OUGD404 - Studio Brief 02 - Intro

Intro to the Brief

Studio Brief 02 involves producing a book/editorial which includes 10 double page spread layouts.

The content should be informed by a personal interest but should, in turn, demonstrate a growing understanding of the fundamental principles of grid, layout, type and format plus the form, function and construction of books: all of which is introduced during studio sessions and workshops (labelled on my blog) 

The 10 layouts should include a contents page and an introduction to what I aim to include in the editorial.

As a designer I need to help the reader engage and understand the context through positioning of the text and images, in such a way that is appropriate for the content but also navigable by the human eye. This is true for any layout whether it’s for a glossy fashion spread, reportage or an instruction booklet. 

Content

Being greatly interested and involved within the techno music industry and the rave scene I have decided to mainly base my publication on one of my favourite DJs Seth Troxler. Having followed him for a couple of years now I am familiar with his very specific opinions and ethos' around the environment, profits and directions within the music industry and also the use of drugs in our generation. I have access to some very interesting articles which provide more accurate context around him including interviews and imagery. 

The articles:

Talking to Seth Troxler About the Environment and the Beauty of Meat, http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/talking-to-seth-troxler-about-the-environment-and-the-beauty-of-meat-827

This article consists of the talk on his love for meat, but then the impact that meat production has on the environment. 

He talks about his passion for nature and the environment which then develops into discussions regarding the influence that himself, as an artist, and other artists can have on encouraging the public to support change. 

He pushes the ideal of alternate eco-friendly music festivals, for example 'Wonder Fruit' in Thailand and how he wants to see more projects such as this take place.

This, in turn, has inspired me to include a page or maybe even a double spread on the eco-friendly festival and the positive impacts it can have on our society, especially me being based in a heavily interactive student city! 

http://wonderfruitfestival.com/index.html#home

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/dec/30/thailand-wonderfruit-festival-sweet-sounds-green-shoots

Seth Troxler: "Dance Festivals are The Best and Worst Places in The World", https://thump.vice.com/en_uk/article/seth-troxlers-guide-to-dance-music-festivals-clubbing-and-not-being-a-terrible-human

Here he discusses how dance festivals are taking over within our generation and are taking away the original club culture which was so present in techno and house rave scene throughout the 90s. He discusses his experience with some of these festivals and how they are breeding a generation of impatient, annoying festival kids. Patience is highlighted as the patience of the clubber is different to the patience of the festival-goer. With festivals, you get it all on a platter up-front. Lasers, LED screens, Pyrotechnics. The soul direction is around money and commercialism, rather than the music having a deeper meaning, giving something back. It does not represent a movement of people, a culture.

SETH TROXLER RALLIES AGAINST KETAMINE, INAUTHENTICITY, AND AOKI (AGAIN), https://thump.vice.com/en_uk/article/seth-troxler-rallies-against-ketamine-inauthenticity-and-aoki-again

I will use this article to support my content around his views within the industry, but mainly will be taking from it his discussion of the drug side to the industry and some of his personal experiences. For example, psychedelics, ecstasy and how he believes ketamine is the heroin of our time. 

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From these articles I hope I provide enough context which will cover a lot of the current arguments surrounding our generations passions. Thus attracting young people at university, such as myself who are so involved in the party industry but also educating them on the issues surrounding it and how we can push the industry but in the correct direction rather one focusing on capitalism and profit, but more for the experience and preservation of our planet.

I also plan to be including a feature within the editorial around my own sideline project. Within the PPP module I started up a collective known as 'DesignersWhoDj' which aims to build a platform for designers and djs/music producers to connect and build opportunities for collaboration in larger projects for the student city! The article will include an advertisement of how to get involved with the collective but also an article highlighting an interesting concept created by a DJ/Designer called Calvin Chu..

Why Designers Need A DJ-Style Mixing Board, http://www.fastcodesign.com/3048374/why-designers-need-a-dj-style-mixing-board#1

"Mixing boards have long been the domain of DJs and music producers, but why haven't hardware interfaces caught on with designers and creatives? If Calvin Chu gets his way, they will. Chu is the inventor of the Palette, a snap-together mixing board that connects over USB to control all sorts of creative apps, including Adobe's CC suite. And he thinks every designer should be channeling their inner DJ."