Research- Brand Design

I've done some research into the institutes i may find interesting with design branding and advertising in mind, an obvious one being Cadbury World- within there Design Services Dept. I can really see myself getting excited about that type of placement- a large corporate company, which is a big named brand with big opportunities attatched.

However ive read this article...

http://bournvillevillage.com/community-news/kraft-to-close-cadbury-design-studio-40-jobs-to-go/

This may be an issue! so need to find out more details about the position the design dept. of cadbury currently stands..via email or popping in to enquire about placement opportunities.

I will update my blog when ive looked into this further..i still need to research other possibilities for institutions and find some freelance practioners that id be interested in working with.

Professional Practise- initial thoughts

My initial ideas towards this project are quite vague...ive never been able to decide on a particular path i want to take after university- in relation to an art career.

So this experimental work experience could help me greatly when deciding on a direction for my future..if i can just pick the right form of placement to begin with! I want to gain experience and hopefully some beneficial contacts from this module..so need to start research into possibilities as soon as.
As a starting point there are a list of references provided, that ive scanned through and so need to pin point the ones im most drawn to and begin a draft letter of request for placement.

I quite like the idea of splitting my placement hours, to get the most experience and widen my choices so that i have more careers to compare. I like the idea of working with a freelance designer or perhaps photographer and then also within an institution- maybe a big design company..graphic design being my other interest or advertising.

Another option ive always considered and had an interest in is teaching art, perhaps to younger children- but i want more opportunities from my placement so am thinking of encorporating my teaching desire to the collabrative group project, as Pippa has already suggested an art class for children. This way i can get an experience- if only brief, of working with children and see whether it would be something to consider/ look into in depth as a future career.

Initial Ideas- Puppet project

I'm intrigued by the idea of creating intricate shadow puppets.. perhaps using the screen printing method to print a theatre scene onto fabric..or several different backdrops which can be torn and revealed throughout the performance.

 

I need to think about a particular theme or topic for my puppet show...

 

 

A much more complex and detailed shadow puppet display, which it think would be achievable with the time i have...im quite excited about this initial responce- i could craft something really elegant and beautiful

 

 

 

Themes.

I could begin to think about the orgins of shadow puppets, there purpose of entertainment..an oriental theme- where shadow puppetry began, fairy tales are a favourite or maybe more literal with a knid of tribute to the classic Punch and Judy.

I also need to consider lighting, soft and harsh, the positioning and changing of the light for each scene etc Also how i will present the performance...as a film? live show? independantly running on a loop somehow- with mechanics?

 

 

 

Oriental shadow puppet

 

 

 Punch and Judy Performance

 

 

Ive come across this artist..' Isabella's Art' she specialises in creating shadow puppets inspired by characters and scenes from fairy tales, plus creating her own uniquely designed puppets.

 

http://isabellasart.deviantart.com/

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/IsabellasArt

I really like how the silhouettes formed are simple yet show a lot of detail that can be clearly deciphered.. some are hand-cut and the more intricate pieces are formed using a laser cutter..

 

 

Project Launch- Puppets

A new project with Jo was launched today and im quite excited about, i already have several ideas flowing but need to start collecting research so i can begin making and experimenting with what works/ doesnt.

What instantly came to mind was the puppets created in War Horse, a theatre production ive wanted to see but never got the opportunity to...the puppets used are works of art, way to complex for what im aiming to make but very beneficial for research into the mechanics and technology used to form realistic puppets.

http://warhorseonstage.com/#puppetry

I really love these! it would be incredible to create something that complex and well made..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-bni4QqSv4

Warhorse in the West End- Trailer


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7u6N-cSWtY

Handspring Puppet company- demonstration

I'm also quite drawn to the idea of shadow puppets..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAQxNVQF_I0

Raymond Crowe at the Royal Variety Performance

I also like the idea of having an intricate background scene with shadow puppets in a mini performance- light shone behind the screen etc

The muppets...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

My favourite advert ever!! The advert for Drench, using the string puppet 'Brain' from Thunderbirds..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roYmSjqs-0M

and this! hehe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp7xhNOxiXE

I also plan to see the exhibition held at shugborough hall this week, as they have a collection of string puppets on display- so will post about my visit this week.

But i need to remember to keep it simple and not to overcomplicate the outcome...it still needs to look professional.

Lubetkin book- Nature study

Berthold Lubetkin-
Architecture and the tradition of progress, John Allan

Chapter 6: Nature Study pages 222-239

I found this extract from the book particularly interesting...

'Shortly before the war, Lubetkin wrote a brief (unpublished) resume of his work at Dudley zoo which included the following definition.

There are two possible methods of approach to the problem of zoo design; the first, which may be called the 'naturalistic' method, is typified in the Hamburg and Paris zoos, where an attempt is made, as far as possible, to reproduce the natural habitat of each animal; the second approach, which, for want of a better word, we may call the geometric', consists of designing architectural settings for the animals in such a way as to present them dramatically to the public, in an atmosphere comparable to that of a circus.'

I've used the book to provide the sketches for my printed piece, as its the only source available to get the architectural drawings from. Its an inciteful read into Lubetkins design ideas and reasoning behind the architects structures/ decisions for the zoo's design.


It also tells of the difficulties he came across and explains in detail the various componets and structural arrangement.

Adobe Illustrator Process

I've used Adobe Illustrator to create the printed piece, i wanted to form a visitor map/guide to the tectons similar to the zoos existing maps. But in the style of a blue print to link with the tectons architectural background and used the original sketches.

I found the software quite easy to use once i got the hang of the processes however it was very timeconsuming and frustating at times.

I started  with the basic zoo map as the base and then using the pen tool accurately redrew over the top leaving out the simplified tecton buildings out so detailed ones could be layered in after, using the image beneath as a guide... i then altered the background colour to blue and changed the lines to white. To give the appearance of a blueprint document.

Quotes similar to ones used for the existing zoo guide map...
'Finding your way around our tectons'
'Getting closer to the worlds largest collection of tectons'

Printing options...
A glossy fold out a3 map- like zoo guide OR
more like blueprint one sided rolled up a2 piece

Some of the sketches i scanned to be used on my map printed piece...

I had difficulties when trying to layer the sketches onto the map as i couldnt alter them enough so they fitted in seemlessly with the blue background..so, taking inspiration from the call outs used on Dudleys zoos map, i cropped the sketches down and arranged the boxes around the outside of the map with lines pointing out the numbered areas of each tecton.

It actually worked better than my initial idea and looked more effective so am satisfied with the outcome, i then decided to tint each image blue slightly so that it blended visually with the map.

Ive now decided to print the map on glossy A2 paper and roll it- for display, so that it links with the bluprint style/sketched plan drawing effect i am trying to create.

Printed project

I wanted to create a large fold out map of the zoo but with architecttural drawings in place of the basic outlined shapes.. using parchment paper and a mix between screen printing and indesign.

—A large fold-out booklet, with faded prints of the zoo map/architect drawings

—Screen print enlargements of sections of tecton image

—Different textures, interesting layout- combine in design, print and screen print

—Parchment paper/grided paper- reflect discovered plans

— Print images over text

Try to continue with blueprint theme, create some simple layered prints


By using Illustrator i was able to re-draw the map as a simplified version and one of better quality for print.
Plus an image of the map i could manipulate to what i wanted, i could then cut the simple ouline images of the structures out..leaving ample space and an appropriate layout for detaile darchitectural sketches to be added. To create the appearance of a large blueprint map of the zoo- in the style of the type of map given to visitors at the zoo, but instead a visitors guide to the Tectons.

1. Bear Ravine
2. Birdhouse
3. Polar Bear complex
4. Kiosk 1
5. Kiosk 2
6. Sealion Pool
7. Moat cafe
8. Penguin Pool
9. Station cafe
10. Elephant House
11. Zoo Entrance
12.Queen Mary restaurant

'Finding your way around our Tectons' - getting closer to the worlds largest single collection of Tectons

A3 to appear similar to the existing zoo map, given to visitors-rather than architects blueprint map

 

 

 

 

 

Dudley Zoo site plan- used as a template

 

 

Redrawn version in blueprint style layout- edited out the simplified buildings and left numbers in its place so the architectural sketches could be arranged around the outside.

I then scanned the sketches from Lubetkins book at a very high resoltion- 1200 to ensure the best quality as the images werent the best to begin with...i also altered the levels of each image i scanned, on photoshop, to make them clearer. I then arranged them around the outside of the map, resizing and tinting them blue as i went.

To tint i selected Image from the toolbar, then adjustments, black and white and ticked tint.
The settings i found worked best and which i applied to all of th edrawings were...
Hue: 235
Saturation: 75%
Cyan: 169

Im really pleased with the final outcome of the print and have printed it larger so it can be displayed rolled up, as if its an actual blueprint plan.

DZG Bear Ravine

My initial idea for the film was to focus on the architetcure and creating the idea of restoring the structure to its original state..by creating a blueprint affect and layering film of sketching the ravine over footage of its current state.

Using effects such as opacity and altering colour...

Using photographs from the 1930s when the structure was in its intended state..i can then flip between past and present to show the contast

Emphasising Lubetkins original designs and intentions..in order to preserve the memory of the Bear Ravine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X4wVUcCUBw

Carphone warehouse ad- showing drawing in film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm5_Y6OvcS0

Talktalk ad using light but same sort of idea..the kind of progessive image making i want to create through drawing in my film, to represent rebuilding/ redrawing the tecton as it would have been.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_HBCTSsYyQ

Twinnings tea ad

Artist Statement Research

When thinking about my initial idea i found this article intriguing as it talked about the meaning beneath work which is what i wanted to focus on..

'Document an exhibition with in it'

Karin Kihlberg and Reuben Henry, Apeirophobic Framework- relates in the way work is displayed

Relates with my first idea of displaying work within work- in the style video of a book which displays my statement/ pages turn/video and images within it

http://www.karinkihlberg-reubenhenry.org/Apeirophobia.htm

Robert Smithson
- A provisional theory of non-sites

http://www.robertsmithson.com/essays/provisional.htm

Charles and Ray Eames- Powers of  Ten


Quotes i found inspiring..

'Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.Art is knowing which ones to keep'
- Scott Adams

'The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but there inward significance'- Aristotle

'Anyone who says you cant see a thought simply doesnt know art' - Wynetka Ann Reynolds

Colab

Models/ prototypes of the collaborative project responce

First model before the design changed to accommodate price and practicality

Various stages of making...

Base with foundations to display how the larger version would be formed

Decked floor- linked with shuttering method used by lubetkin during construction of the tectons

Laser cutter- accurately and neatly cut the shapes required..

Laser cut pieces starting to form the model- curves and shapes all taken from existing Tecton buildings

Hexagon shaped design chosen as its a reliable constructive shape used for strength and is structurally sound compared to a dome..12 sides (including the roof) which mirrors the 12 Tectons

Cutting out the acrylic shapes to be arranged in different (modernist) colours on the outside walls of the structure...

My sketches of the structure..

I drew up a plan view of all the components that formed the structure..to show to-scale measurements

A few images of the Tectons which shapes and curves were taken to inspire the final piece..