Design Context

Because Lulu.com have not got back to me and they failed to print my 3 books properly, I have located their warehouse in North Carolina and will be visiting them at some point in the future to sort out their lack of competence. Only joking... however I am disgusted by their lack of customer care, as I will not be sending anything through their company again to be published.

Due to this incident, I have uploaded my book on Issuu.com, a pdf online publishers where you can interact with the publication.

http://issuu.com/kensic/docs/ken_wong_lulu_9x7_with_bleed_6

Yearbook proof-read

So yesterday we printed a first colour version of the yearbook off and had it proof read, there were a hell of a lot of mistakes to do with punctuation, grammer and spelling as well. Thats what you get when you just copy and paste text. nevermind.

so I went through and made the ammendments only to discover a few more. We are sending it off on monday and just need to make sure its tip top.

Library Branding

So in order to widen and deepen my grasps into the library signage brief, I spent a few hours coming up with a logo to which then could be applied to other media which the Library could use it for. I think this makes sense they had taken me off some of the panels and reduced the workload by a fair bit which left me rather unfulfilled. In return I got given the duty of doing some photocopier posters etc, and now I think it is appropriate to add this to the branding as it seems logical. Notices can have the logo on it, and it ties up a large (formerly looser) section of the project which I hadn't intended to partake. The library also has their own flyers and leaflets which I have re-designed and made more... suiting to the branding.

Above are the photos of my development with the logo. I selected a very simple 2 shape logo, the reasoning for this is that the library has a very distinct architectural build of an arched roof leading to a section with an upstairs (the mezzanine... hence the square section). It made sense as a visual representation. I saw no point in having to brand it with an actual name, although originally sought to but felt that the library is not a corporate organization and as it stands, exists within the knowledge of those within the institution and those in the local area. It is distinct enough for the population it currently reaches out to. Without sounding like a contradiction, a brand like Apple with their "apple" manages to be iconic without using the actual spelt word of the organization.

Its simple, it works, it can work on any scale, any colour, its versitile, it says enough without saying anything. Job done?

Design Context: Recieved with problems.

Well I recieved my books today, all 3. They look amazing, except there is no border/ outer margin. Basically, I set up a print document to their specification with full bleed, allowing them the required 3.13mm outer margin allowance for trimming. not only have they taken the liberty of trimming that 3.13mm, but the additional 10mm that I left for my margins. Thats a total of 13.13mm all around my book. Fantastic.

Except I didn't want that to happen.

I've emailed them, in hope that they will admit their wrong-doing and reprint them with no charge, within the time constraints that I have left (8 business days). Otherwise its the good old PDF jobby for me.

Yearbook: Foil/ Cover Decisions

Right, so the other thing to address with the yearbook is the cover. Me and Jimmy are kind of decided that it should be simple but in honesty Jimmy is in charge of this. He loves creative typography and title design which is his specialism, so he's leading this one. We're going for a serif number "1", its going to be foil printed... We got some samples sent to us by Duffield, and they are really nice, but because they haven't sent us the sample cover we re finding it hard to guess the tone of brown and which foil will work. Since we are the first year, we're thinking gold... makes sense right?

Yearbook: Done... well almost.

So this week me and Jimmy have been firing through the Yearbook, getting on course-mates backs about details and captions etc. We have finally collected everything we need and yesterday (saturday) was our last straw being that anyone who had not sent us their information was now getting our interpretations of their projects. There were only 2 cases of this, but I will not name those people.

Anyhow, the list was massive. But they were just little tweaks really. There was one major change to the yearbook which was that I moved the contact details underneath the student name/ photo, as this made more sense. Having 3 thin lines on each outer margin of the pages meant that we were effectively losing a large percentage of the spread and being that we were losing a little bit from the passive gutter (where the book opens, there is a little grey area in the gutter where people will not pay attention to). Therefore, decided that the best option was to eliminate one side of these sections and reduce it to 1 section on the left hand side. This allows so much more breathing space and gets rid of the aesthetic quality which I think me and Jimmy decided to do because we wanted to try different things, ie. vertical text lines. Which are hard to read and requires the reader to turn the book or tilt the head.

Anyway, the other major thing on the list was to actually choose a colour, a tone which was "now" yet "timeless". So... not grey, but still neutral in every sense of the word. It must not overpower the work and should suit the colour of the cover (brown board). We looked at Graffik and a couple of books on type, even looked at some fashion mags for colour trends. We thought a pale pink was a good idea but then realised that on matte, it looks beautiful. But on silk stock, it may give off other connotations... So now we're going for pale yellow... Which is friendly, neither masculine nor feminine, dark nor too light, suits brown and is essentially... an actual colour. Thank god. I love colour now, I really do, colour (when justified to use) has so much impact.

Research: Sign Systems

Before you read on, I just want to say that this is not a resource which I wish to add to my FMP. This is exactly the opposite.

I just don't get it. Why would a company try to sell themselves with such a horrible website? This post may get me in trouble if anyone finds it, I just can't believe how bad this website is. I genuinely started to feel a bit ill looking at it. The cropping of the images, the colours, the name and the flash embedded bubble banner... This is vulgarity.

http://www.signsystems.uk.com/SignSolutions.aspx

FINAL CRIT :(

Right so, this is just to sum up what was said in the final crit we just had, dare I say that it is quite sad that we may no longer have a major crit as a group anymore.

So anyway, was really useful. Put up some of my work which I kind of felt unsure about. IE the library stuff, I had put up some proposal boards which I thought were "okay" and I know when something is "okay" it obviously isn't good enough. So we had a discussion on what I should do from here on in, with 2 weeks left. Basically, turning the library thing BEYOND the what they asked me to do. So now I get to do whatever I want for it, within certain parameters such as the colour and type. I need to show the signs in the context they are in. I can mock up the panels on the sides and hope that when they see my work that they will take it on as it will be strong enough for them to not resist.

Also, if I am considering doing something large scale then perhaps for the 180 I could promote the publication. Immediate thoughts are that it would be difficult to publish something self-indulgent to a particular audience... Cept I think perhaps for a campaign to get people to read more perhaps? Not saying that my vocabulary was such a shamble that I am in dire need of re-immersing myself in the fundamental part of the educational system. Who knows, maybe I do!

Also, I am think going about furthering some of the testimonial stuff... If I have time. I think I could display the typeface in a nice way... but that again seems to lack a purpose other than to just... display it nicely. hmmm...

This also means that since my crit with joe gilmore last week where i proposed to promote some poetry will not be going ahead as it is not feasible in the time that i have left. I can persue this interest with greater consideration come post-hand-in where I am hoping to stay in Leeds for a while to complete some more work over the summer.

Got alot to do with the yearbook aswell, the list goes on.

We shall see.

The-international-office

Matty pointed these guys out to me, really like their use of sans types, neue typography influences are prominent. Great use of white space, seems like they play a similar role to experimental jetset.

Design Context: Done and Sent

I sent off my Design context, its finished. I hope to receive it (or the 3 copies I ordered) by next week or the week after... which really is the cut off point. I hope that it looks alright as I am a bit scared they may mess up the full bleed formatting. The website was a real pain and a trouble to understand and I spent from 11 till 5pm trying to upload it in the way they required. Even though the page dimensions which they supply on the website for full bleed do not measure/ add up mathematically correct and the explanation was very vague.

Anyhow, finally sorted it so that it would upload without any error messages, and i am hoping that they will trim it to the point that they said they would. Otherwise my book is going to look weird.

I am proud of it, I feel as though I responded to the brief to the best way logically and systematically that I could. As a synthesis and carefully thought out resolution to my design context. I chose to deal with it in a format which suited my interest in type and layout. I chose to look at selected works/ projects by specific agencies, yet wanted the work to speak for itself by not reviewing it with my opinions on each page as I think that the "about" paragraphs (sourced from the their websites) explain what the methodology and rationale of each agency/ studio would be enough to understand why and where they are coming from.

I went through a lot of interviews, with the aim to find out specific quotes which reinforce my beliefs in design by other people. I believe graphic design is problem solving. I believe our role (when taking on a job) is to better society, help a client or speak to an audience in the appropriate manner. No matter what means (well... in my case, preferably using typography) it should do something and it should have a reason for being what it is.

There are a lot of graphic designers out there which I presume, share my beliefs. It seemed difficult to find more up to date designers who shared this belief, as I think these beliefs are predominantly adopted by traditional modernists who pretty much said it all. There is of course, a lot of work by studios which are for a purpose, that is the difference between design and art.

The section in the back with useful information/ reference material was put there because I felt that it was important that this publication would be useful to me. There are words in the glossary to do with type and layout for editorial and just elitest slang which is important if one day I meet one of the elite elite and strike a conversation with them... Who knows? Its odd how things turn out these days.

Library Signage: Big tester

The biggest sign. Done. And most importantly, the hanging mechanism made up of scrap 1000 micron card and torn up telephone wire...works. And is sturdy. I wouldn't throw a brick at it though.

PPD

So today I went to see the art director of CR, and have been offered the chance of a placement for 2 to 3 issues from december onwards. I am really looking forward to this opportunity as I have mentioned many times that I have a keen interest in editorial design and wish to pursue it as a career path, post-university. So here's to the future!

Design Context: Done?

Design ID: 2008

This post is just to show some of the work I did last year in regards to investigating editorial layouts.

This may be useful to show at my meeting tomorrow at CR.

Found: Alvaro Torrents

http://www.altoworks.eu/

Awesome online portfolio of Spanish designer, Alvaro Torrents.

Wim Crouwell: New Alphabet

This is old but I thought it would be interesting at this point. Wim Crouwell talks about his proposal for a new alphabet which can/ should have been implemented for onscreen/ digitized formats, as screen pixels were not as accurate to cater for small point sizes onscreen (many years ago).

So Crouwell devised a new alphabet which only had vertical and horizontal lines/ shapes.

Design Context

Some spreads of what I've done so far. got a self-initiated crit in abou an hour and a half (13:00). Should get some useful feedback to move forward with.

PPD

CV and invoice's.

Development, I'm working along the lines of 2 stage interaction. A pull out enveloped document.

Yearbook & Design Context today

Spent all of today working on 2 major layout jobs, the yearbook which is now well underway, everything is set. The only thing holding us up right now is that we're still waiting on people to reply with their contact details which is coming through slowly but surely. Had a meeting with Lorenzo and arranged to meet again next wednesday to go through the finished thing, check through any major/ minor problems. The thing thats slowing it down is adjusting the images again on photoshop because some look a little bit duller than others, so having to play around with it to make it look brilliant is like driving along with little speed bumps everywhere.

Also, the design context, which is well underway aswell. Arranged a self initiated crit session tomorrow with regards to the layout job of this. I am growing concerned about the prospect of it not coming back on time but hopefully (with luck) it shall. I'm going for the european/ french/ swiss influence with it. Full caps for quotes for impact. Totally rocks, you'll see. Yet again, converting things from RGB 72 dpi to 200dpi CMYK is slowing things down, but again its gonna look sweet.

Tutorial update

So had a tutorial with Fred, a one on one about my general progress, which seemed very reassuring at this stage. I have to admit I was feeling apprehensive about this final section of the course as I've still got a lot to do but the crit made me realise how much I have actually done and the sort of projects I've taken on during this module. 2 client led and 2 competitions plus 1 quick turn around client led one.

I've decided not to take my 'stress' one further into a serious project, and from the tutorial, have decided to make it more of a personal fairwell, summary of myself for the end of year show. I think this will be much more beneficial as I'll feel more flexible with the work I produce and take more risks as I am not dealing with it in a serious manner. I know I've said previously that I want my work to be taken seriously, but I do feel that this is still serious, this project should be targeted at prospective employers, it should engage, it should attract. And thus, it shall, using a different tone of voice. I am looking to produce something on a larger scale, simpler, but again, audience driven, and thus still abiding by my FMP theme of clarity/ accessibility.

I am really looking forward tot his final run now, I think I have about 4 weeks left and happy with my achievements. I think the main aim with this final project is to get myself out there with the work I produce. We discussed and concluded that my portfolio is rather full of appropriate work and now what needs to be done is getting my work out 'there' and looked at.

'there'- implying the industry... someone maybe willing to give me a job.

Libaray Signage: major update

Due to the unintentional course of nature when taking on live briefs as a student, I have encountered a few set-backs to this project. It has taken be a few weeks to get it really going, whilst juggling other projects aside, but what I have been forced to do is put this project onto proposal boards for assessment and bank it out of the way as it has consumed far too much time. So here is some vectoring of floorplans I took from the blueprints.

I had a meeting with the head of the library, who propositioned me to do the other library site. Which I have agreed to do over the summer (if I am in Leeds) as I have run out of time on this project. I think perhaps there is a reason why AGENCIES/ STUDIOS take on the job of doing signage systems because there are numerous levels of problems and things to deal with. It is a massive massive project which really requires a number of skills and patience. I have enjoyed it, I think the restrictions have helped however after todays meetings I feel as though I am unable to function with the amount of freedom and feel perhaps a little too pinned down.

I am to use black (type) on blue backing. Matte stock. Arial (No longer Helvetica or Avant Garde, due to the fact that the staff do have Helvetica on their system and perhaps apprehensive of having to use a different typeface which they think is pretty much the same... (It is not, Helvetica is much more legible, it is much better drawn and is designed for printed legibility. Its negative space around the letters are much better balanced than Arial, which is also designed for onscreen... It doesnt have odd characteristics like the top of the lower case t which is slanted and ruins the letter... and dare I say Arial... a hideous mircosoft knockoff of its superior original. I fear I may be turning into a psychotic-typoholic). However, I am a designer, I listen and I negotiate with my clients. Its a process of sacrifice and agreement. If they feel strongly about this, and essentially the typeface is "similar" then I suppose I have no other choice. However I may attempt to re-explain the whole packaging of files on indesign which would solve everything and all their fears.

So back to the point, they want it arial and they wish to maintain it for the longer and larger scheme of things. Therefore the capability of this (logically) should be printable/ reproduced onsite. Hence, boxes which can be assembled from printing down in reprographics. Just 3 floors below them... hit the nail with that one didn't I? Fair do's. I guess this is where Massimo Vignelli's quote about "the solutions is often within the problem" really comes to play. As here, we see all the answers through the problems within the restrictions. I'm just the guy whose actually fixing it. See? I have learnt stuff from Design context research.

The tone of voice for it has to be formal and informative and not screaming over the top of the library, trying to get attention. Didn't someone once say "the best typography is invisible?". Basically its got to come second to the library facilities. Its a small space. too many signs would (and could) make things look over crowded and uncomfortable. It's not like I'm designing signage for chessingtons or alton towers. But yeh, there is alot of problems with the signage systems. When I spoke to people in the library early on in the project, a lot of them said they just don't know how to find books. And they're apprehensive of what's upstairs or in the back-room because they don't know what is available there, or if they are even allowed in there.

However, I have now been resigned from doing the side panels as they have only recently re-printed them and do not wish for my wayfinding signage to have to replace that. So... It has unbalanced it... plus, they are using Arial for that... already.

Aswell as this, they now require me to produce posters for the photocopier area, with all the necessary information about not using acetate and how-to-use the photocopiers. So basically, I am losing the job of redoing the panels (which are difficult to use and look unfinished), but have been given the choice of producing some posters.

AND!... I am no longer to use a hanging sign on the entrance and cannot make a "welcome to blenheim walk" sign by the front door as the space by the door (which is free and blank...???) is not available to use. Its probably reserved for some foundation diploma "ideas" sheet in a frame.

I know it is probably morally wrong of me to write about this but I do need to record on this blog the problems and set-backs I have faced doing this project. I have had 3 meetings with them the client and each time have been told to change or stop doing something and do something else.. which is fine...?

Anyway, I'm going to try putting this onto board, because I have a tonne of other things to get on with. I am going to produce my signs on board in helvetica, but print in arial as I can do this at a later point after the project. The problem is solved. I know where needs to go where, and what it needs to say. The size of the signs. The stock. The colours. The hanging mechanism. I just havent got the time to redo the typeface for a third time. Wait for it to be printed. Assemble the boxes and then hang them up using a screw driver and suprisingly funny fear of heights, where I get vertigo from looking down steps (I may need specs). Best book that trip to the opticians, haven't been in 8 years.

Research: Almost Modern

Don't know if I've mentioned them before but I found them a while ago and added them in my bookmarks. Really good use of sans serifs, beautiful use of grid systems. A good influence!