ITAP Lecture 8- Image & Text

Image and Text-

An image without text can be vague as people can perceive it in many different ways. This can lead to misconception in some circumstances and not convey the message it wishes to. When capturing abstract images,  you may want the viewer to attempt to understand the image without the aid of text, although in other forms of design, the use of text is necessary. Especially in the form of advertising, as it is of extreme importance that the message is understood in order to achieve a successful advertisement. 

Above is an print advertisement with the text covered up in order to illustrate how text can effect the outcome of an image. With this example, the image can be perceived in many different ways. I could consider the ear phones and think it has something to do with music or an advertisement about friendship. It depends on how you depict the image. 

 When the text becomes a part of the image, you get clarification of the message. In the case of this ad,the message becomes very apparent, even though the image has no links to drugs. This is because you can create a subconscious link between the two elements. 


From this quick analysis, you can appreciate how text can improve the transparency of a piece. Especially in the world of advertisement, where it is vital not convey the wrong message. There are also many examples of text used in different areas of visual communication that don't just convey a message. Its also used to convey other elements, such as thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

Text Used to Convey Emotion-
  
I have just stated the importance of text when you wish to convey a clear message to the viewer. Although text is also used widely to convey emotions rather than an image by itself. The combination of the two can create powerful imagery that can become applicable to a wider range of people, as you don't need the ability to depict an image. 

Jenny Holzer

 Above are a series of images by conceptual artist Jenny Holzer who projects large text on buildings as well as using LED signs. Much of the text used has a a deeper meaning behind it with violence, war, feminism and many other subjects that she may feel strongly about. 

She utilizes this technique of Presenting here work in public places to make people aware of something that is meant to be low key. For example, in the past she has outed documents about US army interrogation techniques where human rights have been exploited. Documents like this are meant to remain out of the public eye in order not to tarnish organizations such as the government. 

This makes a public place, such as a building integrally different to in comparison to a lone image. It can cause a flood of emotions when you have a shocking statement projected onto a 50ft building.

ITAP Lecture 7- Development of Creative Thought and Structure in Illustration and Graphic Art

Overcoming Mindsets-

In order to be the best possible creative, you must over come mindsets in order to create the best possible work. The most successful artists in the world are constantly breaking the barriers in order to be as contemporary as possible in order to keep up with the competition. In doing this, a person must relieve theirselves of reality in order to taking an intial thought and evolvong it into something relevant. As well as this, when relaxing the mind, you can let your self fully apperciate what is around you. 

Axel Peemoeller

 Above are images by Axel Peemoeller in which he has created a unique way finding system in a Melbourne car park. This is a clear example of how someone has taken conventional thinking and through it out the window in order to create an individual piece of work. 


Within the car park he has painted the words "In, Up, Down and Out" at an angle in which it can be seen perfectly when standing head on. At any other angle they would seem out of proportion, although still easily identifiable. When compared to other systems used in car parks, its undoubtedly unique, but still achieves its purpose. Without the willingness to let your mind run free, you would not be able to create award winning work such as this.

Restating Problems-

When faced with a brief, there will always be problems you must overcome in order to produce the best possible outcome. When solving any problem, I like to Research its background and then record my visual thinking in an attempt to solve it. 

This is evident in my previous project where I took the research I had previously done and taken rational steps to produce a number of design ideas in relation to a logo. After sketching over 60 thumbnails, I reproduced a few in Adobe Illustrator and then taking a few more even further by adding colour. A final step was to produce a final logo that answered the original brief. This is a standard process for most designers when producing something such as a logo, although in this case the outcome wasn't as successful as I wished it to be.

This is where it may be a good idea to know your mistakes so you can improve on them in the future. At this point you can consider a different angle to work from with the intention of producing a different outcome. In the case of logo design, you could do a number of things to change what you have previously done. 

You could attempt to take inspiration from things such as nature, fashion, food, science and everything around you to create a unique image. Use different drawing techniques rather than sketch with a pencil in order to produce different strokes, textures and tone. Also use different sources of research rather than just the Internet in order to discover new design sources.

ITAP Lecture 6- Production and Outcomes

Delivery-

The delivery of a visual is extremely important as there are so many different platforms that can be used in order to get your work into the public eye. In many design situations, knowing your audience is a significant aspect of the design process as this can effect your outcome. In order to reach your audience you need to know where to place your work, this is when the platform must be considered to allow your work to be successful. 

Prison Cell Campaign

 Above are images showing a street campaign designed to make people aware of gun crime and its consequences. The prison cell was toured around five boroughs in London where gun crime is at its highest. This allowed the public to interact with the structure in order to give them a perspective of a prison cell.

This form of delivery is different to many other campaigns with similar goals, as these are more than likely print ads or something digital. The outdoor campaign is specifically designed for certain people, therefore the audience is of a reduced capacity and allows them to realise an idea such as this. 


Tactics such as this exploit the senses of a viewer and creates an emotional link to the viewer that can't be achieved with a lot of other types of advertising. 


Medium- 

Designers use media as a tool to serve their appetite for creativity by working on personal projects, client briefs, charity work and many others. Having variety with your work also allows you to achieve many different goals that wouldn't usually be possible when practising in one area of design. 

Nike USAB Olympic T-Shirts

The two T-Shirts above are examples of some commercial work done by Hydro 74 in association with Nike and the USA Olympic basketball team. The advantages of commercial work is the recognition gained by working with companies as big as Nike and having your designs viewed on a wide scale. It also opens other doors to projects in the future with Nike or other brands. 

Hydro 74 Illustrations

Personal Work is something that allows designers to work freely without the restrictions of briefs and achieve possible goals they set themselves. In the case of Hydro 74, he enjoys illustrations that include some sort of animal with floral designs in the background. Artwork such as this may be more of a Hobie for the creative, therefore more enjoyable and rewarding. 

Hydro 74 Typography

 The final examples above are a mixture between the two previous types of work. The typography is used for brands such as Ripcurl, Quicksilver and Vans with them being used commercially. He also designs typography that he profits from himself by selling them for use by other people.

These different aspects allow the designer to become as successful as possible in order to succeed on a personal and commercial level.

ITAP Lecture 5- Development of Ideas and Structure in Moving Image

Three Act Structure-

Within every film, there is a "Three Act Structure"  made up of a begging, middle and end, whatever order may that be. This then reflects on the content of the acts that usually consists of something being established, then a crisis and it then being resolved. The following is an example of a three act structure within a film of my choice. 

Three Act Structure- District 9

Theatrical Film Poster

Act 1

Alien Spacecraft comes to earth

The fall out between The Aliens And Humans 

Relocate "Prawns" to District 10

Wikus van de Merwe begins to hand eviction notices

Christopher Johnson finds alien technology and hides it

Wikus finds it and becomes infected

Act 2

Wikus becomes ill with his DNA starting to turn into a prawns

MNU takes him captive and begins to test weapons on him

Wikus escapes with MNU in pursuit

Takes refuge in District 9 and meets Christopher Johnson 

They agree to recapture alien technology from MNU

Act 3

Wikus Discovers that it will take 3 years to cure him

In anger he takes control of the command module with it then being shot down 

Christopher Johnson is held captive by MNU, Wikus comes to save him in an armoured suit

Christopher Johnson and son return to mother ship with it then leaving

Ending documentary footage with people theorizing about Wikus's disappearance

Wikus wife finds a steel flower on her doorstep

A Prawn is shown crafting a flower in a scrapyard

Monomyth (The Hero's Journey)-

The Hero's Journey is a theory by Joseph Campbell that every story follows the same basis. The following will show the similarities between The Hero's Journey and Avatar. 

Theatrical Film Poster

Departure

The call to adventure- Replaces his brother in Avatar project

Refusal to call- Unsure Of his credentials

Supernatural aid- The Avatar Scientist Grace

Crossing the first threshold- Going into the Avatar for the first time

The belly of the whale- Begins to utilize the Na'vi body

Initiation

The road of trials- Survives the animal attack in the jungle and begins to interact with the Na'Vi

The meeting with the goddess- Neytiri

Temptation away from the true path- Promised new legs to give information on the Na'Vi

Atonement with the father- Accepted into the Na'Vi Society

Apotheosis (becoming godlike)- Jake taken prisoner after the human attack on the Na'Vi

The ultimate boon- Fight Back Against Humans

Return

Refusal of the return- Wants to become a Na'Vi 

The magic flight- Jake escapes in his Avatar

Rescue from without- Asks for help from the planets spirit 

Crossing the return threshold- Jake returns to the human world

Master of the two worlds- He is once again accepted by the Na'vi

Freedom to live- Permanently fuses with the Na'Vi body to live amongst them

ITAP Lecture 4- Reflective Visual Journal

Brain-

The brain is divided into two, with both working together to be as functional as possible. It is a common know fact that different sections of the brain hold certain abilities that are vital for the human body to work properly. The right hand side of the brain is the most creative of the two as it curious and enjoys to experiment. On the other hand, the left hand side is much more formal with it having the capabilities to organise and calculate. These two working in conjunction with each other can be used to the optimum in the case of visual communicators, due to the fact that a creative thinkers need to convey their idea with both words and images. 

A Selection of work from Dominic Mcgill

Above are examples of work from the artist Dominic Mcgill. I feel that these are good examples of how the two sides of the brain can subconsciously work together in the creating pieces of work. In the case of the work above, Mcgill has been extremely creative with all of the illustrations and themes behind them. Although in order to lay all these ideas on a page in a legible way, the left hand side of the brain needs to kick into gear. 

This is clear example of how the two sides of the brain combine in order to create a clear outcome. In other practices, such as fine art, the more organised side of the brain may be less of a necessity. Although, due to the fact that we are in visual communication, we have no choice but to have a logic to our work.

Language-

Visual Language is something that is all around us as it can be more effective than words in a number of different situations. This is due to the fact that a visual can communicate its goal faster in comparison to text and can be seen from distance as well as being universally understanded. Below are a number of examples where visual languge is used. 

London Underground Map

 Road Signs

Above are images reflecting what i have previously said about the use of visual language with these cases being the most obvious. Firstly, the London Underground map is a vital piece of design as it needs to be easy to understand because thousands of people need to be able to extract information applicable to them. This is where something visual is much more effective than text as because it is much more universal. 

Road signs are another important example where visual language is used in a conventional way in order to convey information. These images are now instantly recognisable by millions of people across the country, all because of the use of visual language.