20/04/2016

Rationale

My project explores the different 'Op-shops in Wellington' 

The brochures purpose wasn't just about the different locations, but also about the types of artefacts you find at each store and the people element of them too (the things you see, touch and do). I wanted to communicate these qualities of each store easily so chose a very minimalistic approach. The overall feel of my brochure is dark with a touch of brightness, which is what op-shopping is; until you find a gem hidden amongst all the rubbish, you won't feel like you've accomplished anything. Dark photographs, symbols and text are contrasted with bright lines and colours are constant in each spread.

I learned about the effective use of hierarchy and rules and the importance of keeping up and documenting the workload. I struggled really hard the few 3-4 weeks of this assignment and learnt later on that doing work week by week instead of at the last minute is something I really need to improve on. Tutors are there to help, so use them.

19/04/2016 Finished Brochure..

14/04/2016

Week 5.2

Type and final refinements to the brochure

Understand, Making, Critique

Valerie gave me some critique and info to help refine my brochure.
Things I needed to change in my brochure are:

- Make title page asymmetrical and simple

- Move the rules around

- Kerning/rags

- Dashes

- Text

- Backcover

I also added text from the Recycle Boutique, Salvation Army and David N White Gallery websites to my spreads and touched up my brochure for next weeks hand in. A lot of my stuff is still pretty rushed, and I really think that I could've done better work, but it didn't happen.

11/04/2016

Week 5.1

Critique of printed brochure

Understand, Critique

With the brochure printed out, I can see quite a few things that could be improved on. I was really surprised that Lee liked my spreads this early on, but it was a relief having missed quite a lot of tutorials and lectures. I wrote quite a few things that I needed to improve on in the printout, things such as:

- Refining the cover

- Lining everything up and making sure the space is even throughout

- Layout is a bit too grey, brighten it up!

- Move rules up/equal

- Make illustrations for the recreation and sports spread?

- Symbols too small

- Adding colour

- Making map simpler

All in all, I was really glad that I had some critiques/self-critiques on my work so that I could improve it for next time. Due to this critique, I have refined my brochure and fixed up a few things for the next critique.

10/04/2016

Easter Break - Day 17

Finishing mock-up of brochure and symbols

Making

Finished changing around my spreads and creating my symbols which I think need to be improved on in tomorrows class/interim presentation. I also create simple cover that will need to be refined/changed.

Fixed a few things with my spreads. Some of the text/rules weren't lining up and some weren't the same size throughout the brochure either. Will have a lot to improve on tomorrow and hopefully I will get some good critiques. 

08/04/2016

Easter Break - Day 15

Constructing spreads and brainstorming symbols

Understand, Ideate, Making

With the map and a simple design of my destination collages completed, I finished creating the rest of my brochure. I copied text over, filled my brochure with the required text numbers and went onto shape my brochure.

After a quick mock up of the spreads, I decided to look at the three symbols that needed to go with each destination. Eventually, I came up with the the amount of foot traffic, the amount of money you will spend there and the opportunity to find vintage/old pieces at each store or how long it takes to get there.

06/04/2016

Easter Break - Day 13

Refining collages and constructing the map

Ideate, Making, Critique

Finished designing my three destination collages and looked at them individually and as a group and from self critique, refined them so that they were more related to each other. Some of the strokes, colours, and textures were a bit off so needed to be altered.

Constructed a map from google maps that followed the style of my collages, which will need to looked at and improved on as it looks a bit too complicated and some stuff are not needed. 

04/04/2016

Easter Break - Day 11

Adding elements to collages and starting to design spreads

Understand, Ideate, Making

Looked back at the three tiers of information and decided that I needed to add people to my collages to add contrast to the dark backgrounds. Starting to design the spreads and adding filler text to all of my spreads so that I can correctly place them and line everything up too. 

Ended up going with 'Univers' for the body of my brochure since it was the easiest to use and because I was familiar with it from last year. 

02/04/2016

Easter Break - Day 9

Constructing collages and brainstorming

Ideate, Making, Understand

Picked out three photos I think I will use for my spreads.

Continued to make collages in photoshop and indesign with the photos that I took. Really wanted to look at the vintage and the old aspects of op-shopping and the junk that you can find at each one as well as the treasures that are waiting to be found. Ended up making my collages dark and grungy in sepia tones and highlighting the different aspects of the photo that I think are treasures/good finds and objects that you generally look for in that type of store.

Will be looking back and seeing what I can add/change to my collages. 

30/03/2016 - 31/03/2016

Easter Break - Day 6/7

Visualising the project and starting to create collages

Understand, Ideate, Making

Went through all the photos that I took of each op-shop and picked out certain ones that were similar to each other, or had textures and imagery that I liked and then thought about what designs and spreads that I could create through this imagery and also about the three tiers of information that I needed in these designs. 

I ended up with the location/what store it is (Salvation Army, Recycle Boutique, David N White Gallery), what the store sells - furniture, clothing, and collectables/random items and what you do at that certain store. I compiled this information and the photos that I took and started to create my three destination collages and spreads. 

28/03/2016

Easter Break - Day 4

Visualising the spread and brainstorming ideas

Define, Ideate, Making

Spent the day looking at brochures and the different type of layouts that they each have as well as their colour scheme/symbols/spreads and imagery. I played around with shapes, hierarchy in Indesign.

Brainstormed the three tiers of information that I could have and that I need for my destinations. Smell, location, price, feeling, the different type of people that frequent the store, whether there's a lot of junk or treasures that can be found there, whether it's dark or bright, or anything really. 

26/03/2016

Easter Break - Day 2

Visual research and understanding the brief

Understand, Define, Ideate

Had a think about which op-shops I actually wanted to do that represented a different feeling, type, or style and decided to take out SPCA and replace it with the David N White Gallery so that I had antiques, clothing and furniture covered, which is one of three aspects. 

Walked to the David N White Gallery, took pictures, smelled the place, and researched the history and all the information that I could find on the place as well as revisiting the Salvation Army and Recycle Boutique. Will begin to look back at the matrix and hopefully figure out where to go with my brochure. 

24/03/2016

Week 4.2

Gaining insight and feedback

Understand, Ideate, Critique

I've missed quite a lot of classes, so I needed to attend this one so that I could get some help. Talked to Lee about where I was headed and what needed to be done so that I could complete the brochure/designs in the holidays. Realised that it was something that needed to be done earlier.

Was pretty much told to start from beginning, check the destinations and what I wanted to convey with them and go from there to starting to make the spreads. Shot for the help, Lee.

14/03/2016 - 21/03/2016

Week 3:1-4.1

Futher understanding and researching

Understand, Define, Ideate, Making

Haven't been too well for the past week and a half so haven't been to any of the lectures and tutorials. Have updated and completed my matrix for the destinations, researched a bit more into op-shopping in general and have started to try and brainstorm a layout for my brochure.

07/03/2016 - 10/03/2016

Week 2:1-2.2

Synthesise visual research and creating visual narrative

Understand, Define, Critique

We completed a series of observational exercises in today's class which I found to be particularly useful for when I start my destination collages/spreads, so that they could convey the feelings that I think the op-shops have. In groups, we also looked at defining and looking at different patterns and the ways they made us feel, looked, and acted. Whether it be small, a map, and whether it makes you angry or sad, all of this helped me reconsider my brochure and the patterns I might put into the spreads. 

From this, in groups as well, we had a look at different patterns and designs in books and then presented which ones we felt had a certain feeling/meaning to the class and had feedback to whether we were right or wrong. 

03/03/2016

Week 1:2

Critiquing the matrix and making the extended matrix

Ideate, Critique, Making

I wasn't able to attend this class due to personal reasons. I already had a basic idea of where I was going with my project, however so continued to brainstorm my topic, which ended up being op-shops in Wellington. I gained insight about them by visiting them, asking questions and taking pictures.

The three op-shops that I chose were Recycle Boutique, SPCA and The Salvation Army. I chose these particular op-shops because they supported different causes, had different smells, environment, and feel to them and were also quite far apart with different price ranges. 

29/02/2016

Week 1:1

Understanding the brief and brainstorming

Understand, Define, Ideate

After going through the brief and brainstorming a long list of ideas with my peers about what we missed about Wellington and what we instantly did when we came back from the holidays, I decided that I was more interested in food and drink, as I had worked in a restaurant for most of the break. The idea of op-shopping and the multiple shops around Wellington was also in the back of my mind, however. 

From the list of 30-40 things we brainstormed, I narrowed it down to three and filled out the matrix. After researching a few different locations, I chose and filled out my matrix with 'Places to find a girlfriend in Wellington' / 'Different types of OP-SHOPS in Wellington' and 'Morning/Night Markets of Wellington'

From this, I will hopefully choose one, research the topic and go from there.