Proposal

For my taxonomy proposal I want to create a 11x6 (or maybe 10x6) wire-o booklet. The cover would be white with black type. I would like to use Utopia or Helvetica, maybe even Gothic. Something simplistic. I would also like to incorporate earth tones throughout the book. If I had the option to do so, I would use browns and greens, and possibly sepia prints, or very crisp black and white.
My table of content would also be very simplistic, also to use a line divider in the center.
I would like to place the black and white (or sepia) image of the tool I used on the left side of the page. On the right I would show neatly place images of the marks I created with this object. 

 

WIND-BLOWN, RAINED ON…
BENT BARLEY-GRASS
YOU MAKE ME, NARROW PATH INDEED


Connotative
1) grass
2) wheat
3) rain
4) wind
5) water
6) path
7)
8)
9)
10)


Denotative
1) worn
2) beaten
3) made
4) create
5) weathered
6) broken
7) bent
8) wilt
9)
10)

F + S

I looked around some more and decided to go with this image for my f+s. It is clear that the image above was created by analog before it was turned into a graphic poster. The marks that are to be the trees, clearly also show a image of a silhouette holding a bloody knife. I really enjoy how this is abstract and could be of course a silhouette or trees. 

Johannes Itten

Johannes Itten - Die Begegnung - 1916

We have been studying Johannes Itten's color system. Above is dealing with value with neutrals on the vertical axle. While the horizontal axle shows the value of the red hue.

Above the horizontal axle is a 10 hue color wheel. These swatches are the basis of what we have been making in class. Creating these swatches is very time consuming and an eyeopener to Munsell's world of color.

VISCOM Process

 

 

I did more mark making tonight, also with my 45 symbols for my haiku.   Shown above is my workspace. The circle shapes are made with a rock, and are my favorite marks so far. These circles are very critical when it comes to making "erosion" a symbol. (Which is my favorite symbol so far)

Responses to the readings | The Urge to Make Things

What first caught my attention was the relation of inanimate objects and how we are using these simple, possibly overlooked items to create something. We explore these inanimate objects like they are new to us. Creating new and interesting shapes. In the reading the author is talking about what he wanted to be when he grew up. He states that he wanted to be a trolley bell. He then explained that "identification with an inanimate object was spontaneous and immediate" I believe is totally true with our mark making processes. We are exploring, and I believe it is very spontaneous at this point.
The author also talks about the process he goes through. But he often thinks about the final outcome, and cannot wait to see it finished. To see its outcome and beauty.
"The things we create are our gestures. They can indeed be aggressive, modest, elitist, democratic, sexist, gentle, austere, civilized, and just plan silly"
These gesture we are creating at this time have character that may very well give them desribtions such as gentle and silly.

F + S TYPE

I have found a few websites with the alphabet created like this website, but this is my favorite one right now. Enjoy!

Click this, dummy.

Related to vis com?

I thought it was cute, and related to vis com. I have been trying to simply my symbols. The artist did just this with these bears. Nice. 

Haiku: 27 images

These are my newer ones. I think I am getting the hang of the symbol idea, but I am wondering if my haiku is able to be shown through symbols

 

I am excited to see what will become of these images. I like their simplicity for now, but some of them I would like to redraw and maybe do more brain storming.

Haiku

  WIND-BLOWN, RAINED ON…
  BENT BARLEY-GRASS YOU MAKE ME
  NARROW PATH INDEED





1) Torn, alone, tattered, mistreated, unloved, water, puddles, gutters, leaves, strong wind, mud, single, erosion, rocks, dirt, tears
2) Beaten, lonesome, complete, force, create, barely, plants, wheat stock, flower, crop circles, grow, broken
3) Leading, confined, path, planned, winding, balance beam, hiking trail, gravel, dirt, sand, stepping stones, fence, pressure, narrow lines

Line #1: erosion torn, tears
Line #2: wheat, grow, broken
Line #3: path, fence, narrow lines


I think I have a good idea about the imagery, but I know I have a lot of refining to do. I feel I am a bit shaky on my overall concept so far. I will be doing more than 27, just to demonstrate better, clearer ideas.

Beginning of color!

We have just began color in CDF! I am pretty excited about this. I have taken color classes in the past, and I am am very eger to continue learning about color therory.
Right now we have just started studying Munsell's color theroy and his charts.

This is most defiantly one of my favorite color charts. I really enjoy all the color solid charts really. They are much more interesting to look at, and give you a bit more of a challenge to understand what it really going on with the colors. 

Zombieland

I saw "Zombieland" this weekend, which I really liked (I am into the end of the world thing) Overall it was great. But my favorite part by far was the opening credits.
I loved the slow motion and the typography they used. I liked how they used the type to show the motion of the people and to show emphasis on the action. The whole movie did a great job of incorporating type into the film itself. Way to go!

Symbol Iterations

I was trying to lean toward the square but ended up creating a melting like symbol.
But I still think I am going to stick with the square shaped ones still.

This is a good idea:

Come on my fellow graphic designers! Typography extra credit? I think so...

Topics for CDF

My ideas are pretty different from one another. I haven't decided how a narrative could go into these topics. Most of them would have to be small and very loose narratives.  Comments?

- Patterns; using color to define the actual pattern. Using all different subjects (paper, metal, furniture, plastic containers, or even shadows and reflections. I would have to do a good job of making sure the color is dominant and is more important visually, rather than the patterns.

- Shower curtains; A slightly cheesy idea. But I though it would be different and fun. I would like to photograph shower curtains by using their hues, light surroundings, their texture/fibers.  I would also like to shoot these photos close-up. Making them are to know they are all shower curtains, maybe abstractly.

- Buildings; our last project in Vis Com was using a lot of building structures to capture what we needed. This got me noticing the buildings more closely and paying attention to there lights and windows hues. I would want to use building scuctures to show the colors. Using windows and the actual scuctures, and maybe even it's surrounds.

- Glass bottles; When photographing the bottles, I want to use only the glass. I would not use the labeling. I would most likely be buying the bottles and photo graphing them using light (white lights and natural lights), hue of the glass, and using very minimal background colorings.

FINAL STATEMENT: Juxtapostion Project

My final book was "Man-made", I chose this title because my pictures were all man-made creations. Which included different elements of our surroundings, such as metal, plastic, and even sand. Being such a broad topic, I did not base my book layout on a narrative or a continuable aspect. I merely used contrast, curves, diagonals, and the overall "flow" of the piece.

The pairing of the line studies with the photos was of course the hardest, but the greatest learning experience within the project. Using juxtapositions was a new concept, but after learning what to look for. I believe my book had a good variety of juxtapositions. I tried to place them in order by there content, not a narrative.

I hadn't really decided on an exact location to take my pictures in Kansas City. I had originally just decided to do the whole city. But when I visited the River Market, and began to walk the bridges and front streets, I decided this would be a great place to photograph my images. I was drawn to the riverfront because it would sound like or in some places, would be considered a natural place, with wildlife and beautiful foliage. But that of course wasn't the case in Kansas City. This was the beginning of my "Man-made" booklet.

When it came to refining my manipulations for our line studies, I though it would be sightly unneeded to make every line perfect, and really just not necessary. I would soon find out that this was not true. After looking back on my first tracings for my vector lines, I knew I had greatly improved. By refining my hand skill and perfecting it on paper, I learned that this greatly improves my digital craft. I was able to use the pen tool much more successfully and create beautiful line quality.

Transitioning from line studies into photographic elements was a really interesting process for me. I had a hard time with seeing the big picture at first. I think ultimately this project showed me to break things down to see the smaller picture. I really enjoyed finishing the book and knowing how much I developed it and the production process I went through. Looking through my process binder, I am proud of where I started from. I believe without all the steps we took, my book would not be as successful.

 

 

  

 

 

 

Scher Video Response | Vis Com

Scher's video talked about her influences as a graphic designer, specifically where she resides. Her city of New York has influenced her work immensely. She talks about the sizing and surroundings of New York and how they influence her big graphic designs. I believe an artists surrounding always play a big in their art and that my book was influenced by my city, Kansas City. In my book "Man-made" I focused on somewhat of a industrial aspect, while she focused on New York's large and busy feeling. By pin pointing a certain theme with the parts of Kansas City we may overlook and regularly pass not thinking of the graphic elements of man-made materials.

Sequental Process (& what I have learned)

Things I have learned throughout this project:

1) Measure, measure, measure! Take it slow; make sure it's all correct, exact measurements. This goes along with my craft. I am improving, but at this point I feel I should be much better. Practice makes perfect...I need the practice.

2) Line tracing is a pain, but very worth it. Along with craft, the processes I went through to get to my final projects always amazing me. Tracing allowed me to "craft my craft" and ultimately improve my digital lines.

3) Multitasking is key. I have greatly improved on this since I have entered KCAI. But I know I am still improving and continue to juggle everything, in hopes to succeed.

4) Patience. This is something I feel I always need to work on, not just in school. This goes hand in hand with this project. You spend so much time perfecting, vectoring, and cutting; that without staying clam and collected, all would be a disaster. But when it comes to measuring and craft, patience is a trait that will allow me perfect my pieces. And ultimately succeed.

Horizontal Lines:

Combined Lines:

 Manipulation:

 

Cropping:

Tracings:

 

 

 Vectored and paired:

Final/mounted:

"Na" processes

 

 

I tried to use fonts that were simple and mostly without serifs (except Utopia). I think the top grouping with the cut out of the "N"s are my most successful idea. I want to stay in the cube/rectangle shape to mimic a salt lick or salt cubes.

Which is one reason why I chose to try doing 3D symbols. I do not think are as successful as the first grouping.

Sodium (Na) progression

I have been working on my drawings for typography. I thought drawing 30 sketches for my element (Sodium, Na) would be difficult, but it turned out to be somewhat fun.

I think these are my final fonts, but I am not 100% sure. I really like DIN 1451. Sodium seems like a very loose font, and no serifs. Mostly because I think of table salt, and that seems like a loose laid back kind of imagery. 

F + S TYPE

The Typography Manual has several useful features and resources for designers, including a visual type anatomy glossary, a font size ruler, an em calculator, and enough content to fill a 60-page book. It has all the essentials of a desk reference in a regularly updated pocket resource.
I think this is a pretty good idea for beginner designers, but I don't see an experienced designer ever having to use this app.

TYPE APP FOR IPHONE

Stuff I really enjoy:

 

Just a few things I found very delightful.

12" Letter Photos (Progress)

These are my first photos of my 12" letterform. I am planning to take another set, using white paper. I have already done two sets, using black and gray paper. I believe the white paper will really look nice with the white letterform.