Design Context

Sunday, 30 May 2010

Introduction...

I have written a short introduction to my design context. I wanted to write something that was personal and explained my reasoning behind the publication. I have printed it onto the heavy cream stock and placed it at the front of the documents.

The introduction reads;

Over the course of this degree my design practice has become more and more focused on designing for the medium of print. I have come to realise and understand the importance of print as a communication and design tool. This design context task has enabled me to research this medium further, focusing on the production and methods of print used. It has also allowed me to experience the history of printing in much greater depths leading me to discover itís development and innovations over the course of more than 2000 years.

This research and gathering of information has informed me of my chosen specialism to much greater depths than I originally thought it could. Not only do I feel better informed, but hopeful that the knowledge I have gained will inform my design practice in a positive and beneficial way for a long time to come.

The information presented here is the culmination of intensive research into a wide and diverse area of design and communication. I do not see the completion of this project as the end of my learning, but as a starting point for my continued exploration of what print is, and what it could potentially be.

Printing is generally held to be one of the most important inventions of all time

- Twyman, 1998 p.7

Saturday, 29 May 2010

Finished timeline...

I have printed my timeline on a LONG roll of paper, which James in the print room kindly ordered especially for me. It is very thin, and will therefore fold quite easily.

The overall print looked like this:

I have folded the strip up so that it is just smaller than A5 - like the other context books. I did my best to get it quite straight and neat, but I knew from the beginning that it would be tricky to get it perfect! This is the finished cut strip ready to go into its cream cover....

I am quite pleased with the final outcome, mainly because I thought I wasn't going to be able to print it as one piece to fold up. This timeline is the aspect of my design context that I have enjoyed producing most. I have learnt a lot from the research that I have done regarding the history of print, some of which has been really fascinating. I also feel that this represents the more personal aspect of the design context - my interest in printing and how it has developed over time into something that is now so everyday. This timeline has allowed me to really get into the history of how printing has developed and why we use certain processes, I now feel better informed about printing and why it is such a versatile medium.

A History of Print...

I have completed the final 'book' for my design context. The cover for the timeline needed to be slightly different to the others because of the depth of the pages. I gave the cover 5mm of depth so that the pages would sit comfortably inside. The pages are not attached to the cover in any way, this is so that it can be removed and unfolded completely to reveal the full timeline. It is folded in such a way that it could also be read as a 'book'.

Friday, 28 May 2010

Finished Documents...

I have converted the final books into PDFs and uploaded them to Issuu (a publishing website). I have embedded the links below, so you should be able to have a flick through. I am pleased with the final outcomes and am glad that I have almost finished them all!

Thursday, 27 May 2010

Images 4...

I have managed to find lots of images that I can use to illustrate my timeline. I wanted to include images because I think that it will help to give the information context, and it will help to illustrate the overall document.

1. Diamond Sutra

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

2. St. Christopher woodcut

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

3. Gutenberg 42-Line Bible

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

4. Latin Psalter

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

5. Albrecht Durer woodcut

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

6. Wallpaper

Sourced from http://farm1.static.flickr.com/14/15786591_655be56b20.jpg

7. Mezzotint by Jacob LeBon

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

8. Thomas Berwick wood-engraving

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

9. Koenig cylinder press

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

10. Penny Black postage stamp

Sourced from http://liliendahl.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/penny_black.jpg

11. Braille

Sourced from http://ceipntrasradelapiedad.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/braille.jpg

12. Pianotyp

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

13. Mechanised lithography press

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

14. Chromolithograph images

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

15. 19th Century print room

Reproduced from: British Library Guide to Printing

16. Funnies on Parade Comic

Sourced from http://images.ha.com/lf?source=url[file:images/inetpub/newnames/300/3/7/8/9/3789418.jpg],continueonerror[true]&scale=size[450x2000]&source=url[file:images/inetpub/webuse/no_image_available.gif],if[('global.source.error')]&sink=preservemd[true]

17. First Xerox

Sourced from http://www.webstermuseum.org/logos/pa_firstimage_web.jpg

18. Helvetica

Standard Mac font - Helvetica

19. Pantone Swatch

Sourced from http://www.quality-wars.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/pantone-book-11.jpg

20. IBM Laser copier

Sourced from http://theanarchia.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/c91.jpg

21. First Machintosh

Sourced from http://www.apfeltalk.de/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=58412&cid=18

22. Hewlett-Packard Inkjet Printer

Sourced from http://www.printerinfo.com/images/uploads/Image/News/2008%20Feb/HP_FirstDeskjet_1988_275px.jpg

Images 3...

These are the images that I have used to illustrate my Interviews book. All of the work is from the agencies that the individuals work for, which is referenced in the book itself. I have had scale some of the work up a little so that it was suitable for print, but the overall range shows the diversity of print and its applications.

1. Agent 8, www.agent8.co.uk

2. Elmwood, www.elmwood.com

3. GDC, www.gdc.uk.net

4. Very Studio, www.verystudio.co.uk

5. EightyOne, www.eightyonedesign.co.uk

6. Progression, www.progressiondesign.co.uk

7. The Gild, www.the-gild.co.uk

8.The One Off, www.theoneoff.com

Images 2...

These are all of the images that I have used within the Printing Processes book for my design context. I have specifically chosen images that demonstrate the applications of the processes, and where I can, I have shown examples of the actual process. All of these illustrate the processes well, and will help to create an understanding of the process more clearly.

1. Lithography Press

Linney Print