THEORY TO PRACTICE - illustrations and pages

To make these posts a lot more organised, I am going to categorise all of my illustrations and pages under their particular title on the contents page, showing how each section has developed into it's final stage. 

My desktop at one point was so cluttered with files and images that I didn't really know where to begin, how to find anything or what to do. 

As there has been a lot of editing, moving around, colour changes and so on, it will be much more manageable to show it this way. 

In the final booklet, there are 20 pages, including front and back, in a 10 page spread.

The contents are as follows:

Front Cover

Using the images one of my previous post, I began to draw up some illustrations for my publication. I didn't want to simply use the pen tool to trace the images as this would kind of defeat the point in me even doing them. I therefore printed each image off at a large scale and used these as reference to draw up my own images. These were to be done as accurately as possible, however a few differences were made. With drawing not being my strongest point, I'm extremely pleased with how these came out. 

Once drawn up in pencil, the lines were gone over again in a thick black berol pen so that the scanner could pick up on them. This would then make it easier to live trace once in Illustrator. On some occasions, there were gaps where the lines hadn't quite joined, or some lines weren't as thick as others, however, this was easily fixed, and in some cases this added a lot more character to the illustrations.

Name Tag

The name tag is one that has been used by Meadham Kirchhoff before, normally on their invites or more notably on their nail wrap packaging. The style can be seen on a couple of their products. 

Using this, I was able to draw up my own tag, and also use a similar style when it came to applying it on other pages and on other words.

Invitations designed by Hato Press

Nail Wraps available at Topshop

Model 1

On some occasions, I felt that the colours needed to be changed, as they either clashed too much, or I couldn't quite find the exact match. However, most were kept to be the closest match to the original image. 

Once a few illustrations were complete and coloured, it was time to start looking at the aesthetics of the publication and how it was going to start coming together. The idea of using both illustration and photograph was a possibility, so this was experimented with to begin with. The hand rendered on the image works well. It's playful and I feel that the subject is appropriate to the model.

Model 2

Starting to look at models and aesthetics from the SS12 show - candy colours, lace, ribbons, kitsch symbols, cartoon references.

Possible 1

Possible 2

In order to fit in better with the whole aesthetics of the publication, I decided to make it reference the SS12 show a lot more. A secondary image was used that was taken in their studio of some of the things that surround the two designers whilst their working. I feel this page reflects the topic much better, and ties in with the way the rest of the publication is looking. 

The model was originally facing the other way, however it was decided that it would make much more sense for her to be facing in the opposite direction of the title. It also allowed more of the image underneath to come through.

Introduction

Design Sheets

Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff

Obviously people who read my publication probably aren't going to be aware of who Meadham Kirchhoff are. Assumptions can't be made that the audience knows all about them, what they do and so on. Therefore, a bit of background on the two designers will be needed. To make things a little bit more personal and friendly, an illustration of Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff will be included, as well as a designer profile etc.

An image that expressed them as individuals and designers was chosen, as well as an image that also displayed some of their inspirations and characteristics of their work. 

A few things on the illustration were changed from the original image. All the little posters and pictures etc in the background were photographs, or type, therefore I picked a selection of similar images and included these to strengthen the theme. 

Content

Possible 1

I started to work on a possible introduction for the publication. I'm not sure whether or not this is the right place for the image but for now it seems to be working. It's a nice little introduction to the piece, displaying what it's all about and what will be discussed. The Meadham Kirchhoff name tag in the corner is one that has previously been used by the designers both on their invites and on their nail wrap products.

Possible 2

Possible 3

Seeing how it would lay out as a double page spread. On the left hand side there is a short definition of the word 'kitsch' which I think is vital to the publication and the understanding of it.

Designer Profile

Design Sheets

In order to introduce the designers to the audience, a profile will be included to give some brief information on the two. The profile is taken from the London Fashion Week website and it covers a number of important facts and questions. It's always good to know a bit of background in a simple question answer format. 

Content

Models 1

A selection of models were drawn up that could be put on the facing page. A simple image was needed to go along with the profile, reflecting their recent designs.

Model 2

Although from the SS12 show, I feel that this illustration just doesn't fit in with the rest of the publication. For some reason it just looks really out of place, be it because of the colours or perhaps I'm just unhappy with the drawing. I decided to see if it could still be used, and I tried to put it into a different context.

Photo Frame 1

One of my peers suggested to me that it might be quite interesting to display the illustrations in a selection of little photo frames, in a range of sizes. This kitsch design was chosen for the frame.

As well as the use of illustration, as photograph was used at the beginning of the publication, I decided to look at the possibility of including it elsewhere. I experimented a bit with putting image behind the frame, looking at the contrast between the two. The opacity of the image was lowered to create more of a glaze, and to bring the colours down to the same level as the pastels that surrounded it. 

This isn't as effective as I hoped it would be. The photographs seem a little bit out of place as they don't compliment each other in the way that the front cover does. 

Photo Frame 2

I wondered whether or not it wasn't working because of the type of frame that I'd used, as it was very busy, and a little bit extreme. Some simpler frames were drawn up, and scanned in to create a live trace. I experimented with them for a while, but I feel the idea just wasn't working. I was trying to push something that overall I really just didn't like the look of.

Photo Frame 3

Possible 1

Here are some of the photo frame designs that I played around with. I'm not sure if it's the colours, or the composition, but the more I looked at this page the more I disliked it. It annoyed me so much I deleted it from the publication. My dislike for yellow may have something to do with this, however from the beginning the illustrations weren't the best, therefore it wasn't going to work.

Possible 2

Different sizes and composition was experimented with. This would be the preferred design, yet it just wasn't falling into place.

Possible 3

The idea was scrapped completely. As the left hand page looked a little bare, a title tag was created to introduce it. This makes the page stand out a lot more, and makes it more obvious. It needed some sort of title, otherwise it was just sort of there. 

On the facing page, a colourful illustration was placed to contrast with the simplicity of the profile.

Possible 4

The yellow of the image above slowly started to flow into the colour of the models hair on the second page, therefore more of a contrast was needed to separate the two. This is much more effective and creates a nice balance between the two. This is an improvement on the original idea.

Inspiration

Design Sheets

After considering what exactly was going to go into the publication, I decided that the use of little interactions was well suited to certain aspects of kitsch. It will make the publication a lot more playful and allow the reader to interact with it as well as just reading a whole load of text. A lot of imagery will also help in making the publication relevant to the content, as well as making it reflect the characteristics of kitsch.
With this in mind, I wanted to display the different aspects of Meadham Kirchhoff's work, what it was that inspired them and how this related to kitsch imagery and objects. In order to show this, a little pull tab seemed like an interesting possibility. 

Symbols

Strip

A selection of symbols were drawn up using different aspects of the SS12 show, be it accessories, inspirations, or imagery  used. These were to go on the pull tab, with a little hand written note at the bottom exclaiming 'pull me'. The tab was measured up so that it wasn't going to be longer than the A5 page, and a title was also created using my own hand written type. 

Pull Tab Page

I measured up a little box on the main page that would fit the tab in. The only issue that may occur is how I cover up the back of this page in order to keep the tab secure. I create a mini prototype to see if it was possible, and it doesn't look too messy by just sticking the 'inspiration' image to a blank double page spread. 

Inspiration Page

This is the page that will stand next to the interactive page. It displays a long list of inspirations, like and features. This is a useful page to have as it quickly and efficiently gives people a look into the world of Meadham Kirchhoff. A list is a simple way of showing how the two designers reflect kitsch characteristics. 

Kitsch - what is it all about?

Content

As this one of the main sections for content, I wanted to keep it clean and simple, but still keep the same aesthetics seen throughout

Background

To liven things up a bit, and instead of just having a solid background, I decided to create a pattern that could be spread across the two pages.  So that it wasn't too busy or distracting, I drew out some simple shapes that could be filled with colour. They're appropriate to the theme, and add that little bit of extra aesthetic to the content. 

The drawings were scanned in, live traced and converted to live paint. I then repeated the shapes to create a larger scale pattern, filling them in with pastel shades. 

Possible

In order to reflect the style of a zine, with a hand rendered, photocopied effect, I chose to write up the content, print it, then re-scan it, giving the marks and lines of the raised paper. This shows reference to work that inspires Meadham Kirchhoff. It gives that cut-out, stuck-down feel. It also allowed to me to split up the content into manageable sections.

Meadham Kirchhoff - kitsch?

 Content

Possible

Here, a similar style to the above content has been used in order to create flow and continuity. Little symbols have also been added for extra aesthetic qualities, however, the background was kept a simple block colour as the adjacent page is quite busy. 

Show details and review

I wanted to create a section that allowed the audience to get a flavour of what a Meadham Kirchhoff show is like. In order to bring in someone else's opinion, I looked at using a report from a credible and reliable source. 

Each detail included is representative of the theme, and allows for a closer look into the world of MK. Each illustration shows a specific and popular design, that is recognisable and known to be their work. 

The background was kept white to keep all focus on the details of the illustrations.

Content

Main Page

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Sticker Page

Design Sheets

Below is the final of the sticker page. This will be an interesting addition to the publication. My peers were questioned on whether or not these are something that they would bother using and whether or not the actual images were something that they would be interested in having. The feedback was positive, and it was said that the stickers and fun and quirky and something that they would like to own.

Front

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