Publishing Design | Exercises

15/04/2020-20/05/2020  (Week 1 - Week 7)

Yeo Ava (0340222)

Publishing Design

Exercises

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Lecture Notes

Briefing & Formats

15.04.2020 | Week 1
We started class with a Facebook Live session with Mr.Vinod. He briefed us about the module, the projects and exercises that we would be doing for class. Moreover, we were briefed on about our project 1, he showed us some of our senior's works. We should be starting our content gathering by next week. He also posted a lecture video about "Formats" on Youtube for us to watch at home.

In the video, he explained about the different formats that have been used by different civilisations around the world. He explained about how the formats have changed over different periods of time. The civilisations that were looked into were Mesopotamian civilisation, Ancient civilisation, Indus valley civilisation, Han Chinese civilisation and European civilisation.

History of Print

22.04.2020 | Week 2

We started class with tutorial class on Facebook live, we did a few exercises.

This lecture was about print history, where it focused primarily on how printing evolved from the early days and the various techniques employed.

Typography Redux

29.04.2020 | Week 3

The Grid

06.05.2020 | Week 4

The Elements

13.05.2020  | Week 5

Today, Mr Vinod gave us a lecture about elements, elements is also important while designing a book, which is visual elements like picture, imagery, illustrations, texture elements like heading, subheading, body text, pull quote and color.

Next when coming to the process of designing a book, first create a grid, which able elements to move around within the grid created. Second is select a typeface, selecting a well-functioning type family would be useful. The third is then started to creatively arrange all the elements. The exercises done before is to help with the process of this. In the end, we need to make sure that the outcome is visually impactful, strong, aggressive, unique so that us not predictable, and the engagement of reader experience.

 

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Instructions

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Exercises

Mockup-making & Content Generating

15.04.2020 | Week 1

For this exercise, Mr Vinod demonstrated through Facebook live. We were asked to prepare  A4 (16 sheets) / A3 (8 sheets) paper, large rubber band / thread with needle, adhesive tape (masking, sellotape, scotch), steel ruler (16" if you have), cutter and pencil.

For the exercise we were told to fold the A3 paper in half and come up with 3 different sizes that are smaller than A4 and bigger than A5. I began to explore the possible sizes (the size chosen is highlighted below).

• 170x270mm
• 250.5x200mm
• 185x240mm

Fig 1.0 Book size exploration

After determining the final size, I started to fold and cut the 8 pieces of A3 size paper into the desired measurement, by doing so I get 32 pages in total. I then bind it together using a large rubber band.

Fig 1.1 Final Cutout sheet

 

Fig 1.2 Final Book Mock Up

 

Fig 1.3 Final Book Mock Up_inside

Fig 1.4 Final Book Mock Up_ rubber band binding

 

Fig 1.5 Flat lay

Fig 1.6 Flat lay

 

Fig 1.7 Final Book Mock Up _ GIF

We were asked to generate content for our book, it should be 3000 words minimum. The write up should have minimum 3 chapters and it must also have 3/4/5 subtexts (sidebars) and one pull quote per chapter. Below is the draft for my 3000 words.

Van de Graaf, Signature Folding System & Grids

22.04.2020 | Week 2
Mr Vinod showed us on Facebook Live on how to create a Van De Graaf on paper manually and digitally on InDesign. Below is the results :

Fig 2.0 Van De Graaf on paper

Van de Graaf on InDesign :

Van de Graaf with text on InDesign :

After the Van de Graaf exercise, Mr Vinod moved on and demonstrated the signature folding system on Facebook Live. He also demonstrated on how to number the pages properly.

Fig 2.1 Signature fold_close

Fig 2.2 Signature fold_open

Fig 2.3 Signature fold_pages

Fig 2.4 Signature fold_unfolded front

Fig 2.5 Signature fold_unfolded back

Fig 2.5 Signature fold_GIF

After the Signature Folding System exercise, we moved on to do the Grid exercise. Mr Vinod continued this session on Facebook Live and asked us to find a few examples of magazine spreads or book spread online. Then we were to draw grids and margins on InDesign

Grid System on InDesign:

Grid System on InDesign (without spread) :

Form & Movement (B&W)

29.04.2020 | Week 3
We needed to use InDesign for next exercise. The purpose of the exercise is to explore simple forms to create a pattern that flows based on the grid system.

To start, we needed to set the margins and columns.

Fig 3.0 Margins & columns

Then we add shapes to create the flow of the 16 page spread.

Fig 3.1 Process

Fig 3.2 Process

Attempt 1 for form & movement (B&W):

Attempt 2 for form & movement (B&W):

Attempt 2 for form & movement (Colour):

Attempt 3 for form & movement (B&W):

Attempt 3 for form & movement (Colour):

After getting feedback from Mr. Vinod suggested that I stick to attempt 2 for my form & movement with images

Thumbnails with Images :

Thumbnails with Text :

Fig 3.3 Animated Gif of Form & Movement

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Feedbacks

Week 1
General Feedback : Keep updating your blog and feedback sheet. Your blog should be ready by next week. The pictures taken should be clear and presentable and also not to forget to put a caption for it. Content generating 3000 words should be done by next week and also look out on the facebook group for lecture updates

Individual feedback: Mr Vinod said that the size of my book is good. He also reminded me that I have to have a single cutout spreadsheet apart from the one with measurements and the compiled book 

Week 2
General Feedback : Keep updating your blog and include the lecture notes. We have to read at least an article a week. Exercises from today should be uploaded into blog as well. Feedbacks for the exercises should be in the exercise blog and vice versa for project 1.

Individual feedback: I had to reshoot my photos for my exercises, either window light or sunlight, no fluorescent lighting and light bulb lighting allowed. Also include a flat lay. The gif idea is good. Please add in further reading.

Week 3
Individual feedback: Blog is overall neat and good, just that one picture, fig 2.0 have to reshoot to match the rest.

Week 4

Individual feedback : Interesting, can't wait to see more of the visuals next week. Try to complete the visuals by next week.

Week 5

Individual feedback : Mr Vinod thinks the image is good and overall okay.

Week 6

Individual feedback: Overall good.

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Reflection

Experiences

Week 1 
Woke up pretty early today to attend the Facebook Live tutorial class. This was the first time not going to Mr Vinod's class physical. Other than that, I was pretty excited for the project 1 content generating.

Week 2
Did most of the exercises with Mr Vinod on Facebook Live instead of waiting for the recorded version. I was struggling a bit to follow up as the internet that morning was unstable. We did something fun on Zoom Meeting today. We screen shot Mr Vinod's image and made it as our virtual background, everyone was in on it.

Week 3

This week we had a short exercise which was to create shapes to form a sense of movement. This particular exercise was hard to grasp in the first stage.

Week 4

This week we introduced colour into our form and movement exercise. It changed the whole look of the layout.

Week 5

This week we added a chosen image of our own into the form & movement layout. The image should be cropped in an interesting way. 

Week 6

This week we added text into the form & movement layout with suitable typefaces.

Observations

Week 1 
I noticed that online class and learning from home is not as difficult as imagined.

Week 2
Although we are separated in our own home, we can still have fun together and make the Zoom meeting less intense.

Week 3

I noticed that some of my photos have different lighting although I took it at the exact same place which is near the window. The light changes because of the weather, hence I had to further edit some of it.

Week 4

I observed that most of us did not get how to do the form & movement exercise despite Mr Vinod explaining it again and again. We were just winging it with luck.

Week 5

I finally had a grasp on how the form & movement exercise works although some changes had to be done. 

Week 6

Looking at how the image and text and the colours come together I finally understood the purpose of this exercise.

Findings

Week1
I found out that during this time self discipline and time management is a challenge. Learning and doing assignments at home has made me feel unmotivated and lethargic. I can't wait for classes to be back to normal again.

Week 2
I realised that this new normal thing has slowly grown on me. Although I still can't wait for this to be over (meaning found a vaccine for covid-19).

Week 3

I realised that the weather affects the lighting of my photos a lot and intense editing is needed.

Week 4

I realised that I still had no grasp on how to do the form & movement exercise after asking my peers and friends.

Week 5

I finally realised the purpose and logic behind the form & movement exercise. And what works and what does not work in the layout.

Week 6

This exercise definitely thought the importance of the flow and movement in a layout.

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Further Reading

Week 1 - Week 2

This book provides inspiration through hundreds of well-crafted, real-life projects that have succeeded for their clients. It also teaches the fundamentals of complete and hardworking layouts. It also features all the basics of layouts, as well as dozens of mini case studies from professional studios around the globe whose layouts are proven winners. Here are some pictures of the content of the book.

Week 2 - Week 3

This book contains different kinds of brochures with different layouts, It also contains booklets with layouts which I thought was useful to observe and learn.