Advanced Typography / Task 2 (A & B): Key Artwork and Collateral

29.4.2022 - 27.5.2022 (Week 5 - Week 9)
Britney Chow Pei Jun / 0350043 / BDCM
Advanced Typography
Task 2 (A & B): Key Artwork and Collateral

JUMPLINKS

Lectures
Instructions
Task 2A:Key Artwork
Task 2B: Collateral

Feedbacks
Reflections
Further Readings

LECTURES

All lectures are done in Task 1: Exercises

INSTRUCTIONS

Task 2A: Key Artwork

In this task, we're required to create something that works as a logo or monogram. We are to use either our initials or name. We have 2 ways to go with this, either we design something according to a chosen occupation, or design something then think of the occupation.

I have decided to work straight away in Illustrator. Below are some sketches that I have made.

fig 1.1; Sketches made in Illustrator; (13/5/22)

However, I felt that the above sketches are really bad, and to be really honest, I don't have one that I really like among these. My lecturer, Mr. Vinod also think the same. After that, I start to work on something that may be acceptable.

fig 1.2; Second attempt; (13/5/22)

Then I started to make this. Previously, what I had in mind is to create a artwork related to animals, for example, the occupation could be either a zookeeper, or a animal shop owner. However, I did not continue to do something in that direction, instead I tried to create something that is time-related. As an example, something like a watchmaker, or a watch designer. Even after much time trying to create a at least decent artwork, I did something like this (fig 1.2), even so, I feel the whole thing is weird and it doesn't really look like my initials as well, which is "b" and "c". I got really frustrated at this point. My lecturer has then provided me some feedbacks for this, and I'm very grateful for it.

fig 1.3; Third attempt; (27/5/22)

After that, I look for even more reference from sources in the internet. I have look for them before, but I think my brain just couldn't comprehend how all this works and decide to come up with ugly things. However, in this third attempt, my goal is to make it simple instead of trying to make it look weird and ugly. I first make a "b", the rounded edges for the part is me trying to imitate some of straps of a watch.

fig 1.4; Third attempt 2; (27/5/22)

Since I'm using both the letter "b" and "c", I then decide to cut off the middle part of the circle. Although, in this one, instead of making rounded edges for the "c", I made sharp as to trying to indicate that, there's not only rounded edges for straps and plus, watches can have different patterns. I think this looks much more better that the earlier ones I have in the sketches. So I decided to go for this one.

fig 1.5; Color attempts; (27/5/22)

Next, we are to move on to the color part. After some time of trial and error in trying out the colors, I think the blue, red and yellow look acceptable. However, after staring at them for a long time, I don't think the blue and the red one work well, thus I decide to take the dark gray and yellow. I don't think it's the best one, but I think it look okay and every time I think about it, the song "Black and Yellow" from Wiz Khalifa keeps playing in my head and lead me to think that this may be the better choice among the others that I have tried.

Final Task 2A: Key Artwork

fig 1.6; Final Task 2A: Key Artwork B&W; (27/5/22)

fig 1.7; Final Task 2A: Key Artwork Colored; (27/5/22)

fig 1.8; Final Task 2A: Key Artwork in PDF; (27/5/22)

Task 2B: Collateral

Poster

For Task 2B, we are to not only create a poster, but also a collateral and an animated invite gif.

fig 1.9; Voice of the Forest; sauce: (Pinterest)

I like this poster since they didn't use too much of a graphic elements to explain what they are trying to say. Plus, the placement of the text is kinda nice in my opinion, I like how the way the designers used the from top to bottom, right to left reading way for the title of the poster. The colors used in the poster feels soothing as well as it doesn't use any vibrant colors whatsoever, and I could feel a bit of the "forest" feel.

fig 2.0; Festival SanSebastian; sauce: (Pinterest)

For this poster, I think the placement of the text is normal, however I like colors and elements used in it.

fig 2.1; Typographic Poster; sauce: (NobelFaik LiveJournal)

For this one, I do not know what the content is at all considering I do not know the language. However, if only look at the text and elements alone in the poster, I like the way the designer use dilatational system for the text part, and you can also tell which part of it is the title and which part of it is the sub-title.

fig 2.2; Worldwide Mass Meditation; sauce: (Pinterest)

I like how this poster have parts of their text place in both dilatational and radial way. Not only that, but the title date there had the disappearing effect. The colors they used is not irritating to the eye as well and I can see what the text are. So I think this poster looks quite nice!

After looking for some reference, I started to make the poster.

fig 2.3; Posters; (27/5/2022)

I have made about 7 posters trying out some different layout, however, I'm very good at it, so it took me quite some time to do it. After asking a few of my friends for some feedback, I decided to go with the red one with the key artwork enlarge.

fig 2.4; Final Choice for poster; (27/5/2022);

The colors I used for the background of the poster is red, and I tried to add the grain effect to it as to make it seem like the sand from the hourglass, but I don't think it looks very good if it's too obvious, and I tried to keep it minimal. The typeface I have used here is Caudex and ITC Baskerville (one of my favorite typeface).

Collateral

fig 2.5; Black card attempt; (26/5/22)

In my first attempt of trying to create a collateral, my initial idea is to make like some sort of membership card, but it is really a very big fail. I do not like the way it turns out, I think I'm really poor in this.

However, after "crying it out", I decided to go with another attempt, since the poster is about a watch exhibition, I decide to make tickets.

Image gotten from: Freepik.com

fig 2.6; Attempt on Tickets; (26/5/22);

I give it a red ticket, same as the poster that I have chosen.

fig 2.7; Added in the words; (26/5/22);

I then move in the info of the exhibition on to the tickets. Personally, I have watch a lot of performance in my high school time, so I think the info I added is fine.

fig 2.8; Added paper texture; (26/5/22);

I added the paper texture to it to make it seem more real and more nostalgic? Because when I watch a lot of performance, most of the tickets are just smooth instead of having a texture. So I want to try something like this.

fig 2.9; Final Outcome; (26/5/22);

I think the final outcome of the ticket looks so much more better than the black card attempt, so I thought of going with this.

fig 3.0; Mock Up Tickets; (26/5/22);

Animated Invitation

fig 3.1; Animated Inv; (27/5/22);

I made the animated gif in After Effects. Before moving it in after effects, I did the arrangements and stuff in Illustrator.

fig 3.2; Animated Invitation; (29/5/22)

Final Task 2B: Collateral

fig 3.3; Final Task 2B - Poster (JPEG); (31/5/22)

fig 3.4; Final Task 2B - Collateral: Exhibition Ticket; (31/5/22)

fig 3.5; Final Task 2B - Animated Invitation GIF; (31/5/22)

fig 3.6; Final Task 2B - Poster and Collateral in PDF; (31/5/22)

FEEDBACKS

WEEK 7

General Feedbacks: One should watch out for the balance of your design. The colors chosen should be minimal

Specific Feedbacks: The "B" with the tail doesn't work as the looks like the "B" is gonna topple over. The first design doesn't look very convincing. All of them needs improvement

WEEK 8

Independent Learning Week

WEEK 9

General Feedback: The poster should reflect on the key artwork. Looking for good reference is very important to start when doing your designs.

Specific Feedback: The whole thing is wrong, if the design doesn't work with black and white, it doesn't work in colors. The effect on the poster looks okay.

REFLECTIONS

Experience: I personally think that this task is the hardest and most challenging one in all the typography classes. I have struggled a lot trying to come up with a key artwork that I'm really happy and satisfied with, but even now, I still find that something is lacking. It is truly sad that I will have to settle it like this for now since we do not have much time, the class is lagging behind than what our lecturer initially planned, and plus the final task would probably require more of my time. I just hate that I feel constantly down after all my sketches were pretty much rejected and I don't find any motivation for me to continue it. I do not know why exactly I behave like this when usually, I could accept the criticism. I feel very very disappointed in myself, however things will have to on. Fortunately, I have some friends that could help me a bit by providing some of their feedbacks, I'm very grateful to them regardless whether their feedbacks help or not. I hope that during my break, I could further improve myself on this task

Observations: I observe that sometimes working under a good environment is very important. Since I had encountered several family problems when I was busy doing my assignments, distractions like these are really not helpful at all, especially when it's unpleasant. Plus, I must have a clear head to think properly so sometimes, I would need some time to clear my head to actually do what I'm supposed to do.

Findings: I realized that sometimes, I shouldn't be too restricted in my thinking. By keep thinking that something should be like this, or something should be like that (in terms of creativity), I'm basically restricting myself from thinking outside the box. I keep worry about whether this is acceptable to Mr. Vinod or if this looks okay to other and never really focused on what I want to do and I think that's something I ought to change. Sometimes, just design it simply can help with my final design too.

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Britney Chow (0350043)