After a tutorial with Dan I am left feeling very uncertain about everything. My lack of graphic design background is showing through. Dan suggested writing a brief to help me focus. My work is possibly more fine art or textiles, which is where I’ve come from.
6 Artists Closing The Gap Between Graphic Design and Fine Art | Maddox Gallery
Throughout the MA I have struggled with the problem/solution/audience side of graphic design. It makes me ask..
What am I?
This highlights to me again, that I am not a graphic designer. I thought doing the MA would make me into one, but now I’m not so sure. I will limp to the end and hopefully pass the course. The question arises of what am I? Answer: I am a craftswoman. It has taken me doing the MA to realise where my strengths lie and what my capabilities are, so it has absolutely proven to be worthwhile.
On with the Show
Writing a brief may help me focus; during the tutorial, we discussed the possibility of designing a book. Something I thought about a few weeks ago with my A-Z of superstition. However, that is too restricting as some letters have a lot of superstitions connected with them, and some have very few.
We spoke about a monograph as a format, of a collection- which would be more achievable. We also talked about the ambiguity of superstition making it a difficult thing to pin down.
Monograph covers a whole range of book styles, which leaves me open to experiment.
I think a book of experiments could work well with some of the imagery I have collected. This will enable me to use some of the scans that I otherwise would not know what to do with. A potential audience could be people who visit exhibitions such as Oracles Omens and Answers at the Bodleian Library.
Oracles, Omens and Answers | Visit the Bodleian Libraries
Superstition: Strange Wonders & Curiosities | Bury St Edmunds & Beyond
Superstition: Strange Wonders & Curiosities
Exploring myths and superstitions from around the East Riding
Visit – The Last Tuesday Society
Witches, medicine & magic through London’s history | London Museum
Museum of Magic, Fortune-telling & Witchcraft
I found a few small museums across the country that have had exhibitions related to superstition. This demonstrates a possible audience for my book.
Thinking time: books, transparent pages and revealing layers pops into my mind.
Page-turning experiments on the way?
I came across this small article in ‘it’s nice that’ which looks at creating a brand out of something intangible. Smell is perhaps a long way from superstition, but this article talks of evoking feelings from the visual that correspond to the intangible.
How do you create a visual identity for something you can smell, not see? AWP shares its tricks
After some thought, I still think the book or booklet needs to accompany the panel, map or globe. I need to use what strengths I have to achieve something that I am happy with, which shows my best ability.