Magazine Scamps, Research and Analysis.

Objective
To source and collect similar artefacts that will act as models and stimulus for your design.
To learn about the conventions of magazine covers and the differences between mainstream and niche design.


Tasks
You are going to produce a few pages of research before you begin designing your own.

1 Collecting
Using the web (Pinterest, google search etc), reference books and actual printed examples, collect together examples of magazine covers and double page spreads (DPSs) that interest you in terms of design.
Use screen grabs from Pinterest... but not just Pinterest!
Tip: go into a town library or CO-OP and photograph the cover and DPSs. Failing that, try WHSmiths in Shrewsbury.
*Print them off in various sizes in readiness for your sketchbook.*

2 Scamps and Annotation
As part of your magazine research presentation, scamp some of the examples that you find. Feel free to use colour. Use the 'Magazine Covers Checklist' HERE to annotate some of the elements of magazine design.

3 Analysis
You might have found that magazines (and indeed other graphic products) fall along a sliding scale from mainstream to niche. The designs reflect this is some way. Often, mainstream design is conventional and straightforward whereas niche products rely on surprising design elements.
Ensure that you include your own personal response. There is a really simple helpsheet called 'Ways Of Looking' HERE 
Finally, use your burgeoning analysis skills to discuss:
Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Repetition. Analysis help is HERE

Deadline
Monday. 

Design Principles

Year 12 Graphic Comm - Sketchbook so far...

All pages must have some form of personal annotation on them. Please DO NOT just describe process. If you are stuck, refer to the annotation sheet in your sketchbook.

Deadline Monday.

The pages that should be present in your book include:

• Poem
• Elements fo CKent -paint marks, manipulated text, text in shape, experiments with type, etching or photographs etc
• Books Without Words - Notes
• CKent - research case study
• Why I Love Comics - Notes
• Final CKent design
• We Don't Serve Yur Type - Notes
• Magazine name brainstorm 
• Magazine research

Brainstorming list - ideas for a magazine name.

Pic 1


Pic 2

Objective
To begin forming ideas for your magazine.

Task

In your sketchbook, create a page of lists that evidence how you have arrived at the name of your magazine.
Start by using list titles like: Terms   Types  Tools  Classics   Adjective  Existing (see Pic 1)

Fill these lists by either using your knowledge of the subject or utilising the web to look on glossaries and terminology lists.
Then put the collected words into a thesaurus and see what you get.

Next, attempt to put these words together in different ways, maybe spell them differently. Fill a page.

This is the creative bit, don't feel restricted—the good ideas come when you let go a bit. (see Pic 2)

Checklist for assessment
Plenty of relevant and irrelevant, creative ideas / clear photo / at least 2 full pages—lay it out the same as I have, but include more / clear written work.

Deadline
Start of Tuesday's lesson.

Collection - Independent study

The task is on the presentation.
Handin date: Lesson, Monday 30th Of October

Aaaaarrgh! What do I annotate and what do I write?

Why do we annotate pages, what do you annotate and what do you write?
Basically, anyhing that the assessor needs to know and understand about your work. Most of this is hidden in your brain, you need to get it out. 
The majority of annotation should happen at the time of making, not as an afterthought. You'll be supposed how much it can clarify your thinking and add a little extra unexpected spark to your work. 
Therefore, an annotation can take place prior to work beginning (imagining, prioritising, explaining and inventing what you are attempting to do), during (evaluation of current ideas, analysis of work, comparisons) and after (evaluations, concluding, giving opinions).
N.B If it's just a description of events, and has no personal element, it won't be good.
Be creative with your annotations, lift ups, overlays, writing over photos, labels, speech bubbles.

For the Corita Kent work, you can annotate everything that would otherwise be lonely on a page. 
This includes:
* The ingredients - scanning and warping type - found photographs and etchings - inked type and type in a shape - splodges - cut out type
* A few work in progress shots from Photoshop
* Finals

I have an annotation sheet that might be helpful. It's HERE.

Scamp copies of Magazine Covers - Independent study

Objective

To further understand the part white space plays in a graphic artefact.

To become aware of how designers balance elements on a page.
Info: A 'scamp' is a first rough idea or mockup.

Tasks
1 Draw
Gather a range of front pages from different types of magazines. This can be via Pinterest or your own examples.

In your sketchbook, draw 2 pages of front pages. Feel free to work in slightly different sizes.

Look at your example and quickly and loosely sketch the page. Pay close attention to the light and dark tones—allow your brain to 'threshold' the greys into either light or dark tones. See my measly example above.

2 Annotate
Using the magazine checklist HERE, annotate some of your drawings and ensure that you have included all of the elements.
Feel free to go further and annotate further...

Checklist for assessment
2 pages of front pages - at least 15.

Time needed
Three hours.

Deadline
Wednesday the 18th of October.

Sister Corita Kent Case Study - Independent Study

Objectives
To further your understanding of graphic communication practitioners

Task
Using the web, research and present a case study about Sister Corita Kent.
The contents of the case study could include the following. 

Research the 'Sister Corita Kent' and present your findings in your sketchbook. 
Look further than Wikipedia.

Your creative findings should include:

• a comprehension response (explain) Describe who the artist is. Please do NOT include a biography. Explain your response. Use the pink section on the WAYS OF LOOKING sheet to help your questioning.

  an analytical response (compare and contrast) Criticise and analyse their work. Use the WAYS OF LOOKING sheet to help your questioning. Take a number of typical examples and bullet point why they are characteristic of their work and wider movement

  a creative response (use your imagination) Copy their style, emulate it. (Don’t copy individual images, translate it..) Where would you find this style working best? In what other ways could it be used?

  a research response (dig deeper) Find other artists that are similar or linked? Then, consider the context - what other designers are working at the same time? Include a range of relevant work. Research to find out who the designer has been influenced by or has influenced. To do this you may need to read an interview with the artist and where did they work?

It is important that your annotation is well researched, thought out and expressed. It is also vitally important that your pages are presented in a creative and interesting way. Have fun with it.

Checklist for assessment
Relevant images, in-depth research your own words (no copy and paste), accurate emulation.

Time needed

4 hours

Deadline

Wednesday

Corita Kent Cut & Paste Poetry

Objective

Look at and emulate the work of Sister Corita Kent.

To utilise differing methods of generating content and design.

Info

The Surrealists used numerous techniques and games to provide inspiration. Many of these are said to free imagination by producing a creative process free of conscious control. The importance of the unconscious as a source of inspiration is central to the nature of surrealism.

Task

You are going to allow this uncertainty to influence and inspire your work... both visually and written. 
Read through the instructions in the presentation above. 
Template HERE

Presentation

Images of sketchbook pages, screenshots of work-in-progress, photographs of final book.

Checklist for assessment

Does it look like a creative nun made it? Does your poem make people weep, sigh or smile? Both should be yes. 

Deadline

TBC