PUBLISHING DESIGN (GCD61404)
(Week 1 - Week 7) 30.03.2022 - 11.05.2022
Hussain Waheed (0344802)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Publishing Design: Exercises
LECTURES:
1. FORMAT: In this pre-recorded lecture, Mr.Vinod explains the history of books throughout different cultures including Middle East, South Asia, Africa and Europe. He explains the different formats used to make the books in these cultures such as Palm leaf manuscripts, Chinese bamboo strips and European parchment.
Figure 0.1: Palm leaf manuscript from Tamil Nadu, India - JPG
2. HISTORY OF PRINT: In this lecture, Mr.Vinod talks about the history and development of print from the invention of paper in China to modern-day printing. The achievements of Chinese experiments and Guttenberg's advancements that led to modern printing were discussed.
Figure 0.2: Gutenberg's printing press vsChinese printing press - JPG
3. TYPO REDUX: This lecture is a recap of typography that we learned in the previous semesters. Mr.Vinod explains the role of typography along with its features and anatomy. The aspect of legibility and type design are discussed in detail along with special formatting techniques.
Figure 0.3: Characters in a typeface - JPG
4. ELEMENTS: In this lecture, Mr.Vinod discusses about the 3 main elements that a book is composed of; Type, Colour and Image. He explains the importance of Form and Movement in designing books and layouts and how to use variations consistently.
Figure 0.4: Form and Movement demonstration - JPG
INSTRUCTIONS:
Figure 1.0: Module Information Booklet MIB - PDF / 06.04.2022
TASK 1: Exercises
EXERCISE 1: TEXT FORMATTING
For the first exercise, we were instructed to start generating content for our book. For this exercise, we had to write or come up with a story online that has to be around 3000 words. The story has to have minimum 3 chapters and multiple pull quotes and subtexts per chapter.
SUBMISSION:
Figure 1.1: Concerning Hobbits / Content for book design - PDF / 06.04.2022
EXERCISE 2: MOCK-UP MAKING
For the mock-up, we were told to use a sheet of A3 paper or 2 sheets of A4 paper taped together to make a spread. Mr.Vinod demonstrated the method with a pre-recorded video. We had to come up with 3 options for the page sizes of our book. Here is the mock-up I made although the photo is not clear as it was done using pencils.
The sizes are:
- 148.5 mm x 210 mm
- 170 mm x 230 mm
- 190 mm x 220mm
- 200 mm x 275 mm
Figure 1.2: Page size options - JPG / 06.04.2022
After drawing the sizes, I examined and decided to go with option 3 which is 190mmx220mm. We were then instructed to trim the taped spread into the desired measurement and repeat the process to get spreads of 32 pages in total. After getting the amount of sheets trimmed, I stapled and then taped to bind the sheets together. The final book can be seen below.
Figure 1.3: 32 page book with selected size- JPG / 06.04.2022
EXERCISE 3: SIGNATURE FOLDING
For this exercise, Mr.Vinod demonstrated the signature fold that is used in book printing. The pages are arranged in a specific format that when printed and folded in a specific order, gets the pages arranged in order to be trimmed and bound in separate booklets that finally goes into the books.
Figure 1.4: Signature fold- JPG / 20.04.2022
Figure 1.5: Book made from Signature fold- JPG / 20.04.2022
EXERCISE 4: VAN DE GRAFF GRID
Van de Graff grid is a classical rule for a mathematical book layout similar to the golden ratio or the fibonacci rule of thirds. The page is divided into a geometric arrangement to find the most mathematically aesthetic layout for books or print sheets. Here is the Van de Graff grid demonstrated on paper.
Figure 1.6: Van De Graff grid demo on paper - JPG / 20.04.2022
After demonstrating the grid on paper, we were told to design a digital grid on InDesign. Here is my design:
Figure 1.7: Van De Graff grid digital demo - JPG / 20.04.2022
EXERCISE 5: DETERMINING GRIDS
For this exercise, we were instructed to look for a book layout from the internet that we like, and determine the grid system used in it. For this exercise. Here is the image I downloaded from the Internet.
Figure 1.8: Layout to determine grid - JPG / 01.05.2022
Figure 1.9: Image with grid aligned - JPG / 01.05.2022
EXERCISE 6: FORM AND MOVEMENT
For this exercise, we were instructed to design a set of layouts for 16 pages. The layouts had to be designed in Black and white, colour and with images and text as well. Here are the designs that I made.
BLACK & WHITE:
Figure 2.0: Form and movement B&W - JPG / 01.05.2022
Figure 2.1: Form and movement B&W - PDF / 01.05.2022
COLOR:
Figure 2.2: Form and movement Colour - JPG / 05.05.2022
Figure 2.3: Form and movement Colour - PDF / 05.05.2022
Figure 2.4: Form and movement Pictures - JPG / 05.05.2022
Figure 2.5: Form and movement Pictures - JPG / 05.05.2022
Figure 2.6: Form and movement Pictures - JPG / 05.05.2022
Figure 2.7: Form and movement Pictures - JPG / 05.05.2022
Figure 2.8: Form and movement Pictures - JPG / 05.05.2022
Figure 2.9: Form and movement Pictures - PDF / 05.05.2022
GRID SYSTEMS
For this exercise, we were told to make multiple grid systems that we will use for the book. Here are the two designs that I made.
Figure 3.0: Grid system 1 for book - JPG / 10.05.2022
Figure 3.1: Grid system 2 for book - JPG / 10.05.2022
TYPE SPECIMEN SHEET
This exercise was for determining the typefaces, sizes and styles for the book. I used ITC Garamond for my design and only used different fonts of the Garamond family for headers , body, subtexts and pull-quotes.
Figure 3.2: Type specimen sheet - JPG / 10.05.2022
Figure 3.3: Type specimen sheet - PDF 10.05.2022
Figure 3.4: Content Generation - PDF 10.05.2022
FEEDBACK
WEEK 2
GENERAL FEEDBACK: Find pull-quotes, subtexts and ideas for visuals
SPECIFIC FEEDBACK: Complete all the sections of the content generation
WEEK 3
GENERAL FEEDBACK: The basics from Typography and Advanced typography has to be applied to the assignments.
SPECIFIC FEEDBACK: -
WEEK 4
GENERAL FEEDBACK: Use book fonts for body texts. Do not use display fonts
SPECIFIC FEEDBACK: Type specimen sheet is good. Proceed with the remaining tasks
WEEK 5
GENERAL FEEDBACK: Complete all the exercises for next week
SPECIFIC FEEDBACK: Grid systems are good. Proceed with the remaining exercises.
REFLECTION
EXPERIENCE: The overall experience of the exercises was very interesting. Doing layouts and trimming physically on paper was fun. The Form and Movement exercises were challenging but interesting at the same time. There was a lot of freedom to design anyhow I liked but at the same time the designs had to follow certain rules and guidelines.
OBSERVATIONS: I learned a lot regarding printing and publishing during the exercises. How paper is printed in large scale was much more complicated and exciting than regular paper printing. there is a lot to it which I found very informative.
FINDINGS: I found that I notice the layout and grid systems differently when I read books now. Grid systems and composition helps in almost every visual experience.
FURTHER READINGS:
2. Abstract / Netflix series - Season 1 Episode 8 / Ilse Crawford
In this episode of Abstract, the renowned Interior designer, Ilse Crawford talks (among other things) about her work as a magazine editor aside from her original profession helps her in manny aspects of architecture and interior design. She talks about how editing a magazine teaches her about how to reach audiences better and to excite them and inspire them better. She says that the process of magazine editing that depends on how to use space and presenting them was her source of design education.
https://www.netflix.com/watch/80093808?trackId=255824129
Figure 4.1: Ilse Crawford in Netflix's Abstract - JPG
Figure 4.2: Ilse Crawford in Netflix's Abstract - JPG
1. Swiss book designs 2021 - Swiss Culture Awards
This article shows some of the best book designs in Switzerland in 2021.
Figure 4,3.: Swiss book designs - JPG / 15.05.2022
https://www.schweizerkulturpreise.ch/awards/en/home/design/design-archiv/design-2020/ssb-2020.html
Comments
Post a Comment