Adjusting and experimenting the pixel dimensions I created the below image:
I then played with shape and scale
When I was at the Emerge exhibtion I came across work by Jamie Reid, who created “mashed-up” data file images. Taking this as inspiration, I took a Jpeg of one of my letterpress scans and open it in a text editer I then replaced the õ to a letter F, using the cmd F function.
This was the result
The brief was to CREATE AN ILLUSTRATED INTERPRETATION OF A MUSICAL TRACK THAT IS EXPERIENCED BY THE VIEWER IN AN UNCONVENTIONAL AND PIONEERING WAY.
I chose 2 Kraftwerk tracks, computer world and radio-activity.
I created a simple program that reacted to user interactions via a microphone input. I filmed the program reacting to the interactions of the 2 tracks and illustrated each frame, placing the designs onto products such as wallpaper, ties and mugs. My entry won an d&ad inbook student award.
click on the images to view my entry.
The idea came from analogue distorted patterns. Trying to reflect electronic/anlogue/data/computers etc.
Film sequences created by playing tracks to flash program. The flash program responds to a microphone input. Blocks flash black/white flash on/off according to amplitude/microphone detection. Sequence and timing is determined by microphone.
Click on image to view Kraftwerk “intermission” movie
Click on image to view Kraftwerk “pocket-calculator” movie
I then drew out each frame from the recording and created a mapping sequence.
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Intermission mapping sequence
As part of the brief was to incorporate fan interaction. I asked fans of kraftwerk to listen to tracks and recorded their interaction with the microphne whilst listening to the kraftwerk tracks, I then mapped the frames and placed the mapped pattern onto ties, mugs, and items that could be used for promotion.
To illustrate the pocket calculator track, I printed each frame, trying to match pattern frequencies.
Calculating the frequency of frames
I then matched the frequency of the frames to the size, thus the higher number of frame repeats the bigger the frame.
this got a big complicated at times – my desk
I then experimented with composition, using a photocopier to play, distort scale, invert and cut and paste.
I set out to catalog all the wooden type available to students. I produced a catalog book and printed banner to promote letterpress at the university.
Each spread displayed in actual size the printed font as well as name, size, style and weight information. The right page included a count of how many and what characters are available.
A section at the front of book gave an explanation of useful tips and guide
As well as categorizing the 67 fonts available into serif, sans slab I also catogorised a sub section with numbers, punctions and borders etc.
A spread from the punctuation section
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The cover can be used as a ruler as the lines are drawn in pica increments. The line measurements are then carried throughout the book to help the user understand the letterpress sizes. The diagram also represents the letterpress cases in the studio.
I wanted to demonstrate the variety of wooden letterpress type at bath spa uni. There are 67 fonts and nearly 4,000 forms. So with help from fellow students we printed 3 letter words per font and printed a giant banner. The words chosen were randomly generated from 400, 3 letter words. I then numbered each word and used a number generator to select each word to form a 67 line poem. hopefully this reflected the often unpredictable nature of letterpress.
come see it at bath spa graphic communication uni show for the final unveiling. June 10 – 14th 2011.
To print the 6m banner a special wooden chase was made that connected together from 3 parts. this was clamped to 3 tables. A spool with a roll of paper was rolled on top of the chase. The banner was then hand printed using a barren. Click on the images to view the process
6.5 metre banner photos
A special thanks to Flore Diamant, Jordan wright and Lavinia Tyler who helped to print the banner.
you can view this on the creative review feed. http://www.creativereview.co.uk/feed/may-2011/21/letterpress-on-a-giant-scale
The book cover was made from dark greyboard, reflecting the ash and dark covered landscape. I then silkscreened the type of the cover. The book was bound with an exposed spine.
Some selected spreads
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Brief: design four letters that reflect the Bath Spa, Art and Design School. My design was chosen, see below for final Logo and designs
logo elements can be used for further mailer promotion etc.
Often people are asked, “Where is Bath?” I created a simple map using textured elements.
My designs implemented at the UCAS design fair
Being a big fan of letterpress, I turned the font I created into a printable font that could be used in the letterpress studio:
Printing blocks
Alphabet printed using laser cut printing blocks
Laser cut files
My design was chosen for the cover of the MA Creative writing book, “scriptease” Here is the printed book.
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Inside page:
Staying late at university, I decided to project my participation projection, the triangles rotated/moved to a microphone input: sound produced by people, cars, airplanes, and bird noises, creating new and different patterns. I filmed the projection, these are some of the screen shots. I was inspired to do this after reading about a 1920’s hooter symphony orchestra in Russia where a conductor operating from the rooftop signaled to engine and horns as well as an exhibit called memory wall which reacted to clothes worn by people walking past. found here
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Lux was an exhibition about light shown during april in bath.
I exhibited paper sculptures representing the shapes and colours of tropical leaves using light.
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After printing every variety of letterpress typeface available at bath spa I scanned and created a quick 6m banner test, which I hanged down the stairs, I now aim to re-create this but to hand print it using silver letterpress ink.
posters created to publicise the creation of the bath spa’s catlogue of type and event.
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Photo-gram of ice.
Using the repeated Egyptian A extra extended, I created this composition.
The full room set-up
Close-ups
Once I had established a method for the illustration and created a pattern, I started to think about how the illustrations could be used for promotion and their application.
My idea was to incorporate the patterns onto items and objects, and create a room set-up to demonstrate this. The idea being that a fan could create their own pattern and then get this printed onto a product.
This image is a sketch of the room layout I planned.
First task=wallpaper. I drew out each frame of the song “intermission” and then placed it onto wallpaper strips. This image show a test made-up of a3 pages.
Once the test was complete I then got the sequence printed onto wallpaper.
Some close-ups of the printed wallpaper
Design used for Mug
Frames from Pocket calculator sequence
photogram using combs to represent a body figure. The chemical effects have been created where the photogram was not washed properly and has left behind fixer making it go sepia. The photogram was then enhanced to saturate the colours and then the whole photogram was inverted to create the blue tones.
Created using a photogram of a microchip
Created by using a photogram of a hairbrush
I created the background image by printing the photo I took onto thin paper then exposing it in the darkroom. I then flipped and rotated the image to reflect the unconventional photography of Simon Larbalestier.
Created using letterpress punctuation.
My first idea was to look at printing code: My idea was to have the front cover design on the back cover, like proof patterns on cartons.
