Cancún Debate : Further Poster Development

I not keen on uploading every single design I do, I think it is fairly pointless to see how I have kerned a bit of body copy by -5 or whatever.  If it is working, it is working and if it not I will change it.  To me things like kerning body copy are a 05 typography module exercise and that now I can quickly lay down type with appropriate proportions.

Instead I have focused on how the dynamism of the layout effects the hierarchy and accessibility of information.

The grid has changed now.  Before I was using a 5 column grid.  I am interested in the way the grid affects communication, as I am not yet convinced that the grid necessarily leads to more effective communication.  But after layout this publication in a tidy 4 column grid I have decided the poster should follow suit.  I used to not like the 4 column grid, but now it seems to be almost perfect for any job that does not require a large variety of information.  I will stick with this grid, maybe changing it to and 8 column if it 

Cancún Debate : Cancun Poster Development

I have been researching for my context book, looking at case studies and doing my own into effective communication to inform and be effective.  The problem with the design at the moment is that it is trying to be too complicated and show off my type skills.  What I need to achieve is a much simpler design that is targeted at its key audience, rather than ebing an experemental piece of layout for deign sake.

This for example is far too experimental. Though they are interesting.

I now do not think the use of Garamond is going to be sitable.  It is not as approachabl as it could be and ha too much of a dull tone. I need to make this event more exciting and intruiging.

Some of these developments are interesting, but are conceptually still weak.

Cancún Debate : Flier + Invitation Testing and Setting up for Print

Due to using experimental foling methods I have to lay the type out very accuratly, this required some testing that became rather frustrating but a little fun too.

Here the document printed out backward, I dont know why I thought I would need to flip the type, I must have been tired.  Quite an interesting experiment with heirarchy though.

It was especially difficult to make the smaller details feel comfortable when you do not know exactly what it is going to look like from on screen.

The scale of the invitation here is far too big, 4x too lage I think. Infact I may have hit scale to fit accidently.  The annoying this about testing work is that when you prin something in the mac suits, it is not the same outcome as down in the dungeon. They do diffferent technical things with the doc when going to print,

It is getting there now, still need to sort out the scale. But it it is useful printing this scale for now so that I do not have to crop everytime I want to do a quick test.

I have thrown some smaller information around the edges, centrally justified.  It is 6 pt so is really just texture, nit is still fliv informatio about the topics being discussed.

The flier format I am using enables me to put down a lot of infprmation on several facets of the format.  It is really interesing.

I do not think this type face is working it is too dull and informative, nor really selling the event to the younger audience.

I acctually managed to get this to line up in just 2 tests, pretty impressive I think. Though the layout of other information needs to be tweaked.

Cancún Debate : Pubplication Planning

Again I have checked most of my development sketching before I had a change to blog it, but a little bit scraped through.  Here I was trying to get the order of the pages correct, so the information was delivered in an appropriate order so it was understandable and accessible.  

Fine Art Yearbook : Individual Spread Dev

My Spreads

Vickies

Tims

Brought together

Fine Art Yeearbook : Master Document Specs

Book Fair : Project Evaluation

The book fair project was a good laugh.  It took me 10 days to; freak out after forgetting it was coming up just a week away, think of an idea / concept, gather the content, design the posters, print the posters, design the book, buy the stock, print the books and finally bind them.  All this while managing to fit in a brief visit to Durham to see an old friend.  It felt as though I was living design and enjoying it, being proactive and creative all rolled into one, with a nice tidy profit at the end of it all.

While this may not seem like a 'substatial project,' for me it was almost as substantial as my Cancún bref.  It  helped me get my head around what I think of design and put it into design form.  Not only this, but the people at the book fair seemed to like the work which gave me great self confidence and helped set me up mentally to tackle another project.

The focus was not on conceptual development, nor format, layout or print, although all of these of course were underpining considerations.  Instead I just wanted the words on the posters and in the book to be noticed as I think all who are involved in design could take something positive way from it.  It was also a great practice in screen printing which can easily be forgotten.  However what I really enjoyed over all other aspects was simply laying out the type in my favorite guilty pleasure typefaces. Faces such as Onyx, Modern 20. and Franchise.  I like to use sexy type, not just the typographically appreciated type, but am careful when to use it.

Producing self driven work is a very imporatant part of being a designer in my opinion.  As on the one hand, you commercial work will hone your concept building and application across a rnage of formats, exploiting print process and other technical produciton aspects.  While the self directed work will keep your mind fresh, stop ideas building up and clouding your judgement.  It is also simply more fun, as the utcome is ultimatly up to you; pleaseing yourself is a responsibility you owe yourself on the odd occasion.

For this project I would say that the type selection was fairly ironic, as the underlying theme was that of design being creative and objective, not stylistic, also considered and conceptual.  To achieve this sense of control and consideration a sans serif sch as Helvetica or Azkidenz would have been perfectly sensible and predictable.  But where is the fun in that.  I like to think that typographers would recognise the slightly bizzare use of type in contrast with the message I was pushing.

Either way, I like them, and that is rare in ones own work.  I would like to continue producing posters such as this.  Not neccessarily in the same type and in black and red, but accross a whole series of simple typographic treatments that do not shout but are certainly not being shy.  Like Anthony Burrill, who has become some what of an icon due to his poster design that offer wisdom to the design culture, I hope I too may find an audience who appreciate what I have done with this project.