OUGD405 - Studio Brief 2 - Information Design - Final Resolutions & Evaluation

Throughout this brief, I have given myself the opportunity to experiment with completely new ways of working. I found myself concentrating more on the manual choices and techniques rather than the digital design. It has given me lots of new knowledge on folding methods, stock, binding, embossing and printing methods which I have found extremely beneficial in developing my manual skills. I feel that using the Albion Letter Press was most time consuming however, my skills with letter pressing have become faster and more concise allowing me to be quicker with this process in future briefs. I would have quite liked to attempt some printing with the letter press to give the leaflet a more hand crafted aesthetic however, it would have taken me far too long to set all of the block text in the letter press machine. If the leaflet was to be commercially printed, I would spend the time to set all of the block text in order to manualy mass produce the leaflet. I have also broadened my understanding of stock weights and by experimenting with folding techniques, I have realised that around 300gsm is the maximum desired weight for folding. Any larger and the paper can start to crack and loose some of its visual appeal. Due to the final paper being 350gsm, I had to print the design on a ink jet printer instead of a laser printer. This has resulted in the double sided print to not be as precise as I intended however, it is not too noticeable on my final prints.
If i were to attempt the final resolutions again I would have used a thinner weight paper as the fold has become quite difficult when using 350gsm. I printed two final outcomes in order to try to solve this problem by applying two rubber bands to my design. However, this does not work as well as intended and the bands would also relate more with the colour scheme if they were grey. I feel that the final printed letters are very successful as they fit in with the grungy aesthetic which I was striving towards however, the images are not as clear as intended. The pills for example, are not too clear and could be mistaken as something else.

OUGD405 - Studio Brief 2 - Information Design (Final Designs)

The design below is the front and back of what the finished printed product should look like. I have taken out the fold rulers to display just the layout and composition. The text on the back of the leaflet (left side) has also been drastically changed in order to abide to the constant theme.

I then did further test experiments on grey stock, trying to get the positioning of the emboss right on the letterpress frames. I then did folding experimentation on 500gsm stock using a scalpel and ruler.

The designs below are final print ready layout with slight weeks in some of the block paragraphs to get the text as legible as possible whilst keeping the boxed in uncomfortable aesthetic.

I realised that I was printing on grey stock and therefore would need the print version below to have a white background. The embossing letters have also been removed as the embossing will be done separate to the printing process.

OUGD405 - Studio Brief 2 - Information Design Emboss Experiments

After analysing the Drug Misuse short video, I found that the statement at the end is paused and left isolated on the screen to help the message sink in with the viewer. Therefore, I have decided to experiment with embossing to create an ambiguous message which is isolated to sink in with the reader. This possible technique might not be used on my final outcome however, it was interesting to get some hands on experience with the Albion printing press which may influence me in future briefs. I also researched embossing methods with a laser cutter but decided to use letter pressing as I felt i could get some good results with thicker paper.

My first attempt at arranging the letter presses good however, I soon found that the design would need to be constructed on two separate frames to work with my desired leaflet folding technique. I also made the mistake of using a 'b' instead of a 'd' and mis spelling misuse. This error was soon corrected, it was just the backwards type which was confusing.

The second trial arrangement above was also unsuccessful as the words were not central in relation with each other. 

The two final arrangements are both central using exact measurements, they are also on two separate frames for flexibility with my leaflet layout.

I did experiments with sample A4 sheets from G.F Smiths which were all of varying in gsm and style
The papers used were as follows,

Digital Papers - Colourplan Smoke, 350gsm, A4 Sheet

Digital Papers - Colourplan Smoke, 540gsm, A4 Sheet

Specialist - Marlmaque Marble White, 300gsm, A4  Sheet

Digital Papers - Colourplan Dark Grey, 540gsm, A4 Sheet

Digital Papers - Colourplan Real Grey, 700gsm, A4 Sheet

I found that the 700gsm paper has the best imprinted effect however, when it came to folding, the paper cracked and almost ripped.

The 500gsm paper below also had a really nice embossed effect. this time however, I used a scalpel and a ruler in order to create a much neater fold.

OUGD405 - Studio Brief 2 - Information Design (Continued)

After getting feedback from some class mates, it was suggested that I might be drifting away from the initial brief of creating one single leaflet. Therefore, I went back to my first mock up designs and attempted to create a single leaflet that could represent all drugs. To do this I have used neutral colours and taken away all photography on the front cover. By using just text I have created an isolated design much like the isolation of drug users. I wanted to use the typography to foreshadow being boxed in, segregated and and cut off by drugs, also I tried to make the letters as disruptive and broken up as possible to represent the lives of drug addicts. The font holds connotations of what type might look like if the reader was actually on drugs. Lots of testing went into applying these elements to the text whilst still keeping it as legible as possible.

OUGD404 - Studio Brief 1 - Architecture In Design Concept

I have started to develop my previous sketch ideas and layout to then transfer into a digital production. The font has attempted to be as relatable to grids systems as possible by using thin broken up lines as the structure for most of the letters. In the last design, I have used an underline to give the illusion of gravity and further relate the type towards architecture and structure.

Below, I have created some layout idea mock ups using primary source photography as the base for my background. I have then integrated the logo design of my publication down the side of the page.

For my publication, I intend to create a leaflet which demonstrates the way that grid systems in architecture can relate to grid systems in graphic design. This idea has been influenced by my bloghttp://d-stott1518-sp.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/ougd404-introduction-to-editorial.html where I talk further about this relationship.

I have used my architecture photoshoot as the base of my cover design

OUGD405 - Studio Brief 2 - Information Design (Continued)

Further initial sketches developed into the design below, I intend to use words related with side effects of the drug inside the outline such as 'Paranoid' or 'Vomiting'. I also intend to develop on my last idea and create a selection of different coloured leaflets, one for each drug. For example, the heroin leaflet would be blue and have an outline of a needle for the cover. By using outlines instead of photography, I feel that it makes a more approachable leaflet for all ages, some viewers may also find photographs of a needle quite disturbing. By using outlines, I am only implying that it is a needle using typography instead of showing disturbing photography.

The design has developed from my previous idea informed by the leaflet below.

For the lettering on each cover, I intend to experiment with embossing techniques on different weights of paper.

OUGD404 - Studio Brief 1 - Architectural Grid Systems Photoshoot

Here is a few shots from an architectural grid systems photoshoot based in Leeds. These shots will possibly be used in my final magazine

OUGD405 - Studio Brief 2 - Information Design

I used the two secondary source influences above as inspiration when sketching some simple layout designs below. 

I then started to create some mock up designs based on the sketches, I also used influence from my fold research to create more of an interesting concertina fold design.

I took some primary source photographs to possibly be used on the cover of my design.

My feedback from peers made it apparent that printing techniques on a black stock would not be possible and that printing black ink onto white stock would look cheap and unprofessional. Therefore in my next development, I started to look at using grey stock as black ink could still be used without making it too harsh in relation to the background. 

Through this feedback, I then developed this idea by changing the background to white and experimenting with different images. I also changed the orientation of the leaflet.

After then researching stock options on G.F Smith, I decided upon the font Marble white in order to create a grungy aesthetic to the leaflet. I then screen shotted the image and used the paper sample to overlay onto some of my designs.

Using inspiration from the source below, I then came across the concept of creating one leaflet for each drug, all in different colours. The two sections on each end of the concepts would fold to become the front cover with the two middle sections being hidden until the leaflet is opened.

I intended to create the text as inconsistent as possible to show the inconsistency of peoples lives with drugs. However, I feel that the centralised block text could be a little too inconsistent which is effecting the visual appeal of the leaflet. Therefore I wish to experiment with further ways which I can create an uncomfortable and awkward read for the viewer without the layout and composition of the leaflet suffering.