BA (Hons.

) GRAPHIC DESIGN
Module Code Module Title OUGD303 FINAL MAJOR PROJECT

LEVEL

Outcomes

06
1

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT STATEMENT OF INTENT

Name: Ailsa Marrs Blog Address: a-marrs0912-fmp.blogspot.com Rationale AN INVESTIGATION OF LAYOUT WITH A FOCUS ON PUBLICATION AND PRINT FOR WITHIN THE FASHION, ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR. I want to focus primarily on layout in Editorial & Publication design and print, with a strong use of concept in reasoning for layout decisions. I also want to develop a greater understanding of how layout affects readability and hierarchy of information. I want a range of Briefs that are quite closed but have research into content. I want to explore the use of typography in relationship to layout and how this can work with the concept of a project. I am also interested in the appropriateness of choosing typefaces and want to experiment with a bold use of type. I do not intend to exclude working with image although my focus is not in image production. I have an interest into the effects of printing onto different stocks and how different stocks can affect formats therefore I intend to build an greater understanding of what is available. I would like to work and learn more about professional digital print therefore I intend to carry out research and contacts with print production companies. The areas I would like to design for are promotion for the arts, culture and fashion design sector, in particular for fashion for promotion of collections and events. I would like to continue to develop my editorial skills within design for publication as well as try art direction when working cross-courses/ in collaboration. I want to try a number of live briefs as they may bring up opportunities for further work/placements/ my portfolio where I will do these as quick turn around day briefs that are appropriate to the sectors and themes I want to design for. My aim is to become innovative in layout with the use of type, and I am looking to work for small studios that focus on editorial and publication. Through my design context publication I intend to build up more contacts with practitioners in this area, informing my PPD, hopefully gaining placements. Therefore I also need a portfolio that demonstrates this.

Subjects / Themes Promotion for Creative cultureDesigners, art exhibitions, collectives, Gallery openings Contemporary cultureMusic events promotion, Fashion Events/ Trends, Art exhibitions, Film showings/events, News Headlines, Performing arts, Tv documentaries- factual, geographic, historic, of current interest Books- Carlos Ruiz, Films- Ralph Fiennes, Set in/post WW2, Spielberg Other Subjects City living History and anniversaries of Historic events Manifestos Failures Folklore Design Subjects: Commercial & High end Innovative Design for informing/promotion International typographic style and postmodernist style- trends in design that allow for standards and experiment in type and layout

Design Disciplines / Creative Development Firstly I am not interested in branding design for corporate companies, or design for children or young people as an audience. I am not interested in motion graphics or screen-based work however I understand that in the present age of design, I may need to develop ideas of how print can move to screen, and the elements of navigation and screen size that may affect this. Primarily I want to focus on developing skills in the following: Typography- the use of and appropriateness of. I also think I should be a lot bolder linking into Layout. Layout- I want to explore and experiment more with the composition of the page in relation to Editorial and Publication design. Publication & editorial design- The format and finish of these with a high standard with a real context Concepts and interesting subjects- I think I need a lot more research into simplifying an area of content. Secondly: Type based Identities, for opportunities of live briefs I could then extend into print promotion In other areas of development I want to improve my verbal presentation skills, to be able to talk about my work clearer, which will benefit me in meeting professionals while looking for placements and interviews. I also want to get better at documenting decisions and analysing them.

Practical Skills / Workshops what, why and when? Practical Skills

Research- more in-depth to produce simple but interesting concepts that are appropriate to the brief. This must happen in the initial stages before design, because then can really influence design. Typography and communication in design, with an interest in the use of copy as Ive not really explored this and how it is appropriate to a brief. Also with type, what that chosen typeface communicates Finishing qualities at the moment my finishing qualities arent that great and if I want to explore publication formats these really need to improve. I also think this will depend on a real context to be viewed in. I think this will come from spending more time discussing Binding techniques and getting help at Vernon St, as well as professional printers. Concepts- really simple but interesting that can be extended over exciting print range. Want them to be exciting Colour- I am not that confident in using colour so I think I need to experiment more with this in development stages of the brief. Web design to keep up a basic understanding of html for how print can move to web if appropriate for brief, opportunities of live work and my own website. Decision making I am really slow at this and if I just made the initial decisions later Id have more time in production. Professional Skills Collaboration building on how I work with others, which will identify more what my role and skills are. I think more collaboration will also benefit verbal presentation skills and talking about work especially in cross-course collaboration. I would like to art direct photography too. Professional & digital print-I intend to investigate more professional design for print and production methods, aiming to contact and work with outside printers

Brief 1: Fashion Yearbook Rationale:

Deadline

April/may 2012

With this brief I need to produce a finished publication, as a live brief to work with clients and design for budget. The opportunity to work with printers and discuss costs and stock options. Learn how to send work to professional print and work collaboratively. The key consideration is to communicate what the client wants. Brief 2: D&AD Pentagram brief Deadline Submitted by 9 march

Rationale: Work with layout, Research into different type designers which fits in line with my dissertation. Also get to produce a range and work with format. Submitting to an Award, for the opportunity of recognition Brief 3: On this day Deadline 30 may

Rationale: Produce a historical informative print format. For me I would want to research into the subject, content led, to bring it to a contemporary audience, explore how it could work as an editorial piece Brief 4: Leeds College of Art Graduate Fashion Show promotion Deadline April

Live brief which will be seen around Leeds, also send Invites into the fashion industry, so a chance to get my work for design into this industry. This brief demands working to a budget and exploring range of deliverables needed for commercial events. Brief 5: V&A Lectures/Exhibition Posters Deadline 30 may

Rationale: Produce a range of type based posters exploring really experimental composition and colour in poster design. Each on a different exhibition theme. I want to approach this by really getting to experiment with the use of type.

Brief 6: Design context publication

Deadline 30 may

Rationale: To inform my own practice and produce a printed piece or publication to show this. Here I will investigate format to identify the chapters and stock options. Concerns will be getting information and enough content.

Brief 7: One Day Briefs Live Briefs and Pitches that could be developed into full briefs/ the opportunity for work, will usually be identity/promotion based. I am going to approach these briefs with strict quick decision making. Brief 8: Vanessa Gates Lookbook and Collection Promotion May

Rationale: Collaboration with Jonathon Finch to promote Vanessa Gates as a Fashion designer. Really interested in the subject as well as collaborating and art directing with a photographer. Will be a brief to work on later into FMP, compromising on deadlines between vanessas production times/ getting final collections photographed, so this needs to be well planned ahead. Contextual references / Designers / Studios / Companies (specific) Designers/studios: Mostly that work with interesting layout design for print and typography. Also studios that work for promoting cultural & art events. Also looking at graphic design internationally Homework, Studio Newwork, Houman momtaim, Qubik, Joel Evey, Bureau Bruneau, Main studio, ill studio, Ro&CO, ProjectProjects Contextual references: Looking at contemporary culture and design for music, fashion, editorial. High end commercial print Event promotion Production/distribution methods: Print/editorial International swiss typographic style Publishing houses.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY: Interview Studios/phone/ visit/email

Deadline

End of feb- but

keep ongoing contact This will inform my own practise and help in the development of my design context publication. Also build up contact for possible placements and future jobs. - Main Studio- because of their interesting work of publication formats and work for look books within fashion. Would have to skype/phone because of location - Qubik- Placement here will allow me to research more studio practise and working with clients/how interest in layout can give me place to work within a studio - Thompson Brand Partners- How publication can work with branding and identity. Interview - Spin- for their use of type and experiment of composition, also want to establish a contact here . - Clas bcn - Studio Newwork- they work with interesting formats for promotion within fashion. So look into the work the - Base design - Working format RESEARCH ACTIVITY: Print Deadline END OF FEB To understand print processes and the consideration that goes into designs using processes. To understand the communication between a studio and a printer These are Team Impressions Duffields Generation Press Print-Leeds Leeds Printing company GRG Print RESEARCH ACTIVITY: stock material research Deadline READING WEEK To understand what is available, costings and how stocks can effect format and print considerations GFSmith Fedrigoni Local Paper suppliers SYDB RESEARCH ACTIVITY : Events Deadline ONGOING Design events to inform myself more of current questions in design and emerging design. Catch up- monthly leeds Death of the magazine- V&A Leeds Print Festival Pick Me up somerset house Design museum Offset exhibition- Dublin march 9th RESEARCH ACTIVITY Commercial distribution Deadline END OF FEB To understand the commercial aspects of producing a magazine eg. Advertising allowances and how this affects the design. Visit Yorkshire post Leeds

BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS / TEXTS - (Harvard Refernced)
How to be a Graphic designer without loosing your soul Looking closer: Critical writings in graphic design Garfield (2010) Just my type Barnard, M( 2005) Graphic design as communication

Graphic design for fashion The Production Manual MAGAZINES / JOURNALS / ARTICLES (include publication date and details) Computer arts Collection-issue 1 graphic design Trend report The guardian The telegraph The independent

ON LINE REFERENCES / WEBSITES / ARTICLES (include specific urls)

Graphic-exchange.com Septemberindustry.com Typetoken.com Itsnicethat.com Fffound.com http://www.thinkingwithtype.com/contents/extras/ (accessed on 23/1/12) http://www.emigre.com/Editorial.php?sect=1&id=20 (accessed on 23/1/12) http://colophon-foundry.org/ (accessed on 23/1/12)

OTHER REFERENCE MATERIAL (Films, events, exhibitions, conferences)

ACTION PLAN use this section to identify specific tasks that you need to complete in
order to resolve the brief. Brief What do you need to do? Research design context- who and were print is used 1 Prepare Ppd portfolio Submit yearbook proposal Deadline

Have contacted fashion and photography for collaboration- know who and why Final statement of intent done Begin categorising dc Categorising and analysis of dc Contact studios/places want to interview/visit Visits at end of week Ammendnments to portfolio Nancy brief changes Contact Ben Goodyear Establish fashion yearbook contact/meeting Briefs decided on Send out dc interviews/ do visits/ get a placement!! Have nancy brief done by

All content gathered for DC Dissertation in

Visits/placements Have 2 briefs underway

Gather and finalise dc content 7

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