OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Evaluation

My final project has pushed my planning, patience and precision skillets further than ever before. It was only through an extensive experimentation process that I have been able to make a finished product which is so precise and clean. Constant feedback from Evolution print and the staff in the University print rooms helped to shape my idea into a finished product.

Collaborating alongside a photographer has given me the opportunity to push my own photography skill set even further, and gave me access to equipment and facilities such as the 'Phase One' camera which have taken the presentation of my design work to another level. This can be seen reflected in the product photography in my personal branding where my new found skills in photography lighting and equipment can again be seen. Working with a practitioner from another discipline has been a learning process for the both of us, I have taught him things about editorial design and typography whilst he has helped me push my photography work to another level.

Overall I am incredibly happy with the success and result of this final brief. Constructing the book myself was one of the biggest challenges I had ever undertaken but the experimentation, hours and hard work which went into the brief can be seen reflected in the final product. Going through external printers would have only restricted my ideas given the small budget that was allocated to the brief.

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Final Book Product Photography

The final book was taken into a high key studio environment with various white props. Lighting was critical in order to showcase the gloss vinyl type in the most effective way. This was also the first time that I had used a ‘Phase One’ camera, the detail given from this quality of camera adds emphasis 

to the quality of the final product. This stage of presentation shows the importance of collaboration with practitioners with different skill sets as I have learnt so much from Mike within this product photography shoot.

Due to the book being a one off publication, the physical version can be examined within Michael Schofield OUP603 - Extended Practice

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Cross Discipline Collaboration

For one of the briefs this year, I wanted to collaborate cross discipline within the university. This way we could combine skillets to create a unique project that otherwise would have been impossible. Taking my passion for fashion photography into consideration, I approached many of the photography and fashion students. Through this, I collaborated with Mike Schofield with the concept of creating a fashion style publication.

As he only lives round the corner, we set up various meetings at both our houses to keep up to date with the project.

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Editorial Design Research

The research conducted looked primarily at contemporary fashion editorial designs and portfolios. I also looked ways to make the book interchangeable as Mike will want to add more content after submission. Ways to do this would be to use a semi-perminant binding method such as screw bound or clip.

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Book Binding

Using a combination of electric guillotine, scalpel, metal ruler, bone folder, glue, vinyl, paper, a hand drill and a vinyl squeegee, I was able to bind the book using a screw bound technique. A combination of weights and clamps held the pages together as I used the hand drill to slowly drill 5mm holes along the spine. Mathematics and measuring had to be critical at every stage of the process to make the book as sturdy and polished as possible.

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Defining the Brief

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Print Room Staff Feedback

Feedback from Digital print, manual print, metalwork and woodwork staff was received daily throughout the brief. I learned subtle details like using a hand drill instead of machine drill to keep the holes on the bind clean and not rip the pages throughout this process. Advice on glue, materials and processes such as embossing and foiling was also received helping form the project into the final resolution it became.

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Front Cover Experimentation

After initial experimentation with different types of paper and glue, it was decided that I would move forward with vinyl as my front cover choice. This was due to its durability with the front cover design being white.

The most difficult aspect of the cover design was trying to get rid of bubbles from underneath the surface of the vinyl. With matt vinyl being applied to the top of gloss vinyl, it was also incredibly sticky which only made the issue more problematic.

5 variations of the cover had to be designed before I found out the best method of applying the top layer of vinyl. The best method was to wet the gloss vinyl with water and then slowly apply the vinyl from one end to the other using a vinyl squeegee as I applied the cover instead of afterwards.

Final cover

Cover with water and applied all at once

Cover without water

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Vinyl Cutter

One experimentation method which I used for the cover design was backing the book in vinyl as it has a self adhesive backing. It is also made from plastic and therefore more durable and easy to clean. I used the vinyl cutter to cut type out of both gloss and matt stock to experiment with.

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Letterpress Embossing Experimentation

I used letterpress as a possible embossing technique for the white book cover, this however was quite restricting in terms of layout, letter spacing and font choice.

OUGD603 - Brief 9 - Evaluation

Having already formed a friendship with Shannie after employability week, collaborating with her and the rest of The Elephant Room was a very fluid process. This was also the first time I had collaborated with an established advertising agency, making it a hugely beneficial experience to my own professional practice.

Throughout the brief, I gained so much knowledge about professionally working within the industry, the stresses and workload which are present, as well as the short strict deadlines. A constant dedicated channel of communication benefited this quick turnaround, giving me ongoing feedback about the work I was producing. Through this, many varied and distinct iterations of the brand identity were created, with constant critique sessions being held consistently throughout each day.

Even though this was a paid live brief, the most rewarding element was having an actual positive impact within the industry, raising money for charitable organisations, and seeing all my hard work pay off as so many people attended the conference. The contacts made throughout this project are invaluable, and may prove vital in my development and transition into a professional practitioner.

OUGD603 - Brief 9 - Online Brand & Professional Recognition

Seeing my designs and branding shared by established companies to millions of viewers has really given me a sense of place and belonging within the creative community. It has shocked me how far my practice has come over the last 3 years to a point where my work is now distributed globally and seen by millions.

It is also astonishing to be part of a project which has raised so much money for charity and made a real positive impact on ethnic and minority groups entering the creative industries. I am overjoyed and humbled to have been offered the opportunity to be involved in something which creates so much positive change.

OUGD603 - Brief 10 - Purchasing Supplies

I purchased a variety of different stocks from Fred Aldus to experiment with, once I had accurate measurements for the thickness of the book, I also bought binding screws offline.

OUGD603 - Brief 9 - Making London Conference

The event was a huge success, with some really interesting speakers from Google, Vice, Nail Transphobia, The Unseen, Instagram, Secret Cinema, Dazed, Adidas, Sofar Sounds, Gal-Dem, Cyborg Nest, Crack + Cider, MDMFlow and the Craftivist Collective. Whilst there, I networked and handed my business card out to many of the speakers. Me being the event brand designer and being good friends with Shannie was a great way to open diologue with many of the speakers involved in the conference.