Processes by Sam Edwards

TMA1516 MA Graphic Design

Graphic Design Processes

Reflective Journal Sam Edwards

Introduction

This file will document the workshops undertaken in the TMA1516 Graphic Design Processes module in the MA Graphic Design course at the Univeristy of Huddersfield. This practice-led module will help question and develop the parameters of graphic design through a range of different processes suited to specific concepts and contexts. The aim of the module is to produce a body of practical work supported by specialist workshops, which will explore the hybrid and expanded nature of graphic design that arises out of contemporary culture. Technologies influence change at the level of aesthetics and style as well as producing new modes of working, collaboration and production. Today’s graphic designers increasingly engage with new forms of technology and emerging kinds of workflow, embracing novel forms of communication and organization. This module embraces traditional practices such as typography, sign-age, advertising, and book design, alongside more contemporary developments such as VJing, software design, sound design and audience interaction. You will be encouraged to push the conceptual direction of your project through an engagement with processes of risk taking, problematical and graphic thinking. To be able to complete this module successfully we have been asked to follow these guidelines. •Process Generation portfolio: body of work showcasing process development through a series of interlinked micro-projects, which evidences concepts and ideas established through process oriented investigation and inquiry. •Presentation of this work in relation to the progression of thematic, conceptual and contextual development. •Documentation and communication of the analysis of project responses, risk-taking and experimentation, idea generation and contextual research will be tested An excitement development of the previous term I am really looking foward to undertake this module and hope that I am able to develop my skills in terms of the notion of process in relation to graphic design. The Module started on 20-1-2016 and runs until 28-4-2016.

Workshop: Mobile application The first workshop involved numerous activity’s in relation to the process of design. We started off talking about ‘apps’ on our interactive devices. A mobile app is a software application developed specifically for use on small, wireless computing devices, such as smart phones and tablets, rather than desktop or laptop computers. Mobile apps are designed with consideration for the demands and constraints of the devices and also to take advantage of any specialized capabilities they have. We were separated into groups and asked to analyze an app that we thought was a good, well designed piece of software and asked to present the app, with a throughout explanation, to the rest of the group.

We then presented our interpreation of what Instagram is and why it is effective as a process for displaying pictures and videos. We concluded the use of filters and ease of use had key factors to contribute towards this. We then sat through other groups presentations on there chosen apps. We concluded that for a sucsessfull app functionality, ease-of-use and being well designed all need to be adhered to.

Facebook We chose as a group the app ‘Instagram’. Instagram is an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing, and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and videos, and share them on a variety of social networking platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr. When you post a photo or video on Instagram, it will be displayed on your profile. Other users who follow you will see your posts in their own feed. Likewise, you’ll see posts from other users who you choose to follow. Instagram is a platform for self promotion and linking your pictures with a hash tag in order for other people to search the particular subject you choose with it. As an application Instagram is one of the most popular on the market. We decided this we because of the simplicity and effectiveness of the app.

Messenger

Whats App

Skype

SnapChat

We also analyzed the most popular applications on both the Android and IOS market. It seems social media and interaction are at the top of the list of popular applications. Why? Because we live in an ever more technological society and the ease and the simplicity of communication is ever easier and more fun. At first I wasn’t interested in this workshop as I have always had a very old school approach to the way I processed my work. However talking to my peers and teachers I realized that bringing a form of application into my project would enhance greatly in todays society and I so I want to incorporate a new mobile application as part of my project. We then started the individual aspect of the workshop.

Workshop : Mobile Application We where then given an A3 piece of paper and 10 minutes to design an app in relation to our projects coming from the concepts module. My project involved raising the awareness of the severity of diabetes through graphics with the gestalt psychology as inspiration. We had to present the idea to the class at the end.

My class was right, the app was not clear and precise. It needed purpose and meaning. I decided to try and use my knowledge of diabetes, being a type one diabetic, to conceive an idea that would help diabetics rather than inform non-diabetics. There are several different ways people with diabetes can manage their food intake to keep their blood glucose (sugar) within their target range and one such method is ‘carbohydrate counting’. Carbohydrate, or carb counting is a method of calculating grams of carbohydrate consumed at meals and snacks. Foods that contain carb have the greatest effect on blood glucose compared to foods that contain protein or fat. A ratio of insulin to carbohydrates, normally 1:15, is used as a guide for diabetics but is often effected by numerous factors such as age, sex, amount of activity and diet. My idea was to create an app which you could input your current blood sugar level, along with the amount of carbs you were about to consume, in (g), using sliders. This would then create a pattern which was created by a system using the specifics of the information that you have inputted. Of course, the numeric value would also be displayed for practical purposes. The app would contain individual profiles which mean the app can be more effective. Users will be able to input information on how there body reacts in terms of insulin to carbohydrate ratios and monitor there results with a pattern diary.

My initial idea was to create an app called ‘Diabetes Pattern Creator’. The idea behind the app was to have three sliders that related to blood sugar, insulin and serotonin. Adjusting these sliders would create a pattern in direct relation to the sliders values. The ability to be able to save the pattern would then be available after which information on different amounts of sugar in the blood and there effects on a diabetic would come up. We had to present the idea to the group for some peer feedback. It seemed my app was one of the few that people didnt understand and not liked. The main reason for the dislike was that there seemed to be no purpose behind the app except creating a pretty pattern and explaining the severity of diabetes - which had nothing in common.

These where three initial slides that I put together as how I thought the application would turn out. As an initial experiment I was happy with the concept however I believed that the idea as a whole was not a good one, however it didn’t possess anything that I believed would be effective. As I stated previously I really wanted to incorporate a mobile application into my work this term. Before I can do this to a good standard I think doing more practical research into my chosen area of perception to be able to form an idea that had a solid foundation and could be used by the diabetic community.

Process: Printing Methods

This module asks us to explore different methods of process in relation to graphic design. Throughout the module I am going to concentrate on imporving my final outcomes rather than just concentrating on the digital side. The two types of production I am going to concentrate on are UV printing and Sublimation printing.

Process: ‘The word process’ At the end of the first workshop we were given a brief to be completed in a week. The task was simple, create a a4 or a3 piece of work with word ‘process’ as the focus in any form of mediaw. We were asked to consider our project as the main concept behind our work for the task.

After I created the type I then went on to play about with how it would be presented. I wanted to create a idea of depth and illusion. The lines that create the type illustarte the gestalt principle of perception by using what appear to be singular lines to create a form of a particual letter.

I chose to continue to use the theme of perception/ gestalt psychology using the colors CMYK as a basis using typography as the main theme. To the bottom is a visual created by created the type which uses the gestalt principles and applies a new, quirky side to them completely deleting the reference to the typography.

Instead of just printing the work I thought that adding more to the notion of perception would further the idea. I decided to take my self to the print studio to see what way I could achieve this and to seek advise from the technicians.

Process: Production I had a frame which consitied of four glass slides that where supposed to be used to photo maniuplation, however I had the idea of using this frame as part of my â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;processâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; piece. I wanted to take each indivual colour and there corrosapdning letters in order to create even more depth and illusion in the piece. I thought UV prinitng would be a good way to do this as I dont have much experiece in this process and would like to further my knowledge.

I used the UV printer (as seen below) in order to create the indivual slides. I had to delete the black background as I believed it would bring attention away from the type. I was advised by Brent on setting up the files correctly in order for them to come out the right way. Once I did this I places the slides in the corresopiding slides to create the piece. I was not completely satisified with the outcome it was rather hard to read and understand the notion.

The soloution was light. The box needed some form of light source in order to be able to read the type. Using lighting that was used in the exhibition in last years FMP show I combined LSD lighting with the top of the frame. These lights could change colour and really effcted the readability of the type with some intresting outcomes. I also created 8 different coloured background cards to also effect the type. I tried to take some quality piuctures of the frame however found it very hard with reflective issues. I plan to take this foward and take some quailty images of the piece. The UV process is complicated and I would also like to further my knowledge in this particualr area and see what is needed in order to become acomplishmed at setting up files and using the machine itself.

I also chose to put the process design on some different materials to see the effect that would be given off. In this case I used polyester and wood which has been painted black.

Workshop: Design Process This workshop was held by Sara Nesteruk. The purpose of the workshop was to explore the design process. We were asked to prepare a piece of inspiration that we could use to create something in relation to our practice. I chose to use a short piece of animation that explored geometry and moving shapes. The idea behind my design process was to use the idea of perception and the eye to create a geometric illustration that combined these concepts.

We initially all dicussed our particualr pieces of inspiration with eachother. I found it interesting what we all considered inspirational in the group from advertisments to pieces of fine art it gave a wide spectrum of possible outcomes for the session. We then discussed how the session would work. We were going to split our creative process into three stages. This would give us a chance to review and reflect each stage and see how we worked as a creative indivual. Being a very visual desginer the first stage I chose to create a mood board to reflect what I wanted the work to represent.

The second stage was spent creating the outline and inital colouring. The final stage is on the following page. This workshop opened my eyes to how I work as a creative and helped my understand everybody goes about a brief differently.

These pieces of work represent how the post and pre production can combine to make a whole in relation to Jasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop. I used wood and material to see what the designs would look like when printed out.

Workshop: Personas At the end of the session we were asked to consider some personas for our mobile application designs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A persona is a way to model, summarize and communicate research about people who have been observed or researched in some way. A persona is depicted as a specific person but is not a real individual; rather, it is synthesized from observations of many people. Each persona represents a significant portion of people in the real world and enables the designer to focus on a manageable and memorable cast of characters, instead of focusing on thousands of individuals. Personas aid designers to create different designs for different kinds of people and to design for a specific somebody, rather than a generic everybody. Being in the very early stages at this time ment that I realsied that it would be hard to create viable personas for the concept. However I did not let this effect me and chose to carry on with the concept. Our course leader, Anneke, asked to us to look at www.theuxreview.com to get an idea of the kind of work she expected from us. I knew that the idea I had would be a tool for diabetics so I chose to create my threee diabtes with people who have the disease. I chose to do three different types of people to show that the concept for the application could be universial. On refelction I wasnt very happy with my outcome. Through further research, oppisite, I found that a persona could be so much more than just facts and figures and be desgined well at the same time. When furthering my work I will create three more personas in order to get a real undesratding of who my project is for and how it can be useful.

Process: Typography

The typographic aspect of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;processâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mini brief really got me interested in how we percieve type and the notion of hidden meanings and concepts- which is very releveant to diabetes being a diseases that has no visual symptons. I decided to start creating visuals using this as my main focus. I wanted to explore the area in more detail. To start things off this typographic example using the word perception shows us how with slight alteration and colour a simple word can become something more.

life death lif lifeath d death ea sad happy happy sad white white k htaed htaed htaed

Process: Typography Blue/Red

After creating some visual experiments using the colours cyan, magenta and yellow I acidentally altered the colours to become blue and red. This instanly appealed to me. It somehow worked better than the other colours and created, what seemed, to be stronger shapes and imagery. I liked the idea of using blue and red and chose to continue my visual research further.

Process: Typography Blue/Red I then continued with my exprienmentation using typography and these letters just to see I could further my development of this process. In my mind I wanted to be able to separate the type but still have the two words interlocking.

dea death dealife lifeath

I also created some experiments using shape as I wanted to expand my knowledge in this particular practice. The shapes did not work however the grid background which I used seems to be very effective and I believe will be a strong tool to be able get the hidden messages within in the type which is my goal.

Process: Typography Research

Process: Typographic Response

THE T HE SECRET S ECRET KILLER K KI ILLER

NOT N O OT T SO SO SWEET S WEET AFTER A FTER A ALL LL

Process: Type Experiments

white k

happy sad d

life death if

After my initial research I discovered that I could hide the messages within the text using a lens from 3D glasses. This was the revolution I needed, I now did some more experiments to clarify the style and understand why.

Process: Type Experiments

white k

happy sad d

life death lif

I discovered that I could hide the blue type but when the red overlay is applied the what seems strong text disspears.I decided to use two oppisite phrases relating to mental health and how it effects people with diabetes. The notion being having diabtes has no visual sympotms yet is a deadly disease with serious consequences.

Process: Type Experiments

tsmiles, smiles sm s miles m miiles es s,, jokes jjo oke ok kes eso and a an n nd dcfu fun fu un n

Process: Type Experiments

tsmiles, smiles sm s miles m miiles es s,, jokes jjo oke ok kes eso and a an n nd dcfu fun fu un n

More visual experiments concetrating on the new typographic theme.

Process: Type Experiments

Here I have three different materials which I have printed my design onto- wood, perspex and polyester material. The effects the material gives really alters the effect of the piece and is something I will have to bear in mind when continuing with my work.

Workshop: Realization Process

In this workshop with Jason Payne we discussed concept realization and vizualaztion processes. In the workshop Jay went through a worksheet explaining the three stages of process when recieving a brief.He explained how and When to stop researching and start making things. Ther are three main stages Pre-Production - Getting to know the subject Production - Doing the work Post-Production - Alterations, tidying up & adding sparkle After the initial research, this should be an iterative process - reworking after presenting to client or based on tests & experiments Workflow: Timeleines: Understanding the key stages needed towards completion. If there are any unknown parts to the project that could be sticking points these need to be quantified quickly by experimentation. Get an idea of how long they will take in order to clarify your workflow. Planning: Breaking a job down into component parts. Understanding what has to happen when. Building in contingency - planning your project with alterations in mind. It is important to avoid the haphazard - could someone else pick up your project and work out how to complete it based on the files they or objects they have been given? With this in mind, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rely on your memory - write it down Structure: Are you creating modular structured work that allows for quick alterations - eg: > Layers - Illustrator / Photoshop / InDesign > Folders / Boxes - hand made artifacts > Compositions - After Effects > Layers / Xrefs - 3d software > X-Sheets / Storyboards - Animation > Clear Diagrams - Electrical work / 3d Modelling > Flow Charts - Web Design / Coding Most important of all, write things down.

Process: Type Experiments

Trip: Jot Bindery As part of the course we all visited a local bookbinders JOT Bindery. The reason for the visit was to strengthen the relationship between students and the company and to learn the wonderful services they provide. JOT Bindery are your expert bookbinders in the UK: Delivering high quality products, with a single-minded focus on the customer. The team that work there range from master craftmen to graphic designers. From traditional techniques to cutting edge technology the bindery provides this all.

When the trip was arranged I was slightly unsure on what it would be like. In my head we would be entering a small studio that worked on a very small scale. I couldnt have been more wrong. Entering the doors of what seemed to be a warehouse, the pugent smell of glue and adhesives hit the group hard. It was a huge industrial operation. We were given the tour by a member of staff who explained all the servies that dot binery provide: -SEWN AND UNSEWN CASE BINDING -OVERSIZE & UNUSUAL BINDING -HIGHEST QUALITY LEATHER BINDING -FOIL & BLIND BLOCKING -DESIGN & PRINT SERVICES -AUTHOR & SELF-PUBLISHING SERVICES -BOX MAKING & PRESENTATION CASES -ON-DEMAND BOOK PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION -PRINT FINISHING & FULFILMENT -BOOK RESTORATION & SPECIALIST SERVICES This was a revelation to me. Vast amounts of ideas where flooding through my head with the possibliuty of what I could do with the resources infront of me. These resources show the versitilty within a binery company. We were also given a free GF paper sample book which wil defintely be useful in the future along with a visit to the main office where we were shown an array of different products the company produced.

Process: Research

I found these typographic posters whilst on the internet. All using a modern, structured design system and I consider them all inspirational and will refer back to them with contiuning with my typographic theme.

Process: Research

Process: Type Experiments

Process: Logo Experiments

I was at the stage now where I had an idea of what I wanted to achieve with my project. A typographic campaign that would bring attention to the fact diabetes is a severe disease however is invisble in terms of no outside symptoms yet can have terrible consequences. At this point in my head I invision some sort of advertising/awareness campaign to illustrate the point previously mentioned. I believe that in order to be able to do this efectively I should brand the concept. I initially started using the blue/red as this is the whole reason this idea came about. I started off with the name NWIS (not what it seems), WHAT2DO, SWEETM8 and Diabeasy.

Process: Logo Experiments

I initially went with the name SWEETM8. I believed this name suited the concept well with relating to sugar and suggesting that you would be helping a freind. I contiuned experimenting with an idea for a logo.

Process: Logo Refinement

I decided against using the name SWEETM8. Although I initially said that I thought it would work for the more reseaerch I have done it to the severity of the disease has made me come to the decision that the name isnt suitable.as it is a freindly, fun name.

Process: Logo Experiments

The name ‘diabeasy’ sounds like the condition and shows that if well controlled it can be easy to manage. I thought this would be a more suitable name for the idea. After researching further I wanted the logo to also represent the three stages of how to help someone in a hypoglycameic fit. This will help me later on it development with the company’s purpose and give the logo meaning.

Process: Logo Refinement

Experiments using the notion of the three stages using the colours blue, red, and black.

Process: Logo Refinment

Experiments using the notion of the three stages using the colours blue, red, and black.

Process: Logo Refinement

I now added type to the logo and experimented with colourI empasihed the word easy to make the point clear.

Process: Final Logo

This will be the finalized logo.

Process: Final Logo

Logo experiments using the notion of the three stages using the colours blue, red, and black in the same format.

Process: Final Logo

A shorted version of the logo for small buttons and imagery The idea for this project is based on this initial typographic experiment. The messages ‘life is a bunch of roses’ and ‘on the inside it hurts’ combine to create a strong typographic piece representing how diabetes has a side that is hidden and can be deep and depressing. I want fo further this with two more posters with the same theme. I want the type to somehow show that on the outside everything can seem okay but within it can be painful. The idea of combining two messages into one is the base for my concept. I will now develop the design of the posters and try to create a way that the red lens effect will be apparent.,

I wanted to use my idea of hidden messages with blue and red and use them in an advertising campaign, I finally came up with these two proposed ideas for the layout.

Workshop: Glitching In this workshop we looked at coding and database and genrative processes. Coding in modern society is huge and is become and ever more essietinal skill for someone in the creative arts industry. I have had previous experince with code which did not go to well, maybe due my struggle with processing words; so I went into the workshop opimistic with the outcome.

The next work shop involved way more processing of our own work. We were shown a video by Rob containing a video that he had produced which seemed to be constanly glitching. We then were given instructions on how we could create a similiar viedo using a piece of work of our own. The first session was a basic introduction to the program ‘Processor’ and the basic code needed to complete basic tasks like size, shape etc. We then went on to create a code that could generate random pieces of art. I found a very interesting way to consider process and a comlpetely new area for me. At the the end of the session rob mentioned that in the following session we would be glitching our own work which I thought could be an effective technique for my typography.

I chose to use the ‘honestly I’m okay’ type I used in one of my previous experiments. I was really excited to see how this simple typographic piece would turn out when processed with code and how it would effect the legibilty.

Workshop 3 & 4 : Production

Some of the work produced in the workshop.

Workshop: Glithcing Graphic

Process : Final Posters

These are the posters I want to use in my typographic advertising campaign for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;diabeasyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The use of a button with an on switch is how the red screen isx applied to the advert. I needed to consider how I would present the three steps to help someone in a diabetic fit in a way that can be on the go and relate to the brand. I chose to create a mobile application which would simply display the three key steps along with some critical information about the disease and the complications which can arise from it.

Process : Typography

I created this typographic piece that I wanted to someone encorparte into the campaign. It shows how the symptoms for diabetes can be confused for being high on drink or drugs. However down the middle the word â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hypoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is created which represents this.

Process: Mobile Application

Diabetes is a lifelong medical condition where the body cannot produce enough insulin. Insulin is a chemical made by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach), which regulates the blood sugar (glucose) level in the body. Normally our bodies automatically keep the right blood sugar levels, but for someone with diabetes their body can't. Instead, they have to control the blood suger level themselves by monitoring what they eat, and taking insulin injections or pills. Sometimes people who have diabetes may have a diabetic emergency, where their blood sugar becomes either too high or too low. These are refered to as hyperglycemia (high) and hypoglycemia (low).

Too little insulin can cause high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia). If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not treated and gets worse, the person can gradually fall unconscious (into a diabetic coma). So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to get them to see a doctor in case they need emergency treatment. Too much insulin can cause low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia (hypo). This often happens when someone with diabetes misses a meal or does too much exercise. It can also happen after someone has had an epileptic seizure or has been binge drinking. If someone knows they are diabetic, they may recognise the start of a hypo attack, but without help they may quickly become weak and unresponsive.

The posters needed to have a purpose. I decied on going back to the mobile application idea to link the processes toghther. I wanted to create an app that would show people the three steps to aid someone in a hypoglycaemic fit and alos give some crucial information about the disease. I started off with the important information.

Process : Three Steps

The three steps that the app will initially present the user with.

Process: Mobile Application

A mocked up idea of what the application would look like in real life.

Process : Mobile Application

Here I have created the whole contents of the application in a simple layout to get a full understand of the idea.

I used the UV Printer again to produce one of the application pages. I used seethrough pyrex to give the effect of depth and printed the text and the fron and the images behind.

Workshop: Zine

The workshop was a follow up to the session we conducted in the last term by Nick Deakin. The workshop was on creating a zine book and the process involved in making one. I initially did some research into what I thought was a successful zine book. Black and white seemed to have a stronger effect for the short graphic novel. I wanted to bring over my diabeasy idea to create a small animation type zine.

After researching I decided to create my own zine. To do this I needed to create a file using the correct layout so the book worked. We were given an explanation by Nick in creating the correct format and so I contiuned to create 8 slides for the book. This was an interesting process for me as it was something I was not aware of before and I will be defintely using this process in the future to display work In this workshop we looked at coding and database and genrative processes. Coding in modern society is huge and is become and ever more essietinal skill for someone in the creative arts industry. I have had previous experince with code which did not go to well, maybe due my struggle with processing words; so I went into the workshop opimistic with the outcome.

Process: Final Outcome

Here I have visualized what the finalized product would look like in real life.

Process : Final Outcome