BA (Hons.

) GRAPHIC DESIGN
Module Code Module Title OUGD303 FINAL MAJOR PROJECT

LEVEL

Outcomes

06
1

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT STATEMENT OF INTENT

Name: Ben McKean Blog Address: b-mckeanfmp0912.blogspot.com

Rationale
An editorial investigation of type and layout with a focus on the culture sector. - I will explore the use of print and digital, utilising high-end print when it is appropriate. Whilst investigating the cost and accessibility benefits of web based media. - I aim to create functional design, which renders an appropriate aesthetics in order to effectively communicate the subject matter. As oppose to primarily aesthetically driven work with less consideration to the content and what needs to be communicated. -An investigation of editorial workflow and how publications are constructed professionally in a collaborative environment. -Print based resolutions underpinned by a strong investigation into format, print finish in relation to ergonomics and functionality. -Designing appropriate creative promotional solutions and campaigns for non-corperate businesses. - Work collaboratively in creative environments.

Subjects / Themes Design for: - Magazine, newspapers (current affairs publications) - Events and exhibitions of a culture sector nature - Promotion and informative media for brands. (Such as end of year reports) - Branding for as non-corporate companies as my finances allow Themes: Theory (Authorship) An area of discussion within my dissertation, authorship and critical theory will be considered

across my work. Visual communication and its effectiveness could be underpinned by ideas such as authorship, communication theory, semiotics and consumerism. Functionality Explore the constraints and limitations of functionality, and how far the method of communication can be pushed whilst still operating effectively. Visual Speech Typography is fundamentally visual speech. Even the glyphs and marks represent speech whether its a pause or the accent of the statement. I aim to investigate how type related to speech further. Integrity Within graphic design and even modern society, I feel as a designer is it a necessity to have a standpoint on current issues. Whether it is environmental or ethical there are debates being had everywhere. And with the growth of the internet and worldwide communications, what happens one day is subject for debate across the world the next. Print and Digital The future of print has become uncertain due to the growth of new medias, particurly looking at books and periodicals and the innovation of digital formats. How businesses and magazine industries use digital technology has still not been mastered. However strong web based content is becoming, the golden age for print is still on the horizon as society is becoming more selective about what they print, so it has to be good. Photography Working with photography in an editorial fashion with a focus on type and layout and how they relate/ juxtapose the photos. Design Disciplines / Creative Development Primary Focus: - Editorial Layout design for editorial design, with a focus on periodicals such as magazines and newspapers as well as bespoke books. Supporting editorial work for events and exhibitions such as catalogues and programmes with also be a main focus point and the area in which my editorial design should cross over with any branding/ event design/ promotion I do for that relevant project. - Typographic design Typographic development for new fonts only when they are needed, I am generally against the mindless production of more typefaces. The knowledge of typeface mechanics and contextual references will also inform my treatment of type within my layout design. - Publication Investigating formats working on primarily print production with strong consideration (increasing strong as web content develops) into the web application of publications. - Branding/ Identity For events or brands from a non corporate perspective, using the idea of brand to communicate effectively the function or product using language and semiotics in some cases testing the reader.

Secondary Considerations: - Event/ Exhibition Design - Promotion - Signage/ Wayfinding - Web design (Typographic and content based) Practical Skills / Workshops what, why and when? Current skills I need to continue practicing and responding to current trends/ technology: Layout design Typography Print formats Typeface contextual knowledge Working with professional printers Skills do I need to develop: Fontographer Print techniques and production processes Working with professional printers Web Design: HTML and CSS Skills that I dont need: Illustration Will work collaboratively with specialist illustrators if I need to include illustrations in a brief.

Brief 1: Yearbook

Proposal Deadline

12/01/12 12pm

Rationale: Layout and content driven publication which will further my professional development being a live brief. Preparation for print and specifications will be an area of focus whilst communicating with the printers throughout this brief. Brief 2: Leeds Book Fair Deadline

Rationale: Self initiated collective project which will focus on management and organisation of projects. The aesthetic of the outcomes will be investigated based on a theme and will be suitable for the audience of the event. The audience is directly relevant to the arts/ culture industry as outlined in rationale. Brief 3: Typographic Circle (D&AD) Deadline

Rationale: The main area of focus in this brief will be hard nosed typography. Due to the professional and legendary subject matter within the type community, the outcomes will have to be faultless typographically. This brief also gives me the chance to be experimental with the type in order to create content informed creative outcomes.

Brief 4: Rankin (D&AD)

Deadline

Rationale: Self generated content based on an investigation of Postmodernism as a design movement. The content will relate to my dissertation whilst also fulfilling the requests set out by the brief. The brief could potentially be re-written to include more emphasis on the editorial and publication aspect. Brief 5: Collaborations Deadline

Rationale: Publication focused collaborations. Creating content led work based on the themes discussed within the collaborations. Contextual references / Designers / Studios / Companies (specific) Studios: Salut Public http://www.salutpublic.be/ Studio 8 http://www.studio8design.co.uk/ Julia http://www.julia.uk.com/en/ Onlab http://onlab.ch/ TwoPoints http://twopoints.net/ Colophon http://www.colophon-foundry.org/ APFEL http://apracticeforeverydaylife.com/ Bibliotheque http://bibliothequedesign.com/ Designers: Pol Perez www.p-o-l.org/ Marie Lusa http://www.derrierelacolline.net/ Paul Pensom http://paulpensom.com/ Ruth Ansel http://www.ruthansel.com/ Hight & Irons http://iamjoshhight.com/

RESEARCH ACTIVITY: Printers Studio Visit

Deadline

Details: Researching print processing and the communication with the printers stage. Would like to visit a high end traditional printers such as Generation Press, and would potentially be an opportunity to get some business cards printed for the end of year show. RESEARCH ACTIVITY: Typographic Circle Lecture Deadline Details: Informing Typographic Circle brief and my contextual and theoretic knowledge in relation to typographic design. RESEARCH ACTIVITY: Studio Visit Details: Informing Design context brief and PPD. Deadline

RESEARCH ACTIVITY: Studio Visit Details: Informing Design context brief and PPD. RESEARCH ACTIVITY: Studio visit Details Informing Design context brief and PPD.

Deadline

Deadline

BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS / TEXTS - (Harvard Refernced)
Munari, B (1966) Design as Art, London, Penguin Lupton, E (2004) Thinking with Type [Second Edition], New York, Princeton Architectural Press Lupton, E & Miller, A (1996) Design Writing Research, London, Phaidon Press Limited Messeguer, L (2010) Typo Mag: Typography In Magazines, Barcelona, Index Book Klanten, R. Ehmann, S. Bolhofer, K & Schulze, F (2010) Turning Pages: Editorial Design for Print Media, Berlin, Gestalten Murphy, C & Persson, N (2009) HTML and CSS Web Standards Solutions: A Web Standardistas Approach, New York, Murphy Persson Evamy, M (2007) Logo, London, Laurence King Publishing Adamson, G & Pavitt, J (2011) Modernism: Style and Subversion, 1970-1990, London, V&A Publishing

Ambrose/ Harris (2005) Basics Design: Typography, Lausanne, AVA Publishing Ambrose/ Harris (2008) Basics Design: Grids, Lausanne, AVA Publishing Ambrose/ Harris (2009) Basics Design: Virtual Typography, Lausanne, AVA Publishing Ambrose/ Harris (2005) Basics Design: Colour, Lausanne, AVA Publishing Ambrose/ Harris (2008) The Production Manual, Lausanne, AVA Publishing Cheng, K (2005) Designing Type, London, Laurence King Garfield, S (2010) Just My Type, London, Profile Books MAGAZINES / JOURNALS / ARTICLES (include publication date and details) Creative Review: The Type Annual, February 2011

ON LINE REFERENCES / WEBSITES / ARTICLES (include specific urls)

AisleOne http://www.aisleone.net/ Bitique http://blog.bitique.co.uk/ Crap = Good http://crapisgood.com/ Eight:48 http://eight48.com/ Its Nice That http://www.itsnicethat.com/ Spiekerblog http://spiekermann.com/ The Culture Vulture http://theculturevulture.co.uk/ The Import http://www.theimport.co.uk/ VVORK http://www.vvork.com/ We Love Typography http://welovetypography.com/

APFEL http://apracticeforeverydaylife.com/

OTHER REFERENCE MATERIAL (Films, events, exhibitions, conferences)

ACTION PLAN use this section to identify specific tasks that you need to complete in
order to resolve the brief. Week What do you need to do? 1 Complete statement of intent and assessment of design direction. Deadline

10