In Design: My Article

Link to Indesign Workshop

This is just a quick practice based on placing the image of Max's work and a photograph of Max as well as the text about him in the initial design I made in the induction. I don't like this as it isn't creative and has too much white space. I will look at the magazines I've researched to help inspire my design. Because I like Max's hair drawings so much, I might try to incorporate this into my article, by trying to draw Max himself.

Layout Plans

After a type and grid session, I decided that the best way for me to decide which layout to use for my article would be to draw out lots of thumbnail designs and choose my favourite. This would make the task of putting the article together on InDesign seem less daunting. Carrying on with my earlier idea, I also did a few drawings of Max based on photographs of him I found on face book to use in the article.

This is the grid I used for my thumbnails.

In Design Layout Designs

Here are some screenshots of the process of creating layouts based on my thumbnail images. I live traced my drawings of Max on Illustrator to use in the article.

 This is the page set up for the document.

 This is the grid I used.

This is my first attempt at the article. I think there is a bit too much going on, and that maybe colour could be used to bring the article to life. The first screen shot shows how I have used the grid to help lay out my article.

This layout is inspired by Max's love for CMYK.

Layout Crit

The feedback I received in the crit about my layouts can be seen on my PPD blog. I decided to experiment some more after these comments.

This screenshot shows the tools I have used to neaten up the text so that it fits the text box better and looks more like an actual magazine. All these tools are so useful and this knowledge is definitely well needed!

I have experimented with the use of three columns as this was suggested in the crit, but I really don't like this layout. Although there is the same amount of text, it looks as if there is more, and there is already a lot going on in this design. I think two columns looks much more sophisticated for this type of magazine layout that I am aiming to create, where I can understand that more columns would be more useful for a newspaper or something which doesn't need to look as good.

I've also tried to include two illustrations in my layout, however, I think there is too much going on already so it takes away the impact of the negative space. Also, the brief only states the use of two images and I am already using one illustration and one of Max's images.

Here I have kind of gone back to the layout I showed in my crit, as this layout received good feedback. I've altered the position of the quote, using the text wrap technique that we learnt about in the workshop.

Here I've added a margin, inspired by the layout of a page from the 'You' magazine, where I thought a simple coloured margin worked really well. I spent quite a while playing around with the position of this margin, and the character of the text so that it felt really well. I've learnt through this brief especially not just to be lazy and go with the initial settings on something, but to really play about with them until the text fits just right.

Final Design

This is my final design, which I have mainly gone with based on the positive feedback from the crit, but making the changes to make the layout more professional.

Speaking from experience: Things a first year needs to know

Brief: Once you have completed this form you will need to gather evidence, materials, facts and statistics to prove what you have said, in preparation for the final project, which is 4 1/2 weeks long.

 

I have written these things as if I am talking to a potential first year.

 

List five things a first year needs to know:

 

• Graphic Design is your life! Give up your job and say goodbye to your hobbies, as graphic design needs to be your priority now.
• There is no such thing as a day off. Wednesday's aren't a day off; you'll have so much work to do there is never free time!
• You'll work harder than your friends. People on other courses or maybe even doing the same course at a different university probably won't do as much work, or work anyway near as hard as you, and this can be annoying sometimes, but remember that you're learning so much more and will do better for it in the end.
• Digital print is the busiest place in the world, so you will need to book a slot or come in when you'd usually still be in bed to get a place.
• Keep up to date. There is hardly ever time to catch up, so don't waste time, and keep as organised as you can.

 

List five problems a first year will encounter:

 

• Graphic Design can be expensive. Start saving up/writing a wish list/begging parents for the things that you need, such as a mac, software, books, and materials. And, be careful with that loan!
• Leaving everything until the last minute is a problem that a first year will inevitability encounter, despite any advice not to do so. You've been warned.
• Getting ill. Freshers flu, or illnesses from not eating properly and not taking good care of yourself are bound to be a problem for a first year, so do try to look after yourself, as you can't afford to be ill.
• Annoying flatmates. There is bound to be some problems outside of college that will impact your college work, such as noisy flatmates, fall outs, sleepless nights. Try to speak to a friend or student advice.
• Stress. There is so much going on, there will be a point in everyone's first year where they get overly stressed. Work hard and it'll feel rewarding.

 

List five rules a first year needs to learn:

 

• You can't afford to be ill. There is so going on and so much to learn that it is hard to catch up from even one day off - so man up! Fred will warn you about this in your induction.
• Keep the studio tidy. This means bin your rubbish, tidy up after yourself and don't leave stuff out. This way, you won't annoy other students who need to use the space too.
• Never be late. You could end up with a warning if you miss an important briefing, so make sure you get here on time everyday. Many students get here at 9, instead of half 9, just to be sure!
• Take care of studio equipment and other peoples work. Treat it as if it is your own and be careful.
• Don't eat and drink. It smells, it annoys people, and it damages work and equipment, so eat it in the canteen please.

Evidence

• Photographs I could take: rule sheet, tesco at lunch, digital print at busy time, macs left unused but logged in, messy and tidy classroom, signing in sheet
• Could gather other peoples opinions, and quotes from other students
• Could create charts and statistics based on the replies
• Could compare my timetable with that of other students at Leeds College of Art and at other colleges

My Timetable (Average Week)

Monday 9.30-4
Tuesday 10-3.30
Wednesday (Work at home)
Thursday 9.30-4
Friday 9.30-4

• Could record the longest days I have spent in college (for OUGD102, I spent an 8.45am-9pm day, plus quite a few 9am-8pm days)
• Could add up the hours I spend doing graphic design inside and outside of college each week and compare these to the hours I spent during previous education of Art Foundation and A Levels

Visual Language: What is a line? (Photography)

Following on from previous blog post: plan and initial drawings

Initial Hand Photographs

I began to take photographs of peoples hands in different poses as I thought these would be interesting to draw from, however, I later decided that the photographs would be just of peoples left hand and palm, as this is what I would need to see to be able to read a palm. I think it is better now that all of the photos are of the same pose. As this brief is all about drawing, I was eager to get photographs and start experimenting with my drawing, so I don't think I have taken anywhere near as many photographs as I could have done.

Fish Eye Hand Photographs

The photographs of hands that I took for this brief did not turn out how I wanted them to. This was my first film with the fisheye camera, so I have experimented with all the different settings, meaning that some images haven't worked too well. Examples of the fish eye photographs that I liked can be seen here:

Fisheye photography

Communication is a Virus: Final Pieces

Final Pieces

These are our final pieces, which are visually consistent because of the use of two colours plus stock, as well as the use of the logo. Also, all the posters follow the 2:1 A3 format. 

Matt's Designs

Matt's category was time management, so he has created two posters as well as stickers relating to this. With this category, we are aiming to get people to do work that they want to do but keep putting off, as they are spending their time doing other things. This is in answer to the things that: Beth; Lisa; Sarah P; Chris; Sarah R and myself wanted motivation to change.

Stickers

Posters

Matt also created a design for a potential website on Illustrator. There are two examples, one for fitness and one for language. They show examples of the motivational posters as well as more information about each category as well as hints and tips. It would be useful having a link to this website on our designs, or having this information in a book that we could give away with the posters. However, the website was one of the final designs of the group work, as we had already printed the posters beforehand.

Kirsty's Designs

Kirsty's posters and products are aiming to motivate people to do some exercise and get fit. This is in response to things that: Beth; Chris V; Sam; Chloe; Kirsty F; Liam; Will; Kirsty A; Alex; Luke; Chris L and Kirsty herself wanted motivation to change.

Posters

Screenprints

Kirsty modelling her t-shirts and bag

My Designs

My category was healthy eating, focussing in on the diet of a student. This is in response to things that: Chloe; Yafet; Baljeet and Charlotte wanted motivation to change about themselves for.

Shopper Bag

Posters

Final Products

Steph's Work

Steph's designs aim to encourage people to try to learn a new language, as this is what: Francesca and Lewis wanted motivation for.

Screenprints

 Doiley

Tearable poster

 

Poster

Fridge Magnets

 

Mitch's Designs

Mitch's designs aim to motivate people to be more adventurous, not just with sports but also with work and other issues. This is what: Liv; Frankie and Mitch himself wanted motivation for. 

Posters

Presentation

Designed by Kirsty

How I would extend this...

In the presentation it was questionned how well these posters actually work at motivating. I think in the sense of the posters looking good with a motivational phrase, like the posters we looked at for inspiration, they work, but it is hard for a poster to actually make you want to change your life. More information and links to further resources as we initially planned would have been a good idea.