Good Is I chose Cuba as my ‘good’ subject because I’ve always wanted to visit the country; its exciting culture is fascinating to research alone. Cuba has a vast culture to explore in terms of research within this brief. By choosing this exuberant country I hope to push the boundaries of my usual practice as a designer. Cuba has a rich history which will also be very interesting for me to research, from the Cuban Revolution, to severed ties with the US, many aspects of Cuba’s history have determined the current state of this communist country. I will be providing an insight into Cuban history with research into historical figures Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. I will mainly focus on the history of Cuba, as well as Cuban culture such as Cuban cuisine, Cuban architecture and Cuban landmarks.
Good Is I have researched different formats including publication design that I feel would most appropriately represent Cuban culture. I am also looking into branding and identity as I hope to create a concept that can be adapted to different media and formats. In particular, I have been researching book series and sets that work as part of a volume and how to contain these appropriately and effectively. I have also been looking at different book binding methods and relating which would be most appropriate. I ďŹ nd methods such as coptic binding portray rustic Cuban culture well. I have also been looking at different types of book covers, wooden book covers seem very relevant, again relating to rustic Cuban culture and perhaps cigar boxes and crates.
Good Is I have always been interested in Cuban art, specifically vintage style Cuban poster design. These in particular are an iconic part of Cuban art, they often reflect the colourful streets of Cuba or portray a political message. The bold use of colour and hand rendered illustrations are both areas of design I would like to explore and develop within this brief. I will explore using different media in this area of the brief, such as acrylic and watercolour paints, chalks etc. Cuban art draws influence from different cultures such as African and Spanish; just two of the many culture that are present in Cuba today.
Good Is My target audience will be 20-35 year olds, both male and female, who enjoy travelling but have not yet travelled to Cuba. They will be post graduates with a disposable income and an interest in exploring other countries and cultures. My target audience will have an interest in reading travel magazines such as Condé Nast’s ‘Traveler’ magazine which has a similar target audience to my own, ABC1s with an interest in travelling. I hope to create a comprehensive guide to Cuba including a brief insight into its history and the expectations the audience should have of Cuban culture. As someone who has never travelled to Cuba before but has an interest to do so, I can put myself in the audience’s shoes and design for their wants and needs.
Good Is I researched four processes to undertake as part of the brief. I will be looking into screen print a lot, this method of printing is a huge part of Cuban poster design. I will also be looking at laser/die cutting, this could work as part of branding and identity. I will be producing a set of publications and book binding is a process I need to explore. I will also be researching and practising hand rendered illustration as another aspect of my poster designs. This could be applied to logo design and other concepts.