PUBLISHING DESIGN - EXERCISES

Week 1 - Week 7  (01/04/19 - 13/04/19)

Alicia Lee Hui Min (0331719)

Publishing Design

Project 1 

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LECTURE NOTES

Week 2 (08/04/19)

Lecture 1 - Formats

In our first lecture, we learned about the different formats of book, across  different civilisations around the world. These included civilisations from Iran-Iraq, Egypt, India-Pakistan-Afghanistan, China and Europe—Turkey & beyond. It was interesting to see how information and knowledge were recorded in the past and also the type of materials used to record them.

Week 2 (22/04/19)

Lecture 3 - Grid

This week's lecture, we had a lecture on grids. Through the lecture we learned about margins, gutter and hangline.

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INSTRUCTIONS




Week 1 (01/04/19)

We were informed to bring supplies such as A3 paper and a small blade in the next class as we will be doing some exercises.


Mockup Making

Week 2 (08/04/19)

Fig 1.0 Size Exploration

Today, Mr Vinod demonstrated to us on how we should lightly create a crease on the paper using the back of the blade, to get a nice and crisp folded paper.

Then, we had to fold an A3 paper in half, and draw lines on the paper to explore 3 different book sizes. It should be bigger than A5 and smaller than A4. Once we drew the lines, we highlighted the one we liked the most. I made more than 3 sizes.

The sizes I outlined were:

170x210mm

150x220mm
210x210mm
160x210mm

160x220mm

And the size I chose for my book was 160x220mm. After that, we created a mock-up book with 32 pages, and 8 spreads. To start, we had to fold a total of 8 A3 papers in half. Then comes the staple binding, where Mr Vinod demonstrated to us on how it should be done. We needed to make marks on the paper to know where the mid-point was, and act as a guide as to where it should be stapled.

Once we had the papers stapled together, we outlined the size of our book on the front cover so we could cut it to size. Once again, Mr Vinod demonstrated to us the way of cutting the book to size. We needed to hold the metal ruler tightly, while using a blade lightly to go over it several times until it is cut all the way through. The key is to not put pressure on the blade.

Fig 1.1 Outside of book

Fig 1.2 Inside of the book

Classical Grid Structure

Week 3 (15/04/19)

Today, Mr Vinod showed us how to create a van de graaf so that it creates a box to act as a guide as to where the content should be. First we did it manually on paper.

Fig 1.3 Van de graaf on paper

Then, we moved on to create the same thing on In Design which was a much faster process compared to doing it manually.

Fig 1.4 Process

Fig 1.5 Process

Fig 1.6 JPEG of Van de graaf

Signature Folding Systems (8+8=16)

On the same day, Mr Vinod demonstrated how to fold a signature. A book contains signatures and each signature has 16 pages. Here is the outcome for my signature. 

Fig 1.7 Signature page 1

Fig 1.8 Signature page 16

Fig 1.9 Signature opened up (front)

Fig 1.10 Signature opened up (back)

Grids

22/04/19 (Week 4)

For this exercise, we needed to print out 5 spreads of a layout, and draw lines on it to determine the margins. We also exchanged some spreads with others so we have more variety. Here are the 5 spreads I chose from the book is The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur.

Fig 1.11 Chosen spread from book

Fig 1.12 Chosen spread from book

Fig 1.13 Chosen spread from book

Fig 1.14 Chosen spread from book

Fig 1.15 Chosen spread from book

Drawn Margins

Fig 1.16 Margins

Fig 1.17 Margins

Fig 1.18 Margins

Fig 1.19 Margins

Fig 1.20 Margins

Fig 1.21 Margins

Form & Movement - 1 Colour

22/04/19 (Week 4)

For the next exercise, we needed to use InDesign. The exercise is all about exploring simple shapes to create a pattern that flows based on the grid system.

To start, we needed to set the margins and columns.

Fig 1.22 3x3 grid

Then, we played around the the placement of the shape in the spreads.

Fig 1.23 Process

Fig 1.24 Process

Thumbnail of the spreads in pdf




Gif Final Outcome

Form & Movement - 2 Colours

29/04/19 (Week 5)

This week, we did an exercise similar to the previous week, however this week we were required to use a new grid and apply a secondary colour as a highlight. So I started off with making the margins, columns and guidelines. This week I went with a 4x3 grid.

Fig 1.25 4x3 grid

Fig 1.26 Process

Fig 1.27 Process

Thumbnail of the spreads:

Outcome of the gif:

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FEEDBACK

Week 2

General feedback: The height and width of the book should be bigger than A5 size. When cutting the paper, you should apply less pressure onto the blade.

Specific feedback: Mr Vinod told me to add on a subtext and pull quote to my introduction and also to finish identifying the 16 sections for visualisation. 

Week 3

General feedback: When taking a picture of your work, you should zoom in so that the paper does not look distorted.

Specific feedback: Mr Vinod advised me to get the major elements done first before looking into the details. The illustrations look paper like almost like a collage and also they look sound.

Week 4

Specific feedback: Mr Vinod told me that my illustrations were good and I can try to make more and combine them together to make it more tight rather than loose. 

Week 5

General feedback: We were told to update our blog.

Specific feedback: I received feedback from Mr Vinod that my illustrations are good . As for the exercise, I was told that when introducing a new shape I could leave a space before that and also said that when using colours to highlight, its alright to have some surprises.

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REFLECTION

Experience
Week 2; In this class,  I got to explore different book sizes and create a mock up for it. Week 3; I explored how to fold a signature and how to draw a van de graaf. Week 4; Today I experienced using shapes to make a pattern. Week 5; I experienced making a similar pattern but adding a secondary colour to it.

Observation
Week 2; I observed how to staple bind the book together which I found was quite fun once I got the hang of it. Week 3; I observed that it was quite hard to draw a line directly to the corner when doing the van de Graaf manually on paper. Week4; I observe that when introducing a new shape there should be a space before that. Week 5; I observe that this week exercise wasn't as hard as the week before as I started to get the hang of it. 

Findings
Week 2; I found this it quite fun and interesting to learn about book binding this week. Week 3; I found it easier to create the van de graaf on In design rather than on paper as it was more accurate and straight. I also found signature folding interesting to learn as I did not know of it before this class.
Week4; I found this exercise quite hard as I didn't know how to make the pattern flow. Week 5; I found that when doing a layout, its good to have some surprises from time to time.

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FURTHER READING

Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design by Kristin Cullen

Week 1 - Week 2 (01/04/19 - 08/04/19)

Fig 2.0 Front Cover of Book

This book provides inspiration through hundreds of well-crafted, real-life projects that have succeeded for their clients. It also teaches the fundamentals of complete and hardworking layouts. It also features all the basics of layouts, as well as dozens of mini case studies from professional studios around the globe whose layouts are proven winners. Here are some pictures of the content of the book.

Fig2.1 Content of Book

Fig2.2 Content of Book

Basic Brochures by Page One

Week 3 - Week 4 (15/04/19 - 22/04/19)

Fig 2.3 Front Cover of Book

This book contains different kinds of brochures with different layouts, It also contains booklets with layouts which I thought was useful to observe and learn.

Fig2.4 Content of Book

Fig2.5 Content of Book

Fig2.6 Content of Book