Context of Practice Lecture Type Production & Distribution

Context of Practice Lecture Type Production & Distribution

The spoken language originates back to 3200 BCE.

Letterforms were hand produced up until 1436 where Johannes Gutenberg produced the Gutenberg press. A machine that could print bodes of type and was the beginning of traditional typesetting and the spark of the boom of typography design. 

 Typography was beginning to be seen as a modernist art form with designers seeing potential within typeface design to help communicate language through the use of there visual identities so to speak. 

Typography is basically a visual outcome of our spoken language. And the styling of this spoken language began to be categorized. The introduction of different production techniques like stone which was carving and was the start of roman faces, sable which was a brush technique, bone sparked the start of script typefaces, woodblock type was the birthplace of block and metal typeface used in fine detail letter pressing started the gothic era of letterforms.

Typeface classification began t develop and develop to what we see now the Bahaus movement and the production of Helvetica is to me what created the most debatable subject within the design world when Microsoft performed a legal outrage by ripping off Helvetica with there own version. Arial. They got around this by making minor details all because they refused to pay for the rights to use Helvetica. 

Semiotic Analysis Study Task 4

Semiotic Analysis Study Task 4

My task is too create a semiotic analyze of 500 words on a chosen image or text it could be motion picture, album covers, graphic design or anything with a visual message. Look into connotations, denotations, Index, Icon, symbol, code, cultural codes and mythic meaning. 

The piece of design I chose to review is US rapper Lil Wayne album 'Tha carter 4'.

From the outset the text displayed is a basic representation of Lil Wayne as a child. But he is a graduation outfit; this connotes success at a young age. The sign shown within the image is the combination of the physical image displaying Lil Wayne as a child; the mental image behind this is success at a young age through the use of the graduation clothing. The color red is used a lot to signify gang culture in a sense that red symbolises lil Wayne gang "bloods".

To me it also contradicts the common cultural reference of black rappers been aggressive and violent in their way to success. This could also be seen as symbolic, an image of a black rapper with tattoos denotes violence and aggression through cultural beliefs and connotations on rappers. This album cover contrasts between aggression and corporate using simple image layout and clean cut light weight sans serif typefaces with quite wide tracking and kerning and a symbolic graduation gown which connotes academic success which in terms of Myth in cultural references means money, success and wealth. But this connotation is contradicted through the humorous dig through the use of a rapper wearing the outfit.

Another cultural myth displayed is the icon used through the imagery in his face with tattoos connotation violence and gangs.  A personal view to mea and his fans on what the graduation gown means to me is an iconic concept of him been the most successful rapper to date and this method of visual delivery is an interesting way of connoting this. But I suppose this could also be seen as an index through the image, its quite a vague representation that is left for the viewer to decide upon the context and meaning of the text. It may be a sly dig at the fact that he didn’t need school to create success as he was chucked out at an early age so this could be creating a cultural contrast within the rap world.

It’s obvious the message within this text could be denoted and connoted in a literal and indirect sense depending on cultural category of the viewer. For a fan of the rapper it connotes a sly dig at not needing school through the symbol of the gown emulating success but really academics didn’t get him here it was the Myth of gang violence and common cultural acceptance of this that got him here basically through publicity. It could also denote success at an early age through the use of the graduation gown on a young figure.

Overall the image could be interpreted in 2 ways, which is a nice outcome for such a simple layout. But the use of a strong image denotes and connotes a message in symbolic terms creating an abstract representation of the message through the use of Myth to portray success through academic success. A more literal iconic message of success through cultural acceptance that graduation gowns connote success but in actual fact Lil Wayne is indexing a deeper meaning connoting you don’t need academic success to be rich and famous. 

Semiotic Theory outline

Semiotic Theory outline

Today we had a quick recap on the main points of semeiotics. Sign = Signified + Signifier. A signifier is a denoted literal element as well as a connotation, a known cultural association and sign the mental association. Myth based on R. Barths theory is basically a snow ball effect of a connotation leading to another connotation and so on and so on.

Semiotics is based on Structuralism and is made up of codes, denotations, connotations, index, icons, symbols, texts, signs. We were given a section too look on then present key points that communicated this. Our groups was code. 

To briefly sum up codes in a more understandable way is to say how it is basically an organization system or grid system for theories, concepts and product. Its the general meaning and understanding of an aspect. The connotation of certain element within cultures is an example of how the code has different outcomes in style and concept. It explains how the Superman code is made up of how he acts, behave, looks, and what he does. No matter what culture or reference it is tad it still emulates the same aspect. A set of basic ingredients or directions to create this connotation.

Codes can come in formal outcomes or can be flexible. An example that I came up with to emulate a more flexible format would be asking 2 people of different cultures to make a sandwich. If one was french another american the outcome would be different due to cultural differences and interpretations. The french outcome could contain a baguette with tomato brie and frog a common connotation to the french. An american could create a grilled cheese sandwich a typical american staple. The basic code for a sandwich is a casing and a filling but different interpretations can come from this through different cultures. 

My opinion of connotations and perceptions also lends itself to cultures and countries. It is said that the coded meanings for Japan is elements of accuracy, precision, reliability, technology. Just like germans are perceived to create durable engineered cars and products. French peoples connotations would be love, snails, stripy clothing . Basically a hidden meaning behind the nationality due to cultural acceptance on the matter.

An example in a graphic design concept would be on the basic rules of Graphic design and how its quite a mathematical arithmetic code firmly established rule  Set cultural rules are: Image, Communicated a message, Color, Type, Layout. The ways in which the outcome could differ is through the grid layout. It could be deconstructed or clean cut layout. Color variations, inspiration preferences, style like Minimalistic and contemporary. The outcomes vary depending on the cultural references the designer has obtained over his or her career, there underling interests and hobby. 

Overview of Texts.

A text is basically anything that communicates something, for example a sound, a film, a magazine, a book, a sculpture a piece of art or design. Anything, what changes its meaning is dependent upon the context its placed within.

Overview of Myth.

Myth is a word Roland Barthes looked into deeper. As i mentioned from my own outlook on what it means I wasn't far off, its basically a way in which a text/signifier is described using peoples assumptions on cultural history. Basically a false belief of an idea through social and cultural acceptance. 

Symbol.

Has a visual connection with its meaning and concept. For example a wave, is a visual way in which to say hello. 

Icon.

A sign that emulates an reference in a more literal obvious way. When mentioning drip it instantly connotes a visual of dripping water.

Index.

Is a way in which an element portrays something but in an abstract relation. They don't actually resemble this reference, they just indicate and hint upon what it is. For example if you saw smoke, this would make you think fire. 

Design Skills Poster Series

Design Skills Poster Series

Today we have been set a brief asking us to produce 3 high impact visually striking posters that need to work as  a set. One poster will be type only, the over image only and the final one type and image. The message communicated is supported and based on the factual research I have gathered into weather and storms and how its getting worse. So each individual poster needs to communicate this concept some how. 

I will need to look into existing poster design and other graphic design examples to help inspire my practice. These will be presented within this post and similar posts. 

The color scheme is a 2 color scheme with an option to use whatever color paper stock I please. The printed outcome will be A3 scale but the actual visual print will not fill this piece so will be around 20cm x 40cm. Imagery used should be Duotone or monotone and I will begin looking into Infographics got communicate a message. 

I need to decide if I'm making a statement, delivering facts or asking a question through my visual response. Think about tone of voice base it on facts and statistics and be informed and specific. 

Design Skills - News Story Interim Crit

Design Skills - News Story Interim Crit

Today we had an interim crit on our progress into the News story research brief. As mentioned in previous posts I chose to review the upcoming 'storm of the century'. I presented what I had in a brief overview format. Explaining how I looked at the differing characteristics and tone of voice used in 3 medias portraying the story. The Express (Tabloid) creating panic and worry through there layman's terms of words describing destruction and chaos and presenting worrying over exaggerated facts. The BBC following a similar over exaggerating style but with more factual references into wind speeds and rain fall levels, not just making up numbers like the tabloid. BBC also looked into historical events like the storm of 1987. Which made me research into past storms which I will come onto. The final was the Met office. A very accurate helpful and informative media providing localized forecasts and warnings for travel distribution and advising the public in a calm manor. 

I briefly looked into social media but forgot to mention this so no feedback was received on this but from this crit I know I won't be going down social media reaction route.

There were 3 separate avenues i presented to everyone that I could go down. Climate change and more sustainable energy sources. How the story was portrayed in different medias and social networks, and historical references into past storms over the UK and globally. 

Everyone was as shocked as I was at the comparison of deaths and financial losses with the storm of 1987 compared to hurricane Katrina. Agreeing with me that this would be a good route to look into to broaden my research. 

A suggestion was made stemming from the storm of 1987 case when i mentioned improvements were made in forecasting. Simon mentioned how major turn arounds can happen due to such disasters so it would be good to look into how 'good things come from bad events' so to speak. Basically in terms of helping preventing further disasters. This could apply for UK and global disasters I look into. 

It was said looking into more sustainable energy would just confuse things drawing attention away from the main issue and going into a completely different area of study. Same with the fact of climate change. I could touch on it a little in looking in the major storms and how if us polluting the world could create such disasters seen globally more locally over here. 

Upon looking into updates on the storm it has been said the storm has been named 'St Jude' like many hurricanes in America and across the world. Naming a storm marks it's place in history.

Finally it was advised that I look at how UK newspapers look at such disasters overseas compared to the area in which it happened. So I will use there local news archives to find out about there reporting of such events I look into. With investigation into damage reports, how they plan on preventing such disasters again, loss of life and similar subjects. So overall I feel happy with the outcome of this crit and everyone feels I have a strong body of work to work upon. 

News Story Secondary Research

News Story Secondary Research

To begin my deeper investigation into branching factors of my chosen story I will start with reviewing the obvious. A historical storm that happened back in 1987 which is what the newspapers are using in which to bring back bad memories to the public and cause worry and panic. 

On the night of 15th-16th October 1987 a extratropical cycle hit both sides of the English Channel damaging both southern England and France areas causing extensive causalities and major damage. 

Forests were destroyed, parks damaged, railways and roads disturbed with fallen trees and the National Grid was that heavily damaged it left thousands without power. Around 22 people were reported dead around England and France. A large amount for such a disaster in our country. Gusts of 122mph were noted in Gorleston, Norfolk. 

The storm itself led to enhanced weather observation tools in ways in which computer models were improved, forecasters better trained and atmospheric observation taken more seriously. All this was due to BBCs Michael Fish reporting a false alarm on the storm indicating the storm wasn't as severe as it was. That days weather reports severely underrated the harshness of the storm.

An eye witness account from a boatman on sea explains the harsh realties of what was happening. Not through twitter, no Chinese whispers just pure fact reported in a serious manner. No humor, no sly remarks no blowing out of proportion: 

"On the night in question we were at sea in the north Irish Sea bound for the Clyde under sail in a small Sail Training Vessel.

The shipping forecasts certainly warned that there was going to be an extraordinary weather event - at the time forecast to come in from the Western Approaches, sweep up the St George's Channel into the Irish Sea and hammer us with winds in excess of gale force and possibly approaching storm force.

We prepared with extreme care, eating a (last?) hearty meal, stowing and re-stowing the vessel, checking lifelines over and snuggling down to the minimum of storm canvas - which ,as there was not yet any wind of significance, meant that we were barely moving.

And we sat and sat and sat.

Clyde Coastguard kept calling us through the night to ask what was happening and we kept telling them we were fine.

In fact as the barometer made no significant change that night and the wind did not increase significantly - we ended the night with full light weather canvas set as we sailed slowly into the Clyde.

The morning shipping forecast followed by the news made it clear what had happened.

Comparing stories with other sail training organisations at our next winter conference was certainly interesting. A number of sister vessels were in the Channel Isles and spent the night at anchor motoring full ahead to take some strain off their chains.The weather did not swing up the St George's Channel but instead swung into the English Channel and then jumped ashore on the South Coast of England to wreak havoc.

One lucky windsurfer got snatched out the water as he was blown by one of them headed for the open sea.

Poor Michael Fish has always been lambasted and quoted out of context over that event but the truth is that the strength of the winds WAS forecast - but the direction was not correctly identified. Something that still happens.

Graeme Smith, USA ex-UK"

The aftermath caused over 2 billion points worth of damage in insurance claims, closed the stock market down for 2 days cutting all communications down to wall street creating the historical term "Black Monday". This was the day after the days of disruption were things opened again and the financial turmoils came to life. Wildlife was wiped out, parklands destroyed with over 15million trees been destroyed including wiping out hyde park in London. Boats were wrecked at sea and the MV Hengist a cross channel ferry was beached ashore and a bulk carrier down in Kent capsized. 

After this insight into the event it made me look into weather disasters that happened in other countries. It provides an interesting comparison into the contrast of damage and devastation of these events. 

Huricane Katrina. 2005. 

1833 people died.

$81.2billion damage.

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
230,000 people died over 14 countries.
Over $250billion of donations given from nations across the world.

Its interesting too see the difference. And how historically the storm of 1987 is so minor compared to all these yet made the headlines due to a BBC spokesman making a critical mistake. When Hurricane Katrina was professionally tracked, no details were missed out through forecasting yet such a high death toll came from it. Even with sufficient warnings and preparations. It just goes to show the sheer scale of the event compared to the storm of 87. But when will this class of storm end up on English shores?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/october/16/newsid_3174000/3174374.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami_of_2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Storm_of_1987  

Design Skills - Alphabet Soup - Typeface

Code/Braille & Engine Mechanics 

Braille

Code is the idea of an element standing for something else. A hidden message hid behind something simple? or something more complex? for example algebra a letter having a mathematical equation, or the fact ancient pictograms used simple pictures to show a whole meaning. 

To help inspire a concept more deeply I will look into Braille and car engine mechanics. 

Braille is used as a writing system for the blind and visually impaired to understand what is communicated in menus, signs, books, signs and currency. The use of digital brail can be achieved on the use of computer screens through the use of refreshable braille displays. They work by writing braille on a portable braille writer/note taker which used a machine to emboss the code upon for the user to feel/read. 

Braille is a word derived from its creator Louis Braille a Frenchman who went blind after a childhood accident at the age of 15. He developed this code for the French alphabet in 1824. In 1837 a digital version of the writing known as binary was created. 

The characters are made up of small rectangular blocks which are called cells. These cells contain palpable bumps called raised dots. The arrangement of these elements communicate each separate character. Different languages vary in cell style an layouts. In English Braille there are 3 levels of encoding. Grade 1 is a letter by letter transcript used for basic writing. Grade 2 is a concept using abbreviations. Grade 3 uses un official shorthands. The system is read from left to right like common reading styles. Letter forms are formed using an embossing system from the back of the page creating a mirror image on the other side. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braille

The letters are arranged in typical western alphabetical arrangement. The middle row replicates the top row which an extra dot on the bottom left corner of each character. The bottom row follows the same rule but has an extra dot on the bottom right corner. Appart from W which was more of an afterthought and doesn't fit the system due to Braille been originally french and French rarely use W.

Below is an example of a sentence strung together reading: Be kind to others.

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/braille.htm

I have gained an interesting bit of knowledge from this information,  the main one been the style on which I can inspire the typeface design on. And the fact I can try out embossing. At first I though brail was more complex in concept than this but the letterforms follow a symbol system off adding an element in a system and 'code' for each line of the alphabet. 

Code

To keep things brief I will keep to the description and brief theory behind code to add to the underlying concept of Braille styling. 

Code is used for converting information. For example a letter, word, phrase or a gesture like sign language. This element will be converted into a form or representation. One sign created into another sign. (A signifier and signified combined) So its the idea of Describing an Actual image and a Mental concept into another Actual image and Mental concept in a different format. 

Encoding is the process used in communication (Our main job through design). Encoding is a process used to convert a source into symbols to be communicated. Decoding is a reverse of this process, the idea is to convert these coded symbols into the actual hidden information or message.

Coding is used to communicate difficult or impossible language be it spoken or written. For example semaphore. This is the use of the configuration of flags signaling to another semaphore signaler. The signaler will decode these messages into individual messages through letters and numbers. Like pictures translated into letterforms. Not dis similar to morse code. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code

Engine Mechanics

As the mechanics of an engine are very complex. I will not begin to try understand everything about them. I am more after the visual aspects of things. So I will base my source inspiration upon visuals mostly to help inspire a visual response for the letterforms. Provided bellow are a video on how an engine is composed and a diagram of blueprint diagrams.

www.caranddriver.com

www.zuoda.net

Visual responses and developments will be derived from this research into code and dismantling mechanics and engine mechanics. This will be shown in my development sketches. 

Design Skills - News story

OUGD403 Design Skills - News story

Today we got set a research based brief. We are required too create a body of visual research in response of a news report on Tuesday 22nd October. 

Once I have selected an article to research I will look into primary and secondary research sources. These methods will come from interviews and questionnaires this is classed as a Primary source. Internet research and information gathered from books and news forums classes as Secondary Research.

To form a base of were to find different versions of articles I have mind mapped within my group examples of news sources. These can be found below. 

There are different types of Newspapers, these been the following: Tabloid, Broadsheet (Compact/Berliner), Middle Market Tabloid, Regional Newspaper, Specific Papers, Local papers and Free Sheets. 

I have chosen to review a article on the upcoming weather worries over the coming weeks across the country. I will look into articles and research on climate change, pollution and similar aspects to inspire my body of research. Things like cost of repairs after bad storms and comparing our weather to places like america would be a good idea maybe. I feel this is a strong article to research into as there is lots of underlying sources I can look into like; videos, articles and discussions. The changing weather is all to blame on us so as mentioned it will be good to look into what were actually doing about attempting to reverse our actions with things like electric cars and more sustainable energy. Not creating a multi million pound nuclear power plant project 

 

Daily express have mentioned in there article about how the storm is set to last 7 days and the whole month is set to be bothered by  a whole array of weather distributions. Comparing the article style to sources like the met office the terms used in this article are much more suited to the general public with much of the language describing the storms characteristics using common layman's terms. This article from the outset to me is set to intermediate and worry the viewer. While the Met Office the official board for weather information has took a more informative factual approach to reporting and delivering information on the upcoming 'storm'.

As mentioned to gain a good body of research into this matter I am going to look into how this event is portrayed in medias online on a live feed basis from the BBC and the Met offices, and in an analogue format like the source newspaper. It would be interesting to look into social media and how networks such as twitter have influences on informing the general public of the upcoming event. 

To begin with I will review Twitters approach to adding its Chinese whispers input on things. When I say Chinese whispers its a personal opinion really. People tend to believe everything they here on a social media site, its happened in the past were people have fallen for hook line and sinker pranks of celebrity deaths. A quick google search comes up with a humorous response from Morgan Freeman on his personal Facebook group after allegedly passion away in his home in Burbank back in 2012. Bare in mine he has been dying numerous times since 2010. 

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/celebrities/ss/Celebrity-Responses-To-Fake-Death-Notices_5.htm

Back to my point of twitter been a source of Chinese Whispers or humors remarks a quick search of the infamous '#' quote: #stormuk comes up with various tweets some series some humorous. One tweet mentions how he has heard that the winds were going too be 60mph next he heard they were going too be 120mph, another mentioned how people were not to worry if they saw him flying past there window like a leaf in the wind. Its interesting to see the variety of responses people come out with and how other people reading them will be influences, pass on there 'reliable' source of information and cause un necessary panic for the general public. Twitter and other social network sites are probably the fastest way in which a message can be distributed globally and the story all but completely changed and manipulated within a matter of minutes. We relay on these aspects too much rather than believing true say facts from actual reliable sources.

This brings me nicely onto the BBCs distribution of the event and how its similarities lie with the daily express. There headline on the BBC news app has been 'UK Braced for worst storm in years' and its been like this for the past few days. With the Daily Express having a headline reading '90mph GALES TO BATTER BRITAIN' all in a bold heavyweight slab serif typeface causing a feeling of instant distress and worry through this quick snap quote. The folio of the information doesn't get any better, terminology and words used like 'server' 'excess' 'threat' 'violent' 'chaos' and 'volatile' all these use of languages to me cause panic and distress. BBC again use such language but there information is a little more informative for the general public. Warning of how different travel methods are too be effected and giving out health and safety warnings from coastguards to stay away from clipped areas and open coastland. This article refers back through historical referencing to comparing the upcoming event to past storms in 2000 and 2007 and comparing it to the great storm of 1987 were winds of 115mph were recorded. Again causing panic and worry. 

To lighten things up I will end this review with a brief look into the Met Office outlook on these events. This is were true fact will come from as this is the source news reporters use to manipulate there own versions of events. They mention realistic figures of rain were BBC and the Express warn of 80mph winds and headlining 90mph winds the Met office gives realistic predictions of this through recent information from there satellites saying average wind speeds are likely too be half that amount and only in open areas will wind speeds be reaching such levels as the tabloids announced. In terms of rain they have issued a yellow alert, compared too The Express's prediction of 200% increase in rain fall and 1.5 inches of rain in 6 hours. Although an amber alert is issued in southern areas The express and BBC don't really focus on local areas in there predictions. They make the reader think that the effects are nationwide. 

What I have gathered from reading through these sources are an interesting few points in which too address and look into. One been the great storm of 1987, a look into this would be interesting. Im going to look into climate change and as mentioned how we are going about trying to reverse such actions. To round things up though in terms of my personal feelings on the matter I feel tabloids have caused more worry and panic rather than organized calm warnings which is what the Met Offices intended plans were. I personally feel angered by there focusing in on disturbing language and use of imagery to cause panic. Images of cars been crushed and 20ft high waves are not there to help inform and warn people. They are there to worry and panic people.