Project 1 – Week 4
Feedback from the previous week (27.01.21)
Going through the spreads reminds a very simple, minimal animation (early animations) that uses circles/dots to communicate a story/message.
The work becomes really interesting.
VISUAL diaGRAMMAR
Reminds a lot of the exercises we were making during undergraduate studies (having two circles or squares, trying to express different things by changing their position, size, etc.).
How do the two elements work together (text-diagram, one on each side of the book)? Don’t write/say something that you are already showing unless it’s necessary. One adds to the other.
What if the diagram is more complex? (simple text – complex diagram, or the opposite.) I can give more detail to one of them.
It’s better not to change the appearance of the elements/things from one page to another. Either staying strict in my decisions throughout the book or not at all (the opposite). – Training the viewer.
+VISUAL POETRY
Playing with the position and the layout of the text. A simple grid can help. Also, I have to keep in mind that I need a balance between the text-based and visual elements.
New references
Anna Niklova’s illustrations (MA GCD Alumni)
Normand Mclaren (dots), Animation
https://www.nfb.ca/film/dots/
VISUAL GRAMMAR – CHRISTIAN LEBORG
https://vdocuments.mx/visual-grammar-christian-leborg.html
Inspiration
How to write a ‘good story’
hmm…
Step 1: Determine Your Setting
Step 2: Make Memorable Characters
Step 3: Understand the 2 Types of Conflict
Step 4: Give Your Plot a Twist
Step 5: Recreate Natural Dialogue
Step 6: Articulate Voice Through Point of View
My story is not usual. Neither meaningful (or not?). The structure doesn’t come through the text, but through the diagrams that are supported by the written text; A simultaneous relationship. The setting changes constantly. The character doesn’t have a name, but it has a form that stays the same while its surroundings change, this is what makes it memorable and recognizable. There is a dialogue (between the character and the reader) starting to develop at the end of the story where a question comes up. A journey through my confused thoughts while walking.
Overall, in this project, the important part is not the content. Contrariwise, the aim is to develop in-depth my illustrative diagrammatic language (tool, method, technique, language).
Book Design (another important tool of my work)
During my practice here at GCD, I created many books. It’s something that really interests me and I want to continue experimenting with. Learning how my work (storytelling) can benefit from it (circulation, etc.) and how I can make the right book design decisions.
Printing drafts.
These are some photos taken while experimenting with different types of bookbinding, paper weights, colours, and textures. Which one fits my work/story/book better?
PAPER
I have printed the book several times, in different paper types, colours, and weights.
- Redeem 100gsm, natural white
- Sixties, 60gsm
- Light grey colour paper, 80gsm
- Tracing paper, 90gsm
- Light cream colour paper, 100gsm
Most of all the above work fine. I have to say though that my favourites are the redeem for a heavier paper and the sixties for a thinner choice that allows seeing what’s printed on the page behind.
The tracing paper gives a completely different look to the book. You can see through the pages (transparent) and all the visual elements and words become one, mixed all together. This brings something very different. The book is illegible but this can suggest a new approach, a new ‘game’ for the viewer. What happens when elements are mixed together? A new story can occur.
I have also printed the cover on different colour papers and textures. I was able after that to decide and choose to go with three different colour shades (dark grey, mocha, beige) of the same paper type and weight (series of covers).
BINDING
I have decided to go with saddle stitch binding. I think it suits the style of the book very nicely.
- Perfect binding doesn’t allow the book to open 180 degrees, which is a problem as I want the spread to be seen clearly. Also this method with the small size of my book would make the opening and the experience very uncomfortable.
- The spiral binding adds an extra element in the middle of the book (when opened) which would be a big problem as I am working with shapes and lines.
- I have tried thread-sewn binding but this adds an extra line in the middle spread of the book. Also, I think this method doesn’t suit the style of my book, especially the cover which is typography-based, modern, and bold.
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Click below for the outcome.
What’s next?
For project 2 I will work with the third prompt: PLATFORM.
It is time to think more about the audience. How I would like the others to come into contact with my practice.
I want to continue working with a print publication and distribution but this time in a different way and using a different format and medium. I am thinking of a large newspaper that can be turned into a poster. The zine is also another option. I am also thinking about an artist’s book.
I would like to stick to a specific topic/theme and make a user manual about it using my tool/language (e.g. how to make the earth flat).
I am not sure yet. I want to think more about it and make good research before deciding my next steps.