Module Evaluation

I found OUGD401 more difficult than all the other modules purely because I'm not as confident in academic work than I am in designing. The question that I wrote an essay about was a fairly good one for me to write about since we, ourselves are living in the postmodern era therefore I have learnt more about postmodern work during my education than I have modern artwork since everything now is more digital based.

The digital work I produced was easier than I thought since it was all made digitally and I am already quite confident in the software that was used to produce the posters. The Blue Books exhibition was perfect for my practical piece as it only made sense to use one colour and because I could get a lot of relating terminology from monoprint which helped fill the design up with all words.

I think I could've found better quotes to support my analysis and would've I hoped to have looked at more sources but had found to have stuggled since I've not written an essay in a while. Visiting other exhibitions would've also been a good idea but I was stuck on Mick's exhibition since I felt like I had a lot to incorporate into the practical such as keywords and the colour I chose to use. The structure of the essay could've been better as I thought it was slightly difficult to read and I felt like I had been quite repetitive in the essay.

This module has helped me learn more about postmodernism and modernism as I found out how it had affected new and existing designers during the early stages of postmodernism and the art movement. I also learnt more about the characteristics of both modernist and postmodernist traits which will help me further in my designs. In the lectures, we also learnt about famous historical artists, events and buildings which I didn't previous know of but now it makes me realise the importance of these events as they have affected art in general.

Bibliography

Bibliography:

Poynor, R. (2003) ‘No More Rules: Graphic Design and Postmodernism.’ London, Lawrence King Publishing Ltd

Moszkowiz, J. (2013) 'Re-Learning Postmodernism in the History of Graphic Design: a (con)textual analysis of Design Journal in the late 1960s', Journal of Design History, Vol. 26. No. 4.

Eskilson, S. (2007) ‘Graphic Design: A New History, Second Edition’, 2nd edn, Yale University Press, p. 271. [Web]. Available from: <https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=WUEv45FsrmsC&pg=PA324&dq=postmodernism+graphic+design&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y - v=snippet&q=postmodern&f=false> [Accessed 08 January 2016)

Noble, I and Bestley, R. (2004) ‘Visual Research: An Introduction To Research Methodologies In Graphic Design’. 1st edn. AVA Publishing, p. 118:119 [Web]. Available from: <https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=H9i0HCIvmukC&printsec=frontcover&dq=visual+research+an+introduction+to+research+methodologies+in+graphic+design&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y - v=onepage&q=the modernist approach&f=false> [Accessed 18 December 2015]

Holbo, J. (2009). “Typocalyse Now?” The Legacy of Jan Tschichold. Available from: <http://berlinbooks.org/brb/2009/11/typocalyse-now-the-legacy-of-jan-tschichold/> [Accessed 06 January 2016]

Felluga, D. "Modules on Hutcheon: On Parody." Introductory Guide to Critical Theory. [Last update 31 January 2013] Purdue U. [Accessed 23 November 2015] <http://www.purdue.edu/guidetotheory/postmodernism/modules/hutcheonparody.html>.  

Heller, S and Vienne, V. (2012) ‘100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design’. London, Laurence King Publishing Ltd.

Armstrong, H. (2012) ‘Graphic Design Theory: Readings from the Field’, Chronicle Books, p.82. [Web] Available from: <https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=TtmbTdfUskIC&pg=PA82&dq=the+new+wave+graphic+design&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxgNv_-JrKAhVHDQ4KHYy_CmoQ6AEILzAB - v=onepage&q=the new wave graphic design&f=false>

VanderLans, R. (2004) ‘Emigre: Nudging Graphic Design - #66’, Princeton Architectural Press, [Web] p. 97. Available from: <https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=f8CTQTTAGJcC&pg=PA97&dq=postmodernism+in+graphic+design&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGuI2RrZvKAhXBDw8KHT6DAI84ChDoAQhFMAY - v=onepage&q=postmodernism in graphic design&f=false>

Barrett, T. (1997) 'Modernism and Postmodernism: An Overview with Art Examples' in Art Education: Context and Practice in a Postmodern Era.

Greiman, A. (2015), ‘Paula Scher’ [ONLINE]. Available from: <http://designlectur.es/events/paula-scher/> [Accessed 09 January 2016].

Shaughnessy, A. (2009) ‘Graphic Design: A User’s Manual.’. London, Laurence King Publishing Ltd.

Lowe, N. (2013), ‘The Best of Jazz poster by Paula Scher’ [ONLINE]. Available from: <http://nigellowe.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-best-of-jazz-poster-by-paula-scher.html> [Accessed 21 April 2016].

Parker, M. (2013) ‘David Carson – Pepsi Cola Ad’. [ONLINE] Available from: <http://1323parker.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/david-carson-pepsi-cola-ad.html> [Accessed 21April 2016]

Final exhibition poster designs

The 5 design options that I had created were all based on Mick Melbourn's exhibition. On all posters, I have experimented with different weights, point sizes, kerning and leading. The idea was to make all the posters the-heavy so that it looks postmodern. I used one colour throughout since it only made sense to use the colour but as it is to advertise blue books. The fourth one, I had used two shades of blue as it would've been difficult to see the larger type without having to make the background type lighter. The last image was suppose to be inspired by a book design; when you open a book, the spine is in the middle so I put words either side of the spine which is the 'BLUE BOOKS'. The bolder type is the information I wanted standing out the most as they were the most relevant to the exhibition.

I used Gill Sans Bold and Regular since it is a sans serif typeface which is considered postmodern. The typeface is also easy to read and works well with the design.

I had achieved what I set out to originally produce. The posters look postmodern and type-heavy which goes with the theme of my essay question. I have experimented with the type settings but have stuck to one typeface design since I didn't want to over-do the design as it would easily look tacky as I was aiming for a clean, distinct and minimal design. The varied range of different type settings gives the design character and look more playful. I would've however, experimented with trying more than two different angles such as Paula Scher usually does in her artwork.

Practical work crit

I am going to create multiple designs for the same exhibition. I will fill the design up with words.

Do you think I should experiment with different shades of blue in the design or keep to the game blue shade throughout the design?

• Different shades. It gives a design more depth. 
• Same shade of blue would show consistency throughout.
• Same shade might be more classy.
• Different shades to increase depth
• Different shades but keeping it to a maximum of 3?
• Different shades would relate more to the mono print theme and as long as kept similar would add depth and not take away from the consistency. 
• Different shade could be informed through mono print theme.
• Different shades would give depth to the design. Make the date, title and location their own individual shades of blue so they're clear.

Additional comments:

• Interesting idea
• Maybe leave more space in-between words (not letters)
• I would look at some of the trends in graphic design to see how designers design typographical posters. www.trendlist.org
• Strong idea and clear work to essay topic. Really strong well done
• Look into different ways it could be produced

Any other layouts I could try?

• All horizontal? Keeping the varied scale so lines don't read into each other
• More variation in size of font perhaps?
• Maybe try to leave a wider margin?
• Experiment with the spine idea more through the layout - slight diagnosis of the side text would make the idea clearer just something to try?
• Try using a grid for more consistent layout
• (Look at Muller-Brockman) kerning lighten the text

Practical work crit

Current idea

My question is about how postmodernism impacts on Graphic Design.

I am creating a few type heavy posters using the same type but different point sizes and weight/styles of the same type. The posters will be about existing exhibitions that are going on so that it is relevant for now.

Should I include images?

• I think it is strong enough to be just type, it gets the info across quite well
• I think type alone can work really well
• I think just type will have a stronger impact
• The type of concept is a strong one, keep to it unless you feel imagery is required
• I feel with your proposal the use of imagery would abolish the idea of it being type heavy

Should I make the type sizes bigger to fill up more space?

• Use more type instead, look at layout
• Maybe not bigger, maybe try and use more type to fill in the space a bit more
• It feels like there is too much negative space so yes make the type fill the whole page like a pattern?
• Perhaps but don't increase the weight of type
• Not bigger, you can add more type (maybe in similar sizes) to fill some of the gaps

What else could I do to make it stand out more

• Play with colour? Paper colour or type colour
• Different tones of the same colour? Two colours? Traditional print so it's less flat? 
• You could always screen print the type. I think it might give it a most poster feel