Dissertation Design – Research, development and final designs

Today David launched the dissertation design brief where he wants us to create a 5 double page spread and a cover image for our dissertation. Last year, the thirds years had to create the whole dissertation whereas we only have to do 5 double page spreads which is way nicer as the work load is a lot this term. We have FMP on the side as well as this project, the first workshop we had was to get us back into editorial as we did it first year last time, the workshop was about hierarchy and typefaces, we had small tasks went from hard to easy where we could use different sizes, colours, typefaces to only 1 of those. I worked with Georgia through teams which was challenging as explaining where to place text or image on camera is way harder than working together in studio next to each other. I liked the workshop was we was able to work together and get into layout and hierarchy mindset for editorials.

The next step was doing mind maps about what my dissertation is about and what am i trying to communicate. My dissertation was actually critizing graphic design values and the negative effect it can have on society. The title was called “What is the role of graphic design in the social reproduction?: The graphic designer as an organic intellectual in a class society”, it was a very challenging dissertation as it was a lot to do with sociology, society and culture which was something I haven’t written about since college. In this diss, I first talked about what is graphic design how to define it then focused on marxism, capitalism and how graphic design can be used in social reproduction, I had to explain what social reproduction which is everything we learn in society, culture norms values, reproducing the society basically. Using examples of graphic design I argued in the paper design can benefit the capitalism to reproduce society using ideological meanings and symbols. One of the main examples was social class, class stereotypes are produced in adverts by using signs and symbols which fit into the stereotype, by this was you are reproducing the stereotypes and reproducing the society. In addition, I used Brexit campaigns as an example how billboards by Nigel Farage was reproducing the hatred and misconceptions about immigrants to get the votes from public, basically brain washing people to believe their ideology through those billboards using photos and slogans to gain votes. Theres so much in the dissertation as its a 10k worded diss so I have loads of content that I can include.

My dissertation focuses on challenging the graphic design ethics and values, it critizes the how graphic design is a tool in the capitalist system to reproduce the ideology of the dominant culture. It is about reproduction, manipulation using symbols and signs which reproduces the capitalist ideals which is unequal and favors the upper class needs. I also focused on consumerism which is also a chapter which has a lot of material for imagery. I think i need to make sure I choose a good chapters which has a lot of material for imagery so I can communicate it properly. The next step as I think the tone of the language will be brutalist, and bold as im challenging the values, I kind of though about breaking the grid systems and layout as thats traditional graphic design which is now being used in the society. As its about challenging the ethics, I think if I play on the grid systems and break down apart that would communicate the feeling of the dissertation, as my position is graphic design is being a organic intellectual which is defined by Gramsci a marxist theorist arguing organic intellectuals reproduce dominant ideologies in society which reproduces dominant culture. As visuals I was initially thinking about something like this, first page will be very clean and modern traditional graphic design mainly Bauhaus style then next page is with dark and neon colours which is very brutalist style to show the “real” side or more like the dark side of graphic design with examples.

We had a group meeting with David and he really liked the idea of first starting off really clean and traditional then breaking the grid and being experimental he said the traditional grid systems needs to be really clean and spot on so that it can have the effect I want to achieve he also gave me couple of examples to look at such as Matt Wiley and Grid and layout books to create perfectly.

The moodboard I created for the initial group tutorial to show the type of style I am going for, as you can see theres similarities such as the heavy bold typography as titles, the use of symbols and signs, especially the body copy on the bottom right David really liked that as it was experimental and challenges the traditional style. I love Matt Wiley’s designs (Paler Fire) article, the use of bold wide typeface, three paragraphs and massive photo which covers the page, it is simple but I really love the style. I think this was a good start to understanding what I’m trying to do.

The next step I think was to figure out which sections I will be using as we’re allowed to pick chapters we want to design. This section I went on my dissertation and made notes which parts which will make the most effect and that communicates the point of the dissertation.

Potential Imagery

For Brexit chapter– manipulated image of Nigel Farage, symbols arrows conservative logo broken down,

EDITORIAL RESEARCH

These are some of the editorials I liked with similar styles and approaches but not really about my topic, im actually finding it hard to find designs similar topic as I believe my topic is not common thing many people do, bringing sociology and graphic design together. This first editorial design is called Dramaturgias #1 is a publication about contemporary Brazilian theatre, I loved the paragraph layouts but especially the bold typeface, its very eye catching and very similar to Matt Wileys style on my mood board. I love the large A to start the paragraoh it draws the attention to the text and creates stronger hierarchy, the other detauls such as page number etc are also standing out on the page. In addition, the same typeface is used for the callouts above the paragraph.

CORONO MONSTER NEWSPAPER

This is a newspaper design published about the conspiracy theories, so the design has that approach tone of language I really liked it, its very experimental and in your face with all the stupid and other theories since the pandemic. It feels like dark and too much on the page. The pages have several call out quotes, questions related to the pandemic, text overlapping paragraphs which is hard to read, black and white images also in a collage form around the page. I think its really good very experimental and as if theres no grid , like a structure or a system just like the pandemic was no one knew anything about it, everyone had something to say etc. I like this style which can be good inspiration for my design, its experimental and full of information vert text heavy as I don’t think I will include this much text, it will mainly be imagery as the most important thing and shorter paragraphs.

Crossing Frontiers / Sınırları Geçerken

This publication is also really nice, focused on typography black anf white colour scheme which very legible body copy design. It’s very simple and modern as the most interesting thing is the long wide typeface used in the title, also another sans serif used for the call outs, subheadings which creates stronger hierarchy and visual system. As the publication is in bilingual theres a lot of text on both pages. I think its a good clean system that can be used in the first section of the editorial

Graphic design, ethics and capitalism / MA Thesis design

I finally found editorial design which is similar to my dissertation, the topic is graphics, and ethnics. They responded with an editorial which focuses on blurs, fuzzy colours to show off the unclear lines between good and bad design, as the ethics of graphics which is argued between several groups. I do like the gradient between several colours its very interesting. Using blurs and fuzzy gradients would be good way to show especially black gradient. I think it was a good inspiration to see how people design in this topic as i think it’s a hard thing as there isn’t a clear imagery that can be used.

A small mind map to show my ideas and the things I could use in the editorial I think i have some potential ideas just needs to refined and I need to make a decision where to take it. I have ideas such as manipulation on words and gradient which does work really well with the concept . In addition I can also work with images and repetition which can potentially work. I think I need to do some more research just to clarify the style I want to have then I can start sketching and designing.

Moodboard –

I made another mood board because I felt like I was really struggling I don’t know I was finding it hard to visualise what the diss design would look like I think its because my dissertation was a very hard process and I want to block it out and rush to create something. In addition, its very sociological and the visual ideas I have I feel like it would be too confusing. At the moment I went back into the research to try and clear my head to find a path that I can follow which will allow me to create a clean design. The deadline is creeping and i think the stress of it is pulling me back from creating something as I keep thinking about all the things I need to do. The mood board did help me though, there was some body copy layouts I liked which would fit in with the challenging side of graphics, breaking systems and experimenting, heavily influenced by Matt Wiley as well. As I wanted to combine traditional grid system but also very experimental layouts its hard to merge those together. The mood board gave me couple of ideas and inspiration so I think I just need to design something now to get out of the creative block.

SKETCHES

I did some sketches on my ipad from all the inspiration and mood boards, they are only couple but theres some ideas I know if i merge them together it will work very well, I am starting to figure out where I am going with this project, it was a challenge along the way but I think i was confusing and making it really complex for myself. Sketches focus on some traditional style as I want ot start it off like that as the first chapter is all about traditional definitions of graphic design then it moves into role of graphic design which is the challenging section.

VISUAL DEVELOPMENT

I started off by choosing a colour that was vibrant and eye catchy, it was this bright neon blue which is instantly in your face. Then I started to think about which chapters I will include, I want to include chapter 1 which is what is graphic design, it includes some interesting points of defining the medium and I think it is needed in the editorial. In addition, I want to include some parts of what is social reproduction because that is what this dissertation is about. I started to play around with repetitions and blurs as I believe these can be good way to communicate, repetition links closely with reproducing culture and ideas then blurs and fuzzy colours related to the unclear ethical issue about graphic design, it is really that transparent and pure? the fuzzy blurry colours create unclear feelings which is what the dissertation focuses on, as especially with examples in the dissertation, I wanted the feel to be modern but experimental such as body copy systems, breaking the traditional grid system allows the essence of the dissertation come across. It challenges and goes against the grids because it is rejecting the traditional advertising culture. The typeface I am using for body copy is Helvetica regular as a traditional typeface, and then Neue Grotesk as display font. The point size is 10 and 15 as leading.

The next step is I want to show these pages to David and see what he thinks, I feel like i need some feedback to go with the next step.

I had a tutorial with David and he was very positive about the design at this point, he liked the way it was going and he suggested I should check this book out for inspirations and it was really helpful. Receiving positive feedback really gave me confidence and I was looking forward to finishing it now. The next step I worked on was the one single image below, the two paragraphs which is cut up and pullout quotes on the sides, this idea was an inspiration from the moodboards I created very early on. I knew I had to break guides and be experimental with it, I separated the body copy into sections and positioned them so they have gaps, some parts overlap each other as well. I wanted to develop this page even more as it needs something on the right page too. The images on bottom left show the next couple of spreads, the one on the far left, I focused on block heavy paragraphs, this was very different to traditional systems as it was hard to read, too much on the page. I created different shapes with the block paragraphs, I then wanted to use some colour just like I did in other page. In the book I saw this feature where the gradient comes from the spine I have seen in this style in many books and I even tried it out in my FMP project but it didn’t fit the system. However I think it is perfect for this design system. The slow gradient coming from the spine makes it feel like it it will be moving, also it will only only a small section which means the most attention is still about the body copy. The title is placed on the side bottom right, it’s not a good hierarchy as usually it should be at the top but i think it worked with this system. I really like this page, I think it is exactly what the editorial needed, breaking the structure and taking it up a level compared to other pages, The middle design is the cover draft design, I was playing around with breaking the title and trying out different layouts. I used the same typeface through the design. The last design on the right is the last spread focuses on heavy pullout quotes covering the whole page. The gradient this time comes from the left side covering some parts of the text. I think this page the helps the pace throughout and the heavy blue text really stands on the page. I am really happy with the way it is goingI believe I have some couple minor changes to make then I think I will be done with it.

I made some minor changes to both pages below, the cover page I moved all the title to the right and added some gradient. Originally the gradient was covering the whole page but I spoke to Carol earlier and she suggested it should still be readable so I moved the gradient higher up so it takes less space but there is still some parts of the text covered. The next spread is the one on the right, I added couple things and changed the position of the title, I added a pullout quote which is a strong quote from the diss that shows the essence of the dissertation, I separated the quote into two parts as well. The title is on the top fat left which I think it looks good from there didn’t want it to take too much attention. I used gradient as a main visual because I think graphic design focuses on pretty and good aesthetic most of the time so a gradient is clean and very contemporary but it covers most of texts and page because as if these good aesthetics are covering the real important message and the role graphic design has. It acts camouflage, in the editorial whereas the reality and the real impact can be read in the dissertation. In addition, it also shows the fuzzy ethical guides, it’s not clear between whether design should be good or is the role just to do what the client wants from you. I believe I created a contemporary editorial design which gives essence of the dissertation, focused on clean visual gradient and typography-based system to communicate my dissertation.