My Work – Shooting Star

In order to establish a ground for moving forward, I find it beneficial to reflect on my recent work. Below are a series of spread from a children’s book that I have written and designed, as part of my current MA. The book remains unfinished at this stage, but it is my aim to continue with this project for my major study next year.

The book is made entirely out of paper and prints, with additional text set in InDesign. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of making this book. The physical process of using paper or making prints to create my designs allowed me to engage with the work and offered me the liberty to explore new ideas. As a result, my work has evolved. The finished artwork evokes a lively and tactile appearance, and in my opinion, appears less stagnant than my
previous work.

In particular, I enjoyed making the type in the book. Hand-crafting elements of the type in my updated project, allowed me to enhance the typography, assisting me to add semiotic meaning to the typography. By utilising the typography in my book, it gave me the potential to conjure emotions and feelings that represent a connotative meaning (Hassett & Curwood, 2009, p. 271).

The development of the typography in my FAT2 project has enticed me to explore
type as vessel for both linguist and visual communication. Austrian-born designer,
Stefan Sagmeister, well known for his use of metaphoric lettering, creates designs
that are “imbued with symbolism and served as vessel and as idea” (Heller & Vienne,
2012. p.38). The use of metaphoric lettering adds deeper understanding of message
portrayed by the designer.

It is my aim to explore metaphoric lettering for my Practice 2 module. I hope that this
study will lay the groundwork for my major study.

McMahon, E. (2016) Shooting Star (page 2+3)

McMahon, E. (2016) Shooting Star (page 6+7)

McMahon, E. (2016) Shooting Star (page 8+9)

McMahon, E. (2016) Shooting Star (page 10+11)

McMahon, E. (2016) Shooting Star (page 14+15)

McMahon, E. (2016) Shooting Star (page 16+17

McMahon, E. (2016) Shooting Star (page 18+19)

Resources:
Hassett, D.D. & Curwood, J.S. (2009) “Theories and Practices of Multimodal
Education: The Instructional Dynamics of Picture Books and Primary Classrooms”,
The Reading Teacher, vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 270-282.

Heller, S. & Vienne, V. (2012) 100 Ideas that Changed Graphic Design. London:
Laurence King. p.38

Stefan Sagmeister – Things I have Learned in my Life so Far.

This is my first blog-post; a journey of research and development that will accompany my MA. I decided to focus this post on a graphic designer whose work has always been of interest to me: Stefan Sagmeister.

Austrian born, Stefan Sagmeister (1962) is a graphic designer and typographer currently based in New York. His work is fresh, innovative and often undertaken away from the computer with interesting and dynamic results. He is known for his unconventional approaches to graphic design.

The many alternative covers of Things I have Learned in my Life so Far by Stefan Sagmeister, (2006). Image Source: http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2013-05-22-kisalala-stefan-sagmeister-covers.jpg

His book Things I have Learned in my Life so Far was published in 2006. The book originated from observations recorded by Sagmeister in his diaries. These resulted in a series of life lessons, which he conveys in a creative typographic manner. He created the lettering from natural and man-made materials and placed them in various novel environments. This approach to lettering is described as ‘metaphoric lettering’; letters that are “imbued with symbolism and serve as a vessel and as an idea” (Heller, S & Vienne V, 2012, p.38). Besides its visual appeal, the metaphoric lettering adds deeper meaning and a visual dynamic to the page.

‘Trying to look good limits my life’, excerpt from Sagmeister’s book, ‘Things I have Learned in my Life so Far’. Image Source: https://99designs.com/designer-blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/TryingToLookGood.jpg

Book design is my main area of interest for my MA. I aim to explore the intersection and interaction of type and other visuals, in books or editorial design. In his book, Sagmeister creates unique lettering, and displays it interactively in a natural or related environment.

In this technological age, Sagmeister’s approach to this project is fresh, fun and visually appealing. I hope through the course of this MA, I can bring some of Sagmeister’s blended approach to my own work; where fine art and design take a significant role alongside more technological methods.

Resources:
Heller, Steven & Vienne Véronique, (2012) 100 Ideas that Changed Graphic Design. London: Laurence King. p.38