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 and a designer, but possibly not a graphic designer. 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.