OUGD603 — Brief 04 - Design Publication - Boards

Evaluation:

For the past year I have been so busy with live briefs that have required a lot of attention and hard work that I have unfortunately had to abandon projects that have no live deadline other than the module submission until the final month.

Even though I gave myself little time amongst very big briefs that were going on at the time, I am really happy with my concept and outcome as a piece of print that documents me, my journey through the course, my achievements, and interest in cycling all in one piece of A4.

The idea was to create a very low-fi racing map that told my story of 'the ride' through the BAGD programme using bold and contrasting colours, illustration, print and my interest in riding my bike. The idea itself was developed after a group critique with Tony Broomhead where I had nothing to bring but merely wanted to discuss the idea of fusing the publication with my love for cycling, a few ideas were thrown around and I pushed it into a full concept from there. This was a really useful critique that served well as a conversation about my ideas and how it could be pushed further, it was a reminder of how good it is to talk to others and have a different perspective on things.

The execution of the concept was very quick and hands on, a process I have not had much of this year due to the briefs I have worked on professionally. It felt good to create everything by hand so it had a more worn and DIY texture to it.

If I had less work to do this year, this publication could of been entirely different, but due to the amount on, I had to work quickly, efficiently and in an organised manner that reflected the time available. For this I am very pleased with my outcome and believe it works perfectly for it's purpose.

OUGD603 — Brief 04 - Design Publication - Finished Fold-out

OUGD603 — Brief 04 - Design Publication - Content & Design

The idea was to create a cycling race map that would represent my methodology, the time I have had on the course, what I have found difficult, my achievements and most importantly, be embodied in my other passion to graphic design, cycling. 

I had a look at general cycling maps to see if there was anything special or different about them but they just tend to be very clear route maps that are easily followed.

A guy I know called Rob Borek does a lot of road races and time trials and one thing he always does is mark out his directions on a piece of paper and tapes it to his handlebar stem. If I included this as part of the map so it folded down to this sort of concept that would be really good.

I wanted the style of the graphics to be very bold, colourful and contrasting, this is a theme that follows through cycling for what I can assume is 'high-vis' but more fun. I also wanted it to look very hand-rendered and low-fi to simulate what an alley-cat map would be like in the US.

I first image traced my map in the right thresholds to hold the roads in a clear structure.

I then piled on all of the information I wanted to include and put them roughly where it would make most sense in real life.

I wrote a little motivational speech about the race (the degree) as if it was a massive accomplishment to even finish the race, let alone succeed.

"This is not a race for the faint hearted. The next three years are going to involve a strenuous amount of time in small dark rooms in front of computer screens and wielding scalpels and other tools of the trade in a hope to make something of your life. This is one of the most challenging races in existence, many will be left behind and fall to the likes of over-night blogging, lino-cut injuries and unsuccessful print finishes.

If you make it, you will be victorious. You will be a minority that has learned how to love the act of drowning. A Leeds College of Art BA (Hons) Graphic Design graduate."

The other content included the title of the race, which I named BAGD TO THE BONE, to play on the hardcore scene in bike races as well as involving the course. The checkpoints are big events that have happened throughout the time on the course for me, these will be displayed on the route in the relevant point in time of the 'race'. A graph which simulated my stress levels over the three years in half segments. A list of race sponsors which included Restrap for providing me with so much great work and introducing me to interesting people, netflix for taking me away from work when the weather was too bad to go riding, the lift agency for giving me the opportunity to work with them, tall boys for selling me all the beer in the world as well as holding me in an exhibition, apple for obvious reasons in computing, 'mates' to signify the amount my friends have supported me on and off the course, it is also a condom brand which I found childishly amusing, Pc World for giving me the part time job over two and a half years of the degree, and finally my favourite burger joint five guys.

The prize is a little joke that refers to working so hard for a grade on a piece of paper as a physical outcome, but at the same time a lifetime supple of skills that will help me move onto the next stage of my life. And then the date is hand-in day.

I printed this plan off and then traced it with a 0.1 fine-liner to give it a jagged and hand-rendered aesthetic that I was aiming for.

This was then image-traced and manipulated until they were all fills in the necessary places.

When it came to colour, I wasn't sure what to go for but I knew it would be bright and colourful. I started with a combination of bright red, two blues and a grey before later on developing the grey into a low opacity pink to push that high vis aesthetic out.

I drew out what would be the back of the map to stick to the stem and then image traced that before placing it in the correct position so that it could be folded up.

I am really happy with the final outcome of this piece of print as it tells the whole story of my time on the programme in a creative format that is relevant to me. Hopefully it'll look just as good printed!

OUGD603 — Brief 04 - Design Publication - Concept

After discussing this brief with my peers, I decided on a concept direction that really stood out and reflected me. Cycling has impacted my practice in many ways.

— It has helped me clear my head when stressed with work.
— It has become a consistent activity I complete every single day for transport or leisure.
— It has introduced me to many creatives and local businesses that I have gone on to work with.
— It has made me amazing friends.
— It has influenced my design practice and opened up unique opportunities for me.

For this reason I wanted to design a route-map of my time on the course, hitting checkpoints along the way that show important events of the time I have been studying as well as elevation graphs of my stress or excitement.

Here's some example data of my daily ride to university, I recorded this in an application called Strava that monitors distance, elevation, speed and calories too if you have the right equipment. I will use this as the route on the map as it's been a consistent ride of every single day since the start of the academic year and will be until the end.

OUGD603 — Brief 04 - Design Publication - Brief