MESH: Theme ideas

We got our name MESH from looking at the screen from screen printing. As well as this reference to traditional printing methods, we also needed a way to tie in public spaces and in particular Leeds.

After struggling for a while, we came on to the idea of maps - we could use a map of Leeds to make our idea actually relevant to the city. 

Maps have a grid overlaying them in order to make navigation easy, e.g. Far Moor would be in F4 on the map below. This grid link is perfect as we are working from a grid ourselves so is a fantastic way to tie in public spaces.

In order to make it scream Leeds we needed a solid strong reference. One idea was to use coordinates, going along the navigation theme. However the direction we decided to go down was postcodes. Looking at the postcode map is a clear way to divide up Leeds (could use this as curation and organisation for the exhibition) but the actual appearance of the city map didn't fit with our theme. 

We decided instead to convert the map into a more regular shape, with the sections made out of square shapes. This makes map fit more with our square aesthetic while still adding in that map element. The overall effect is something really cool and we could use this for way finding in our exhibition space.

We also decided to take a look at the Ordnance Survey Brand Guidelines as extra research. 

We found that for the main typeface, the brand uses Helvetica Neue. We decided that as an extra reference we would also use Helvetica as the main typeface for our body text. As well as it being clean and simple and a typeface that would contrast our custom typeface well, the extra link to the Ordnance Survey branding would be something different and make the reference stronger and more relevant.

Initial Ideas

The initial ideas for our exhibition we split into 2 groups to each come up with an idea.

IDEA 1 - EOM 
The first idea for our exhibition branding was to call the exhibition EOM (Emulsion over Mesh). This idea looked at the process of screen printing and uses bright blocks of colour. These blocks would overlay each other - like the way layers of ink are used in screen printing. This idea also reminded us of a mosaic - linking into the college.
For initial experimentation we rolled different colour inks onto folded paper and overlaying them to create blocks. Then digitally we overlaid text to mock up a quick idea for a flyer. The folds of the paper could be unfolded to leave a blank space on the flier to contain all the important information (name/time/date/venue etc).

IDEA 2 - MESH

Our second idea was 'Mesh' based on the mesh from screens used in screen printing. We found some discarded mesh which was discoloured into a red/brown rust colour and we could clearly see the little squares made by the grid of the mesh. We thought these elements may be fun to play with. For initial experimentation we played around with way finding and signage using mesh and exploring how light shines through mesh. The following developments were really cool, especially when we added numbers to create more of a way finding concept. 

Exhibition design elements

What's unique about this exhibition?

Celebrating traditional print 

About Leeds

How can the content, location, exhibitors potentially inform your design decision?

Content = traditional prints

location = leeds library - still yet to be researched

exhibitors = students, as it is their exhibition their opinions on what it should look like matter.

Who is the target audience?

General public, most significantly people interested in art/print, frequent visitors of the library

We were struggling to make our 'mesh' idea tie into Leeds and apply to public spaces so decided to develop our idea even further.

Our deliverables

posters

way finding system

digital invites 

social media stuff

catalog
curation/ organisation

Specific deliverables

Type face

Exhibition Research: Graphic Design Festival Scotland 2016

The new identity for Graphic Design Festival Scotland was designed in collaboration with Warriors Studio and explores the process and dialogue which is created as ideas are developed. Each year Warriors Studio works with a different design studio on the identity with the intention to keep the festival fresh.

“We realised that the festival itself is a place for design and creative expression and experimentation of ideas and the identity should be about capturing that very same process,” - Greig Anderson, co-founder of Freytag Anderson.

The team began to document everything it did while working on the project; saving all of the art boards and everything it designed as well as recording Skype conversations, emails and even taking screen shots as they worked.

The collaboration initially produced 20 posters. The number of the posters kept growing as the project went on. I good idea to create hype for the festival was their idea for visitors to design their own poster which was then voted on to be included in the final print run as part of the exhibition. 

The identity for the festival is very chaotic but something that shows the journey the design took. To keep the in progress appearance the grid lines for the layout of the elements are on show adding to the unfinished look of the identity. 
Whilst the combinations of the different sections within the design is very chaotic with no real order to it, the identity is kept consistent by using just one weight of the typeface GT Walsheim and the limited colour palette of black white and blue.

Traditional Printing Processes

Letterpress

Letterpress uses stamps, made from lead, to pick up ink and transfer onto paper or other material. The process is long and laborious with the piece of text needing to be assembled in a process called typesetting. 
The process needs to happen on a flat surface and the frame in which all elements are placed is called the chase. Quoins are used to lock the frame in place. Furniture is used to separate and space out the type and quoins. The process is long with lots of elements needing to be built up to create the piece of text. The letter stamps come in a range of fonts and points too and these are arranged in cases called California job cases, where the type is sectioned out and stored. 
Once the frame is assembled it can be used over and over if it is cleaned. Other advantages of the process include being able to use oil based ink, not just CMYK, which digital printing is limited to using. The letters can also be used to deboss when not used with ink, and you are able to use papers that would not fit in a digital printer, e.g thick card, or you could even use something thicker. 

Screenprinting is the process of pressing emulsion into mesh and onto a material. 

Preparing
Print out design positives (sections to be coloured must be in black).
Choose screen, wash and strip of any old designs
Dry screen
Coat evenly with light sensitive emulsion
Dry screen again
Lay screen flat on exposer unit, with positives face up against the screen
Expose screen at 170
Remove screen and wash at sink (using sponge to remove emulsion)
Dry screen for half an hour

Printing
Choose a colour and mix with binder 
Tape up any spots/ unexposed parts of screen with duct tape (on underside of screen to prevent spreader from catching the tape)
Line up paper using registration paper
Tip paint on bottom of screen, flood the screen with spreader
Place paper under design and drag paint down to cover design

Repeat with colours/ different designs on screen

Whilst preparing the screen for the printing can be labour and time intensive, the printing process is actually quick and many prints can be produced from just one screen. Layering colours creates cool effects and the prints can be incredibly detailed.

Lino printing

Lino printing involves scraping an image into a piece of lino using a chisel or gouge, and the resulting material used as a stamp. The uncarved parts come into contact with the paper, producing a mirror image. Ink is rollered over the lino and then pressed into the material. The process often produces one or 2 coloured prints and looks very sketchy and illustrative. 

Mono printing

In contrast to the other methods, mono printing is original in the sense that you can only create one unique print and not multiples.

In mono printing you can work positively, meaning adding imagery with brushes or rollers, or negatively where ink is removed using sponges, brushes, rags etc.

First roll a layer of ink onto a plate. Then you can choose to add ink with brushes etc, or remove with rags. Then press the paper using a press bed and the ink transfers straight on to the paper, creating an image or pretty patterns. The end result, like lino printing is also very illustrative and can be quite messy so it is usually used for more arty projects, the uniqueness of each print as well does not fit well with projects that need a high number of prints.

Studio Brief 3 Briefing

Working in a team, create a pitch, branding, and promotional material for the Leeds public spaces traditional print exhibition to be held in May. 

Who is the target audience?

General public, possibly art/design and history enthusiasts 

What do they need to know?

Who - Leeds College of Art level 4 and 5 exhibitors

what - exhibition of celebratory prints events in public spaces that have shaped Leeds. Prints created using traditional printing methods. 

where - Leeds public library room 700

when - 23rd to 26th May 2017

How will you engage with them?

Posters in public spaces to attract visitors, interactive social media presence

What's unique about this exhibition?

Celebrating traditional print 

About Leeds

How can the content, location, exhibitors potentially inform your design decision?

Content = traditional prints

location = leeds library - still yet to be researched

exhibitors = students, as it is their exhibition their opinions on what it should look like matter.

We will need a logo, brand guidelines (typefaces, colour scheme etc), catalog, posters, leaflets, social media, invites (preferably invites over email to keep down cost and use less paper) way finding and signage, overarching theme to be decided as a team. 

Catalog and promotional invitations/leaflets/ posters needs to include 

- Location
- Times
- Content
- Exhibitors
- Social media, links, hashtags etc
- Contact Details
- Format
- Opening night Invites

Individual deliverables

1. 15 minute pitch/presentation of your proposal
2. Mock-ups of key pieces of print/digital collateral
3. Evidence and documentation of collaborative practice
4. Completion of self & peer evaluation
5. Group contract
6. A minimum of 6 design boards:

• • • Rationale
    • Research
    • Initial Ideas
    • Design Development
    • Final Design / Production
    • Evaluation