Studio Brief 1- Study Task 2

For this study task, we have been asked to come up with a range of layouts that we could use for the book, potentially coming up with a mock format for the book. Also, we have to produce 3 different nets for the packaging that we have to put the book in.

The first thing I did was start to look at already existing inspirations in regards to zoo publications.

"Zoo In My Hand" by IK & SK Design

IK & SK Design "Zoo In My Hand" [Internet] Available from http://www.ikskdesign.com/product/detail.html?product_no=18&cate_no=24&display_group=1 (Accessed 21st February 2014) 

This publication looks into using origami to make it interactive for the its younger audience. This allows for a string interest in animals at a young age, particularly with the use of multiple bright colours.

"Paper Zoo" (1985) by MoMA

MoMA (1985) "Paper Zoo" [Internet] Available from http://hi-and-low.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/03/paper-zoo.html (Accessed 21st February 2014)

This publication is similar to the 'Zoo In My Hand' book as it is a paper folding kit which you can use to learn about the animals. The interactivity of the publication is what allows the audience to engage with the topic for themselves.

"Zoo Book" (2013) by Tom Temmerman

Temmerman, T. (2013) "Zoo Book" [Weblog] The Behance Network Available from http://www.behance.net/gallery/Zoo-Book/8255805 (Accessed 20th February 2014)

The use of illustrations alongside photography makes this a very accessible publication, with the use of the info-graphics making for an informative and factual publication. The colour scheme and playful typography adds to the experimental nature of the design. 

"ZOO Book" (2013) by Justyna Sikora

Sikora , J (2013) "ZOO Book" [Weblog] The Behance Network Available from http://www.behance.net/gallery/ZOO-book/11846889 (Accessed 21st February 2014)

What is interesting about this publication is the way that the experimental typography has been used to produce visuals and this is shown through the layout and format of the book which only emphasises these qualities.

"VERSUS" (2013) by Xavier Urity

Urity, X. (2013) "VERSUS" {Weblog] The Behance Network Available from http://www.behance.net/gallery/VERSUS/7870253 (Accessed 21st February 2014)

This magazine publication is very sophisticated in its approach and therefore targets quite a niche and specific audience. The layouts are different throughout with experimentation using shapes and colour.

"ABC Radio National" (2013) by Nikki Druiven

Druiven, N. (2013) "ABC Radio National" [Weblog] The Behance Network Available from http://www.behance.net/gallery/ABC-Radio-National/10783179 (Accessed 21st February 2014)

The format for this publication is folded from one piece of stock which allows for an experimental approach to layout of content. Despite that, this makes it easier to hold and means that the information on the page needs to be condensed to its most important. 

"Sims: Bad Time Zoo" by The Pressure

Colossal "Sims: Bad Time Zoo" [Weblog] Available from http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/03/sims-bad-time-zoo/ (Accessed from 21st February 2014)

Not only do I have to consider a publication but I would have to think of packaging as well and this seemed very relevant. The intention behind the packaging is to package a CD with foldable animal predators that you can cut out and keep.

I had produced a design sheet with possible ideas and formats that I could produce so I wanted to work from that in regards to my study task (See Design Practise Blog).

From this, I started looking at possible layouts which I could do, making a design sheet so that I had a range of visual ideas that I could work with.

Layout Design Sheet

I came up with a range of layouts that could work for a publication based on the ideas that I had come up with. I liked the idea of having the publication at A5 size but I thought that it would be quite nice to have them in a different shape. I thought that I would try this out in a square shape to see whether it would be successful.

Chosen Grid System

The first thing I considered was the need for a good grid system for my layouts. I had considered the need for having a bespoke grid system for the publication, however, at this stage I felt that this might be a little claustrophobic as this would take away from experimenting with different layouts so for now, I settled on having a generic layout for now which can easily be specifed when I have settled on a format and style.

Initial Experimentation

To start with, I began playing around with images and paragraphs of text in regards to the amount of columns to use and the amount of space between images and text. This would help with determining the amount of information that should go on a page.

Text Placement Overlap and Colour

I started experimenting with different text layouts as I tried having the text overlapping the images. I felt that this made for an interesting layout but this would perhaps would be difficult to read for legibility. Following that, I tried changing the colour of the text so that it wouldn't interfere with the legibility as much but it affected the imagery instead.

Inclusion of Colour Filter

I decided to keep going with the use of colour and decided to add in the colour of the Chester Zoo logo into the equation. I played around with having the green colour on different backgrounds, both as a block colour and as a photo filter as well as trying it as a colour for the font. I felt it was more successful as a font colour but it wasn't working out very well.

Imagery and Text

To try and makes the layouts more interesting, I decided to incorporate image and text together which made for a more interesting context however it made it more difficult for the information to be read correctly.

What I had learnt from these experimentations was that the square format was inappropriate and that I would be better off with a more traditional format so as to make the content the main element of the publication.

Following this experimentation, I had to also produce 3 nets for this study task for some packaging that we have to do for the book.

As it was important for mock ups to be seen, I decided just to produce a hand rendered version of the ideas I had had for packaging so that I could get feedback on what would be most appropriate before producing a digital version of which was seen as the most successful.

Open Gate Packaging Net

The first design I made a net for and produced was the zoo gate with the intention that it would open out like an actual gate. I took the measurements for the gate with extra length for the doors and crafted it to fit, having to cut a line into one side so that the other side would slide in.

Animal Face Packaging Net

The next mock up for packaging I produced was for an animal face, with the idea being that the book would be within where the mouth would be so you would open up the mouth to get to the book. The trouble with this was that I didn't give the net enough flaps so it wouldn't stay together very well so I had to use tape. If this would work properly then I think it could be quite successful but it would need some work. 

Zoo Packaging 2 Packaging Net

The final packaging idea I had was based on the zoo gate again except that it would be produced differently, with the net having two parts to it so that the book could be slided in and out of the packaging. This was much more fiddley to work with as there are two parts to it, plus, I realised that one of the halves would have to be longer than the other to make sure that it would slide into the other half. 

Original Packaging Mock Ups

The packaging I have produced isn't very well crafted but it gets across visually what I am trying to say. Crafting is something I will defiantly have to work on during this brief! Out of the packaging that I have hand-wrendered, I think the most successful is the zoo gate which opens up as I like the fact that the packaging contextualises the image of the packaging by how you use it. Saying that, I have a feeling that the gate which is in two parts might be more practical so I will see what they say in the Concept Crit.