How text can change the meaning of an image

A photograph or an image always has a story, a meaning. A photographs meaning can change depending on who is looking at the image and we all have different approaches of thinking and visualisation; creating hundreds of possibilities to the meaning of an image. Therefore designers imply an addition of text to give the image a direct meaning for what it is intending to show, creating a form of legibility.

This also makes me think of photography is general, is there any way in which we can tell what someone in that image is thinking, find out what the people are going through, or discover what their situation is like; and to me it is always been an intriguing factor.
A photographer called Jim Goldenberg, has created a series of photographs called rich and poor. His images are not focused as one big bold photograph but have text weaved into them. The text of compelling stories brings so much more emotion and understanding to the photograph as a whole. Also with the hand written text it adds personality and reality to their living; in comparison to computerised text or no text at all. It is clear to say from this that text can change the context in which we are looking at an image, opening it up to the broader picture.

Another artist which has created something similar is Wendy Ewald, she has taken a series of portraiture shots and introduced a line of text. The line of text introduces more emotion and meaning behind the image as a whole; relating the emotion in their eyes, expression on their faces and the body language corresponding to their situation.

In the advertising industry today, designers are creating such abstract, indirect, vibrant imagery it is hard to tell exactly what is being advertised. And with a small addition of text it becomes clearer to the viewer to tell what is being advertised; somewhat making the image legible. Below I have gathered a few examples of camera advertisements which have been using this very abstract, yet intriguing imagery.



1. The image of the eye could refer to a nature programme 2. A documentary  3. A holiday brochure or a pool yet they all are advertising different cameras and presenting their unique features of 1. Image quality 2. Capture speed 3. Use under water

Overall it is clear to say that text can alter the context of an image and can strengthen the meaning of an image; creating new varieties but also direct meanings. Although it is a very simplistic process it can give the image a whole new lease of life!

The 10 Essential Milestones in Graphic Production

The design process is a very tougher process in which all of us designers must go through in order to produce the most effective, professional outcomes for our work. This makes it interesting to look back through time about production and different processes and styles which have come about through the years; as it definitely has effected and enabled the variety art and designs produced over the periods. Creating some of the essential milestones in graphic production.

The history of print and graphic production has gone through thousands of different forms, enabling new, efficient, artistic forms of design to be created. Here are 10 milestones in which I feel have and will be the most influential over the years for my work and for several other designers.

1. The Gutenberg press – a form of flat bed printing press, allowing engraved metal blocks to transfer ink onto a flat bedded media(blocks previously created from wood) This process allowed the first form of rapid mass production and the start of a revolution of printing.

2. Lithography – the process of etching away an image and then being able to transfer the image several times over onto a smooth surface. This process is used today to produce high volumes of design, for thing like posters, newspapaers, packaging etc.

                          

3. Rotary printing press – The use of two rotating cylinders to transfer print onto paper. This process is now called flexography. This method can be used for printing on a variety of medias including plastics; metallic papers etc, but is now mostly used for food packaging.

4. Photographic process – an image forming device of recording a medium, enabling people to create a durable image. Photography has advanced over time from black and white to colour creating so many variations in between only creating more variations for us.

5. Screen printing – a technique of transferring ink through a woven screen and through a stencil underneath, creating blocks of colour around the stencilled image. This technique has been around for thousands of years and has been used by some of the world leading artists (Andy Worehole and Hiroshige)

6. WWW – the world wide web allowing people all over the globe to network and communicate their images and text across to each other and the whole world. As designers this is particularly important milestone for us, to showcase our work as well as have a chance of recruitment.

7. Inkjet printing – Allows images and documentation to be printed out in high quality in our homes and studios. It allows imagery to be printed at a high quality, be professional and be of a sellable quality.

8. Adobe Software – these are programmes which are must knows in the design industry, including Photoshop allowing you to simply manipulate images to creating masterpieces from scratch, InDesign allowing the production of professional design materials(magazines), Illustrator, After Effects several more programmes.  

9. Windows processing system – allows us to create and function some of our most basic, day to day needs on a computer. It enables effective use of the computer system and to enable effective production of documentation and processing.

10. 3D imagery - The latest form of technology, still being developed to enabling the creation and viewing of 3d imagery on a flat surface. It allows the creation of illusion of depth in an image.  This is a very modern process which could revolutionise the graphic milestones from today.

LITHOGRAPHY - a few quick snaps of my works :

I have done this process a few times- by indenting polystyrene, this method is less durable yet still creates a very nice effect.  Especially in b&w it adds that slight rustic feel. The second method is etching into a harder more durable material of lino. It allows you to repeatedly use this lino as well as create detailed and textured images. You can choose to add as much detailing as you would like and overall for very time I have used it, it has proven to be a success and effective piece for my project.

SCREEN PRINTING - a few quick snaps of my works :

A few of my screen print i snapped up for you to see. You can print on a range of materials and create a variety of variations. What I particularly find interesting is the addition of textures and off edges to what may start off with the idea of having a block, matt colour on Photoshop.

‘The experts’ - Stefan Sagmeister

My favourite expert is Stefan Sagmeister, he is a contemporary practitioner working across several medias. Firstly I feel that his ability to work across medias and produce his visuals is what makes his work so powerful, enabling him to produce variety as well and amazing, captivating imagery for us to look at.

His work is captivating to see yet the thought processes is even more intriguing. As his concepts are all very close to life it makes us think about how he done it and what he was thinking about when he created it and thought of it. His images are very explicit and shout to the viewers. He makes us observe different ways of visualising through an extraordinary use of media.

He also ranges his work through graphic design, typography, photography; furniture design etc showing is explosive number of ideas and versatility. He is able to work across platforms, creating very different, bold and inspiring pieces.
Overall I hope one day that I am able to produce and versatile and unique designs as he does; as any designer would be every other designers dream also!

As I have referenced this artist before and find him a strong figure in graphic design I have also been watching some of his presentations. Finding out about his personality and his thought processes which enable him to produce the ideas; create in depth interest into his work. And though this video we can clearly see that his though process is very different to several others and his list making is very inspirational. I recommend people to watch this!!



A collection of his work.



Information Design

Information is passing us by every day, but how much have we taken in and remembered? Being a graphic designers and visual communicators we all have to think about all of the different ways in which we could communicate information to reach different audiences making them enjoyable, effective, and inspirational; overall creating an impact on the audience.

Information design is about creating efficient, effective, understandable and enjoyable pieces of information. It is a non traditional approach, a different visualisation, a way of integrating images and visual design into statistical information or heaps of text.
Information graphics have been around for several years and there are several traditional to more contemporary designs which people have been producing. None the less they are all very beautiful, eyes catching and create efficiency to the information. They allow us to create an instantaneous way of comparing information, and allow us to make immediate responses.

I feel they give greater depth and create broader scope to the initial information. The pleasure given by looking at these images in comparison to a heap of statistics is on another level! Below I have made a collection of a few inspirational designers of information design.



Charles Minard – His flow map of the Napoleon march, showing the number of people from the start to end, in a simplistic graphical way in comparison to it being a table of statistics. One of the first forms of information graphics.



Nicholas Felton – a modern, boundary breaking, approach to information design. I would say he is one of the top designers of information design today -more of his graphics are here: http://www.theloudcloud.com/felton/




A few additional imforation graphics showcasing a variety of designs and interpriations



I have found a few moving motions of visual graphics some common themes as well as some which break boundaries of the traditional information systems. Also able to see how the market and brands today are integrating this practice into their design strategy! It is inspirational to see that graphics like this are produced rather than a mountain to text.





Platform

In today’s industry there are several ways in which platforms are used to intrigue and target various different audiences. Companies now choose to us ‘360 campaigns’ which means the brand is commissioned over a variety of different platforms. Again this is a very similar concept to advertising.

The different commissions can include, online games, animations, video clips for YouTube and android and iphone markets, films, TV shows, etc. They all create different platforms for people of different interests and for people to enjoy different ideologies. For example animations could be created to target a younger audience, so they can to understand and gain interest: broadening the brands market. These different platforms change the way people can interact with the brand and the theme. E.g. a computer game would allow you to get involved and become part of it.

Several of these platforms are played over different variations in time, to create different impacts. 10 minute clips featured on YouTube to intrigue interests. 10 hours across weekly episodes keeping people coming back to watch. 100 hours over season, where it is played every day within a season so people come back each season to see what’s happening, this can then also come out as a box set for people to collect.

As a graphic designer I could come across having to do something like this for a brief so seeing all of the outcomes and developments is truly inspirational. A good example of a subject which works across several platforms to intrigue different viewers is ‘Dr Who’.

They create a wide range of different platforms to entice and fulfil different viewer’s likes and passions. From films, TV shows, animated series, computer games, features on YouTube etc. We can see that they have to very similar imagery and styles across the different platform so the imagery does not go on a complete tangent. This also shows a good use of advertising as the image stays consistent but can work across a variety of platforms: e.g. the TV series is turned into an animation, yet with easily recognisable differences.

Testing

Being designers we constantly need to test our work, to get it out the audience and see what responses are received from them and the only way in which we can do this is by showcasing or work, getting it out there!
There are several ways in which we can test our work to gain feedback: By creating a blog or website allow you to circulate work globally and gain responses/critical commentary from people who look at it. By exhibiting in galleries you are able to see who comes, who is interested etc. By publishing in magazines you are also able to see what responses people give to your advertised image and even gain other clients. By joining creative forums you are able to see what is currently going on and get feedback from other designers which look at it and which are on it also. Through all of these there are also even possibilities of recruitment, allowing you to showcase your talent and work on larger scales.

Not only does testing allow you to see what people think about your own work but also allows you to go ahead and give some feedback on others work, developing our critical skills and making us broaden our critical analysis. It also allows us to see what is going on and what the current styles/ movements/what’s popular right now and even gain some sort of inspiration for our own work.

For example we are able to see a wide range of artists which publish their works online, keeping us updates on their current work, showcasing their commercial, personal, exhibits and even sketch book work. A few personal favourites include:

http://rob-ryan.blogspot.com/           http://www.mikeperrystudio.com/

         

Delivery

The market and canvases for our work to be showcased and delivered throughout the world is endless; creating the most efficient and effective ways of delivery to the intended audiences.

There are thousands of ways in which our designs can be featured: From above the line promotion of T.V commercials, billboards, magazines and cinema etc. To smaller, below the line promotion like, leaflets, banners, flyers, direct mail; none the less any method chosen; being most effective to its intended audience.

Any good piece of design/illustration/photography etc can be changed to work on a variety of platforms, to be delivered in a variety of ways to advertise the style/image.
For example the illustrator Rob Ryan has currently been spreading his work across a myriad of platforms, keeping his style and imagery yet imputing them into a variety of platforms in which his target audience will be interested in and to general just generate interest in his style. Something in which all of us designers should think about doing!

Here is an example of one of my previous pieces of design, as you can see I have adapted the initial design to be able to deliver it on a myriad of platforms. One design delivered using the above the line promotion: on a website and the other below the line:  featuring as a poster in a shopping mall; none the less both working to the best to attract the intended audience.

Above i came across these displays, one for Hello Kitty and the other for Cath Kidson and it is clear to say that the brand style has clearly been established and the ability to deliver the style and the brand over a myriad of platforms is clearly successfull! We can see a consistant theme running across the products and a clear range also, creating something for everyone!