Blackpool

I recently took a trip to Blackpool to savour the last moments of summer (because who doesn't love being surrounded by sun, sea, and stag dos?) and was pleasantly surprised. When visiting the famous Tower, who would believe there was, what can only be described as typography heaven, right outside its doors.

Work Based Learning: Final

Here is my final design for The Fostering Company. I am extremely pleased with how this module came out, considering the time scale, and I feel I met all the clients needs, one of which was to create a positive identity in something that due to media coverage is viewed quite negatively. With the use of bright colours and lack of sharp lines, I think I've taken away the threatening quality. 

Practice Enrichment: Final

Practice Enrichment: Development Sketchbook

I wanted to share some of my favourite pieces from my development sketchbook here.

Artist Study: Hattie Stewart

Hattie Stewart is a "professional doodler" who is currently quite influential in the fashion world. Having graduated from Kingston University with a degree in illustration, Stewart puts her own mark on magazine covers by doodling on them in bright Posca pens. Her style is quite reminiscent of comic books, and she has said to be inspired by the Beano and Dandy comics, with a passion for larger than life characters. She uses bold colours, dark humour, an urban, cartooney style and unique characters to create her signature flair. 

Work Based Learning: Development

My initial ideas for the Fostering Company are to use one of the following for a slogan: “Are you tough enough?” which in turn joins on to the idea of Fostering being the toughest job in the world, or “Take the Next Step” to help give people that push to move forward. Research has shown that those who do foster have been thinking of doing so for a long time, and they just need that push and motivation to go ahead.

Work Based Learning: Initial

From the first client meeting, where we were delivered the brief by our clients and were able to ask questions and interact, I created a mind map using the notes I took. I found that the main points they stressed were being a personal and intimate company connecting with the clients in a way that makes them unique. They also want to be upbeat, similar to cancer research and macmillan.

Practice Enrichment: Experiments part ii.

Anonymity is a huge aspect of Dr Hurt. I want to use this in my final piece, but have yet to find a way to do this. Looking at the way others have produced and taken this idea on, to create a secret identity and manipulate an image to this extent has really helped me to come up with some ideas of this manner.

With Dr Hurt being a super villain, I felt it important to look into dark illustration styles. Paint on black and white images creates this kind of atmosphere, and with the added texture of the brush strokes it looks quite sinister. I wanted to experiment with the idea of the secret identity, and felt hiding the face made this possible. This is one of my ideas for my final piece.

Sandra Chevrier creates intricate illustrations using water colour, and combines them with rippings from pages of comic book strips. Her style is extremely influential and carries both the concept of an image, whilst merging the comic book aspect, without being over the top. I recreated this myself.

I began by scrapping the idea of watercolours, and layering the cuttings on top of a magazine image. I think the colour image with a black and white comic was more effective than the opposite, and I feel it's quite stunning. I also preferred the messy, collaged strips rather than the full image, as they highlight the features of the face more strongly. 

I wanted to try the images exactly the way that Sandra uses them, so I created two quick watercolour images, and added the layers of strips on top. I feel it looks striking, with the print contrasting the softness of the paint and leaving it looking more prominent. 

This is quite an abstract composition. It reminds me of a Picasso piece, with the eyes out of place. The top two images resemble one another, and when ripped through to reveal I feel this similarity is quite intense, bold and charismatic on the page. In contrast, the lower image is half colour and half black and white -- this dynamic looking compelling and mysterious. It reminds me of double exposure, but created in a different way.

I found an image that inspired me to create this, shown in the middle right of the page. Ripping away the eyes of an image, which are often called the “gateway to the soul," to reveal a character. I think this is quite powerful, whilst being extremely simple.

I think after looking through these I have quite a few ideas for my Dr Hurt final. I especially like the idea of ripping away the eyes as I feel it's so incredibly simple, but effective. I want to continue to expand and practice with different processes to create these.

Practice Enrichment: Experiments pt i.

As mentioned previously, I have experience in working with collages, so felt I should start with this. I began by looking into others collages, and wanted to imitate these styles. Below are two that I felt inspired by: Colour collages. On the top, I cut out magazine advertisements and distorted the shapes, pasting them onto the page to show movement and fluidity. I added a girl above, and then placed text across to make it look less flat.
Below that, I cut out straight lines and circles, colouring them in and layering them on. I wanted this to feel more controlled, and think the lines popping out adds a nice dynamic to the method. Overlapping the layers has given the image depth and makes it look interesting.

From this I felt more confident creating my own collage. Below I created a dark, minimal collage to represent Dr Hurt. I added brown paper to age the article, as Dr Hurt is said to be thousands of years old: adding red to symbolize blood, and black and white to show the balance of good and evil. I also added a girl with black eyes, which is often thought to be demonic, and typography stating “to us, you’re one step from oblivion or one step from triumpth.” Which I feel is fitting for the character, alongside “Drop Dead” and “Liars.” I didn’t want the work to be too obvious.

 Another idea for collage is to stick to lines: but distort. The top image inspired me to imitate this due to the twisted, and quirkiness of the different lengths of the strips. I tried to imitate this but found it was difficult as I hadn't left a focal point, therefore when stretching and lengthening, the image was left with a gap between the strips. 

Below, I found an image that combines two images in strips, similar to double exposure. I think the anonymity is great, and that it is easily identifiable without being obvious, and still holds quite a confusing notion about it. I think this would work quite well for Dr Hurt. 

Work Based Learning: SWOT Analysis

Strengths
I think my strengths in this module is going in and knowing exactly what it is I need to create. As all the other modules this year have been "firsts" in that area, this module is extremely similar to my Loft Event's module where I was required to create a brand identity system. It was also working with a live client, so I also have experience in being professional and working for a clients needs, rather than working with relative creative freedom. I also feel my strengths are my computer skills now: over the passed few modules I've been growing and expanding my skills and now feel confident in using them.

Weaknesses
My time management has been a weakness of mine throughout this year, especially when juggling a 20 hour job. As this is running alongside another module, time management needs to be key here: I don't want to be panicking and let my work suffer towards the end due to running out of time. I think if I continue to organise similar to the way I do currently, with planning and lists and keeping on top of the work in any and all spare time, I feel I'll get this done. I also feel that my development has been lacking, especially in terms of scamps, and want to create at least 15 scamps before finalising an idea for my final logo.

Opportunities
We have the opportunity to work as group: therefore collaborating ideas and allocating jobs. I feel this will make the module quicker and easier, especially when running alongside another. Also working for a live client and possibly getting this work out in the world, as a branding identity, is something that would look extremely good on a CV. It's also an opportunity to build a better, stronger portfolio.


Threats
Prioritising the other module over this one is a threat I'm going to try to avoid. As the other module is running alongside this, and is produced solely by me, I don't want to jeopardise either project due to focusing on the other, therefore, again, time management is key. Another threat is not meeting the clients needs by not understanding what it is they are wanting, therefore I need to ask questions and pay attention in the client meeting, so I can fully understand their goals.

Practice Enrichment: Research

I was given Dr Strange as my superhero. Dr Strange is a former neurosurgeon turned sorcerer supreme. As he began as a normal person, others find it easy to relate, similar to Batman and Iron Man -- realistic. He is the primary protector of the earth against magical and mystical threats, and draws his powers from mystical entities who lend to a particular effect. 

The primary artist behind his comics, Steve Ditko, based Dr Strange’s adventures on surrealism, creating a distorting and hallucinogenic quality. The adventures take place in bizarre worlds with twisting dimensions that resemble Salvador Dali’s paintings. His comics are bright and colourful. 

Dr Strange has quite a menacing facial expression, which is not the usual superhero look. He has exaggerated eyebrows and a very strong jawline, and these matched with his facial hair look quite wizard like. He wears a red cape, with an amulet around his neck. This matched with the blue of the rest of his costume makes him look quite majestic and royal.

For both of my characters I created a mood board, so I could see what kind of style they feature and could explain them without words. It meant I could look back at this to remind myself of their attributes without having to reread over my notes. For Dr Strange's moodboard, I used his costume colours for the background in tissue paper, and had his silhouette, to symbolize the fact that he is a loner and regularly stays and retreats in the shadows. I drew him in an action pose as I felt this was important, to show him empowered and fighting. In the background was a black and white image of a Salvador Dali painting, and I also incorperated astrological symbols to represent his mystical powers and being a protector of the cosmos. 

Dr Hurt was my villain. I was daunted when researching as he is a little known character, playing a small part within the Batman comic books, but I feel this worked in my favour as it allowed me to experiment and have freedom with the project, and not get inspired by other artists interpretations.

Dr Hurt is an expert is psychiatry and hypnosis. He has been to edit murder victim details so they appear as mentally unstable suicide cases. There is little known about the identity of Dr Hurt, and also much speculation about who he really is. Much of the discussion about this enigma is that he is a supernaturally empowered ancestor of Batman, a devil, a demon, Batman’s long lost twin and finally, his father. I think this anonymity is something I want to play with in my final outcome.

Dr Hurt is considered immortal, though he can be injured. His weapon of choice is a hand gun, and he is not physically very strong. That being said, his strength lies in his wide network of criminals, who he led in the black glove and club of villains against Batman.

In Dr Hurts moodboard, I added the words "Zur En Arrh" which is what he used as the stimulant when hypnotising Batman. I left the background black, and added his face with his prominent mask. I found a silver punctured sheet, and felt the holes actually looked similar to the bottom of bullets, which ties in with his choice of weapon. Adding an inverted image, I felt this looked quite demonic and evil. Finally, I added red to symbolise blood, and the newspaper headline "still hope for survivors." My plan was to cross "still" and write no, but I felt this would be too obvious, and he is a master of psychiatry -- leaving people with hope makes them "weak." It's something he would do, very twisted and deranged. 

Work Based Learning: Brief

The brief of this module is to work in creative teams to create an identity system for a live client. This client is The Fostering Company, a local fostering agency who want a stronger image and awareness.
Since my first branding project, Loft Events, I feel my skills have expanded and I really want to show this in this module.
We are required to create a development folder that includes all areas of planning, mind maps, client meeting notes, initial ideas, scamps, and development of logo and touchpoints. We are then required to create a a4 branding strategy presentation showcasing a logo, typeface, colour scheme, and touchpoints.
I'm quite excited for working in a team as I have yet to do so on this course, and we are often reminded that this is what happens in agencies in the industry, therefore giving me the chance to experience teamwork with other creatives and collaborating our ideas.
This will be running alongside my practice enrichment module, which will make the modules slightly harder than usual, but I feel if I keep on top of my work load, it will prove to be easier than I expect.

Practice Enrichment: SWOT Analysis

Strengths 
I feel my strengths lie in my research. Due to doing in depth research of illustrators and illustrations in my Digital Skills module, I know of certain illustrators whose style and mediums I want to imitate already. During A Levels I experimented a lot with collage and water colour and feel I am already quite skilled with these techniques, which I want to apply to this module.

Weaknesses
Development is definitely a weakness of mine. I rarely sit and develop my ideas to the extent I should, which is something I need to improve as my final outcomes could be much better than they are if I utilised this step to my advantage.

Opportunities
The graphic posters we create will be displayed in a cinema, which is an opportunity to get my work seen and to show my full potential to others. Another opportunity is working with the photography students and getting a feel of art direction. I feel it’s important to be there during the shoots, and if I can devise my ideas before hand I can receive the poses and photographs I want and need.

Threats
Obviously time management is a threat. I haven’t been the best at keeping on top of this throughout the year, so I feel it’s important to make a plan and be more organized with this module, especially as I want to create a huge development sketchbook with many different styles and pieces. Another threat is collaborating: though an opportunity, if the photography students aren’t as dedicated to their work or pieces as I hope, I could end up with bad photographs or even none at all.

Practice Enrichment: Brief

In this module we will be collaborating with the photography students to create two super hero and villain inspired graphic posters. This is a great opportunity to explore new mediums, which I haven’t done a lot of in my other modules. Collaborations happen often within the industry, especially as I currently want to specialise in Editorial, so it is a good learning experience for me.

 In my sketchbook I need to experiment with illustration styles, typography, and mixed media. I feel the best way to do this is to look into other artists and what they use, and imitate whilst trying to adapt my own style.

Initially I was skeptical about this module, but having been educated by my boyfriend on the world of comic books, I feel more confident. I want to experiment more in depth, especially by hand as I feel this is a skill I need to develop.

Editorial Design: Final

I took some photographs of my finished final and wanted to share them: though I am awful at mounting them, often leaving glue marks and rarely keeping them straight, I think they look quite nice side by side.

I'm glad I managed to incorporate sharp lines into the page which contrast the soft, roundness of the circles which manage to show everything I want them to show of the photo. Despite this, a few of the black line joins were off centre, though hardly noticeably.

I should have been much more careful with the page numbers, as when it was printed, many were cut off. I placed them too far towards the edge, but feel I have now learnt and will be more wary of this next time. I'm thankful that none of the content was cut off.

After my last module, I checked the resolution of all images used, and google searched large files, alongside downloading original size files from flickr, to make sure none were blurred or skewed. Again, learning from my past mistakes.

I think I could see this in a magazine, and feel I hit my target audience well. I feel I've made the pages flow well together and look on part with each other, and therefore am extremely happy with how it came out.

Editorial Design: Final

I really enjoyed this module and feel it has strengthened my hope of specialising in the area. I must admit that I am quite pleased with the way my spread looks, and though I was only asked for two, I created 8. I think this was necessary as I wanted the spread to be complete, and feel had I stuck to the two I was required to create, a lot of aspects would have been missed out.

I think the front cover looks quite smart. After all of the development I produced, I finally settled on a very simple horizontal black line growing across the page, and the headline being on top of the number, in white. I felt this drew interest to the place and the number, without being conventional and boring. I also used an arial image of the London skyline, as I felt it was quite beautiful: with the blue of the number matching the blue of the Thames. 

The second page again incorporates the blue amongst black lines: the image spans across three quarters of the page, with the rest of the page being black. I wrote an introductory paragraph for the article, and placed this half way in the black background part of the page. The writing was left white. 

On the first page of the actual content, I decided to have the images in circles as I felt this was quirky and matched the modern style of the spreads. I also decided to keep the black lines as a recurring theme throughout the article, tying all the pages together. 

Similar to the first page of the article, I used the exact layout but this time flipped horizontally: I also used a different image of an iconic piece of London. 

Instead of using diagonal lines, for the middle page I used the same layout as the cover spread, a horizontal line. I think the circles being bigger than the line is quite quirky, and I also added a pull quote to disrupt the blank white space. 

In keeping with the rest of the spread I added another page to interrupt the article. Whilst researching for the article, I found many tips and hints, alongside apps for travellers to use to have a similar experience of a local and felt it would be quite a nice touch to add them. On this page, I wrote down certain apps and their qualities, such as AirBnB. 

Finally, if you count the amount of places I used, it was in fact 12. I didn't want the page to be too empty, and I also wanted to use the same layout style, so therefore added two extra places from the content research. I added the line of "two more for good luck." but feel I could have chosen something more in keeping and wittier now in hindsight. This page was laid out similar to the first page of content.

On the last page, I added the conclusion of the article. I wanted it to signify the last page of the spread, but I also feel this wasn't necessarily needed. In looking at most other spreads, conclusions are scarcely used especially in this context, but I felt it important to have something to break up the article and the next in the magazine.

For my first Editorial, though there are a lot of things I would change and do differently, I feel quite confident in what I produced. I think the next time I produce something of this nature I want to experiment more strongly with typography and contemporary designs, but I began this module wanting to create a modern article that would appeal to my target audience, and I feel I achieved that.

London.

For my birthday I headed to London for the first time. I've got to admit, it couldn't have come at a better time due to my Editorial module being on London. I tried out a few of the restaurants I chose for my content, and also headed to the Tate Modern to check out some beautiful pieces of artwork. Below are some photographs I took in the gallery.

As I used to live in Spain, a lot of our art modules were based around Spanish artists, including Salvador Dali. I'd never seen any of his pieces up close, only through a screen or what I had printed, so I was extremely fascinated to see his original artwork. The colours were much more vibrant than I ever thought. 

I also got to see Monet's Water Lilies, which I had actually studied in GCSE Art. It was incredibly stunning and much bigger than I ever imagined. 

There were a lot of photographs which caught my eye. There was something incredibly nostalgic in these images. 

Another of the fixtures was made up of light: the whole room was dark apart from these shining from one side. It was fascinating reading what these pieces meant, Dan Flavin's sculptures are quite controversial. 

I've never been a big Gallery visitor, and one of the only others I have visited is the Baltic. I did go to a few out in Spain but it was more of a "school day out" than anything else: but I was extremely intrigued here. I want to one day head to the Louvre. I think seeing all London has to offer has really helped me in terms of my Editorial piece, mainly as I actually know what it is I am talking about, and the feelings this big city gave me. I went with someone who was experienced in all things London, so a lot of the experience I actually had was quite similar to a local, and I understand now why others would want the same. 

Editorial Design: Ideas pt ii.

For my initial ideas for the content pages I created a brainstorm, documenting the different styles I could use. One I felt would be quite interesting was inspired by Paula Schers work, who creates maps using typography. 

Paula Scher cuts up pieces of typography from different mediums and lays them out to create the outlines of countries, similar to an atlas. It's quite significant and strange, applying her flair and love for larger scale designs into her work. In some pieces she incorporates vibrant colour, whilst others such as the second image above of Africa, use sepia. 

Taking this style into account I decided to look into other illustrated maps of the place I have chosen. As London is a capital and holds a lot of attention it was easy to come across these: I thought this would be quite a cute idea to distinguish a whimsical style to the page, though it needs to be in keeping with the cover spread, which could be through the use of a colour scheme and typography.

When creating these on the computer I used google maps to understand the layout and style I would like to use, especially as this is just the experimentation phase. I spread the map across the whole of the page, leaving only the margins: I also added circle images on the page to highlight the places, alongside the text below. 

Experimenting more on the map idea, I followed a similar idea with the page as the cover spread, using furniture to highlight the article content. I also continued to add the circles which show photos of the places I have chosen. That being said, I feel that these pages don't fit in to my final idea for a cover spread as I feel it will be difficult to create a running theme throughout, which is something I feel is important.

When looking at trends, I came across a lot of usage of geometric shapes and pages similar to the one above: I find it visually striking with the different images mixing colours, disrupted by the white of the borders. I wanted to recreate this style. 

My first attempt at imitating this was to recreate a similar style, using triangle shapes orientating the page.

I then added furniture and used the images to frame the article content. I personally feel this looks quite effective, though spacing between the triangles may have looked better. I didn't want to settle on this idea, though I do like it and feel it looks quite pretty on the page. 

Again, I like the way the colours go together, and the way the images flowed well but I also felt that the shape didn't give everything it could to the image, often cutting of certain aspects so you couldn't see specific details and couldn't tell what they were of. I feel possibly a square or circle might show more and be stimulating. 

Looking more into different shapes for my images, I created a similar spread to a roll of film, with the images cut off and adding movement. The different sizes create a really nice dynamic but again there is something missing: It doesn't seem to flow well with the front cover. 

Scrapping all original ideas, I decided to try with a black background and a white stripe vertically. I thought this looked very similar styling to the cover spread which was something I wanted to achieve. I added the images of the content in circles, overlapping the white line. Though slightly reminiscent of a certain football team, I really liked the way the page came together. I used Ever After as the type, but felt a lot of it was lost with the difference of white and black.

I adapted that design to create a singular black line horizontally across the page. I liked that the circles were bigger than the line and overlapped, and the typeface was quite contemporary, and not something often found in Editorial design. I think this would look good in a very modern, urban magazine.