28/08/17 – 23/08/17 (Week 1 – Week 9)
Vinessa Lucia (0328421)
Publishing II : Mass Communication
Exercise
Publishing II : Mass Communication
Exercise
Lecture 1 (Week 2)
Historical Format
History of publishing comes from books that were hand written. Back in the 14th century if someone have a book, they must be rich.
People in the 14th century used to have sheep skin for books, which to create 1 book will be 6 months to 1 year, knowledge trap among the upper classes.
Until printing was developed, the moment typefaces were available, books become cheaper.
The most important elements in developing a book are : Sense of space, detailed oriented, and publishing software skills
Format includes the paper, type of paper, and the size of the book, the size of a book - target audience, content, cost effective
Different Types of Civilisation
Mesopotamia
As soon as technology arrives, creators follow it, as soon as computers were coming, they need fonts. Innovation always shadows technology
“Record Keeping Before Writing”
Clay tablets will be initial formats that are being chosen, earlier form of writing will be recording.
The clay tablets from the mesapotamia evolve becoming thinner, cleaner
After that we have people writing on palm leaves (Bali, Thailand, Burma) because it was in a tropical climate, there was a lot of palm leaves.
The British are going around looking for artifacts, knowing now there are one of the biggest collectors.
Egypt
In Egypt the have papyrus, kinda like palm leaves. They would used existing media around them. Also they would write on tomb walls
Han-China
Chinese characters are written in vertical columns. Even the pictogram for the word book, is a collected bamboo script. The earliest book was found in China.
Chinese Publishing
In the 10th-11th century, China was one of the first publishing company. They have wood blocks, with the characters engraved and for the people to take the knowledge from those wooden blocks.
Turkey
Started using goatskin, europe started using skin. Because they used to use leather, and leather couldn’t be scrolled, that why the formats of the book today have the seem on the side.
Paper become very available in the the 14th century, because they know how to make paper, but the ingredients for it wasn’t found, so they substitute it for local ingredients.
Lecture 2 (Week 3)
History of Print
2nd-8th century AD
Any surface that transfer to artwork, is consider printing. Sheets of paper are laid down above each other then engraved it, people used to use that with brass and called it brass rubbing
In China printing didn’t work as well, which is why Korea takes the lead, sutra printed paper in Korea in AD 750-768. Prints were not able to be printed in large quantities, until it was developed in Japan.
The difference between and pagoda. Stupa : clear connection of budhanist.
The first book (Chinese from the end of T’ang dynasty) the advancement of printing started on from this book.
Any form of printing was by religious people. Previously technology advancement, could be threatening to religion.
Printing was only for scholars, knowledge was not available to the public. Which is why only a few people know about the contents of the books and printing back then.
In China, characters engravement have to be written in reverse, in order to be correct on the print.
Movable Types
Types or characters that could be rearrange and could be reusable, it's a necessary step for printing, it came out from China. The technology didn’t move forward, it ended there but the idea move on to Korea.
11th century : Chinese coming up with movable type
14th century : the first provable document (the koreans using the chinese script)
Europe (didn’t have a problem with movable type, because of the limited characters)
1400
The technique of printing was introduced to Europe, whenever europian go around the world, they exchange information.
Example if you look at the dancers in a part of India, they look like the chinese traditional dancers.
Western printing
Gutenberg (The inventor of printing in Europe) was being sued, by his business partners, the only document that is printed was the document of him being sued.
Like all inventors, he didn't have any money, but he tried to funded it , and that he died bankrupt without money and his investors bring about the printing. During the process, everything that he did in this process is an invention, it has never been done before.
Fun fact : The world’s largest book is located in Myanmar, or Burma.
Lecture 3 (Week 5)
Typography Redux
Typography is the basis understanding for graphic designers, typography is the art of arranging and composing text, it is a medium for expression and communication.In book design, the understanding and sense developed will play a crucial role.
Small capitals examples includes : Georgia, Adobe Caslon
Numerals :
- Lowercase numerals : small numerals (georgia, adobe calson pro, minion pro)
- Uppercase numerals : big numerals
Hyphen : Up-To-Date
Em Dash : (the distance of a long dash is as long as the m, but the distance of a short dash is half of m)
Ligature : ff fl is where the top curve of a letter hits another letter
Weights in a typefaces
- Light
- Light italic
- Regular
- Regular italic
- Etc
Legibility
It needs to be able to be readable, making sure everything is insync, the first step in making type legible, is to choose the correct typeface, choose a typeface also know the history, also to choose it to look at the x-height, also opened and proportionate.
2 types of underline : underline that goes across the whole sentence and underline under every word. A good underline is an underline that is under the word, not fully going across it.
Typography No's :
- Stretching
- Outline text (1pt, never exceed 1 pt)
- Shadow
Text that is well read is achieved by a harmonious relationship exist between type size, line length, and spaces between lines of types. In one paragraph 50-60 characters, when you read across if it exceeds more than that, it will be very long. After choosing point size we will know the leading and spacing of it, subtext and body text, the leading must be the same.
Normal size (general size): : 8-12/8-11 pt
Reading documents needs to be handheld, the maximum length is your hand, so it must be readable by that long.
Point size 9, the leading should be 12, paragraph space 24. You indicate a paragraph spacing by having an indent.
Don’t use widows and orphans ( one liners in the next or previous columns)
Drop caps : never exceed 3 lines, make sure that the line length is too short.
The side bar must have the same leading and spacing as the body text.
Lecture 4 (Week 6)
The Grid
El lissitzky, Jan Tschichold, Paul Renner, etc. That wrote down their thoughts and articulated based on your experiments.
The designers work should have a mathematically way of thinking, towards using the grid system.
It is not necessary that the grids have to be in a certain way, the grid is used by most designers to arrange a visual, to be a coherent and functional manner, in an effective way, yet also visually pleasing also in a very intellectual way. As a designer you have to also put yourself in the reader's perspective, to be able to understand the reader's perspective, if it doesn’t engage the readers it is no use.
The grid is modular in nature, you have to forget that the grid is a jail, the grid is actually full of flexibility. The variation must have a limit.
A content page is the nerve center for your navigation, because it's very important for the book
The grid is a constructive artwork, just like a hidden structure behind a beautiful architectural building. Behind every good design is a good grid system.
Exercise Brief
Exercises Individual Work (20%)
The Brief
Exercises.
Duration of Assignment
8 Weeks (Briefing on Week 1)
DEADLINE
Week 9
Description
Throughout the beginning and the middle of the semester, exercises will be prescribed at various phases of the module. These exercises will aid and benefit you in your quest to gain theoretical and practical knowledge in book design that will inform you whilst completing various phases of the modules projects.
All exercises prescribed are to be completed and documented (labelled, clean, clear & concise) in your ePortfolio and Hardcopy portfolio respectively.
The exercises are as follows:
To complete and to showcase mastery in the exercises prescribed in its various forms over the 13- week period. This process is repeated for all 8 weeks. The work is compiled logically and chronologically in an A4 clear sheet folder and documented on the students’ eportfolio.
Submission
The Brief
Exercises.
Duration of Assignment
8 Weeks (Briefing on Week 1)
DEADLINE
Week 9
Description
Throughout the beginning and the middle of the semester, exercises will be prescribed at various phases of the module. These exercises will aid and benefit you in your quest to gain theoretical and practical knowledge in book design that will inform you whilst completing various phases of the modules projects.
All exercises prescribed are to be completed and documented (labelled, clean, clear & concise) in your ePortfolio and Hardcopy portfolio respectively.
The exercises are as follows:
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1) Text formatting
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2) Mock-up making
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3) Signature folding systems (8+8=16)
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4) Classical Grid structure
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5) Form & Movement Exercises (Thumbnail)
• 1 Colour
• 2 Colour
• 2 Colours + Image
• Colour + Image + Text
To complete and to showcase mastery in the exercises prescribed in its various forms over the 13- week period. This process is repeated for all 8 weeks. The work is compiled logically and chronologically in an A4 clear sheet folder and documented on the students’ eportfolio.
Submission
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Exercises to be documented in an A4 Clear Sheet folder, logically and chronologically.
The works must be labelled and dated.
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Eportfolio posts at the end of the assessment task labelled and dated, with images
captured well and in good light in so that the works are pleasing to the eye and legible.
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To develop students theoretical understanding via practical means.
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To develop students practical skills.
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To develop students sense in the use of space.
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To develop students ability to arrange different elements attractively within a grid system.
Exercises:
In-Class Exercise 1: Format
We were required to bring sheets of A3 paper to determine the size of our book. We were ask to make 3 different sizes and choose one to be used for the final product. These are the size that i tried out :
16 page format mockup (20cmx20cm)
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| fig 1. The 3 different sizes of paper |
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| fig 2. The chosen size (20cmx20cm) |
In-Class Exercise 2: Van der Graaf Grids
We were taught to use the van der graaf grids system, as a way to determine our own grid system later on, after making it, we were tasked to remake it but by using our own determine paper format size from last week.
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| fig 3. Van Der Graaf Grid (with pencil) |
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| fig 4. Van Der Graaf Grid (digital version) |
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| fig 5. Van Der Graaf Grid (in my paper format) |
In-Class Exercise 3: Grid Identification
For this exercise, we were told to choose a few books from the library, the books had to have a layout that is suitable to our book layout in mind. Then we were told to scan a few pages and determine the grid system for it.
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| fig 6. This layout was from a Creative Challenges book, the grid system is very interesting, how in one page the 2 columns are not equal in length |
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| fig 7. This one was the book "Thinking with Type" and it is very apparent the grid system that they are using, 4 columns on each page |
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| fig 8. This one is more from a branding book/magazine, the lay-outing is very interesting how they arrange the words with the grid system |
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| fig 9. This one is actually from the same book as figure 7, yet the grid system is more different, Mr Vinod said that in some cases there could be differences. But even with that, they still manage to have different layouts for the words between the left and right page. |
In-Class Exercise 3: Movement
For this exercise, we were told to make objects in the forms of shapes and move them around, as if it was our layout, i think this exercise was aimed for us to explore layouts, the objects in the form of shapes and colours helps us identify layouts |
| fig 10. movement exercise |
Feedback
(Week 3)
Specific feedback
There is no problem with the style that i'm trying to do, but analyse the elements, and try it out, find lots of textures and visuals for it. Book wording : fix the format of the book, write down the back cover, also put in the subtext and pull quotes, also add in the reference list.
General feedback
work hard, and finish the visuals for the book, by next week. what every goes into the visuals next week, will determine how the visuals in the book will look in the end. Also work smart and be persistent.
General feedback
work hard, and finish the visuals for the book, by next week. what every goes into the visuals next week, will determine how the visuals in the book will look in the end. Also work smart and be persistent.
(Week 4)
Specific feedback
Visuals are looking to forced together, also it doesn't have too many elements, which makes it feeling unwhole. Also it was looking very messy and not natural enough. The collages needs to be more abstract. There should be a richness within collages with the amount of elements in it.
General feedback
Work smart, remember the amount of time for the assignment, also use more abstract visuals.
Work smart, remember the amount of time for the assignment, also use more abstract visuals.
(Week 5)
Specific feedback
Visuals : are not pleasing, it lacks in impact and is not eye catching, it would seems like just a bunch of photos threw together and mix into one, instead of utilising elements to make a visual. Also its not abstract enough and would be better to redo. Typefaces & fonts : need to work on it, don't use similar typefaces, but use a mix of serif and san serif would more likely work.
General feedback
"The visuals must have a sense of impact, its there not to represent your book in a direct manner, the project was catered to be personal to you, and thats why its your choice to make a visual as creative as it can be." -Mr.Vinod
"The visuals must have a sense of impact, its there not to represent your book in a direct manner, the project was catered to be personal to you, and thats why its your choice to make a visual as creative as it can be." -Mr.Vinod
(Week 6)
Specific feedback Visuals : need to change colour and also not make it to simetrical, pay attention to the usage of the colors, to also compliment the text, not to make it look unpleasing. Layout : keep the consistancy and also arrange the text so that it compliments nicely with the visuals General feedback "you all must work quick, to get all of this done by week 7, because the E-book is going to need a lot of time to experiment on, work fast and work hard, so you don't make it more difficult for yourself during the e-book process"-Mr Vinod
Specific feedback Visuals : need to change colour and also not make it to simetrical, pay attention to the usage of the colors, to also compliment the text, not to make it look unpleasing. Layout : keep the consistancy and also arrange the text so that it compliments nicely with the visuals General feedback "you all must work quick, to get all of this done by week 7, because the E-book is going to need a lot of time to experiment on, work fast and work hard, so you don't make it more difficult for yourself during the e-book process"-Mr Vinod
(Week 7)
Specific feedback
Visuals : much better, good usage of colours. But it still needs improvements on the graphics, also layout wise its good (he told me to let him see the bookmockup before mid break) and his comments was that the cover needed some work.
General feedback
the exercise : remember that the movement of the shapes must have a story to it, and it must have a dynamic when we see it, there must be a constant movement, with readership in mind, treat that shape as a layout for your book. Book : you all have to start the e-book, remember that for the e-book you have to pay attention to how the readers can read it.
(Week 8)
Specific feedback
Visuals : visually this book, eventhough the visuals have been improving, but the visual are not strong enough, although the layout overall has a flow and has a journey about where the layout starts and where it ends, also the play of colours with the layout matches. mockup : inverse the colour of the visuals, maybe it will work better, don't use white as a cover colour, the book could get dirty easy, also get very yellow. e-book : try to make some animations and also the animation doesn't have to be very suttle, but it could be a bit more experimentive.
General feedback
By layout wise, everyone's layout looks very similar, there is no you, yourself within this layout, the only thing left about yourself is in the visualsny, but the layout doesn't say anything.
Reflection
(Week 2)
Experience
I was so late to the class, because i wasn't in for the first week, to catch up is actually not quite easy, i missed out a lot of information, eventhough my friends was trying to give the full brief to me. I was lost at first, but week 3 got better as i started to catch up with the work load.
Observation
I observed that when all of us were doing the exercises, actually all of us are not that good in handy work, besides hesti, it was fun to see how all of us was trying to teach each other how to staple a book.
Findings
I found that it was very useful to actually learn with handy work, it helps me to understand more when i go into digital, its kind of like having to do it a 2nd time, but you've been trough the work already so you can kind of get it.
(Week 3)
Experience
Normally in the beginning of the semester, you would be more about research and findings, but for this semester the first few weeks was actually more towards doing the actual visuals, which didn't come easy to me.
Observation
I observed that i wasn't doing well during making of the visuals, which didn't help also with me trying out a new style for this semester.
Findings
I found that it was very helpful to be able to play around and try to find weird things to see, it really help in the design process
(Week 4)
Experience
This week was tough, because to complete 16 visuals with the style that i'm using wasn't as easy as i thought it was going to be. I really was in a mess this week, because of the visuals that i couldn't produce well
Observation
I observed that i was pushing myself to much to try a very new style for me, and as i see myself, i really am not someone who could do abstract, it was really tough for me.
Findings
I found that everyone was trying to do abstract simpler, it was smart i guess of how they just try simple abstract forms, instead of trying to make something that they're fully not into.
(Week 5)
Experience
Since last week was tough, and my visuals weren't pleasing, i decided to change styles more to a messy crayon texture feel, hopefully it will pay of, because i really don't get abstract art, it is so far from how i normally design things.
Observation
I observed that i was trying to hard to design something that i maybe am not that familiar or even not that explorative enough of the style i was trying to use
Findings
I found that some of my friends choose illustration, some of them choose more abstract style, but basically most of them were also not that familiar with abstract.
(Week 6)
Experience
This week i was still changing my visuals, it wasn't really a good time to change it anymore, but still it really wasn't the best time to still be changing and also to do the layouting with the visuals still changing, so then it was very hard to manage.
Observation
I observed that i started working very quickly on the layouting part of this project, and it turns out that my layout are not to bad, even though its kinda hard for me to work within grids, but i manage, and yeay i guess i can say that the layouting process of this project wasn't as long as the visuals.
Findings
I found that my friends were starting to get tired going through all of this process, we are half way and we're basically almost done with the printed version of our book, but i guess we all just started falling sick and tired.
(Week 7)
Experience
Since this was the last week before i went for the London trip, i tried to finish my black and white mockup for consultation on Wednesday instead of Friday, but on the day i actually didn't get much feedback, also my cover was literally a mess, although i push through i'm still not proud of the book visuals.
Observation
I observed that i was basically giving up on the visuals, and i really don't have anymore time to fix it or even to change it again, i observed that i was so pissed on myself for not being able to do my works especially these visuals as the best as i can.
Findings
I found that some of my friends were also struggling on other parts, some of thee parts like layouts, the visuals too, even still on fonts, even though this semester seems to be less pressured, but it really is harder.
(Week 8)
Experience
This week, i came back from london already with a jetlag, and showing the class the final mockup before printing the actual one, and still i was super disappointed in my visuals, even though my layout was pretty okay.
Observation
I observed that i was just going to move on from the visuals, because i was already disappointed, but there is basically nothing else i can do and i just feel that i just have to do better on the e-book.
Findings
I found out that my friends were also tired and basically bored already about the work, and it was getting to a point where we're just all tired.
Book of the Week
(Week 2)
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| fig 10. Thinking with Type book |
This book is filled with interesting type settings and typo treatments. In this particular, the typo is made to be more flexible and more fun, it stands out not only as a part of the visual, but the typo in the book has its own identity and its own significants.
It also shows the different meanings between centered text, justified, flush left also flush right, what do we need to know before choosing the how we want to treat our text, different treatments have different meanings.
(Week 3)
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| fig 11. The Layout Book |
It is also interesting that this book doesn't only stop at the history of type, but also to be able to continue on and see the different styles of layouts throughout generations. Also finding out that there was a history of measurements and different types of it in order to be able to have and experiment with different types of layout.
(Week 4)
(Week 4)
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| fig 12. Basic Layout Design |
Anyway, inside is a collection, full with all different types of grid styles and how it shows so many different examples of grid application toward print media, such as the "Glasgow Conference Brochure", then "Tourism Victoria", so many of these are very good examples as to an approach of grids.
(Week 5)
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| fig 13. Printmaking (A Contemporary Perspective) |
From something that is more abstract into something that is still abstract, yet the visual impact that it has is so much more, i learn that back then the colour on print making, weren't that vibrant and were not as popping as they are today.
(Week 6)
This book doesn't really have much words, or text. in it, its more of a layout book, where the book shows examples of different types of layouts, it has so many interesting layouts, as to some of the principles of layouts.
(Week 6)
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| fig 14. Page Unlimited |
It also shows how you could differentiate layouts, not only by directions or alignments, but also by the colour, to give it a sense of hierarchy, this book also shows how different types of prints could effect the layouts, such as the difference between book layouts and magazine layouts, and so and so.
(Week 7)
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| fig 15. A Guide to Layout, Design & Publication |
Besides that, this book also includes a little background into the publishing world, like there is a part of the book that talks about the innovations in newspaper design, how digitally printed newspapers started in Australia and went along to Thailand.
(Week 8)
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| fig 16. Exploring Publication Design |
Each of these principles are defined and explained, also shown examples of how to use those principles into the practices, because i really like type, in the section of type, there is an example of how typography is used also as an imagery, and how it works with the layout.
(Week 9)
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| fig 17. A Guide to Graphic Print Production |
Picture References
Figure 1-17. Personal Documentation