BA (Hons.

) GRAPHIC DESIGN
Module Code Module Title OUGD303 FINAL MAJOR PROJECT

LEVEL

Outcomes

06
1

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT STATEMENT OF INTENT

Name: Chris Lawson Blog Address: c-lawson1013.blogspot.com

Rationale I am a predominantly type-based designer, specialising in editorial & layout. I have also branched out to information graphics and icon design, exploring their relationship with editorial design and how they can exist as one complete product. Subjects / Themes Data Visualisation: Endangered Species, Fitness, Culture Sector: Theatre, Film, Famous Speeches, Bad Predictions Exhibition & Promotion: BA (Hons) Fine Art Student Promotion Dissertation: How does branding affect the way we see a product? Design Disciplines / Creative Development Editorial The part of my practice that I excel in the most, and want to capitalise on in the FMP. I want to use my editorial skills to create publications that fulfil the requirements of the brief, containing substantial information that is visually engaging and encourages the viewer to read on. Typographic Composition Designs A skill that I experimented with on the first module, I think I have the skills, knowledge and experience to fully explore a brief in this category taking advantage of print processes (in particular screen printing) to create final outcomes that are visually engaging and to add a unique value to every separate print. This discipline requires an ongoing investigation into type design and an up-to-date knowledge of typefaces and their relevance within design. Information Graphics A design discipline that takes masses of information and breaks it down into simple, visually engaging graphics that is designed for a quick understanding of the subject being analysed.

Icon Design Similar to logo design, icons have to be simple, functional on a small scale and instantly recognisable. Influenced by modernist design and their views on form follows function, I aim to use icon design to communicate the subject on the most basic level. Iconography is arguably the strongest form of design for communication as it can convey a message at a glance sometimes without the need for a textual explanation. Road signs are a great example of this.

Practical Skills / Workshops what, why and when? Screen Printing After the success of OUGD301, I want to revisit Screen Printing in my FMP, especially in Brief 5 my typographic poster brief. This will take place when I finalise my typographic composition, and will also act as additional experimentation with ink colour and stock choice. It will also add extra desirability to the final outcomes, which is useful when exhibiting work and selling them to the public. Bookbinding I also want to use the facilities at Vernon Street to do some bookbinding as I have a lot of publications proposed for the FMP. I will have to research into various methods and carry out experiments and test pieces before carrying out the process for the final outcomes. Collaboration With the Yearbook brief I will be collaborating with Jamie Flear, Chloe Wilkinson, Ben Harwood and Sam Edwards to create a suitable yearbook for the BA (Hons) Fine Art course. This will require design negotiation, team meetings and compromising ideas. The same applies to the collaboration with Simon Cherry the difference is were working as a pair, so compromising will be a big part of the whole process. Print Processes/Final Outcomes Using my knowledge of print, I will ensure all of my final outcomes are printed to the highest possible quality, whilst ensuring the printed material is relevant to the brief. For example, the yearbook has a budget so any dye cutting, spot varnishing or foil blocking will more than likely have to be left out.

Brief 1: Royal Court Theatre (YCN)

Deadline

14/03/2013

Rationale: Inform theatregoers of what happens behind the scenes of their favourite plays. Utilising editorial work and photography provided, create a publication that will be handed out at plays at the Royal Court Theatre.

Brief 2: Department of Health (D&AD)

Deadline

20/03/2013

Rationale: Create a campaign to make fitness fun for 18-30 year olds, by a possible interactive application available for Android & iPhone OS. Utilising infographics, icon design and type & layout skills, create a graphically considered game that will encourage physical exercise. Consider colour choice and consistency to create a believable identity that works throughout the whole application.

Brief 3: Endangered Infographic

Deadline

29/05/2013

Rationale: Inform & Educate the public about endangered species around the globe and what can be done to prevent their extinction. Create a publication that serves as a supplement for The Guardian combining information graphics and editorial design. Can be transferred as collectable posters, to be released on a weekly basis, consistent to the design of the publication. A very research-led brief that will require me to finalise a huge set of data from imagery to statistics and body copy before I can move on to design development.

Brief 4: Movie Scene Icons

Deadline

29/05/2013

Rationale: Communicate a set of famous film scenes in a purely iconographic form, to be placed in a publication that will be sold in entertainment & bookstores. Will act as a game that will leave the reader guessing, with a summary of the film accompanying the answers. Can be transferred as a digital outcome, with applications for smartphones that demonstrate the game in the publication.

Brief 5: Brief 5 They said what?

Deadline

29/05/2013

Rationale: Transcribe a set of at least 10 predictions that went wrong into a humorous set of typographic posters. These will be transferred into a short publication that will explain each prediction and why it went so wrong. Both would be sold at print and book fairs, and available at entertainment & culture stores as either a set, or sold individually as collectible items.

Contextual references / Designers / Studios / Companies (specific) Lost Type Foundry A.M. Cassandre Paul Rand Non-format Sawdust Qubik All these designers/studios deal with typography in their design practice. The investigation of classic typography and the posters that contextualise them leads me on to classic designers of the 20th Century such as A.M. Cassandre and Paul Rand.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY:

Deadline

Ongoing

Details An ongoing dialect with industry, getting in contact with designers and studios for my personal & professional development. Possible studio visits and/or placements through the Easter period. 23/03/2013 14/04/2013

RESEARCH ACTIVITY:

Deadline

22/02/2013

Details Possible trip to London to visit the Royal Court Theatre getting a first-hand feel for the theatre to influence my final outcomes for the YCN brief. Time and finances permitting.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY Deadline 22/02/2013 Details Paired with the London trip to the Royal Court Theatre visiting exibitions, museums & possible design studios to make the most out of the trip and to enhance the experience. Time and finances permitting.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY Deadline 15/02/2013 Details Look into print fairs, book fairs and exhibitions to negotiate a place/stall to promote work. Ideally towards the end of the FMP so I have significant work to show.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY Details

Deadline

BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS / TEXTS - (Harvard Referenced) JULIEN, A. 2012. Digital Fonts: The Complete Guide to Creating, Marketing and Selling. London: Thames and Hudson. BEST, K. 2006. Design Management: Managing Design Strategy, Process and Implementation. Lausanne, Switzerland: AVA Publishing. LUPTON, E. 2004. Thinking With Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors and Students. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. HALL, S. 2007. This Means This, This Means That: A Users Guide to Semiotics. London: Laurence King. HYLAND, A, S BATEMAN. 2011. Symbol. London: Laurence King. KLANTEN, R. 2008. Data Flow: Visualising Information in Graphic Design. Berlin: Die Gestalten Verlag. KLANTEN, R. 2010. Data Flow: Visualising Information in Graphic Design, Volume 2. Berlin: Die Gestalten Verlag. DRAUGHT ASSOCIATES. 2008. Visual Aid. London: Black Dog Publishing. DRAUGHT ASSOCIATES. 2009. Visual Aid 2: You Can Never Know Enough Stuff. London: Black Dog Publishing. McCANDLESS, D. 2010. Information is Beautiful. London: Harper Collins. MAGAZINES / JOURNALS / ARTICLES (include publication date and details) Creative Review Ongoing Little White Lies - Ongoing Empire Magazine November 2012 & Ongoing Total Film Ongoing The Guardian Newspaper Daily editions, ongoing investigation into design styles and Sunday Supplements Daily Mail Daily editions & Sunday Supplements ON LINE REFERENCES / WEBSITES / ARTICLES (include specific urls) Designspiration - http://designspiration.net/ Behance - http://www.behance.net/ Tumblr - http://nicebitofdesign.tumblr.com/ & http://tumblr.com/ Its Nice That - http://www.itsnicethat.com/ Aisle One - http://www.aisleone.net/ This Is Collate - http://www.thisiscollate.com/ Gridness - http://gridness.net/ Graphic Exchange - http://www.mr-cup.com/blog.html From Up North - http://www.fromupnorth.com/

OTHER REFERENCE MATERIAL (Films, events, exhibitions, conferences) No specific events, but I hope to visit print events and type exhibitions around Leeds in particular.

ACTION PLAN use this section to identify specific tasks that you need to complete in order to resolve the brief. Brief What do you need to do? Deadline Research doesnt include design context, which will always be an ongoing part of my FMP, which I wont put a point in which it will be finalised. All research mentioned in the action plan regards research into content and design restrictions. All deadlines are ABSOLUTE deadlines, which doesnt necessarily mean that I will be working on a task up until the deadline I have set myself. Although I will try to stick to these deadlines, illness or other incidents could hinder my progress. Personal deadlines are therefore subject to change, but all decisions will be carefully considered to ensure the new deadline is reasonable and entirely realistic. Short-term briefs could be added through the module if it is suitable for my practice and if it will enhance, and not hinder, my practice. All possible briefs will be negotiated and considered before going through with them. 1 Secondary Research & Imagery collected Idea generation complete Finalise development All final outcomes resolved Final Outcomes printed and constructed Work photographed Boards constructed ready for submission to YCN If necessary, I have the option to push the project further for my personal benefit after the competition deadline has passed. 15/02 20/02 28/02 07/03 11/03 12/03 14/03

Secondary Research & Imagery collected Idea generation complete Finalise development All final outcomes resolved Mock-Ups constructed in context Boards constructed ready for submission to D&AD If necessary, I have the option to push the project further for my personal benefit after the competition deadline has passed.

15/02 22/02 15/03 18/03 19/03 20/03

ALL content-related research collected Idea generation complete Final infographics complete Publication & Posters resolved Outcomes printed and constructed Work photographed Boards constructed Final tweaks to outcomes & boards for module submission

06/03 03/04 17/04 13/05 20/05 21/05 22/05 29/05

ALL content-related research collected Idea generation complete Finalise icons & their compositions Publications & any mock-ups resolved Final Outcomes printed and constructed Work photographed Boards constructed ready for submission Final tweaks to outcomes & boards for module submission Screen-printing is a constant part of this project that will start as soon as I create a final typographic design. It will inform the design outcomes by using different stocks and inks, and therefore will serve as print development as well as a method to produce my final designs.

15/02 01/03 23/04 13/05 20/05 21/05 22/05 29/05

ALL content-related research collected Idea generation & design development ALL typographic poster designs completed Publications & any mock-ups resolved Final Outcomes printed and constructed Work photographed Boards constructed ready for submission Final tweaks to outcomes & boards for module submission

15/02 Ongoing 01/05 13/05 20/05 21/05 22/05 29/05

The 6th brief is the collaboration of the Yearbook brief in which meetings with the client are determined as the project goes on meaning a definitive time plan is difficult to pin down at this early stage.

Collaboration with Simon Cherry on the prospectus brief. As it has yet to be released, deadlines are yet to be decided - work will be carried out and will require project management on top of the 5 main briefs.

A potential turn-around brief is an extension to my Nutharc typeface created in OUGD301. I would spend a maximum of two weeks creating outcomes that contextualise my typeface and would strengthen the whole project for my portfolio. The typeface is finalised, and would be solely putting it into context. Deliverables could be typographic posters, travel-related publications, Scandinavian-themed prints, calendars, postcards etc.