Agustin Wijaya's Design Blog: Publishing II : Mass Communication

28/08/17 - 25/09/17 (Week 1 - Week 5)
Agustin Wijaya (0327453)
Publishing II : Mass Communication
Project 1 : The Book (Part I : Content Generating)

Lectures

Week 3
1. Formats
Throughout the first lecture given, we were told the basics of books format - what factors do determine and influence a book to be published to history on how books were firstly made in several different countries, until the books we have generally seen today.

Outcomes of the lecture :
- Book was handwritten back then. It took 6 months ~ 1 year to finish.
- In order to publish a book, you get to have a comprehensive understanding of typography.
- Factors that influence and determine format a book would be - size of the book, type of paper, type of binding, content, target audience, also budget.
- Innovation comes behind the technology. Innovation, shadows technology.

Week 4
2. History of Print
This lecture informed us about printing throughout the whole history; the different methods used back then, the discovery to the invention of printing from different countries until printing existing today. Not only printing, there briefly stated about how paper was invented, the most important ingredients in the process of printing.

Outcome of the lecture :
- Printing was firstly done in China, by rubbing the stone to the paper surface.
- Paper was invented in China on 179-41 BCE.
- First printed book in stroll is in Chinese which was discovered in a cave at Dunhuang in 1899.
- Type foundry in Korea was considered a success as they established a foundry to cast moveable type in bronze during 14th century. A huge coincidence happened as well was that on the precisely decade Gutenberg was experimenting a moveable type far away in Europe.
- Gutenberg was another proved successful invention as well as it precedes of basic work of printing; arranging the individual letters, aligned and well spaced, in a form which steadily transferred the ink evenly to the paper.

Week 5
3. Typography Redux

This lecture was informed about deeper understanding of typography - its letters, punctuations, symbols to terms of doing typography that we shall be aware of.

Outcome of the lecture :
- Again, it is important to have a good sense of typography.
- It is good to select a typeface which has small caps.
- Outline has to be thin, or else it will disfigure the font (1point size in maximum).
- Attaching the shadow doesn't really help and it is not so recommended to be applied as it will create distraction and hard to read.
- Determine your font size first before decide the leading point.
- Avoid widows and orphans.
- To determine for point size suitable for reading materials is by your hand length.

Instructions

Submission :

3000 Words Text Formatting

Progressions

Week 3
So as I showed Mr. Vinod my visual references, I did some samples.

Figure 1. Visual Reference

Figure 2. Visual References

He commented that the reference is visually appealing; and advised that when you're colouring using pencil colour, you have to be consistent towards the colouring as the result will be as stable. Also, he also advised to always look up at your reference and compare your drawing and your reference, to see whether it came up to the same direction or not.

Week 4
I made assets in order to start the visuals.

Figure 3. Assets (1)

Figure 4. Assets (2)

Figure 5. Assets (3)

Figure 6. Assets (4)

Figure 7. Assets (5)

Figure 8. Assets (6)

Figure 9. Assets (7)

Figure 10. Assets (8)

Figure 11. Assets (9)

Figure 12. Assets (10)

Figure 13. Assets (11)

Figure 14. Assets (12)

I then made up 5 different samples and showed Mr. Vinod online.

Figure 15. Sample (1)

Figure 16. Sample (2)

Figure 17. Sample (3)

Figure 18. Sample (4)

Figure 19. Sample (5)

He then opinionated that the illustrations are too empty and not too attractive as well. Also, all of the 5 are displaying the same 'noise', thus development of different noises is needed. Also he stated to start draw abstract things instead of drawing an 'actual thing'.

I then revised it with a more developed noise as well as adding more elements.

Figure 20. Revised Sample (1)

Figure 21. Revised Sample (2)

Figure 22. Revised Sample (3)

Figure 23. Revised Sample (4)

He commented that the image of the 'person' doesn't work, thus I took it off. He then commented that it looks so much better as he remarked that when doing illustrations, we have to consider the 3 different intensities of it, minimal, medium and intense. He also stated us to do work hard and fast as the deadline is just a week away.

Week 5
As I proceed to make more visuals, I then developed more assets.

Figure 24. Developed Assets (1)

Figure 25. Developed Assets (2)

Figure 26. Developed Assets (3)

Figure 27. Developed Assets (4)

Figure 28. Developed Assets (5)

Figure 29. Developed Assets (6)

I, finally, managed to finish the 16 visuals.

Figure 30. 16 Visuals

He commented that the visuals are interesting, yet the 'heavy' intensity is still not there as he asked me to do another 2~3 different samples of double-page spread.

Submissions :

16 Illustrations

Figure 31. Revised Visuals

Feedback

Week 3
Specific Feedback
3000 words - Introduction and Reference shall be placed under content too, and indicate the pullquote after the chapter content.

Visual reference - shall think about the main objects, look up towards the reference and your drawing to compare whether it comes up to the same style/direction.

General Feedback
Illustrations shall be done smartly and effectively in this short amount of time.

Week 4
Specifc Feedback
Visuals - the illustration of the 'person' doesn't work - ONLY abstract shapes work much better. Also, do take note that illustration shall be done in 3 different intensities (minimal, medium & intense).

General Feedback
Submission is next week - work hard, work fast (!!!!!!)

Week 5
Specific Feedback
Exercises : Typefaces combinations are advisable to have serif and san serif fonts - try and show the suggested typefaces on friday. Do take note to indicate the typeface name alongside its size so it will be more clear.

Visuals : It's interesting and stood out, colors are nice too. Yet the 'heavy' intensity is not showing there. Do another 2~3 samples of full spread and show it on friday.

Samples : OK. It's a style that has been approved from the start. Proceed to layout.

Reflection

Experience
This entire project was expected to be done quick with a quite huge requirements asked by the lecturer - thus a hectic, packed first five, no, four weeks we had (one of the weeks was a public holiday). I couldn't deny that I was very pressured that we had to come up with 16 visuals within just 2 weeks, many thoughts came to my mind as the consequences and risk is considered quite high if we couldn't meet the lecturer's expectation. As it sounded impossible, but I and my classmates finally made it, like literally, FINALLY.

I would say that this project has brought a quite burden to me when I saw the module outline on what we have to do abstract illustrations which I have never done before. It was a challenging process and didn't went as smooth, I almost considered myself to change my style direction because I could say illustration is one of my weakness - The lecturer realised that too - Yet, with amount of practices and explorations that I somehow rushed due to the limited amount of time, I finally finished it with a good note.

Observations
I observed that the class' atmosphere were down at certain weeks. Also, I noticed during class, not only me but my classmates tend to be nervous to receive the feedback for this project too. 6 straight hours of continuously study and do several exercises given to consultation, I observed it was exhausting yet productive.

Findings
Throughout this project, I found out that I somehow managed to develop my time management skills and do a self-control on myself. These 2 big points helped me a lot as I find these values are important to have as a designer.

Book of The Week

Week 1
1. Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton

Figure 30. Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton

This week, I would like to focus myself on the usage of typography in publishing - thus a typography book. This book tells us about the usage of typography in many different types of mediums in overall graphic design - how to use them, to apply them. Through this book, I've learnt that :
- "Typefaces are essential resources for the graphic designer, just as glass, stone, steel, and other materials are employed by the architect."
- "From a simple indent (signalling the entrance to a new idea) to a highlighted link (announcing a jump to another location), typography helps readers navigate the flow of content."
- "That a speech supposedly alive can lend itself to spacing in its own writing is what relates to its own death." - Jacques Derrida, 1976
- "No book of typography would be complete without a discussion of the golden ratio, a ratio (relationship between two numbers) that has been used in Western art and architecture for more than two thousand years."

This book also discusses about the terms that we need to be aware of typography such as typefaces, kerning, leading, tracking, line spacing as well as the punctuations, dashes and spaces. They also display some examples and comparison about the usage of the terms to determine which looks better.

Week 2
2. Basics Design 01 : Formats by Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris

Figure 31. Basics Design 01 : Formats by Gavin Ambrose & Paul Harris

This book discusses about book format considerations in order to make a book - from types of paper used, book formats, types of binding, etc. From this book, I've learnt that :
- "A books is a means of organising and presenting many pieces of information in one package. Whether compiling many related vignettes, applying a sequential order or collating otherwise random pieces of information, books become a sum of their parts."
- "Book format considerations include the nature and quantity of information to be presented, the anticipated lifetime of the product, and of course the perennial factors of target audience and cost."
- "Two main factors affect the final size of a page in a book : the size of the original sheet of paper, and the number of times the sheet of paper is folded before trimming."
- "A gatefold has extra panels that fold into the central spine of the publication with parallel folds so that they meet in the middle of the page. Gatefolds are commonly used in magazines for pull-out posters or in books for large-scale illustrations, photographs or graphics."

This book also gave out samples of published works as examples of what they're trying to portray. The following are the ones I find it interesting.

Figure 32. Fan Fold

Figure 33. French Fold

Figure 34. The cover has this spot gloss effect. so cool.

Figure 35. The back cover too!!

Week 3
3. Basics Design 06 : Print & Finish by Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris

Figure 36. Basics Design 06 : Print & Finish by Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris

This book introduces different aspects of printing and print finishing via dedicated chapters for each topic. I've learnt that :
- "A substrates is any stock or material that receives a printed image, ranging from a standard sheet of paper to more elaborate and tactile papers and boards, and even extends to promotional items such as coffee mugs, t-shirts and, as we'll see, the human body."
- "Imposition is the arrangement of a printed publication's pages, in the sequence and position they will appear when printed; before being cut, folded and trimmed."
- "Tipping-in and tipping-on is a tip-in that refers to the attachment of a single page into a printed publication by wrapping it around the central fold of a section and gluing along the binding edge."
- "Printing is a collective term that refers to the various different techniques used to apply ink to a substrate or stock."

This book also went through the different types of printing to foldings as well as bindings. Some I find it interesting :

Figure 37. Posters with different kinds of printing

Figure 38. Silk-Screen Printing

Figure 39. Die-Cut

Week 4
4. Basics Design 05 : Colours by Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris

Figure 40. Basics Design 05 : Colours by Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris

This book introduces different aspects of colour design via dedicated chapters for each topic. It also provides amount of examples of creative colour use in design form. Through this book, I've learnt that :
- "Colour is a key element of graphic design, a tool that can be used to attract attention, steer and direct the viewer, and inform them about the type of reaction they should have towards the information presented."
- "Colours can have a variety of embedded meanings, which can be linked to different emotions and moods."
- "Primary colours come in two forms : additive and subtractive. Additive primaries are red, blue and green that in the form of light combine to form white. The subtractive primary colours or painting primaries are blue, red and yellow, which associated with reflected light. Tertiary colours are produced by combining a secondary colour with the primary colour that is not already present within it."
- "The colour wheel is a tool that can be used to select harmonious combinations of colour for a design."
- "Two of the most widely recognised and commonly used colour systems are RGB and CYMK; RGB is typically used for digital publishing and initial designs, and CYMK is used for printing publishing."

This book also went through techniques of colour usage such as gradients, overprinting, tints, colour layers, colour detailing, colour manipulations, gradients, colour hierarchy to its symbolism. Some pages I find it informative and interesting are :

Figure 41. The Colour Wheel

Figure 42. The Usage of Colour Wheel

Figure 43. Colour Combination Mood

Figure 44. 'Blink Effect'

Week 5
5. Basics Design 02 : Layout by Gavin Ambrose & Paul Harris

Figure 45. Basics Design 02 : Layout by Gavin Ambrose & Paul Harris

As the topic stated, this book discusses and went through about layout - its basic principles, examples of creative layouts as well as explain the reasons behind the design choices made. Through this book, I've learned that :
- Layout is the arrangement of the elements of a design in relation to the space that they occupy and in accordance with an overall aesthetic scheme - called as management of form and space.
- Recto and verso refer to the pages of an open book; recto is the right-hand page and verso the left-hand page.
- The grid is a means of positioning and containing the elements of a design in order to facilitate and ease decision making.
- The golden section forms the basis for paper sizes and its principles can be used as a means of achieving balanced designs.
- A key function of layout is to let the elements, especially the image elements, perform the tasks that they have been selected for - Images add drama and emotion to a work, but how they communicate with the recipient depends upon how they are presented.

Some spreads I find it interesting are as follows :