Publishing Design - Project 1

28/08/20 - 09/10/20 (Week 1 - Week 7)

Atiqah Farzana Binti Syalleh Karimyee (0336740)

Publishing Design

Project 1 - Content Generation

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LECTURE NOTES

Click here for the lectures.

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INSTRUCTIONS

Module Information Booklet:

EXERCISES

Content Generating - Draft 1

Week 1

(27/08/20)

We then needed content to put in our book. The write up should be a minimum of 3000 words, have a minimum of 3 chapters, 3/4/5 subtexts (sidebars) and one pull quote per chapter. Below is the draft for my 3000 words.

Fig. 1.1 Text Formatting; First Draft | 04/09/20

As we had to finish this writeup by the next week, I did it in a rush. I decided to redo it better, however, keeping the same topic and theme.

Fig. 1.2 Text Formatting; Second Draft | 04/09/20

By the end of the semester, my content went through a few adjustments along the way. Below is the updated and final version of the content.

Fig. 1.3 Text Formatting; Final | 17/11/20

Visual References

Week 3

(11/09/20)

We had to show our visual references for what we want our illustrations to look like. As my book is about memories and dreams, I envisioned my illustrations to be surreal, psychedelic and vivid (like dreams).

I made a mood board on Pinterest, and here are some illustrations which I particularly liked.

Fig. 1.4 Illustration Moodboard 

After hearing what Mr. Vinod told my other classmates, detail is very time-consuming and the time spent on drawing could be used for other things. Hence, I tried to find more simpler illustrations of the same aesthetic.

Fig. 1.5 Illustration Moodboard (Simplified)

Creating Visuals

Week 4 - Week 6 (18/09/20 - 02/10/20)

I started off by sketching out some ideas I had in mind for my 16 illustrations. I did a few thumbnail sketches with the idea/meaning on the side. I didn't plan all 16 illustrations at once; some of them were unplanned or I had come up with them on the spot.

Fig. 1.6 Sketch 1

Fig. 1.7 Sketch 2

Fig. 1.8 Sketch 3

Fig. 1.9 Sketch 4

Fig. 1.10 Sketch 5

Fig. 1.11 Sketch 6

Fig. 1.12 Sketch 7

Fig. 1.13 Illustration 1 - First Attempt

Mr. Vinod suggested removing the mirror frame because it looks stretched out and takes away from the actual illustration.

Fig. 1.14 Illustration 1, no mirror frame - First Attempt

I felt like this version without the frame made it look very empty, so I preferred the 1st attempt more.

Fig. 1.15 Illustration 2 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.16 Illustration 2 - Close Up

Fig. 1.17 Illustration 2 - Close Up 2

I thought the light source in this illustration was interesting so I decided to edit it and play around it.

Fig. 1.18 Illustration 2 - Edited

Fig. 1.19 Illustration 3 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.20 Illustration 4 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.21 Illustration 5 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.22 Illustration 6 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.23 Illustration 7 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.24 Illustration 8 - First Attempt

Here the final 16 illustrations:

Fig. 1.25 Illustration 1 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.26 Illustration 3 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.27 Illustration 4 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.28 Illustration 5 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.29 Illustration 6 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.30 Illustration 7 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.31 Illustration 8 - Final Attempt

After finishing the first 8 illustrations, I wanted the other half to be photographs because it ties in with my stories' theme of memories. Fig. 1.28 are two pictures I painted on in high school, so I figured I could replicate the same style for this project.

Fig. 1.32 2 Photographs - First Attempt

Fig. 1.33 Photograph 1 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.34 Photograph 2 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.35 Photograph 3 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.36 Photograph 4 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.37 Photograph 5 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.38 Photograph 6 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.39 Photograph 7 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.40 Photograph 8 - First Attempt

Fig. 1.41 Photograph Compilation

I scanned the photos using an app on my phone, so the colours didn't really turn out as vibrant and you can see the reflection of the plastic film on some of them. I decided to scan them using an actual scanner for better quality:

Fig. 1.42 Photograph 1 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.43 Photograph 2 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.44 Photograph 3 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.45 Photograph 4 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.46 Photograph 5 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.47 Photograph 6 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.48 Photograph 7 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.49 Photograph 8 - Final Attempt

Fig. 1.50 Final Photograph Compilation

Fig. 1.51 Final Visuals Compilation

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FEEDBACK

Week 1: 
General feedback: Update your blog and feedback sheet every week. Your blade needs to be really sharp so you won't have to be putting much pressure when cutting.

Specific feedback: Finish the book and mock-up and the Van de Graaf digital grid.


Week 2: 

General feedback: The formatting of the first page, subtexts and pullquotes are as important as the content you write.

Specific feedback: Everything looks fine, make the references in APA style, try to reach 3000 words (if not then I'll only have around 28 pages, might have to compensate with larger images or so).

Week 3: 

General feedback: Absent.

Specific feedback: Absent.

Week 4:

General feedback: Finish up the 16 visuals soon to get it over with. Remember that there are 3 levels of detail in design, and it's good to include all 3 or else we would use up a lot of time to get them done.

Specific feedback: Mr. Vinod was fine with my mood board and the art style I wanted to go for, however, commented that the more detail I put in, the more time and effort it needs.

Week 5:

General feedback: We should finish up the exercises by this week to get it over with to focus solely on the book.

Specific feedback: Mr Vinod was a bit thrown off by my first illustration because the mirror seemed distorted, so I decided to change it to a basic plain oval mirror instead. Other than that, my illustrations look so far so good and I should complete the remaining ones to make up 16 in total.

Week 6:

General feedback: The form and movement exercise with the image should be constructed in a way that the image builds up excitement and a surprising element for the reader. To do this, we shouldn't use up the whole picture immediately, but show only bits and pieces or details to gradually show the whole image.

Specific feedback: The first image I chose (colourful, psychedelic) was too loud and overly exciting, and doesn't give much room for the reader to be surprised when they turn the page. The second image (beige paint) was too plain and didn't have much variety in the image itself for a surprising element. 

Week 7:

General feedback: There is no need to add both copyright word and symbol, can just choose either one.

Specific feedback: Mr. Vinod said the layout looks alright and I can carry on with the next chapter. He suggested to be more experimental with the layout and placement of illustrations can be more playful.

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REFLECTION

Experience: Week 1 (28/08/20); I was excited to finally be back on campus and have physical classes but then I remembered that in a few weeks time I would much rather want to just stay at home. Week 2 (04/09/20); I was a bit overwhelmed by the workload already, but I'll try my best to pull through. Week 3 (11/09/20); Making 16 illustrations seems alright but it really takes up a lot of time and effort, especially with other assignments at hand. Week 4 (18/09/20); Having class from 9 till 6 is kinda insane and I never wanna do it again :') Week 5 (25/09/20); The form and movement exercises seem so simple at first you feel like what you're doing is all good and correct but it almost never is (lmaoo). Week 6 (02/10/20); The form and movement exercises are getting harder with each added step but the exercises section is almost finished!

Observation: Week 1 (28/08/20); I noticed that this class was going to be really difficult as we were already getting into project 1 from the start, and because Mr. Vinod already warned us about the workload. Week 2 (04/09/20); I think this module has the most amount of work out of all my other modules, and because it's on a Friday, I always put off doing the work till the day before class. Week 3 (11/09/20); I think my time management this sem is either really really bad, or the workload is way too much :0  Week 4 (18/09/20); I was worried about not finishing all of my illustrations, but almost no one did more than 5 so I felt more relieved. Week 5 (25/09/20); Doing and re-doing the form and movement exercises makes me understand its principles better and how to see the transitions flow better. Week 6 (02/10/20); I think that choosing a good picture or even an illustration will really change how a layout looks.

Findings: Week 1 (28/08/20); Making a book is something new to me so it's a nice step outside my comfort zone, even though it seems to be a lot of work. Week 2 (04/09/20); I found that it's best to finish up work immediately after class, or within the same day or else I would forget to do it until the last minute. Week 3 (11/09/20); Drawing is really fun for me and I absolutely enjoy it, but having to draw for an assignment just turns me off :c Week 4 (18/09/20); I'm using a new drawing tablet and its great and all but the act of setting everything up and sitting down to draw is so exhausting in itself (insert sad cowboy emoji). Week 5 (25/09/20); I find myself staying up late every day and being too tired to attend class/ falling asleep during class/ not waking up for class (another sad cowboy emoji). Week 6 (02/10/20); I think all of the exercises are very helpful in understanding how to form good layouts and page transitions, even though they're quite difficult to make correctly.

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FURTHER READING

(Chapter 16) Typography, Headlines, and Infographics by Edward R. Tufte

Week 1 - Week 3 (28/08/20 - 12/09/20)

It was quite difficult finding an online book about publishing design or layout design, so this book is mainly about typography but it does include a general grasp of everything to do with design. This book almost felt like a textbook with all there is to know about design.

One particular section that is more related to this module is where it talks about planning the contents of books, specifically yearbooks, magazines, and printed news. They even include various layouts for yearbooks, explaining the number of columns and rows, bleeds, white spaces and more. 

One Minute Design: What is Grid? by DesignMantic

Week 3 - Week 4 (12/09/20 - 19/09/20)

This video is a one-minute condensed explanation of grid lines and their purposes in design.

Grid lines:

• bring rhythm
• ensures balance
• reflect proportion
• offer consistency

Beginning Graphic Design: Layout & Composition by GCFLearnFree.org

Week 5 - Week 6 (25/09/20 - 02/10/20)

The 5 basic principles to remember:

• Proximity
• White space
• Alignment
• Contrast
• Repetition

Proximity is all about using visual space to show relationships in your content. An easy way to group elements together, for example, blocks of text or elements in a graphic. Groups that are not related to each other should be separated to visually emphasise their lack of relationship.

White space (or negative space) isn't just empty space but it is also the space between your content, between lines and even the outer margins. White space helps your define and separate different sections and gives your content room to breathe.

Alignment should be consistent and following the margins and grids. This is the easiest way to make your content look clean and organised.

Contrast means a particular element stands out from the others. This can be achieved in various ways: colour, adjusting the size, shape, visual weight, or style of text. Hierarchy is a visual technique that can help the viewer navigate your work. More important items are usually larger, bolder, or more eye-catching in some way. 

Repetition is a reminder that every project about have consistent look and feel. Reinforcing the same style, colour, theme, etc, will make your design look more pleasing and as a whole design.