Woodblock printing.

As my last chapter requires me to look at the aesthetic of traditional and its return in digital font I have decided to go down the road and carry out my own observations and investigations about the aesthetic by taking a hands on approach. I found that the college has little knowledge on how to use the letterpress machine so I would have to rely on working with woodblock. Once down there I became fascinated with the printed finish of the letters with all their irregularities. I have learnt that this adds character to a typeface that is lost with those which are produced digitally. This personality is something which I want to capture in my own font for the practical.  

Type specimen booklets.

Simon suggested in my last tutorial to contact Fontsmith for some sample fonts presented in a type specimen booklet format. I found that they were quick to respond and after a few days I have received several samples on varying in how they presented their font to the audience. I have found that printed specimen books are highly visual pieces that rely on their aesthetic and how the type is displayed in the layout to sell their product- less emphasis on the functions for each font. This has inspired me to look at different folds and binding methods which I could possibly use within my own design. As I aim to make the website the key piece for distribution I need the booklet to be small so it can be quickly produced. These sources have shown me that I can quickly achieve a high quality result with innovative use of layout, striking use of bold contrasting colours and large display of quotes/written copy- all something to now consider. Need to keep legibility in mind at all times to follow the principles of type I have research for my written element. 

Third tutorial.

Simon has given me some good feedback about my introduction with a few possible amendments to consider. I am thankful for what he has said and it has given me a real confidence boost that I am now heading in the right direction with the module after the trouble I had at the beginning. 

One of the suggestions he made was to start contacting people for primary research and has shown me a professional way in which to present my details on email. Professional presentation of myself will show potential responders that I am serious about this and will hopefully give up their time to answer- good comments for PPP too.   

Lecture 4- Academic conventions.

• I am going to be looking at ...
• Discovering that...
• In relation to...
• Ways in which we are expected to write 
• Own personal voice- not standardised 
• Importance of academic conventions- rejection of this 
• Institutional framework 
• Way of writing, tone, style, referencing 
• Referencing shows where argument and ideas are coming from 
• Evaluation and creating 
• Surface approach- grade hunting 
• Deep approach- independent and interested
  patterns in ideas 
• Broad range of thinking 
• Reflection and evaluation 
• Evidence deep learning- shown in structure 
• Use of jargon of subject easily and in context 
• Own opinions based and shown around evidence 
• Analyse references don;t just put in 
• Quickly show to reader- evidence, triangulation, ideas common to deep learning 
• Be precise 
• Make point, back up with evidence, critique, reflect 
• Be straight to point- confident
• Avoid using the same words 
• Rounded understanding of concepts
• Don't use conversational tone
• Avoid vague terms 
• Be technical 
• Support what you say to make points sound more important 
• Don't be worried about writing in first person but try to avoid it 
• Tense can be changed to third person- expectation 
• Explain chapters in intro in some detail- theorists going to be used- finish intro with conclusive sentence 
• Long quote- analysed in next sentence/section 
• Paraphrase 
• Smaller quotes woven in 
• Harvard referencing - estudio help 
• 'quote' (surname, year: page) lower-case 
• Writer inside book (writer in writer) 
• Bibliography should be alphabetised and in relevant sections 
• Pictures need to use same referencing 

Practical- Brief.

Second tutorial.

Change of direction (again).

After speaking to Simon he felt that my new change in direction was positive and much stronger than my previous proposal however he felt that it still maybe too broad especially with the limited time I have now to research. After much discussion I finally settled on the topic of typography and how the introduction of the computer has affected its design but not just focused in the 1980s. This means quite a bit more research to understand specifics of typography and its production methods but feel that there will be more sources available at ease and a practical will be much easier to work out from this. I am pleased that I have changed reflecting on it because the proposal before was very weak and now I am confident I will be able to sustain an in depth investigation with a good outcome in the end.

First tutorial.

Change of direction.

Based upon the feedback which I have received in the presentation I am thinking about changing my idea slightly to focus on the introduction of the computer in the 1980s and how this effected graphic design of that decade and if it has made design today. The research which I have undergone already is still suitable for the topic I am now going to look at but I will need to complete further into specifics of graphic design from the decade and look at production methods and applications that are now used as a consequence of the computers introduction. This is something that I want to discuss further with my dedicated tutor before starting researching again so that I don't waste further time and get some sort of approval.

Presentation feedback.

Verbal feedback 

• Are you going to be looking at home/personal use of technology or mass?
• Collaboration is possible 
• Tangible that the 80s is too close as a decade
• Are you going to be talking about new techniques introduced in the 80s?

Presentation.

Lecture 2- Organising your research project.

• Get yourself organised 
• Serious planning needed at this stage 
• Look in library for books to help- study skills section 
• Judith Bell's book 
• Quantitative vs qualitative 
• At this stage take a step back and question self on project 
• What is best for your project?
• Different strategies for each 
• Action research 
• Cyclical process 
• Research and practice and reflection 
• Think and act now!
• Create a detailed project plan for module 
• Write a 'first thoughts' sheet for each focus 
• Continuously ask self question of its purpose and need 
• Is it researchable 
• Clarify reasons 
• What so I want to get out of project 
• Decide on a working title 
• Project outline 
• Consider timing- allocate 
• Allow generous time for reading 
• Literature search and review 
• Pick essentials to read
• Process of triangulation to be used 
• Use journals- jstor 
• Organise books and their use 
• Reference everything from the start 
• Use for records- show in tutorials 
• What theories already exist that are related 
• Consider ethics 
• Reference- compile bibliography throughout 
• Questionnaires 
• Don't just use one to have primary research in project 
• Discuss questionnaire with supervisor 
• Interviews 
• Observation
• Participant permission 
• Critical diaries/reflective logs 
• Be disciplined and purposeful 
• Don't procrastinate  

Presentation plan.

Slide 1
Open with possible question

Slide 2
What my idea was before

Slide 3
How my idea has changed

Slide 4
What I have learnt since/over summer
(multiple slides)
Facts, quotes, documentaries
Talk about development of methodologies- how I am following the Hermeneutic circle now

Slide 5
Bibliography

Slide 6
Ideas fort visual outcome

Slide 7
Any questions/suggestions

Module briefing.

• Deadline is 17/01/2014- for both visual and dissertation elements
• Bibliography of what already studied 
• Proposal written of visual idea- bring to tutorials
• Synthesised academic understanding 
• 6000 to 9000 word extended essay in response to question 
• Introduction to theme, the development of an argument followed by conclusion 
• Bound and presented academically 
• Research carefully planned and documented 
• Make notes in advance of tutorials and crits 
• Consider taking academic writing courses available in college 
• Independent 
• Critical understanding of subjects 
• Synthesis 
• Organise and plan effectively 

Lecture 1- Synthesis.

• Synthesised research project 
• Inter-related 
• Praxis- unification to make greater 
• Constant process with application and reflection 
• Record and document the process 
• Cohesive 
• Related practical and textual outcomes 
• Approve or disapprove ideas throughout course of module 
• 2.5 hours support on written element 
• Turn up prepared- submit drafts prior to tutorials 
• 400 hours of study for 40 credit module 
• 6-9000 words 
• Deadline 17th January- 14 weeks time! 
• Have a substantial draft submitted by Christmas 
• Wide range of independent research 
• Self-management 
• Communication of idea 
• Must be synthesised continuously- understanding of this key to module success
• Informed engagement 
• Review proposal form now
• Possibly adapt form after discussion 
• Reconsider viability- realistically what can I achieve 

Documentary- The 80s: The decade that made us.

National Geographic documentary series

• Change started in the 80s 
• Decade that turned the world upside down
• Ronald Reagan wants to know how far American can go 
• Sells his idea of America
• Conservative revolution 
• Promises economical and moral change 
• 1984 Olympic games in LA- celebration of upsurge 
•  Wins more votes than any other in American history 
• Believed 1960s ruined America
• Believed need to look at past for future
• Back to the Future- nostalgic view of attitudes in 80s 
• Look back at idealistic 50s- flashback 
• 11 weeks at top of US box office 
• 80s- pop culture and politics start to blur together in order for success 
• Mentioned film in speech 
• Repairing past to have a better future 
• Cosby show- revolutionary for civil black acts in America in 80s 
• Broke barriers on TV as broke stereotypes 
• 1984 pilot presentation 
• Different dynamic as previously seen
• Success not anticipated 
• Throwback to 50s sitcoms yet new 
• Not legitimised in society til seen on TVC
• Paved way in black pop culture- could have changed views on Obama today if not seen then
• Decade where greed is good 
• But also where giving becomes global 
• Humanitarian crisis 
• BandAid- donation and phenomenon 
• Strong & clever move 
• Scale of charity 
• USE for Africa 
• Celebrity activism 
• Ruthless killer starts to take over- AIDs 
• Untreatable and terminal 
• Causes war and polarised attitudes to disease and homosexuality 
• Stereotyped disease 
• Ignorance to how disease could be spread 
• Worry and freight about catching the disease 
• Public fear eventually changes to sympathy 
• Not until 1987 Reagan recognises AIDs in speech
• 1986 public awareness that America is taking part in cold war 
• Opens up scandal 
• Against the Soviet Union 
• Russia still a closed and isolated place 
• 1987 Berlin Wall breakdown 
• 'tear down this wall' 
• Historical turning point of American 80s 

Documentary- 80s greatest gadgets.

National Geographic Channel documentary series

• Tech became tangible 
• Fast rate 
• Decade full of greed only wanting better 
• Technological explosion
• 1982 compact disk
• First mass tech seen in home
• Better quality sound 
• Indestructible compared to vinyl 
• CDs were a mystery to how they work at the time
• Information embedded on disk with codes etched into metal between plastic 
• Iconic video game- Pac Man
• Symbol of gaming 
• First intro to a computer 
• Appeal to both men and women 
• Digital pixels at their best 
• Music went mobile 
• Boombox
• Large bass sounds
• Broadcast and make music with it
• Revolutionary tech inside home
• Computer 
• Close to magic 
• IBM look at personal computers and motherboards
• Compete with Apple
• Product to market in a year 
• Massive success
• Boom in a short few years
• Business standard 
• Affordable machines formed from this 
• Video game console 
• 1985 Nintendo 
• Development of computer programs
• Sony Walkman
• Compact 
• Listen privately outside of home 
• Made life more exciting 
• Became so common now not even considered 
• Sony first Japanese company to be known 
• Everyone wanted to own one
• Soundtrack and solo experience to life 
• Serious dangers of being immersed in own life outside of home
• MP3 is now child of Walkman 
• Personal stereo will never disappear 
• Micro processors being developed at time meant products were getting smaller 
• Becoming in-practical 
• Conversion of products seen today 
• Video recorder 
• Revolutionised how we watched and thought about TV
• No longer a slave to TV- could go out and watch later 
• New tech battles between formats 
• VHS vs Betamax
• VHS more affordable and more available
• Out selled 8 to 1 
• Removable of the cinema 
• By end of 80s 60 percent owned a recorder
• Synthesiser exploded in the 80s 
• Futuristic sounds 
• Electro pop sound dominated early 80s
• Originally too costly for mass production but 80s changed this and they became affordable 
• Available for all budgets for budding producers
• Musicians today use similar tech in dance/electronic genres 
• Mobile phone introduced 
• Could only call in 80s
• Phones needed a massive battery pack to work 
• 10 years to produce a commercial service 
• Similar to a brick
• $4000 for 30 mins of calls 
• Make and receive calls 
• Ground breaking but now would seem dumb
• Poor reception was still an issue
• If seen with one you would be seen as a yuppie
• People listening into life
• World changing gadgets exploded in the 80s and now available in one hand held device 
• What will now happen in another 30 years?

Ideas moving forward.

The key thing mentioned in the feedback received was to research into my methodology further and to look into the Hermeneutic circle of:

Reflections on the 80s

• General info on culture at the time 
• Key thinkers (movers generally and in terms of graphic design) 

The 80s imagining the future

• Key future thinkers and ideas that still influence 
• Extreme differences and similarities in predictions 
• What were the predictions 
• Future ideologies 

People imitating the 80s 

• What 80s influences are still used and practiced today (especially in terms of graphic design) 

I plan now to move forward researching these ideas and from this knowledge then try to work out a clear plan for my audience and visual piece. But from the feedback I am clear that it does need re working and a suggestion was to avoid those who are from the decade and target those wanting to be educated about the time. 

Proposal form feedback.

Proposal presentation.

CoP 3 Proposal form.

Proposal presentation plan.

Slide 1
Introduction
1980s the decade that made us

Slide 2 
Aims proposed
Introduce possible question/s

Slide 3
Why back to the future as an example
What ideas does it show that are designed and in use today in terms of technology

Slide 4
What research I intend to undertake and why
Areas to explore

Slide 5
Methodology

Slide 6
Audience possibilites

Slide 7 
How this could develop into a practical piece

Proposal form draft.

Website- National Geographic.

Whilst researching for suitable documentaries to watch and research on the 1980s, for a more generalised background of the decade, I came across the National Geographic website which has a section for a series which they are currently playing called '80s the decade that made us'. 

The website is a great resource for general information on the 1980s and a good reference point for major events and years that occurred change through the decade. 

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/the-80s-the-decade-that-made-us/

Another website which was linked was the one below and it has more of an app feel to it with the interactivity which it uses for audiences to engage with the learning. This can be used again for a resource on the decade as a whole but also as inspiration for a possible visual example of a product suitable to accompany my essay if aiming to educate. Colour choices and digital edge to aesthetics are very appropriate to the 80s and a great influence for my idea of 80s style applied to modern thinking. 

http://explorethe80s.com/#!

Possible audiences.

Design news
'Serving the 21st century design engineer'

http://www.designnews.com/?dfpPParams=ind_180&dfpLayout=homepage

• Existing magazine and platform 
• 1980s tech has served 21st century
• Forward thinking 
• Visual piece could be within an old edition or on news app?
• Explore technological explosion in global communications- factual based. What audiences like this type of documentative/journalism piece currently?

National geographic 

• Already have a relevant section and series on the decade 
• What audiences do they attract?- could be same as what I want to attract 
• Based around a show already 
• Education/factual approach to visual and need 

For those who could remember or are from that decade

• Nostalgic look back to decade and memories 
• Statistical approach 
• Older and working audience demographic

This is a vague and uncommon area for me currently and needs working on alot further before I can really think too much about my practical visual piece but I am hoping that from my presentation I will gain feedback to make this direction clearer. 

Link between film and today.

Thoughts...
How can there be a link between graphic design and ideas of today and 'Back to the Future: part 2'?

• Same ideas, different design 
• What effects peoples ideas and design choices?
• Future ideologies 
• Specifics of future communication design 
• Little change causes massive effects in trends 
• Trends of 80s effect design and future predictions 
• 80s decade that made us 
• Sums up ideas of 1980s graphic design within styling of film and its promotion

Film- Back to the Future part 2.

Initial release: November 22, 1989 (USA)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

• Set in October 2015 
• Unrealistic skyway (theatrical effects) 
• Plastic surgery (realistic views) 
• Same ideas, different design 
• Ability to track everyone- similar to CCTV of today 
• Nike trainers (explosion of fashion seen at time film was made) 
• Nostalgic 80s cafes 
• Fast service law and punishment 
• Disposal of records 
• Over exaggerate image of future 
• Display ads- interactive 
• Antiques are seen as items from the 80s 
• Asian influences 
• Automated services 
• Games based on body movements
• Robotic arms- different use 
• Automatic drying 
• Flat screen TV 
• Touch control- such as payment with finger 
• Multiview channel/screens 
• Phone/video calls
• Fax machines everyday item for mass and homes
• Heavily tech based lives depicted in future 
• Handheld computers 

Initial ideas.

After the initial talks and workshops on CoP 3 my gut feeling was to look into social impact and the use/effect of technology on the mass. But on refection I want to focus this more specifically on the 1980s and the introduction of technology and how predictions of this in the future are similar but designed differently and why this is. Exploring how the 1980s was the decade that made us and ultimately graphic design of today through its influences and predictions. An area that has personally interested me but couldn't really explore in the old set modules.
A starting point for this and for general initial reference is the ideas of technology and their predictions shown with the film 'Back to the Future: Part 2' as this is an iconic film from the decade. But as it is set in 2015 this shows some of the predictions about technology of the future that were being discussed at the time and how it differs to actual reality of now in 2013.
From this I will devise my proposal form and see what direction to take from there from the feedback received as I am aware my ideas so far are very vague with no question in mind.

Dissertation or extended written piece- Library research.

• Chris Graham available to help at any time 
• Focus 
• Think about title or topic in detail- be specific 
• Clearly defined 
• Correlation with relevance 
• Clear focus more relevant research generated 
• Be particular 
• Choice of title is major! Be careful of the word 'and'- can cause more work and broaden topic too much- doubles workload 
• Use diagrams/brainstorms for working out topic 
• If brainstorm initially has more branches narrow down topic further 
• Don't think broad and shallow, think detailed 
• Can disagree with writings- still classes as a use of a source 
• Primary research can consist of- visual practice, experimentation, critical diaries, other interests, questionnaires (balanced and pilot first), interviews, case studies, site visits 
• Underpin with a literature search and secondary sources 
• Literature search or secondary sources can consist of- books, journals, blogs, online forums, videos/DVDs, CDs/tape/cassettes/vinyls, TV recordings, radio, newspapers, maps, reports, printed ephemera (printed for the moment) 
• Know where to look- specific areas for effective research
• Narrowing and broadening search terms or use related terms 
• Use contents page and index- make judgement of relevance this way- also read intro or abstract 
• Using books own bibliographies to inform further reading 
• LCA library
• Leeds Met library 
• University of Leeds- SCONUL needed to enter- fill in application from library to gain access- reference only 
• British library in Boston Spa
• COPAC- library catalogue- use " to ensure the search includes only the phrase 
• Journal search 
• InfoTrac- a store of online magazine articles- use in college network
• JSTOR- only available in college network
• Art Full Text- journal index and full texts 
• Athens- ebooks 
• WGSN- fashion based info and trends
• Google Scholar 

Two Tips

• Don't bite off more than you can chew
• Create a sense of momentum- get started!

CoP 3 introduction.

• Remaking theory, rethinking practice 
• Questioning through making 
• Research module 
• Unite dissertation and practice together 
• Show theory through writing and a body of work
• Individually driven
• Start now!
• Complex process developing throughout 
• Practically and professionally relevant to my own studio practice
• Synthesis- all component parts engaging in one process from now 
• Informed engagement from a body of research 
• Realisation of theory in, and through, practice
• PRAXIS- Marx's theory (synthesis at a higher level) 
• Research through summer 
• Proposal form on e-studio in CoP2 section 
• Complete and upload form to drop-box on e-studio 
• Submit before summer- deadline 6th June!
• Keep narrowing down subject until really specific- put some thought into it 
• Could be a series of questions, lines of enquiry or objectives to stimulate further thinking 
• Research conducted 'through' practice- how can research and thinking through doing be an approach?
• 'Thinking through doing' 
• Relationship of techniques 
• The Hermeneutic Circle- process of constant interpretation and reviewing 
• Looking at different perspectives and relating them 

Final advice

• Think about subject carefully 
• Something that will give enough scope and produce exciting intellectual pieces
• Make it relevant 
• Treat proposal form seriously 
• Start now and have fun 
• G22 written support