Foundation 2D Project 3 – Zine – Final

14 April 2016 Final Week


Expansion of Foundation2DII Project 1 – Lines

Given that we are coming to an end of the Foundation term, I thought it will be a good idea to conclude the semester with the first project I received for the module.
In terms of explorations, I’m looking forward to expand the concept in a more interactive way to achieve the ‘wow’ effect in my ‘Typography’ project.
So, the big question is… How do I make it interactive?

EUGENE
Foundation 2D I Project 1 – Lines

The above composition is the 18 individual lines expression were composed with the ‘Fish’ theme that connects each pieces together.
To understand more of this composition, click this link below:
https://oss.adm.ntu.edu.sg/elee017/2015/10/04/foundation-2d-project-1-final-composition-nice-nasty/


Summary

These video summaries the content of this OSS post.
Video #1 shows ‘Behind-the-scene’ whereas Video #2 shows ‘Work-In-Progress’
Enjoy!^^


Concept

I’ve decided to work on this project due to its potential to create an interaction with the audience. As Miss Joy mentioned; What is the selling point of a particular item/product? – I felt that the selling point depends on how eye-catching a product is.. with that, it will immediately create attention thus drawing audiences.

The term ‘Expression’ varies from different people. For example; Some people sees Apple as a Fruit, Some see it as a form of income, and some see Science (Gravitation Force) in it…
Apple is healthy, eat apple.
The list can go on and on.. But, you get the idea..
I find it explorable due to the fact that different people have different takes/interpretation of a particular subject, therefore, an potential in terms of interaction with the topic.

How do I make my artwork interacts with the audience?
– I find that, for this Zine project, I could make use of the ‘Where’s Wally’ or a ‘Puzzle’ style format that interacts with the audience.
– It can be done so by having to draw one Wally Fish in a aquarium of many other fish.
– It could be printed in a ‘No Staple – 8 page mini’ with the game behind.

However, I find the theory of putting the game idea with the Line expression inappropriate.
It makes no sense to put these 2 different topics together because it does not relates to the initial concept – To create a sense of personal interpretation.

As a result, I went to do more research on possible Zine methods that I can make use of.


Research [Content]

As research went more intense, I discovered the need for more simplicity approaches.
I looked up into websites to understand how the front, typeface and style were used in relevant to the topic.
Most Zine comes with a simple cover page that somehow summaries its content. Most were literal and some were made with visual metaphors.
The example shown in class by Nestled Ellipsis is an example of using visual metaphors to communicate with her audience. It requires a certain understanding and knowledge of the subject manner in order to decipher the hidden message.

So, to conclude, there can be 2 methods of approach Zine; 1) Simple, Literal 2) Complex, Visual Metaphor.

I looked up for inspiration in various websites and below are the findings.

Clarity by Katie Ravenscraig


http://katieravenscraig.com/zines/

The use of simple yet communicable images made the Zine standout.
The use of Typeface makes relevant to it’s topic of discussion.
The use of colour scheme set the Dark Mood.

Cheap Art by Pat

http://artkerfuffle.blogspot.sg/2014/06/cheap-art.html

Don’t do this if you are allergy to dirty cardboards, yes, dirty cardboards because it give you rashes. Unless you have non-sensitive skin.
Anyway, this cardboard Zine doesn’t look as cheap as it seems. The artist made several craves out of the cardboard creating patterns which serves as a form a aesthetics.
There are various methods that were used to create the patterns such as; Batik-style dotting and pure-cutting.
When put together, the cardboard Zine looks cohesive and stands out as a whole.
However, due to readability, the use of wordings were kept to minimum.

PEREC ZINE by Brad Meyer

http://www.madbreyer.com/perec-zine-1/

One of the coolest Zine yet!
The use of B&W colours set the Zine in a shady moody feel. Which ties back to the topic visually.
The use of wordings and images followed a certain guidelines such as one does not dominate each other.

Through my initial research on Zine, I gather more information and ideas that I can put into consideration for my Zine.
I hope to achieve the simplicity feel in my Zine and I am considering to put wordings as minimum as possible as most of the interaction part will be done visually.


Inspiration / Artist References

Besides the above mentioned, I continued my search on Zine methods that could introduce the idea of ‘personal interpretation.’ I came across this particular flip book (Image below) that allows the user to mix-and-match the wordings and images to create something new.

Bob Gill’s A to Z


With the flip book concept in mind, I went to look up to more of the other artists that had worked on the same idea.

Phonics Flip Book
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/6412/word-families-flip-book?crlt_pid=camp.AjqF9sxN0Mzc

SchoolArts Magazine

http://www.schoolartsdigital.com/i/150528-aug-sep-2009

More Works can be found in this link: https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?0=flip%7Ctyped&1=book%7Ctyped&q=flip%20book&rs=typed

After checking out the various flip book, I realised that most serve as a education medium such as to identify simple words and or to identify the different parts of the human body. The idea of incorporating the flip book idea into my concept enhance the ability to interact and encourages different interpretations.


Execution [Content]

My intention, for my Zine, is to have a simple yet visual appealing design/layout.
I am also inspired by Nestled Ellipsis to create a Zine based on our own interest, therefore, I brought a pair of contrasting brown Tiziano A3 sheet to build my Zine.
Yup! You got it right! It’s going to be Handmade!

The idea of having to handmade my Zine not only reflects on the Major; Product Design but it serves as a learning journey as well. It is not often for me to have this chance of making a handmade Zine as most of the time I’m dealing with 3 Dimension products.
Hence, got this chance so why not? (:

As always, as the saying goes; “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
Those are wise words that reminds us of the importance of a good planning, just like in the Army.
Before working on the actual material, I did some sketches and mock-up that would assist me in assembling my final Zine.
Below are some images of my initial sketches and mock-ups.

Sketches

Mock-Up #1 (A6)[Edited]
Initial idea made use of 3 panels that separates the fish into 3 different parts (Head, Body, Tail) with the text (on the left) arranged vertically.

Mock-Up #2 (A5)
Printed in a double sided, careful manner.. This is the mock up of what the final Zine will look like.

With the mock-up in hand, I can visualize more and is able to make improvement on the mock up.
As such, I went to scan in my ‘Project 1 – Lines’ so that I am able to work on them digitally.

Q1
Q2
My initial execution is to have the ‘line’ expression blown to the size that it fill the entire background. However, the method caused the image to be quite blur and unclear.
As a result, there’s a need to make changes.

Q3
Horizontal Placement.
Q4
Duplicate the pattern vertically upwards.
Q5
Adding hues to the pattern.


Research [Cover Page]

What catch people attention in a book on a bookshelves?
– Probably it’s Author? For me, the cover page matter the most.
Sadly, I judge and buy books based on its cover page. (:

I look up to various websites for inspiration on cover page design and below are some findings.

Window Farms: Information Design Book via Jiani Lu

https://www.behance.net/JianiLu

Personally, I find this cover page intriguing.. Probably it’s the product element that caught my eye.
The minimalist use of front and the use of highlight further enhance the readability of the text, in addition it somehow draws the viewers eyes towards the text.

Book Cover Design via PY

http://www.behance.net/hpy

This is my personal favorite.
I dont think I need to explain much about this, the book cover already explained so.
Just curious, if the artist could use a black cover instead?
I think it will convey a stronger meaning?

The images below are a list of ‘No text’ Cover page
For more: Visit http://jayce-o.blogspot.com/2013/09/100-fresh-book-cover-design-ideas.html

Binding Up The Bay via jonathan tan

Candela Brand Book via RoAndCo Studio

Coffe sketchbook via Ductus

Screenprint collection book via Gabriel Jasmin


Execution [Cover Page]

Cover page without wordings does not confine to one but many different interpretations. I find the use of ‘No text’ cover page suitable for my topic since I’m playing with the idea of – ‘To create a sense of personal interpretation.’

As mentioned, I hope to achieve a visual appealing effect on my Zine as well.
Since, I’m working with the ‘Fish’ theme in mind.. My cover page requires the elements of fish or fish parts.

After several mock ups, I decided to create my cover page with abstract fish design.
When I was a kid, I remembered my art teacher teaching us to draw fish in a form of triangle.. This is how it roughly looks like..

http://lovetolaughandlearn.com/triangles-learning-activities-for-shapes/

Revival Wood Works

https://www.facebook.com/RevivalWoodworks

Grey Wood Art Fish School Sign Wall Decor Beach by CastawaysHall

https://www.etsy.com/listing/177582867/grey-wood-art-fish-school-sign-wall?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

With the above, triangular fish and wall art, in mind.. I decided to handcraft a flat piece of abstract artwork on a brown paper. It is done so by drawing lines of intersection on the grid measuring 140mm x 200mm. The main idea is to develop the different interpretation each person have with the artwork.

Since the whole idea is to create a sense of personal interpretation, I felt that by craving the ‘fish’ design in this abstract way relates to my topic. I’ve ask several of my classmates to gather some of their opinions of the cover page, most of them see it as a pattern design or some sort of intense paper cutting. However, after explaining the concept to them, they are able to see the ‘patterns’ as fishes swimming around the cover page.

My initial idea is to cut out a fish pattern on the cover page, but I find it too literal and it does not create the abstract feel to the overall design.

The next step involve adding mono-printed patterns on the back of the abstract fish design. This process is done so because it relates to the ‘Line’ project which I used the mono-printed methods to develop the individual expressions.




Address to Typeface & Use of Colour

002

 

In each composition, I used different typeface to represent the different line expression. The concept of not having a repetition of typeface aims to communicate the purpose of personal interpretation.
Each line expression was tagged with the name of the fish it was being represented.
Below are the lists of typeface used.

Ambiguous – Kristen ITC
Distracted – Labomba LET
Systematic – Lucida Bright
Fragile -Letter Gothic
Anxious – Smudger LET
Exhausted – Monotype Carsiva
Sensual – Magneto

I felt that among the rest of the available typefaces, the chosen ones represent each line expression best. Similarly, I avoided the repetition of colours used to represent the fishes so as to not confused the reader. With the different typefaces and choice of colours use, I felt that the overall composition encourages a sense of playability.


Book Binding Method

I bounded my Zine with the Saddle Stitch technique instead of having it ringed.
It was done so by stapling over the spreads on a piece of Styrofoam.

Due to its interactivity, I had to align 4 stapler bullets in series so that they does not interfere with each other.

Nevertheless, it was a good attempt!


Choice of paper

To reflect on the idea of a handmade Zine, I chose a pair of contrasting brown Tiziano A3 sheet to build my Zine. The colour and the method of execution holds everything together as a DIY concept.

Setting my direction right, I created my Zine in a flip book concept which allows interaction with its reader. The paper used should not be flimsy and should be thick enough to withstand pressure while the pages were being flipped.

I chose a 200 GSM paper so that it’s not too flimsy and not to hard as well.


The End (=