Colour Theory

Alphabet Soup 2

'Sarah'

This is my final alphabet, I liked the idea of working with negative space as it invited the idea of using bright spotlights to highlight what I wanted.

Here I was just testing out a few ideas. Attempting to create something which actually looked 80's. (above) I feel this one looks a bit too much like graffiti. I created it by just using the outline of the below letterforms. (below) liked the idea of using simple shapes and block colours against a black background as it seemed to be a recurring theme in 80's graphics. This just wouldn't work on the tracing paper, couldnt get a block, black background.

For this brief we had to interview someone from our year group and from the interview decide on four words which described that person. These words were then to be used to produce an alphabet which represented that person. As always there were constraints to this; manipulate an already existing font, presented on A1 sized tracing paper (had to consider how to use colour because of this) with this to produce a name badge for the person your new type face is based on.

The four words I chose to start with were; Art Nouveau, 80's films, cultural, bubbly.

I decided to change art nouveau to the 80's as after testing a few ideas I found it hard to create something original. I also felt like the 80's was more representative of sarah.

I looked at various fonts to manipulate but decided to use 'futura' as its simple qualities worked well with the words I had chosen.

Alphabet Soup

'Layer'

Here we were given a word which we had to illustrate in ten letterforms of our choice. We had to manipulate an already existing type face. This meant that we could really experinent with serifs etc, what works best with what word.

Just a couple of pages from my sketchbook. I tested out various ideas. Our research had to be specifically visual based. In other words, the best way to solve this problem was by constantly testing what worked and what didn't visually, thumb nails, testing out 3dimensional ideas etc.

Visual Language

For visual language last week we were put into groups and asked to create a letter using collected boxes. There were constraints though. As you can see in this first image, the letter form had to be created so it was visible through this frame. From the side it barely resembled anything but speradically placed boxes. This task made us consider; form, view point, size, positioning.

Visual Language 2
Here we were working with just the letter 'A' again but in sequence. We were given a word and had to express this in a series of four squares. Words included 'edit', 'duplicate', 'hybrid' and 'compress'.

VISUAL LANGUAGE. Here we were experimenting with describing a word using an image created by type. We were given 2 or 3 fonts to work with just consisting of the letter 'A'. The words included, 'compress', 'form', 'horizontal', 'link', 'positive', 'above', 'difference', 'space', 'loop' and 'finished'. It was interesting to see the variations of images that could be created just using one letterform.

HOW TO...Manage your money without getting into debt.

This brief was aimed at students just starting out at university. Each group got given a different 'HOW TO' and had to solve it using their already existing design skills.

As our 'HOW TO' was so broad we wanted to find a way to communicate a lot of information in a manageable way. Instead of just handed out a survival kit or leaflets, we wanted something which we knew a student would hold onto and use. A pack of playing cards seemed to be the best solution to the problem. Who'd say no to a free pack of cards? The slightly cheesy tag line, 'IT'S YOUR MONEY. DEAL WITH IT.' links the cards to the concept of saving and does grab peoples attention.

All in all I think the concept could definitely work if it is produced to a high standard. The cards heald information of websites to visit as well as facts and simple ideas to save your money as a student.

As a group we worked really well together, all giving ideas and bringing our own, individual skills to the table.

We divided the information and work that was needed to be done between us and so we could all get on with what was needed individually, taking into consideration each persons strengths.

I think we could have planned our time better and more work could have been done when we were altogether instead of each person doing there own thing.

We did a powerpoint presentation to explain our investigations and findings and I feel it worked really well. Each person helped to present and I feel it was done really well. We were clear and mentioned all we could with help from the powerpoint.

My alphabet. After being asked to create an alphabet which visually communicated me, all I could think of was coffee... I seem to collect mugs of all shapes and sizes and so saw it fit to use them in this brief. Instead of making the letters with lots of mugs in one shot i thought it would be more interesting to find the alphabet within the mugs. My personal favourites are the 'S' and the 'B'.