VISUAL THINKING
BA (HONS) GRAPHIC DESIGN LOUISE DONOVAN
CONTENTS WORKSHOPS 03
Fine Art: Word and Image
04
Fine Art: Chromophilia - Colour and Idea
05
Graphic Design: Mein Gott Gutenberg Has Gone Digital
TASK 07
Vernacular Letterforms: Mapping the Landscape
10
Distinctive Characters: Typography as a Semiotic Resource
LECTURES 14
Oooh, aah, mmmm: Notions of Taste, Aesthetic Judgement and Consumer Culture
14
Digital Materiality
15
The Power of Persuasion: Propaganda - Meanings, Methods and Messages
01
CHAPTER ONE
WORKSHOPS
02
WORKSHOP 1 Fine Art: Word and Image This workshop explored the ways in which image and words are combined. Also the teaching of key terms and relating to the work of artist’s such as Joseph Kosuth ‘One and Three Chairs’ 1965. I have learnt that semiotics (which is the study of signs and symbols) has three types of categories. Icon which is a resemblance, index which is a trace of presence and symbol which is purely conventional. This workshop taught me new terms which I can use in my design work. However I felt that the practice of creating a newspaper cover that portrayed ourselves, was not beneficial to what we were taught.
Please print and bring this ticket with you. Event
240695451305351155001
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WORKSHOP: WORD AND IMAGE (44 PLACES) Date+Time
10 January 2014 09:30 - 12:30 (GMT)
Location
FINE ART NORTHLIGHT STUDIO 3 & POD1
Payment Status
Free Order
Order Info Order no. 240695451. Ordered by Louise Donovan on 6 January 2014 13:02 Type
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Word & Image
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03
WORKSHOP 2 Fine Art: Chromophilia - Colour and Idea In this workshop we were taught about colour through the history and in practice, learning about colour as an important communication tool for artists and designers. Colour has a physiological and psychological effects in humans which creates varied meanings from different colours. I have learnt many terminologies such as tone, shade, hue, saturation which were used within my practice work. I had to produce a painting which would display shade; which is the blackness of a colour. I was pleased with the outcome because it related to the brief. Overall I thought that this workshop was helpful and useful when thinking about colour for my future work. Also I felt that the teaching was well related to the practice work which helped in combining all the knowledge I had learnt.
04
WORKSHOP 3 Graphic Design: Mein Gott Gutenberg Has Gone Digital This workshop was all about experimenting and using a computer software called Letter M Press. This software is a high definition visual experience of letter press making through the use of the computer rather than hand rendered technique. The main aim was to learn how to use this software which was achieved through trials of using different wooden letters, size, layout and colour. I also combined my Letter M Press designs with Photoshop to create further outcomes. This session definitely persuaded me to purchase this software because I think it would be great to use for future designs with using typography. I really like the vintage effects that can be produced.
letterMpress Workshop
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CHAPTER TWO
TASK
06
TASK 1 Distinctive Characters: Typography as a Semiotic Resource The alphabet is the basis for our language and each letter has a different form and pronunciation. The function is to communicate, but making typography into a semiotic resource will produce a variety of meanings. In this project I will investigate how to create a three dimensional initial character that communicates the chosen word’s meaning. LETTER G (300mm HIGH)
In a group of two, we selected three varied words beginning with the letter G to experiment with: grid, gadget and gingerbread man. However, we had to consider a word that would relate back to graphic design for the final text on the postcard.
07
When experimenting, we discovered that the selected word ‘grid’ was difficult to produce in a 3D letter form. This created the progression to experiment with the word ‘gadget’. I was really pleased with the images produced by placing different kitchen gadgets on top of a light box. This is because I felt that the silhouetted figures showed the details of each gadget shape effectively. However, within a critique we found that people thought it was difficult to understand what the word was and that it was not obvious. This was the opposite opinion when we showed the images of the word ‘gingerbread man’, where people could clearly understand what the word was instantly. I believe this is because the gingerbread man is a widely known biscuit and is defined by the iconic shape. Taking the advice on board we experimented with different shapes, colour and amount of gingerbread men to use. We realised that to create a 300mm sized letter form we had to use more than one gingerbread man. I thought that using a baking tray for the background of the image was a great idea because it would portray the theme of cooking and baking. As our chosen image, we had to relate back to graphic design within the text. We found common ground when using typographical words such as head, foot and arm. These words define a letter form but also defines a gingerbread figure. 08
Like type, a gingerbread man has an arm, a foot and a head, but are often distinguished by their alternate characters.
Final design for the postcard.
Both the A6 postcard and the A3 poster are in Rebecca collins folder.
09
TASK 2 Vernacular Letterforms: Mapping the Landscape This project starts with visit to Poole town centre in a group of four. This is where we had to discover the whole alphabet by recognising shapes of letters within the landscape of Poole. We decided to choose ‘hidden signs’ such as architectural forms, found objects and unintentional typographic structures rather than literal forms. We found that some letters were harder to find due to their shape like G, K, N, Q, R and Z. Whereas, letters like O were easy to locate because it is a common shape. Once we had all our photographs we examined each one thoroughly. However, we discovered that some pictures were out of focus and we decided to return to Poole to improve our photographs by retaking them. These are some of the vernacular letterforms we found and photographed.
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The difficult task was exploring ways in which to layout the photographs because it is a crucial part of the design process. When thinking about size, colour and subject, we had to consider the placement of an image against another image to see whether they would work together within a page. Once this was finished, the process of printing, binding and cutting were the final stages. Overall, I am very pleased with our final book design due to our photographs and the final appearance. If I was to improve the design of the book, I would have made each image the size of the entire page rather than have variations in size. I feel that each image would feel as important as the other and would have a greater focus on the detail of each image.
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Final design for the Letters in the Landscape book Placed in Alice Farrar‘s Folder
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CHAPTER THREE
LECTURES
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Oooh, aah, mmmm: Notions of Taste, Aesthetic Judgement and Consumer Culture This lecture considers our relationship between objects and the study of how we respond and give value to an item. The mass consumer market depends on the current styles and trends. Within consumer culture, advertising is created to seduce and persuade the viewer to buy the product. This relies on our taste which is a judgement and will determine the social and cultural identity for a product. How we judge design is subjectively, objectively and through experience, influence and education. When creating bespoke items or a mass production of items there has to be a consideration of the materials, competitors, marketing, target audience, cost, manufacture and production process. Recycling should also be considered because it is a major issue within our society; we consume and dispose creating waste such as plastic cutlery. I found this lecture educational in the way I view products and has taught me to analyse items. I also thought that showing unique objects within the lecture really helped support the subject about taste and judgement.
Digital Materiality This lecture is the exploration of digital culture through history and the discussion of pervasiveness in today’s society. Digital materiality is a physical medium which shows the process of a concept into the final publication. Social media such as Facebook will store a massive amount of data like our personal information which can also be hacked leading to unauthorised data being accessed. A social networking website has to rely on popularity, otherwise it could become out of date, so it needs to be designed well and can be trust worthy. I found this lecture interesting and helped me learn what digital materiality means and what it is about.
14
The Power of Persuasion: Propaganda - Meanings, Methods and Messages This lecture investigates propaganda which is the spreading of ideas, facts and allegations deliberately for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution. This can have an effect on public opinion and provoke actions that could damage to a government or movement. Propaganda comes from the word propagate which is to spread/reproduce/breed/grow and originated from a religious background in the 18th century. I found that I collected a lot of knowledge from this lecture which I used in my essay. The Tutorial to support my essay was also beneficial. I found that mind mapping is a great way to explore all the opportunities within the subject.
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The Power of Persuasion: Propaganda meanings, methods and messages. 160 places Date+Time
Monday, 27 January 2014 from 09:00 to 11:00 (GMT)
Location
BH12 5HH University House Lecture theatre UH001
Payment Status
Free Order
Order Info Order no. 240694051. Ordered by Louise Donovan on 6 January 2014 12:59 Type
The Power of Persuasion: Propaganda - meanings, methods and messages
Please PRINT and bring your ticket(s) to the event entrance.
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For The Love Of Graphics Exhibition
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THE END
BA (HONS) GRAPHIC DESIGN LOUISE DONOVAN