OUGD405 - Studio Brief 1 - Wayfinding

I have drawn out some simple sketches of various symbols and arrows for way finding. With this project, I have really wanted to start with no intentions or ideas of my final outcome. I really want to avoid thinking about resolutions and final plans and just stick to coming up with simple designs which can be developed in a diverse set of concepts and outcomes. I started some of these designs before any of my initial research however, after researching industrial interior design, I have really concentrated on more of a stencil design. Using stencils can often be easier to cut into different materials such as glass, wood and metal.

OUGD405 - Studio Brief 1 - Secondary Interior Design Research

After researching the interior designer Ben Kelly, I found that he had designed the original theme for the Hacienda. This critique session has seriously been so inspirational in the direction and ideas for this brief, as soon as I saw Ben Kellys work my head literally started filling with ideas. The music from the Hacienda has always been so influential in my DJ-ing and now to relate it with this project has really interested and touched me on a personal level. The slight splashes of colour used by this artist to bring out life in a usually dull and dark industrial environment creates a unique style which I never thought would be possible. I usually like to work with greys, blacks and whites to create a stylish modern look however, looking at this interior design I can really see bright colour being a possible diverse alternative. Lighting is also a strong factor in the successfulness of Ben Kellys projects. This is an interesting concept to look at with my way finding system however, it might be quite hard to achieve on photoshop. I could however find a dark industrial environment to photograph at night with my own external lighting.

OUGD405 - Studio Brief 1 - Wayfinding Secondary Research & Crit Feedback

Here is a selection of the most inspiring way finding images found on the internet. I seem to have unintentionally chosen images which include big abstract, typography on unusual surfaces such as glass, wood, metal and concrete. I seem to find these concepts much more interesting, many of them include minimal arrows and text with large contrast between size and dimensions. After presenting my research to get critiqued, it was soon established that this industrial theme was a strong reoccurrence in my research. It was suggested that I look at the interior designer Ben Kelly for further inspiration as he has a similar industrial style.

OUGD405 - Wayfinding Research - Study Task 1

This wayfinding system for the Leeds City Museum has used a mixture of symbol, text and a map in order to display the routes around the location. I have found that they have relied heavily on colour schemes in order to categorize different sections and floors. The colours on the map have also been colour coded to create a relationship with the text. I have noticed that the museum has also stuck to using simple shapes in order to create the simplest and most user friendly map possible. They have taken into consideration that young children are likely to use the maps and therefore have not made them too complicated.

All of the images below have opted for using arrows as a main way of communicating direction. The way finder below for example, uses arrow alongside text and image. There is no colour co ordination which makes it harder to understand but more professional.

All of the images below have also used high contrast between text and white space in order to create impact and notice ability. The signs all use bold serif fonts which increases readability and keeps the deisgns simple. 

The maps used on the two images here are more complicated however, still use a colour coded system to help the user locate specific locations.

OUGD404 - What is a Book? - Study Task 6

A book can be produced in a variety of different ways, producing extremely different outcomes. This includes different sizes, papers, materials, printing methods and now digitally on phones and tablets. As we are producing a printed publication, I have chosen to focus on looking at binding and printing methods.

I started by researching simple binding methods using glue, stitching and ribbon. through this some really interesting but traditional methods of book binding can be achieved. It was only until i stumbled across experimental publication design when i started to think outside the bx about what a book can actually become. The two examples below are examples of this experimental design where the books have been enclosed in wooden containers.

This lead me onto thinking about how different match boxes are shaped and if it could be transferred across to a small publication.

I have also looked at printing methods and materials and have found books which have been printed on fabric, paper, wood, card and about every material in between. Overall, I feel that a book can be any way of communicating a series of information using text or image. In theory, I feel that a book could be displayed across the roofs of a set of buildings and read from a birds eye view of a helicopter, this is how experimental I feel that you could be with a publication.

Below I have gathered together some research on some very geometric modern double page spreads and publications as I have the intention of writing my small publication on grid systems.