Design process from brief to conclusion

Here I will start my own design process for a made up brief on creating a children’s book. To help generate ideas I will be using just 3 words to start my design process.

I have chosen to use the words fox, microwave and television

Now for each of these three words I will sketch things associated with them in order to help generate ideas that can be rearranged to help come up with a story.

Fox - fox’s are known to be scavengers as well as being sneaky, so I may draw things related to a fox such as, chickens, bins, smells, noises, environment.

Microwave - for this word I would sketch various foods, placement, people, electric

Television - adverts, news, food,

Once I have created sketches for each word I can then think about rearranging them to create a meaning/story.

Using the three words and ideas relating to them I have come up with a story, where the fox can smell a chicken cooking in a microwave, he then cleverly sneaks into the house undetected looking for the chicken he smelt. Then hes sees a television with an advert of gravy and sees a chicken. the fox becomes over powerd with excitement and steals the television thinking it contains a chicken. Only when he returns to the woods does he discover there is no chicken inside the box creating the final conclusion for my idea.

http://www.n8w.com/wp/1937

Using format and platform to great effect

Here is a published children’s story book by Edward Hemingway. Here we can see that the image has a great effect and impact on its chosen audience, most children are often afraid of the dark believing there are monsters hiding away in their wardrobes. the illustration brings questions to mind, aiming for the children to want to find out more. The page format has been filled with small text at centre top. Too much text may put of the children as they are often encouraged to read due to enjoying the illustrations.

The use of simple cartoon illustrations are eye catching and believable amongst children making this a great use of format within this chosen platform.



http://www.edwardhemingway.com/

key elements of Campbells monomyth stages

Departure

The call to adventure - Agents called out to investigate disappearance of Rachel Solando
Refusal of the call - Teddy doesn’t like travelling on boats
Supernatural aid - strange dreams where his wife talks to him
Crossing the first threshold - Teddy heads to out of bounds areas to investigate deeper
The belly of the whale - Teddy finds inmate who reveals teddy has been drugged since arrival

Initiation

The road of trials - getting the patients to reveal the truth to him
The meeting with the goddess - dreaming of his wife
Temptation away from true path - the lighthouse
Atonement with the father - Dr. Cawley tells him that he came to the island without a partner
Apotheosis - remembering what happen to his wife and children
The ultimate boon - teddy is informed that he is a patient on the island

Return

Refusal of the return - not being able to accept he is a patient
The magic flight - becomes aware of the truth
Rescue from without - Cawley explains how he’s tried to help teddy’s delusions
Crossing the return threshold - flashback of the traumatic event of his wife's and children's death
Master of the two worlds - next day teddy continues to believe he is on the island to solve a case
Freedom to live - Dr. Cawley signals for teddy to go to the lighthouse

Story development: Three act structure

I will be looking into the Three act structure for the film shutter island.

Act 1: Establish

•  U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is on a boat heading to the asylum for the criminally insane located on an island.

• They are investigating the disappearance of Rachel Solando, a patient who apparently vanished from a locked room.

• Teddy and his partner Chuck start a routine investigation of the island.

• Teddy sees a lighthouse but is told it has already been searched. The Marshals then go on to question the staff

• Teddy has a strange dream in which his dead wife tells him that Rachel is still on the island as well as the arsonist who caused her death

Act 2: crisis

• They interview patients from Rachel's group therapy sessions, one of workers distracts Chuck and warns Teddy to run.

• Teddy is motivated to investigate the institution after finding out experiments are being conducted on patients.

• Teddy has been informed that Rachel has been found and presents herself to him.

• In his sleep he has more strange dreams, followed by waking hallucinations.

• He is now determined to search for Laeddis in Ward C, which houses the most dangerous patients

• Here he finds a patient called Noyce who is afraid of being taken to the lighthouse, where lobotomies are performed, and tells Teddy that the entire investigation is a game constructed for him.

Act 3: Resolve

• Teddy rejoins Chuck and they head to the cliffs surrounding the island, intending to reach the lighthouse.

• Teddy finds a woman hiding in a cave who confirms his suspicions by revealing that she is the real Rachel Solando

• She says that Teddy has been similarly drugged since he arrived on the island after they are trying to develop mind control

• Teddy eventually makes it to the lighthouse, he finds Dr. Cawley who reveals that Teddy is not Edward Daniels, but ex-Marshal Andrew Laeddis.

• Cawley says that he has been a patient at Ashecliffe for two years since he murdered his manic depressive wife in a fit of rage after discovering she had drowned their children.

• Chuck then arrives and reveals himself as Dr. Sheehan, Andrew's psychiatrist

• Cawley explains that Andrew has gone through repeated cycles of realizing the truth, only to regress into his fantasy again

• The next morning, Andrew once again calls Sheehan "Chuck" and mentions exposing the Island's doings to the outside world.

Develop visual language

Writing notes can be made visual rather than textual language, by making different connections. When we look at words we are getting no visual image upon first glance. By creating the language visually. Good examples of visual language are road signs which are created for visual meaning.

We can keep a more interesting record by illustrating a visual diary, here we are improving to develop ability in visual language, allowing us to almost think out loud. By linking thoughts visually while working on paper, we can make connections become visible.

This picture helps us to recognise the visual vocabulary by using images to represent dry, warm, cold areas within the country. Straight away we can see it has a clear meaning and how they work well combined together to give a clearer understanding of time, position and what to expect.

Problem solving is easily understood with the help of visual language. If I was to describe a route in which to travel, where as you’d have to be relying on instructions alone we can often become confused. With the help of a visual map we almost instantly gain a clearer understanding, making it clearer what we are expecting to see.

 references:
http://indianajoneswhip.com/images/view/2872/mapoflegoland.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/

Draw, work by hand

Working by hand is different from other types of operating, it is more about visual thinking where we find ourselves drawing for ideas and not for art exploring. We will use our creative brain not by describing an idea in words, but by illustrating the description.

The function of a storyboard artist is to make the story make sense, be entertaining, have structure and give some indication of the acting and personalities of the characters. This itself is part of the problem solving where as we are finding ways to co-ordinate scenes together. By drawing we are creating more questions and find ourselves drawing more to answer these questions.

 

Drawing is also a good source for problem solving as we can gain a better insight in to what may be missing or what may need to be added in order to solve the problem, for example Leonardo da vinci gained a better understanding of his ideas for engines and gears by drawing individual parts and them linking them together. This alone starts to build up a visual organiser  adding design speculation to each drawing.

 References :
http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/01/functional-drawings1-draw-with-purpose.html
http://illumin.usc.edu/article.print.php?articleID=149

 

Have words and images got a tone of voice?

Many images and words contain a tone of voice in order to stand out. Not just visually but also through words. An appropriate tone will help to organize the information across to others, an inappropriate tone may send mixed messages and confuse the targeted audience.

To express different levels of tone within text, we would consider the type face style, whether it being soft or sharp depending on its message. To attract a viewers attention a larger bold font would be most appropriate on a form for example. The use of colour within text will also help the audience to navigate a lot quicker to selected areas, indicating its importance.

An image being a photo or logo will help to visually show us what is trying to be said, which may be the message within itself confirming what we may be unsure of. A good example of tone of voice within image is used everyday whether it being road signs or instruction manuals showing us what we should and shouldn’t be doing.

Reference:
http://www.hemmy.net/2008/02/08/baby-warning-instructions/
http://www.drcc.co.uk/tone-of-voice

What makes a Visual Communication legible?

Whilst exploring legibility we must first consider how we interpret information visually. What works, what doesn’t and why.

Below is a bad example of legibility:

This advert fails at providing the information clearly in both font size and colour. The small white font makes it harder for the driver to read when placed on a light background. There is far too much information within such a small amount of space therefore making the information provided distracting. The size of the sign is also intimidating and may put the driver off from reading it, meaning that the message has the opposite effect and is ignored.

The position of the sign also makes it illegible as it has been placed in front of a tree, making the information invisible to the eye. To make this sign more legible the designer should consider reducing the amount of information per sign allowing the typography to be larger and clearer

Below is a good example of legibility:

Here we can see a good example of graphic communication. The simplicity of the layout works well because the message is clear and brief. A black background is designed to make the white font and the colourful logo stand out. The layout is centred and tidy as well as being visually attractive.

The message of the advert is for people to think differently and not in black and white as shown in the image. The apple logo is therefore shown in multicolour to persuade people into believing Apple think differently to everyone else.

References:

http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-applies-for-new-think-different-trademark-possibly-as-slogan-for-apple-tablet/23188

http://www.kurumi.com/roads/india2007/

What is the role of the audience?

An understanding and knowledge of an audience can enhance and focus the communication.

Illustrators also need to be able to communicate well. Making it crucial that the specific audience expected to view the illustration is identified and understood by the illustrator as they work towards their ideas.

Illustration is used to say things, whatever the message or idea that is to be communicated there will be a style and type of image which is most appropriate to convey it. The old saying that 'one picture is worth a thousand words' is still valid in the digital world of the 21st century, from its uses in enhancing educational resources from an early age. It can communicate an instant message that is not possible using words. Depending on the message and audience, the style of illustrations can differ to ensure the right look and feel, designers incorporate different techniques and styles from Watercolour pigments, colour pencil, graphite, acrylic paint and computer based software such as photoshop.

How do illustrators find inspiration?

An illustrator can find inspiration from almost anywhere whether it being from the use of the imagination or what can be visually seen. Just by being visually aware of the actions of others within the public can trigger an idea or scenario, this is why many artists tend to carry sketch books and note pads to record their ideas by text or image.

Visual memories are also a great source of inspiration, as the visual story has already been mentally written down; from here the artist can recreate these memories into images. Children can also offer a great deal of inspiration as their minds are more open to imagination, allowing the artist to be more creative within their work. An artist is less likely to find inspiration by trying to force it whereas they will often produce a whole lot of nothing, eventually an idea will come to them generating a higher level of meaning.

The use of the internet is popular amongst many illustrators, we as an endless visual library is at your door step. The combination of these methods of inspiration is very creative within itself, allowing endless creativeness.

Bricolage within contemporary culture

Bricolage is the term used to describe the creation of a work from a range of resources, in order to be creative using various things that happen to be available such as household rubbish. Portions of other artwork and photos may also be used in the creation of collages, where an artist will glue objects to photos or paintings. Many designers use bricolage to come up with innovative and unique ideas from within the environment where raw materials are provided.

Assemblage is an artistic process in which a three-dimensional artistic composition is made from putting together found objects, a good example of this term was used by Louise Nevelson who began creating her sculptures from found pieces of wood in the late 1930s.

Polystylism is the use of multiple styles or techniques in literature, art, film, and music. Instrumental bricolage in music includes the use of found objects as instruments, such as spoons and combs. Culturally bricolage is used to mean the processes by which people use objects from across social areas to create new cultural identities, a good example being the punk age, where punk rockers would attach fabrics and pins to jackets.

Notions of Originality

A notion of originality (being at the origin of) can be described as an artist who inserts his own work into those of others, either by change of media or by completely recreating the original image into a more modern day vision. The material they manipulate is no longer primary by selecting cultural objects and inserting them into new contexts.

The level of originality has been lowered over time meaning evidence could be the debate about the protected work, copying sustains the economy of commerce, without it, less would be produced, manufactured and consumed, and fewer works of art would be exhibited.
Some artists choose to produce original images on a printing press. With printing processes such as intaglio printing the composition is created directly on the printing plate. The resulting print is an original image and not a reproduction of a previously executed work.

Postmodernism has rejected the modern idea of originality and the idea of new, and replaced it with a concept of references and links. On one hand, it can be argued that there is no originality. Artists recycle old ideas and put together old content in new ways.

My view on originality is that it does not mean thinking something that was never thought before, it means putting old ideas together in new ways. Every original piece of art has a unique style of its own. Mona Lisa, and the Last Supper for example, these world famous pieces of art are original, not because they were created in a unique way, but because these were new ideas implemented in traditional methods.

Below is a recreated image of the Last Supper which is a good example of how an original image can be transformed into a more modern day vision.