tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43131865660369454492024-02-07T05:30:49.595+00:00Derrick SegsbyLewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-82232453036142622822009-10-14T01:32:00.003+01:002009-10-14T03:24:28.467+01:00First Brief - Truth.We were assigned to <br /><br /><blockquote>Take a statement (a proposition) and convince us graphically that it is true, or at least likely to be true. So, for example, "it rained at the AUCB on Wednesday 13.09.09" might be presented as a sheet of litmus paper that was left out on 13.09.09 thereby providing evidence of rainfall, overprinted with photographs and documentation of the event.</blockquote><br /><br />After a few failed routes of exploration, an idea hit me and stuck. Extremity. To be impressive would have to mean being slightly on the verge of ridiculous. I thought about putting dots on a sheet of paper first, but then thought simply writing the sentence "I will not have wasted my time". Analysing it afterward, the sentence actually meant a lot more than just jumping into my head.<br /><br />I started on the Friday but because of my part-time job Friday and Sunday evening, I had to plan a few nights of staying up. It was more a mental challenge than a physical and there were definitely a few times when my brain was broken before my arm. Three pens later I now have a sheet of paper as long as my house filled with the sentence. Statistical analysis and photographs to come when I can bare to look at it again.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-81369542103598422762009-10-14T01:18:00.002+01:002009-10-14T01:32:45.904+01:00Friday Tutorial - MartinThis Friday tutorial was for us to bring in our work (although it seems that other groups were told not to show anything but verbal say where they want to be) to give the tutors a flavour of where we've been and then say where we aim to head. Martin picked up quickly that I'm a bit of a typenut and said it's actually quite good to be so focused early on. He did ask about any agencies that I could work for and I said the big-league obvious Underware and House Ind but on a smaller scale I have no idea, he responded with a few that I've never heard of. <br /><br />This kind of proves a point that although I'm slowly getting my footing into <i>what</i> I like I don't quite know <i>where</i> to put it. Realistically, if I do an MA I don't know where I could go with that and going straight into industry has a blurred edge about it that un-nerves me. I like the freedom of university and being able to follow up tracks that interest me without having to think too much about a mortgage or whether I will be feeding myself next month (most of the time anyway). If I do decide on a few companies to work for I can tailor my portfolio for that. That's logical. But, I can't be too certain if a 'portfolio' is what I want to be presenting for my direction in life. Anyway, deep thoughts and lots of rubbing chins required but something that clanged me on the head was the amount of things I've left unfulfilled.<br /><br />After saying I have a rough quide for my FMP, Martin rightly asked "why not just do it now?". Why not? There's a few things that have been left after an 'official' end has passed but they would definitely still be better produced to the full effect. This spurred me on to go as far as I could with the first brief we received.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-26514264769211128762009-10-08T23:02:00.003+01:002009-10-14T01:18:24.162+01:00A New Era of TheoryToday we went into the main studio for a briefing on the theory unit called 'Investigative Study'. With the option of going for (in simplified terms) a little essay and a big final project <i>or</i> a big essay and little final project, I originally set off believing that the smaller essay would have been better for me. After the talk however and remembering that on the essay for last year I discovered some key texts within the last few days, I've since swayed to doing a larger essay.<br /><br />The major relation to the future is the decision for doing a further MA or going into employment. I quite like exploring the academia behind the things we're learning and the relevance of it all. I'd love to immerse into the nitty-gritty of it all, learn the theorists and movements within culture and society that pinpoint to where we are now and then possibly where we may be going or what will be needed for where we're going.<br /><br />I put forward my plan of researching the relativity of handwriting in today's technological culture (a title that's still very shaky) and it went down well with Kirsten. As well as being able to get into cognitive linguistics and a bit of graphology this would set me up well with solid research for when the FMP comes around. There's also a joint exercise with Dublin Arts Uni due to happen at which the editor of eye magazine (quick googlewhack: John L. Walters?) so that'd be incredible to present something and looking at topmost outcomes, get it published.<br /><br />I've got stuck into my copy of 'While You're Reading' by Gerard Unger. It's s brilliant starting book as it's simple (so far) and written from the same perspective (Unger is a designer with an interest in typography) so it's easily digestable. I also tried to read a bit of 'The Stroke: Theory of Writing' by Gerrit Noordzij and instantly fell over because of not being able to understand his terminology. Specifically, "translation" and "expansion" and their relation to "running" and "interrupted". But well, still needs more time put it to it I guess. I read a bit more of 'Lead Between the Lines' also. It documents the initial stages of research projects revolving around typography. Namely Tao Lin's stood out — 'Can text messaging be considered as a form of communication revealing social patterns within speech?' because of it's relation to my first essay. Also read Despina Kannaourou's 'Can the shapes of the Roman alphabet illustrate what they allowed to happen in the first place?' and it's a nice thought to think of a more accessible phonetics representation using the characters we have to better instruct upon dialect variances with the english tongue. It's a similar thing to what my FMP could be but more about speech than the written elements I've been thinking of.<br /><br />Plan-wise I'm compiling a list of possible routes and books for this so I can get some reading done before we have to decide on which route we're taking and close off some options that are already dead or worked to death. I'm sure I'll update with my list soon.<br /><br />Lovelove.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-18120487777409419892009-10-06T17:44:00.002+01:002009-10-06T17:59:08.165+01:00New Academic Year, New Academic Course...Long time no speak Derrick!<br /><br />Today was the 'official' beginning of the true third year. As far as progression goes, the jump from Vis Comm FdA to Graphics BA should (fingers crossed) be a successful one. I couldn't sleep last night as it'd be the first time to meet the graphics lot and all the childhood first day at school dreams (no trousers, late getting the bus) came surging back with a vengeance. Thankfully, I managed to dress myself although I did oversleep, probably because it took me so long to nod off.<br /><br />We had a talk through the structure of the course to echo the short bridging talk we had on Thursday and also got our mits on the first brief which is the familiar double-edged sword of being very open and free. Great to get my teeth into though.<br /><br />There was also a short exercise to make sure we understood the variance in work and differences between self/other and open/closed briefs and how these criteria work more like a pair of axis. I was a little confused as to what exactly was needed but compensated with some long technical jargon (cartesian coordinate system) and a bit of a pretty presentation method for something quite simple.<br /><br />It seemed like a 'lets make sure you understand this' exercise, but it was nice to even know a few faces from the 'natural' graffers. Also when I get confused about words, swapping to statistics or numbers helps me rectify the different shades of meaning. It also explains why when I'm flummoxed I can explain the most uncertain methodologies or outcomes in ridiculous percentages. Bit daft.<br /><br />Anyhoo, I'm off to enjoy my pre-birthday. Twenty-three. What a fogey already.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-70848094859807262842009-05-23T14:21:00.003+01:002009-05-23T14:40:02.826+01:00FMP/PP - 99% CompleteWell my FMP/PP is all handed in now. Why only 99% finished? Because I still want to do more to it. There was slight problems with the book which make it just not quite as professionally looking as I wanted. I want to rectify these and also extend the typeface to include several weights based on a cross-stitch grid (normally measured by holes per inch). It will mean that for larger displays the letters can be alongside smaller weights but hold more detail. I'm sure more sketches and plans will come soon.<br /><br />I've still to upload more behind-the-scenes photos as I've been a little distant with the project post hand-in but now feel like getting back into so should make a new post soon.<br /><br />Here's the shots taken to be in the final boards at both Bournemouth show and D&AD London.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3389/3555925897_7554b8b4d6_o.jpg" width="95%"><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3390/3555926097_ab174dbdf7.jpg" width="95%">See large <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doubleyoudoubleyoudot/3555926097/sizes/o/">here</a><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3555926781_fed7e99f62_b.jpg" width="95%">See large <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doubleyoudoubleyoudot/3555926781/sizes/o/">here</a><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2479/3556737590_76f22b37f5.jpg" width="95%">See large <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doubleyoudoubleyoudot/3556737590/sizes/o/">here</a><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3556737714_1196ba351f_b.jpg" width="95%">See large <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doubleyoudoubleyoudot/3556737714/sizes/o/">here</a></center>Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-40396373068509475532009-05-10T00:46:00.005+01:002009-05-10T01:04:03.204+01:00The Playground Magazine<center><img src="http://www.lewisbullock.com/PlaygroundMagazine.png" width="95%"></center><br />See full size <a href="http://www.lewisbullock.com/PlaygroundMagazine.png">here</a>.<br /><br />Recently got something I wrote a few years back input into issue two of The Playground magazine. See website <a href="http://www.theplayground.co.uk">here</a>, although it only features a download of the (shoddy) issue one.<br /><br />p.s. the illustration is not mine.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-30386263624625681752009-05-06T04:24:00.003+01:002009-05-06T04:35:49.328+01:00Ina » Getting Out ThereThe legend that is exljbris (Jos Buivenga) creater of the Museo typeface, has found and posted my poster preview on welovetypography.com. See it <a href="http://welovetypography.com/post/2799/">here</a>.<br /><br />I've also started a critique thread on the typophile forums. Give me some crit <a href="http://typophile.com/node/57704">here</a>.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-70171328511383920712009-05-03T03:44:00.003+01:002009-05-03T03:47:24.911+01:00PreviewI haven't been posting because I've been beavering away with my FMP/PP.<br /><br />Here's a preview of the poster to promote it:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://www.lewisbullock.com/PosterPreviewSmall.jpg" width ="95%"></center><br />Click <a href="http://www.lewisbullock.com/PosterPreview.jpg">here</a> to see it large.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-78192786606489636302009-04-22T16:17:00.003+01:002009-04-22T17:15:45.146+01:00Sometimes, I Just Don't Get It.I need this because right now, I feel so unenthused it's crippling. <br /><br />We had a lovely woman (I forget her name) from a big agency for media related employment (I have forgotten it's name also) come in to give a lecture and unknowingly to me, review our portfolios. I didn't have one. I didn't mind too much because I'm not particularly proud of ninety-percent of the work that I've done or made, and the things that I do have a show-off proclamation for are nothing to do with anything.<br /><br />I made it clear straight away that I don't want to work for big companies that she starrily-eyed talked about (circa Orange, HSBC and alike). Being the last person she had to talk to, without a portfolio, and with coffee and friends waiting for her afterwards, I'm positive that she wanted to wrap up our conversation on my opening sentence. I didn't mind this. In fact I would have ushered her on as my confusion and self-debate isn't something that anyone, let alone a travelling lecturer, can solve other than myself.<br /><br />For quite a while before that, in the light of my recent work efforts being very minimal (brutally honest and quite possibly negatively so, but I need to be true here), I've been trying to figure out what it is that I want from all of this and why.<br /><br />I know that foremost I want to be happy, and for me personally, happiness comes from producing work that I can be proud of. Making a logo based around concepts of semiotics that I quite possibly don't even fully comprehend (but my future degree will enevitably allow the suits to anchor such bullshit into 'fact') seems completely void of achievement. To gain vast sums of money for handing over the rights to a single megabyte file of possibly one-hundred nodes seems so unfulfilling it's actually quite pathetic. The fact is that it's all so opinion-based yet because we're 'trained' in it, it gives companies more leverage to shove money at it. Realistically, everything is promotion and if a company, say the 2012 olympics, wants to spend a huge amount of money on a logo, even if the result is good or bad it will enevitably get people talking about the size of the olympics penis. Isn't that what they want? i.e.<br />"That logo is shit and they spent so much on it" or "I think it stands out and is a good investment". Both of these statements elevate the olympics. The former says the logo isn't good enough for the olympics, and the second says that the large sum is justified because it's the olympics. Either way, it's a lot of money for a fucking picture.<br /><br />I'm lost because I don't know why I feel so against it. Is this generation consumerism talking and the prospect of intangibility giving my current somethings less worth because it is all so abstract? For example, my one bonified passion within graphic design: typography. I love it and I don't need to explore why I love it, because it's just there and seems like it always has been. Even though I feel at my current standpoint that I cannot create the wonders that I so avidly get excited about (my this is why I like it so much? i.e. because I can't do it?) I still know I love the geometrics of it, the mathmatical precision, the geeky-cult status of the typography world and the intelligence. But if I were to be asked if realistically, one sans-serif typeface to another would really make that much difference in the eyes of the everyday consumer, would I argue its cause? I think it's quite possible that I wouldn't.<br /><br />And so it is here that I stay split. Do I work a job for a media-based company whos content I don't care about (let's say I work for a newspaper magazine supplement) but practices hold my fascination enough for the wage to seem justifiable and then practice my own wares in my 'own time'. Or, do I completely disregard the concept of dividing my time up into 'wage-time' and 'my-time' and have a job that fulfills me in both interest and application with a most-likely suffocation on money? i.e. to make what I want and sell them on my own grounds? <br /><br />I've had a smile-inspiring dream to have my own 'shop' even if isn't a physical building as such. To create something bizarre like printed pillowcases one week then release a typeface the next and a story-book a few months after seems incredible to me. To have such variance in what I create must make everyone swoon with enjoyment? But I also realise this is a dream, because it isn't written with bills, taxes and sometimes it's written without even paying customers. It just isn't realistic. I know how I work also, and I cannot syphon my interest in a project. If I get excited or creative I have to do it until I burn out else I will end up (like where I am now) resenting finishing things because they're just holding me back from making another idea that's floated into my head.<br /><br />To elaborate what Matt just said to me, graphic design can be a snobbish elitist high-end competitive world, or a world where design gets churned out on a non-thinking template based status on principles of either fashion or simple functionality (sorry if that's not quite what you meant Matt). He also said that maybe there is a need to find an inbetween where we can push boundaries but also have a little security. I don't know if I care for security. Give me a mortgage and a perspective where my bank account doesn't get filled by a student loan and I'm sure that will change, but right now I just want to figure out what I need to be happy and how to get there, or at least lay the path to lead the way.<br /><br />Maybe I just need to swear lots. Maybe I just need to say that graphic design is all bullshit and apologise later when I need a wage. Maybe I just need to stop thinking and get on with things.<br /><br />I do know that either way, I'm lost and can't find my anchor point within this storm. Even more worringly, I'm slowly resigning to the prospect of peace that comes with drowning.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-85195978136448204732009-03-13T10:24:00.002+00:002009-03-15T17:30:30.570+00:00Graphics Talk About Third YearToday I went to a talk about joining third year graphics. The ins and outs and differences to what we're currently doing in FdA Vis Comm.<br /><br />Roger was a great talker. Profanity, humour and seriousness. I was left a little unsure afterwards because of his statement "tpye is really low on our agenda" and how they don't regard ISTD competitions to be the same calibre as others like D&AD. I hung about and talked to Phil, the senior lecturer for Graphics BA and he cleared it up that all Roger meant was that a pretty piece of type revolving simply around looking nice wasn't good enough. Type usage should be a solid platform that every one has and isn't the be all and end all to their course. It then clicked with everything that had been said that the course is very very self-directed and very conceptually based.<br /><br />As was said when talking to Kit and a few others afterwards, it's graphics work for a graphic audience where as Vis Comm is more a kind of consumerist bourgeois version of it for the proles. I can do the kind of work BA Graphics needs, but I don't think I could do it solidly day-in and day-out. I'd love to take on a heavyily concept-based brief but afterwards I think I'd need a rest and have to make some 'fashion-graphics' just to bust out some visuals of things that look good because they're flavour of the month.<br /><br />It's put a few questions in my mind as it wasn't particularly what I was expecting the Graphics BA to be, yet saying that, I didn't really have <i>any</i> preconceptions to begin with. I think I will take it on and see just how much of a challenge it will be to not do any 'masturbatory' work as Phil put it. I'm sure it will be tough but equally rewarding.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-33032441905316701342009-03-11T00:01:00.002+00:002009-03-11T00:17:11.298+00:00Hamish Muir - A Lecture<a href="http://www.hamishmuir.com">Homepage</a><br /><br />Today was the day of the much talked about lecture from the infamous designer and co-founder of 8vo that published the graphics journal 'Octavo'. <br /><br />I left the pre-lecture research quite late (till yesterday just spilled over into the AM) and was a bit bemused by what I saw on his website. Sally had talked about him as a prolific type designer yet what I saw was spreads for architechture.<br /><br />Dubiously listening with pad open and flummoxing technical hurdles crossed, I listened and it was <i>great</i>. I wouldn't peg him down so much as a typographer, more a graphic artist with a keen interest in type. Might not be much between it other than the fact that he's worked and is proud to show more than just numerous amounts of typefaces (although his 'portfolio' was very heavily type orientated and tangents stemmed from some typographic amusement/story). <br /><br />The main aspect I took from it, even though I didn't particularly favour his style of design (Swiss-style graphics has never really 'wowed' me as such), was his reminiscence which sparked something in me (and others that I talked to afterwards about it) to make giant big prints of work totally by hand. Seeing the processes that 8vo went through to make designs that nowadays would all be click-clicking on a computer was astounding. It was like all this time I've been thinking that graphics is computer work and suddenyl realised that most (or the interesting part for me personally) is the paper based stuff, so why start on electrical to go to tangible? Start tangible and stay tangible?<br /><br />Whatever questions it placed yet to be answered, I felt (and still do after the post-lecture hype) that I need to start sitting at a blank desk. Even better: a blank room and stop thinking about end points and do some more interesting processes to get to my end point even if it ends up being an A4 print. <br /><br />I forget that if I stay at a computer as Hamish said "the computer becomes the process rather than a tool". And I become a tool for letting this happen.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-50299549401434242022009-03-09T07:00:00.002+00:002009-03-09T07:09:35.232+00:00PAL - The ManualA few weeks back we were offered to work on a live brief to re-design the 'PAL Handbook' which currently stands as a ringbinder, lots of ugly text and naff clipart. <br /><br />Although this project is not looking for a mockup ready for print until May, I had an instant idea to create a book using board and one elastic band. This would allow for the user to utilise an idea for online templates to print-out and contain within the book as many or as few pages as <i>they</i> needed. I think if the manual is flexible to each person then more will be had from its usage rather than a guidebook.<br /><br />I made a mockup to demonstrate this which was received well at the second meeting. A solid structure was decided within the meeting too to what parts of the manual were designated to whom. I think (it wasn't particularly clear) I'm involved with the layout and form. George is on accounts and research as well as copy. Luke B is on copy and editing. Lauren is head of illustration. Tom C is art directing and managing us all and making sure it gets done.<br /><br />More meetings to be had soon!Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-83952290955936681082009-03-09T05:56:00.003+00:002009-03-09T06:56:47.620+00:00Type Workshops With Sally Castle//Note To Self: Re-take pictures.<br /><br />A month and a bit ago, I managed to jump in on a session planned for the first years. We had a visiting workshop with Reading graduate Sally Castle. <br />(<a href="http://www.sallycastle.co.uk/">click here for her website</a>)<br /><br /><b>Session One:</b><br /><br />I really really enjoyed being able to practice and experiment with type for a solid day. Sally was really flexible with how long we could spend on each of the three possible activities or could whether we wanted to do all three at all! <br /><br />I began with the morphing activity. We were set to morph one letter (I chose 'p') from one typeface to another (I chose the infamous Gill Sans Italic morphed to Rockwell). Although we were designated to do about ten frames I went a bit off the rails with excitement and ended up making a twenty-plus frame rough. When I have enough time I will hopefully vectorise and load this into flash so that it can be viewed.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3340028157_22c2e15bc5.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><br />I then moved onto taking my intials and within the same typeface making it morph into the other. I chose Fette Fraktur because of the solid shapes. It actually took me about five minutes and was mainly because I was copying from an 8pt example in a text book.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3340855676_a2c3c667cc.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><br /><br />I then jumped exercise three (turning a sans serif into a serif font) by sketching out what makes a serif and different kinds of experimental serifs to use.<br /><br />We were set the task of figuring out before the next workshop what kind of typeface we'd like to make. I already had in mind some form a typeface with modern ligatures e.g. for www and txt. I also wanted to make a pixel-based typeface because of my enjoyment at using 'Unibody 8' by Underware within my website and the tiny tiny difference the placement of one pixel can make to a letter. I thought it would be a good challenge as you have to reduce letters down to their bare minimum and see just how you display a certain character<br /><br /><b>Session Two:</b><br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3340856042_b8ca2e78cc.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><br />I missed the first half of the session because of other commitments but got as quickly into developing my idea as quickly as I could. I had thought over the week to turn the Fette Fraktur into a pixel-based typeface because it would make an amazing display for web headings on my site (overtaking the top nav-links section that I've always been a bit unsure on). I mades skethces from a specimin which unfortunately display the Fraktur at something like 8pt and then tried to turn them as best I could into pixel-based versions. I didn't go too far because I knew I'd have to rework them afterwards witha more accurate version of the typeface.<br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/3340029397_86fa55edf3.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3340856750_5de7635b72.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><br /><b>Session Three:</b><br /><br />Unknowingly after the afternoon devloping a rough and talking to Sally C in session two, I embedded this more throughly in my FMP and have since planned it so that they will work alongside. The pixel typeface is now going to be tuned into cross-stitch to reflect the personality and traits of one of my characters called 'Nora'. That's for an FMP post anyway.<br /><br />Sally showed up the some of her work in FontLab and the basics of the program but when we jumped on the computers afterwards none of the software was working so we had to work in illustrator. Although still a viable method, it wasn't what Sally C had planned so the day took an altered form. I managed to get my cross-stitch finalised though after many trials (better research would have prevented this!) and have made a rough you can see here:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/3340056279_c5c08fa275.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><br />Look forward to the next session!Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-45796645407954618642009-03-09T05:35:00.002+00:002009-03-09T05:55:43.213+00:00Fine Art Auction FlyerI'm pretty sure now that this sideline live brief is wrapped up. I say 'pretty sure' because I've been sure a few time only for something else to be needed fixing/doing.<br /><br />This mini-project has been quite a good one. I initiated the proposal for possible design work off my back and kept myself quite organised when doing it all (I arranged roughly six meetings for feedback and handovers). I set deadlines for my client (for information etc) and worked every possible option that was asked of me and tried to do every thing to the best that I could as a designer (my final design was made into several versions; email jpeg version, high res tiff, high res jpeg for print and PDF). At a few points I did get a little flustered as the client didn't really know too well what was wanted but this was purely because she was representing a mass as one voice. The clarity of what was needed was shakey to begin with so I half expected this and actually enjoyed the challenge of trying to give the client what <i>she</i> wanted and specified. It began as one flyer which then split into two; a formal one for distribution to businesses via email and an informal one for distribution around the AIB. I made both of these and then the email flyer needed to be able to print easily onto A4 (I had previously made it landscape to best fit a monitor, which then got extended to a square as more information was added) so that needed to be re-laid to fit a portrait A4. The informal flyer was later taken over by someone from the Fine Art course as they wanted to re-do it all as a simple picture and minimal text, in which case the client didn't want to bother me with this as I'd already done three designs. I'm still not quite sure if the client wasn't quite being honest about whether my design worked or was received well, but they still took on the formal flyer so all was not lost.<br /><br />Here's the final version of the informal flyer:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://www.lewisbullock.com/informalflyerdraft3.png" width="95%"></center><br /><br />and the final version of the formal flyer:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://www.lewisbullock.com/ArtAuctionFlyer/FinalJPEG(RGB72DPIScreen).jpg" width="95%"></center><br /><br />I enjoyed this live brief even though it wasn't paid as it was a good exercise in mangaing totally, from beginning to end, my own client and communications and most importantly - methodology.<br /><br />I will aim not to take on many (possibly any) live briefs whilst my Professional Project is underway as I want to focus all my energy into producing the best piece that I can as a monument to my two-year education on Visual Communication.<br /><br />Saying that, I probably will because it's bloody fun.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-79860945971664445502009-03-09T02:59:00.004+00:002009-03-09T05:32:43.783+00:00Book Binding - A Workshop With Maureen<center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3339822777_0d099e3a82.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><br />As far as books go, me and Vicky Martin are something of a duo. When ever there's an event on at St. Brides we plan to go. As of yet, we haven't. In London, the plan was to go to the Bookbinding shop. I threw a wobbly and missed out. Yet now, we have done something good and proper.<br /><br />Vicky contacted Maureen through her mysterious and knowledgeable ways and asked me if I fancied tagging along to "A day of bookbinding out in the countryside somewhere, at an old ladies house". I obviously said yes. Bookbinding; good. Countryside; better. Old ladies; great. There's probably nothing better than learning something from someone you imagine could be your gran. Grandma's have special powers but without rambling too much about all of that, I was in and it was booked.<br /><br />We pulled up to a little yellow country house and it had been snowing. <br />"Come on! Come in ye blighters!" yelled Maureen's husband after we'd been sitting in the car for a few minutes because of arriving early.<br />"Suppose you've brought this bloody weather with you aye?"<br />And hence began one of the best days I've had in ages. <br /><br />The house was literally strewn with books in every possible place. It smelled like antique shops and had the bric-a-brac organisation of a car boot. There was a live fire place churning away and what seemed like a door in every room to the outside. I was in love with the place. Maureen spoke with great articulation and phrases that probably only a handful of people understand without reference. She sat us down and went through what we wanted to do or achieve from the day and silently shuffled through the biblio-encyclopedia that was her head before delivering the days intinerary.<br /><br />We went through to the studio and there was everything. Obviously more books than there was oxygen, but there was multiple workbenches, trays and trays of metal type, reems of fabric, tools in a whole manner of shapes and sizes and litte pieces of paper with scribbles everywhere like a note-storm had swept through the place.<br /><br />I was going to learn a very awkward kind of multi-binding in that I'd essentially be having two books bound together to form one. Maureen rightly stated that there would be no point dragging time down in making my planned triple-book binding as the principles would be the same as a double-binding just extended one further.<br /><br />Without going too much into the details of what I made (as I'm making a separate write-up on the detailed process to be included in my FMP notes) the breadth and detail of what I learnt in one day was incredible. Maureen was amazing for thinking of what'd be best for us in making alterations to methodologies so that we could use equipment that we'd have. For example, she taught me how to curve a spine to overlap the cover with a bone folder although it wouldn't normally have been done this way. Another genius trick was to use a hacksaw to make the holes for the stitching.<br /><br />We had home-made soup, bread and banter for lunch and got straight back to an afternoon of putting the covers on our 'textbook'. Although I felt quite nervous towards the last hour or so for trying to digest techniques and ensure thorough understanding, then using it accurately was a gapless process. Learn then repeat. Of course Maureen showed or re-explained if I or Vicky were a little too unsure to take the dive but for the most part I had to hold my head back from thinking about it just go with what she said and afterwards it all clicked into a brilliant planned set of techniques.<br /><br />I have made a set <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doubleyoudoubleyoudot/sets/72157615002558070/">here</a> on Flickr with a few pictures of the end product from the day and a few shots elsewise.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3340651482_838f052abd.jpg?v=0" width="95%"></center>Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-50324006859407927292009-03-09T02:16:00.003+00:002009-03-09T02:51:22.019+00:00Screen Printing - A Workshop With Jo DonnelyEllor Derrick,<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3339375447_8dce0a0709.jpg"></center><br /><br />Apologies for the delay in posting (the actual workshop took place a few weeks ago) but I haven't been able to afford a replacement CF card for my camera until now. Quick thanks to Luke Bonner for letting me use his 'behind the scenes pictures'.<br /><br />Right. I've made a set <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doubleyoudoubleyoudot/sets/72157614924984515/">here</a> on my Flickr account to hold all the pictures as I'm only going to include a few here.<br /><br />This was the first ever screen-printing workshop I've ever had. For some unknown reason I didn't get any of this kind of stuff done at college even though every one else did. On the day we were told to bring two A5 images to play about with but luckily for my group many people didn't show so we got a full screen each. Even more lucky was the fact that I had four A5 images ready (as two A4), because I wanted to print big big typewriters. <br /><br />First we set about learning the processes which was amazingly fun to learn. We copied images to grayscale (via a photocopy machine), and when I say we I actually mean Jo did (for me anyway) and rubbed them down with oil to make them translucent. Not oiled enough to fry, but just enough to make it look like tracing paper. We then exposed the images in this little room where 'exposing' takes place. What happens is that you put your images down on the glass inside the mouth of a giant big 50s sci-fi robot. You put your screen with some kind of UV radioactive paint stuff on then flick the robot's clunky switch (which made a really satisying 'click') and a rubber sheath above the screen gets vacuumed on top to secure the screen in place. You then flick another equally chunky switch to blast your screen with some special screen-printing shaped rays. Although I didn't one-hundred percent understand the science, I believe that the black areas on your image block the screen behind from being exposed and hardened. These soggy areas then get blasted out with plenty of water shooting from a hose. It was really fun and pretty messy which was such a great change from clicking and checking/unchecking options within software.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3545/3339403015_016a89d7d8.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><br />Once your screen has magically revealed the image (or rather, revealed the <i>negative</i> of the image) we got setup at our posts ready for printing. You clamp the screen in at one end, which are hinged so that you can lift the screen up without moving it about. You plonk your paper (or material) underneath,<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3340232206_430f5a84be.jpg?v=0"></center> slap some paint on masking out any areas you dont want the paint to fall through and then squeegee the ink/paint over in one smooth forty-five angled motion.<br /><br />Lather. Rinse. Repeat.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3340210376_85c57cf5ac.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><br />I had loads of fun playing about and kept my screen uber-clean because I wanted to use it again after the session at some point. I did many paper trials and had prepared some pillowcases to print on so had a go at those too. The main effect that I liked wasn't actually when the print was clean and crisp, but when it had mistakes and looked slightly faded. It was difficult to get this just right because too much fade and it looked like a simple bad print and too little and they just looked like a try-hard good print.<br /><br />Here's a nice pic of my pillow in it's final habitat<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3340211476_b86ca89fd0.jpg?v=0"></center><br /><br />After a full and pretty exhilerating day getting messy and learning something new I was keen to do it again and put my name down to do some more, which Jo managed to organise for roughly a week ago. I couldn't make it at the last minute because of a meeting for a live brief but she's told me on Friday that this week she's going to try and book some time in again.<br /><br />I'm already formulating what to do as Jo said she could get me some magical fixer to properly fix whatever I use (was normal acrylic on cotton last time which wouldn't survive a washing machine) to material for a long and happy life. It would be really good to make a lot of pillowcases as self-promotion items to send out as even if I don't end up using them as send out items I could use them as book-covers or all sorts. The other option is to make a poster for a DIY magazine/fanzine made by my old housefriend Selina and her fella Dan. It's a total free reign as long as it's around the theme of 'I love Bournemouth' and it'd be reaaally nice to get a lush poster printed many many times and actually distribute it.<br /><br />Decisions decisions.<br /><br />Keep you updated as always though Derrick me ol chum.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-69120788109605292752009-03-04T16:52:00.004+00:002009-03-04T17:03:15.183+00:00Things To Come ...With PPRD hand-in on the post-weekend horizon here's what's to come in the form of mental notes I've made. I haven't had a CF card to take any pictures of work I've done or been involved with (it got lost somewhere) but one's due to be delivered so pictures should be a plenty.<br /><br />For you Derrick;<br /><br />- Type workshops with Sally Castle.<br />- Book binding day out with Vicky Martin.<br />- Screen printing with Jo Donnely.<br />- Beginning of Professional Project.<br />- PAL: The Manual<br />- Possibly, initial ideas had for the live briefs that I watched briefs on but didn't comitt to.<br /><br />For Isobella;<br /><br />- Re-skin to a more lavish minimality.<br />- A lot of internet treats and finds (including new music {last.fm}, purchases and a very special postal item from a friend).<br /><br />AND hopefully a single internet page with all my links ever in one easy clickable page. Why? I don't like delicious as you have to trawl through tags and everything. I want to link-dump and then I'll remember the most useful ones by name and hopefully by this methodology, learn the best ones by name.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-83605806243886138012009-02-28T23:45:00.003+00:002009-03-09T02:59:26.799+00:00Backlog (I Need To)Hey-ho Derrick.<br /><br />Once again I find myself slightly annoyed. I don't know why I get protective or possesive over inspiration but I do. I like to claim I was there first when I am and strive to know more about it than anyone else if I'm late.<br /><br />This time, it's about a company called 'UPPERCASE' (here after referred to as Uppercase). I included Uppercase in my resarch for the greetings cards project we did as one of the first projects in the new academic year. Without getting too wound up they're great and now ilovetypography.com has slotted their new magazine into the latest post. I am <i>so</i> envious of that blog. It's just so good in every way and sooner or later gets everything good going. <br /><br />So, in reaction to this stupid self-initiated-irritation I have, I am planning to backlog Isobella of <i>all</i> my inspirations and make a simple web page with everything on it so that it can be a super portal of sorts and Isobella can be the tastiest bits with a few words or paragraphs of reviewing when my enthusiasm deems so.<br /><br />For PPRD marking it will be a succinct reflection of my work in terms of what the 'texts' are that consciously or subsconsciously inspire me. Here's to getting a fair amount done before the PPRD hand-in date.<br /><br />Lovelove and say hello to Isobella for me.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-58777687140725914542009-02-25T19:45:00.008+00:002009-02-25T19:58:19.444+00:00Do You Want A Drink?As a break from all the huff that's going on I decided to participate in a facebook viral about designing an album, orginally posted by Luke Carré.<br /><br />Luke Carré at 17:49 on 25 February<br />1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random... Read more... Read more”<br />or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random<br />The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.<br /><br />2 - Go to "Random quotations"<br />or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3<br />The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.<br /><br />3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”<br />or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days<br />Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.<br /><br />4 - Use photoshop, the gimp or similar to put it all together.<br /><br />5 - Post it to FB with this text in the "caption" and TAG the friends you want to join in<br /><br />My results:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.lewisbullock.com/images/zorky.jpg" width="85%"><br /><br />Obsessed with Twiggy8520's (AKA Paul Huxen) Bollard font at the minute. It's class.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-31061866988146736602009-02-24T23:01:00.002+00:002009-02-24T23:04:47.882+00:00Firefox, Safari, Camino ...For some reason the aspect ratio of some of my pictures was being distorted which to be quite frank and vulgar; looks shit and wouldn't make me take anybody's blog seriously let alone read it.<br /><br />Hopefully this has been sorted by removing the "width=number%" in the img=src tag.<br /><br />Please email if you see any I've missed at wave@lewisbullock.com!Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-9469704487263190952009-02-24T19:11:00.009+00:002009-02-25T20:10:02.594+00:00Not The Foggiest.Derrick! How's it going me ol' tabernacle? <br /><br />First up, the blog specifically for Final Major has gone. I got confused after a day of making it and already debated with myself on what to put and where (in regards to Isobella and Derrick) so another was pretty void of use. My titles for you dear Derrick are going to be taken from the last sentence spoken to me before I upload.<br /><br />I've done a few jobs here and there whilst trying to get on with the 'main' projects:<br /><br />I did a little calligraphy for a lingerie company via a request from Dan. I'm not entirely happy with the final result but it was done on a lunch break so can't expect much I guess.<br /><br />I've done a bit more for pops in relation to his 'cretevillas4u.co.uk' website but I'm pretty much denying it's entire existence because it's so dull.<br /><br />I do have a new mini-project underway designing a flyer for BA Fine Art Auction. Last one was confusing and a bit of an information overload so I want to cut everything back to to the bare essentials and take a light playful tone on what could stereotypically be quite stuffy.<br /><br />Here's an <b>initial draft</b> I've uploaded:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.lewisbullock.com/images/FineArtFlyer01.jpg" width="75%"><br /><br />I used the fonts: <br />-Quicksand in the weights 'Bold' and 'Dash' designed by Andrew Paglinawan.<br />-Bollard in the weight 'Fat' designed by Paul Huxen.<br /><br />Go to <a href"http://ifiwereajigsaw.blogspot.com/">Isobella</a> for more information.<br /><br />I've made a to-do book for every task I have to complete. It's filled up quite substantially because I'm putting non-academic things in as well as others but slowly and surely things are getting ticked. It's made me feel a lot more relaxed in that I will know every single thing I need to do by looking through it's pages.<br /><br />As for ISTD? Well its faded out into a halted project. I'm probably more irrate and upset about this than any other idea/concept that's fell through because I really enjoyed my enthusiasm at the beginning of the project. It slowly became a fact though that I couldn't have the time and mental energy to do ISTD <i>and</i> what was previously i) my website project and now currently ii) my final project, to the level that I'd want to complete them at. I can foresee that if I rushed it, I wouldn't want to show it within a portfolio and rushing my final project simply is not an option. At all. I definitely want to do it when I have the time, even just as a great portfolio piece within a field I'm passionate about and will definitely do ISTD next year. No questions about it.<br /><br />I've worked the type I was making (a pixel-style blackletter font based on Fette Fraktur) into my FMP, so that I can still use all my backwork with Sally Castle in a relevant project and will carry on with her workshops in March. <br /><br />I haven't updated my website for a while purely because I was sick of the sight of it. With a portfolio review (even though I have no portfolio yet) tomorrow I should have a few more prints of project finals that I can photograph/document to what should (fingers crossed) be a standard I'm willing to put on my website. I was beaming with the marks I did get for it though however as I thought the rush-job sketchbook would've left me with a few holes but it can't have been as bad as I thought. In the summer I'm planning to sort out swapping my server to Linux so that I can host a blog myself, and re-designing quite a few parts of the website so that it can be more easily updated.<br /><br />On the most prevalent note, I now have a totally different room for doing work which is already doing wonders for getting into that 'work-zone' mindset. It's gave my sleeping quarters space to be a relaxing cosy nest that I like it to be. Even though I had no reception, I've taken the TV out of my room too so that when I do want to play games or watch movies I do it in a social environment (the living room) rather than constantly beating up my sleeping pattern by 'relaxing' at 3am. From now on, to relax in my room, it'll be reading only. I'm using a notebook to write down any book I've read and any that I want to which much like the other one is filling up without many being ticked off but I'm not so worried about that for now.<br /><br />So, off to conquer my to-do list Derrick. Speak to you soon.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-53523392576287524732009-02-19T10:44:00.001+00:002009-02-19T10:46:48.316+00:00Will You Be In My Fight Club?After a stern chastisement from Jimmy, the new blog is now titled 'Prof. P. Roject' to fit in with my character-based blog titles.Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-88008048717852517372009-02-19T10:39:00.004+00:002009-02-19T10:43:34.390+00:00Professional Only Has One FI'm finding it really difficult to try and figure where everything needs to be with this professional project. Screen-based research takes an age to look half decent printed out and half the websites or processes I want to document would require pages of screenshots, which just feels like stodging a workbook out. <br /><br />For this reason I have a new blog, dedicated primarily to screen or digitally based research. I'm sure sooner or later this will document meetings, notes etc so no promises yet.<br /><br /><a href="http://lewisbullock01.blogspot.com/">Final Professional Show Big-Time Super Ultra Project Blog</a>Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-61918137149896514972009-02-09T23:34:00.003+00:002009-02-09T23:37:03.709+00:00Study<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3268073990_c4d24d672e.jpg"><br /><small><i><strong>Photography © of <a href="http://www.danielhodson.co.uk/">Daniel Hodson</a></strong></small></i>Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313186566036945449.post-4720922631069179092009-01-13T20:29:00.002+00:002009-01-13T20:34:14.975+00:00Calligraphy/ ValentinesI got some new nibs when going to London (thanks to Luke, Vicky, George and Lauren for hanging about whilst I farted about for so long!) and tested them out on a new sketchbook that has slight ivory pages (thank you Milla for the present!). Mainly used the angled nib and new thicker ink which both work great together.<br /><br />What's written is ideas I've had for a set of valentines cards/pieces that are really elegantly written but quite contemporary and modern in the actual phrases used.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3194286219_b63142fe5b.jpg?v=0">Lewis Bullockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07705760957642191648noreply@blogger.com1