design with andy!!

the 13 week Comm Design Studies tumblr journal assignment at RMIT

[andyatrmit]

Reflection

One of my objectives for the course, especially this class, was to find new domains for design applications. Having covered everything from typography to fine art, to couches, to movable type, to photography, coding and robots, I think this objective was successfully met! I‘ve never made a zine before and honestly I hadn’t even considered it, so that especially was a new and welcome challenge.

I was interested in the history of design, specifically turning points like Bauhaus and the rise of Modernism, as well as the complex history of women in design. One particular fascination was the way necessity defined design in early societies. I had no idea that serifs exist because of how chisels are handled to create type!

The amount of collaborative group work and typography was definitely a surprise, but was very engaging and hands-on for sure. Thank you to anyone and everyone I got to collaborate with to create such thrilling design solutions as our typeface, “Stronk Bold.”

[nordacious]

swatch swiss watch, 1989 ⌚

[andyatrmit]

In week 9 we dissected Postmodern design and the Memphis Group (founded by Ettore Sottsass in 1980) was of particular interest to me. I enjoyed finding the distinction between the colourful, abstract shapes of Memphis and the similar  bright colours of Pop Art as well as exploring Memphis’ influence on industrial and environmental design. 

This Swatch seems like a pretty nice summary of the design aesthetic.

[mik-ca-blog]

A stab-bound zine I created last year for one of my diploma of graphic design classes. I do love this technique, but I know how hard it can be to read the pages when it is bound this way. This and the style of the binding itself is the reason I have chosen not to use this type of binding in my current zine, as it wouldn’t suit the aesthetic of my designer or the zine itself.

[mik-ca-blog]

OK so I’ve been re-thinking my design for my zine and have actually decided to create a stab-bound zine. I will be using black thread to bind the book so it fits within the aesthetic of the designer, and have figured out how to overcome the issue of information being lost in the binding. 

[crazycatlady249-deactivated2020]

Reflection

This subject was my favourite this semester due to the interesting content - learning about the history of communication design, and the engaging class activities and assignments.  Learning the history of design helped me develop an appreciation for how far design has come and how much it could change even in my lifetime. It’s definitely given me a lot to think about in terms of how technology changes the industry, and that I should consider this when choosing my future electives!

I really enjoyed creating the zine, because I was able to interview a Melbourne based illustrator who I admire. Talking to her about how she started her own business inspires me to feel like maybe I could do that too?!

The best part of this subject was getting to work in with a fun and talented group of my peers to create design solutions. I didn’t realise how much I enjoyed collaborative projects and sharing and talking through ideas with others is so helpful! I am more confident in putting my work out there, and hope to do some collaborative projects in future subjects!  

[andyatrmit]

My zine is finally done :')

And it stands up! My creative was TJ Millar, an architectural designer specialising in extensions to homes that seamlessly blend with the existing infrastructure. I asked what makes a house feel like a home and he replied "a house is an object, a home is a collaboration." (SO GOOD)

TJ Millar also taught building and construction drafting at RMIT for five years, so it's all come full circle. Summary and reflection post to follow.

[gronkdesign]

Maker Space

While we wait for our own building 9 maker space to come together, the gang and I decided to check out the Maker Space down on Franklin St.

We did a quick induction and tested out the Emblaser 2, which is the lazer cutter and engraver in the space.

I’m super excited to use the equipment for future projects, but for now i’m savouring this little peice of cardboard we made (or watched being made, really). Shoutout to Andy for letting us tag along, Keiern for the help, and my girl bridget for the sexy pic of our creation.

[fergarundel]

Sergei Sviatchenko, Faces, 2018

After our Week 9 workshop experimenting with collaging I decided to research Sergei Sviatchenko, whose works “explore everyday objects with the use of photography and collage elements” being called “one of the most influential innovators of modern collage”. Sergei’s clean cut composition of colour and shape creates a interesting design exploring the use of texture and contrast.

[andyatrmit]

AMA UPDATES!!

We went to a laser cutter induction to research the possibility of using the machine in the zine process! Originally I considered laser cutting the title out of card or paper, but I found a way to make a little stand up home on the back page of my zine, and the action of cutting it feels very collaborative and homey ✂ ✂ ✂

[andyatrmit]

Since our class this week was mostly just working on the assignment, I thought I'd show off the real-world applications of our newly found zine folding skills 😂

Here's an 8 page booklet made from an A4 sheet that has become the new testing pad for people to try out the pens and markers at work! I'm always interested by how people choose to test the pens we sell - there's usually a lot of "follow me on instagram @____" and assorted scribbles.

[architags]

GC Prostho Museum Research Center. Kengo Kuma & Associates. Aichi Prefecture. Japan. photos: Daici Ano

[andyatrmit]

The beginnings of my humble zine collection :) thank you to @mik-ca for her awesome Bowie zine! (and a little friendly competition)

It was really awesome to finally put into practice the folding techniques we rehearsed last week, even if it is a bit mind-warping to try and visualise how each page should be rotated - thank goodness for templates. Cutting the marks and bleed lines, stapling and folding were all really interesting and produced a result that was way easier to achieve that I thought it'd be!It was really awesome to finally put into practice the folding techniques we rehearsed last week, even if it is a bit mind-warping to try and visualise how each page should be rotated - thank goodness for templates. Cutting the marks and bleed lines, stapling and folding were all really interesting and produced a result that was way easier to achieve that I thought it'd be!

I'm thinking I might use the Ricoh for my final as I like the semi-gloss finish, plus it's very corporate and clean which is appropriate for my architect creative, who works in a corporate setting.

[andyatrmit]

Did someone say MORE letterforms??? It's getting genuinely hard to look at architecture/people/food/dogs/the floor without seeing letters everywhere but I guess that's a good thing!

After analysing the work of Sergei Sviatchenko, who brings his own scissors, I was interested by how his work amplified the existing shape and letterforms in image. He didn't just pare back anything that wasn't strictly the letter, but instead accented the form with flourishes perhaps indicative of the model's (or letter's) personality. In his more minimal designs, he manages to convey mood at message through the reduction of just one or two images against a bold colour.

Today I Learned:

Exactly what Andy wants from Karen for his next birthday

[andyatrmit]

My very best attempts at collecting 8, 7, Z, :, H, A, K, U and / around the RMIT campus. Unfortunately no fives were spotted, what a let down :(

I'm keen to see RMITabc come together, and to spell some stupid-crazy-dumb collections of words with the letters my classmates have so lovingly collected.

Progress on Ask Me Anything to come soon!

[andyatrmit]

STRONK BOLD

In today's episode we created some stronk-looking typefaces. It was almost more of a challenge to add in a secondary shape in a consistent way than it was to develop a typeface in the first place.

We worked collaboratively, willingly sharing ideas and adjustments to each letter to increase readability from certain angles, which being positioned around the table allowed us to do.

Now on to the next assignment!

[andyatrmit]

HOW DO WE LEARN TO DESIGN ?

Phew. First major CDS assignment done! I wanted to ask a question about learning without straying too far into the typical “pens and pencils” approach. I also wanted a mix of type found WITHIN objects (like the letterforms the books naturally create) as well as generated FROM objects (like “design” made from the negative space around designed artefacts).

The purple cards you see in the word “design” are the first business card I ever designed for a real, alive, human, person client and I feel that they show something about the progression we can make as we learn about design. Of course books feature, and these just happen to be books on art and design topics that I have, in fact, learned from!

The chunky yarn had a really interesting flow as cursive, and also kind of reminded me of a brain when it was all balled up, so it also struck me as worth including. And of course, the final “?” shape is my hard drive, where all my design (and design learning) is currently stored which perhaps summarises how we can keep and use design knowledge in our lives!

[andyatrmit]

Today was a pretty technical day, covering the ins and outs of photo production all the way from arrangement of subject matter to resolution of the finished digital files. Of course, it wouldn’t be design if we didn’t have a little fun along the way, right?

RURK? U?? R?

We also covered myths surrounding Gutenberg's printing press, as well as the development of Blackletter/Fraktura and its absorption into culture, movements and subgenres like Nazism, Disneyland and Death Metal (all unrelated. Or are they????) 

(Image from https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Mental_Demise/9431)

It was pretty interesting to attempt to decipher some of the more complex Death Metal text, but it was so rewarding once the content was determined. It almost moves into the Psychological theory that when design takes a moment to understand, people feel more positively towards it as they congratulate themselves for figuring it out.

[bridgetroseeee-blog]

the time lapse!!