PUBLISHING DESIGN - PROJECT 1

May 20, 2020

PUBLISHING DESIGN - PROJECT 1

07/04/2020 - 20/05/2020 (Week 1 - Week 6)

Neoh Kar Yan (0339338)

Publishing Design

Project 1 - Content Generation

LECTURE NOTES

Lecture 1 - Formats

03/08/20 (Week 0)

Mr. Vinod conducted our first lecture via Youtube. We learned about the formats of the book as well as the history of print today.

Factors that influence & determine the format of a book:

Size of book

Type of content

Amount of content

Format of book constitutes:

Type of paper

Type of binding

Size

Lecture 2 - History of Print
15/04/20 (Week 2)

We learned about the history of print. From what I've learned, the first printed book was a scroll about the diamond sutra in China. Movable type was also pioneered in China but later achieved by Korea as they used bronze instead of pottery, which was sufficiently strong for repeated printing, dismantling, and resetting for a new text. The earliest printed document was in Korea. Johann Gutenberg was also experimenting with movable type in Europe. The largest book is located in Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma).

Lecture 3 - Typography Redux
29/04/20 (Week 3)

This week's lecture was a recap on the things we've learned in the previous semesters. It was good to refresh back on things like the characters in a typeface, weights in a typeface. There are many considerations to make sure the type is legible, a few examples such as special styles, types of alignment, paragraph spacing, and paragraph indent. We also learned about special formatting, how to use the right format to text.

Lecture 4 - The Grid
06/05/20 (Week 4)

We were given a lecture on grids. Throughout the lecture, we learned about margins, gutter and hangline. The margin is the structure of the book and the it will affect how a book will look like. The gutter is known as column intervals. The hangline, is where the text starts from. The grid is crucial for designers to present information in an orderly manner and it is modular in nature.

Lecture 5 - Elements

13/05/20 (Week 5)

This week we learned about the elements that make up a book. All publications consist of 3 major elements: type, colour and image and what holds them together is the format and grid. Our layouts should not be predictable and should contain variations that will surprise the reader at every page turn whilst maintaining consistency across the book. The grid is used in a modular fashion where the elements are positioned logically but also in a compositionally attractive manner.

INSTRUCTIONS

PROJECT 1

Week 0 (03/04/20)

Mr. Vinod started our very first headstart session on Zoom. He briefed us on the module and especially on this project. He advised us to start working on it as the upcoming weeks will be even more hectic with the other subjects. Hence, we were tasked to start thinking about our topic and to write 3000 words on it.

He briefed us through the project and showed a few of our seniors' work. He mentioned that during our process of writing, we should format our content in word properly with the right spacing, and paragraph spacing.

Week 1 (15/04/20)

For my content topic, I had a few ideas and inspirations. Mr. Vinod suggested us to write something close to our heart and I had been thinking hard about it. I want to create something that is meaningful and resonates deeply with me. Yet, the few ideas I was having weren’t up to par with my mission.

One night I was sharing this with my family at the dinner table. What struck me most was when my mum suggested me to write my grandma's story. Not just the typical grandma's story you hear when you're young, but a story that was documented and written by my very own mum. She wrote a whole book about her mum, her mum's tough life experiences and what happened in the past.

My mum started her passion project in the year 2013. Her objective was just to document my grandma's life into words, which then later transforms into a book. She recorded my grandma's voice while she shares her life stories whenever we visited her back in Ipoh, Perak. Her book is titled "金娇 - 南洋姑娘" (The Nanyang Maiden) with a total of 18 chapters and 78 A4 sized pages. It has yet to be published as she lost most of the softcopy files needed for editing work and more due to PC maintenance. Thankfully, the hardcopy is still available!

Fig 1.1: My mum's hardcopy book

Fig 1.2: The list of chapters

My first step was to read the whole book. Frankly, I find it challenging to read Mandarin, thus, the urge wasn't there up until now. I want to make this commitment to finish her book, to write a translation of her book using my own words.

I am fully aware that the direction I'm going for will not be easy. It employs more effort and time. I foresee that having to visualize and illustrate all this will be challenging for me, as it isn't really my style and strength. However, a part of me wishes to fulfill my mum's dream of having her book published. Plus, an illustrated book is a major point. Hence, this would be a challenge for me as a designer to convey the book into life.

I begin reading my mum's book. The starting process was slow. I had to translate the words one by one as I forgot the meaning of it or I don't know the pronunciation.

I summarize each chapter I read so its easier to refer to later when summarizing.

Fig 1.3: Summary of each chapter #1

Fig 1.4: Summary of each chapter #2

Fig 1.5: Summary of each chapter #3

After finishing the whole book, I planned my content, what to include in each chapter, and how many words I can write approximately.

Fig 1.6: Planning of the content

Week 2 (22/04/20)

Here is my content:

Week 3 (29/04/20)

Throughout the weeks, we were supposed to think about our visuals, how we want it to look like. I struggled for quite some time because I wanted my visuals to resemble the past and don't look too modern and illustration-ish. I also felt like photography alone wouldn't be sufficient or strong enough to capture the essence of my content. Hence, I thought of making collage related art. I am able to include vintage photos and also graphical elements, pictures from the present and the list goes on. There is a lot that I can do for this approach. However, the big challenge is to integrate both mediums together and to also explore the more abstract aspect of it.

Fig 2.1: Visual References

I started out my first attempt at Photoshop. Only having a few elements and still wasn't sure what I was doing.

Fig 2.2: First attempt

Fig 2.3: Second attempt #1

The beginning process for the visuals took me a long time figuring my direction and style and as you can see throughout my second attempts, I was still figuring out from different styles and approaches, composition-wise was still lacking thereof.

Fig 2.4: Second attempt #2

Fig 2.5: Second attempt #3

Week 4 (05/05/20)

This week, my ideas were much clearer. I went with an abstract editorial collage approach for my visuals. I was inspired by postmodernism collage designs. I wanted it to be abstract and contain hidden messages behind the elements used, at the same time the visual is strong to elicit readers' curiosity for the context. Though I have to say, It was really challenging for me as a first-timer to create something close to my visual references. As I went along and did more, I became better at it and have a better understanding of the style, but deep down I knew I was not there yet and definitely have more room for improvement.

Fig 3.1: Third attempt #1

Fig 3.2: Third attempt #2

Fig 3.3: Third attempt #3

Fig 3.4: Third attempt #4

Fig 3.5: Third attempt #5

Fig 3.6: Third attempt #6

Fig 3.7: Third attempt #7

Fig 3.8: Third attempt #8

Fig 3.9: Third attempt #9

Fig 3.10: Third attempt #10

Week 5 (12/05/20)

After last week's feedback, I was suggested to rework my visuals based on my third attempt's last visual, which was the one with my grandmother and mother's photos. Initially, I felt disappointed. I thought that my work was almost done and that I can proceed with whatever that was ahead and also get some rest in between. Instead, I was told to rework most of my visuals which I was not expected to hear.

However, I can see why I was suggested so. The last visual I did communicates my message best. It speaks about the past evidently and it evokes emotion. It is sentimental and brings the essence of nostalgia to the table. It got me thinking more about the effect that I want my readers to have when they read my book. In retrospect to my previous attempt, the main idea was to make readers curious about the message behind each element or subject displayed. At first sight, there's a high chance that they will not understand or absorb whatever they see. It revolves mainly on the effects of curiosity, not so much on making readers feel or resonate meaning.

This new direction of mine focuses more on the mood, sentimental touch, and nostalgia. The visuals will help readers to understand and feel the context more deeply as compared to my previous attempt. It will take you through like a scrapbook, taking you on a journey of someone's life story, which is my grandmother's.

Fig 4.1: Fourth attempt #1

Something special to note but I've included real documents from my own ancestors in these visuals such as the admission document(as shown in Fig 4.1 above), wedding invitation, and some other photos from the past. Unfortunately, I only have a few photos of my ancestors, thus I gathered most of my resources online.

Fig 4.2: Fourth attempt #2

Fig 4.3: Fourth attempt #3

Fig 4.4: Fourth attempt #4

Fig 4.5: Fourth attempt #5

Fig 4.6: Fourth attempt #6

Fig 4.7: Fifth attempt #7

Fig 4.8: Fourth attempt #8

Fig 4.9: Fourth attempt #9

Fig 4.10: Fourth attempt #10

Fig 4.11: Fourth attempt #11

Fig 4.12: Fourth attempt #12

Fig 4.13: Fourth attempt #13

Fig 4.14: Fourth attempt #14

Fig 4.15: Fourth attempt #15

I attempted to design the book cover. Frankly, I had a really high expectation as it is the book cover, I want it to stand out from the rest of my visuals. First and foremost, I have already had an idea in mind, which was to have a silhouette of a lady and having elements or photos behind with a double exposure effect. After some thought, I figured that going too much with the double exposure would steer me away from my style.

Hence, I still maintain my scrapbook-ish style but instead of having a plain background like the rest, the cover will mimic the cover of an actual scrapbook, by having layers and layers of old textured paper. I've also made a rectangular border at the side to mimic the iconic masking tape borders. The silhouette of the lady contains two pictures, one is a photo of a lady with a bicycle and a layer of body text. These elements work together to symbolize how women back then were treated lowly as compared to men and they often have a muted identity or little to no significance in society. The hibiscus also represents Malaysia. The silhouette of a soldier is placed on the shoulder of the lady/ wheel of the bicycle to symbolize the Japanese invasion of Malaysia on bicycles as well as the never-ending cycle of war.

Fig 4.16: First attempt at book cover design

Final Thumbnail of Visuals (without background):

Fig 4.17: Final thumbnail of visuals

FEEDBACK

WEEK 2
General Feedback: For project 1, the visuals are an important aspect of it. Hence, we should really do a good job there and to have 3 levels of intensity of visuals (low, medium, and high).

Specific Feedback: For my content, he said that I should add paragraph spacing between the copyright and ISBN number. I should also include more subtexts in each chapter.

WEEK 3

Specific Feedback: Mr. Vinod commented that I need to explore further on my collage design and not use the whole image by itself, instead, play with more elements.

WEEK 4

Specific Feedback: Mr. Vinod said that I have to explore further as currently I'm not so fluent with it. I have to do a lot to get the hang of it. My work now is still very tentative to the forms and objects.

WEEK 5

Specific Feedback: It is important to focus on the visual. I should analyze the visual in a more exciting manner. Regarding the last collage I did, Mr. Vinod mentioned that it has the richness I need for all my work. I should use the same sentiments for other aspects as the visual is A quality work compared to the rest. He suggested me to rework the rest of my visuals, but it is up to me. I should try my first chapter again.

WEEK 6

Specific Feedback: After showing my visuals that are reworked, Mr. Vinod said that I'm on the right track. Good job on the cover. Nice turnover. In addition, he suggested that I can lay the back cover side by side with my front cover.

REFLECTION

EXPERIENCE

Week 2: We started writing our 3000 words, the number of words wasn't much of a problem to me as I was confident that I am able to achieve that amount, considering the amount of content I have.

Week 3: This week I started to look for visual references and I still cannot decide which style or direction I wanna go for.

Week 4: This week I played with more elements and colours to my visuals. It was challenging as well to think out of the box into creating abstract collage artworks.

Week 5: From last week's feedback, this week I explored more into the different compositions and more elemental composition. I also had a more specific direction in my style to make the visuals look consistent with one another.

Week 6: This week I redirected my approach and reworked on most of my visuals. I had a clearer idea in mind and was determined to make sure the new attempt will work.

OBSERVATION

Week 2: I noticed that having a plan and the summary really helps me in developing the content more efficiently.

Week 3: I noticed that it was quite difficult to look for photo references of the past for my collages as it was either low in resolution or it wasn't the right setting or context.

Week 4: I observed that the thinking process takes a longer time than my actual execution. I should probably not overthink it too much and just lay all my ideas out on paper.

Week 5: I observed that by referring to other collage works and see how they play with the elements, it helps with my ideation process.

Week 6: I observed that some elements are high resolution and some aren't, I should fix this as there should also be consistency in the photos so I clipped a yellow texture to them each.

FINDINGS

Week 2: I realized that translating the first-person's perspective to a third person's perspective writing style was pretty challenging.

Week 3: I finally understand the meaning of a subtext and a pull quote as I was confused previously.

Week 4: I realized that I'm still lacking in my Photoshop skills, there are still many things I wasn't sure how to execute it.

Week 5: I realized that I really have to do a lot to get the hang of it. It also helps when I refer to other collage works and see how they play with the elements.

Week 6: I realized that I actually had a lot of fun at creating the visuals this week even though it was extra work. I had an easier time with them compared to the last as this feels closer to my heart and I am more committed and connected with the workflow.

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