BOOK PAGES CONSIDERATIONS

I began to play around with the spray paint backgrounds that I had used to look at colour before, I began to add shapes and textures to see how I could create the patterned background for the text that I have previously  been roughing and playing around with. 

I've been really enjoying this process of experimentation , I really like this process and I'm happy that I'm being more open and free with my work, I feel that through researching illustrators such as Ed cheverton, it has allowed me to be more playful and open with my work! I've been trying to plan the layout in the same way but not over think and extensively plan the majority of the colours and patterns that I will use. 

Through experimentation and play, I came up with the final layout and design for the text pages, I kept in mind the pastel colour theme that I had been exploring previously and started to consider how this would work in contrast to a more minimal design on the opposite page.
I took the faces from the characters that I had been playing around with and began to consider these as extra elements within the design.

Overall I felt that my design was really successful, I was so happy with how this page came out and I feel that I used my roughs and overall composition really effectively to create it.
My next steps will be to experiment with text, I have previously spoken about how different elements of text have a different effect on the reader, however, in this case I feel that a hand written type will work really well alongside the delicate lines of the illustrations. 

NEXT STEPS

• Consider how I can use this similar theme of pastel colours with shapes alongside other pieces and work out how I can apply it to other products.
• Work on my illustrations for the characters and the other aspects within the book.

Hanging Mobile Research

I feel that a hanging mobile is the perfect medium between a child's toy and a creative decoration for an adults surroundings. I would really like to be able to create a mobile through the use of my characters, however due to time restrictions i don't think i will have the chance to physically create it, however, I would definetely like to propose this ideas as a potential application for my designs.

A lot of existing character mobiles look at the characters in different poses in positions, they have smaller elements and details to add to the general aesthetic of the design.

I feel that I have enough details such as the stars and other components to be able to create this in an:

• EXCITING
• INNOVATIVE
• VISUALLY APPEALING
• MARKETABLE WAY

I think the best way to apply my designs for a mobile would be within an interactive way. I could have the cut out elements of the mobile as a part of the poetry book. The creation of the mobile is an interactive element for the child or adult to combine and hang their creation. 

This aspect of arts and crafts makes the mobile a fun and engaging element to add appeal to the book.

Foiling in Industry

"Cold foil dry lamination

Using a standard printing plate, an image is printed onto a substrate with the use of a ultraviolet-curable cold foil adhesive. An ultraviolet dryer then cures the adhesive, which becomes tacky. Foil spools from an unwind and is nipped to a substrate. Foil sticks to the tacky adhesive on the substrate, and an image with a bright foil surface is created. Foil that does not adhere to the adhesive remains on a thin polyester liner, and waste is directed to a rewind spool. Because the adhesive is applied on press like a conventional ink, no expensive stamping die has to be created.

Once printed, the surface of cold foil images may be varnished, laminated, or encapsulated in order to provide a hard-wearing, durable surface.

Substrates

Some printing substrates are unsuitable for cold foil transfer. The best results are obtained on glossy coated papers and papers with a smooth surface. Weights from about 80 to 500 g/m^2 are possible.^"

"Cold foil evolved from hot foil stamping. Hot foil stamping is mostly used offline when foil is required on a preprinted substrate, such as in the manufacture of greeting cards and special occasion ribbons. Hot foil is economical but very slow. The types of graphics that can be applied are usually limited to text and bold images. Hot foil is not usable with heat-sensitive substrates such as polyethylene, vinyl, or shrink film"

^{- Through researching these methods of foiling i feel that I have been able to gain a stronger understanding of how this process works within}

^industry.

I feel that my designs for my book and over foiled products are not too inaccessible when it came to the industrial printing process.

I have found this process of research useful in terms of gaining and understanding of the process on a larger scale.

OUIL503 Responsive - End of Module Evaluation

OUIL503 PROJECT REPORT

AHH

OH golly
I'm starting to get so so stressed about work, I'm working so hard every single day but the work seems to be building up. I'm making this blog post as a physical REMINDER

• WORK HARD!

I really really want to achieve good grades and I don't want to let myself down, I just need to PRODUCE work and produce alot of it of a high quality and standard!! come on!

Design Board - OUIL503 STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Main Individual Brief

CONSIDERATIONS

My next steps were to begin the physical making process, I have considered how much of the book that I need to produce in order to give the general impression of the product, especially if I am planning on creating a series of products and merchandise to work alongside . 

I came to the conclusion that creating the cover and one of the inner spreads is enough to give the overall impression of the book. 
Through my roughing it was evident that I had decided to create the layout of the designs each in a similar way, that being the colourful pattern and design with text on one side in contrast to the minimal layout and design of the illustrations. With having this solid idea of the layout I feel confident that having one design of the spread is enough to portray my application of the design.

I looked at the binding methods that I have previously explored and considered how this would have an affect on the final image of my design. I really liked the large plastic ring bound method as I felt that this gave a fun and interesting look as well as being something that is almost a contemporary design aspect. I really like this childlike playful look of this ring binding and I feel that I will be able to work it in well with the aesthetic of the final appearance of the book. 

Through experimentation I have begun to consider the format of the book. I have been working on an A4 format but following on from looking at binding methods, I feel that a square format would be a lot of affective when coming to having the final design. 

The square format is something that has grown in popularity within recent years due to apps such as Instagram. Within my initial project proposal, I discussed the idea of creating something for children that cannot be accessed online which is why it's something that is needed and was one of the reasons for creating a physical book.

 I feel that the square format is accessible and more tactile as a product, it can be held and is different to most books and that's what I'm hoping the general appeal of this product is.

BINDING EXAMPLE

Whilst doing visual research around leeds in various bookshops, I came across this print based book in the Village Bookshop. How it is by Nicolas Burrow's works together different shapes and patterns in a landscape format book.
The element of design that drew me in to this particular book was the aspect of the plastic ring binding, I really LOVE this aesthetic

• CHUNKY
• PLAYFUL
• FUN
• CHILDISH (NOSTALGIC OF SCHOOL)
• MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY 
• DESIGN LED
• COLOURFUL

Following on from looking at different binding methods, I have decided to go with this one, I instantly fell in love with the aesthetic of it and feel that it would really work well alongside the style of my book.

I will consider different colours and tones in order to create the most effective binding.

Experimenting

Following on from the decision to make the characters using the brighter colours, I began to experiment with different textures and additions in order to make the designs more interesting and applicable in terms of the general application of the merchandise alongside the book. 

I created a series of spray paint colours and patterns in order to look at how different colours and textures are working together and can sit alongside eachother. 

I've been really struggling to understand the way that I will be able to use colour in different ways to create different a different tone of voice each time, however I felt that this was such a helpful way to understand how I could create the book to appeal to both children and adults creating different moods and emotions.

I really enjoyed this process of experimentation and I was really happy with the outcome of the spray painted pages, I considered the idea of using them within the background aspects much like some of the previous artists that I have explored, I thought about how I can use the same textures and colours within the characters themselves and how this might create an interesting contrast between the finer hand drawn lines and the creative texture of the spray paint.

Overall I found this such a helpful process and through the use of experimentation of media I have inspired to be more experimental in the way that I am producing my images. 

Gudetama - Research

During my character design process I am trying to consider existing characters that work for both child and adult, and why they work both ways and what it is about the character that is appealing for such different generations. 

Gudetama meaning 'lazy egg' is a Japanese character that appeals to both child and adult. He has two forms, one of the egg and the human egg. I personally find this character so endearing and loveable, and although slightly creepy in the human form, I feel that this is something that I would also like to create in terms of my character. I really like this aspect of characters, the random element of them, the character lives in its own world and this can be created in any form.

WHAT CAN I TAKE AWAY FROM GUDETAMA?

• Creepy but cute
• two different forms
• appeals to children and adults
• bright colours
• human face - makes relatable.

late night thought

red and purple with black and gold/holographic - yes !

Japanese Design

This Japanese comic, graphic poster is really..something else!!

• The colours
• The overlay
• The use of type in perfect composition with image and illustration

I really feel that I can take away from the use of overlay within this piece. 

I don't want to overcomplicate the pages in my book but I feel that if done carefully with use of a simple text and consideration for image, I would be able to create a similar striking and intricate design such as this.

The text almost becomes a part of the image. 

This is the idea that I will be trying to produce when I come to create the pattern page for the text from the poetry to come into play.

I'm feeling quite anxious about this, I don't feel too confident with working with text and although I love the handmade aesthetic of hand lettering, I feel that a specific font might a safer option, especially if I am planning to work with this complex nature of creating!

I suppose there's only one thing I can do and that's to experiment, but I'm finding it so helpful to just continue exploring graphic design and use of fonts, learning by research.

Again, in this piece of Japanese graphic design, the use of text seems very complex and almost is an additional element to the illustration itself. 

I like how the text acts as a border to the print, framing it and, despite not knowing what the text says, I know that it will be something to do with the illustration.

Looking at this design has given me potential ideas for the poster/s that I am planning to design alongside the poem pages.

Perhaps the poster could be a character profile for the star and moon characters. The text could feature their likes/dislikes/hobbies. The poster could be a designed skill fully and attractively with a full version of the character. 

This is definitely something exciting that i could consider.

This design works slightly differently, the text plays a role within the design, however, its not a vital part of it. the additional text can work alongside the image by using the same colours or rough/hand made nature.

I think that will be something really important for me - colour.

I will need to plan and consider really really carefully the palette that I use and how this can transfer over to my use of text aswell as the illustrations themselves.

I want to overcomplicate and use loads of colours, but at the same time i need to hold myself back and use the colour tastefully and with meaning.

Design Boards - OUIL503 STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Mini Briefs

Design Boards - OUIL503 STUDIO BRIEF 2

Exploring more graphic posters and designs.

BODIL JANE

• Loooove these graphic and collage based posters. The patterns and shapes are fairly simple but I feel like the designs alongside the text works SO well...I love it!! I'm trying so hard to understand the ways of creating work in this way in order to transfer these skills to my own practice.
• I really feel that this style of working, an illustrative and graphic text combo is the way that I want to create with my work. I love the bold black text on the more delicate collage patterns and shapes. It seems like a difficult task to be able to find the balance between this but I really feel that I am able to work at this and somehow begin to create work that I really enjoy making and really like the look of too. 

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?!

• I need to start looking at collage of my own, scanning in the shapes and patterns and seeing how I can play around with them and begin to create work in a similar way.
• I really enjoyed using the found imagery and distorting the photos through colour and textures so maybe i could use this as a part of it.
• I feel like i'm stepping away from my usual way of working which could really be a risk but hopefully it follows through and is a successful outcome of all of the experimentation that I am doing. 

LUCRECIA REY CARO

•  The colours! The gradients! The patterns!! I love it!
• It's interesting to see all of the shapes working together in a digital platform as opposed to cut shape. I still thing the bold black text works so well to create the overall layout and display of the poster.
• I really need to experiment with this for the text pages of my book. 
• I'm getting more and more confident with how my work is progressing in the form of a digital collage mixed with scanned images. It's hard to step away  from the more traditionally drawn images that I am so used to creating but, i have been a fan of this graphic approach to working for so long, I really feel that I need to push myself into creating in this way.
• I don't think it's so much an issue of how I go about creating in this way, as in, which media i use, but I feel that for pieces such as this, the use of composition and colour is absolute KEY in making them work.

NEXT STEPS

• Experiment with pattern and colour, and shape..look at how I can combine these images with my characters and begin to form the composition that I started to rough out within my sketchbook.
• I'm not too worried about time at this point as I feel I made a strong start on the roughs and feel confident that I have designed a layout that works effectively to produce the story that I am telling.
• The patterns and backgrounds are, just a feature, but I feel that is what will make the book strong and allow it to appeal to adults and children alike.

Experimenting with moving image

Following on from my digital collage and photo experiment, I wanted to continue with this style of working to see what could become of it.
I looked at the way that moving image can have an effect on the use of characters and design. When a character from a book becomes real, it adds another level of engagement within the book.
I used the same process of colouring a photograph and manipulating it to have a coloured tint.

As this was a quick experiment to see what could become of the moving image, I looked at the characters that i have considered to use as the background of the main characters. The planet shape was a simple design to work with and I began to experiment with pattern and textures within the background of the image to create something that to me, was fairly visually pleasing.

I have begun to consider moving image as something that could possibly run alongside the book, perhaps an advert for the book or a projection that could be shown in a shop window as an advertisement for the book. But I will need to consider if this will be entirely relevant for my style of book. 

The final gif! I really enjoyed making this gif, it was nice to move away from flat imagery as a refresh of thoughts for my further research and experimentation within my book. 

It's always interesting to see how I can translate my work into different ways of working and see how the different textures and use of collage can change the way the characters might be potentially seen.

NEXT STEPS

If I enjoyed making this Gif so much, maybe I consider using something similar in the final outcomes, even if its just using a similar way of working. I really love using the collage aspect and I'm a great fan of the visual look of photography with hand drawn aspects overlaying the image.

I really want to experiment with this more, maybe even considering screen printing photographs and considering how other media such as spray paint or gouache, how their texture will have an effect on the photographs.

It's exciting !!

Graphic Design and Collage Research & Experiments

I'm a big fan of these graphic posters.

• The combination of photography and digitally drawn illustrations give these posters an alternative twist.

• They're bold and quite graphic but still have the detail of the photograph and details illustrations would also work over the top of the images.

• the bright primary colours. The overlay of the colours and patterns works really well!

• Circular shapes and gradients are always fun, especially circles, I feel that they can give a creative and fun alternative to squares when creating work, I should consider this more, especially in terms of space and the galaxy, intergalatic imagery.

WHAT SHOULD I DO..?

I should find space imagery, the style of images i have been illustrating and experiment with digitally drawing over them in the same style as this. It's just an experiment and it might really work! 

I want to work in the same style of these images, I should think about the colours of the photograph and how I can use my digital skills on photoshop to transform the images.

• The original image, a simple crescent moon, I have rotated the image and place it within a circle.

• I started to experiment with different colours, sticking initially to the bright basic colours, much  like the posters. I really want to see what the potentials for this way of working are. 

• I started to look at gradients in the piece, working in the same style as the poster. It's interesting and informative to work through the similar steps, learning about the process of a designer and how the pieces come together and fit.

• I started exploring how I could add my illustrations over the top of the piece, seeing how the blue can be overlaid with the other primary colours. I really like the effect of this. It's almost like creating a digital collage. I'm going to experiment with adding the bodies as I have been drawing them on an analogue style.

I began to experiment with how the line art, traced from my life drawing images can be translated onto a digital platform. I really like the effect of this, and the use of shape and overlay within the design really allows the shape to stand out.

I really really like this idea of using found imagery within my illustrations. It's definitely something different for me, I feel that I would have to experiment a lot more until I felt completely comfortable with being able to work like this for my final outcome.

Foiling Examples

I'm planning on using the technique of foiling within my book. As I have previously said, my reason for doing so is to encourage the reading of physical products by children in this age of phone and tablet screens as the main sources of entertainment.
I feel that foiling is a visually interactive and exciting aspect of print and I really want to include this in my product.

I've been exploring other designers and creators that use this method and how either complex or simply they are able to use this process.

This book cover by Peter Mendelsund uses foiling in a way that is simple yet effective in terms of shape and pattern. Due to the cover being fairly simple, the metallic foil adds an exciting feature making the cover more appealing and playful.

The key to this technique seems to be to not overcomplicate the use of foiling. It's most effective when used sparingly and effectively.

These business cards by Jot Paper Company use a simple line work and foiling. I feel that the foiling adds a sense of alternative design to the cards, allowing them to stand out amoungst other cards. 
Again, the design is fairly simple without over using the foil. I'll have to keep this aspect in mind when coming to creating my pages for the poetry book.

Again, The gold design by '@digitaslbi' uses a simple line drawing alongside the text in order for the foiling to stand out and and work on it's own in a simple and non overcomplicated way.

I will really really need to focus on this aspect. I always seem to overcomplicate my work, but especially if I'm wanting to use a technique like this, I'm going to have to do a lot of planning and restrain myself from not using too many unnessasary colours or embellishments within my work.
I managed to do that in OUIL404 by holding myself back with the use of colour and from that I felt I learnt a lot, so I suppose it's holding on to that knowledge and stopping myself from over complicating designs.