Life Cycles - Graphics Project Brief

BTEC EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN ART & DESIGN 1ST YEAR

LIFE CYCLES - GRAPHIC DESIGN

Unit 45 Graphics Media, Techniques and Technology

Unit 30: Location Photography

RATIONALE

You will experience the area of Graphic Design: how to mindmap , develop slogans, captions and take these through to a concept. This project requires you use photography and create your own inventively manipulated imagery.  It encourages you to explore different visual language within Art & Design i.e. the difference between abstract figuration, collage and photomontage. 

 

TIME:     

 

4 weeks before half term

2 weeks study leave and 1 half term.

3.5 weeks after half term.

 

Project begins :

Wednesday 20th April – Friday  20^th May  in existing base room.

Return 13^th June normal timetable resumes :

DEADLINE:  Monday 13 June – Monday 4  July 3.5 weeks).

 

·         Life cycles project to be completed 2 summative units covered.

·         Visit to New Designers to be confirmed unit 5 summative unit

·         Personal statement, UCAS applications and holiday work- Design diary summative unit 5, set in last few days.

·         College breaks up Wednesday 6 July.

AIM:

 

On the theme of ‘life cycles’ produce a 6 sided leaflet on 1 stage in life .  Within the leaflet you will need to follow a grid format that will form part of your leaflet. You will use workshops within lessons to explore a wide variety of techniques and processes.

 

•  4 weeks before study leave-  Mindmapping,  research, development of concepts, photography shoots, drawing, workshop techniques      
• Study leave 3 weeks including half term  –  a  further location shoot , research and  specific workshop techniques working from your photographs .
• On your return 13^th June,-  developing producing mock ups, and resolving the leaflet, evaluation

Materials

 

·         printmaking - monoprints, gold card, letterpress                  

·         photography –  2 good shoots working within your theme, using dramatic lighting and extreme viewpoints.  You must use locations photography and studio based experimentation

·         sewing machine

·         acetate collage

·         spraypaint stencils

·         collage

·         image transfer with emulsion

·         photomontage

·         food colouring/ink and bleach

·         pencil/biro drawing

·         hand rendered slogans and sayings

 

LIFE CYCLES to choose from:

 

BIRTH

PARENTHOOD

TODDLER

DIVORCE

TEENAGER                    MIDLIFE CRISIS

LOVE                             RETIREMENT

MARRIAGE                    DEATH

 

PROCEDURE:  Week 1

 

1.    Produce at least 1 page of  initial brainstorming for at least  2 of the  life cycles

 

2.    Choose 1 to explore in as  much  depth as possible.  Produce 6 pages that explores your ideas . This should include:  mindmapping, word association, mood boards, photographs, photocopies of objects, magazine cuttings, extracts from poems, slogans, observational drawings etc.  Write down everything to do with an idea not just a single word but everything to do with that theme:  e.g. marriage could be mindmapped in the following way:  - an American Las Vegas styled marriage. 

 

Brainstorm: Las Vegas , the chapel of love, Elvis impersonator, side burns, 1 armed bandits, double your money, everyone a winner , poker, lots of tack gold, American flag, dollars signs, Stretch Limousine Cadillacs, wedding lyrics, four weddings and a funeral, white veil, Elvis white jumpsuit, renting a witness, best man, lady in waiting lyrics from songs about getting married, honeymoon suites, the film ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ and famous sayings from this.  All of these words could be visualised in varying imagery, textures, found objects and marks – make yours as exciting as possible!

 

3)   Come up with a definite ‘concept’.  A concept is a way into your life cycle that makes us think in a certain way.   i.e. different ways to get married to might  be :- a tacky wedding ceremony  in  Las Vegas, an extreme parachuting/ bungee jumping experience or  ‘my big fat gypsy wedding’ .

 

4)  Begin to generate ideas for a photo-shoot by producing  storyboards showing extreme viewpoints - close ups, low angle, high angle, things in and out focus, shadows, lighting, action and movement.  Make it achievable for yourself by using friends and family easily available in locations that you can return to if necessary.

 

 

5) Analyse the work of photographers who use location in their work.  350 words each photographer

 

• A Historical – Robert Doisneau documentary photographer https://www.photographersgallery.com/by_artist.asp?id=201
• Contemporary photojournalist  – Martin Parr http://www.martinparr.com/:
• Fashion photographer Emma Summerton http://www.emmasummerton.com/
• Travel phtophotographer Steve McCurry http://stevemccurry.com/

 

ANSWER WHAT, WHEN, WHO, HOW, WHY.

·          Give examples of their work and then analyse this in depth using the questions below as starting points.

·         HOW DO THEY USE LOCATIONS WITHIN THEIR WORK?

·         Who are they and what kind of photography are they known for.

·          Give brief biographical background and tell us what work they have had published.

·         What ideas are they interested in?

·         What techniques or technology do these practitioners use to create interesting photographs? ie lenses. shutter speed, camera tripod, ie dark room black and white, digital, manipulation of this etc

·         What are they most known for, who have they worked for ?

·         How do they capture or utilise light, texture, movement of the place or moment images are taken?

·         Do they use candid shoots or are these planned?

·         Do they work with colour or monochrome?

·         How do they work with the model and the location?  What do they use to visually connect the two aspects together?

https://www.photographersgallery.com/search_photos.asp

 

Print out wallet images of your unedited images and then edited ones that you feel are the most effective.

Annotate   in your sketchbooks your use of :

• Composition
• Depth of field
• Contrast
• Texture
• Colour
• Sense of movement if appropriate
• Framing and Subject placement- how have you placed your subjects with reference to the light source  and location
• Lighting- spot lamp, soft, torch, natural

 

4)     Produce at least 2 sets of  strong photo shoots of 10 images using specific locations, considering light, props and camera angle.. Translate these images in class and at home in  a variety of  ways.    

 

5)     Begin translating these images in a variety of hand rendered ways.  Produced a whole range of mixed media pieces to utilise within the leaflet. 

 

6)    Select apt slogans to work with to relate to your life cycle and begin experimenting with techniques to enrich your work.   Begin to develop layouts, thumbnail sketches, using text along with image . Develop positive or negative slogans to accompany your images.  Have a look at http://www.handmadefont.com/

 

7)    Make your own homemade font and photograph each letter separately using found objects or materials on white paper. Make it appropriate to your idea and use materials that are fitting to your theme ie an addiction theme for teenagers may be made up from cigarette butts but toddler might use toy cars and crayons. 

 

RESEARCH TO BE DONE OVER STUDY LEAVE

 

1. Research 2 well designed leaflets.  Find examples of creative leaflets. Annotate and answer the following:

 

• How does information flow from one panel to the next?
• How is colour, text and image unified?  Comment on the layout
• Is there a regular position/scale/ for the text on the page?
• How is the type face integrated or contrasted with the other imagery?
• How is the front and back cover connected?
• How many images are used?
• What is the tone of the the message? ie fun and feel good, shocking and serious etc
• Can you explain how ideas and images have they been cleverly put together?

 

ARTISTS

 

Look at one artist or designer from each of the 8 lists.

   

Collect information on each and analyse their work.

 Answer the following questions:

 

1. How have they composed their imagery?
2. What media have they used?
3. What processes and techniques have been included and what do you think about them?
4. What mood, idea or concept does it reflect?
5. Do you think the work is successful?  Why?
6. What style would you say this work reflects?
7. What makes this work interesting?       
8.  Work in the style of 2 of these artists/designers and produce 4  images that reflect their work using some of your own photos.

 

ARTIST\DESIGNER REFERENCES.    1.Abstract Imagery      Jean Michal Basquiat, John Hoyland,        Howard Hodgekin, Sean Scully,        Franz Kline, De Kooning, Jackson        Pollock   2.  Representational  Drawing       David Hockney,      Jenny Saville, Egon Schiele, THS, Kelly Roper, Tim Tomkinson, David Foldvari   3.  Collage      Kurt Schwitters, , Katy Lemay      Eduardo Recife, Sara Fanelli        Dawn Dupree, Tim Marrs, Alex        Williamson   4.  Photography.      Henri Cartier Bresson, Bill Brant, Bill Viola, Martin Parr, Cindy Sherman, Corrine Day, Olivero Toscani,  Mario Testino, Nick Maplin, Robert Mapplethorpe   5.  Pop Art     Richard Hamilton, Peter Blake,     Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenburg,     Andy Warhol, Roy Lichenstein   http://www.itsnicethat.com/ http://www.handmadefont.com/

6. Linear Drawing     Keith Haring, Michael Craig-Martin,     Cy Twombly, Jasper Johns,     Neasden Control Centre   7. Photomontage     Eduardo Paolozzi, John Heartfield, Raoul Haussmann, Helen Chadwick, David Mach, Terry Gillam   8. Text     Stefan Sagmeister,  David Carson, Fuel,        Why Not Associates, Tomarto, Neville       Brody, Barbra Krugar, Tom Hingston, Designers Republic

 

N.B before Study Leave you will be expected to clear out your drawers and take all work home. by Friday 20 May  Be warned anything left in drawers will be thrown!

 

6.   Continue to develop ideas within workshop sessions.  You will need considerable amount of experimental ideas and imagery to make your leaflet.

 

7.   Having developed your images begin to consider the format. You are to include a grid for one of your panels within the leaflet. The size of your Leaflet should be 28 x 14cms.  Within each Leaflet you should produce 1 page that is equally divided into 8 sections [each section is 7 x 7cms] This can be on any of the sides.It could be that the Leaflet is unfolded to reveal a central page or be any other of the panels  Other panels can be developed as you wish but must look appropriate to the 8 grid section.

 

8.    For each of the boxes you should show a developed image using the following in any order:

·         Abstract:

An image showing a section, portion or heavily cropped image that has been developed using paint\expressive mark making.

·     Representational:

An image taken from observation or a photograph that resembles an object or figure.

·         Linear:

An image using line only but can involve colour and surface additionally.

 

·         Collage:

An image using found materials newspapers, magazines, fabrics, metals etc.

 

·         Pop Art:

An image which uses symbols, signs and other well understood images within our culture i.e. male ♂ and female ♀ symbols, x and y chromosomes, kisses xxx, targets, +,  =  signs  → ?  ♥   £  †  $,  icons of popular culture, film stars, pop stars, images of consumerism e.g. packaging labels, advertising, domestic appliances.

 

·         Photographic:

This includes photogrammes, location shots, studio set ups, black and white, colour, digital photography experiments with Polaroids.

 

·         Photomontage:

Collage using photographic imagery cut and pasted together.  Humorous or satirical images e.g. Monty Python’s Meaning of Life.

 

·         Text:

An image made up entirely from layered text using provocative statements, information, famous sayings, a line from a poem, personal important diary entry dates etc.  Your message should be clear and emphatic and come from your life cycle.

 

9.   Produce at least 2 mock-ups for your leaflet.  These should show scanned in print outs  showing sections, details, heavily cropped areas of interest etc.

 

10.      Before you start printing, make sure you are completely happy with your outcome.  Let a tutor see your rough colour print outs before you print finally.

 

MINIMUM SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

 

A full sketchbook.  The following should be inside:

§  1 page  each of mindmapping for  2 life cycles .

§  6 pages  on 1 life cycle in more depth-  mindmapping and mood boards,

§   8 pages of research on artists’ work with annotations and questions answered by the side

§  6 responses to 2 of these artists

§  2 leaflets with  research answering questions.

§  25 pages of research, development and resolvement on your chosen life cycle. These pages should show logical development and differing ways of presenting layouts for your leaflets - i.e. mock ups, varying images together, differing captions etc.  This sketchbook should be highly annotated

§  1 final leaflet based on your chosen life cycle

§  2 evaluations – one evaluating  location photography  and one summerising the whole  design process unit 45.  This should cover techniques, artist research, development and experimentation

 

 

You should answer questions in depth.  You must use thumbnail sketches, diagrams or scanned imagery to make your points clearer. Evaluation should be a minimum of 800 words long, word-processed and checked for spelling.

 

 

EVALUATION UNIT 45 GRAPHIC IMAGE MAKING

1. Pick 2 of your graphic images that you feel are important within your leaflet  and evaluate them  in minimum of 800 words:
2. Answer the following:
3. Describe the two pieces,  why you think these are the most successful and how have you included these graphic images within the design of your  leaflet?  ie you  could have translated a photographic image into a tonal drawing and combined this with collage to make a contemporary feel that expresses something about your lifecycle. Describe indepth what you have done to create your graphic images and show images to explain your actions. 
4. What symbols have you used within your graphic images on any parts of the leaflet or within the earlier parts of the sketchbook  and what do you want your leaflet to express?
5. Discuss the development of your ideas within this project and the place of brainstorming, mood boards, diagrams, cutting up magazines or using found imagery within your graphic images you created.  How did your ideas develop in varying ways?
6. What graphic techniques have you used to create  a certain ‘tone’ within your work and why is this relevant to your theme? ie scratchy writing to suggest anger or teenage angst  or soft vintage filters on photoshop to suggest time and marriage past.   How successful do you think these graphic effects are within your work , why?
7. How have you edited your images to fit the format  of the leaflet What  did you do to these?  Write in detail describing your editing within photoshop, cropping, saturation, tone, contrast, brightness, clone tools  etc.
8. Which designers have helped you to create a graphic style,  and how can you describe the style you have adopted?  ie you could use words such as surreal, distressed, montage, chaotic, simplified etc

9.    What message does this leaflet make about your life cycle?    What do you want the viewer to think when they see these images - a feeling for the moment, a sense of nostalgia, atmosphere, poignant reflection.

 

10. How has text appeared on your leaflet?  What font have you chosen and what feel have you tried to communicate?

 

11. Of the differing approaches to image making that you were asked to explore, which final images do you think are the most successful and why? Discuss each approach in turn.     Consider mentioning things such as formal elements, aesthetics, the use of tactile qualities, markmaking, simplicity, linear effects, layout, experimental use of media.

 

12. How would you resolve, modify or change the final piece of work you have produced if you had a further 5 weeks of study. Do you think you have used your time wisely within this project?  How have you used lessons, private study times and have you stuck to the interim homework deadlines?

 

 

EVALUATION UNIT 30 LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY

 

1.    Explain what you understand by the term location photography, what do kinds of photography do you  think this covers?

2.    What photographic equipment did you use to capture your photographs?  Please detail this and the settings you used on your camera/phone.?

3.     Who did you look at for this project and how did their work impact upon your ideas?  Please be specific ie discuss elements of atmosphere, composition or concept that helped your work. How do your photographs relate to 3 location photographer’s work? Please compare your own use of location photography in contrast to  practitioners’ work  such as intention, composition, lighting, shutter speed, filters, and any other  production techniques, use of dark room or digital etc

4.    What kind of organisation  of people and places have you had to do to arrange for  your shoots to  take place?

 

5.    Which 3 best photographs did you create on location and how did you produce these? If they were digital, can you discuss editing you did .  If they were produced in the dark room please discuss the production of these with reference to how you did it.   What have you done to edit these including programs you have used to do this. ie photoshop and Adobe bridge, use of hard drives and memory sticks, google drive etc