Pentagram recently redesigned the identity system for the North Carolina Museum of Art. You can read about the process, which included designing a custom typeface on Pentagram's website.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
NC Museum of Art Redesign
Pentagram recently redesigned the identity system for the North Carolina Museum of Art. You can read about the process, which included designing a custom typeface on Pentagram's website.
Prototype Critique
I am so glad that I made a prototype instead of diving right into my main book because it brought my attention to all of the little glitches that I really need to work out before my final product. Although I was really pleased with the knitted texture of the front of the book, and how it tied close like the strings of a toboggan, the actual binding of the cover to the rest of the pages of the book was not as secure as I would like it to be. I know it was suggested to me to use a knitted binding and I think this would be a really good idea to explore.
I liked how muted the colors of the pages were for my book, but I want to explore making the pages have different layers and textures as well. I think that this could really make the book much more interesting and add an extra touch to appeal to the senses. Overall I think my prototype was a good first try, but there is a lot that I can improve on to make it much more functional and special.
I liked how muted the colors of the pages were for my book, but I want to explore making the pages have different layers and textures as well. I think that this could really make the book much more interesting and add an extra touch to appeal to the senses. Overall I think my prototype was a good first try, but there is a lot that I can improve on to make it much more functional and special.
Prototype Critique
My biggest problem with my prototype right now is that it still has a lot of work left to do on it. I am mostly satisfied with the story and the illustrations. I am now just in the process of coloring it. As far as the construction and binding go, I want to make my book as much like an actual comic book as possible. I want to get the closest equivalent to that kind of paper and so I foresee having to experiment in order to learn how printing on that works.
Self-Critique
Before I received any comments on my prototype, I had a pretty good idea of improvements that needed to be made. A majority of the feedback I got related to the binding of my book and how I could improve that. I plan to bind my book with embroidery floss and include pieces of felt cut outs to make it more stable. I think choosing a traditional binding technique and combining it with the exterior of my book (the shirt and tie) presents an interesting contrast.
I am still thinking about the types of illustration I want to include within my book. I initially thought to make each page appear like a comic strip. Personally, I thought the idea was original when given the word superhero but I soon discovered that I wanted to make the concept of a superhero more abstract. To prepare for tomorrows class, I plan to investigate this curiouspages blog that included different types of illustrations.
Another thing I wanted to do is incorporate more color on the inside of my book. I was thinking about making the illustrations just in primary colors to make it flow with the book.
This critique really helped to push me in the right direction and I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do with this project.
I am still thinking about the types of illustration I want to include within my book. I initially thought to make each page appear like a comic strip. Personally, I thought the idea was original when given the word superhero but I soon discovered that I wanted to make the concept of a superhero more abstract. To prepare for tomorrows class, I plan to investigate this curiouspages blog that included different types of illustrations.
Another thing I wanted to do is incorporate more color on the inside of my book. I was thinking about making the illustrations just in primary colors to make it flow with the book.
This critique really helped to push me in the right direction and I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do with this project.
Self Critique
After creating the sleeve for my altered childrens book, I realized that it will be harder than I expected to break out of the box withwhat I have chosen to do with the assignment. I am still happy with the idea of doing a childrens book within an altered book, but creating an altered book that is different from the many that have been done before will be a challenge.
I had the idea of making the sleeve out of felt because it is such a child friendly material... less likely to tear and in a bright color. But I had the challenge of getting the sleeve to fit snugly onto the book without using another material. I couldnt seem to get it to work with using different ways of folding and interlocking the felt, so I used ribbon. It worked.... but I am not sure I am happy with the final product. It is very simple, but I dont see that it is anything new or has any sort of concept. I want to work on making a new sleeve that is a bit more innovative with the felt.
There was also a comment in my feedback about the pages of the altered book being too crinkly because of the glue. I am not sure how to solve this problem.... every altered book I have seen in person has been a bit crinkly and I find that its part of the character that altered books have and I also think that once the illustration is put on the page the crinkles are not ever noticeable. After I do an illustration or two I plan to reevaluate my thoughts on this... if I think the crinkles are distracting to the book then I will find a way to fix it.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
prototype critique
I wasn't as please with my prototype as I thought I would be. It didn't exactly turn out as I had planned but I think my overall concept will work, just with a different expression. I didn't have a cover page with a title on my prototype so I do need to add that, I'm still not sure about words; I don't think they're necessarily needed. As far as materials, I need something more sturdy (but still transparent) and kid friendly. The binding I think will work for the type of book I am doing as long as the materials are appropriate. I didn't like how my book would have to be read back to front, sort of opposite than how a book should read, so that is one challenge I want to fix. I think adding more pages will be more effective so my paper needs to be very transparent. I like my overall idea and lesson I'm trying to teach but it definitely needs to be modified.
Self-Critic
I feel that my storyboard is strong, but I had trouble figure out how to make it work in the book with all the things I wanted to incorporate. I felt that I had to sacrifice one thing for another to make it work. I felt I was on the right track but hadn't found the right idea. After receiving feedback, and understanding that I should like of it less like a book and maybe sacrificing the pages is what I need to explore. I know have a new idea of making it one page/board that is like felt board where all the food and bears would be magnetic or Velcro on. Then at the bottom will be like a spiral pages that can be flipped that will tell the story and then the child can act out the words on the story board. I want to experiment with ways of making things stick and move around the board. I think this solution will let me have only one bear and have 3-D food and still have the juggling motion.
Self-Critique
The pull tab concept is working really well incorporating the light filters. However, the paper untensils that are the pull tabs need to be reinforced with some more durable paper. Attaching the filters to the white paper underneath will also be tricky. Currently they are attached with tape. The tape is not very clean-looking, so I will try to glue along the outer edge of the circle to keep the picture clear. I plan to bind the book with a coptic stitch and then weave the utensils into the binding. The front cover wording will be written in fabric paint so it will be easily legible. My theme (weight) needs to be worked on more. The utensils on the binding are going to contribute that. I think my concept will be to make the book heavy, or to look heavy. I might make the pages of the edges of the book thicker.
Self-critique
I was both pleased and displeased with my prototype. Overall, I think the outcome was cool and really brought my vision to life, but there are a lot of things I would improve.
Although I didn't sew on/embroider the fabric patterns onto the cover, I'm very happy with the way the covers turned out. I think it would have made more sense, though, to cover the insides of the covers with the same paper as the pages--for continuity. Alternative to just patterns, I could create a title (probably one that would better describe the premise of my book, which is that all the pop up scenes are dreams) and sew that on with fabric. The buttons sewn on to support the ribbon ties were successful both aesthetically and functionally, although it would make more sense to sew them on before finished the inside cover. The coptic stitch binding holds the book together well while allowing the covers to be opened all the way, face to face, without damaging the book. But each page of the book was individually cut, so I had to bind all the pages together first before binding it all. I only used a thin strip of construction paper for this, so next time I should either use a stronger paper, cut out the pages to make folios (instead of then having to bind them together), or just add extra support where the pages would be sewn. The main reason for this is to prevent tearing where the pages are sewn, which did happen in the making of this first prototype.
As for the content, I'd like to keep the "pop-up" think going; I think it works well. Obviously for the final product, the cutouts would be more precise and the backgrounds of the pages would be colored as well. If possible, I want to look into how I can make the cutouts pop out more when the pages are open--perhaps using a sturdier paper? Also, I'm not sure if I am very satisfied with the window concept, having that cloud frame that encompasses the "dream." Since the book is already shaped like a cloud, I think this window becomes unnecessary.
Although I didn't sew on/embroider the fabric patterns onto the cover, I'm very happy with the way the covers turned out. I think it would have made more sense, though, to cover the insides of the covers with the same paper as the pages--for continuity. Alternative to just patterns, I could create a title (probably one that would better describe the premise of my book, which is that all the pop up scenes are dreams) and sew that on with fabric. The buttons sewn on to support the ribbon ties were successful both aesthetically and functionally, although it would make more sense to sew them on before finished the inside cover. The coptic stitch binding holds the book together well while allowing the covers to be opened all the way, face to face, without damaging the book. But each page of the book was individually cut, so I had to bind all the pages together first before binding it all. I only used a thin strip of construction paper for this, so next time I should either use a stronger paper, cut out the pages to make folios (instead of then having to bind them together), or just add extra support where the pages would be sewn. The main reason for this is to prevent tearing where the pages are sewn, which did happen in the making of this first prototype.
As for the content, I'd like to keep the "pop-up" think going; I think it works well. Obviously for the final product, the cutouts would be more precise and the backgrounds of the pages would be colored as well. If possible, I want to look into how I can make the cutouts pop out more when the pages are open--perhaps using a sturdier paper? Also, I'm not sure if I am very satisfied with the window concept, having that cloud frame that encompasses the "dream." Since the book is already shaped like a cloud, I think this window becomes unnecessary.
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