DR ME Resolution, Rationale & Evaluation

DR ME Resolution, Rationale & Evaluation

Rationale & Concept
An A4 print acts as a mailer to send to studios (In this case DR ME) to spark conversation or potential collaborations and represents my manifesto in a way that visualize's my approach to the design process that appreciates technology but doesn't forget about traditional principles and hands on techniques, the final outcome represents experimentation with a function presentation of information.

CMYK colors references digital print and draws attention into key stages of my manifesto while the other greyscale elements represent the past limitations through the progress of print. 
The deconstructed layout and abstract scanned in collage represents my experimental approach but the balance and positioning of all the elements has a certain structure too it to support ideas of functional design, further connoted with the tongue in cheek calculator iconography as iconography references functional and concise ideas while the subtle addition of grids within the collage references functionality. 
The contrasting digital type and outlines type references my focus on typography but also my analogue and digital approach, 3D type with a tongue in cheek quote "touch me" further references hands on approaches. 

Final outcome
The final outcome was a scanned in version of the digital print to further reference the transition between tradition and contemporary technologies. 

Evaluation
With this been the first brief undertaken within extended practice it was a learning curve getting back into the swing of time management, the plan started out for me and Joe to send the mailer off as a collab for equip but due to us both managing other projects on the side and bad delegation of tasks and time management it ended up been a solo project.

I was happy enough with my resolution but I feel the final format of it been an A4 print was quite restricting in how i represented my concept of a visual representation of my manifesto as the key points where all combined together into one outcome it could be seen as a little confusing. Also an A4 print isnt very exciting and as it was a competition based around creating a mailer I dont think I really resolved the idea very well. I could have added a much deeper element of craft too it to emulate my physical approaches better. 

What I was happy with though was the digitizing hand on type and the collage, its something I want to develop further to emulate the transition between traditional principles and contemporary practice and at current is feeding into my COP investigations. 

Next time better time management and further experimentation with format and hands on methods will create a stronger outcome that will represent my manifesto in stronger ways too and allow me to spend set time on certain tasks to fully establish a strong resolution based on a strong concept as the concept had a lot of potential. 

Boards

DR ME Context Idea & Visual Development

DR ME Context Idea & Visual Development 

Refined Concept
Present a cut & paste aesthetic that references both technology and analogue techniques to create a visual representation of a basic manifesto underpinned by analogue approaches, appreciation but not over reliance of technology and experimental yet functional outcomes. 

Context & Visual Development
Scamps to begin figuring out how each key stage of the manifesto can be visualised while still taking consideration of the whole cut & paste aesthetic with an overall technological approach, ideas at this stage that where explored where;
Focus on creating a deconstructed layout and positioning of elements to emulate ideas of experimentation and progress, while still trying to maintain structure and clarity within key sections of the typography representing the manifesto.
Play around with pattern, texture, gradients and block color to emulate hands on & physicality, technology, experimentation and functionality. 
Experiment with serif and sans serif fonts to subtly represent consideration to tradition and contemporary typographic approaches, play around with hand drawn outlines and digital resolutions to show digital and analogue considerations. 
3D imagery and type to show physicality and add engaging aesthetics to a flat poster format. 
Using phsyical application of gradients from scanned in spray paint to digitized textures and CMYK colours to represent gradients with a transition between tradition hands on and contemporary. 
Represent cut & paste aesthetic through cutting out printed words and scanning in.

1 Idea was to create 4 prints when me and Joe was going through with the idea together, to represent the key 4 points of our manifesto the idea was to create 2 square image based visuals and 2 type based visuals, the square formats would then be layered up through 2 separate print process's, screen print and digital to show our appreciation of contemporary and more traditional print. These visuals would then be supported by a short description to add context to the visuals, the square format would also be perfect to apply to our instagram platform for studio equip. 

Ideas of creating grainy textures, clean textures, warped textures and block colour where explored to visualise the key points of the manifesto. 

Ideas been explored now where how to focus on really visualising the idea of physicality and hands on approaches, a good way of bringing texture and hand drawn type in was to create type that looked like carved rocks out of hand drawn shapes and analogue textures. 

Another method was to combine very simple shapes and clean application of texture with abstract type to explore ideas of experimentation and functionality. 

To represent functionality an idea was developed to create a vector icon of a calculator, calculators denote functionality and the idea of iconography is to represent clear instructions or meaning while vector's show consideration to technology and software. A simple output but strong concept.

Grids where explores to represent functionality.

Spacious and alternative use of type but keep communication legible and clean within an organised layout to show experimentation and functionality.

Random shapes and textures to show experimentation. 

Simple and complex shapes joined by a line to show experimentation yet functionality.

Began to trace some 3D type from uppercase madras a modern sans serif font, a good way of repurposing something contemporary into an analogue and 3D output to represent hands on approaches. Outlines and filled in letterforms where experimented with one had more physical presence the other represented wire frames to show the thinking process behind hand drawn scamps. This linked quite well.

"Touch me" was a tongue in cheek quote to add context to my hands on approach to the design process. 

Tracing a digital printed Madras and Rasmus, both contemporary variations of traditional serif and sans serif fonts so like the touch me glyphs it was a good way of repurposing them into a hands on analogue output while the quote "don't depend on progression" is another tongue in cheek way of adding context to how I appreciate progress with technology but don't rely on it. Further supported by the repurposing and transition from digital to traced analogue outcome. 

Little tester to see how the glyphs would work in an alternative layout to subtly represent my experimental approach but the communication of the quote is still clear to show functionality. 

Created a VERY quick collage to represent all my principles in one visual output.

Grid for functionality. 

Scanned in paint to show hands on to digital transition and consideration to both principles. 

Torn and abstract photography to show experimentation. 

Grayscale out to give it a more "photocopier" feel to show old print limitations. 

Digital development
Began to position the touch me quote in a more abstract and loose way to add an engaging way of communicating the message but it got a little confusing with all the other visual elements within the composition. The positioning of the textures and outlined type worked perfect tho, the angles of the type showed a nice touch of experimentation but there was a certain structure that maintained functionality. 

Bringing the touch me quote into the angled alignment and angling the calculator to juxtapose the idea of functionality to tie it in with the angled alignments to represent experimentation. 

Hands on approaches is main focus for me so I thought to make it a main focus central point to the composition but this just altered the whole communication and balance of the poster so a rethink on the focus on this quote was needed. 

The final resolutions brought together the touch me quote repeated 3 times with the broken up collage I created with the CMYK heavy design using vectorised textures to show the transition between hands on to digital resolutions in my design process. 

The calculator was flipped at opposite corners to show the juxtaposition of functionality and experimentation while the key points of the manifesto where highlighted in CMYK to show consideration to digital print technologies. 

My details where applied in the centre, these needed to be applied in a way where they could be digested easily and work very well in between all the alternative layouts of the other elements of the design. 

The final resolution used was the design with CMYK just on the points of my manifesto to bring attention in within the hierarchy of information, the greyscale elements represented past print limitations too so this contrast worked better to show the progression of technology which relates well with the rest of the elements and the concepts they carry within the design. 

DR ME Research

DR ME Research

Focus of research

This collation of research focus's on influencing key points outlined in my ideas generation developments that could potentially influence ideas around analogue techniques, technologies, experimental design and functionality. All examples make use of a variety of approaches that sum up how I approach creating work so some clear connections can be made to create strong ideas to develop on. 

Blok design

Referencing analogue techniques through illustrative type but also has a nice cut & paste aesthetic through the use of deconstructed and abstract imagery to make up typography.

The use of a simple 2 color monotone palette effectively reference historical design, conceptual art and political heritage and fully support the avant garde and german expressionism concept been portrayed.  

Theres a certain physical presence too it that will give opportunities to idea development to reference analouge process's but by using a print method like digital print using CMYK colors a digital & technological reference can be applied. 

The composition and layout is very deconstructed in itself which suits the analogue aesthetic and is something worth investigating within my idea development. 

Karolina Pietrzyk
The varied aesthetics within these posters work perfect when representing the designers multi directional approach to working out a problem with a visual response. Her work varies from line art, abstract shapes, textures, cut and paste shapes pastel shades and monochrome shades it maintains an abstract aesthetic yet the information communicated is legible and easily read. A perfect example and reflection of how my experimental approach still maintains functionality with the end result. 

Further ideas come from the organic analogue shapes and textures with a digital final resolution, sparking ideas of creating hand drawn imagery and resolving it in a digital end result but still maintain the analogue feel. 

Kasper Florio
Kasper Florio's work focuses on print with a focus on fashion, art and music using a limited monochrome color selection through the work to create a distinct aesthetic that can be associated with there work but also the limitations of color application within traditional print have been emulated effectively. 
The use of experimentation, abstraction and a touch of humor within the aesthetic and concepts is something I want to emulate within my design development to show the varied approaches I take within my practice and how they all work alongside each other despite been very different. 

Something that relates to my practice is experimenting with type, I apply similar abstract aesthetics to typography to create further meaning and strengthen concepts and the delivery of ideas through experimental type. Theres a lot of potential worth exploring with how typography can be used in more experimental ways moving away from the typical concise communication of information typographic application used to apply like the focus on readability and legibility (COP DISSERTATION EXPLORATION) 

Bureau Mirko Borsche

These posters from an archive of rejected designs for Phaidon to me show a genuine though process and the resolution of an idea from concept idea to the aesthetic development, this idea of presenting aspects of my process and manifesto in this organic and honest way is something worth exploring. 

The deconstructed layouts of individual glyphs here resonate well with the idea of a thought process yet the use of lines and grids show how these thought process's collate together into a functional outcome. Something worth exploring to resonate my experimental yet functional points in my manifesto. 

M35 - Semi-Permanent

Semi Permanent is a platform that spreads design and art inspiration through conferences and events like exhibitions, competitions, workshops and parties. It showcases Graphic Design, Film, Art, Illustration, Web, Photography, Visual effects, Animation and many more contemporary and traditional practices. 

The identity and aesthetic they created through the use of monochrome analogue imagery, photography, experimental typography and alternative type layouts emulates these multiple disciplines perfectly, something that could relate and influence how I approach emulating my varied and contrasting approaches to design using a range of different aesthetics and process's. 

Hort Flag

Hort is a design agency known for there experimental and varied approach to solving a design problem, not following a typical asthetic that dennotes there work. Something I appreciate and its a bold move within the creative industry to date when clients want consistency and often approach you with existing work from there rivals ant want it replicating to suit there needs. 

Hort dont go about things like that, this flag represents there ideals and values and it is obvious from the outset that it suggests they take a multi varied approach to design, theres digital imagery, analogue imagery, bold use of color, deconstructed layouts and shape and contrasting tones and textures within the format of a flag which in itself is used to represent a country so it would be a perfect way of expressing my manifesto using a similar format.

Galerie C

A set of posters were created to promote 5 exhibitions of contemporary are in Switzerland. The visuals and imagery used are a mash up of elements from past and future exhibitions to create a sense of timescale within one format, the use of screenprint and digital print is something that emulates past and present perfectly and is something already explored in my COP exploration and is worth exploring more within my mailer as a way of representing how I appreciate progress but also appreciate traditional mediums. 

The use of abstract manipulated type interacting with functional and legible type is something that again relates well to my focus on typography and would be something worth developing into my practice possibly using hand drawn type and digital type to reference digital and traditional while also showing appreciation to progression of technology but not an over reliance on it. 

Atlas Studio

Posters for monthly music events for a venue in Zurich called Bad Bonn with each following a typical stereotypical poster format with the cliche images and use of words but deconstructed into an abstract and experimental layout with a very cut and paste aesthetic, a perfect example of an idea I mentioned about deconstructing something through a hands on process then creating a layout that has a "cut & paste aesthetic" through a final digital resolution to emulate the use of technology and traditional principles.

The bold gradients are something else that could be interpreted from traditional to digital through the use of spray paint that could then be scanned and edited, something else I have mentioned in my idea stages. 

The way the type is positioned also has a certain cut & stick aesthetic a perfect way of replicating hands on approaches while the whole black and white image and type has a photocopy type aesthetic with the colour gradients adding a certain contemporary contrast too the overall design.  

 

My Name is Wend

These posters reference photocopying with the alternative type arrangements, but also have a digital presence through the interacting vector lines which act as a method of bringing traditional and digital together, while the digital type interacting with the analogue textures further references this. 

The alternative positioning of the uppercase serif header type works and flows with the shape of the analogue textures and the composition has a certain motion too it but the vector elements and typography that has a gridded structured ties everything in together to create a nice contrast of motion and structure, something that could influence my ideas of experimental yet functional design. 

The contrasting monochrome also references contrasting approaches within my practice so the use of color would be worth exploring.