Frankenstein Unbound

[lucycrossett-blog]

Final Bookwork

Throughout the semester I was constantly drawn back to the idea of creating a new bookwork using “dead bodies’. Something about appropriating existing content really drew my attention. After creating my creative prototype out of an English text book and finding the material so interesting to work with, I decided to pursue this further for my final bookwork. Textbooks are so rich with content that is so often forgotten and disregarded. I find it fascinating how we go through years of schooling, reading and trying to absorb the content in front of us, but so little is retained. With that in mind, I decided to take a science text book from the early 90s and use black paint to cover sections, and sometimes whole pages, as a statement about how little we retain from our high school education. I decided to leave the cover of the book untouched to leave an element of surprise to the book. Readers will not be expecting the vandalized pages inside. I think that the contrast of the bold black shapes with the textbook content is very powerful and symbolic. 

Reflection

The hardest part about this assignment was starting. This is something that I always struggle with. I spent a lot of the semester with so many ideas but being too scared to actually experiment with them. I also struggled with the brief being so open. Throughout university I have gotten used to being told exactly what they want and expect from me. So when Andy told us we could produce anything we liked, I was very overwhelmed. This subject has really pushed me out of my comfort zone as a designer, and I have produced something that is very different to anything I've ever done.

[lucycrossett-blog]

Process

After a very slow start and many hours of procrastination, I have finally started making a dent in my bookwork. Experimenting with cutting and painting different shapes in and over the content. There are so many great existing shapes and patterns to work with in this book! 

[lucycrossett-blog]

Reflection

Total posts: 39 Original posts: 21 Reblog from peers: 9 Reblog from other sources: 9

I started the semester with zero knowledge of Tumblr, having never used it before. It took a while for me to get into the swing of it, but after a fairly slow start I finally got into the groove. At times it did seem like a bit of a chore having to post, and I did find myself finding things simply for the sake of a Tumblr post to add to my quota. However, I can now see that even those forced posts have been beneficial. Tumblr has been a really interesting tool and great way of compiling all of my inspiration for this subject. It has also forced me to be more consistent with research, as well as having a valuable insight into my classmate’s thoughts and processes. I think thats what I found most beneficial, being able to see what everyone else was thinking and finding. It has been a great way to communicate with the rest of the class outside of class hours. 

On the other hand, I have found that personally I have used the Tumblr as an excuse for not really pursuing my other work for this class. I have found myself just writing a few posts and then thinking that was enough work to have done. This has been somewhat detrimental to my work ethic and process for this class, but i’m aware that this is completely self-inflicted... It’s just another example of how I need to force myself step away from behind the screen and get hands on with my uni work. This is something that I’ve always struggled with. 

Overall, I feel the Tumblr has been a useful tool and if anything a great way to reflect. I have felt very comfortable writing my feelings about the class as well as sharing my thoughts and processes. Posting on here feels much less daunting than doing a pin-up in class. I will definitely continue to document the rest of the semester! Watch this space! 

[lucycrossett-blog]

Book making aftermath! 

My first attempt at making a book cover went fairly smoothly, but messy! Love making a mess and getting my hands dirty. Now I've somewhat mastered the basics. I'm ready to start some more in depth experimenting and risk taking.

[shermaineweeeeeee-blog]

SINGKARPOR by Aik Beng Chia

On the cover, there are pieces found trinkets picked off the streets of Singapore. Examples of the pieces are a page of a traditional chinese calendar, lottery ticket, flyer advertising rent, thrown cigarette, parking ticket, receipt, coins… These items give the reader a stronger identity of Singapore, bringing out something more from just printed photographs.

[ftfrankensteinunbound-blog]

Interesting concept behind this book! The trinkets being different on each edition makes it unique and collectable! This publication evokes a sense of belonging and it brings Singapore to the reader. For a Singaporean like myself, the publication brings me an overwhelming sense of familiarity and home.

[lucycrossett-blog]

Really drawn to how the artist has attached plastic zip-lock bags to their book to hold more information and content. Very Frankenstein-esque! Adding and attaching a range of different objects to the book body!

[gfransiskasylvia-blog]

FRANKENSTEIN RESEARCH | WEEK 10

(SOURCE http://www.andlarry.com/bynd-artisan-brochure)

With a legacy dating to 60 years ago, Bynd Artisan was established by Singapore’s oldest bookbinder to celebrate the work and joy of master craftsmen. The concept is a tribute to the enduring excellence small band of craftsmen, both in traditional ways of bookbinding and leather crafting.

To me personally, this book is magnificent. Even though this may not relate to my messy final prototype, but I just cannot not post this. With different layers, different sizes, folding in and out, this book is just pretty! Really showcasing the unique binding method.

[lucycrossett-blog]

Couldn’t agree more @gfransiskasylvia. Totally magnificent! Love the different sizes and folds. So simple, but so unique and beautifully crafted. I especially like the binding technique and how the maker has left the strings to hang off the spine. I think its a real contrast to the clean aesthetic of the actual book pages. 

[marccentofanti-blog]

Another really cool idea. I love how when the title and front page are together it works as one, but then can be separated to show the individual aesthetic of both alone.

[lucycrossett-blog]

I’m always drawn to clear overlays on front covers. Seen it done many times and every time i’m impressed. Simple but effective, especially in this instance where the title is printed seperate to the cover photo, meaning that both the cover and the image can perform alone.

[eatstrawberryanddesign]

GF Smith  By Made Thought http://www.madethought.com

[frankensteinunbound]

This beautiful publication has just made me see how I can apply my more design-leaning brain to something which I thought needed to look crafty and artistic. GF Smith has designed something that I really love. It has all the elements (Articulated Bodies!) of a publication that would fit right in with the studio. 

[lucycrossett-blog]

Seriously cool publication. I’m so drawn to the colours and unique shapes. So simple but so well executed. I especially like the exposed binding. If only my binding skills were good enough to keep on display and not be hidden by a cover... 

[lucycrossett-blog]

Looming deadline stress.

I’m surrounded by an expanding number of dead bodies and have no idea what to do with them! Gosh that sounds suspicious... 

I’ve spent the last few weeks collecting resources thinking that this was progress enough, and now with the deadline coming up i’ve realised that although these are great resources, I REALLY need to start making. I always struggle with actually starting a project, I get so wrapped up in research and buying supplies and maybe a little bit of procrastination. Then the panic sets in, and I realise that i’ve done way too much thinking and not enough experimenting and creating. I also struggle with freedom and an open brief, which is what I think I have found most daunting about this task. I’ve got so many ideas and things that i’m drawn to visually, but I also just want someone to tell me exactly what they want me to do! This subject has seriously pushed me out of my design comfort zone and I love it at hate it at the same time. 

[lucycrossett-blog]

Hyperlinks Book by Fubiz Media

http://www.fubiz.net/2011/01/05/hyperlinks-book/

I’m no sewer, but I feel like this is an approach I could really take inspiration from and am eager to pursue. I love the use of simple sewing in this book and how the designer hasn't worried about cutting the ends and has just left them to move around and get tangled in the book. I like how it has been used as a way to underline and highlight different words. I think simple sewing could add another element of interest to my designs, even if it is just simple stitches.

[lucycrossett-blog]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsW3Y7EmTlo)\

Interesting video about Jonathan Safran Foer’s Tree of Codes. Safran Foer discusses his intentions with this unique use of die-cutting. What I find most interesting is that he intentionally gave the book a generic cover, in order for the intricate inside to be more of a surprise. As I’m going to make my book with existing bodies, I will definitely draw inspiration from Safran Foer’s creation. I really like the idea of cutting away and removing pieces of text to create different sentences to what they were intended, and as I am using old text books for my book, this is definitely a possibility for me. 

[jeffryjeffry]

WEEK 9

The workshop started with Andy showing us three great books with amazing die-cut covers. Again, the examples explained how a simple die-cut method could result in such huge impact on the overall book. Somehow, “Black Transparency” by Metahaven stood out the most as its clever repetitive paragraphs that were being less revealed because of the circular die-cut. The image behind was desaturated except the subtle pink that became not so subtle anymore.

[frankenstein-unbound]

Thanks for the photos Jeffry, they help bring out the layering of the die-cutting –A

[lucycrossett-blog]

Week 9 workshop opened with Andy showing us these fabulous examples of die-cutting on front covers, which is something that I am really drawn to. I like the idea of having two covers, the first one giving a sneak preview of the other below through the use of interesting cuts. I was particularly drawn to Keller Easterling’s cover, I find it interesting that the brain can still read and recognise the words even when they are broken up with images. 

[stldsgn-deactivated20160803]

WEEK FIVE

This was my interpretation of @lucycrossett’s prototype. It was really interesting to see how different the outcomes were, purely because of the varying content of our existing publications. Her prototype included a lot of educational material (and consequently had lots of text, lines and tables) while my prototype had material from a film festival (which meant much more creative imagery as well as different text sizes and formats).

I relied heavily on the aforementioned imagery to bend the rules of @lucycrossett’s prototype, using it as a basis for making folds cutting out shapes. I also tried to change things up by arranging leafs from largest to smallest (as evidenced by the last picture).

[lucycrossett-blog]

Really cool seeing how @stldsgn interpreted my prototype and how it translates using different content as when I designed it, it was quite specific to the material I used. I love how there are some details that she has directly replicated, but other where she has added her own twist, like the circle in the middle of the prototype. Really gratifying seeing your own work come to life and seeing others interact with it!

[gfransiskasylvia-blog]

SIPGATE ANNUAL BY deutscheundjapaner

An annual report designed for Sipgate, a telecommunication company.

I love the “ripped” cover to something that is corporate and serious. Making it fragile, and I feel it makes the book feel more human? Because I think I am going for a more painful, fear, and sad feel to the book, I think I will be incorporating a lot of ripped pages in my final prototype which I honestly feel bad for doing so. But why not.

[lucycrossett-blog]

My first instinct is to preserve and take care of my books, but i’m trying to be open minded to being more interactive with the bodies. This class has taught me that books are meant to be felt and held and used, not sit on a shelf untouched. I want my book to encourage the reader to interact and not worry if it gets a little tear in it. Maybe even have some element where the reader has to step out of the norm and make a fold or cut or tear in the book themselves.

[designbby]

Studio Vanessa Ban

[lucycrossett-blog]

Really inspired by this concept. Using a conventional book cover to enclose two seperate bodies. I like the idea of using an existing book cover and enclosing my own content in it. Definitely going to explore this as a possibility. 

[designbby]

Parete Nord Limited Edition Fanzine

Artwork — CT Photos — Marco Schiavone Design — Quiet Propaganda Studio

[lucycrossett-blog]

Publication coming to life as the ice that it is enclosed in melts. Might be a bit soggy, but love the idea of having to wait to view a body and it not being so immediate. Adds another element of surprise and suspense. 

[babookartsanddesign-blog]

London College of Communication: BA Book Arts & Design Year 3 Interim Show 2015 - The Penultimate Chapter

HEATHER PATRICIA - Scarred

The concept of this book is earth scars, but I didn’t want to simply have images of these to look at – I wanted to be able to feel and experience the form of each scar. It is easy to neglect our sense of touch and so I created this book to touch the scars that exist on the earth. When researching these scars, the texture they created, the beautiful abstract shapes, and forms they took, it was amazing the contrast that the destruction had created in them. The book was created to focus on the form of these scars with each page depicting a different scar such as a mine or crater, or those caused by bombs or deforestation, in the hope that we may come to appreciate some of the impact we have on the earth and in the future think to tread a little lighter.

[lucycrossett-blog]

Never thought ring binding could look so good. I often associate it with a cheap officeworks job, but this is really clean and effective. I like that the rings don't go all the way down the spine, but at intervals. This gives it a point of difference.