Context Product Chapters

After my tutorial today, I have had a change in direction with my product. I've got so much research gathered and scattered that I'm not sure what to do with it. I feel that the previous chapters were a little too much to tackle and fit in so I have re addressed my content to give it a little clearer structure. As it stands I am going to have three sections or chapters. My overarching title is:

'Vector based graphic illustration with a commercial application.'

However, this I might change to just simply;

'Vectors.'

The following will be my sections:

1.
- What is vector based illustration?
- A brief understanding of how vectors work.
- Examples of illustration and the difference between raster illustration and vector illustration.

2.
- Early days of vectors. Who changed from traditional to vector and what were the early uses of it.

3.
- The process of producing vectors. From hand drawing to onscreen vectors.
- Application of vectors, uses and what they're good for.
- Summarise and conclude.

I feel that by doing it like this, I will be able to talk about the style of illustration I like, who uses it, where it's used, and why it's good. This is a much clearer structure and I feel the reader will understand it better.

Sign Painting

I've been trying to find out a little history into how people used to manage with art work before the development of technology and computers to help you. I've started by taking a look at sign writing and what business' did before they could get their signs printed digitally. This is a great help because some of the work is the style that I am interested in now.









The is Jeff Canhams work.

http://jeffcanham.com/

He still does sign writing today. Based in California, he travels all over to do lots of large scale sign artwork. It was interesting to compare the old style sign writing to someone who still does it today, and see how the style has developed. And yet despite the technology for digital sign print there are still people who hand craft it. I am starting to learn that my interests lie in hand crafted work. I really envy those that are skilled with their hands and are practical people. Take a look at his work...

Shaz Madani

http://www.smadani.com/

Proposed content and format for my design context product.

Relevant illustrators and studios:

I have been sorting through my blog and personal collection of research to try and narrow down who, what and how I will produce my design context product. I have decided to include the following illustrators and design studios:

- Damien Weighill
- Allan Deas
- Parra
- Masa
- Alec Doherty
- Studio Oscar

This is because I feel these designers show vector based illustration in a range of variations and they are most relevant and influential to my work and in helping my overarching design context title, 'Vector based graphic illustration with a commercial application.'

Proposed Chapters and Subchapters:

- Introduction
• A brief into to say that my content will predominantly be on vector based graphic illustration, defining my style of illustration, looking where it can be applied and placed.

- Vector based graphic illustration:
• What is vector based illustration?
• The history and influences behind vector based illustration

- Vector based graphic illustration in the following contexts:
• Promotional retail
• Music publishing
• Book publishing

- Influential vector based graphic illustrators, Visits, Interviews and Questionnaires:
• Alec Doherty
• Para
• Allan Deas
• Damien Weighill
• Studio Oscar
• Masa

- Print:
• Digital print
• Traditional print

Design Context Product:

I still feel it is appropriate that my design product will be a book. I have also been looking into possible formats that my book might take the form of. This has proved somewhat difficult because i don't want to lose creativity when producing it and have to stick to 'A' format. If it is appropriate to stick to that then fine, other wise I feel it might be better suited to being a custom format. I would also like to look into it containing pull out section. Or maybe a fold out book which folds into a poster or set of posters. Some layouts below are ones that I feel may be appropriate to my product.

Book Layout Inspiration.






Found on: Behance, http://www.behance.net/Gallery/The-Worlds-Coolest-Hotel-Rooms-The-Cool-Hunter/235717
Work by: Clinton Duncan
Link to site: http://www.clintonduncan.com/

I particularly like the simplicity of his layout. It makes it very clear to understand and process, jeeping the viewers attention and leading the viewers eye around the page. I also like the block colour and use of blank space.








Found on: Behance, http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Small-set-of-books/147135
Work by: Vladimir Koncar
Link to site: http://www.koncar.info

What I liked about this concept was that it was a small set of books and each came with a poster, except the poster was the book jacket and was removable so that you could folding it out and then use it as a normal poster. Very cool. For me it is the concept with this though, not the actual designs and illustration or colour choices. Those I'm not so keen on...

Things to think about:

At the moment I have no idea what the following will be:

- Typeface
- Colour Scheme
- Format Measurements
- Questionnaire that I send to my chosen illustrators and studios
- Which images that I shall include

Damien Weighill

Screen grab of his website.






A brilliant play on the new online 'craze,' Chat Roulette.



This one is by far my current favourite. An hilariously funny take/dig on the current political state of affairs. What with the general election due an all...


Damien Weighill is another illustrator who I take great inspiration from. I think the way in which he incorporates humour and illustration together to put across even very serious current public controversy and events is fantastic. What initially draws me in, is his use of line and how he uses it to add depth to his work. I'm instantly drawn to black line illustration at the best of times, but there is the added bonus of humour in his work too which really makes me smile. He also has a great website with loads more of his work up on which I advise to check out if you like this style of work...

http://damienweighill.com/

It contains all events and updates of his work along with the work itself, a link to his shop, blog and contact details.

Because I have been so inspired by the work of Damien, I have contacted him to see if he might be able to help with my design context and I would like to possibly feature him within my design context product. This is the communication we have shared so far as part of my research...

Re: Illustration Inquiry‏
From: Damien Weighill (damien@damienweighill.com)
Sent: 20 April 2010 16:03:12
To: Liv Greaves (liv_952@hotmail.com)
I think that's the difference between being a graphic designer and
being an illustrator. When someone comes to me with a project it has
already been decided that my drawings fit the brief. My work is never
going to be appropriate for every situation but I'm unlikely to be
approached for those jobs where it's not suitable.

Lately the majority of my work is editorial for magazines and my
illustration seems to fit comfortably with that kind of job. Being
pretty simple there isn't much problem meeting their tight deadlines
and they tend to like to have some kind of interesting twist on the
articles by an illustrator which is great for me.

Damien

--

http://www.damienweighill.com
(+44) 07920 844 545

On 20 Apr 2010, at 14:56, Liv Greaves wrote:

Hi Damien,

Thanks so much, that was really helpful. Thank you for taking the time to get back to me and check out my blog. Similarly I work predominantly in illustrator and I find the ease of it to be very helpful too. Do you find it difficult to put your work in context or do you find the resolution just works with the idea you have behind the work you are producing? I seem to find that I instantly want to resolve a brief by illustrating but then feel worried that the resolution might not fit appropriately to a context because I get carried away doodling! Do you feel your work has particular areas of context it works stronger in and that you try to work to those, or do you find it easy to contextualize your work everywhere? Where/where would you say your work works best?

Olivia.

From: damien@damienweighill.com
To: liv_952@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Illustration Inquiry
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:37:42 +0100

Hey Olivia,

Thanks for the email.
The question of defining my illustration style is actually a really tough one for me. The part of my work where my interest lies is in the ideas. The style of the work is only secondary and I guess is ruled by what comes most naturally to me and what allows me to get my ideas across in the most efficient way. That's probably where vector illustration fits for me. I find I can colour illustrations with the least hassle in adobe illustrator. The same goes for the ease with which you can make adjustments to size etc. I'm also drawn to vectors just because it gives a pureness of colour in my linework that suits me.
I'm never sure how qualified I am to make judgements on people's work but the What Is Good Promo Pack stands out for me because of the humour and smart thinking behind it. I like the amount of detail you use in that stuff too (the same with 'I won't have my cake..'). The only advice I have is to continue with how you're going, produce as much work as you can and I think you will find that your style will define itself naturally.

I hope some of that is useful to you or at least makes sense.

Damien

--

http://www.damienweighill.com
(+44) 07920 844 545

On 19 Apr 2010, at 17:19, Liv Greaves wrote:

Hi Damien,

I have recently been checking out your website and illustration. Wow. I'm really into the work that you produce and wondered if I might be able to ask you a few questions about it? How would you define your style of illustration? What do you understand vector illustration to be? I'm currently looking into vector based graphic illustration and trying to find out where it can be contextualized for this style of work. I'm trying to define my own style of illustration and looking at the work of those I find really inspirational. Would you mind taking a quick look at my work? This is a link to my blog home page and on there you can find the links to other pages: http://o-greaves0710.blogspot.com/ Any feedback on my style of work would be great and I can't stress how helpful.

Many thanks,
I look forward to hearing back from you at your earliest
convenience.

Olivia Greaves.

Book Cover Research

I found some rather inspiring book cover design recently. At first I really liked them and they are quite helpful for part of my research for my HG Wells brief, however on closer inspection I have noticed aspects that I would produce differently and bits I'm not keen on.I particularly like the way in which these book jackets work as a set. I feel that they could however be improved upon, particularly in the way in which colour has been used. The imagery works well to the content of each book but for me the type faces used are a bit bland and don't really fit to the style of illustration. Perhaps it might appropriate for one to say that they might look a bit old fashioned and not really up to date so to speak with current trends. They do work really well and I like the way the composition of the design differs slightly with the positioning of the type. I feel they might be a bit too 'classic' for me though.

Ion - T-Shirt Design

Jared Nickerson - Addidas

Avant Garde

John Metcalf - Blackwood

Allan Deas

This is a guy who I've mentioned before on here. He's got a great website and some great work on there. Go check it out :)

http://web.mac.com/allan.deas/iWeb/allandeas.com/index.html.html

I've also been in touch with him and while back and also very recently to ask him a few questions about his style of working and where he sees his work contextualised. He was a great help and got back to me straight away. Someone who I'd like to possibly maybe incorporate into my design context product. The communication we have had so far is as follows...

Re: Illustration‏
From: Allan Deas (allan.deas@mac.com)
Sent: 21 April 2010 00:23:14
To: Liv Greaves (liv_952@hotmail.com)

Hi Olivia,

Thanks again for your continued interest!
In answer to your questions - I have been working in design for over 10 years doing illustration as well as graphics & apparel/print for the fashion industry.
I do work in vector though vector made from scanned drawings. I would describe my style as bold, block colours retro modern. fun. cheeky.... To be honest that's the question I hate! How would you describe it?

I had a quick look at your blogs... there are many!! looking good... :)

Anyway keep up the good work!

Best

Allan


On 19 Apr 2010, at 16:38, Liv Greaves wrote:

Hi Allan,

Thanks for getting in touch with me earlier last year - Sorry for the lengthy gap in between now and then!! I am still really interested in having a chat with you about your work. I am currently doing a bit of research into vector based graphic illustration. I was wondering how you would describe your style and if I might be able to ask you a bit about vector illustration? How long have you been working as an illustrator? Vector illustration is what I would like to do myself and I am currently looking at where this kind of work can be contextualised. Would you be able to help? This is a link to my blog home page:http://o-greaves0710.blogspot.com/
Would you be able to have a peek and tell me what you think?

Many thanks,
I look forward to hearing back from you soon,

Olivia Greaves.

From: allan.deas@mac.com
To: liv_952@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Illustration
Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 22:53:22 +0100

Hi Liv

Cool - yes feel free to send me some or a link to your website/myspace etc.

I do freelance, though freelancing does require working with other designers/art directors etc. I used to share a studio with other illustrators but now I work on my own from home.

If you have some things you particularly want to know then make a list of questions and I'll try & answer them when I get a chance.
I'm off on holiday tomorrow for a few weeks so will look at it when I come back and hopefully I can help you with your queries.


Cheers

Al

On 26 May 2009, at 22:45, Liv Greaves wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for getting in touch so soon!
Well, I'm currently working on some illustrations of my own and wondered if it would be possible to perhaps send you some and see what you think of them. Do you work with any other illustrators or designers or do you just freelance? I'm really into tshirt graphics myself but didn't know if my own illustrations were strong enough. I'm currently studying graphic design at The College of Art in Leeds and leaning more towards practice in illustration and image making.
It would be great to learn a bit about your way of working and design generation.

Olivia


From: allan.deas@mac.com
To: liv_952@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Illustration
Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 16:17:58 +0100

Hi Olivia

Thanks for your interest in my work. Glad you like it!

I'm based in East London.

What was it you wanted to know? At the moment I'm working on a tshirt graphics project as I do that as well as the illustration but I'm really trying to push for more illustration work as that's the direction I want to go in.

If you were interested in working with me let me know what you had in mind and we can take it from there.

best

Allan

On 26 May 2009, at 16:07, Liv Greaves wrote:

Hi Allan,

I was accidently directed to your website today, searching for a piece of illustration and I must say it was a very pleasant surprise! What a fabulous blog and website you have. Your style of illustration is exactly what I love and I would love it if I could possibly have a chat with you or get in touch about illustration and your work. Where abouts are you based? And what other projects do you work on?

Would be great if you could get in touch.
Many thanks,

Olivia Greaves.