Here is a link to my A2 Graphics Exam Project:

http://arty-edexam.tumblr.com/

Sequences/ Routine/ Wasting Time- ‘Collection of Zines’

For this self-initiated project I have developed ideas and outcomes exploring the themes sequences of my daily routine. I wanted to explore this as I wanted discover aspects of my own everyday routine and look at the sequencing that is associated with objects and places around us. 

My project began through collecting a vast range of images and compiling designs from mix media, this journal of visual pieces reflected my own inspirations and experimentations over the summer. The artworks act as an initial response to my own ideas and allowed me to develop a theme relating to aspects of each of my pieces. I felt there were prominent links between each of my designs depicted through similar patterns using lines, shapes and text repeated in each of the compositions. The nature of creating these pieces reflected a concept of sequencing and this was present through elements of my designs as a collective.

During the course of my introduction work I looked at a range of artist’s works from Richard Long, Anthony Gormley and Typographers, and created experimental designs to set tasks. Much of this work was irrelevant to my main project, however allowed me to approach my theme with alternatively to generic graphics projects as well as making me think more critically about the work of artists and judging my own my own designs. The introduction pieces I created also allowed me to work using a range of different mediums and experimenting through different ways of working, this period also allowed me to think more conceptually about my ideas and the purpose of my project.

I decided to take initial primary photographs for my project of a range of objects and items linked to the theme ideas, this started off with images I took of a typewriter. This was quite sporadic in choosing what photographs to take, I felt the typewriter visually presented ideas of sequencing and repetition through the keys and machinery and letters. The object also represented motion and is associated with the sounds of continuous typing through the keys. Another set of photographs I took were objects that I associated with my own daily routine which I felt had a strong link to the ideas of sequences. The collection of shoes represented ideas of journeys and pathways I take on my daily walks and travelling to distant places, this also provided me with other ideas of time and how this is divided up within my own sequence.

Within my research I looked at current designs which and art pieces relating to my ideas of sequencing. I took initial visits to galleries and museums such as the Saatchi Gallery, V&A Museum and Tate Britain, these places presented a range of works and ideas I wanted to integrate in my own works. From the Saatchi gallery, I particularly liked a strong piece I saw from designer Scott King and wanted to use his style of work within my own project. His inspirational pieces also led me to look at other influential artists such as Alexander Rodchenko and Barbara Kruger.

The artists I chose to study each consist of quite strong and overpowering works, in contrast to each other, much of Rodchenko’s style of work shared links to my summer journal and experimentation work linked with Kruger. Despite this I felt by studying these artists I could take elements from each of their styles of work into my own project, such as the use of bold lines and geometric shapes in Rodchenko’s constructivist designs and King’s bold use of bright colours and text. By focusing my design work looking at these artists, also I felt combining aspects of in their work would provide a unique approach to creating my designs and challenge me into keeping my designs contemporary attracting a young audience. Kruger’s work consisted of hand made and computer created layering photomontages using magazine cut-outs and overlaying her bold red block statements. The aspects of her designs I related to my own works was the uses of black and white photographs and conceptual associations with her work, leading the viewer to interpret based from the visual images and text placed. I felt that these elements in her designs were also quite versatile in the way they can be easily be created and replicated, linking back to some of my initial ideas of repetition and sequencing.

In my experimentation I used a variety of handmade and computer techniques, creating media experiments. I started developing ideas of composition, combinations of colours which worked and the arrangement of lines within my pieces using string adding a raised element to the designs. From this I created string circle diagrams which represented a day’s cycle as well as experimenting in 3-D creating geometric shapes and layering with my photographs. Using a range of materials in my project allowed me to push my ideas further and refining these in my development I felt my project resolved with having a collection of different works which link well together. Putting these designs together and working further onto them, I decided that it was suitable to conclude my project creating a set of ‘Zine’ booklets, with ideas being conceptually interpreted by the viewer as final outcomes.

The successes in my project was compiling my designs together into zine booklets, I developed during my experimentation. I have use a variety of compositions and digital and hand techniques with work for my final outcomes. The research and designs I have produced reflect on aspects taken from the secondary sources I have collected in my journals and linked to primary photographs I have taken. My final outcomes present a unique set of experimental zines which I feel works well appealing to an audience in an alternative and contemporary approach in contrast to generic commercial graphics.

There were improvements which I could have taken, for my final outcomes, I think I could have developed my ideas a lot further and have produced more concise and clear zines with information and text of the concept of my project. The photographs I have taken could have been taken using a better camera and could have been more prominently used within my development and experimentation. I think a strong weakness in my project was because I wanted it my work to be more self-initiated, it seemed to lack having the added element of designing for a client. I could have pushed my ideas and development of designs further to produce alternative sets of designs that suited to a possible target client relating to my concepts of wasting time, routine and sequences. Another weakness  that could be criticized to my project is the broad scale of my themes where I feel now I could have refined a lot further, going more in-depth to a certain element of my routine would have provided a stronger concept which I could have marketed.

Despite this linking back to the idea of sequences and my thoughts and ideas having evolved from my collections of images and experimental pieces in my journals, I think I have produced a strong representation of aspects in my own routine, discovering the amount of time I waste and images I associate to reflect ideas of sequences.

Overall I feel the project has developed strongly where I have worked in an alternative way and approach to conventional graphic design. By working in using a range of ideas and different influences I have been able to push my ideas and produce a unique set of contemporary zine outcomes.

Collection of Zines

For my final outcome I have created a set of zines which summarise the work and theme developed in my project. These zines represent the theme of sequencing and reflect linked ideas the repetition and routine, I have used a range of materials within my experimentation to develop these final pieces. I’ve decided in this project to avoid having a specific client, keeping both zines abstract and versatile in its presentation and open for interpretation. Both zines are also different slightly in its context where the second zine I have focused to create works more digitally in format compared to the first experimental zine.

The collection of zines allows the viewer to interact and relate their thoughts to my interpretation of sequencing through my own routine and collected collaged imagery and text.  

Approaching the final stages of my project, I wanted to develop more designs and layouts for pages suitable for compiling the zines. With these pieces I have refereed back to the styles of my artist studies Kruger, King and Rodchenko, taking aspects of lines, text and composition prominent in their works. 

I think by having these designs in monochrome adds an authentic feel to them, I’ve chosen to do this as I wanted to refer to the past where it was more cost effective to print in mass in only black and white. This link is an added element connecting to my research in my graphics essay.

Leading towards my final outcomes creating zines, I wanted to experiment with creating pages, using different media and techniques. These pieces below have primarily been photocopied from illustrations and designs I have created digitally in my experimentation. I think as a set of designs individually they are quite weak in content and revealing a concept and idea to the viewer, placing a collection of these random images and photographs together I feel will present a strong link within these pieces to the theme and ideas of my project based on sequencing and daily routine.

Here I’ve developed designs continuing the concept with the circle representing a full time cycle and complete routine during the day. I’ve used my CD photograph to create these further pieces, the flares and dots adds a more energetic element to the design and also remind me of paper doilies. 

For my outcomes, reflecting back on the work of my project and experimentation in journals, I feel creating a set of ‘Zines’ will be suitable to conclude my project. Much of the work I have produced doesn’t target a specific client but refers to the general ideas of my theme and concepts of daily sequences, time and routine. My designs I want to continue keeping them abstract and open to interpretation as this is my self initiated project I want to work alternatively to conventional outcomes for my graphics pieces. I like the idea of using monochrome photographs and having a limited colour scheme for my designs relating to the styles of works to my artist studies. The Zines I will produce will consist of some of the experimental designs I have made, combining hand pieces as well as digital pieces to engage the viewer showcasing a range of ideas within my Final Outcomes.

Here I have began developing some potential designs to link to the project, I have continued to re-contextualise the image of my string sphere as I think there is a strong idea of a complete cycle within them. I like the use of grid paper as the back drop for the designs below as it adds a textured quality to the designs and works well complementing the string lines and aligns the pieces in a regimented order.  

Illustrator Experimentation

Below I have developed my string experimentation pieces further, creating  more abstract and complex sphere diagrams. I think this image below has worked successfully as a piece itself where each if the points and connections could reflect a unit of time passing by or day. Having a full circle with these connections reminds me of the globe map and trading links, ideas of this full sphere also relates to ideas of a full cycle and consisting of different points that continue as build as a sequence in my project.

Below I’ve developed further  ideas exploring the idea of time and a cycle within the day, each point representing a different hour. Using just the colour Red relates back to the artist Barbara Kruger and the colour works of her conceptual text boxes in her designs. The geometric lines in these diagrams also relate back to my artist study of Alexander Rodchenko and has strong elements of constructivist design.

Information Graphics development piece:

For the design below I linked the ideas of the sphere being a full cycle and how my hours are wasted during the day. I’ve used the data collected earlier as research to create this piece, and have used a colour scheme linking back to work of my artists. I think this piece has potential to continue to be developed into poster designs and other similar pieces reflecting the idea of routines and time.

Alternative Approach in Developing work.

To develop my project, I’ve decided to take another alternative and experimental route, my project is strongly based on the idea on sequences and daily routine. Also thinking about the idea of wasting time, I discovered I waste a lot of my own time watching YouTube Videos on the internet. The video considered the most disliked video ever is the song ‘Friday’ by Rebecca Black, listening to this video I found a quintessential link between the song lyrics and my ideas for my project.

Routine in the song:

7am, waking up in the morning
Gotta be fresh, gotta go downstairs
Gotta have my bowl, gotta have cereal
Seein’ everything, the time is goin’
Tickin’ on and on, everybody’s rushin’
Gotta get down to the bus stop
Gotta catch my bus, I see my friends (My friends)

Kickin’ in the front seat
Sittin’ in the back seat
Gotta make my mind up
Which seat can I take?

It’s Friday, Friday
Gotta get down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend, weekend
Friday, Friday
Gettin’ down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend

Partyin’, partyin’ (Yeah)
Partyin’, partyin’ (Yeah)
Fun, fun, fun, fun
Lookin’ forward to the weekend

By considering exploiting this idea I will be taking a risk with my project, but I think there are strong humorous and fun elements in which I can bring to developing my Graphic Design work and project Outcomes.