G F . Smith Talk

I received a presentation by the paper company G F Smith.

They specialise in a vast amount of different stock, different textures colours and thicknesses of paper and card. personally I think it is the perfect choice for any graphic designer looking for an endless choice of different stock

During the talk I received information about some history of the company, where they started compared to where they are today. We also watched a few short movies showing the process that the company printers go through to produce the stock that sells so well.

After the talk we were able to look at a range of samples that the company brought in to look at. 

These are some of the examples that G F smith's work has produced, they are all very effective products that have been designed perfectly after looking at them.

I love the colours that have been used, as most of the products I saw were made with only two different colours which is very effective when used against white or black. 

Also the feel and weight of the stock was very different in each product, it definitely gave me ideas for my own print.

OUGD504 - Study Task 03 - Print finishes

For this study task I will be looking at various different 

print finishes 

How different print finishes can change the way a piece of print work looks, or how they can be used to enhance or achieve a certain effect or design.

When researching different finishes, I will take into account how this can put pressure on the designer, financially and how to prepare for print finishing.

Most print finishes will either be glossy or matte depending on the result needed.


Varnishes

Which give a glossy, shiny feel to each page it keeps the print consistent and also can be used to preserve the material the print is made with so it last's longer. 




Matte

Which is the same process as varnish, only the end result is much less sleek shiny, instead each page is more dense and light.




Lamination 

This is where a thin material, usually plastic is placed over the original material which offers a new overall feel and look to the print by creating a firmer surface to the material, more tactile and hard wearing, as it offers protection from wear and tear damage as well as water.




Spot UV Varnish 

This material finish is probably my favourite out of all the collection because it's the most effective, and aesthetically pleasing, and can be applied to any section on the surface of my print. The effect is made by applying the varnish to the preferred area and then harding the material using UV light. This gives a perfect firm glossy/shiny effect.

This is a good effect if only a certain part of the image is going to be turned into a glossy varnish.

Whats better is that this can be used on any colour stock including white, which I do plan on experimenting with.



Foil Stamping

This is very similar to spot UV varnish, instead a malleable metallic material is used instead. Which is very useful to achieve the a regal gold or silver affect on any section of the surface work. 

Embossing 

I really like this type of finish, i love the raised bold effect that it gives because it gives more than just a flat surface image. It turns into something you can feel and touch which is gives an edge to the design.

However I don't know if I would use this on my own print, I think I would prefer a more sleek design with less weight .

http://designinstruct.com/print-design/print-finishes/

After looking at various different varieties and finishes, I have a good idea of what I might want to use for my own print. However I can't really decide until I have finished my own design.

OUGD504 - Studio Brief 03 - "Type in context" - Binding Methods

For this brief, I want to research different binding methods and choose the best one that matches by print. I won't be able to choose a binding method until I have chosen the stock that i want to work with. 

The thicker the stock the more reliable of binding I will need, If I choose a thinner stock then I could maybe choose something not as hard wearing and simpler to make.

I really want to try a different type of binding, something not commonly used in books and prints. This way I get to try something new and explore the effectiveness of different binding techniques. 

I found a website that explores and explains with images new styles of binding

Someoddpages.com

The first that really interests me is coptic binding

The binding method is so simplistic and neat I think it would compliment a clean design quite well.



The next that interested me was long stitch binding

I like this binding method because it gives an open spine meaning when the book or publication is open it can lay completely flat, so the pages will not bend which is useful if I wanted to use up the entire page with image or text.


Raised paper cord binding

This is an interesting technique of binding where paper is twisted into chords until a strong material is made. The chords are then placed over the spine and then the ends of each chord are splayed open and attached the the front and back cover of the book.

This gives a much more organic look which I find interesting.



Recessed cord binding 

This type of binding is ideal to create very strong firm physical designs, they are for mass page collection. Cords are placed in grooves that are made across and then down the open spine of the book, then the ends of each cord are attached to the front and back cover. 


The last not so familiar option I saw was Archive Boxing

Even though this is not actually a style of binding, I like the idea of a collection of pages that are not even attached to one another, because it gives a sense of freedom when picking my print up to look at. 

Personally I see the definition of a 'book' as a collection of knowledge or information which is collected and stored into one physical object. 

I do not see a book as only a collection of pages that have been stuck together with some choice of material. To me that is a 'style' of a book along with many others.

I would consider using archive boxing to hold my prints because I think it is an easier and probably the best way to share my work with more than one person at a time. 


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Awell as more complex binding methods like the ones I found above, I would consider using something simpler such as perfect binding, because it's a seamless style of binding which I have had some practice in creating.

http://someoddpages.com/book-arts/creative-bindings/

OUGD504 - Studio Brief 03 - "Type in context" - Brief / Research - Grid Methods

Using the work I carried out over my summer, capturing images of a certain geographical context. These images and explanation I created for them will now be used in my own publication. This brief will last for 4 weeks meaning I will have plenty of time to create a very effective design that will express the typographical designs that my chosen area has to offer.

My publication will filled with images relating and showing my collection of typography. As my publication will be based on photography I will take into account the target audience as well as the overall design of how you would expect a photography publication to look like, however I will not design something that follows the exact guidelines of other work, but stick to a preferred design loosely. 

This brief will give me the chance to enhance my binding and editing abilities.

For my publication I will be considering my choices of stock, printing method, binding method, experimentations, the colour and finish that works best with my design.

Firstly I will carry out some research into publications and designs that deal with photography. 

First I want to take a look at the latest designs of photography books that are out, I want to see how different covers compare, what stock is used and the colour and typography used throughout latest designs of different books.

The first book I'v found interesting is 

'photography is magic' 

"Photography Is Magic draws together current ideas about the use of photography as an invaluable medium in the contemporary art world. Edited and with an essay by leading photography writer and curator Charlotte Cotton, this critical publication surveys the work of a diverse group of artists, many working at the borders of the "art world" and the "photography world," all of whom are engaged with experimental ideas concerning photographic practice and its place in a shifting photographic landscape being reshaped by digital techniques"

Looking through some of the pages it seems the design is quite minimal and most space is given to the images rather than the text or explanation of each image. I like the use of negative space being used to give somewhat of a boarder, the images are central to each page which makes each page in the book quite simple and beautiful. The cover of the book isn't hardback which is more cost effective for this print.

http://aperture.org/shop/photography-is-magic

http://www.artbook.com/9781597113311.html

'Photography at MoMA: 1960 to now'

I liked this book from 2015 because of it's front cover

The hardback cover is a really good example of how to use images in a clever way to seem like a really effective photography print. I love the mass use of black and white image which is complimented with orange text. Attention is instantly drawn to the caption created by a pair of hands which also set the guidelines for the books title. 

The fact that the front page image breaks the boundaries by maximising the image makes me wonder what i'm missing, this instantly draws me in. 

http://www.amazon.com/Photography-at-MoMA-1960-Now/dp/0870709690

http://www.artbook.com/9780870709692.html

'Hiroshi Sugimoto: Seascapes

I chose this book because I love it's context, the photographer focuses on landscapes of air and water all for the purpose of portraying tranquility. Something calm and separated which I love the idea of. 

Each page is dedicated to one whole image, Even though the images aren't naturally black and white, the effect really creates this feeling of peace and calmness. 

However it's the use of the whole page and the mass negative space that is uses which really makes this book attractive.

The idea of this book is to capture the history and beauty of the earth at it's most basic purist form.

http://www.artbook.com/9788862084161.html

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8862084161/

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I want to take a look at prints that deal with text and image. Modern designs that effectively compliment each element well.

I found a website called 

'Redbubble.com'

This is a website for artists and designers to publicly sell their work. It's also a good website to go for some inspiration and for me a way to feel connected to other designers and new ideas and layout designs.

I like this print because of the repetition and how simple colour choice compliments the overall design nicely. I love the use of different shades of grey and then the positive message at the bottom which links to the main image of the print and enhancing the message. It's a simple yet effective technique.

Even though i'm not too fond of the font choice, I like the direction that the text has been places in, which sort' of defeats the object of the message, I love the use of dark negative space drawing all the attention to the text. 

This piece is more illustrative, and the shades of this print are softer so it comes across quite soft and eye pleasing.

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Next I want to look at page layouts and how important the positioning of image and text matters to the impression print products can give.

Grid Methods
I looked through a website called serif.com


This website explains the use of grid's being the important foundation of any publication that deals with text and graphics. 

As I already have some experience in creating my own grid's to use in my own work I definitely want to re use the same technique.

"Grid structures are vital to successful document design, and especially so for documents containing a mixture of text and graphics. Whatever the subject matter, and no matter how random the layout appears, the underlying structure will generally be based on a carefully designed grid"

This is quite a basic grid design that I would probably use for one or two pages in my own design. It's simple and set's tat traditional look for text and image inside page.

These grid layouts are more suited to designs that are a little more complex, or if more interesting page spread is needed. 

I will probably use a more complex grid layout for most of the pages in my design. 

http://www.serif.com/appresources/ppx5/tutorials/en-gb/tutorials/design_grid.htm

I want to do a little research on different types of grid's, the less traditional grid layout but other designs that have been used for many years for various designer products.

The Golden Ratio

I'm not particularly on of this layout method, when placed against certain pieces of art work and design, it is said that the golden ratio is the grid set for a more or less 'perfect image'. However personally I don't really feel the golden ratio has any place on any image or design work, as it fit's far too loosely and it seems far too difficult to create a piece of design based on the layout of the golden ratio. 

However it only seems right to mention it in my blog, as it does hold it's own important place in the work of other designers.

The Rule of Thirds

This is the layout method that I am definitely going use in my own design. This is a method used by mostly photographers to achieve an aesthetically pleasing image where every element is balanced.

As my publication will be about my own photography work it only seems right to use this method in my layout.

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/golden-ratio-in-moden-designs/

Building some research on layout and page/cover designs has now definitely given me a better idea of what I want to achieve with my own publication.

Product photography workshop 01

In this workshop we started by discussing the brief and what we would be using cameras for, we also discussed lighting and and angles and how we would be using lighting to take photos of certain objects and products.

Working as a group of 5 we took some a couple of cameras and some lighting equipment and returned to the studio to set up. 

After discussing lighting we then worked on the positioning of the light stands to give the best images. We were told that the best photos would be achieved by facing the lighting from above at a 45 degree angle on what ever were taking photos of.

We spent some time taking photos of each other and then of various different objects, so we had a good mixture of photos showing how altering and using light works against different products.


Lighting and angles and change the look of a photo.

I found a website that discusses this simply and shows photo's to give an example.





This image is showing up front lighting, where the light is faced at an angle which will show up most of the face and will leave very little shadow or dark patches.






This image shows side lighting, from the left to the right shadow increases and is useful for showing up cheekbones and jaw lines, it's also useful for defining facial features.





This image shows backlighting, so this is the best for shadows on the face and darker toning in the hair, pretty useful for that all over darker more secretive image.

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/04/15/photography-lighting-take-control-of-natural-light-to-using-flash/

OUGD504 - Studio Brief 02 - "Logostarter"

This week I have been given the brief called "logostarter"

For this brief I will creating a completely new designed logo and two branding methods to accompany my design. 

My work and branding will be for a certain media based project which I will be able to choose from the website
'KickStarter'.Kickstarter is a web service for crowd funding projects, products and businesses.

I will be producing the a logo and some branding work for one of the projects listed on this website, so firstly I will research the website and decide on a project that suits me best.

After researching a few different projects and business, I found one that I know I can work well with.

'People I've Loved'


"People i've loved is a small print shop based in Oakland, California, working together to make art objects that inspire human interaction and hope for our shared future. We specialise in home goods, prints and greeting cards with a focus on positivity, productivity and communication."

After completing the study task for this brief I now know the requirements for the logo.
I had to think on the illustrative yet simple side of things. Looking at the businesses work I have to create something simple yet not as modernistic as most of the designs that are around today. There needs to be a little personality behind the logo. 

When sketching a few ideas out, i decided to use a more illustrative design, so I used symbols like the heart and the plus sign, because these two symbols represent positivity. 

As blunt as my sketches are, I did eventually make something that I thought would work for the business. By using the shape of a heart and distorting/changing it somehow to make it more effective. 

I wanted to change the shape by using text which happens to be a short description of the 'people i've loved' and using this to fill up the shape of the heart, replacing the block colour that is originally there, I also had the idea of adding some kind of border because text can look lost when it is alone, and then adding the name of the business somewhere around the main image.. So taking my sketched idea I worked on the design. 


I began by taking a simple heart shape and used the cutting tool to take away some pieces of the shape to make a more boxed looking heart shape, I did this to resemble paper and card. I then used my shape as a guide to redesign it with the informational text, which I used in the font 'apple chancery/chancery' to give a more illustrated look, then followed with simple curved lines to form a light border. Then when adding the actual name 'people i've loved', I used my favourite font 'armata'. and then experimented around the main image to see where it would look best.

Below is the digital design

However after a short while i became unhappy with this design, I felt it was too formal and honestly did not turn out that interesting to look at, and going back to my 'logo requirements' i didn't feel it fit in well with what was needed to make this design successful. 

So I went back to that start and designed something new.

This time I wanted to design something that looked hand illustrated yet would fit in to the mainstream logo designs that we have today. I thought that my first design lacked boldness and impact. I decided to keep the heart design because it will look effective in the right settings. So this time I worked on making a better border or backing design that would resemble an organic illustrative design yet would give an impact.

I worked on my logo requirements and I recreated the first logo below

I definitely think this design is much more successful than the first. The shaping that I made is to resemble what 'people i've loved' is about, making positive designs that are not perfect, which is why the heart design and the backing are slightly broken, but i tried my best to make it look as effective as possible. The new design also gave me a better way to include the name of the business in the logo without making it look odd or out of place.

I have decided to keep the design in black and white, to fit in with the general colour pallet that 'people i've loved' work with, and I think it works well with my design.

Now that I have my logo I can begin to apply this to different branding techniques.

I thought that since this business is still quite young, promotion will be a definite choice at some point. So I decided to apply my logo design in different ways to t-shirts.

To adapt to different coloured tops, because the logo has been made in black and white, it can easily be inverted to suit black/white/coloured backgrounds.

This idea would be useful for promotional work.

As well as this it would probably be a good idea to apply the logo to posters and business cards.

I love how the posters have turned out, expanding the logo to break the boundaries of the page and work the name of the business around that. I think the black and white works so well for my design as posters. Simple but bold, and I feel I have achieved the requirements in this branding also.


Below are my final business card designs

WHITE

BLACK

I also applied the design to a card, I felt that would match the style of the business

I feel that I have achieved what I wanted to, I took in the requirements for the logo and I have created branding in the way I imaged.