Here is a little bit on the Mars VOlta artwork.
STORM THORGERSON.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Whats linear composition? Its Papergraphic, thats what.
That fffffffffffffffound or whatever it is. Is actually a real find. After much scrolling and wishing more people used cardboard and paper, I came across this amazing artist called Yulia Brodskaya, who is Russian and hails from Moscow. She was at first afine artist, then headed on to study graphic communication and design. She has worked for and won many competitions and clients throughout the years. She is also a recognised member of the worlds Typgraphic Designers(2006). I love her work, as it shows a great sense of individuality and would be something I would like to explore myself, but instead use a different media to work with.
Anyway here is some of her work.
Anyway here is some of her work.
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Viking Frame Invasion
Well, after doing some research on historic moments in time, and considering the sequence of events that had an effect on a country/society/culture, I first settled on our ancient ancestors, the Celts and Vikings.
I chose to "re-enact" the thought process regarding this moment in time.
It was my first time using stop frame, and I did it straight after work, and just had time to edit it today. Admittedly the quality is less than desired, however my mother thought it was great. So there. I also love cardboard.
Anyway here it is, tracks by 'Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By - Lifeboat
I chose to "re-enact" the thought process regarding this moment in time.
It was my first time using stop frame, and I did it straight after work, and just had time to edit it today. Admittedly the quality is less than desired, however my mother thought it was great. So there. I also love cardboard.
Anyway here it is, tracks by 'Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By - Lifeboat
Friday, 20 February 2009
Cardboard IS cool
After a quick, short search session on YouTuve, there was limited animations regarding, or rather facilitating the use of cardboard in animations. I chose this video that was on an IT blog, dont read it, its WELL boring. I found it useful and relevant, as it informs, and relates to me, i use bittorrent, and this explains how filesharing works, if you thought it was straightforward you should ask Wayne....(the guy in the vid)
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Reading Week, Schmeading Week.
Excuse the bad photo. As I was looking into timelines and how historic events shifted and shaped the world we know and hate today, I looked at all my old history books that I had left. I gave most of mine to the local library, as I thought I would not need them again. Now who is laughing? So gathering what resources I had, I began to read through and pick out key moments, relics, clothing, and also the surroundings, and how to incorporate them into my work.
Reading week? Yeah I did some...
At this stage though, I still have alot to do, as with ever mounting briefs and time speeding up as it always does, I may need to find a quicker solution, but without leaving any important research factors out. I did however - and still do! - find reading up on all this quite fasinating, especially when it comes to touching up on the old history skills.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Bookbindings
This was a documentation after our bookbinding induction at vernon street with Roger.
Just thought I would put these pictures up, considering right after I made mine I gave it to my Gran for a notebook. Sorry. These images are other peoples bookbinding but still I am showing the process.
Monday, 16 February 2009
Coma-induced historic assesment
Being a major fan of the Mars Volta, and trying to find any excuse to put a post about them on my blog that relates to my work is something I can finally do now.
Due to their cryptic, well constructed lyrics, that often incrminate humankinds mistakes and constantly infringe on them,
" ...one day this chalk outline will circle this city, if it was not for the asphalt that cushioned his face, it was a room full of charlatans, that judged his pas mistakes..."
They reguarly use a narrative in their albums, which has a great effect of an epic, opera style overture in their music, combing vital elements of audio, and visual, not just in their videos, but as a whole act. I am making a particular example of the first album, De-Loused in Comatorium, was a narrative of a man who fell into a coma, and reenacting some of history's most important moments, then critical assesment of the world, and how all actions are based upon the "cause-effect" which, obviously supports the "catastrophe theory" element, I was aiming to address.
Anyway, the man (Cerpin Taxt) flows along this albums phantasmal thread, the movements make you squirm, excited, scared, and even in some cases, feel reflective, however alot of the time, they feel unjustly powerful. The particular song I chose has a great video, that by itself is a huge power trip, and works as a story with no music. Try it.
Our antihero is has now woke up from his coma, after scrutinising the horrors of the world, realised that his existence has been nothing but a pebble in the never ending ocean of the constantly evolving galaxy. He deemed himself unworthy and wishes his existence to be made "...invalid..." this seemed to be a major turning point, not just for the story, but the music takes a huge shift at this point.
Due to their cryptic, well constructed lyrics, that often incrminate humankinds mistakes and constantly infringe on them,
" ...one day this chalk outline will circle this city, if it was not for the asphalt that cushioned his face, it was a room full of charlatans, that judged his pas mistakes..."
They reguarly use a narrative in their albums, which has a great effect of an epic, opera style overture in their music, combing vital elements of audio, and visual, not just in their videos, but as a whole act. I am making a particular example of the first album, De-Loused in Comatorium, was a narrative of a man who fell into a coma, and reenacting some of history's most important moments, then critical assesment of the world, and how all actions are based upon the "cause-effect" which, obviously supports the "catastrophe theory" element, I was aiming to address.
Anyway, the man (Cerpin Taxt) flows along this albums phantasmal thread, the movements make you squirm, excited, scared, and even in some cases, feel reflective, however alot of the time, they feel unjustly powerful. The particular song I chose has a great video, that by itself is a huge power trip, and works as a story with no music. Try it.
Our antihero is has now woke up from his coma, after scrutinising the horrors of the world, realised that his existence has been nothing but a pebble in the never ending ocean of the constantly evolving galaxy. He deemed himself unworthy and wishes his existence to be made "...invalid..." this seemed to be a major turning point, not just for the story, but the music takes a huge shift at this point.
Friday, 13 February 2009
"100 Things we didn't know last year."
Just the final note as we say goodbye to the module, I went to Laing's area of residence, and made me look at news on the internet, and I thought I would put this fact that related to my subject manner, and will most likely relive it in some way over reading week.
OUGD102 Evaluation
1. What practical skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
During this module I have learnt how to bind a book using the perfect bound method, and how the process is far messier than japanese bookbinding. However, I did not use this method for the final resolution, it was a valuable experience nonetheless.
I have developed my skills in data processing and collecting, despite me not using graphs or charts, and only using spreadsheets, but I really do not like doing data processing, and I think its quite therapeutic.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?
Well to start with the ongoing documentation of crits and such, as I merely documented it in my sketchbook. Also the development of ideas, and design concepts as my ideas constantly kept changing as well as my research, and this seriously set me back. Also the chance to experiment with stock and colour, as I just mentioned my research was really hard to focus on one idea, and the fact I kept on setting my concepts on an insanely high level (eg combining elements, so instead its 300 things instead.) I also think that i should have found a focus earlier on that meant I could explore the end product more, to achieve EXACTLY what I wanted.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
1. TIME MANAGEMENT! I am aware of it now, so I can better myself.
2. Spend more time on my blog, as I feel it has not really benefitted from my efforts.
3. Take more care over format and measurements to save me money and time.
4. Always keep a file to document all crit notes, sheets and briefs.
5. Be better informed earlier on to save myself from being very very very very stressed.
During this module I have learnt how to bind a book using the perfect bound method, and how the process is far messier than japanese bookbinding. However, I did not use this method for the final resolution, it was a valuable experience nonetheless.
I have developed my skills in data processing and collecting, despite me not using graphs or charts, and only using spreadsheets, but I really do not like doing data processing, and I think its quite therapeutic.
I really think my research is my strongest point.
2. What approaches to/methods of problem solving have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
The problem solving process for me has been a very long, twisting, turning, looping, and in some cases burning road. My ideas to solving the resolution was hard, due to ever changing rifts in my research and being unable to cope with flimsy pretexts considering factual basis. I found however, that once I had a book for the book brief (ha ha...) to use for the backbone of my research, the metaphorical juices really got going, however, due to constant time restraints, and lack of financial backing, my approach felt - not rushed - but hasty.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
My research is the strongest point in my work, easily. Due to the amount I could gather, my research just kept on growing, also I think the way I made a seemingly mundane topic seem interesting. I think this as the research I gathered was very statistical, and all examples of the limited material I found were mundane to look at, and the reader most certainly lost interest. I helped this along by making something - according to my crit - quite enjoyable to a large age group, the simplicity in my design would reflect this.
2. What approaches to/methods of problem solving have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
The problem solving process for me has been a very long, twisting, turning, looping, and in some cases burning road. My ideas to solving the resolution was hard, due to ever changing rifts in my research and being unable to cope with flimsy pretexts considering factual basis. I found however, that once I had a book for the book brief (ha ha...) to use for the backbone of my research, the metaphorical juices really got going, however, due to constant time restraints, and lack of financial backing, my approach felt - not rushed - but hasty.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
My research is the strongest point in my work, easily. Due to the amount I could gather, my research just kept on growing, also I think the way I made a seemingly mundane topic seem interesting. I think this as the research I gathered was very statistical, and all examples of the limited material I found were mundane to look at, and the reader most certainly lost interest. I helped this along by making something - according to my crit - quite enjoyable to a large age group, the simplicity in my design would reflect this.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?
Well to start with the ongoing documentation of crits and such, as I merely documented it in my sketchbook. Also the development of ideas, and design concepts as my ideas constantly kept changing as well as my research, and this seriously set me back. Also the chance to experiment with stock and colour, as I just mentioned my research was really hard to focus on one idea, and the fact I kept on setting my concepts on an insanely high level (eg combining elements, so instead its 300 things instead.) I also think that i should have found a focus earlier on that meant I could explore the end product more, to achieve EXACTLY what I wanted.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
1. TIME MANAGEMENT! I am aware of it now, so I can better myself.
2. Spend more time on my blog, as I feel it has not really benefitted from my efforts.
3. Take more care over format and measurements to save me money and time.
4. Always keep a file to document all crit notes, sheets and briefs.
5. Be better informed earlier on to save myself from being very very very very stressed.
+6. DONT STRESS AS MUCH.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:
5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
1 2 3 4 5
Attendance 4
Punctuality 4
Motivation 4
Commitment 3
Quantity of work produced 2
Quality of work produced 3
Contribution to the group 3
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:
5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
1 2 3 4 5
Attendance 4
Punctuality 4
Motivation 4
Commitment 3
Quantity of work produced 2
Quality of work produced 3
Contribution to the group 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Intent of linear progression.
I think that since I have been reading alot of facts, and collecting, categorising and collating data, I am going to look at timelines. This concerns religious progressions, or campaigns, or inventions that turned the way people viewed - or interpreted the world - on its head. So obviously I will be looking into data flow, and how to graphically achieve this. It is a subject I am not fully capable of, in terms that I am breaching yet another of my comfort zones: Time Management, and how the effect of time, technology and ideals have changed, and continue to shape the ever changing course of post-post-post human perception, and communication.
As a starting point, I am going to visit the library and find some books i can start my research on, including data flow, and visual timelines on a more abstract level. I also have a huge selection of history books concerning political development, murderers from different time periods (and effects on popular culture) dictatorships throughout the entirety of human consciousness and even books on inventions that helped to spark industrial revolutions, or just helped people to navigate the sea better.
This is my starting point. Let the chaos (theory) begin!
Sunday, 8 February 2009
"Catastrophe theory is....er... "
To question our existence based on some one else's own questioning of our existence is all very well and dandy, however it seems no one has really questioned the feasibility of recording, or visually performing such a task, however I think some sort of book is in order. As I think that a good idea to drive on is recorded events, like a timeline, or, as I am into, parts of our history and prehistoric existence.
Anyway, enough of the warble, as I watched "monkey business" and enjoyed some desert baboons hunt some fennec foxes - whilst easting my tea, I saw this Citroen advert. It is a series of disasters and catastrophes in it, which can be theoretically implied upon my chosen focus with the brief thus far. Its almost like a book or catalogue into how these sequential events may or may not happen in the same sequence, but each action, depending on its influence or effect, determines, or rather strips away the sense of patterned, or pre-cognitive outcome.
However if all else fails, I will just have to find a bally good illustrator or graphic artist to use as a basis for study.
Heres something I did when I was smoking a fag. Yes it is with biro, yes I'm not sorry, and yes, you are looking at some low resolution, but i thought it had something to do with what i was hearing that made the outcome....my own little history.
Anyway, enough of the warble, as I watched "monkey business" and enjoyed some desert baboons hunt some fennec foxes - whilst easting my tea, I saw this Citroen advert. It is a series of disasters and catastrophes in it, which can be theoretically implied upon my chosen focus with the brief thus far. Its almost like a book or catalogue into how these sequential events may or may not happen in the same sequence, but each action, depending on its influence or effect, determines, or rather strips away the sense of patterned, or pre-cognitive outcome.
However if all else fails, I will just have to find a bally good illustrator or graphic artist to use as a basis for study.
Heres something I did when I was smoking a fag. Yes it is with biro, yes I'm not sorry, and yes, you are looking at some low resolution, but i thought it had something to do with what i was hearing that made the outcome....my own little history.
Friday, 6 February 2009
Strangemaps, Maps, Book Maps, Mapping on a bit am I not?
I found this great interpretation of my worse vice: smoking, and how our "cousins" from over the sea managed to monopolise a harbinger of death, the idea was so simple, but probably cost them alot less than i t would for us, I mean to start with there is at least 100 Fags there, which would total well over 35-40 pounds. Besides that, i like the type, it matches that of the evil brand Marlboro. Also a load of great map design on this guys blog on StrangeMaps.
Great use of sans serif, the "informant" typeface, the utilisation of superimposed imagery makes this book something special, and unique, despite someone most probably has done this typeface before, it still holds the readers attention. After cruising on some of Wired 's back catalogue, I found this book which book has 175 items highlighting 3,500 years of cartographic progress, Wired gave it 5/5, but then again, who does'nt like maps? Second thoughts, better not answer that one.
Whats booking my maps up?
After floundering under false hopes of ideas just coming to me and 3 weeks with no real finance to begin to fund, or have any directive with my development process, I went to visit my Gran.
Yes you heard me right, i sat with my nana, did the washing u p and cleaned up a stain my Grandpa forgot about, she insisted I went to look in "the Works" Upon reaching my destination in my merry hometown, and overhearing some children pointing at a stitched image of a spaniel, and questioning if the SLIGHT possibility it MIGHT be a wolf.
I found this rather dandy book called "Encylcopaedia of World wildlife", which i used for the basis of new research and more ideas into layout and format, even if the format is stale and somewhat dull. It seems to me that most factual books, be they aimed at children, students, or the general public, the books are uninteresting, and have no real impact, even I was starting to lose my patience with the text and starting to just stare at the images of animals i have never heard of, but saw some animals which reminded me of my primary school days, when I used to be a very adept reader, and used to stay in at break with my friend Scott and listen to Mark and Lard on radio one, then read and amaze each other with silly facts and endless lists.
Yes you heard me right, i sat with my nana, did the washing u p and cleaned up a stain my Grandpa forgot about, she insisted I went to look in "the Works" Upon reaching my destination in my merry hometown, and overhearing some children pointing at a stitched image of a spaniel, and questioning if the SLIGHT possibility it MIGHT be a wolf.
I found this rather dandy book called "Encylcopaedia of World wildlife", which i used for the basis of new research and more ideas into layout and format, even if the format is stale and somewhat dull. It seems to me that most factual books, be they aimed at children, students, or the general public, the books are uninteresting, and have no real impact, even I was starting to lose my patience with the text and starting to just stare at the images of animals i have never heard of, but saw some animals which reminded me of my primary school days, when I used to be a very adept reader, and used to stay in at break with my friend Scott and listen to Mark and Lard on radio one, then read and amaze each other with silly facts and endless lists.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Penguins!
Some great examples from the legendary publishers Penguin. Their simplicity and effective design makes orange an acceptable colour... almost. Even got this great illustration of an elephant from the website!
This is the design I loosely based my A5 mock on, 1940's progressive indeed! Its also an almost common fact that everyone one loves penguins, maybe its because the books started the hype?
I need this book, I will own this book. Just not for its starting price. The entire back catalogue of penguin design!
Monday, 2 February 2009
All it takes is a little bit of divine circular intervention.
Recently, after watching "Catastrophe" the best visually engaging, yet somewhat irritatingly repetitive programme on how the world we know it today was born simply out of a series of random events that triggered the most astonishing evolutionary cycle that moulded and formed all of what we live in today. Using a varied range of sources from geologists in africa, to glacier watchers in the Alaskan tundra, it gave a great insight into how the pieces of I think from this perspective, it has shattered my boundaries of perception.
randomised events.
This programme Originated from the French mathematician Rene Thom in the 1960s, "catastrophe theory" is a. It studies and classifies phenomena characterized by sudden shifts in behaviour made apparent from small changes in circumstances, or events. Catastrophes are between different equilibria, or fixed point attractors. Due to their restricted nature, catastrophes can be classified based on how many control parameters are being simulataneously varied. For example, if there are two controls, then one finds the most common type, called a "cusp" catastrophe. If, however, there are move than five controls, there is no classification, more of a varied non sequenced output of
randomised events.
Catastrophe theory has been applied to a number of different phenomena, such as the stability of boats at sea, bridge collapse, and, with some less convincing success, the fight-or-flight behavior of animals and prison riots, this alone can link
back to our instinctual patterns within ourselves.
Not only this, but are we not taught or rather we perceive our infinite space and time continuum to be littered and speckled with almost giant atoms, with mixed chemical components, constantly at war with each other, ripping apart or creating new life, or visually changing and shaping the galaxy at a rate not even our eyes can keep up with. Molecular structure itself is part of this holy sacrament of circles, ever balancing out the vast expanse of our lives, and the interlinking of other planets. Even planetary orbit is circular. Duh.The reason why I am going on about this is because are planets not circles? Our eyes? Maybe our own perception is tainted with the "Kill/Create, Negative/Positive..." subliminal influence of the makeup of the galaxy that is continually shaping our perspectives and visual culture. Maybe.
Timelines and Past wives
The most obvious other subject I am looking at would have to be historical timelines, and how they are portrayed in information graphics. While surfing i found www.drawingfromexperience.wordpress.com which is a blog from a compilation of authors, from artists, to doctors, keeping an eye on the world about them visually and informatively. This graph is from an image I found on the blog from a book i have not yet read, "Visualizing information for Advocacy"
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