Showing posts with label Speaking from experience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Speaking from experience. Show all posts

Friday, 25 May 2012

MAIL PACKAGING

Here is the finished mail packaging and how it would look with the volumes inside it.

I added a "1 2 3" motif over the top signifying the volumes included. Each design for each mail shot would be different. Almost as if each volume and each package sent out had a different guest artist, in the same bein as covers for Grafik did at one point, I'm not sure if they still do/did.









Thursday, 24 May 2012

PACKAGING FOR SUBSCRIBERS



Here is the packaging net, as in my range of products proposal. An alternative idea to a sort of newspaper stand outside the graphics floor is for the volumes to be sent out to subscribers. The volumes will be released every month, so in a year there will be 12 editions and they would be sent out each 'quarter'. So in each sent out package, you'd have 3 volumes to read through.

This is the packaging net for the first quarter of the year. Jan-Feb-March - volumes, 1, 2 and 3. When I print it out, I'll add in photos of the finished package in this same post. I think it will give my zines more of a finished appearance and more of a real-world context. An issue I told myself I'd address in previous evaluations.

PRESENTATION BOARDS / GRFX NWS

GRFX NWS 03






Laying out GRFX 02

Here is the front cover I've been working on and the inside layout, the colour palette of this booklet is green C75 M5 Y100 K0












Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Volume 3 articles

LCA Alumni Gives Child Middle Name of "//"

A recent graduate of Graphic Design has recently had great news; Mitch became the proud father of healthy baby girl on 28th August 2012. The baby girl has been named Sianne // Williams. Odd middle name indeed, we at BAGD do indeed love a "//", but it seems Mitch loved the double stroke a little too much.

"I called her Sianne, because I like the name and it also is said (and sounds) just like cyan. CMYK, get it! Also I just thought when her full name is written out as Sianne // Williams it would look cool. I can't get enough of a //. Even when I urinate, I urinate a double stroke."

We at GRFX NWS didn't really know what to think of this news unfolding, is it a cool name to give your child? 

Is it wise to give your child a name that will get him/her probably bullied?

What would you name your child? Let us know what you think, dear reader.


Health and safety wakes neighbours up with screams

Paul Alsopp, the health and safety officer at Leeds College of Art takes his job very seriously, and has a vast amount of knowledge on the area. If you're ever wondering how to climb a ladder correctly, just ask Paul and he will fill you with knowledge.

It seems things are taking a turn for the worst in the world of Paul at the moment if the accusations are indeed true. Neighbours of Paul Alsopp rang police last week in the early hours of the night unable to sleep and complaining of disturbances and loud noises next door. 

We reached the individuals who would like to remain confidential for comment, "We couldn't sleep at night. It was about 4am, Paul takes his job very seriously and he's a great and friendly guy. This was out of his nature though and we just couldn't take it anymore. We couldn't make out what was being screamed at first but then it kept getting louder and louder... It sounded like he was screaming PAT Test, repeatedly."

Make sure your laptops and electric appliances are all PAT Tested by Paul himself, we don't want any more cases like this.


Leeds Met Graphic Designers Earn Praise

Creative students at Leeds Metropolitan University (that rusty building down the road) have been earning praise from around Leeds, even councillor Steven Sykes on the excellent progress they've been making.

The amount of work shown at last years end of year show was almost twice as good and twice as much in quantity as the year before. It's a great development for Leeds Met; a lot of the speculation on this sudden upsurge has been attributed to the students attending university a staggering two times a week, double of the attendance before. 

"It was tough at first, real tough. Being in Uni for 9:30 was really hard, I mean, I'm not even sure if graphic design is what I want to do when I graduate so this was pretty tough to motivate myself for at first. It's kind of been worth it now though I guess, two days a week has been pretty intense."

Leeds staff are ecstatic, "They're doing so well, at first we had to tempt them a little bit. We gave lollies and badges to people that turned up more than once a week, but now we don't have to even do that anymore. They're doing great. I'm so proud of them.”

Please join us in a round of applause and a huge pat on the proverbial back for the excellent progress Leeds Met are making. 

Volume 2 articles


Volume 2:

The Queen To Dine At Mosaic Bar


The food down at the Mosaic bar is something else, we can tell you right now you’ve never ate anything like it. In particular, the packaged food is a treat. Offering you a wide variety of food and serving up such local delicacies as coleslaw in bread, right up to a slice of tomato with a bit of cheese if you’re having a good day.

The Mosaic Bar has been receiving rave reviews from all across Leeds, especially from us BAGD’ers.

Sebastian is a fan, “It was an experience, and I almost cried tears of joy when I ate the cheese and onion sandwich. The undeniable beauty of the cheese taste combining with the crunch of actual slices of onions was a cracker.”

The success of Mosaic bar hasn’t gone unnoticed. As part of the Queen’s jubilee this year, the Queen is paying a visit to Leeds. One of the places she’s elected as a priority visit is to dine at the Mosaic Bar. A firm fan of the eatery, the Queen has had food delivered from Mosaic bar. We were unable to reach Her Highness for comment, but it is said she’s a firm fan of the sandwiches and often eats them while catching up on ‘Designspiration’ in the evenings.

The tea is a popular choice. Often smelling like farts, the organic smell is great at waking you up and allowing you to crack on with the rest of your day with focus and vigor.

The Queens visit is sure to be a landmark visit in Leeds College of Art, and even Leeds history. We’ll be sure to keep you updated.


Leeds’ Homeless Audition On Britain’s Got Talent




Yes, you heard that right - some of the homeless population of Leeds is actually auditioning on next years Britain’s Got Talent as a plate-spinning act. It’s all top secrets at the moment and supposed to be strictly under wraps until the series broadcast next year in 2013, but we have sources all but confirming the entry.

The amount of homeless people around Leeds is definitely a problem, there’s probably not a person in Leeds who has never seen a homeless person around Leeds before. It seems the homeless around Leeds have decided to give stardom a chance, it’s happened before. Susan Boyle went from an unknown in Scotland to a worldwide phenomenon, why should they be any different?

Apparently there have been reports that the plate spinning act led Amanda Holden to tears, this has never happened before. They must be amazing.



More on this as this unfolds. 


If you'd like to make any donation to the needy in Leeds, check out St Georges Crypt based in Leeds. You can log on to http://www.stgeorgescrypt.org.uk or ring 0113 245 9061.


Student books print slot for his unborn child



It can get pretty busy down in the print, or as we like to call it – the ‘Digital Dungeon’. The whole college is vying to get into the small room; especially during deadline time, it can get very, very busy. When it comes to deadline time, it’s always a good idea to plan ahead and book a time slot when you know you will need one in the future. This way, you have a sort of ‘deadline’ to work towards and you have a guaranteed timeslot for your printing needs. You can get in and out of there efficiently.

It’s busy, we all know that, but no one would have thought someone would go to these lengths… Andy, an LCA student has actually booked a print slot some 20 years into the future.

“It gets really busy here, I’ve calculated I’m going to get married in 2015, hopefully have the kid by 2016. When the kid’s around 19 in 2035 he will join this institution and he’s going to need print slots. I’m going to give them him; I don’t want him going through what I did. Isn’t that what parents are supposed to do?”

We guess so, Andy. Good going.

James, the print technician commented on the moment Andy made the booking, “Normally people just book a week or two ahead and it’s usually not a problem to book a print slot, when Andy booked for a print slot in 2035, I looked at him in disbelief at first but then I got up and hugged him. Incredible time management.”

Make sure you book print slots well in advance just like Andy. Time management is great.



GRFX NWS 01

Here's a digital version of the first volume, I'm reasonably happy with it to a point. It needs some room for improvement but I'm focused on getting all 3 volumes finished to a certain standard, giving me breathing space to experiment further in the knowledge that any change I make will be for improvement or refinement, and not in relation to time constraints. it's something I've picked up on with previous end of module evaluations as something I need to address.


Tuesday, 22 May 2012

MOCK LAYOUT//1

Here's the mock layout I knocked up to see how it sound look like. I'm happy with the left page. But I think the right side, which contains the article needs some work, there's space for a pop out quote but something about it isn't right at the moment. I'm going to carry on experimenting with the layout and hopefully have a better balance with the facing pages.

The photo used is not also for the article in question, but i used it for visual effect for now.







Monday, 21 May 2012

Volume 1 Articles

(Volume 1)

Leeds Wind Strikes Again

The notorious Leeds wind strikes again. Never the sunniest or brightest place - it can be grim up north, Leeds has more than it's fair share of wind. Even with all the previous history of the relationship between Leeds and the force of nature - no one would have expected this.

With repeated incidents of people getting swept up and thrown around the sky, the wind in Leeds is becoming an increasing area of concern. Leeds council is prepared to take action. "We're thinking about creating a massive barrier, basically we're gonna cave in Leeds. No one leaves Leeds, no one comes in. No wind comes in either, well hopefully not. It worked in The Simpsons Movie, so it should indeed work for us. It didn't look windy there so it won't be windy here. In the tough economic climate we're in at the moment a huge glass barrier around Leeds is top priority." said councillor Steven Sykes. 

"We became concerned when Janine just didn't come home, we were expecting her home from tea but she never arrived. Only till we turned on the news did we realise that something serious was up here. We saw Janine flying past in the background when we were watching BBC Weather in the evening. She was a long bloody way from Leeds." said Kathy Bates, a married mother of three from Leeds.

It turns out Kathy and Janine aren't the only ones affected by the extreme weather in Leeds. There have been people sightings in the sky as far south as Dover. Missing lectures seemed to be the least of their worries.

It's not all bad news though, some students seem to enjoy it - Jack of Leeds College of Art only has praise, "I'm too broke to pay for a taxi nowadays, so I just get up and catch the 8am gale to uni. Good times, I land right outside the door and I've never been late so far." He feels some people are just too negative and pessimistic when it comes to this new phenomena affecting Leeds, "People moan too much. when it's too sunny people moan. When it's too cold people moan. Just deal with it. Look at the bright side"

Interesting times lie ahead. "Wrap up well and eat well over your calorie allowance. More weight means less unwanted flight. Brace yourselves people of Leeds." warned Steven Sykes, councillor of Leeds.



Jeremy Kyle Uses Oceana For Guest Selection
Always a place full of interesting personalities, Oceana continues to make a name for itself. Jeremy Kyle, the world famous tv personality and arguable tool is now using Oceana as a means of scouting talent for his popular ITV show, 'The Jeremy Kyle Show'. Always a man looking for new avenues and opportunities, Jeremy has opted to send his assistant Graham on a few nights out in Oceana to see if he can pick up any talented individuals to interview on television.

We managed to reach Jeremy Kyle for comment on the unfolding news story. As always he was a charming and humble individual, "Graham does all the work anyway, I just shout at them on screen for a few minutes. So Graham's off to do the serious stuff. I think I'm the greatest thing to happen to Leeds."

An ITV executive was also available for comment on the developments, "We've got a pretty strict selection process when it comes to our show. It's becoming increasingly hard to find talent for the show, pretty much everyone has been on it by now. Everyone needs to be a certain type of individual. They need to have severe acne, they need to be agressive, they need to be rude, they need to be a firm fan of Reebok classics and most importantly of all they need to be able to fail lie detector tests we set them. Oceana seems to be almost too good to be true."

There are also rumours that if the project is a success, ITV may hold a few festive specials using the Oceana premises as an actual set for the show.

More as this unfolds.



BAGD students and caretaker staff engage in royal rumble
Graphic design students at Leeds College of Art and the caretaker staff at the premises have notoriously never got on. Graphic designers simply seem to be unable to leave the studio. One student was quoted as saying, "I'd rather be in this studio than anywhere else in the world, even Hull." We're not sure if we agree with the student but we too would much rather be in the studio instead of Hull.

All studios and the college locks up at 9pm on most weekdays, apart from Fridays. You'd be hard pressed to find any day of the week when there's not at least a handful of focused 'BAGD'ers' working away in the studio till closing time. The caretakers and students understandably aren't going to send each other christmas cards, the sight of a caretaker slowly working towards the studio signals the death of the students workflow. "These caretakers are like the grime reaper of graphic design" explained a nervous David.

Last week, though, things may have got out of hand. A graphic design student, who has chosen not to reveal his identity apparently refused to pack up and leave the studio. The caretakers also refused to budge. Our undercover reporter managed to make a sound recording on his phone. The caretakers were heard shouting "Right, that's it. I've had it with you arty lot. I'm ringing the boys, we'll show you what real manly men do. You're outta here". A startled voice can be heard that can only be decribed as a graphic design students was heard shouting back, "We're not scared, hello, you there? Come down here lads. Get out of the mac suite, shit's popping off here in Studio 2."

Our undercover reporter then described the following events as a sort of make-shift 'royal rumble' match reminiscent of the heyday of WWF/E. The caretakers and students squared off in the studio with no weapons such as metal rulers and cutting mats allowed. The prime objective of the game was to throw each other out of the studio door, as soon as both hands or feet touched the ground outside, they were eliminated. The students went up against the caretakers, if the students or the caretakers were the last team standing, they had won. The students would then be able to have the studio for their own doings and the caretakers would humbly accept defeat.

Mr Alsopp the health and safety officer acted as the special guest referee.

Tune into Volume 2, where we will tell you the winner of this historic event that took place in the summer of 2012.

Planned articles For Each Volume

Here is the working outline for the volumes so I can get cracking. Most of these articles are based off my 'Leeds' survey where LCA students answered about Leeds and LCA.

(going for a RGB colour scheme with the zines, I think it'll look cool and each volume will be distinguishable from the other)

The opinions and observations which were reported from the survey and also some from me, are in blue. 

Volume 1 (Red colour palette)

  1. Leeds wind strikes again, people sightings in the sky. Flown as far as Dover (It's super windy in leeds)
  2. Jeremy Kyle uses Oceana as guest talentpool (Oceana is full of wrong'uns)
  3. Leeds homeless audition on BGT as a spinning plate act (Loads of homeless people in Leeds)
Volume 2 (blue colour palette)
  1. The Queen to dine at Mosaic bar, a firm fan of the sandwiches (Mosaic's food is dodgy, especially the coffee)
  2. BAGD students and caretakers engage in royal rumbles (Don't be late. Be organised and you'll be fine. This isn't like other unis)
  3. Student books print slot for his son in 2025 (Digital Print is super busy, especially around deadline time, book in advance.)
Volume 3 (green colour palette)
  1. LCA alumni gives newborn a middle name of "//" (LCA loves using a //)
  2. Health and Safety guy wakes up neighbours crying "PAT Test" (The Healthy and Safety is very, very proud and persistent of his job)
  3. Leeds Met students earn praise, now in 2 days a week (Leeds Met is sort of a running joke at LCA)


STUFF NO ONE SAYS

I was thinking a good idea might be to turn the news articles on their head and report stuff that no one would ever say, it might be a little more clear for the reader? For example:

Leeds isn't windy and hasn't been windy for years, it's really sunny
Oceana has been voted classiest nightclub of the year 2012
Tutor unhappy at student for being on time
The Queen to dine at mosaic
Leeds has a 0% homeless person rate
The mosaic bar does fantastic coffee
BAGD 3rd years are never in
Digital Print struggling for bookings
Health and Safety guy is really laid back
No one smokes at LCA
Leeds Met are in 5 days a work, they're really hardworking
The floors and layouts in LCA are incredibly varied
No one gets lost, especially in first year
3rd years look incredibly fresh faced
LCA staff voted laziest in the UK


Thinking about it again, this can come across as really sarcastic and almost as if I have a bone to pick about LCA or Leeds, when I don't.

I think it's better to warn first years and educate first years about certain things about LCA and Leeds - but in a very exaggerated and (hopefully) humorous way. That's the challenge with this project for me, writing articulately and with a humorous personality and tone. I'm not the best writer in the world!


Rough layout ideas

I decided on the name GRFX NEWS, or GRFX NWS. I'm going to see what works better when I'm laying out the content.

They're going to be zine like news booklets, with a temporary, collectable quality to them. 

I'm going to edition them and have 3 volumes hopefully. Each volume will have 3 news stories, and a different colour scheme, I might even have different visual styles and layouts in each volume to switch things up and keep them interesting for a graphic design student to read.

Each page will be:
 A4 (210 x 297mm)
4 mm bleed
4 columns - 3 mm gutter
10 mm margins all around
Facing pages

8 pages total for each volume




Thursday, 17 May 2012

Leeds: Results

results from the survey on findings and observations by people on the topic of Leeds...

they don't know how to make coffee
1/5/2012 21:49View Responses
keith lemmon being on the graphics course (too jokes) richard miles. the shit music always on in the canteen crazy canteen ladies the tramp outside chillin
1/5/2012 16:29View Responses
Nothing really
1/5/2012 13:49View Responses
crazy artworks on walls, especially these alien screen prints posters outside library- fun and colourful
1/5/2012 0:12View Responses
The tutors are mostly really good, especially the guys down at vernon street that manage the workshops - screenprinting, metal & woodwork. The students union isn't in your face, and no one cares about it that much, which I love. it has a nice atmosphere.
30/4/2012 19:33View Responses
stylish tutors, tonnes of smokers, getting in the lift just because it's easy to
30/4/2012 17:10View Responses
up until next year...sport is very sexist...ie.only football team for boys!!! food prices in the canteen at blenhiem are more expensive then vernon street...WEIRD?WHY? people dont think you do a proper degree as you go to a college.
30/4/2012 16:53View Responses
although its small you still bump into people which you have never seen before....
30/4/2012 15:27View Responses
If you want good grades, you have to work for them.
30/4/2012 14:25View Responses
Its such a laid back atmosphere but with pressure on induvidual courses at the same time. They are really passionate about their students and you aren't just another number here.
30/4/2012 14:16View Responses
That social/sexual hierarchy is pushed to limits and beyond the confines of conventional academic courses. I love having a shit in the nice toilets.
30/4/2012 14:14View Responses






it is a more stressing / busy place than Manchester for some reasons
1/5/2012 21:49View Responses
everyone barges into me when im walkin about and lunch is 'dinner' dinner is 'tea' tea is 'a brew' and supper is a whole new meal gahhh!
1/5/2012 16:29View Responses
That it's the UKs 3rd biggest city, that it was where the world's first moving pictures were filmed, that it's the birthplace of M&S, Asda, Burton... That it will reach 1m people by 2028. That it's the UKs fastest growing city, the UKs biggest financial centre outside London... Transport is awful though- needs major investment, but that's more of a criticism of the government than Leeds. It's good that you can get from the City station to York/Harrogate/Skipton/Ilkley/Dales quickly though- but getting TO the station can be a nightmare.
1/5/2012 13:49View Responses
good
1/5/2012 1:28View Responses
graffiti in unexpected places
1/5/2012 0:12View Responses
It doesn't have enough cash machines.
30/4/2012 20:05View Responses
it's mainly an ex industrial shithole, but it's my shithole cos im from the area. It has something other northern cities don't and I cant pin point it. It also stinks, and could do with a tramline.
30/4/2012 19:33View Responses
lots of foreign students, there are no greggs near the uni, it's the top 5 cities for crime in the UK, the murderer of the person in whitby and middlesborough was from leeds
30/4/2012 17:10View Responses
its ridiculously windy. and rainy. the 56 bus is NEVER on time.
30/4/2012 16:53View Responses
Leeds is wonderfully diverse and multicultural
30/4/2012 14:25View Responses
The homeless people work together, I saw a guy go round and collect all the homeless peoples money and walk off once...Hmmmmmm
30/4/2012 14:23View Responses
Leeds is ALWAYS windy!
30/4/2012 14:16View Responses
There is nowhere near enough crime as my grandma led me to expect. The dogs here seem to be better behaved.
30/4/2012 14:14View Responses

Speaking From Experience - ANSWERS AND FEEDBACK



paranoid terrified tired
5/5/2012 16:09View Responses
Nervous Excited
3/5/2012 14:11View Responses
a lot of awkward silences, excited after my mum fucked off, only after she unpacked my stuff.
2/5/2012 20:04View Responses
nervous, excited, anxious, tired.
2/5/2012 10:06View Responses
excited! unsure about being a student again.
1/5/2012 19:59View Responses
Hereee we go again
1/5/2012 17:43View Responses
- nervous about being the only one not knowing how to use software! illustrator and stuff, even loads of people were actually in the same position - excited to move to a new city
1/5/2012 16:25View Responses
excitement relief
1/5/2012 15:59View Responses
nervous excited
1/5/2012 13:54View Responses
Tingly Tired
1/5/2012 13:50View Responses
exited nervous ready worried anticipation
1/5/2012 12:39View Responses
nervous, scared, excited, overwhelmed
1/5/2012 11:53View Responses
l
1/5/2012 1:28View Responses
excited and scary
1/5/2012 0:10View Responses
Excited Worried Nervous
30/4/2012 22:09View Responses
Excited Nervous
30/4/2012 20:23View Responses
Regret, despair, anxiety, depression!
30/4/2012 20:03View Responses
Il go by when I went to uni before this year 2 years ago and moved away from home for the first time. I was just high on nerves the whole first month or so, and I didn't like the rowdiness of all the students going out on freshers week. I learnt that I was not a 'typical' student almost instantly.
30/4/2012 19:28View Responses
Nervous lonely Isolated
30/4/2012 18:06View Responses
loneliness, hard to make friends, difficult organising the work load
30/4/2012 17:08View Responses
excited, nervous, didnt think it was real
30/4/2012 16:48View Responses
Anxiety, excitement
30/4/2012 16:24View Responses
Scared, nervous, excited, expectant, happy
30/4/2012 15:52View Responses
happy, nervous, ambitious, anxious,excited,
30/4/2012 15:49View Responses
excitement, enjoyment, couldn't wait to meet new people etc
30/4/2012 15:29View Responses
Excited, Motivated, Apprehensive, Confident,
30/4/2012 14:47View Responses
I just wanted to do everything ive never done before?
30/4/2012 14:38View Responses
Nervous Home sick Excited Unsure Intimidated
30/4/2012 14:26View Responses
Scared, nervous, worried, excited, stressed, shy, pressured
30/4/2012 14:24View Responses
.
30/4/2012 14:23View Responses
nervous, scared, excited, pressure, sad.
30/4/2012 14:15View Responses
Nervous, angry, confused, ecstatic, divided, pretentious, hateful, mournful and happy.
30/4/2012 14:15View Responses
Excited, liberated, interested
30/4/2012 14:12View Responses
excitement, anxiety
30/4/2012 14:07View Responses









First years would prefer, according to the data. Entertaining, lighthearted and straight to the point information. They'd rather pick up the stuff they read and more often than not they didn;t really read or use the vast quantity of information received at the start of the year.

So the idea of it being straight to the point is making me think twice about my satirical newsaper, it would be indirectly giving advice and tips on Leeds. It wouldn't be considerably straight to the point. Need to think about this more.