Publishing II : Mass Communication - Project 2

2/10/17 - 30/10/17 (Week 5 - Week 9)
Agustin Wijaya (0327453)
Publishing II : Mass Communication
Project 2 : The Book. (Part 2: Layout & Final Mock-up)

Lecture

Week 5

1. 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.

Week 6
2. Grids
This week's lecture was focused more on grids as the project now proceeds to do book layouts for our second project.

Outcome of the lecture :
- Grids could be vary, it doesn't have to come out in a consistent size.
- Grids shall be done in coherent and functional manner.
- You have to have an intellectual approach in design in order to learn publishing.
- One and the most effective tips in doing publishing is to put your position in the readers' shoes; see whether it's legible, readable, attractive and interesting.
- Understand the modular grid is important.
- There shall be 6~7 types of variations in order to design a book to make it interesting.
- In a book, content is considered the most important thing as it navigates the whole chapter.

Instructions

Progressions

Book Layout References
As an another warmup of the project, we were tasked to find references for our book layout.

Figure 1. Layout References

Figure 2. Layout References

Figure 3. Layout References

Figure 4. Layout References

Figure 5. Layout References

Book Cover References

Figure 6. Book Cover References

Figure 7. Book Cover References

Figure 8. Book Cover References

Figure 9. Book Cover References

Figure 10. Book Cover References

Trials

Grids
The class first went with asking us to form three different forms of grids, which one of them will be the grids for your book.

Figure 11. Grid trial (1)

Figure 12. Grid trial (2)

Figure 13. Grid trial (3)

I then finalized with the third trial, margin of top : 22mm, bottom : 20mm, left & right : 12.7mm with a column of 4 and ruler guides of 5.

Typeface Trials

Figure 14. Type trial 1. Headline : Calvert MT Std (30pts), Body text : Helvetica Neue (9/12)

Figure 15. Type trial 2. Headline : DIN 1451 Std (Engschrift) (30pts), Body text : Franklin Gothic (Book) (9/12)

Figure 16. Type trial 3. Headline : Futura (30pts), Body text : Avenir (Medium) (9/12)

Mr. Vinod commented that it is advisable to have combination of serif and sans-serifs instead, as suggestions of typefaces were given. With this, I tried.

Figure 17. Type trial 4. Headline : DIN 1451 Std (Mittelschrift) (30pts), Body text : ITC Franklin Gothic (Book) (9/12)

Figure 18. Type trial 5. Headline : DIN 1451 Std (Engscrift) (30pts), Body text : Baskerville (9/12)

Figure 18. Type trial 6. Headline : DIN 1451 Std (Engscrift) (30pts), Body text: ITC Franklin Gothic (Book) (9/12)

I then chose the 6th typeface trial for my book typefaces.

Thumbnails
As we were tasked to do our layouts until the end of the first chapter, Progressions were given. Progressions were shown in form of thumbnail, printed in black&white.

Figure 19. Thumbnails until the end of the first chapter

After getting it approved until the end of the first chapter, we then proceed our trials until the whole book layout, in black and white.

Figure 20. Thumbnail trials of the whole book

After some revision, we were tasked to print our whole book thumbnails in colour to see how it looked.

Figure 21. Revised Thumbnails (1)

Figure 22. Revised Thumbnails (2)

Mockups
To ensure how it will look in the actual size of the book, the lecturer asked us to print the black and white mockup.

Figure 23. Black and White Mockup (Front)

Figure 24. Black and white mockup (Back)

The progression continued as we showed the lecturer the coloured mockup of the book.

Figure 25. Coloured version mockup (Front)

Figure 26. Coloured version mockup (Back)

Submissions

Cover


Content


Final Thumbnails (after minor feedbacks were given)

Figure 27. Revised & Finalised Layout (1)

Figure 28. Revised & Finalised Layout (2)

Spreads

Figure 29. Spreads (1)

Figure 30. Spreads (2)

Figure 31. Spreads (3)

Figure 32. Spreads (4)

Figure 33. Spreads (5)

Figure 34. Spreads (6)

Figure 35. Spreads (7)

Figure 36. Spreads (8)

Figure 37. Spreads (9)

Figure 38. Spreads (10)

Figure 39. Spreads (11)

Figure 40. Spreads (12)

Final Outcome

Figure 41. The Book (front)

Figure 42. The Book (back)

Figure 43. Full Spread

Figure 44. Spread with pull quote

Feedback

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.

Week 6
Specific Feedback
E-Portfolio : Assessment Criteria is not necessary to be displayed, remove it. Embed .pdf from Google Drive shall be double checked to ensure the accessibility - set the view to public. Also, settle the Embed size - It's too small. Pictures taken shall be taken note and taken in a more careful manner. Fix it ASAP. 

Layout : Be consistent in terms of hanging length - start and continue the next page's body text on the same hanging length. Do be consistent in size of column and alignment too. Take note of paragraph spacing. The sequence of book is Half Title - Full Title - Imprint -Content. Subtext's point size shall be lower than the body text but with the same leading. Pull quote is meant to be played around - Make it bigger and adjust the colour with the illustrations you're having. 

Friday Class : Right now all of the arrangements look the same. Try to experiment various arrangements, e.g one page with 2 columns, a double spread with 3, a page of one column, etc. You can also have a page with a subtext only. Kerning shall be done more nicely; it shall have a flow. Visuals could be moved around to fill up the empty space, beware of colour of the text when it's clashing to the visual. As you're done, now choose a neutral colour of your choice that will complement every visual you're having and attach a box with that colour in a page or two.

General Feedback
It's the stage now where things are expected to be done fast due to the more pressured upcoming project - Finish it faster so that we won't be SO STRESSED in the next project. Work hard, work fast - Finish it next week whereas possible. (!!!!!!!!)

Week 7
Specific Feedback
Book : Right now that you attach the neutral colour in form of boxes to your book, it looks so much better yet the layout looks rigid - improve it if you feel like improving it - otherwise, go print the black and white mockup. Start do the ebook until the end of the first chapter. 

Black&White Mockup : Cover could be more impactful, it still looks empty. As you finish the book, you can fill up the typeset and print details already. TAKE NOTE of kerning & letterspacing, it has to have the "flow". Look up the small details before printing. As of the reference, just write the title will do. No need put the word "Summary" on the back cover because nobody does that. Be more critical. 

Week 8
Specific Feedback
Colour Mockup : Cover is not bad but not good either, be more expressive with the type. The placement of the title looks rigid. Boxes of half or 3/4 doesnt work, take it off. You can put it beside the half title or full title, play with it. Some placement of visuals shall be taken note to enhance readability. References shall be added more to show that you do your research. Picture is better to come out with a better resolution but it's actually okay. 

Week 9
Specific Feedback
Book : Author and Publication in the cover point size should be decreased. Overall layout is okay, it's just that the type doesn't portray the personality of your illustrations.

General Feedback
Paper weight shall be considered, dont make it so thin; this make it seems like it's part of the content instead of the cover.

Reflection

Experience
First I landed to this project, I tried out the layouts in a way that I wanted to look it not that boring so I had many different variations of layouts in a single book which then I realized throughout the consultation, consistency is still something that we have to look at the most in designing a book. The legibility and readability are important as I've learned a lot of many new techniques in InDesign and also new terms of typography. I wouldn't say that my layout is the best that I've experimented as I am not that satisfied and pleased with the layout outcome. I just think that I could have actually done better if I had experimented and explored more about layouts in the previous weeks. Moreover, I still have a lot of things to learn in this module.

Observations
I observed that this project was done in a quite rush as the overall book layout is expected to be done 2 weeks before the actual submission date - reason is for us not to be rushed for the more stressed final project. Feedbacks were given by one-to-one consultation but I've observed that in the end, we mostly tend to come out with the same book layout despite the different feel our illustrations are. Class atmosphere was quite tense on the first progression check as we need to come out with our final layout until the end of the first chapter, but as guides were given, I would say the remaining progression checks were more chill.

Findings
Despite the fast process of the project, I learned that in a book, consistency is the most important thing. Explorations and depth understanding of typography is another crucial thing too - Oh, and cover - shall be taken in a very careful manner as people tend to judge the book by its cover - it creates the first impression on how the book will look like. Overall, It was a short yet worth the process.

Book of The Week

Week 5
1. 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 :

Figure 46. The symmetrical grid.

Figure 47. I find this binding interesting. hehe

Figure 48. This too.

Week 6
2. Exploring Publication Design by Poppy Evans

Figure 49. Exploring Publication Design by Poppy Evans

This book went through the past publications that have influenced recent trends in publication designs, principles and elements of publication design, usage of colours, typography, page layout to some imageries. With this book, I've learnt that :
- The letterpress, printing process invented by Gutenberg, is still used in the modern era and known as "relief", meaning type and imagery are on raised surface that receives ink. 
- Phototypesetting revolutionised the publishing and typesetting industries by providing a fast, flexible, and inexpensive means of setting type.
- The goals of publications could be categorised in 4 ways, include: inform, persuade, sell, and entertain. Inform includes educate and informing instructions manuals in publications, persuading in a way that it convinces the reader to make a decision or act in a deliberate way, sell allows the reader to see merchandise, make informed choices, and then follow through with a purchase, when entertain includes novels, comic books that has a purpose to entertain the readers.
- Design principles for publications may include hierarchy, balance, proximity, rhythm, pattern, texture, scale, unity and variety, whereas design elements may include shapes, lines, colour, type, imagery, organising content, proportional systems and grids, as well as directing the eye movement.


Week 7
3. Commercial Print Design by Design Media Publishing Limited

Figure 50. Commercial Prints Design by Design Media Publishing Limited

This book showed many different examples of book publications as well as its layouts. Some I find it interesting are as follows :

Figure 51. Its freestyled layout alongside the illustrations formed by the letters.

Figure 52. It's just appealing in my view? It has variations of layouts.

Figure 53. The different sizes of papers bound together in the book, interesting.

Week 8
4. Typography by Gavin Ambrose & Paul Harris

Figure 54. Typography by Gavin Ambrose & Paul Harris

As shown by the book title, this book went through about the term typography. This book explained about typography in general, its terms, its classifications, type family, type generation, type generation to its practices.

I've learned that :
- "Typographer Eric Gill noted that 'letters are things, they are not picture of things'. Individual letters, when arranged in a particular way, represent the sounds of a spoken language and visually express ideas in such a way that another person can understand them in the manner intended."
- "Italics have a calligraphic style and can sit compactly, in part due to their use of many ligatures."
- "Small caps provide a designer with a stuble means of highlighting a section of text without it standing out too much, or overpowering the surrounding body text."
- "The x-height is often used as a layout anchor to produce consistent positioning of images and text blocks."
- Functions and depth understanding of many terms of typography, e.g drop and standing capitals, numerals, leading, kerning, tracking, ligatures, etc.

Week 9
5. Graphic Design on the Desktop : Second Edition by Marcelle Lapow Toor

Figure 55. Graphic Design on the Desktop : Second Edition by Marcelle Lapow Toor

This book focuses on design in digital form. It went through the topic of typography, logos, symbols, trademarks, graphic design influences, design process, design practices, advertising, designing for web, colours, and printing. However, I would like to focus more on the design process.

I've learned that :
- "Good design is not dependent upon budget. It comes from the ability to be imaginative, to be consistent, to organize information in a creative and interesting way, and to make the pieces fit."
- Steps in design process includes : marketing research (identify the target audience), coming up with a concept, thumbnail sketches, rough sketches, compherensives or "comps",  and the mechanical.
- "Creating an effective and beautiful layout for a printed page involves making decisions and paying close attention to details."
- "A good layout will stop the viewer, shows a successful marriage of type and graphics, is well organized, communicates a message to the selected audience, has a clear concept."
- "Before designing a printed piece think of yourself as a reader and consumer of magazines, newsletters, newspapers, brochures, ads and flyers."

Picture Credits
Figure 1~9 Pinterest Image
Figure 10~55 Personal Documentation