504 - Type in Context - Crit & Research 2

My second more developed approach to the project presented to the crit session, including feedback received...

Concept 2 - An informative Photobook

Looking at how Serbia's history (communism, the armory show & the underground music industry) have had the most impact on the countries artistic development, and how they are now slowly evolving towards a more Western stylised society - this is reflected through my images, presenting the contrasting signage on shopfronts, etc within the city centre.  

So with this concept it would be much more informative based on the country itself and its ties to Graphic Design giving a much clearer target audience for me to hone in on - not just travellers who want to go to Serbia, but graphic designers looking to expand their contextual knowledge of their practice - across European countries and where there could actually be a lot of work and development arising in the future. 

This style of publication would allow me to experiment more freely with the form of the book in relation to its context. *So I wanted to get some peer feedback and opinions from this crit to help direct my research (questions asked to follow)…

Would you want to see the images printed on high quality glossy stock?

Then partnered with the informing text based pages on a relevant coloured more matte finish stock?

Do you think this would suit more of a pocket guide style? or a more hard-back coffee table kind of read? Or a zine-styled publication?

- In response to the above questions we had a directed discussion around what style this kind of book would suit, and due to its informative nature paired with the related photographs the majority did push towards experimentation with a more official looking, hard back coffee table styled publication. This would allow me to experiment with the grouping together of images on a high quality photo paper in the centre of the publication, but people also suggested looking into having various inserts which could fold out of the publication including poster/postcard styled cut out. 

Overall, the crit did point me towards this concept over the first one as I have done more research into this one and have more of a vision for how I could develop it.

I feel like if I experiment with a hard back- this can act as a cover over the top of some experimental binding techniques for the inner pages. 

Something to consider is Serbia’s main exports are vehicles and parts, base metals and furniture so could the basis of these materials influence the production/form. E.g. hard back wrapped in a specific fabric? Or foiled to appear with a metal-y quality to it?
- Everyone loved this idea of justified aesthetics for the front cover.







One of the first publications I think of when I think of hard-backs is definitely The Desillusion Mag, this is definitely a publication I'll analyse as I have a copy.