Exploring Type and circles in Indesign

For this Task I worked with formatting text in Indesign. We had to create a leaflet that represented the text we where given. To start of with I looked at quite a few videos, one of which being (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH-jsWBVNjU). This was a formatting video that allowed me to understand a lot of the basics in indesign as I haven’t had a lot of experience in this software before.

The first step to creating my leaflet was to add a background. I did this by using long rectangles at different angles to get this geometric pattern. I set the colours to different tones of blue as I though this worked best after a few experiments.

The next thing that I needed to do was to start inserting some of the text. To start of with I read an interning article on typefaces allowing me to be able to pick the best one. (https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/indesign/how-to/text-formatting-overview.html). The typeface that I decided to use was minion Pro. For the title I went with all capitals again after my reading I found this worked best as as a stand out from the rest especially as I had used a darker colour in this section. I then went on to add the introduction text which I wanted to follow the lines of the darker blue. To do this I used a force line break to make some of the text fall onto the other line. I made it 11pt as this is a good readable size not being too big or small for its purpose.

After I had done the background and title I needed to figure out a way to add the podcast sections into the leaflet. I tried by adding it in normally but I came to conclusion that this didn’t stand out enough and wanted a more unique way to display this text. So I decided to keep with the geometric theme and add my text in circles. To do this I place a circle using the circle tool and made a white fill with no outline. I did this three times and played around with placement and size and having the biggest circle with the most text in. When adding the text I found it quite difficult to get it all inline because I needed to set it to know that there was a circle frame. I learnt this by finding a video that helped me align the text on the path as well as wrapping it around the circle. I kept the text in the circle the same font and made the title a lot bigger to stand out. As all the text was quite different sizes for each section it became hard to keep the text the same size. To make it fit I made the left text a bit smaller as there was no way to make the circle bigger.

When adding all of my text I played around with leading and tracking a lot. Especially with my title as when using capitals it often looks squished. Adding a bit more space between letters would make it easier to read for a potential user.

The last piece of text that I needed to insert was the dates. Ones the circles where added there wasn’t a lot of room to add these. So I came up with the idea to add the around the outside of the circle. This was quite a hard task however I managed to find a useful video on this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=25&v=gKOSnQ2RXJI&feature=emb_title). To do this I used the same circle that the text are in and used to type of the path tool which is under the type tool. I clicked on the area that I wanted and typed out the date and made it correct font, colour and size that I wanted. One problem that I came across was that my text displayed upside down. To fix this I needed to flip the text in the circle. This was done by going into type- type on a path- options, this allowed me to have the option to flip the text. I then want my to make the text side on the ascender instead of on the base lien and this was done through the same way as the flip.

The final step that I tool to finish was to add a logo as I saw some negative space that could be used. I also wanted there to be a defining feature to know that the leaflet was about a podcast. I went to illustrator to make this and learnt how to insert it in using an online video to help.

Sticker ideas

Design and idea and Design process

For my first design idea I wanted to focus on developing my stills with the illustrator pen tool as I have had very little experience working with this before. I wanted to create something that stood out son kept the original colouring of the text and used the pen tool to create both the outlines.

This is a demonstration image of me exposing the two ways I could using this tool and figuring out the most effective method.

My next design idea I took a different approach and incorporate the feature image and the main background for my sticker. I did this by using the clipping master tool and snipped the two images together.

I tried to create different depths using different tones within layers that built up in the middle.

I really like how this design turned out as I believe the design fits well with my photoshop and indesign work.

This sticker design idea in my opinion was most effective as I explore I wide range of different different design process that allowed for an interesting sticker to be made.

For this design idea I wanted to focus on the boldness and making things stand out. I used the pen tool to create the icon and made a really thick line to make it stand out from the circles. One main design process that I used in this sticker was the merge tool as a made the two circles separate and combined them for both the main frame and outlines.

Software tutorial

To create most elements within my stickers I used software tutorials to help guide me throughout. The first video that I found really helpful was a beginners video on how to use the pen tool (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j69a3-shkGE) this allowed me to understand the basic features and allow me create lots of experiments with this tool to come to my final sticker ideas. This video did really help but I would like to continue to develop my skills in this area. I started to watch a new video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PilxMhWgW2I)and will continue to experiment and expand my knowledge in this area.

Another video that I watch and found very helpful was one on removing white background (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpswbHB4N0M). Although it was only a simple video it allowed me to master this skill and came in very handy throughout making all my stickers.

One software skill that I would like to improve upon is working with layers as I found it quite difficult to get my head around this. A lot of my layers are just one on top of each other and I would like to develop the skill of intergrading different layers together created more three dimensional effects that are more aesthetically appealing to the eye.

Through this project I believe I have developed my skills a lot from having very little idea I know feel confident using a wide range of tools and methods in illustrate. I look forward to developing these skills more and gaining a better understanding.

Design resources and articles

The main sources that I used as a form of inspiration Pinterest as well as google images. This allowed me to see previous work and gain knowledge of what is effective with a design for a sticker using these allowed me to come up with unique ideas that would catch someones eye when wearing.

Another source that I found particularly useful was an articular on how to make stickers (https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/illustrator/how-to/design-a-sticker.htm) This web articular went through the process of making in illustrator and gave a step my step guide on the process. This allowed me to follow along using some of the process he used in my own work.

One other helpful tool that I used was looking at templates that for example adobe has published. This was useful throughout my hole project but especially the stickers as it allowed me to see what was already out there and understand how colours and layers work well together. (https://stock.adobe.com/uk/templates?)

Paper wheel charts

During this mini project I was drawn to these paper wheel charts, know as volvelle, that where displayed within the collection. These wheels where created to have answers to lots of different things by the different layers of the wheel that spin around, for example the one on my cover picture tells the user about gardening and the best times to be plating different things in your garden. They are often used to calculate different things in a fun and clear manner as you are able to get the answer you want by spinning the wheel. Reinventing the wheel was a book in the collection which gives lots of examples of different wheels for lots of different things all with very interesting designs some where very old and there where also more modern designs displayed within the book.

Abstract Logo

For my logo design I decided to take a more abstract approach. I started off with my mood board where I collected images that sparked my interest. Most of the images I found had lots of vibrant colours and lots of geometric shapes. My mood board then inspired my logo as I incorporated bold bright colours all throughout. The starting point for my logo was my initials which are done in bubble writing and overlap each other. I then went onto add different shapes all through out the bubble writing.

To experiment with colour I created a few versions of the same design but used different variations of colour and patterns throughout. This allowed me to figure out which version I liked the best, I chose the grey back group logo as my favourite as I like how well all the primary colours stand out from the background.

Although this is only a paper drawing it allows me to see and understand what I would design on the computer having a higher ability to change up features. For example would off my ideas I wanted to try was to have the lettering inside the bubble writing white so it stands out from the colour better.

Peter Pan book cover

For my second book cover I used all the similar styles to the original penguin book cover and related to Peter Pan. The first thing I did was change the colour to a green colour that most Peter Pan books are keeping it a solid shade as this is what all penguin book covers are. I then went on to remove the penguin and add a Tinker bell outline to replace it. I was able to do this by inserting a picture from good images then cropping all the back ground out using the snip tool. I then went on to add some more images around the top that frames the penguin book logo. Overall I went for a more simplistic approach as when doing some research all of the penguin book covers where very simplistic and I tried to follow this with an approach of a Peter Pan book.

Staircase

For this mini project I picked the brief of staircases as I wanted to experiment with different levels within a book and how this manipulation would effect the text.

The first thing that I wanted to do was have two different path ways, the best way to do this was to cut the book in half which I did. I did this as I wanted to represent the two sides one being the severely ill and the other more mild illness. I represented the two sides by two different staircases both going downwards. The first staircase has clean lines that go down in an even manner. The string leading down shows that allow although he has a clearer mind it still isn’t perfect and this is shown as adding this has made the pages much harder to read due to the tension. The other set of staircasaes follows a lot more uneven and different variations of steps. I created this by having every step both a different size and different methods, for example one has negative space within the step and another has lots of texture. This staircase represents the people that are most ill so therefore following this path down wouldn’t be a good experience.

Lettering in perspective

For this mini project I decided to focus on the different perspective of letters in the environment. I focused a lot on different angles of the letters and how this made the type even though they where the same look completely different. I took photos from high, low to each of the sides as well as zooming in and out. To really get to understand how the change in perspective happens. Something that I noticed as I focused on the letter B was how the different font, colour, text size and position all allowed for the same letter to look completely different some many times. I was then able to represent my findings on a document displaying how perspective and different varieties that go into the typography change the meaning and visual.

Portal

The three words that I was given where Hockey, travel and chicken nuggets. During my initial designs I designed a portal that was activated when a hockey ball was hit in. I then went on to develop this idea further by including her favourite food into the design, I incorporated this by creating the shape of the portal as the food. I was able to have all three elements mixed into this design as the portal is activated when the hockey balls are hit into the bottom and the portal allows her to travel within seconds to any place she wants.