paperwork
The first book that I looked at is called 'paperwork', written by nancy williams. It focusses on the potential of paper within graphic design and contains some interesting formats and technique that I could experiment with. I documented the pieces which I felt was most relevant to my practice.
Die Cutting
The first thing I looked at was die-cutting and in the form on one of my favourite designers, Peter Saville. This is a simple, but powerful design for a record sleeve. The die-cut holes in blue outer sleeve reveal the contrasting inner orange sleeve inside. This was inspired by perforated steel in factories and you can clearly see this comes through.
I wonder if I could re-create this in a studio environment,possibly using a laser cutter or even a scalpel for smaller pieces.
Still focussing on die cutting, This interesting calendar was sent out to clients from the 'Face Photostatting Company'. Clients were expected to fold out the cut sections forming the look of a face with the folds and shadows.
This is an amazing concept when used appropriately in context like this.
Folding
Moving onto folding, I came across this mail out from D&AD. The file contains information sheets which can be unfolded into a poster and can be seen two ways, either as a megaphone shouting or the lead in a yellow pencil. Interesting folding techniques that can be applied to a simple paper based product to give it two separate functions.
More work from D&AD, this time in the form of a student submission to the D&AD competitions. This combines three funtions into one item. A folder, looseleaf instructions and an envelope. To the cover, instruction sheets are stapled and a label is applied with decorative stamps to the envelope.
Fantastic Folders & Exceptional Envelopes
The next book I looked at was a designers guide to folders and envelopes basically. Innovative and Creative solutions....
This leaflet is is a leasing brochure for tallest building in America, the Bank of America Tower. The brochure is entitled 'The Vertical City' and the format helps reassure this idea.
The format itself is long and thin, taking on the aspects of the building. The decorative die-cut in the covers and the black and white photography emphasise this.
The next thing that caught my eye was this folder created for Central Saint Martins College, London. The oversized jacket it created with perforated chads that the aspiring creatives at the college could punch out to crete their own titles.
Again, this is a clever concept when used in the correct context, but could be hard to re-create in a studio environment.
This is a simple concept but looks really powerful. The envelope is created with silver foil and sealed with a wrap around sticker. This would be very effective to re-create in a studio environment. Maybe I would have to send off for the envelope, but could add effectiveness aesthetically to my product, depending on wether it was relevant to the concept in some way.
Baltic is a contemporary 'Art Factory' located in the UK. Work is exhibited there on a regular basis. In these mailings, A durable card stock forms the basis of a family of versatile folders and envelopes. Like a gallery wall, the stationary is intentionally quite neutral. The main packaging is sealed with a sticker for a more official feel. I particularly like the format sizes of the envelopes, especially the long thin one.
Maiow Creative created a mail out to let clients they were moving. They created this really inventive folding out mailout. The envelope is oddly shaped and unfolds into a poster using japanese origami. Great use of origami which really pays off for this particular concept.
Paper Engineering
Next, I looked at the paper engineering book. This focusses mainly on 3-D design techniques for 2-D material.
This is a slyer for the Mattise/Picasso exhibition that was held at the Tate Modern in 2002. The exhibition was focussing on merging the talents of both artist so this is what was done quite literally in this concertina style leaftlet. when folded up, you can see each artist on either side, but when flat the images have been spliced and merged together. Great and easy concept that is effective for the particular concept.
This is a similar concept but is created to be folded into a gentlmens suit pocket using smaller sections.
The cover of this contemporary auctioning booklet contains the grey sans serif type on a black jacket. The jacket has 100's of tiny holes that are close together but neatly spaced to reveal the Damien Hurst painted Butterfly piece underneath. Really great idea to bring the elements of the front cover through the jacket to be visible and could be re-created fairly easily, possibly with a laser cutter.
This poster was handed out as part of the prize for winner of the Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year. It uses a famous quote and has been created using a variety of printing, hand-cutting and folding techniques making it easy for me to re-create in a studio environment. It could also relate to my chosen theme quite easily. It helps a poster become more than a poster, making it stand out and be noticed.
Nike invited Uk filmmakers to create a short film giving a fresh perspective on sport. For the invitations to the young directors awards, the design agency frost took direct influence from visual language in film for this mailshot. The perforated edge to open resembles that of a 'clipper' boards and the design compliments this. This is very relevant to me because i'm working with film. I'm not sure how I could recreate this effectively. I would have to look further into perforation techniques because I'm wanting to hopefully include this within my tickets too.
This invitation to a fashion show is just simply 5 cut lies to create a square when lied flat. It is angled on the page like a diamond and creased down the middle so when opened up, the strips overlap to create this lace like pattern and effect. It becomes more sculptural and decorative, relating to the fashion show.
Leave your comment