Description of task

This assessment task focuses on the necessity for visual consistency in publication design and in graphic design more broadly. Instead of addressing the entire range of diverse elements that feature in publication design, this task will specifically focus on three key elements: colour, shape and composition.

Utilising only a limited range of colours and a set of shapes (made with the Indesign tools learned in class), you should compose a series of abstract designs for a 12-page booklet.

Consider compositions for double-page spreads (DPS) as well as single page compositions. While you might have your colours and shapes combine to form images, this is not intended as an exercise in representation nor narrative design. Rather, it is about creating designs for the page that utilise a very limited set of elements, with the challenge being to allow the publication to be as diverse as possible within a system of relatively strict consistency.

The colour palette developed in this assignment will also be utilised in Assessment Task 3. 

Assessment and Grading criteria

• Overall Visual Consistency.

The booklet should demonstrate an understanding of a cohesive design approach.

• The Colour Palette.

This should reflect a thoughtful and deliberate choice, contributing to the overall consistency of the booklet.

• Constrained diversity.

Within the constraints of the chosen colour palette and set of shapes, you should attempt to develop innovative combinations to maintain visual interest and engagement throughout the extent of the booklet.

Description of task

In this assessment task you are required to think about how type can function as an image, encouraging you to explore potential relationships between image and text. You are to choose and illustrate a simple phrase. You can choose any phrase, but consider idioms such as "bite the bullet," and "spill the beans," or even oxymorons such as "Deafening silence". Create a design that both typographically states and visually illustrates your phrase.

Your final design should therefore visually communicate the tone and meaning behind your chosen phrase, effectively "showing" as well as "telling". The typeforms you use can be drawn from scratch or created through the modification of existing fonts. You are welcome to use any combination of vector, photographic, built, or hand-drawn elements to create your typographic design, but the final submission must be scanned or otherwise digitally combined and submitted via Canvas.

This project is not asking for unaltered fonts with accompanying illustration but instead asks you to ensure that the letterforms themselves are the main communicative tool. Therefore, your submission should not rely on additional non-typographic illustrations or images for your chosen phrase to be understood.

Additionally, your submission will include a short, written rationale of approximately 100 words that explains your process. This text should consist of two typestyles. A simple "headline" or "subhead" style and another style for "body copy".

We will develop these two type styles during class and they will become key to the development of Assessment Task 3.

Assessment and Grading criteria

• Visual Impact.

The design should engage viewers through creative and playful transformations of text into visual imagery.

• Large scale type.

The design should demonstrate an understanding of the function of display text.

• Typestyles.

Demonstrate an understanding of relevant and appropriate type styles with an eye to Assessment Task 3.

Description of task

A booklet with a minimum of 24 pages. During this course we have often discussed magazine design, as it is a key reference useful for connecting the design and technical issues related to print production. However, for this self-directed publication project, you are encouraged to develop a publication of your own choosing. It can be any format and it might take the form of an exhibition catalogue, commerical magazine (you could model your publication on a recognisable magazine genre), artist's book or zine.

You are strongly encouraged to use your own image-making or to source your images from creative commons sources only. You must not use images sourced online without attribution.

Whatever style of publication you choose to pursue, in all instances it is the consistency, creativity, and innovation of the publication design rather than the merit of its content that will be taken into account when assessing.

Assessment and Grading criteria

• Design Consistency.

You should ensure all the different elements contribute meaningfully to the whole and are sequenced logically across the extent of your publication. This sense of design cohesion, what you might call your publication's signature style, should be clearly recognisable in the publication as a whole. The emphasis is on mastering the basics of InDesign and knowing how to use it to orchestrate the complex collection of texts and images that make up most publications.

• Typography.

Appropriate use of relevant and consistent typestyles that are employed via Indesign's Paragraph Styles.

• Structure and Navigation.

You should consistently demonstrate your awareness of the particular issues that need to be addressed in different sections or pages of your publication. The sequence of the divisions around which your publication is structured need to be visible and well designed. How does the reader navigate your publication?

• Innovation.

The publication should attempt innovative approaches to typography, layout and design, as well original approaches to the use of colour, images, text and/or shapes to accentuate category, genre, style and cohesion of the publication.

• Commitment and Engagement.

Participation (and attendance) in class, seeking feedback in the development of this project as well as evidence of consistent engagement with the project. Cameras on, if applicable.