I changed the appearance of my design journal as I wanted the overall feel of my design journal to be creative, fun and more interactive.
From previous years of using WordPress I have always chosen a very formal looking appearance as I am OCD when it comes to cleanliness and organisation so creating a journal that isn’t like that is new to me and unfamiliar so it defiantly is outside my comfort zone so I want to embrace change.
I remember Bryan mentioning that previous students design journals were creative so I was concerned that mine was wrong as it wasn’t similar but thats not why I changed it.
I wanted a organised yet fun design which I am very happy with the appearance I have now and the overall user accessibility.
I also liked the fact that you can view the individual modules on one page just by scrolling down. It’s all in one place which makes it easier to view and interact with.
I find it hard to remember to use this journal for talking as I like putting my work on it which I believe isn’t what this is for but I will slowly adapt, it will take time.
I love talking but I find it easier when someone talks to me, as I am just a chatterbox and love giving my opinion. But this journal obviously can’t start conversation!
Continuing on from producing a map brochure I was struggling with the production and design so I referred back to the brief to ensure I am focusing on the right format for my design artefact.
Keeping the same idea for my creative process which is a photographers brain I thought about how I could communicate this without having to design it as a map brochure.
Law/Foresnics
I watch a lot of documentaries, especially legal dramas which I have always been interested in. One series that I distinctly remember is a BBC series called Good Trouble.
The only reason why I became to attached and invested in watching this series was the character ‘Callie’ played by Maia Mitchel. Callie faces the harsh realities of the legal system as she clerks for a federal judge. Throughout the series they show what law is like, it’s not about the truth, it’s about proving the truth and how anyone is innocent until they are proven guilty.
The series really showed me the importance of gathering and needing evidence in order to create a story that supports the person that lawyer is supporting/standing up for.
It really makes you see and think about law in a different perspective that (for me) I wouldn’t of done before.
Series 3 really focuses on answering questions and thinking about different angles and perspectives when it comes to law and proving someone is innocent.
During this series they introduced a new character called Kathleen Gale. She is an intimidating defence attorney who becomes a mentor for Callie.
This can be related to my questions – “But the question is;
Why is it designed like that?”
What is the purpose of this object?”
In summer of 2022 I saw ‘Prima Facie‘ played by Jodie Comer. This was such a powerful, moving play. At the end I was in tears and it really made me proud yet sad and hurt to be a woman. The play really makes you think and feel throughout every scene.
– ‘At first sight’.
– ‘Based on first impression’.
Civil and Criminal Law: the language is used to indicate that upon initial examination, a legal claim has sufficient evidence to proceed to trial or judgement.
Prima facie refers to a case in which pre-trial evidence was reviewed by a judge and determined to be sufficient to warrant the trial.
— Latin (Kenton, 2021)
Jodie Comer plays a girl called Tess (a young barrister) who is used to defending sexual predators, but she becomes a victim of sexual assult herself. So the play explores how her view of the legal system cages after she is sexually assaulted.
The same theme/topic of being a lawyer arose.
It relates also to creating a narrative.
Using these two examples (Good Trouble and Prima Facie) made me think about how both designers and lawyers think.
Designers and lawyers solve problems for clients, both are human centred.
Lawyers and Designers – what do we have in common?
Lawyers go through a process similar to us designers;
Research and Understanding
Lawyers
Designers
Comprehensive research and understanding of case at hand
Comprehensive research and understanding of what makes up design; typefaces, graphic design, colour psychology etc
Comprehensive research and understanding of brand / what the client wants
Looking through details in great detail and ensuring they have a firm grasp of all the facts
Strong ability/eye for detail What a client wants – guidelines
A practical focus on the desired outcome
Knowing the target audience, users and thinking about how they will use/interact with it
Visualising the end goal and working towards it
Production
Awareness of All Perspectives
Lawyers
Designers
A lawyer must also be able to consider all angles of an issue
A lawyer thinks of all perspectives and looks at the situation from multiple viewpoints
Designers think of all perspectives and looks at the problem they want to solve/help with from multiple viewpoints
People involved in the case; The jury, judge, media, and public
Lawyers use their resources, such as legal knowledge, logical arguments, and persuasive techniques, to attain their required outcome
Designers use multidisciplinary skills to achieve their desired outcome
Lawyers use emotions as a strategic tool to utilise in court to strengthen their ideas further
Designers can use their emotion to increase engagement and create products that deliver positive experiences for users
Confidence in Authority and Ability
Lawyers
Designers
Lawyers ought to present themselves as the authority on the matter and have the capacity to support their argument
Designers must be confident in their work and their skills to deliver the appropriate outcome to clients
They should have the ability to be able to do what they say they can do
Lawyers must also be vigilant to any mistakes others make and be prepared to take advantage of them if necessary
Designers must sell themselves in a different way to others as clients will be looking for certain things/skills
Designers must be highly skilled/trained in software, knowledge etc so they can use it in their work
Lawyers need evidence, which then led me to think of forensic photographers. forensic photographers document crime scenes, injuries, and evidence with precision and detail.
The photographs become a record of events, aiding investigators, lawyers, and courts in understanding the circumstances surrounding a case. The detailed photographs is a way of documenting and ensuring accuracy that can be revisited and analysed throughout the investigation and trial.
I am going to use a similar approach and document how objects are designed which I can revisit and analyse throughout my MA which will remind me to isolate parts of an object and explore the design of each part in order to understand the functionality and purpose of the object.
Forensic photographers are the memory keepers (Agarwal, 2023).
“80% of criminal cases relying on forensic evidence”
— (Agarwal, 2023)
There are three classifications of forensic photos;
Overviews
Photos of outside buildings, entrances and exits. Photos that locate the building in relation to its surroundings.
Photos can be taken overhead and from each corner.
Mid-range
Establish the distance of object from surrounding objects.
Close ups
Includes a ruler in the shot to establish scale but always takes a duplicate image without the measuring device.
“The artistry lies in choosing the right angles, lighting, and focus to present a compelling visual story that aids investigators in piecing together the puzzle of a crime.”
— (Agarwal, 2023)
Me taking close up shots (macro) isolating them (showing specific details), will visually show myself and other people what different components of design that piece together to make up the object and the purpose of it.
Legal research methodology
Legal research methodology is a way of exploring unsettled legal questions/issues. It’s techniques by which one obtains legally relevant information, analyses, interprets and applies them to resolving issues and presenting the findings.
This reminded me also of designers and how we do extensive research, explore present design and past design, use our technique/skills whilst also looking and learning from other designers and then through the design process we create or make change by producing design.
I produced a template for the brief on my final topic and my final design artefact idea which will help me stay on track on what I need to create, how I am going to create it and why.
After carrying out research I have decided to create forensics reports for my final artefact, but they don’t relate to forensics. To ensure people and myself understand it doesn’t actually relate to forensics/law it is important to chose an appropriate title for my project.
Originally I thought about calling it ‘Communicating the complex cases of design’. Reviewing this I thought it is a good choice but it doesn’t do the project justice.
Researching and understanding the meaning behind the word ‘Forensic’ allowed me to understand the word further which would help me to understand what I could use to name my project effectively.
To conclude Forensic is related to scientific methods of solving crimes which involve examining objects or substances.
Within my project I am using art methods to examine and show/explore design (objects). So like forensics I want a word that can explain this.
After researching the word above further it isn’t suitable for what I want to communicate.
Taking into account that I need typography on each envelope o visually communicate what it is about I need a short title that is straight to the point. I experimented with the words below and created ‘Designic evidence‘.
Each title will be on the brown envelopes to show it is evidence relating to design. It is a fun title that gives you a small insight about what it is about.
The appearance below will not look like the final, it is just a demo template I used.
All the images below are what I am going to make, there will be several different brown envelopes that have pieces of paper in them which show a full photo, then individual macro photos which each one links to the full photo with the numbers.
Examples of what I mean
The images and text below are just quick demos so for the final images the information will be more refined and specialised.
Paper choice
When thinking about the overall appearance that I wanted my design artefact to communicate I looked into what the information usually looks like so I could try replicate it so I am staying with the appropriate and correct theme of forensics.
I researched to find what paper is used when presenting the forensic images but I could not find the paper materials used.
At the studio on Falmouth University campus there was a book full of different types of paper with different materials (shown below) which I explored to see whether I could find any similar ones to the images above to create a old fashioned appearance.
After looking at the formats of how designer objects are laid out in a book it got me thinking about the purpose of photographing design and whether it could have any link to my idea or could it make me photograph differently.
When designers create furniture how is it photographed? is it for aesthetics or is it photographed for functionality? I wanted to explore this so I went on different websites;
Carl Hansen seems to show more close up shots of their designer furniture that they offer.
The website talks about how the architect Poul Kjærholm surpasses at combining his favourite material, steel, with other organic materials. The close up shots above support this as it shows you in more detail the materials.
When reading the description and supporting images I would of liked a macro photo of the ‘Felt balls’ for a close up shot as the material and ‘Graphic patterns’ makes up the design of the Bead Basket.
For example I created a demo of what I would want to see on their website relating to their product. I created the demo of their website using Canva.
The important elements of the design for this product is:
Handmade felt balls – made out of Wool
Colourful graphic patterns
Distinctive and decorative storage solution
This what I want to create for my design artefact, all the elements above make up that product, without those things it wouldn’t be fit for use. By isolating elements of a design product we appreciate the single components more.
I am unsure on what the close up shot is demonstrating as there is no information with it so when looking at this image I don’t understand what it is showing. My take is showing the design of the lever.
FLOS
When exploring their website I came across the Bilboquet lamp. The lamp is an adjustable table lamp that permits you to direct light in a playful, controlled, precise manner. It has full range of movement offering a variety of functions.
The purpose of the lamp is to offer more than just one thing, the lamp itself isn’t static – it can be moved and adapted to many living environments.
The lamp is composed of two coloured cylinders that are connected by a magnetic sphere that operates as a joint which allows the upper cylinder to rotate, directing the flow of light.
Inspiration
What’s interesting is the lamp was inspired by a game which originated in France called Bilboquet in the 16th Century.
After producing some prototypes I finalised that using photographs were not appropriate for communicating my design. I want my final product to support the aims and objectives of my idea which is exploring Design using photography.
Allowing people to explore each macro image individually will make people think about what they are seeing, they will be curious and question what they are seeing which makes people really interact with the photos they are seeing, then an image of that furniture will be shown which will reveal what all those macro shots showed when brought together. It’s important my users can hold and experience what they are looking at in physical form.
When thinking about how I could visually portray this I explored Pinterest to gain some inspirations and see if any further ideas came to mind.
Exploring different ways you can use images, graphics, typography etc on paper and the different layouts you can fold and make paper was really interesting.
My artefact must have a purpose, alongside my idea so when thinking about choosing how I am going to make my artefact have an intention I thought about existing examples which I could use.
Maps/Brochures
The difference between Brochure and Map.
Map
Brochure
Visual representation of an area
Booklet / pamphlet
Real or imaginary
Printed informational matter
Promotional purposes
(Brochure vs map – what’s the difference? 2016)
When researching the above I realised how similar they are, so I concluded that it would be beneficial and useful to merge them together to create a map brochure/design.
Why am I doing this? well……..
Maps: show information about the world in a simple, visual way. They are printed in a brochure format making it easy for people to carry them around anywhere.
I created a mind map which I could refer back to when designing my final object/product as it will allow me to stay on track.
Neil, 2023
Brochure: A piece of paper that is folded to create multiple pages. Brochures are commonly used for advertising and promotional purposes.
Standard brochure sizes
(Chatz, 2023)
1. Different types of brochure folds.
In the table below I noted down the different type of brochure folds I could use and whether they would be beneficial for my idea.
Type of brochure
Design
Is it an appropriate choice for my final object?
Bi-fold (Half fold)
4-Page Brochure
No
Tri-fold (Letter fold)
6-Page Brochure
Yes
Z-fold
6-Page Brochure
Yes
Open single gate fold
6-Page Brochure
Yes
Accordion fold
8-10 Page Brochure
Yes
Double parallel fold
8 Page Brochure
Yes
Roll fold
8-10 Page Brochure
Yes
(Chatz, 2023)
2. Different types of brochure folds.
I then in another table noted down what each of the brochure types are used for which allows me to choose which type of brochure would be an appropriate choice.
I only noted down the appropriate choices from above.
Type of brochure
Usage
Useful to me
Tri-fold Brochure
Used for businesses
Eye catching Tempting to open
Menus Marketing High impact designs
Z fold
Classy appearance
Promotional uses: sales materials, events, invoices, letters, price lists and special offers
Open single gate
Template is formatted to give the impression of a door that opens to show a bigger central panel
Eye catching
I can emphasis a major piece of content in the centre
This acts as a focal point and draws the attention of the viewer to the centre – which would be the full photo of the designed object
Accordion fold
More panels to fold More sections
Designed for a lot of information such as; maps, step-by-step tutorials or menus.
Used for lists, products or services to display
Having more sections allows me to add text and images
Double parallel fold
Holds more content than a tri-fold brochure
Layout is useful for listing products, services, maps and sales content
Roll fold
Thicker brochure
Used for step-by-step guides, tutorials, sales content and instructional booklets
Available for content and images
(Chatz, 2023)
I was exposed to pamphlets through research on the topic of brochures. Comparing them both pamphlets are used to inform and brochures are used to promote something.
In the table below I created and compared important information about Pamphlets and Brochures to ensure I am still choosing the appropriate design format for my design idea.
Pamphlet
Brochure
Which one is better for my use?
Document
Single page folded
A single
Brochure
Topics
A single subject
A range of topics
Pamphlet
Size
Small
Large
Brochure
Nature
Educative or informational
Promotional
Pamphlet
After exploring the above my choice of creating a design brochure using a Map format.
Pop Up Map
The photos below are from a London pop up map. What I was intrigued about was the numbering and how you can understand and navigate through the map using simply numbers, colours (colour coding and way finding), lines etc.
I thought about how I could use the same process either using numbering or colours for my design of my map brochure.
Iconography
When thinking about how I could design or plan my map brochure I used AdobeStock to download brochure templates which I could print out and physically handle which allows me to understand when designing how the final product will look.
I started off with this one, which I printed and made.
I made two different formats of the brochure above which I then annotated down the different layouts I could use when inputting my photos.
This post is dedicated to experimentation with my idea and different formats I could use/create for my final project. I tested out the different ideas I wanted to create for the final artefact and tested to see whether it worked or not so I could conclude what I am going to make for my final project for the brief.
The purpose of this was for me to think about how I could show and dissect design in order to get me thinking about the different aspects that make up design.
I experimented with objects in my room as demonstrations.
Test shots – Takeaway coffee cup
1. Flip Book
I arranged photos like a book, to demonstrate how it could look when flipping through a book.
I liked how when I turned it into a video it gave the impression that pages were turning which allowed me to see what it could look like as a book.
I on purpose put the full photo of the designed object at the end so whilst the macro images are being shown people are thinking, using their brain and their imagination to figure out what the images are about and what they are of.
Test shots – Keyboard
2. Photomontage
I explored how I could use different images and the placement of each.
I then experimented with cutting and sticking the elements on top of each other (not digitally) to see if it would look different.
I felt as if the communication would be lost, it’s easy for me to understand as I’m the designer and I know what my idea is but my target audience will have no idea what they are looking at.
Overall I also don’t like the layout and how it looks like photographs so I want to create something more physical and an artefact that people can actually hold, look through and have more of an experience with.
3. Magnify
Taking inspiration from the images below I thought about how I could make my macro photography stand out and be noticed which would make people look at the macro first and then the overall image. That way you are exploring the details that have made the design.
My experimentation
I liked the appearance of these images and thought they work well showcasing the details that make up design.
I had the idea of providing viewers with more context to my images so it’s easier for them to understand what I am communicating but I was still not keen on producing the below for my final project.
Below shows what the layout could look like in a magazine article.
Test
In order to understand how people would interact with seeing the image below and their thoughts I asked my instagram followers on my photography account. Unfortunately I only had two responses but both said yes to the fact that the image made them think.
I should have added the question of why it makes them think so I could understand what works well.
4. Advertising ads
After researching about how brands use macro photography I wanted to create and experiment with creating an advertising ad. Looking at advertising ads I realised they don’t show close up details that make up their product they are selling.
For example:
The image below shows and advocates how the toothpaste strengthens weakened enamel. What you then can see is on the toothpaste packaging within the image is ‘mineral repair’.
This reminded me of the toothpastes that have micro crystals within the toothpaste that helps with certain problems relating to dental care.
I didn’t see macro photography being used within advertising campaigns which made me think of a small photoshoot I could do.
Advertising for Colgate toothpaste
Advertising for brush heads
My experimentation
My test shots for the above
My edited shots to use
Conclusion
In conclusion I believe the most appropriate way to visually show my idea of using macro photography to showcase design is to create a map. This way my idea can be visually communicated through designing my design artefact. The structure. When opening a map you are slowly going through the pages to get to the overall map which is then fully spread out (final destination).
Following on from Martin’s lecture one thing that stood out to me about what he spoke about was ‘The art of looking‘.
During the lecture we got given an object/artefact each which was from Martin’s house and we had no information about it and we got given questions that we had to think about and answer which was purely imagination.
This task was weird at the time but when reflecting on the true meaning behind the task it came apparent and clear that it was helping us to think about how we interact with objects and taking the time to see what is in front of us without rushing.
I wanted to explore further the term ‘art of looking‘ as I wonder whether it could help me with portraying my design idea for the brief. When researching the term above one designer that appeared was Alan Fletcher.
Alan Fletcher
In 1989 Fletcher designed the logo for the Victoria & Albert MuseumIn 1961 Fletcher designed a bus ad for Pirelli tires.
When reading the book ‘A smile in the mind’ I read about Alan Fletcher and how he analyses everything about design except how he thinks.
“Work should express the kind of person you are.”
(McAlhone et al., 2016)
“It’s a tough business. When you present your work, you are revealing yourself”
(McAlhone et al., 2016)
Researching Alan Fletcher I was exposed to his book ‘The Art of Looking Sideways‘. After reading a summary of what the book is about I thought it would be very useful and beneficial for my idea.
“The Art of Looking Sideways is a primer in visual intelligence, an exploration of the workings of the eye, the hand, the brain and the imagination” (Fletcher, 2001).
I ordered the book as I really believe it will help my project and I was really intrigued. What stood out to me was how the book makes you think and the take on a different perspective. I obviously haven’t read it so I will review it once I have read it.
Now that I have my idea I need to think about how I can get people to LOOK at my project. I don’t mean just look briefly I mean really look into what they are seeing and make them THINK.
In similarity to Alan Fletcher through my project I want to provide people with the exploration of design using their eyes, brain and imagination. When thinking about how I could achieve this I had the idea of producing;
Rulebook
Step by step guide
Magazine article
Book exploring design
Series of photographs
Advertising campaign
Titles
I generated several titles that I could use for my projects name. I did this using ChatGPT (AI generated). The words that I used for the keywords to find a title were;
Decoding
Design
Creative Process
I discovered the word ‘decoding’ when learning about the history of a coffee cup lid and I liked the meaning of the word and instantly thought it is the best suitable word to use for my project and what my project demonstrates.
Using these three key words/terms gives people context to what my project communicates and shows.
1
Decoding Design: Unlocking the/my Creative Process
2
Unlocking Design: Decoding the/my Creative Process
3
Decoding the Creative Essence
4
Decoding Design: Unveiling the/my Creative Process
5
Cracking the Creative Process Code: Decoding Design
6
Decoding Design: Navigating the Creative Process
7
Revealing Design: Decoding the Creative Process
My favourite options are number 1 and 7.
Exploring the word ‘decode’
When referring back to the meaning of the word ‘decode‘ I searched the word to see the meaning of it.
I picked out the words that I think are important or would be useful in my project.
1.
Intelligible (understandable) language.
2.
Communication
3.
Interpret
4.
Translation
5.
Coded message
Understanding the meaning of ‘decode’ helps me to understand how I can use and produce an artefact that portrays the ethos of my idea.
I image searched the word ‘decode’ to see what images came up which could impact the way I design my artefact.
The way that I interpret the above is finding what is already there. The answer is there you just have to find it and that’s what I want my project to be about. The details are there that make up design but you have to take the time to actually see it and observe.
This example shows how using the stoplight colours can aid students to remember to read from left to right.
After understanding more about the word I realised it doesn’t fit within my project and it not an appropriate title for my project.
New title options
1.
Unveiling the Art of Exploration in Design
2.
Framing Design: Revealing Details Through Photography Framing Design: Uncovering Details Through Photography
3.
Through the Lens: Uncovering Design’s Details Through the Magnified Lens: Uncovering Design’s Details
4.
Through the Lens: Revealing Design’s Hidden Details
5.
Amplifying Design: Magnifying the Details
6.
Amplifying Design Details: A Close-Up Perspective
7.
Magnifying Design: Exploring the Details
8.
Designs Under the Magnifying Glass: Exploring the Details
McAlhone, B., Stuart, D., Quinton, G., & Asbury, N. (2016). A smile in the mind: Witty thinking in graphic design. Phaidon Press Ltd.
McAlhone, B., Stuart, D., Quinton, G., & Asbury, N. (2016). In A smile in the mind: Witty thinking in graphic design (pp. 190–191). essay, Phaidon Press Ltd.
I am using macro photography to expose and show the intricate details that make up design. Nowadays life is so busy we don’t take enough time to truly appreciate everyday objects and look into what aspects make up the overall design.
Exploring macro photography allows me to uncover how I can design my final project to ensure I can communicate my design piece effectively and people will know what it is.
I came across this section of the movie and thought it would be great to include within my research as it talks about different perspectives.
It shows macro photography then zooms out to show what it actually is. The teacher asks the students what they think it is before she shows them what the image is of. This is what I want to add to my project, to get people thinking (them using their imagination and coming up with conclusions) before they know what they are looking at.
One thing that was said was;
“So you see how hard it can be to make sense of things when you are looking at them really close”.
When you are looking at details that have no context it can be odd and confusing on what the image is but it creates curiosity and gets you thinking which is what the purpose of my idea is.
Macro Photography in Ads
Using macro photography to grab attention
Brands that use macro photography
Burger King
Burger King wanted to communicate how they mission was to remove artificial ingredients and showcase fresh ingredients (Smith, 2023). They used macro photography to get close up shots.
The close up of a burger (like above) can represent the ability to walk into a restaurant and smell the grill at work.
“Macro allows us to simply show these new, higher quality ingredients directly,”
Lisa Smith – (smith, 2023)
Macro photography is almost synesthetic, or cross-sensory
Example
Showing the texture (in high definition) of a beauty product is an estimation of putting the product on your hand to feel the texture.
Using macro photography for this image enables you to get a feel for what the product may be like in your hand, or how it might move across your skin.
Using macro photography for this image allows the company to highlight the efficacy of their products without showing anything explicit.
Macro Photography in everyday objects
By using a macro lens we can see hidden beauty within every objects that get overlooked.
I experimented with a pencil to challenge the sentence above.
One thing that I was curious about was why two pencils had two different coloured ends. Using macro photography and isolating the colours out from the pencil made me really focus on how both pencils were different.
One pencil had red and the other was a blue.
When researching about Staedtler pencils having different coloured ends I found out that the different-coloured ends demonstrates the hardness grade and usage of the pencil.
This taught me that by using colours they are making it easier for consumers to know (easy communication) which pencils are most suitable for them. So the design of the pencil is user friendly.
They also put on the pencil the different types (typography) so the consumer is aware.
So it is a classic hardness pencil used for sketching and writing.
(BLUE) This pencil is 2H 4.
So it is also a classic hardness pencil used for sketching and writing.
Black and white macro photography
I transferred my pencil image into black and white to see whether removing the colour will make increase the focus on the details and textures of the subject.
When comparing the coloured image to the black and white I felt as if the coloured image had more of an impact but I believe it is down to what the object is. I don’t think the pencil has much intricate details.
FNeil, 2023
This provided me with the possibility of using a black and white image for the revealing/final image which could increase people seeing the details. It will be dependent on the object photographed.
When thinking and reviewing the brief again I made notes on important aspects I need to cover.
A creative brief
Company details
Brand guidelines
Target audience
If there is one; define the problem the brand is facing
What the final product should be (I.e. brochure, eBook, etc)
Timeline expectations and milestones
Budget
What you intend viewers to do when they see the final product
Examples of similar work you like and don’t like
Research phase
Looking at competitor designs
Look at what the intended audience is engaging with on channels like social media
Look for trends on free stock sites like Freepik or illustAC
Taking all of the knowledge they’ve learned and applying it to the project at hand
Possible ideas
Failure
Feeling like I am going to fail at projects or produce awful work.
Difficult filtering personal thoughts to work/creative work
I find it hard to separate my personal, emotional thoughts to my work, creative process. For example if I am going through an argument with a partner then it overtakes my mental energy and health so I can’t focus on anything else.
This image gave me the idea of creating a puzzle that (the left side is like shown in the image – normal/grey) but the right side which is coloured is tiny tiny pieces that take wayyyy longer to piece together compared to the left side.
The right side represents my creative brain which using this side of my brain takes much longer to think and use than the other.
Which when piecing together the puzzle the right side it will take ages in relation to my creative process.
Photographers brain
My brain is wired as a photographer so I can easily visually portray something but when it comes to not thinking of a project to do with photography I struggle. So my creative process is coming out of a photographers brain and pursuing something else.
Not being good enough
Comparing myself to others and feeling like I’m not good enough.
Self doubt
Impostor syndrome – makes me worry about doing projects which stops me from starting.
Unhealthy habits – unhealthy mindsets
The unhealthy perception of needing coffee (caffeine) and the placebo effect of whether it helps with my creative process / thinking or not.
ADHD
I can’t spend a long amount of time working and I get distracted easily meaning I struggle to concentrate and focus. It takes me longer to complete projects.
When searching through D&AD I came across an a project called ‘Face your spendings‘ which related to ADHD.
What I found really interesting and impactful is the use of words to express the symptoms of ADHD. This is a great example of story telling but mainly design. It’s simple but effective.
The campaign and tool shows your spendings on your phone Lock Screen so people can track their spendings specifically helping people with ADHD. The two key elements involved are; ADHD people and phones. Due to the high amount of people who check their phones the idea of combining this knowledge and research with a tool that works is fundamental.
I found on Deezen an article about how a graduate called Alexia Audrain designed a hugging chair to comfort people with autism to self-soothe when they are experiencing sensory overload. The chairs purpose is to imitate the feeling of being embraced.
The footrest applies pressure to the legsThe walls can be inflated and deflated by a remote
The inflatable walls hug the user, which deep pressure therapy has been proven to be beneficial for people with autism. This includes people who struggle with noise, light or physical contact (processing sensory information).
(Hahn , 2021)
“In the first version, there was also a zipper on the cushion. But for some autistic people, it was really too tempting to touch it and play with it, which would have disturbed the feeling of pressure on their body.”
— (Hahn , 2021)
The text above shows me how the original design included a zipper but throughout the creative journey and the more research carried out the more the designed became specific based upon the research that was found out and how research was applied to make the design user friendly.
Endless cycle of thinking and getting nowhere
Having so many ideas/thoughts means I get lost in them and completely lose myself every time I think of an idea. I will be thinking of an idea and then think of another and another and it never stops.
When reflecting on how I work and how I approach projects I find it really hard to start. I find it hard starting then realising what I need to do to get to the end goal. The way I would describe it is just running but going nowhere. No matter how hard I try (running faster, putting more effort in) I don’t get faster and stay in the same spot, not moving forward.
How would I summarise my failed creative process? – I get trapped in a failed cycle.
When I was at a restaurant and was eating food it gave me the idea of how I was sat there thinking about ideas but it felt as if whenever I felt like I had an idea it just fell back into my bowl of pasta which I then ate so I had this idea of a cycle.
A cycle of someone eating and their thoughts are falling into their bowl of food and then they’re eating their thoughts.
My mind racing all the time, its like clockwork that never stops but at such a fast pace it doesnt have time to process anything
This image uses AI technology which gave me the idea of using the same to see what I could produce.
Conclusion
Reflecting on Jyni’s workshop (which can be viewed here) I learnt that choosing an idea that is meaningful to me is important. It meant I could explore the idea while having fun. because the topic was important to me I felt as if I had complete creative control. So choosing an idea that I like is important.
When I pick personal topics that relate to me I find it easier to communicate a message as I put my heart and soul into my work, so reflecting on my ideas above I need to choose a topic which means a lot to me but mainly refers back to the brief which is about my creative process.
Photography has always been apart of me and how my brain works. I am an extremely visual person/learner and have always seen things that others don’t see which makes me a very good photographer. Visually communicating a message is easy for me. I always strive to show the world in a different perspective which through the use of photography I have learnt how to do so.
During this course I want to step away from thinking like a photographer and more like a designer, but it’s hard. I have been thinking like a photographer for years and am used to it by now, it has become my comfort blanket on how I approach projects and briefs (especially throughout my BA honours degree).
I want to question myself. I see thinking like a photographer a negative during this MA Communication Design course because this is DESIGN not PHOTOGRAPHY. So my question to myself is how can I change my photography brain to a designer brain. Can I?
Instead of viewing myself as a photographer in a negative way what if I were to view it in a positive way?
How can I use my photography skills to enhance me thinking like a designer??
Well………..
When researching ‘creative minds’ images you get a lot of the below (a brain one side being plain and normal and the other is colourful.
What I learnt from this is the combination of different aspects within on image to visually portray a message. You can tell the left side is white which portrays a normal, boring brain but the right side is bursting with colour which represents a creative mind. This led to my idea of a puzzle in the shape of a brain from my previous idea above.
Thinking about how I could use the different shaped puzzle pieces (decreasing the size of the puzzle pieces for the creative mind – shown on the right side) made me think about how I could use this idea in relation to my ‘photographers brain’ idea.
Combining like shown before in IMAGE 1 (the non colour side of a brain (left) and the opposite side of the brain (right) being coloured) gave me the idea of how I could show visually (using photography) show how I could relate it to design.
Thinking of the puzzle pieces (using big puzzle pieces and small) it gave me the idea of using different lenses. Macro enhances a subject in closer detail and normal lenses makes that subject (compared to macro) shorter.
I created a video generated by AI on Canva to visually portray my thoughts, the video below shows a piece of furniture which then zooms into the detail (patterns and textures) which is what makes up the design of that specific piece of furniture.
An example: Below on the left is the product we see, but let’s take a deeper look into the design and why it has been designed like that. The right images show the different aspects that make up the whole design of the product (the cup).
The image is an example and won’t look like this as the right images will be close up shots (macro) so you can see the finer details.
My idea of dissecting an object to understand the design I experimented with the cup above for a demonstration/example.
Decoding the History of a Coffee Cup Lid
The images below are coffee lids that I have gained from ordering coffee’s, both are from Starbucks.
Two different designs.
Lid designers had to figure out how to decrease the amount of coffee lost to bumpy drives.
In the 1960s, people began to drink coffee while walking.
Mid-20th century
The amount of people that used drive-ins and fast food restaurants increased. One problem that occurred when customers would order or buy a hot beverage was they couldn’t access their drink through the lid.
The creation of the coffee lid began by peeling way small sections of the flat polystyrene, thermoformed lids.
The table below shows why the designer Louise Harpman and architect Scott Specht started collecting coffee cup lids.
Name
Reason for collecting coffee cups
Louise Harpman
Louise began to notice that different coffee shops used different lids.
She was fascinated by how behaviour and design are so intimately linked.
Scott Specht
Scott started to accumulate more coffee lids than other items which made him appreciate the design more. This led to his curiosity of the different lid types.
(Burgess, 2018)
While attending Yale’s architecture school in the mid 1990s both Harpman and Specht began collecting lids. When they both realised that they were collecting the same random objects they teamed up.
Over time the coffee lid evolved from preventing of spills for consumers to providing comfort, ease of use and retaining heat. There are some coffee lids that have been exactly designed to increase the consumer’s coffee experience.
The first coffee lid was created in 1934 and was used for cold drinks.
I created a table to help me stay on track and ensure I am meeting the requirements needed of the brief.
My creative process
Target audience
The final product
Can it be viewed online?
Timeline expectations
The goal of my final product
Photographers brain / thinking
Me
– A tool
– A rulebook (not serious)
– A rulebook
– A collection of images
Yes
Production – Week 4
Week 4: Commencing on the 23rd October
A design tool that I can use and refer to when being given a design brief which will enable me to have a starting point which I can expand on.
Being a visual person a tool that uses photography will help me a lot
Others
– Advertising piece
– A rulebook (not serious)
– A rulebook
– Collection of images
Yes
Production – Week 4
Week 4: Commencing on the 23rd October
To make people take proper, meaningful time looking and exploring an object and seeing the design for what it is and what makes up that design object.
Making people use their imagination and increase human interaction with objects/design.
(Neil 2023)
An ex-graduate student of graphic design
On Thursday 28th September we had a talk from someone who studied and completed the BA Hons Graphic Design degree at Falmouth University (view here). Reviewing what she did gave me the idea of what if I were to isolate each aspect of design (the details) so each image would only focus on that in relation to the Graphic Design student who placed furniture and items you would find in a van but removed the van so it was furniture placed within a car parking space.
When researching how I could do this I came across BBC Bitesize which is a free online study support resource. On BBC BITESIZE there were pages that talks about emphasis of isolation. The topic is part of;
Art and Design
Principles of design
So reading this article is very beneficial for my knowledge and whether it will change the way I portray images or whether I chose another format for my project.
“Emphasis is what makes part of a composition stand out. Artists and designers can emphasise something in various ways which include using its position, using converging lines, or by making it unusual”.
(Isolation – emphasis – higher art and design revision – BBC bitesize)
Isolation
Elements that are grouped together carry more visual weight.
Isolating/separating an object/shape from the rest of a composition ensures it stands out.
Image source – At the Moulin Rouge, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1892-95, oil on canvas, Artepics / Alamy Stock Photo
Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec used isolation to guide our attention.
Our attention gets drawn to firstly gets drawn to the woman who is sitting alone at the right edge of the frame.
We then start to look at the group of people at the table which are placed near the centre of the painting.
Why is this?? ….. well
We are drawn to the woman at the edge of the painting because of the way she is staring directly out of the painting which gives the impression she is looking and interacting with us. This increases the emphasis on her.
The woman’s face being unusual blue and green tones of her skin creates more emphasis.
Image source – Apples and Oranges, Paul Cezanne, 1895-1900, oil on canvas, Masterpics / Alamy Stock Photo
What do you look at first?
I look at the apple first. The placement of the apple in the centre of the painting makes our eyes be drawn to it.
As you can see all the other fruits are all arranged in groups, so the apple being isolated from it’s surroundings by the white cloth draws our interest into why that apple may be on it’s own.
Image source – Karasaki Pines at Night, Unknown Artist, c.1900-20, woodblock print, World History Archive / Alamy Stock Photo
The emphasis within this image is the boat. This is shown by the boat being isolated from the larger shape of the island by a large are of negative space.
Our eye is led to the boat by the line of smoke, by also using colour.
The use of red helps make it stand out against the blue – grey and black background which the intensity of the colour increases closer to the boat.
The unusual
After reading the topic above of ‘Isolation’ the next page was on the topic ‘the unusual.’
When an element is unusual usually it doesn’t seem to fit with it’s surroundings, which makes us look at it for longer as it generates our curiosity and the need to try and work out why it is there.
This is the objective I want to carry forward within my idea. I want myself and people to really think about what they see and increase how us as humans interact and communicate with everyday objects.
This ‘unusual’ thinking with the isolation could provide me with ideas on how I could structure the way I want to format my project.
Instantly our eyes are drawn to the letter ‘R’, as it’s a familiar shape.
The R stands out due to it being an unusual feature.
The letter R stands out against the mix of geometric and organic shapes which are used to show the house and surrounding landscape.
Using an unusual scale can create emphasis. When people walk underneath the enormous spider they feel small and insignificant in comparison.
Bourgeois created something that is terrifying which grab’s people’s attention even from a far distance.
Image source: The Ambassadors, Hans Holbein the Younger, 1533, oil on panel, Artepics / Alamy Stock Photo
Shown within the image at the bottom of the painting is an anamorphically (distorted or stretched) stretched image of a skull.
This unusual technique is used to show the skull and make it look like it seems unconnected to the scene around it emphasising the importance of the image representing death and mortality.
Emphasis
Emphasis is the bit that captures your eye and the focus point. The techniques that can be used to create emphasis are;
Contrast (colour, size shape or texture)
Isolation (placement)
Convergence (lines – real or implied that directs us to focus)
Unusual (the more unusual, the more it grabs our attention)
El Lissitzky experimented with shape, colour and layout. The placement, size and colour of the red square grouped with other items, makes us look there first.
Reflecting on all the elements I have covered I thought about how show my idea and how I might go about designing it.
Thinking about isolation, emphasis and the unusual made me think of how a magnify glass makes things bigger.
The images below are more specific to design and the details.
Old danger reinforced concrete pillar structure with damaged and rusty metallic reinforcement that must be demolished.
Detail of an antique wooden italian furniture just restored with a magnifying glass on foreground looking for woodworm threat detection
This gave me the idea of montage photography. My idea is design within design.
This image really stood out to me. I think it visually portrays Emphasis and all the techniques that are involved (contrast, isolation, and unusual).
I could create a similar image with everyday objects. I would blow up the details that make up the design of the object.
The creative process is the flow of thoughts and actions that define the final stages of an idea (The creative process: Definition, steps, benefits and tips 2023).
OR
A series of steps a designer takes during designing their project (Schmitt, 2020).
Example
A painter may begin outlining shapes on a canvas with charcoal before applying oil paints to the medium (Gustafson, 2019).
When watching the video above (Jackie Liu) she talked about how for each of her artworks/projects she distills into a word or two. For example, each one of her art pieces have a title/topic.
This video is a good example of how the filmmaker is designing the video – her topic she wanted to communicate was ‘slowing down’.
Originally she wanted to create chaos in slow motion, a character is living her life at a fast pace but you see the character carry out daily tasks in life in slow motion. The film maker wanted to create a specific film that communicated her idea of a fast aced environment but we see it in slow motion, after her explaining it she said it didn’t work in her favour and turn out the way she wanted so instead she used music to narrate the story of the video.
Nina-Lou Giachetti
“Giachetti enjoys switching visual styles depending on the project, most projects start the same in that the first step for her is to open a blank page and write and scribble on it”.
(Fulleylove, 2021)
The quote above provided me the idea of what if I could create something that would help me start a project, like a tool. I always find it hard to find a starting point, which was one of my other ideas.
I could create a tool that gives me a starting point on how I could approach projects throughout my MA Communication Design Course.
“By combining graphic design, animation and illustration, it gives Giachetti a greater number of creative solutions to follow”.
(Fulleylove, 2021)
This quote stood out to me as I could relate to the combination of using different creative disciplines. I have been doing photography for years and especially throughout my BA Hons Digital Media degree I used photography in every aspect I could so when it comes to design I want to use my photography skills to enhance my design thinking and my design skills. Mainly importantly go deeper in design.
The Brief
When thinking and reviewing the brief again I made notes on important aspects I need to cover.
A creative brief
Company details
Brand guidelines
Target audience
If there is one; define the problem the brand is facing
What the final product should be (I.e. brochure, eBook, etc)
Timeline expectations and milestones
Budget
What you intend viewers to do when they see the final product
Examples of similar work you like and don’t like
My creative brief
Below I created a table which I could use when designing my artefact throughout my design process.
Inspirations
Nina-Lou Giacheth
Alan Fletcher
Eliott Erwitt
Inspirations
What am I using them for?
Notes
Eliott Erwitt
Photography
Different Perspectives
I could use different angles to expose design details
Nina-Lou Giachetti
Creative process
Interdisciplinary approach to creativity
Alan Fletcher
Design
Design thinking and how people interact with my artefact
Research phase
Looking at competitor designs
Look at what the intended audience is engaging with on channels like social media
Look for trends on free stock sites like Freepik or illustAC
Taking all of the knowledge they’ve learned and applying it to the project at hand
Artists background and how this influenced their creativity as a youngster.
Researching artists
Pitching what artists you’re writing about
Thinking about storytelling and communicating using design I wanted to look at other peoples work so I could visually see how designers get to their final designs and their thinking process.
This work was a campaign to raise awareness of climate change.
His campaign aims to create a greater sense of urgency around climate change.
He designed a simple visual for posters and button badges, consisting of a green disk obscured by black smoke.
The graphic design is an Aerial view of the Earth with only a narrow band of life remaining.
Workshop
‘Visualise a piece of personal writing that says something about you‘.
Instantly I thought about what makes me ME and how I discover that throughout my life.
A Breakup
Breakups are horrible and they really do test you mentally depending on circumstances, but through the process I personally feel like you learn a lot about yourself which you wouldn’t be able to find out without being in a compromised scenario.
“Most people, I think, look at breaking up as a bad thing. I take the opposing view, that breaking up can be positive and energising.”
—Larry Miller
What really stood out to me whilst reflecting on this workshop was the key words;
Memorable
You
Meaningful
Relatable
Person you are today
I chose my topic of break ups because of the similarity of my last two breakups. Both breakups were done by text but where the similarity comes into play is what was said on text.
I remember these breakups being memorable due to how similar they are. To explore this further I went through the messages and compared them to each other as I thought it was interesting that both boys used similar words.
I remember in the moment questioning whether it was me, whether I was asking for too much in the relationship.
Was I too intense?, or too hard to handle or asking for too much?
I feel like it is very easy to mentally get in the spiral of thinking it’s your fault and if you are too much for someone especially when they use words like ‘you deserve more’ or ‘I can’t give you what you want and expect’.
Now, a couple months down the line I know that you are never asking too much for the right person. It is so easy to feel less but the other persons actions speak more about them than you. It took several months to realise this but without these specific breakups I wouldn’t have learnt this lesson.
Everyones different so this is just me personally.
I was interested to explore how other people use their personal experiences to ask questions and the directions in which they write and project this onto us (people interacting with their work and what they write).
This piece is about personal narrative essay, revealing how she did not raise her son to celebrate Mother’s Day.
What I find effective about reading her piece is the detail to her writing, however small, us (the readers) are invited into her private life. Anne Lamott’s exploration of her opinions generates a story about a culture that puts mothers on an impossible pedestal (Reedsy, 2022).
What stands out to me about her piece is how it makes you think. It changes your perspective about everything you know about mothers day by exploring different directions of mothers day.
This essay thinks about the implications of disclosing her autism. What I found really interesting is how her essay is written in a style called hermit crab essay. She has chosen a specific format to write her essay in which reflects and supports her story telling and increases the readers experience.
This is similar to choosing specific fonts and colours that will reflect and support your brand image.
For example Joanne Limburg designed the format of her essay to support the storyline of her piece.
A designer will design a logo using specific fonts and colours to support brand identity and the ethos of that brand.
The way that I view designing is you have your problem/question, solve it and use evidence to back it up.
Question/problem
Solve it
Evidence
For example:
Brand Name: “EcoVerve”
You can create a logo that reflects sustainability, eco-friendliness, and a commitment to the environment.
So the company ‘EcoVerve’ needs a logo (thats the problem/question).
The company reflects sustainability, eco-friendliness, and a commitment to the environment (thats what you have solved).
To solve it I am going to choose colours that evidence and back up the company’s ethos of being eco-friendliness/sustainability and commitment to the environment which is why green is a strong choice.
Knowing the knowledge of colour psychology specifically green it is evidence that it is the most suitable colour fit for purpose for the company.
So applying green to the logo acts as the evidence.
Design as storytelling
The history of storytelling
Storytelling started with visual stories in the form of cave drawings which then changed to oral traditions including: song, chant and epic poetry.
“Technology has given us the ability to practice our intrinsic nature as visual individuals”.
(Mendoza , 2015)
I have no idea where to start so a good starting point is discovering what colours and what fonts would resonate with a breakup.
Fonts: reflect anger, sadness, anxiousness
Colourpalette: anger, sadness, insecurity
Different direction
While reviewing my idea I felt as if my idea was immature so I wanted to improve the maturity of my idea. I also felt as if I couldn’t be very creative and my idea was at a dead end.
My new idea: Adoption
I am adopted so my idea still has the personal element. What I find really interesting about adoption is the perception of it. You see so many campaigns regarding animals which is so completely different to humans. I feel like it’s glorified for animals so people perceive a child being ‘picked’ or ‘chosen’ to be taken home to a family (like a dog) which is true but it shouldn’t be normalised as being perceived like that, its more emotional and on a personal, deeper level than people think.
Design is about making people think, when you interact with that artwork/product what do you gain from it?, do you learn anything from it? Does your life change after interacting with that artefact?
First section is important to hook and reel people into your work and the reader wants to know the information provided in the first couple of sentences.
Know your audience
Passion for the stories you tell
I read an article called storytelling that moves people which made me think about the different ways I could use storytelling to my advantage and what I want and how I would go about it.
One paragraph that really stood out to me was the sentence below:
Customers must be convinced to buy your company’s products or services, employees and colleagues to go along with a new strategic plan or reorganization, investors to buy (or not to sell) your stock, and partners to sign the next deal
(Fryer, 2014)
The article refers more to a business perspective which I find very relevant.
Dissecting the important information from the article.
A big part of a CEO’s job is to motivate people to reach certain goals. To do that, he or she must engage their emotions, and the key to their hearts is story.
The key words are “engage and emotion”, “key, heart, story”.
In a story, you not only weave a lot of information into the telling but you also arouse your listener’s emotions and energy.
The importance here is engaging the listeners emotions and energy and thats the GOAL.
But it demands vivid insight and storytelling skill to present an idea that packs enough emotional power to be memorable.
The important words here are; emotional power and memorable which I feel both those words do combine together.
What is a story?
A story conveys how and why life changes.
– have dealt with this fundamental conflict between subjective expectation (personal feelings) and cruel reality.
What makes a good story?
Instead, you want to display the struggle between expectation and reality in all its nastiness.
I know how I feel about it and how I perceive it but I am interested to see how business and people promote how to adopt. I thought it would also be interesting to compare how they advertise humans vs animals.
What I find really interesting about the campaign below is the fact that when I was looking at static campaign posters / images I couldn’t find much on older children just very young kids.
When it comes to storytelling there are several different ways I could explore.
Emotional / sad
Fun – take the Micky out of it
Happy
Campaign video: A generic video about a family and a dog with a child, you think you know what the video/campaign is about which is about adopting a dog but at the end of the video it’s the child that you need to adopt not the dog.
The video is to make you realise that you (representing society) thinks you know what you are seeing and you already conclude your idea on what a topic but you get a hit of reality that you’re not right and you haven’t thought differently and seen the world as what it is.
I know what is memorable to me is the documentaries or videos where while watching a video you can determine who the killer is or what is going to happen and its the storylines where you get proved wrong and you realise you have been focusing / looking at the wrong person or narrative of the video. At the end they show you that you were wrong.
For example if there is a campaign about domestic abuse you watch a video where you would instantly think that the person with the bruises, the cuts man/woman is the one being abused but they’re not- its the normal looking one that is the abuser.
A really good example which i’m trying to explain and describe is the video campaign below. The campaign tricks you to think that you know what the video is about, where it is going and at the end it hits you with reality.
The video below is another good video as it fooled me!
This advert really shows you the power of how society can change your perspective and what you know about the world.
A the beginning you think (well I thought) she was a gymnast because of the orientation of bar and what we see and know of gymnasts equipment but while the video continues you learn that she’s a pole dancer.
There is a stigma of using young children for adoption campaigns like dogs because what? – they’re cute?
See, it’s sad that I am referring to being ‘advertised’ we’re humans, people.. not dogs, cats, pets but in order to raise awareness for adoption we have to be advertised right? thats how it feels sometimes anyway.
How do we change this? – how do I change this! – how can I bring attention to this.
When exploring the dog campaigns (one image shown above) all studio shots of the dogs they use a red background … why? is it because red is a attention seeking colour?
I am going to dissect one campaign to see if there is any design thinking behind using the colours and typefaces used.
Fashion work, magazines, or for classy logo designs
Baskerville
Book text/design Legibility
I can understand why the font looks similar to both Kings Caslon and Baskerville. The studio shot of the dog is similar to common fashion magazines (with a plain, coloured background with big, bold text.
Using a magazine (specifically a magazine cover) as a narrative device
My topic being adoption, meant that when thinking about how I could communicate and design something that would relate to my idea of adoption I found it hard to come up with ideas.
Using my interest for advertising I began thinking about creating a campaign but after researching and looking at digital materials on the topic of adoption I concluded I wanted to trick peoples brain and produce something that would get people talking and thinking.
A magazine came to mind, which I could design the front cover with a narrative and grab people’s attention through that way and then throughout the magazine it would showcase articles about adoption and people’s perceptions of it. The aim of the magazine is to educate and inform people.
Researching the similarity between how children and dogs/animals are campaigned to be adopted provided me with the idea of glamorising adoption of children in similar to how dogs/animals are advertised.
The beauty of a magazine is it can digital or print which allows it to be accessed by anyone anywhere. In the magazine the articles will be subjective, by covering a the topic of adoption from a certain angle.
Different magazine cover designs
Illustration based
Type based
Typography
Image based
Concept based
All the above elements are included – using illustration, type.
Example
See the similarity?
This gave me the idea of designing a magazine cover advertising adoption and glamourising adoption.
Fiona Neil Design Research Journal 