For one of our previous tasks given a few weeks ago by Fred in one of our OUGD404 Design Principles sessions we had to collect 3 newspapers, 3 magazines and 3 posters which include text. We had to then dissect each one and order the text into various different hierarchies that we found relevant. Here are some images I have taken when dissecting my poster spreads:

Spread three: Legibility, Colour Palette, Size

For one of our previous tasks given a few weeks ago by Fred in one of our OUGD404 Design Principles sessions we had to collect 3 newspapers, 3 magazines and 3 posters which include text. We had to then dissect each one and order the text into various different hierarchies that we found relevant. Here are some images I have taken when dissecting my poster spreads:

Spread two: Legibility, Colour Palette , Size

For one of our previous tasks given a few weeks ago by Fred in one of our OUGD404 Design Principles sessions we had to collect 3 newspapers, 3 magazines and 3 posters which include text. We had to then dissect each one and order the text into various different hierarchies that we found relevant. Here are some images I have taken when dissecting my poster spreads:

Spread one: Size, Colour palette, Legibility

 

In today's design principles session we had to experiment in groups with the anatomy of type looking at it from different angles using shapes that when viewed through a view finder created our chosen letterform. Here are the images from the session.


I really enjoyed he session and when I find myself some free time, I hope to create an entire alphabet using this process.

Here are some images taken a while ago in one of Fred's sessions where we worked in groups to categorise type that we had all individually collected. The session was really useful and we were able to discuss things like descender, x-height, ascender etc. We also discussed the visual appearance of each typeface as well.

Following yesterday's crit session with Amber, Jo and 5 other members of the group, I decided to go back to my original idea, and develop it further. I wanted to maintain the simplicity, yet incorporate more of a focus on imagery rather than type. Here are my resolved solutions, which I feel meet the criteria of the brief more successfully following issued raised in yesterday's session. 

Here are larger versions; to see better detail etc.

Although these haven't taken as much time, I do feel they meet the criteria of the brief more directly. The colours are complimentary when working as a series, and I decided after yesterday's crit session to stay away from the colour 'blue' as this typically represents rain, whereas I feel this way we are focusing more on the bright colours we see around us that we wouldn't have if rain didn't exist..

In this session we were able to practically apply the ideas we were taught the previous week.

In preparation, we had figured out the grid for a magazine spread.

This would be used as the basis for a series of thumbnails exploring alternative layouts to the magazine. 

After identifying important elements in the page (images, sections of text, illustrations etc.), we were taught to recognise the design choices that had been made to create the page as it looks now. Some images had been shrunk down, others enlarged and cropped for emphasis. 

We drew out a rectangle the size of the grid above. 

By placing the grid under the page, we were able to make thumbnails that contained all of the important elements in different ways. It's important to create a sense of contrast in the thumbnails with different shades of pen. This can be used to mock up visual weight of blocks of text. 

TASK:

1. Your magazine grid. (pt size, linefeed, pica measures, include borders and gutters)

2. At least 2 A2 sheets of thumbnails

3. Pick your best A2 layout and produce it in inDesign. 

We need to produce two sheets of 9 in our own time for this module. 

In preparation for our crit session, we each had to fill out a form answering questions about our work that we have produced in response to the live brief on 'Rain'. Here is a photograph on my form; I have also filled out the form digitally below to give a more accurate view:


We used the theme 'DIET' ; describe, interpret, evaluate, theorise.


Describe; What is visible? What is the audience looking at?
I have created a series of posters that work together using a map of England. Although it is pixelated in this initial image, I will improve this before the final deadline creating it in a higher resolution using Adobe Illustrator. I have kept text minimal as posters are not normally read for a long period of time. 


Interpret: What does it mean? How does it function?
I designed the posters to show the audience (people from abroad who visit the D&AD lecture in Manchester) the impact that rain has had on Britain, yet show them how we still enjoy ourselves and get on with life, showing rain in a positive way.


Evaluate; How successful is it? What context best suits it?
I realised my theme and focus on the map worked well with a more vintage style and so used this as a basis throughout my theme. I think that throughout this brief, time restraints became a real issue, having not done a one week brief for a number of weeks. In my opinion, my idea takes a different approach to most others and has wide room for development. Using facts throughout, and relating one poster to 'Manchester' (where the D&AD lecture takes place) works well and they crete a strong vibe when used as a series. However, I don't feel that they represent rain as positively as I would have hoped. The main image needs to be reprinted to the none pixellated version and emphasised into a puddle more effectively. 


Theorise; Does it solve the problem? How else cold it solve the problem better?
I'm unsure as to whether it solves the problem of representing british rain positively, however it does show how we cope with it as a nation and how rain is such a big factor in Britain. I would reprint with the better quality image before the deadline and possibly improve the focus on the map of Britain looking like a puddle. I would also like to incorporate a more positive attitude to rain.

These are my final designs. I have decided to keep the colour theme very simple, using blue to represent my focus on rain, and the cream colour is very complimentary. 

I have now decided to take my previous idea and create a developed and refined outcome. Along with peer feedback I will then decide which aspects I feel work well and which I feel are less successful. Here are my variation outcomes: