorporated into different patterns. 1 represents how we can see the same thing as someone else but see a completely different thing, one represents the difference in colour we see, and the last one represents the fact that we may only see something slightly different but its still has a different impact on our eyes. Researching the city beforehand is the most important part of this brief, it allows you to get to know this city,
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The nature of it, the way it works, and how you can interpret it in so many different ways. Taking primary photographs and studying the cities movement’s hidden places, and urban backstreets, enabled me to really see the city for what it is. Studying Huddersfield opened my eyes to many things, how under used some cities are and then looking at London also made me realize how overused a city can be. It showed me that city’s grow and is constantly ‘in flux’ although they have aspects about them that say the same,
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City
In
Flux
Experementation and development-
Kaleidoscope These images came around due to the idea of people not seeing our world, they don’t see our cities in a way they should. We all need to stop and look around properly. These are the types of patterns we can see. I’m not saying we can see these immediately within the city, however if we think creatively we can create these patterns using different methods. as soon as I created something like this I knew I was onto something. I knew that these had deeper meaning and work sculpted out of them would work well and how the city really is in a constant flux around us.
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
How were these made? The kaleidoscope images were made by taking effective and diverse variations of photographs and computerizing and manipulating them on Photoshop, using an effect method that would enable you to cerate a kaleidoscope pattern fro the chosen image. Giving the effect that you are looking through a kaleidoscope. This is where I found the beauty in pattern. Taking ordinary images of the city and creates these beautiful vibrant patterns, these are not hard to create and are only done using the cities scenery that you do see everyday. After making these is when I thought about the idea of not seeing the beauty we ought to. Giving me the inspiration for ‘blinded by our own vision’. This gave me the idea to make the patterns into a series of eye graphics. What should I do with them? When I figured this method out, I decided to transform many photographs into these patterns and change the effects, seeing what I could create and what type of pattern worked better for the method. I transformed road signs creating type-based patterns, and also natural forms such as leaves and trees. I also did this with buildings, all giving me different outcomes, which I found every interesting. I experimented creating many samples. I actually prefer some of the more colorful patterns, there bold and in your face, they make you look at them and question what they are, this is the response I want from them. I want people to know what these are so that when they are enlightened, they start to look around them in the cities more. New Visual Language
The Next Step... The next thing I did was develop this idea of not looking; into the phrase, ‘blinded by our own vision’, and this is where the eye motif comes from, something that is also seen in the art nouveau era. This helped me begin with a concept and this experimentation and development was successful in creating my final pieces.
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Pattern Recognition
BLINDED BY OUR OWN VISION
New Visual Language
Each eye is different and even when we do eventually see the things we usually pass, we all see them differently and interpret them differently making all our outlooks in life different. This results in why we all see and live life differently.
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These eye graphics are the ones that show, even when 2 people are looking at the same thing, there are always some aspects they see differently. I have represented this using a variation of eyes and patterns however kept the same colour scheme. I think the eyes together get a really good representation and message across. There main purpose is to show that
I used the colour purple, because there are may variations of this colour however there is one colour that stuck in my head when I thought of it and this was the Cadburys colour purple, for copyright reasons this colour cant be used exactly, however a similar colour can be.
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
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SOME ASPECTS WE SEE DIFFERENTLY
This colour purple, reminds me of being deep in thought, its relaxing and makes you feel comfortable, I thought this would be a good colour to put with black and white to create the representation I was going for, especially because it was done using the eye motif.
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This eye is one of a more hidden aspect, the eye is blended into the background in a way that only makes the eye motif noticeable when studying the image, and this represents the passive nature of peoples ‘seeing’
This eye above is the main one, its the one that represents the eyes motif and purpose the best in my opinion, the black solid colour of the eye blends into the black background in certain parts and the pattern is very apparent. It’s bold bright and noticeable instantly, this is what most people would see in and around the city.
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9
New Visual Language
E W ALL SEE
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
THINGS DIFFERENTLY This is the next set of eye graphics that I created. These ones show how we see the exact same thing however it can be changed by each individual depending on how we perceive colour. It’s something people do not think about enough, but we all see things differently and this fact can change the way we see our city. It contributes to how colours can change and wear over
time and some people will see this in a different way to others. The pattern is kept the same, the eye shape is always the same, and the only difference is the colour. I first found this method when I created this eye and though about how it would look good in all different colours, and I wanted to show a message of hidden meanings through pattern using colour.
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Earth New Visual Language
Artifact
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The Voyager Golden Records are phonograph records, which were included aboard both Voyagers Spacecraft, which were launched in 1977. They contain sounds and images selected to portray the Diversity of life and culture on Earth, and are intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form, or for future humans, who may find them? The Voyager spacecraft’s are not heading towards any particular star, Far in the future as the nearest star
on Voyager 1’s trajectory will only be reached in 40,000 years. Carl Sagan noted that “The spacecraft will be encountered and the record played only if there are advanced space-faring civilizations in interstellar space. But the launching of this ‘bottle’ into the cosmic ‘ocean’ says something very hopeful about life on this planet. Thus the record is best seen as a time capsule or a symbolic statement rather than a serious attempt to communicate with extraterrestrial life.
Over the next few weeks you are required to submit creative proposals through to finished design work/animation for a new version of the ‘Golden Record’ entitled, ‘Earth Artifact’. This does not have to be a slavish reproduction of the original golden record, but could be a more contemporary version, which should be reflected in the content and the format/ media channel of your choice. You should document all stages of the research and design process, which should demonstrate a critical understanding of the design challenge.
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
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7 DAYS OF CREATION
The interpretation of earth artifact was to show people who don’t know anything about earth and have never seen, what its like. I looked at different aspects including technology and human culture and how they connect and interrelate to each other and affect each other. I also looked at how typography could be used for words that describe the world. The last thing I came across was the 7 days of creation process, this really intrigued me. Although not religious, I find the concept vey interesting on how the earth was first made, it created
Many theories such as the big bang and there are such split opinion on the matter. I studied the creation process and what people believed religiously and not, and then made a decision that this is what I was going to develop and make into my final piece. However I wanted to put a spin on it. I first wanted to create 7 graphics that represented each thing god made on that day, although I wanted to do it in a graphic modernized way, making sure they were not obvious. I wanted the graphics to incorporate type, as I think a lot can be done with the
Combination of text and image, but I wanted a word that described the world on each graphic relating to the topic of that graphic. I got these words from primary research into what people thought the world is like now. I then wanted a famous quote to back this up by a famous people. I wanted this idea to combine together because earlier in the research section I saw how quotes can say a lot about the earth and the famous figures on here. I then wanted to add an 8th graphic with the same aspects on but showing the earth now.
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DAY & NIGHT
DAY 1
STEPHEN HAWKING
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
PURPOSE Day and night is the first thing god created when he started the world, and created it in 7 days. When I initially saw this as one of the aspects I was to represent in a graphic way, I knew that I had to do it in a way that wasn’t just the night sky. This was also because I noticed that another day was “sky” and I didn’t want similar graphics, I wanted to show as many parts of the world as I could through these representations of the creation of the world. Therefore showing the city life though night and day would be the best option.
“Work gives you prrpose and life is empty without it” The graphic representation is about day and night, corresponding with the first day god invented day and night, however the message on top of this is actually about work and its purpose. About how we need to do this to live, to earn money and enjoy life. For people who don’t know anything about earth, it shows them humans have to work together to make the world work in the way it does. The quote by Stephen Hawking shows this. I chose his quote because he is one of the most hard working men, known in our world, he is a very famous figure and I wanted to show famous figures of our world in this way.
New Visual Language
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SKY
DAY 2
MARTAIN LUTHER KING
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
DREAM Sky is the aspect God created on the second day of his weeklong process of starting the world. Immediately I knew how to represent this graphic. I knew that it had to be more innotive than just an image of the sky. However I had previously seen an image done in this circular way, this is the graphic that originally gave me the idea to make all my graphics have a circular theme. I wanted to show different image of the sky at different stages and how it can look in all weather conditions, again trying to show the widest aspects of the subjects as possible, if someone has not seen the world before, they will want to see it in all its beauty.
“ I Have a dream�
The representation of this graphic to show the sky in Different stages of life, however the message behind it is in the clouds connotations with dreaming. It shows an opposition of the first graphic, showing that you have to dream in life, and dream big. This is because things can change if you try hard and this quote by Martin Luther king shows that because of his influence in the revolutionary change in equal rights in black people. The whole image, quote and key word links together creating this complete message.
New Visual Language
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LAND, SEA & VEGATATION
DAY 3
MARK TWAIN
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
INDUSTRIALISATION Land, sea and vegetation are what God created on the 3rd day of his creation process. These three aspects would be hard to represent because although they link, they are so different. I knew it had to be obvious but in a cleaver way to be able to work. I stared by having each aspect of the day in separate circles however this did not look right, so I added them on top of each other and this shows how they all linked which looked a lot better.
“ Buy land, nobody makes it anymore”
The representation of this graphic is the land, sea and vegetation of the world, however the message is something else. Although it links to the land, the message is about how the world is getting more and more industrialized. We don’t see as much unused land anymore, its all being built on to create more houses for the growing population. This key word industrialization enforces this as the message and is backed up by the quote by Mark Twain, ‘“buy land nobody makes it anymore’
New Visual Language
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SUN, MOON & STARS
DAY 4
NEIL ARMSTRONG
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
COMPLEXITY
Day 4 is the day God created the outer space objects, such as the sun, moon and stars. After day 3 of land, sea and vegetation, I knew I had to use the same method to merge all three aspects into 1 . I merged the sun and moon into 1 as they are opposites and then paced the stars in the background. For people who have not seen earth before, or even the outer galaxy in which earth in contained, they would not know what these tings were. However the idea is that the earth does not stop on the surface, it has many different aspects to run it. The complexity of it comes from outside its atmosphere.
“ One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”
The representation for this graphic is showing the sun, moon and stars, however the message of this graphic is more about how the earth is complex and does not stop on the surface it has other parts that need to work, outside of the earth to make the earth itself inhabitable. The historical moment of Neil Armstrong landing on the moon in 1966 brought with it the famous quote of ‘ one small step for man one giant leap for man kind’. Humans had finally landed on the moon; this backs up the message of the outer space being complex and difficult to get to. New Visual Language
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BIRDS & SEA CREATURES
DAY 5
DAVID ATTENEBOROUGH
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
NATURE
Day 5 represents the creation of winged birds and sea creatures. This representation to me was about opposite and I wanted to represent this in a obvious way. I wanted to have a split screen from the beginning showing birds in the sky and sea creatures in the sea. Doing this in a circular way allowed me to get a good effect of the two meeting in the middle but still with having a definite divide.
“ Man is by nature a political animal
The sole representation of this graphic is the opposition of how birds and sea creatures live, in the sea and in the sky. This graphic is slightly different to the other as the message is actually quite similar to the representation. Its about how animals are smarter, and more human like than you may think, they have instincts like us, they have emotions like us, scientifically proven. The quote by David Attenborough was picked especially because he is a wildlife commentator, all over the world traveling to many countries. The queen knighted him for his work, well known and famous he is the perfect person to quote on the nature of animals.
New Visual Language
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HUMAN BEINGS
DAY 6
NELSON MANDELA
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
KNOWLEDGE
Day 6 is the day God created human beings, the day he is known to have placed Adam and Eve on the planet in order to reproduce. This was the most interesting, there were many ways humans could be represented, gender, nationality etc. I chose to represent men and women of all nationalities, showing the diversity of all of the worlds countries. For someone that does not know who or what lives on earth showing a diverse range of people would be a big help and would show as much as was possible without over crowding the image.
“ Education is the most powerful thing you can change the world with”
The representation of this graphic is the diverse range of humans that live on our planet, the organisms that inhabit earth, a piece of information that would be vital to outer space people. However the message is a little different. Its about how we have education in our world, something that we all should have a right to and that’s very important to be able to do simple things in life, like read and write. Its something that is needed to change the world. The quote by Nelson Mandela does this. He was the first black president that fought for the right of black people. His quote shows the change in our world over the years, from equality to rights.
New Visual Language
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DAY OF REST
DAY 7
DR. SEUSS
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
RELAX Day 7 is known as the day of rest, Sunday is known as God’s day of rest. This graphic was one of difficulty. The connotations of relax are things like, beaches and waterfalls but I wanted one that was obvious. However this proved difficult, in the end I settled with a different approach to this graphic. I would use colour connotations to represent it and keep it in link with the other graphic by using the circular method. So I took the colour blue as it has connotations with water, relaxation and used different shades to cerate this graphic.
“ Sit back and relax...”
The representation of this graphic is the relaxation atmosphere, its representing the idea of relaxation and having a day of rest. The quote and key word backs this up. The quote by Dr Seuss ‘just sit back and relax’ shows that you can work and dream but everyone needs time to unwind in life, everyone needs to enjoy themselves and calm down from busy life or we would all go mad.
New Visual Language
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TECHNOLOGY
DAY 8
STEVE JOBS
Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
FUTURE This is an extra day that I have added. I have done this to show one aspect of life that has changed from the creation of the earth to now dramatically now. Technology. The representation of the image is how our growth in technology had changed dramatically. The idea was that the graphics were modern interpretations of Gods creation process and although show the things God created on each day, they have a modern day twist on how that aspect has changed from then to now.
“ Lets go invent tomorrow, rrather than worry about what happened yesterday” The representation is about technology and how much we use it however the message is about how we look to the future, and the growth in our advanced continue to grow changing our society and the way we all work on earth. The quote by Steve Jobs was picked because he is the founder of Apple, the biggest technology store in the world, he gives a quote that sums up the way our life in technology is thought about. ‘“Lets go invent tomorrow, rather than worry about that happened yesterday”.
New Visual Language
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TYPE TRANSCRIPTION
New Visual Language
The type to the right is type done using inspiration from various typeface artists, my final was done through influence of the artist El Litsky, he himself was not a typeface designer however a work of art of his was done using these sorts of lines and I got this idea and transformed it into a original typeface three initial typefaces were produced from a number of influences and then one was picked to be developed further into a final typeface, when this was done, it was then computerized on illustrator to create a full typeface. The creation of the initial typefaces was all about experimentation and development, seeing what shapes looked good and making whole alphabets link and belong together. I found this part enjoyable as I could experiment and play with a lot of variations. The computer part was not as enjoyable however it was not a hard task; I used the pen tool to create the final shapes.
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Issue 1 Form follows function An exploration of modernism and postmodernism
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New Visual Language
NVL Issue 1; Form follows function An exploration of modernism and post modernism 6th May 2015