Publishing Design: Task 1 / Exercises

Week 1- 4

Rhyanne Cyrene Lowe
0347077
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

Publishing Design  Exercises

LECTURES

Week 1: Mr. Vinod went right ahead to introduce us to the module and briefed us on the tasks and exercises we needed to do throughout this semester. We were asked to design a book regarding a topic of our interest. 

Week 2: This week, we studied the many forms that different civilizations throughout the world have utilised. We learnt about how the formats have evolved throughout time.

We also discovered that the technology utilised and the publishing process had changed over time. In the beginning, wood and parchment paper were used, but China brought moveable type, which was subsequently perfected.

Week 3: This week we're learning about Type Redux. It is key to select the proper typeface for our book. It's important to make the text more readable, which can be accomplished by selecting text typefaces that are open and well-proportioned. 

Considering the type size, line length, and line spacing/leading to ensure that the text flows properly when read is important in this case. These three combinations work together when font size influences line length, which in turn influences line spacing. Text's alignment is also important. There are five various ways to align the text, each of which serves a different function and produces a different look for the text.

Week 4: Mr. Vinod lectured us on the margins of our pages and let us experiment with different layouts of margins and columns.

Creating tension in a layout- 

1. Big differences
2. Small margins or big whitespaces

Determining Grids

1. case study of the existing layout and determining the grids.
2. based on your page size, determine margins
3. determine columns and rows
4. create baseline grid (gridline interval based on leading)
5. flow text to gauge colour and negative-positive space. place headline body text, sub-text, and pull quote

Week 5:  Mr Vinod lectured us about elements this week. Elements consist of 3 major elements which are the type, image and colour. variation within the layout is important to not be predictable but maintaining the consistency of the book is also key for easy navigation

INSTRUCTIONS

EXERCISES

3000 Words - Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff

I chose to use this chapter of the book as the content for my project because Douglas Rushkoff articulates and criticizes the state of our current society and the views of digital media in such an intricate yet straightforward manner. 

I came across Rushkoff from a podcast and his points instantly drew me in and genuinely left me thinking on the spoken topics even after the podcast was done. He mentioned he was an author and I knew I had to pick up one of his books to see what else he has to say and so I did. I picked up another book of his titled 'Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus' and it made me want to read and know more about his takes on how to be more human in a vast digital world, so I read Team Human.

In Team Human, and many of his other books, Rushkoff questions important questions about new media and how we as humans live today which allows readers like me to open my mind and do the same. I think it's important (especially the younger generations like me) to step back once in a while from our brightly lit screens and observe what is going on and how things work. 

Book Size Mockup

Width: 17cm

Height: 23cm

.

fig 1.0 Book Size Options

fig 1.1 Final Book Size & Mockup 

fig 1.2 Final Book Size & Mockup 

fig 1.3 Final Book Size & Mockup 

fig 1.3  Final Book Mockup pages 

fig 1.4 Final Book Mockup flip through

fig 1.5 Final Book Mockup Spread flip through

Signature Book Fold

fig 2.0 Signature fold open (front)

fig 2.1 Signature fold open (back)

fig 2.2 Signature fold close

 Van de Graaf Grid Structure

fig 3.0 Van de Graaf Grid

Van de Graaf- Final Results

fig 3.1 Van De Graaf Final Results

Finding Margins Exercise

fig 4.0 Grid exercise on 

We then had to create our own margins for our book trying different options.

The first one is the one I m leaning towards the first one but I still have to experiment with different ones.

Determining Grids

fig 5.0 Grid Attempt 1

fig 5.1 Grid Attempt 2

fig 5.2 Grid Attempt 3

fig 5.3 Grid Attempt 4

Form and Movement

fig 6.0 Form & Movement- Attempt 1

fig 6.1 Form & Movement- Attempt 1 gif

 

fig 6.2 Form & Movement- Attempt 2

fig 6.3 Form & Movement- Attempt 3

fig 6.4 Form & Movement- Attempt 3 gif

Final Form & Movement

fig 6.5 Form & Movement Attempt 4 gif

Form & Movement Colour

 

FEEDBACK

Week 3: Mr Vinod said my form and movement layout was too predictable and that I should try experimenting with a different flow of movement and story

Week 4: Mr Vinod suggested that I look through seniors and other designers work for reference and inspiration if I was feeling stuck or having an art block,

REFLECTION

Week 1: The first week is always a little bit overwhelming when we are briefed about the tasks and projects for the semester. However, I'm excited to learn about publishing design. It's something I've been a little scared about because it seemed like a foreign land in design for me so it would be nice to try something new and expand my knowledge.

Week 2: This week consisted of a lot of hands-on work because we were asked to try out book mockups so we got a bit crafty with scrap paper. It was a good break from the screen. The exercises made me understand that it's important to step back from the screen and evaluate through the perspective of the user, especially with print. 

Week 3: This week we learned about simple features in InDesign. I am still getting used to the software and how it can help me. We were also asked to dissect existing grids of layouts to better understand how designers make their guides for their layouts. This allowed us to look beyond the text and images to see the skeleton of a page.

Week 4: The form and movement exercise was difficult for me because it was hard for me to think in abstract shapes. I've never been someone who could produce contemporary art and find genuine meaning behind it (ones I create). This exercise felt like that. It was difficult at first to view as simple as lines and blocks as a 'story' and on top of that, make it a good one. I think I survived through the end though after considering feedback from Mr Vinod.

FURTHER READINGS

Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff

Turtles from the Shells by Douglas Rushkoff  https://thenewinquiry.com/turtles-from-the-shells/

Throwing Rocks At The Google Bus by Douglas Rushkoff