BA (Hons) Graphic Design Context of Practice 3 Proposal Form 2013 Name:
Nathan Bolton
E-mail:
nb101987@students.leeds-art.ac.uk
SUBJECTS OF CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH ALREADY UNDERTAKEN
Level 4:
History of Typography
Level 5:
The Gaze within Advertising / Success of branding
AIM AND/OR OBJECTIVE OF YOUR PROPOSED C.O.P.3 PROJECT Is Print Still Relevant within the Digital Age?
1. What research needs to be undertaken into the general and specific contexts of your practice? I will research into my subject area by using primary and secondary research methods to look into the past present and future of the subject. The essence of the dissertation is how print and digital design are seen as two different sectors of the industry, but they can be used together to create a better product. In today’s world digital products and design is becoming more apparent. Print is being affected by this but to what extent? And how relevant is the printed page in today’s society? Along with this I will research into the past and present of digital and print design to highlight key areas that have changed over time and influenced either of the mediums. Also contacting studios/designers to get there views on the subject and first hand experience of how they have been affected by digital technology and design. Researching into facts and figures that can back up this argument and that I can use within my research study will make the argument and study have more background information to it and validate the theory. Lastly I want to put theory into practice to get a better understanding of digital design, by doing it myself I will learn first hand research about it. This subject matter is very on par with times now, I am looking into an area that is vastly apparent within today’s world, and so this project and study should be relevant to an audience of today and inform them about the changes that could occur in the future.
2. What approach (es) will you take and what processes, methods, materials and tools are to be involved in research into your practice? I will carry out primary research through the use of library to look into the theory behind the subject and to gain further knowledge of it. Also to look into the history and possibly the future of digital design and the effect on graphic design. This will also come from placements and contacting relevant studios, which will give me first hand information on how digital design has affected them in both positive and negative ways. Questionnaires will also give me more primary research, which I will focus on using for getting fact and figures about the subject. Secondary research will be carried out through using the internet and online resources to research into the subject area. Also reading books and articles online / magazines will further inform me. Finally I will research by doing. By actually looking at the idea of digital design and look at either creating a digital publication or website then this can be part of my research for how you actually do it and then the process of doing it.
BA (Hons) Graphic Design Context of Practice 3 Proposal Form 2013 As my subject area is all about the digital era of design, I will carry out the majority of the research and theory through digital matters – other than using library books for research. 3. What preparation or investigations do you need to undertake for your creative practice to take place? I will research into both digital and print design. Looking at both sectors in detail with give me a better understanding of each theory behind the sectors which can be brought into my dissertation. Furthering my knowledge on the subject from looking at tutorials, reading books and actually doing it will gain me experience for when it comes to doing the practical side of the project. I will look into different designers / studios that use digital design and look at their work to get inspiration and knowledge on the subject. Talking to these designers will give me a better insight of the subject too. Also taking the time to sit down and work on designing within these sectors, trying out different things and looking at how to use the mediums in an appropriate manor will be the best experience and best way for me to learn more about it.
4. What research do you need to undertake regarding who your creativity is for? I want to challenge what is already known about digital and print design and try to find new ways in bringing the two sectors together into one product. The audience of my research study and the whole proposal is the people of today, people that interact with digital design and technology, but also those that have a love for print. The users that don’t understand it fully but have accepted it as an everyday tool. Specifically it will be aimed at creative people, those who use digital design and print in their work and lifestyle. These people will see how it has affected their everyday practice be it good or bad. If undertaken well and researched to the full capacity that I can do, I think that this research study could create a great understanding of the sectors, which will inform me, better for the practical side of the module. With this I need to research into the companies that could use this information and how it would benefit them. When the practical element of the project comes in and I have a solid idea of this, I again need to focus on the purpose and use of the product. Looking into the audience and user and how they will interactive with the product is key. It will be based around the idea of bringing digital design and print together, as the theory will inform the practice.
Primary Sources of Information 1. Description Location
Digital Desires: language, identity and new technologies. Leeds College of Art Library
2. Description Location
The Digital Turn: Design in the era of interactive technologies. Leeds College of Art Library
3. Description Location
First hand information of the effects of digital design on design studios – contact studios The Engine Room, Huddersfield / Numiko, Leeds – placements over summer.
BA (Hons) Graphic Design Context of Practice 3 Proposal Form 2013
Secondary Sources of Information 1.
Computer Arts Articles – digital design magazine
2.
Computer Arts digital app – digital design magazine
3.
Behance.net – inspiration for work
4.
Domanistudios.com – design studio
5.
Youtube – watching talks and conferences on the subject of digital design
6.
Designcouncil.org.uk – design charity
Perceived problems or difficulties: I believe that a problem or difficulty that I could have within the project is the practical side of it. I know the general idea of the practical side and what I want to achieve from it, but I don’t know if I will have the time or the knowledge to create it to how I want it. I may have to create a simple version or propose parts of it as I don’t have full knowledge on coding. As I have previously said I am going to spend time over the summer to further my skills on this and I’m sure I can get help within college on this aspect of the project. This is just the only difficulty that I can see arising. Taking action on this now by researching and looking into digital design can overcome it though.