Open/Close
The Brief
This years ISTD brief I chose Open/Close. This brief focused on creating an experimental typographic book, based on a book of choice as long as it was published over 50 years ago and, from the first and last chapter only. The objectives were to represent the book in a modern way through the use of typography, creating depth and character to guide the reader through.
Virginia Woolf - To the Lighthouse
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Research
I chose the book 'To the Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf, published in 1927. I have only heard of great things about the Author and her forward thinking mindset. The brief was the perfect opportunity to purchase one of her books ( I actually ended up buying two!) and delve into the authors life and personality and, to finally expand my little knowledge on Virginia Woolf.
Before I could begin any creative work it was imperative that I researched the book, the author and, her life. This would give me a greater understanding behind her methods of writing and the personality behind it all. I also researched the background of the time period the book was written and published, also typefaces and what was occurring in the world and, whether this influenced the authors journey when writing the book.
Before I could begin any creative work it was imperative that I researched the book, the author and, her life. This would give me a greater understanding behind her methods of writing and the personality behind it all. I also researched the background of the time period the book was written and published, also typefaces and what was occurring in the world and, whether this influenced the authors journey when writing the book.
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Visual Influence
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Thumbnail Sketches
Once I felt I had enough background information I began roughly sketching ideas. I knew to begin with I wanted a distressed theme which also had influence of the rugged Scottish West coast, as the book is set on the Isle of Sky.
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Exploration
As stated before I knew I wanted to add an element which evoked the environment to where the book is set. The West coast of Scotland is beautiful and rugged, the seas can be blissfully calm or wild and unpredictable. These factors to me, represented the characters personalities and inability to be perceived, which also co-insides with the varying perspectives and change in pace of the story.
I knew I wanted to try and translate this into my work somehow. I decided to experiment with ink, to evoke the surroundings of the book and to add texture and emotive construct to the storyline.
I knew I wanted to try and translate this into my work somehow. I decided to experiment with ink, to evoke the surroundings of the book and to add texture and emotive construct to the storyline.
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Developments
Once I felt I had a theme which could run seamlessly through my designs I began creating the layouts and experimenting with using the ink background for effect.
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Further Development
I then realised this style wasn't working for me, I kept getting to a point then feeling something was not quite right or didn't reflect my understanding of the book. It needed to be simple, modern and forward thinking, like the author herself. Therefore, I took a different approach.
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Final Layout
Eventually, I managed to create my designs which evoked the masculine and feminine points of view which this book strongly portrays. I wanted to get across the different characters and perspectives which chop and change as the story unfolds, I did this by using playful typography, understated in parts but mainly from colour. I used pink to portray the masculine points of view and blue for the feminine in the book, this aligned with the representation of the author and her rebellious attitude to not stick to the rule book of society and push boundaries, especially with her involvement with the Bloomsbury Group and her views on gender and sexuality.
I chose to keep the background black, a deep embodiment of World War I, which was set in the background of the storyline. A dark and empty time.
I chose to keep the background black, a deep embodiment of World War I, which was set in the background of the storyline. A dark and empty time.
