Interim Module Brief Crit

For this crit me andJocel decided to present together in order to talk about our collaborative brief for SB2 - 'That's So Astro'. In the presentation we clearly talked them through the process fo the brief and we've created a basic script in order to not miss info out and at the same time in order to present a smooth presentation with smooth transitions between us too. I think this really helped as I think that it helped us get insightful feedback form the peers and Helena who watched and listened to out presentation.

WWW:

• They really liked the typography that we created for both publication issues and were strong on their own rights.
• The idea was good

EBI:

• It's not cohesive enough for the reader's to know that the next issue is from the same publication (maybe use the same font for the title as use the custom font for the headings within the publication instead, perhaps Helvetica? as it's a neutral font?) - *We did say that the layout for the sub headings on the front covers was the same in order to create a subtle uniformity and reference to the publication however maybe this was TOO SUBTLE and we thought that it was only right that we change this as we did agree with the feedback and hearing people's points from an audience perspective our initial front cover layout is not strong enough to create a uniformed presence for the readers. 

• For the Pisces publication, maybe use a contrasting sans serif font for the headings as well as to conform to the new font on the front cover? - *We thought this idea would be viable as it would only make since to keep everything cohesive with the same font, style, point etc. also the fact that they recommended a sans serif type might also be a stronger idea as it can compliment a wide range of styles as the font is non conforming to any characteristics apart from being neutral and balanced. If anything maybe the font will highlight the aesthetic and characteristic of the actual publication itself as it doesn't draw anything away from it. 

• What other additional materials are going to be there - *We've discussed that we are planning to include additional materials such as stickers and posters which readers can use and hang up in order for them to create attachment to the publication or maybe expect for the next one to come out creating a solid readership for the publication as readers are  not only getting information but also physical elements which they can use themselves. 

Thoughts & Reflection:

I thought that the crit went better that I expected and we got some really ncie feedback that we can work on to improve our publication, it also made us realise that some of our decisions before weren't as strong and would no work on actual readers as they made us realise the limitations of restrictions that we've made for ourselves. In terms of production though, Helena has suggested me to use Cyclus paper as opposed to sugar paper as I showed them a draft print out of the publication and I've voiced my opinion on my struggle to find the appropriate paper for it as I initially thought sugar paper would be good however it was too rough and thick and overall felt cheap. I will explore the usage of this stock and it's also a stock I've used similarly in the past module so I've had experience with it as well.

What I learnt from employability week

Throughout employability week, I tried to fit in my personal work for SB1 and SB2 as well, however I found it quite difficult as we had to attend the sessions and also do some tasks outside the sessions relating to employability week as well, e.g. make a presentation. Having all these extra things to do for employability week made me really stressed as I had less time to do my studio briefs as well as the fact that it messed up the timetable that I made for myself. I also couldn't concentrate well on the studio briefs and felt that I was very stagnant during the 2 weeks and wasn't going any where with my briefs. During this time as well I felt that SB2 had more content to work with therefore I focused on it more that SB1 (still). However, during this time I did attempt to focus more on Sb1 as well, however it was very hard as I started to feel really overwhelmed by everything and thinking that I'm not going to get anything done.

However, despite this though I did learnt a lot from employability week, particularly the Creativity in Context session which I thought was really entertaining and insightful. I learnt about the different ways of how job roles are described and made me more confident that their are a lot more niche and wide range of professions that comes under the Graphic Design umbrella and made me realise that I have skills for jobs that I never thought of before. Also, the Self Confidence and Networking session with 'The Light Bulb People' was very fun as Rick was very engaging with us which helped me focus on what he was talking about as well. In particular as well, I really enjoyed the 'Mindfulness' session with Lucile as I had it at a time when I was feeling the most stressed out too so her session helped me to calm down a bit and made me think of ways in which I could improve on it as well. 

Overall, employability fortnight was quite an educative 2 weeks and I've learnt various techniques and ways about employment in the future and how to go about it. However, at the same time I feel like it was quite long at times and some sessions could've been put together into one session e.g the job application and interview sessions as they were very similar and made senses to come together. Putting sessions together could've given use more time to work on our studio briefs during the employability fortnight and would've been more time efficient as well.

SB2: Research on Publication and Zines in other Universities (Uni of Leeds)

As the zine publications that we made are going to be distributed mostly around the university campus, I decided to research what zines/ publication other universities have.

I went to University of Leeds Union as it's the biggest university in Leeds therefore I thought they would have the largest variety of publications around. Looking at their union it was mostly leaflets that they have for events which was also varied such as society events, sports etc. There was only a few pamphlets or publication zines there really. The ones that I found where saddle stitched or jsut folded to be like brochures. They were also made from light 100 gsm ish paper stock that's quite glossy and was probably mass produced as well.

Thoughts & Reflections:

It was what I expected for university publications as they were very probably mass produced and is high quality. And, because they were mass produced it also makes since to have the binding method easy and simple hence the saddle stitch. where it's placed in the university is also very good as it easily seen by the students which is the main audiences that they are being targeted to. Thinking of how Incan apply this where our publication should be placed, I'm thinking of maybe putting them in the library where students are usually studying which has a high possibility of them being interested on what it is, or the student union, as I also went there and found that they stack free zines and publications there for students to get.

SB1: Chosen Idea Sketch Development

From the initial ideas that I created I think that the Kitchen table idea is the most promising as it can be applied to a variety of kitchen layouts which widens it's audience reach- primarily to multigenerational families but also to smaller, younger modern audiences.

Initially, I had the idea of putting a Lazy Susan in the middle of the main oblong table but I realised that it's kind of irrelevant as it probably won't hold a lot of food which makes it redundant and a hassle than helpful so I scrapped this idea. I think that the pull out table is sufficient enough and is actually more than helpful and convenient on it's own.

Convenience 

I've started to sketch out developments of what is actually possible to make, as in my initial it seems very impossible to actually have that many variations of storage units under and would probably only make it harder for users to sit around it. I've pinpointed the essential needs users will need in order to work on/with while using the kitchen island which are: plates, utensils, pots and pans, glasses. Basically just the basic essentials for eating and preparing food. I choose these as it would be more convenient for them as they won't have to keep on moving around the whole kitchen in order to move quickly move.

Safety

As it's aimed at multigenerational families it's also important to think about safety. I've specifically looked at safety for children and elderly. I thought that having a sliding, or push action mechanism for opening cabinet rather than handles would be much more appropriate. Having push acton mechanism will make it easier for elder who have decreased motor skills or arthritis to open/close cabinets without help. In addition, it'll also decrease the accidents children may have such as bumping onto the handles; as well as make it hard for them to accidentally open cabinets and hurt themselves.

Flexibility

After looking at different kitchen layouts in my research, I found that this idea would also be possibly applied to them. In accordance to the kitchen layout and space, the kitchen island can be changed in size. Though it's small in size it will still have all the elements but in a smaller scale. maybe I could have 3 standard sizes for the kitchen island which can fit a variety of kitchen layouts.

Thoughts & Reflection:

I think that after choosing from my initial ideas, I have a clearer view of what the solution can. Also, because I have a clearer idea of the main needs in order to answer the problem asked in the brief, it will be more effective and complete because of all the considerations that I've done. Also, I will start to actually digitally draw and refine these sketches in order to fit the briefs deliverables of a digital proposal for spatial/product design.

Sb2: Collaborative Contract

Here is the collaborative contract that me and Olivia did and me and Jocel did. It outlines what we are responsible for individually and what we are bound to while in a collaborative partnership for our collaborative brief.

SB1: Initial Ideas

After doing a breath of research about the theme and idea of the brief. I've drafted several ideas which I think could be a possible answer/ solution to the problem that the brief is trying to tackle.

Keys:

+ = postive
- = negative

Idea #1 (Sliding Worktop) 

From my research I've found that particularly for one wall kitchen layouts there's a minimal area of space in which food preparation can be done as the work triangle is very closed off due to it being linear. To solve this, I thought adding a sliding worktop could work in order to open up the preparation space, having more room for food prep. The worktop will be stationary under the initial worktop on the kitchen and will be pulled out the in order to be used (groove underneath instead of a handle). I've also thought to maximise the usage of the additional worktop, the space underneath may also be used as sliding storage spaces, using as much space of the additional worktop as possible.

+ easy to move (sliding/pulling action) - won't be too hard for elders to pull out and children won't know it can be pulled as the groove will be more discreet than a handle, avoiding them hurting themselves) 
+additional storage can be split in various ways in order to be maximised
+additional storage can also have it's own sliding, pushing, pulling manoeuvres for easier access
+ having additional storage underneath reduces time to walk around the kitchen as appliance, ingredients and equipment can be stored there.
+reduces movement between cooker and sink (less hassle)
+ can be a great way to engage in cooking in a group as two/ or more people can work on both sides, engaging in activity and fun in the kitchen
+ perfect for compact kitchens as a way to maximise space use
+ don't have to be used all the time (not on the way)

- can make the kitchen seem smaller than it already is (might be too tight)
- cause kitchen traffic is too many people are in at one (but, it may not be a problem? as only cooker is closed off, so only the person cooking is there and others can still use the sink and access the fridge)
-safety (may hit children accidentally or elders)
- needs to have a 'brake' so it doesn't move about
-wheels brakes?brakes on the inside/ underneath portion ( i need to explore this area more)
- only focus on one wall kitchen

Idea #2 (Kitchen Island)

This idea takes on the idea of a 'kitchen hatch' or 'through room' in which families/ groups of people can have an engaging time in a multipurpose interconnected kitchen and dining area. This is reinforced by the having multipurpose kitchen island, not only serving as a dining table but also a compact storage system with various cabinets with a push to open systems for comfort, rotating storage for flexibility and ease of access and open ledge for chairs as well as wine/ingredients slots. The kitchen island will be in wide oblong shape for a slimmer and wider fit, rather than a rectangle/square shape. It will also have a smart feature which includes a controlled 'Lazy Susan' opening up from the centre of the island.

+ lots of storage spaces at the bottom, maximise capacity
+ ideal for through rooms, no separation from the kitchen so the space will also feel bigger
+ encourages more activity in the kitchen/dining area as it can become an area for studying, conversation, resting and playing when not in use for eating
+ less movement from kitchen to dining area as it all in one place
+ don't have to buy dining table
+ curved edges are safe for children
+ push access in easy, especially for elders
+ lazy susan encourages sharing (food and conversation) as everything will be centred towards it. 
+ fit for multigenerational families or big families in general 
+ can work for L shape kitchens or a as an extension of an open gallery kitchen

- will probably be very expensive
- may cause traffic in kitchen as both sides is open
- may not fit compact kitchens (maybe have a variation of sizes though?)
- is this too ambitious? theres so many elements is this even plausible in real life?
- elders will have problems reaching the bottom storage

Idea #3 (Corner Utensil Storage)

Idea 3 comes from part of my research which points out that kitchen corners are becoming wasted spaces as they are hard to reach and an awkward place in the kitchen especially in small compact kitchens. In order to utilise this space, instead of a straight 90 degrees it could be 45 degrees and slightly longer creating extra worktop space. The extra wide space on the bottom allows for a more diverse storage system. I thought of having a pyramid storage system accommodating to various utensils e.g. knife, spoon, forks, glasses, plates etc. It will be shallow for easier access (people don't have to awkward squat). It will also have top drawers with multiples storage systems. First top will be a slide opening system for easy access, as opposed to normal cabinet door. Second drawer will be at least a set of 2 or 3 push vertical drawers with hook systems for spatulas and other cooking utensils.
Using this corner as a utensil corner may also help the flow of preparation as it lessens movement as its centred so users can freely work in the 'L' workflow. Essentially I think it becomes a of the kitchen triangle (making is a kitchen square).

+ versatile storage system fit for compact kitchens and big kitchens 
+ specialised storage so makes everything systematic and uniformed in terms of where equipment is placed
+ easy opening systems/ manoeuvres accommodating to elders with motor problems (less squatting because of shallow cabinets)
+ more accessible in general as it's not an awkward 90 degrees (additional workspace) - connects the stove and sink freely 
+ can work not just a utensil storage space - maybe a snack storage space?, ingredients, dry food storage? as long as it's a specialised storage for a set of particular needs as it allows for a better kitchen system.

- 45 degree angle makes the space look smaller (especially for gallery and u shaped kitchens)
- more suitable for l shaped kitchens with open space. 
- not as innovative tbh
- can be pushed more
- dangerous for small children - pyramid storage will need to be opened quite widely 

Thoughts & Reflections:

I think because from the research that I did I felt that I had to accommodate to a wide spectrum of users therefore I came up with these ideas. At first I only wanted to focus on a specific type of users e.g. families or elderly, however I thought that that's not completely answering the brief as it asks me to create a solution which engages people together and encourages them to "eat food, entertain, engage in hobbies or work, and enjoy being together." Having this in mind, I tried to come up with ideas that tries to aim to accommodate to all.

Furthermore, I honestly had a hard time coming up with ideas, as I felt like everything has been done already and there's already such as wide spectrum of kitchen designs that I feel like it will really hard for me to come up with something original, and even if I did I feel like it won't be good enough; also there's only so much you can do with a kitchen! Therefore, I thought creating solutions that best accommodates the layouts and area of the kitchen will be the best way, and creating alternative designs which will create a stronger reinforcement of engagement will be best.


The next steps for me now is to decide which idea is the best and which ones has the best possible benefits and advantages which I can take further in order to create developments and refinements on.

SB1: (Research) Technological Advancement Effects on Kitchen Design

We are in an era where technology is advancing very quickly and has been adapted in order to be apart of our daily lives and needs. In particular technology today has been applied in our kitchen in order for a more efficient and quick way of navigating in the kitchen space and using appliances faster and better.

In particular, I'm going to explore the idea of smart kitchens and how the shape today's kitchens.

What is a Smart Kitchen

Usage of technology in  order to create a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly appliances as well as to save space within the area. 

Examples

• Smart Fridges - can list their contents or automatically order items, energy efficient in terms of humanities 
• Smart washing machines - can be switched on remotely and turn itself off once done saving electricity and energy efficient.
• Smart Ovens/ cookers - can be turned on remotely and actively programmed e.g. let the ovne know what kind of meat you're cooking for best cooking quality
• Smart Stoves - can be connected to Wifi to ensure stoves are turn off or remotely operated to preheat before arriving home etc.

Specific Appliances

• GeniCan - comes with your bin, allows you to scan item' barcodes or say through voice recognition what you need. Item is then added to a list on a Genican app (allows users to not miss any groceries).
• Scosche's BoomBottle MM - a bluetooth speaker with an in built can opener; simple but may be actually quite helpful. 
• Samsung Family Hub 3.0 - smart fridges with in built 21.5 inch screen offering various apps e.g. whiteboard, stickiboard, entertainment apps w/ a smart voice assistant. Three in built camera's inside and able to connect to a Smart Samsung TV. Also able to view home camera's doorbells etc. Fit for families, successfully integrate a functional and entertaining purpose to the fridge. However, very expensive at $3,052.

Thoughts & Reflection:

I think the idea of possibly integrating smart features to a kitchen could possibly enhance it's efficient and make things work better in the kitchen. It may also help make the kitchen a more engaging part of the house where members would spend time together. However, it does have it's downfalls, such as risk of breaching privacy, as information are involved and appliances such as smart fridges can track everyone's movement or with camera's etc. 

https://plentific.com/advice/how-create-smart-kitchen-626/ 
https://www.the-ambient.com/reviews/best-smart-kitchen-devices-469

SB1: (Research) Effects of Urbanisation on Kitchen Space

Urbanisation

the process of making an area more urban; is the increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities. 

• by 2050 there will be about 2.5 million more people mainly in Africa and Asia.

Due to urbanisation, for the past few years people have decided to join the "tiny house movement" (moving to smaller houses, for more cost efficient and environmentally friendly lifestyle). Another more prominent movement is having 'compact kitchens', especially is apartments or condos with less space, (As regular houses are usually 100 sq. ft, compact kitchens usually have to fit on a 6 - 8 sq. ft space). 

Compact Kitchens

Compact Kitchens aims to be a space and cost efficient alternative to regular size kitchens and now is mostly beneficial especially for small living spaces in urban cities.

Existing Compact Kitchens 

1) Compact Concept's 'Circle Kitchen' 

+ circle kitchen set
+ only 1.8 square metres (space efficient)
+ highly functional but also stylish and modern (fits people's taste in modern living?)
+able to rotate up to 180 degrees (flexibility)
+ provide various equiptment and appliance e.g. sink, microwave, fridge, cabinets, storage etc. 
- $6.500 - $ 15,000 (NOT COST EFFICIENT)
- how will it fit various kitchen layouts? probably not appropriate for gallery type kitchens 

https://freshome.com/2009/08/25/circled-kitchen-by-compact-concepts/

2) Kitchoo Kitchen - 'Rectangular Compact Kitchen 

+ very compact fit for small apartment spaces or terrace houses
+ compact w/ 2 burner induction hob, sink, fridge and small 2 space drawers (can also add a dishwasher and a range hood)
- only appropriate for very small spaces, probably for a single/ 2 person household
- not for families

https://www.homedit.com/compact-kitchen-designs-for-small-spaces/

3) Come Together (Albrecht Seeger & Martin Klinke)

+ various size options caters to different spaces & users (small, medium, large) 
+ can accomodate up to three guest or four with pull out chairs/stool
+ fit for small kitchen as it's modelled around 1 sq metres of space. 
+ easily accessible; slide i n trays etc.
- stool maybe too difficult for elders/children/disabled to sit down on as it's very narrow
- can become crowded (traffic congestion around the kitchen when there's more than 5 people

https://www.designboom.com/design/albrecht-seeger-martin-klinke-come-together/ 

4) Carré (Robert Schierjott & Ulrich Kohl)

+ great for customisation of needs - catering to people various needs
+ space efficient (1 sq metres) 
+ compact cubes can be pushed and pulled out
+ 2 modules (Main and Secondary) *Main is fixed for essentials e.g. gas port, kitchne sink and counter) ; *Second is movable and can be combined with main to make 6 configurations changing the shape of the design. 
- may be hard to get around
- sharp edges, irregular layout (not children friendly) 
- traffic congestion in kitchen is too many people crowd around.
no space for other essentials e.g. microwave, fridge (kitchen triangle is not complete)

Other Considerations

+ Compact storage containers - recyclable pots, glass bottles, baskets etc to reduce waste
+ move non-essential kitchen appliances somewhere elsse e.g. washing machine to bathroom? to maximise space in kitchen 
+ have trolleys or movable storage?
+ utilise unused spaces for storage

Thoughts & Reflection:

I think my focus on the compact kitchens regarding to my research on the effects n urbanisation to kitchen has given me som indication on which direction I should create my ideas to. Incorporating ideas about compact kitchens and it's advantages towards space efficiency and possible cost efficiency I thought maybe I can apply these to reinventing the kitchen spaces in different house types mainly found in the UK e.g. terrace, semi-detached and detached as well as kitchen layouts. This also led me to think of maybe breaking the kitchen triangle. can I have them all in one direction instead?

SB2: Initial Front Cover Designs

Last night I finished creating the initial front cover designs for the Pisces issue of the collaborative publication that I'm doing with Jocel, Olivia and Nusheen. I created these five design from Olivia's collages that she created, as well as a collective decision we discussed during our meeting about the aesthetic of it and how we want it to look. We discussed that we liked the bluey tone therefore I tried to keep it to this theme, whilst incorporating other colours which I thought suited the theme visually and conceptually as well. 

Idea #1

For this idea, I tried to emphasise the 'escapism' that we are trying to get in order to portray the sign 'Pisces' on the front cover. I used kind of 'literal' visual which emphasise, especially with the person prominent on the foreground of the design. I decided to use Olivia's collage as the main design as well as I liked how she used different shapes and co posed them in a way which balanced out the whole shape of the collage. Particularly, how she cut the black and white picture really helped complete the collage. Through this, I found it quite easy to visualise where the type should be laid out. 

I decided to lay out the custom typeface in a 'collage' style as well creating more depth to the design like there are several layers to the design, referencing to the 'daydreamer' character of a Pisces and how they are constantly thinking of things they want to do and being clouded   their own thoughts. The type I used for the sub headings e.g. February 2019, is Helvetica Oblique complimenting the serif custom typeface of the title, with the contrasting smooth qualities the sans serif type has. However, the 'Pisces' sub heading is written with the custom typeface indicating to the readers that it's the second most important information to be read (though it's only a couple of points bigger than the other sub texts). Furthermore, the colour scheme I used has aspects of the blue theme that we talked about before as well as rely on the overall colour scheme that's prominent on the collage (as I didn't want to edit the collage to much), though using this colour scheme helped me a lot as I think it make the title stand out against the visual enough. In addition, I used a subtle grain effect to the design creating a deep kind of nostalgic effect, along with a gradient effect on the sub texts complimenting the whole design whilst still being legible enough.

+ strong eye catching visual

+ composition of visual and type compliments each other 

+ colour scheme refers to the theme of escapism very well

- however, type may not be as legible? might confuse people

- orange doesn't make the title stand out as it should. 

Idea #2

For this design in general I tried to keep it quite simple still keeping the collage visual prominent in order to give the cover as strong first impression. The face of the person has been liquified which might be quite confusing at first, however upon closer inspection is resembles the fishes that symbolises Pisces, referencing back to how Aphrodite and Eros became fishes in order to save themselves from the monster in the Pisces myth. The black 'space' background and the colourful gradient prominent gave it an added mystical feel that I didn't want to interfere as I thought it would look gaudy if I tried to edit or add something to it. I also a slight motion blur effect in order to create a more 'dreamy' atmosphere that compliments the existing atmosphere of the design. Again, the blue colour palette is prominent which added hints of pink and purple hues, referencing the 'fantasy' characteristic of Pisces. Helvetica is once again used with the custom type used on 'Pisces' however it's laid out is a dynamic way reference to water and waves. The sub headings are added on the upper corner of the page creating an upside down triangle format which centres towards the title, giving it a good strong balance, added by the white space which takes over 1/3 of the upper foreground of the page. The title is also laid out in an irregular way complimented the 'movement' of the page, making it look more active, just like the minds of Pisceans and their creative and innovative character. The readers will automatically be drawn to read the title due to the composition of the collage as well as type, which will also hopefully focus the on the liquified fish as its overlapped with the title. 

+ simple but eye catching, due to intriguing liquified effect 

+ type reinforces hierarchy of information

+ colour scheme is subtle on type but the prominent colours on the collage balances this out.

- 'Pisces' sub heading composition kind of looks off and unbalanced

- title composition could be done better (maybe I could try making it linear to avoid clashing with the liquifying effect?)

- is the bottom too bare? should type be moved down there?

Idea #3

For this idea, I tried to give focus on the title by using similar/minimal collages on the design. Unnoticeable at first, the collage design on the top is upside down giving a reference to the fishes being on opposite facing directions of each other and how one is looking down on the other. It may also refer to the 'escapism' and the desire to escape reality where reality becomes the opposite of what one may want. The rest of the design are segments from the flowers taken from Olivia's collages, where each segment is place in accordance to the constellation arrangement of Pisces, in which the bigger the segment is the bright that particular star on the constellation is. Using, the flower segment also evokes a feeling of utopia and ethereal atmosphere - something magical. Having, the collages black and white allows the title stand out very much, grabbing reader's attention at first.

The title being centred on the design not only makes in clear and prominent it also assess's in importance on the page and with the blue-yellow gradient; it further emphasises the 'dreamy' mood as well as subtle references to the water element of Pisces and it's lucky stone 'Yellow Sapphire.' The sub headings also vary it styles in accordance to its importance in the hierarchy. I used style instead of size to indicate its importance as I thought having them in different sizes would break the uniformity of the design. Rather, having some italic e.g. February 2019' will indicate the readers to look on the top left due to the slight movement of text (also the fact that the left side of the collage has less black has influenced my decision for this style, as opposed to the 'Pisces' which is in regular style as it's easier to read. Adding to this, the typeface I used for the sub headings is 'Times New Roman' as I thought the serif type compliments the title well without straying away from the style too much. As well as the subtle gradient on the '#2' and 'The Fish' completes the design, keeping it consistent and looking sleek and not overpowering.

+ looks very simple and sleek
+ consistent, type layout ties the design together (balanced)
+ subtle abstract references adds intrigue to the publication

- try a different title composition
- space out the letters more? (in accordance to the flow designs?
- or tighten it up, using the serifs and thin stems/curves?

Idea #4

This idea is a variation I tried to create from the first design. I thought giving it a more abstract and conceptual feel of 'escapism' could work but keeping the initial collage only. However, I found it to create more of solemn atmosphere and quite dull. However, I tried to use the type as a way of making it more impactful through composing the letters in a very tight way and having them big with some letters coming off the page, which I think complimented the collages' '3D' ish quality. I also manipulated the 'O' resembling the tree branches on the collages. In addition, used the edges of the black and white collage as grid for the sub headings and how they are laid out. Experimenting with this created a more interesting and balanced look to the overall type lay out and making them black gave them the opportunity to be seen clearer against the overpowering title. Although, the custom type is the same colour for the 'Pisces' on the bottom centre of the page, it didn't turn out quite well as it almost blends in too much with the collage and becomes illegible.

+ enlarged title compliments the collage really well - highlights the overlapping aspects of the collage, gives it more depth
+ black and white against the blue and yellow highlights the colours well as well as the collage

- title could be more centred, a bit too far up 
- 'Pisces' is not legible enough - maybe change the colour ; possibly yellow or blue?
- placement of type could be more experimental to reinforce the collage visual not just with the images but also the type?

Idea #5

For this idea, I wanted to create a simpler, more sleek and contemporary look for the cover. I used the collage from the second idea, with the manipulated liquified face in order to evoke the same feel and mood of escapism. However, I made the collage smaller and more squared in order to act as grid for some of the sub headings. In addition, the title is angled creating a layered effect (3d ish) with the 'Astro' reflected, referencing the positioning of the fishes on the Pisces symbol, similar to the liquified effect on the face. I didn't add any colour other than the ones of the collage as I thought that the collage itself already evoked the dreamy, mysterious feel that I'm trying to highlight for the cover. Furthermore, I used the custom typeface for 'Pisces' and it's a bit bigger than the other sub headings, indicating it's the second most important information readers should read then directing them to the smaller point sized text indicating additional information. They are also laid out in a way which reference the shape of the Pisces constellation, but also at the same time creating a well balanced overall design with the use of white space of the page. Furthermore, I used Didot for the sub heading, fitting the the title as it's the base font that the custom type face is based on.

+ looks very sleek and contemporary, clean

+ the custom type is very well highlighted - thin stems and curves

+ colour stands out as well 

- looks too magaziney?

- a bit too formal?

Thoughts & Reflection:

After creating all five designs I feel like some would be more appropriate than other e.g. I think Idea #5 sin't as effective as it looks a bit too formal and very commercial-ish. as opposed to Idea #1 and 4. For me personally, I liked Idea #3 the most as I liked how it's a balance between looking quite professional but also very fun and engaging to look at. I think it also shows a more subtle and conceptual meaning and description to the sign Pisces which keeps in very intriguing and interesting as the meaning isn't literal to it's name and element. 

I also asked Olivia and Jocel's opinions on the covers and asked them which one they liked the most and why. Both Jocel and Olivia (#4) also liked Idea #3, as they mentioned how it's clearly shows the them of escapism and is very interesting to look at, therefore I think I'm going to use this design as the final cover. I also talked to Jocel about how we could keep aspect of the two publications (Aquarius and Pisces) consistent in order for readers to recognised they are editions of one publication. We came up of the idea of putting the name of the animal.object representing the sign on bottom centre of each publication as a subtle indication as well as having the Issue number written for each to clearly show it's order and indicate that there's other editions as well. Other than that, we felt that the title and other layout should rely on the actual content and design as well as feel of the overall publication as the purpose of the front cover was to express each individual signs right of the bat before the readers open it, having too many rules may break this unique aspect and make the whole publication look to boring. 

Olivia, said that she has also started to work and design other collages and sent to me, with more pink and purple hues to address the mystical and fantasy aspect of Pisces as well as I replied back to tell her that having blue to purple would be a great idea, as the whole book could be a gradual gradient of these colours evoking different characteristics and moods throughout the publication which still references back to Pisces and it's personality. 

Replies from Olivia regarding Initial front cover designs

SB2: Final Bespoke Typography

After further refinements to the typography, this is the final bespoke typography I made for the publication. As I used 'Didot' as the typeface reference, it was easier for me to refine the typeface as the typeface already had the similar characteristics to what I had envisioned. 

The typeface that I created has much cleaner and simpler look to it while still looking very modern and soft contemporary. The ascenders and descender are irregular creating a subtle dynamic aspect to the typeface, complementing the italic body text that I've chosen. In addition, I've also decided to further give contrast to the thick and thin lines on the curves of the letter e.g. in 'c' and 'a' in order to give it a sleek look. Adding to the dynamic and sleek style, the dots are also irregular and elongated e.g giving the typeface a strong and prominent look especially when combined in a word or sentence. Having said this, it also compliments the collages really well though it looks very simple they still hold their own on the page. 

In addition, I also think that this fits the concept I'm trying to covey with the aesthetic of the whole publication as it fits with the Pisces personality of being "in the shadow" and "often quiet" type. Though they look very timid they also hold their own through their creativity and imaginative character and being able to think of 'out of the box' ideas - much like the typeface which looks simple however strong when combined together. 

Thoughts & Reflections: 

 Overall, I'm really happy with how the typeface turned out and I think it captures the style and mood that were trying to convey. I also think it give the publication it's distinct flavour which sets it apart to the Aquarius publication that Jocel is making as well. And like I've mentioned, it does look quite simple, however I intended it to be like this as I didn't want it to contrast with the collage designs as they might look too chaotic once they are together on the page which may seem a bit too loud and unorganised for the readers. All in all, I think this bespoke typeface could work really well on the title page of the publication as well as the content title headings giving readers clear indications of the sections and chapters within the zine. 

*SELF REFLECTION ON TIME MANAGEMENT SO FAR*

I thought of spending time reflecting on how I've been managing my time between the two briefs as last week I felt very overwhelmed as I felt that I did absolutely the opposite of my initial intentions, which stressed me out very much and resulting in me not progressing as much as I want to. 

Firstly, reflecting back on what I've initially intended to do, where I'd allocate 2 weeks 'purely' focusing on one brief at a time (2 weeks for SB1 ; 2 weeks for SB2) have cOMPLETELY GONE OUT THE WINDOW!!! I found myself focusing on SB2 much more than SB1 and resulted in me falling behind on SB1. However, I feel like this is because SB2 have become refined than SB1 that I was more willing to do it in order to get things done and in return I've started to just 'slot in' SB1 wherever I could find time. Also, because I'm collaborating with 3 other people, I'm more pressured to do more things and a better job for SB2 because I don't want to let anybody down and make them feel like they're doing all the work. Furthermore, I also want to contribute more to this publication as it's a way for me to improve my communication skills better, as before in other group projects I've always been the one to just do what I've been assigned to do. I want to put forward my thoughts and ideas more starting from now, that's why I've invested more time in SB2 to ensure that our publication is what we intend it to do and look and actually hopefully be an ongoing publication within the university.

On the other hand, SB1 is an individual brief. I can go on my own pace and schedule myself more freely; also because of this I felt that I've scheduled SB1 around SB2 and made less work for it. Not intentionally, but I feel that I've been neglecting SB1.

Very different to my initial plans, working with the two briefs at the same time seems a better idea and use of my time, however I will try and balance them out more these coming weeks. I definitely have to catch up with work on SB1 and hopefully start working on designs by the end of this week in order for me to be in a more comfortable situation than I am now. 

SB2: Initial Typography Design

Earlier today, we had our meeting with our collaborators and I've mentioned to them how I'm planning to create a custom typography for the title of the publication. I couldn't show them anything as I haven't started much on it, however I did say how I wanted to make it look, sleek and almost futuristic in order to fit the collages that Olivia is making as well as the fantasy, ethereal feel that we are trying t o create for the publication. I wanted to make it for tonight in order to get feedback form it from my collaborators as quick as possible for quick refinements before starting any layout design.

I started with 'Didot' as I liked it's thin stems contrasting the thick ones as well as the oblong curves which I liked. I thought referencing and manipulating this typeface would be appropriate as it has similar characteristics as the one I had in mind. Furthermore, I chose to the lowercase letter as they have more serifs and curves that are quite flexible and versatile that I can play around with.

Didot

I started to manipulate the letters but cutting its straight rigid serifs to more diagonal stems, creating movement and a dynamic element to them. I also tried to make the curves thinner however you can't really see the difference. and made the bottom serifs slightly curvy contrasting the ascenders. I played around with the idea of movement and mimic 'waves' in the water, referencing back to the water element in Pisces. But, I didn't really like it and thought that it's best to keep in quite simple and figured that I'd be able to play around with the 'movement' using the curves and geometric shapes within the letters, along with the collages that Olivia has made. 

I went for a simpler approach and manipulated 'Didot' in more subtle ways, which in turn has made it easier for me to create 'rules' as I was manipulating them. I had Eric Hu's custom typography for Satie as inspiration as I really liked how sophisticated it looks through the elongated terminals and the large contrast between the stem  and counter widths as they curve up/down. Hu's use of irregular use of the ascenders as well makes the design really interesting in particular as when put in a word for example, though it doesn't follow the regular typography rules, it's still very optically and aesthetically pleasing to look and read. I wanted the Pisces typography to have a similar characteristic to this as well however evoking a more futuristic and sleek look that will highlight the collages that Olivia has made. At first I had a really hard time making adjustments as I haven't seen the collages Olivia did so I didn't know if they would compliment each other, however,, after our meeting with Olivia and Nusheen I figured that the direction I'm moving forward to is something that will go well together with Olivia's own visuals as well so by the end of it I had a much easier time and easier way of suing the typeface with the collages that Olivia made. 

Eric Hu's custom typeface for Satie

The typeface grid was created through referencing the constellation shape for Pisces. I decided to grid it vertically instead of horizontally in order to keep it consistent with how the constellation is shaped as well. However, as I was gridding each point of the constellation it become too complicated because there were too many lines, therefore I decided to only use the more prominent points as the main points of the grid. (The main points are shown with the brown lines on fig 2)

fig 1

fig 2

I decided to lay out the typeface on the centre of the grid keeping it consistent and used the serif ends as indicators for the end of the line. However, this wasn't possibly for some letters such as 'm' and 'w' therefore I tried to make it centred as possibles whilst trying to make it fit the rule that I had as well. 

I decided to use the lowercase letters as I felt it was much easier to manipulate s it had much more curves and more stems that I can manipulate with. I made the counter irregularly thin and quite smooth on the dots on its end creating a very fluid curved shaped especially for letters 'a' and 'c'. On the other hand, I decided to create diagonal ascenders and descenders e.g. 'b' and 'p', making it look more like apex's as I thought this would give the typography a more dynamic aspect especially when used in a word or sentence. it may also help me with griding the words when I compose them on the page? I've made the dots on 'j' and 'i' elongated to also add an irregular odd aspects to the typography much like a Pisceans characteristic of being 'in their own world', I thought this could also reflect when it's used in a word as it takes attention away from the other letters of the as it can stand out. 

This is the final typography that I did, I'm quite satisfied with it, although it may look a bit simple, I think it's quality will shine through when they are composed in a word or phrase as each element can complement something to the composition of the letter on the page and design. 

Final Typeface

I decided to put the letters together as words that I could use for the publication. As I'm only aiming to use the publication for the front and back cover, I thought illustrating example words with the title and sign would be the most appropriate. I also played with the weight, width and height of the letter and words in order to see which one can fit best and also adding more manipulation to the now completed new typeface which will fit the aesthetic of the publication. I personally quite liked the shorter height style and shorter leading with tight kernings as it has a smoother and fluid character to it as opposed to the regular style which actually looks a bit rigid. In order to highlight this fluid aspect, I decided to play around with different letter layouts and found that using the serif ends and curves as 'grids' reinforced this whole aesthetic further as well. I think I will use a similar if not the same approach when I'm laying out type for the content of the publication as well.

Example words

Thoughts &  Reflection:

I had a really hard time trying to use an appropriate typeface to use as a reference for the new type as I wanted the outcome to compliment the collages, however, they weren't sent to me before so I was a bit stuck. However, I decided to go with how I wanted it to look like in my initial designs and upon going to the meeting with Olivia and Nusheen, I was glad to find out that they were suitable and complementary to Olivia's design and went ahead to develop it. 

I also asked for some feedback from Olivia and Jocel to see what they think. Jocel suggested that maybe it's a bit too  basic, however I thought that the simple design was a more appropriate design as I didn't want the overall look of it to be gaudy and over the top. In my head, I thought of using the strong and unique elements of the type e.g. thin stems in order to create interesting layout and composition of text throughout the publication. IF I was too make the typeface more complicated maybe it would look a bit too much, as well as I will also have collages as well, maybe it'll clash with the collage rather than compliment it. 

I also got a reply from Olivia. Olivia liked how contemporary looking the typography was and the dots on certain letters which I was happy about as well as I was anxious she wouldn't think it will fit her style of collages well. Hopefully, I could start making experiments with this type as well as Olivia's collages for the front cover of the publication and get their opinion as well. 

Reply from Olivia

SB2: Second Meet up w/ Collaborators

Today me and Jocel met up with Olivia and Nusheen in order to show what we have done so far for the publication. As yesterday, I created the content for the Pisces publication, I talked about this in the meet up and shared my intentions and why I've decided to do what I did. I mentioned my confusion with reading some of the terminologies and how I've interpreted them in my own content e.g. Horoscope summaries. Everyone, agreed with my opinion and Olivia said how "yeah that's good, because when someone reads their horoscope, they only kinda want to know what'll happen to them and only some people will know the terms anyways and it won't affect their understanding that much". I though this was quite reassuring as I worried about it quite a bit. I also asked her if my interpretations of the signs were correct as I'm still in the process of understanding them a bit deeper. She said, "yeah I think they're good, the summarises are really well written as I think people will understand them when they read it". 

Furthermore, I also shared my very initial designs for the typeface as I've decided to create a custom typeface that will be used for the cover and other significant pages of the publication. Because it was really rough, I tried to tell them ideas that I had in my head instead of it looking, quite "modern, sleek, smooth and futuristic, which refers back to the fantasy ethereal aspect of Pisces". (I told Jocel my idea prior to the meeting, and she said it was a good choice). Olivia and Nusheen also liked it, and said that I should continue more with it.

Olivia also showed me the designs that she made. I really liked what she has started and they were very similar to what I had in mind. She said how she'd "(I've) looked at the Pinterest board inspiration and thought or doing these designs, (I've) tried to incorporate the fantasy feel by choosing some bluey colours and do loads of overlaps" (a-d). Continuing on, I thought that I could use the collages as somewhat grid when putting on the context, therefore I suggested to continue with the "clean cutting techniques and overlaps" (a). There were designs that she didn't particularly like as she thought they were a bit "messy" (c) on the other hand, I really liked them as in my head I thought they'd work well as single illustration/collage pages on the publication. I encouraged her to keep doing these, and add more of what she intends as I think her illustrations will compliment well with the publication overall.  In addition, there were also some suggestions I said such as introducing other type of media to the collages e.g. paint "or mark making to maybe create interesting textures", continue with the bluey aesthetic (a-b), I think they work really well and bring out the aesthetic more". I also said I'd try to incorporate "gradients (b) within your collages or the publication to compliment your collages". Trying more geometric shapes and rough textures on pictures, "in order to compliment the layout of the text when I compose the publication layout" 

a)b)

c)d)

I also think that Jocel and Nusheen's publication is going really well, especially as Jocel has nearly got a full set of type that she's presented I feel that their publication has a stronger visual concept that they can go with and it was easier for them to come up with layout and composition designs. I really like Jocel's type and I think she's considered Nusheen's illustrations into creating it and how it can be created

Olivia have been really enthusiastic and said how it's "quite easy for me to do collages, as I just do them, like I do one and just go from there. I also have a lot of collage material, like from pictures that I've took from trips, so I'd definitely do them". I was really happy when she mentioned this and was glad that she was very happy to do more and felt that we were on the same page about the look and mood of the publication. 

Thoughts & Reflection:

I thought this meeting gave use quite substantial content to work with and we shared ideas and opinions very well for us to continue working on the publications with the same minds and hopefully meet again with more content, in order to start fully refining the publication and start thinking of printing and thinking of content in order to promote it as well for more people in the uni to know about it. We will all continue to communicate through emails and share designs and ideas throguh our shared google drive.

SB2: Understanding Zodiac Signs and Horoscopes Better

In creating content for the Pisces publication, I found myself having some difficulties with understanding some of the readings that I've researched as they mostly used astrology and horoscope jargon e.g. houses, retrograde, ascendent. Experiencing this confusion first-hand I've realised that I needed to simplify the content as they need to be relatable and easily understood by the readers/ target audience (general university students). I decided to read up on the terminologies and understand their meaning in order for me to articulate the writing content in a way in which the readers can understand them in simpler forms.

Ascendent: angle in which next zodiac sign is approaching in the east at a specific time and location  of an event. Often related to birth context - basically the angle in which the following zodiac is in the east on when and where the person is born.

Aspect: angles in which planets make with each other making type of relationships/connection

Birth Chart/ Natal Chart: diagram representing the position of planets the moment a person is born. Positioning is related to info about the person's life.

Houses: birth chart divided to 12 sections, each house representing a certain experience or energy e.g relationship, money, health and well-being. A planet's location in the houses on a birth chart shows how the experience will affect a person.

Retrograde: when a planet appears to move 'backwards' in the sky. If a planet is 'in retrograde' on your birth chart, the planet's energy is felt in a deeper more internal way by you.

Thoughts & Reflection: 

These are just some of the jargon I found the most whilst researching for content and have been used the most, therefore I thought they were the most important in considering how I'd word the content in my publication. Also, while looking these up, I found myself becoming more engaged and interesting in the theme and overall having a better understanding of the sign's characteristic's while reading up on them. I hope to do the same for the readers of the publication, therefore I found this quick research to be very helpful and essential.

SB2: Content for Pisces Publication (Refinement)

Jocel sent me the content that she has for her 'Aquarius' edition, and I really liked how she's worded her paragraphs as it sounds really friendly and has an upbeat tone to it, fitting the target audience of the publication. I thought, that I would have to make few adjustments to my own edition, because both publications have to be cohesive, not just design wise but also content/tone of voice as well, because even thought we are doing this together and two of use doing different issues, the audiences aren't aware of this therefore they'll need to be presented with publications which sound like it was wrote by one person, in order to fit together and in the long run create publication own image and tone that the readers will gradually recognise, anticipate and aware of. 

email from Jocel

1)2)

3)4)

Refinements to Pisces Content Publication

For the refinements that I've done, I decided to make it sound more approachable and almost conversational to the readers, to mimic the idea of being 'told their fortune'. As well as, that I've added the page numbers on the pages which I thought would go well and could go in the publication, also considering pages for DPS's for illustrations and purely illustration pages to keep the pace and composition of the publication balanced. However, these are not final yet, as I'd need to see Olivia's illustrations as well in order to decided which fit best and how they could be incorporated along with the content side by side. Furthermore, I also changed the sumarrative horoscopes for the signs, leading to the more 'horoscope' approach rather than summaries of the signs itself as I've realised while reading Jocel's summaries that the readers will probably be more willing and if not would like to know this kind of information more than the previous one's I've wrote.

1) Summarative Horoscopes (New)

2)3)4)

I've also emailed Jocel and Olivia about this to make her aware of the changes I've made with my publication and why I've made them.

email to Jocel

email to Olivia

Thoughts & Reflection:

Making this refinement to the publication has given me a more insightful way of approaching the content and having communicated with my other collaborators e.g. Jocel has also helped me know which tone I should take it. It made me make sure that both publications have to be very cohesive not just design aesthetic wise but also content structure and tone of voice for the audience to know the theme and structure of the publication itself in order to shape an identity for the publication. Hopefully, tomorrow we can make more progress for the publication especially starting to create the layout and composition of it as we will get to see the visual content from our other collaborators (Olivia and Nusheen), having these parts of the content will hopefully speed up the process of finalising the size and pages of the publication.