Statement of intent

Aimee Stevens
Foundation in Art and design
Graphics
Statement of Intent

Progress and Achievement
At the beginning of this course I thought it was going to be very similar to what we had previously done in national diploma. It turned out it was very similar but I did learn a few new techniques such as a few digital techniques within Photoshop. I have also learnt about oil bars different ways to use ink. I have also learnt more information about a few other subjects. Such as within fashion and textiles I knew very little about any of it and thought it was just clothes and making pieces. After experiencing a workshop within it I now know you can use any material or media and doesn’t necessarily have to be an obvious wearable piece. Within 3D design I also discovered the fun experimental and recycling side. You don’t have to create something brand new and I also learnt there is always room for improvement.  

Pathway Choice
I chose graphics as a different route than photography as I felt I would benefit more and have a bigger variety in specialist areas. So far I have enjoyed the whole of graphics. In particular after the initial moans of the projects I have really enjoyed the different briefs we have been given and this new way I can approach them I haven’t really experienced before.
I feel I have definitely broadened my knowledge on typography and graphic design as I knew nothing to begin with. I have learnt within this that it is okay to create messy graphics and typography it is not all clean and crisp computer generated work. I have also broadened my knowledge on new artists such as Stefan Sagmeister, Dan Mountford, Andy Rementer, Rob Ryan and many other artists who have influenced me throughout many different projects this year.

Personal Confirmatory Study aim and objectives

For my final major project I want to explore the idea of shapes and sounds of type. I also want to explore the types from different eras see how they have changed and try to incorporate it somehow. This may just be experimenting with the alternative fonts and styles. I got the main idea for this project from a book I really like and have used quite a lot for research which is called Shapes for Sounds by Timothy Donaldson. I also want to look at how sound is portrayed within comic books and the use of the text create them. I really like the layouts and paper used to create comics, so I may use them as grounds or inspiration for layouts. I would like to explore and create my own ideas of type as sounds. Looking at the book shapes for sounds it reminded me of graphic scores which is where words and shapes are used to create music and it is read however you want to read it. I may explore this idea through research into artists and drawings.

When researching my ideas further and researching artists I intend to use the libraries quite a lot and not use the internet as much. I have researched a few different artists already whose work inspires me and the ones I have chosen to include so far are Andy Rementer, Michael DeForge, Cornelius Cardew and possibly Roy Lichtenstein. I also want to try out lots of different typography/text techniques throughout this project I haven’t really used yet. I want to spend sometime within print making using the type blocks and experimenting with ink and different layouts as well. I want to do a lot more collages, mono-printing and maybe look into screen printing, but just generally take a lot more photographs and do more initial drawing to help me progress my ideas and work.

I think this final major project will be a very good learning experience for me as this time around I will be able to focus more on exploring my ideas, I know from last year how to use my time and how much I need to leave to get everything done. I think this will give me an upper hand on everyone else’s work because I have the experience of previously having to do this section on the National Diploma.

For this project I intend to work towards possibly an installation of some sort or maybe a creative 2D/3D outcome. I want to create a more experimental final piece so it gets the audience interested and not just a plain boring image.

See last page for timetable of this project.

Evaluation
I intend to produce two sketchbooks one I will use for research into ideas and artists and planning the other larger sketchbook I intend to use for primary drawings, sketches, photographs, planning, exploration, techniques and collages. This will document the progress of my work. I will also evaluate with peer reviews and have tutorials to help me evaluate my work and at the end of the project I will write an in depth evaluation of the whole project. I am also going to keep my blog updated so I can exchange feedback and opinions with other people in my group.