Collaboration project: OUGD506 - ideas & development

I started designing by thinking about the name and branding. I wanted the name to be something easy, catchy and memorable. After mind mapping it, I felt once again focusing on the idea of senses and with already establishing a Scandinavian colour pallet I thought why not translate senses into Norwegian, creating Føle.  From this I then started playing around with type to create a logo type for Føle. I played around with trendy serif fonts but decided to go with Circular Std and friendly sans serif font that’s bold but fun. I also needed a smaller text throughout the magazine for written interviews and page numbers. I decided to choose Nunito extralight. This is also and sans serif font. I felt it married nicely with Circular, creating a soft but clear and legible type. After being sent all the files from the designers, which took a lot of chasing up! I decided to start the magazine through the selfies each designer sent me. I asked them to do this as I knew they would feel comfortable doing it and I knew it would create fun images. This was also suitable because I am not in the same country as any of them. I knew I needed to find a way to make these 5 selfies for each designer look unique and fun, as well as consistent throughout. This is when I experimented with different collage styles and ways of presenting the imagery. I thought about different ways in showing the selfies and different ways of marrying the type an images. I ended up using a collage and grain effect across all images with a cut out style. The collages will be in the chosen scandi colour for that particular designer. I then went on to develop the paper tear idea. Matching the colour pallet to the teared paper as well. I knew this would give depth to a lot of the pages and make it feel more of a considered layout. As well as showing the idea of it being a rip out of that designer’s sketchbook. After completing these separate tasks I knew i needed to bring them all together to create interesting, unpredictable layouts for introducing each designer and their work to the magazine. I started tis by sketching out thumbnails for possible layout designs. From previous projects I know how important it is to keep the audience surprised with different layouts.  From these sketches I then talked to the designers allowing them to help choose what layout would fit them. I experimented with different types of layouts so to not just stick with the teared paper idea. I thought about different styles of layouts in magazines, and the different ways in which images are presented. After experimenting I still felt the teared paper idea was solid and worked well with the selfies.

Practise Layouts Styles: 

Chosen layouts : Techniques 

I started re creating these thumbnails on indesign using the elements already created. I used a simple 4 column grid throughout magazine. This allowed for some sections to follow a simple grid whilst also allowing me to break the grid in other sections. The name and portrait pages worked well creating a good balance of negative space as well as the ripped and block colour elements which matched with the bold friendly type. Similarly, to the name and portrait pages I created thumbnails sketches for the designer’s work pages. Once again giving the option to the designers of the way they prefer their work to be laid out. Throughout these layouts I tried to think about varying the size and position of images on each page. I want the audience to be constantly surprised some pages full of imagery whilst leaving some very minimal. Still using a specific colour for each designers section. I incorporated small details such as page numbers at the bottom of all layouts, as well as the designers country of origin and age on the sides of all layouts. I feel the small details bring a sense of consistency and almost frame the whole magazine. They are the constant which never changes throughout. At this point I started thinking about the QR codes. I edited all the audio footage down into the different the different pieces of work each designer had. I did this instead of 1 long QR code per person as it then allows the reader the pick and choose which work they want to listen to. After completing the key content of the book I needed to think about the final pages.  For the contents pages I wanted something that easily directs the audience with clarity. I felt the best way of doing this was through the colours allocated the each designer. I used the white text for the names in each designer’s different block colour. This gave a nice punched out effect but most importantly created a clear content that quickly communicated how to get to different sections of the magazine. I used a similar approach with the thank you page at the back. This is give more information so people can find out more about them and follow them on socials. Finally, I moved onto the front and back cover. I wanted to stick with this idea of ripping and use it within the front and back cover. I came up with some variation of front cover designs and posed them to the designers in the book. They helped me decide and make changes to the final cover.