Text & Image Workshop

During this workshop we were asked to do several tasks. On the first task each table had to answer on a paper the above questions as readers:

What is text/image?

Where do you encounter text/image?

When do you read text/image?

Why do you read text/image?

How do you read text/image?

On the second task we had to answer one more question 'Who is the author?' The possible answers were the CLIENT, the DESIGNER or the AUDIENCE. Each student selected one of these answers and using on groups we had to discuss it and give reasons for the answer. The correct answer was the AUDIENCE. 

On the third task we were asked to work in groups again and combine two different words on the same idea-in our case sketch-. The two words were CHAIR and PARK. So each student designed his/her own ideas and then we selected the most interesting and presented it. One of my ideas was the sketch on the first photo above. I kept only the 3D element of the letters and I transformed the letter H to a tree. 

During the second half of the day we did three more group tasks.

On the fourth task the tutor, Paul Bailey, gave a picture to each group and we had to describe in words the most important elements. After that we took randomly a brief of another picture and we had to create a sketch based on the brief. As a group we completed that successfully as the sketch was similar to the original photo (picture 2-above). 

On the next task (5th) we took a picture again and we had to put a title somewhere in the picture. Each student designed his/her own ideas and the we selected one. 

The aim of the final and quickest task was to construct a word using objects from our pockets and cases. We selected the word LONDON and the picture of the piece is above (picture 3). 

I really enjoyed this Workshop and it helped me very much to understand the similarities, differences and  the combination of TEXT-IMAGE.

Colour Workshop

During this workshop we completed two different tasks using two different techniques. On the first one we had to create a 'book' using a stencil and only two different colours. The two colours I selected were Red and Blue but I used different tones in order to create depth or in some cases to show shadows. The stencil that I designed has to do with typography and it says FOCUS. I like the fact that the letters and the shapes create movement. The stencil and the different shapes seem like waves. I think that this workshop was very important and helpful for us to understand the use of colours and how to combine them together. During the second task (pictures 3&4) we had to design our own sketches using the technique of mono-print. I enjoyed this task also but I think that in my case it didn't work as well as the first task. It is the second time for me that I use this technique as I have previously done similar exercises during the IB Art course last year.

Cropping Workshop

During this workshop we learned about photo cropping and we did some exercises. On the first two tasks we had to design the following images:

1. Close up of a detail

2. Wide angle horizontal
3. Narrow angle vertical
4. Depersonalise a photo with people in it
5. Crop to abstract
6. Crop to define
7. Make look distant
8. Crop to enhance the emotional impact
9. Narrow vertical
10. Bold exciting
11. Discreet

He had to use the the creative thinking strategy tool 'Plus/Minus/Interesting'. PMI is a lateral and creative thinking strategy used in de Bono's CoRT thinking program.

TASK I

On this task we had to use images from magazines and newspapers and we created our own cropping pictures.

PLUS: It is very successful for the theme - enhance the emotional impact

MINUS: 

INTERESTING: Both faces have the same emotional impact

PLUS: The balance of black & white on the picture

MINUS:

INTERESTING: The main theme of the picture changes and I am trying to focus on another element

PLUS: The only color of the picture is on the lips

MINUS:

INTERESTING: It looks like a lip gloss advertisement

PLUS: There are no faces here but there is a depersonalization

MINUS: 

INTERESTING: The fact that the man placed on the left of the picture and takes exactly the half horizontal angle

PLUS: Everyone can understand the theme of this photo, it is obvious

MINUS:

INTERESTING: This picture is very strong

PLUS: The movement of the cropping image

MINUS:

INTERESTING: We can understand what he is doing without looking the first picture

PLUS: On this picture we can look the distant

MINUS: The image is not very clear

INTERESTING: The depth is very interesting

PLUS: The emotion of this face is very strong

MINUS:

INTERESTING: The main theme changes at all

PLUS: My thought for this picture was to discreet it. I think it is very successful

MINUS: - 

INTERESTING: The depth - Each face is behind the other

PLUS: -

MINUS: I chose this crop for the emotional impact of his face but the focus is not there. I had to crop a bit more

INTERESTING: The movement of his hand and the emotion of his face

PLUS: The balance between black & white

MINUS: The main theme of this picture changes

INTERESTING: The hard contrasts

TASK II

On this task we had to use the images from blackboard and we created our own cropping pictures.

PLUS: The main theme changes

MINUS: 

INTERESTING: It seems like the people want to jump 

PLUS: The detail of her emotional face

MINUS: The other faces lost

INTERESTING:

PLUS:

MINUS:

INTERESTING: The only I kept on this photo are the children

PLUS: The emotion of his face become stronger

MINUS:

INTERESTING: 

PLUS:

MINUS:

INTERESTING: It is like a portrait

PLUS: There are no faces here but there is a depersonalization

MINUS:

INTERESTING: The balances of this photo work very well

PLUS: The man looks doing something else

MINUS: The cropping is not very well as I crop a part of his head and it doesn't seem very realistic

INTERESTING: 

PLUS:

MINUS:

INTERESTING:

PLUS:

MINUS:

INTERESTING:

TASK III

Visualising Workshop

At the beginning of the day we were asked to draw an object. I chose to draw my keys. We had 10 minutes  for the sketch. After that we had to produce several BLIND CONTOUR drawing exercises where we DIDN'T LOOK AT THE PAPER. The first exercise was to draw the object without looking the paper. The second was again a blind drawing but also with the opposite hand-the left for me-. The last exercise was to draw the object again but this time using both hands in the same time. All the exercises had a time limit of 3 minutes and we had to draw as many as possible. When we finished we saw all the other student's sketches and then we discussed the positive and the negative elements. All the sketches without looking the paper were more interesting than the first ones. Above are some of my sketches.

After the lunch time we made several collages on A6 postcards using images from magazines and newspapers but before that Darren show us a powerpoint presentation about collage and we discussed works of many different artists like Hannah Hoch, Alan Fletcher, Sara Fanelli and Martin O'Neil. For me the most artist was Alex Williamson. We produced total 9 different collages each student but he had to select between the themes above:
Composition
Editing
Contrast
Rhythm
Texture
Repurposing
Juxtaposition
Surrealism
Narrative
Humour
For the first we had 10 mins, then three collages in 10 mins and finally five in 15 mins. I selected for the blog my 4 most interesting collages.

Alex Williamson

Layout - Blog task

For this task, we were asked to collect examples of grids, systems and organizational patterns found around the E&C area. 

Layout Workshop

During this workshop we learned about layout and how to identify the hierarchical elements. The first exercise was to make up a template of a newspaper size. We cut up some elements from other magazines and newspapers and then we mixed them up and we reconstructed our own page layout(A3). This was a group exercise. We tried to combine as many as possible hierarchical elements on this page. We worked on it 20 minutes. Later on, we did an introduction about Layout using InDesign.

Above are my own tries to identify the different hierarchical elements of the pages. The first is from a news website, the second from a magazine and the last one from a newspaper. This was a practical exercise in order to understand exactly what is what.

Typography workshop

During this workshop we learned about the different types of serifs and we did some exercises. The first exercise was to find examples of the different types of serifs and re-draw them on a sheet using pen or pencil. Later on, we had to identify and label the following typographical elements of each typeface: ascender, counter, x-height, serif, descender, body size, baseline and the capital height. Finally we learned how to Kerning, Tracking and Leading using InDesign. I found this workshop very interesting and I enjoyed it!
Above, there are some examples of my work:

SLAB or SQUARE serifs

The six different types of SERIFS ''www.teach.okjostudio.com''

Typography photographs - Blog task

Today, on the first half of the day we were asked to collect examples of different types of Typography around the E&C area. We had to work in a team of three or four persons and then organize the photos into categories. These photos are from the Railway station, the E&C shopping center and the high street of the area.

ADVERTISEMENTS

SIGNS

                        

GRAFFITI / STREET ART

Graffiti / Street art is a very good way for someone who wants to communicate with the public. Each graffiti artist has its own typography style.