The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Nicole H.D.W. Sinclair, M.A. Hoque, Harrison Holmes and Libby Howker
Manchester In flux Harrison Holmes
Summary • My project is based around The City of Manchester, focusing mainly around the town centre. • My initial aim was to research the different types of architecture found around the city, ranging from postmodernistic buildings to modern architecture. • From my architecture research on Manchester I decided to focus on creating a fact-file on the city in my final stage of designing, in the form of an info-graphic.
Research • I researched many artists, but the one I focused on for my final piece was Marina Zlochin. • I liked the way Marina used vector images in her work and also her use of colour and how it mixed well. • Regarding to my research on Manchester, I went into the city centre to take pictures of what architecture I thought would be most recognisable to people. • These images would then influence my own vector imagery in my work.
Experiments/Mock Ups • For my experiments I tried to focus on how Marina created this vector imagery, whilst incorporating the imagery of the building I had taken. • These experiments are what then led me to my mock ups. In these mock ups I wanted to venture away from the artists work more, and make it more my own style. • For my mock ups I focused on the idea of creating an infographic based on a fact file of Manchester, therefore I gathered my relevant information from reliable internet sources.
Final Design • From my mock ups I then created my final piece. • For my final piece I tried to include more information and generally tidy up the spacing's in the design. • The colour scheme for my work was derived from houstyle of the typical transport used in Manchester, such as the bus services and tram metro-link. • My final design is intended as a poster, yet I have also experimented through printing my work onto acetate, and I feel It gives a nice effect once placed onto a window.
Research Libby Howker
Research •
For my secondary research I mainly looked at illustrators and mixed media artists, or artists who used a combination of illustration and mixed media:
Sarah Gooch
Zoe More O’Ferrall
Mae Chevrette
Research •
I also looked at photographers Stephanie Jung and Trente Parke as inspiration when editing my own primary research photos:
Trente Parke
Stephanie Jung
My photos
Concepts •
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I also looked at writers like Charles Baudelaire, Roman Payne and Jane Jacobs as they have all good quotes relating to the city, which I felt could be used in typographical experiments. The three concepts I came up with up from my research were Travel in The City; which I came up with as a lot of the quotes I looked at referred to travel and the city being linked, whether it was inner city travel by buses or walking, or travel as in tourism, and landmarks that define a city and dictate where tourists go in a big city. People in The City; which was also inspired by the city quotes I looked at which focused on how a city was like a person, and I also thought it would be interesting to look at identity in a city and the stories behind different people in the city. City Architecture is my third concept as I was interested in looking at the structure of a city and the contrast between old and new architecture and felt this concept could lend itself well to detailed illustrations of buildings.
Experiments
These experiments link to my concept of travel and link to tourism in a city.
Experiments
These experiments also link to my concept of travel and link to tourism in a city, and include typography inspired by the typographer/designer, Jen Gotch.
Final Piece •
My final piece will be two concertina books; one with London imagery and one with New York imagery, and will feature the quotes I looked in relation to travel and tourism that big cities promote and are linked to.
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The books will serve as somewhat of a tourism souvenir in themselves with the imagery being my experiments, which show famous landmarks and icons that people associate with London and New York, and will celebrate the identities of these cities.
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The following images are mock-up designs for what the final printed piece will look like.
Final Piece
Final Piece
Summary M.A. Hoque
Summary City in Flux – to simplify, I thought this phrase could be defined as ‘an evolving city’. The city contracts before it expands; destruction before construction. I decided to base my project on London. Home to a population of 8 million. A city that is constantly evolving. Initial research: • The Underground maps • Modern and Victorian architecture • Artists/designers influenced by the city • Typography • Advertising
Social Decline Nicole H.D.W. Sinclair
Summary
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Commercialism Social Flux Behaviour Emotional Turmoil
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Primary Research I collected an extensive range of textured imagery by seeking out rusty, worn and generally urban looking scenery. The majority of these were macro shots of lampposts, bins and walls. For the other half I tried to capture scenes of change, scenes which sum up the busy lifestyle of the city or just the general atmosphere of the rich variety present. My idea was to combine a mixture of these elements as to create a collaged emergence of situations.
Concept
I decided using a Swan as the symbology of that of the social environment would be an interesting way to interpret it. I chose a Swan because it is usually revered as a pure natural being, particularly in religious regards. • Idea 1:! To envisage a merge of natural and technological elements within a city environment. • Idea 2:! To highlight the loss of historical, generational and spiritual value within society. • Idea 3:! Surrealist imagery representing the hectic lifestyles seen within a city.
Experiments Â
I started by taking many photos across the Huddersfield and Leeds area, these mainly included decaying or worn away buildings and structures though I also took some more natural based imagery from Leeds, this is where the images of the swan were taken. I created collages built up with a variety of media, in regards to the traditional mediums this included postal stamps, packaging for common commercial food products such as Cadburys, commercial self-promotion material and lino prints. One lino print was direct from the sole of a shoe whereas the others were generated through developing on my photographs of a swan which were transferred onto lino. To the bottom right is one of the final designs created through the experimentation and developmental process. Here I have used an old map as a basic backdrop for the iconography. With this piece I aimed to achieve a multiexposure looking image as to represent a change in movement or a change in personality.
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Final Design
My final piece is a booklet containing images which depict an abstract interpretation on the social decay which may be seen within a city. The aim of the booklet is to depict a loss of self-worth, a loss of value to our heritage while the ever increasing desire for the new and constantly changing engulfs the city.
Conclusion •
How we answered the City In Flux brief • Understanding the group task brief • Reflections on working as a team