Publishing Design | Task 2 / Content Generation

 

Week  01 | Week 06

Mohamed Hammam Chebel (0342483) BDE's. Creative Media (Hons) 

Publishing Design 

Task 2 / Content Generation

Instructions 

Generating Content

In this exercise we were asked to generate 3000 words either from a known source or on any subject we are familiar with. The content must be 3000 words minimum divided by 3 chapters, each section of the paper must have at least 2 subtexts and one pull quote.

Fig 1.0

3000 words exercise (Before Feedback)

Fig 1.1

3000 words exercise (After Feedback)

After generating the 3000 words, we were asked to make visuals that will be displayed on the book along with the text, the visuals must be relevant to the topic of the book, however, it doesn't have to be literal.

Mr. Vinod suggested that we go with something abstract in nature.

As my book is about my story with Arabic Calligraphy, I decided to do some Arabic calligraphy artworks with various scripts and styles, the words I will be writing will be incomplete or disconnected so it won't tell the story directly.

I made sure that each artwork will match the meaning in the body text.

After Mr. Vinod's feedback I decided to go with a black & white color scheme, the lettering will be in white against a dark background.

I wrote the words and letters using my calligraphy kit then took pictures of the artworks, I imported the picture into Adobe Photoshop as it is better when dealing with filters and textures.

Mr. Vinod suggested that I make it grayscale mode then invert the images, I really liked the idea so I kept all the artworks consistent in color scheme, however different in terms of content.

Here are all of the artworks I have done:

Fig 2.0 Artwork 1

This is a verse of the Quran, which means that the pen (A tool of writing) is the first thing created in the universe and that it is a holy object, that we use to learn and develop.

Fig 2.1 Artwork 2

Fig 2.2 Artwork 3

Here, I wrote some letters and then I mentioned " All letters have been written with god's will".

Fig 2.3 Artwork 4

These are just some random Farsi calligraphy letters, most of the artworks have no literal meaning, however, they have hidden meanings.

Fig 2.4 Artwork 5

This is my first name written in Thuluth script, as the story is about myself.

Fig 2.5 Artwork 6

Abstract Farsi lettering 

Fig 2.6 Artwork 7

Abstract, Al-Thuluth script.

Fig 2.7 Artwork 8

Abstract, Al-Thuluth script.

Fig 2.8 Artwork 9

Abstract Farsi lettering 

Fig 2.10 Artwork 10

Verses of the Quran using Al-Maghrebi script

Fig 2.11 Artwork 11

Abstract Farsi lettering 

Fig 2.12 Artwork 13

Abstract, Al-Thuluth script (Random letters and combinations)

Fig 2.13 Artwork 14

Abstract Farsi lettering - derived from artwork 01 

Fig 2.14 Artwork 15

This artwork means "life"

Fig 2.14 Artwork 16

Abstract Farsi lettering 

Here is the artworks thumbnails layout in In-Design:

 

Fig 3.0 Artworks (Thumbnail Layout)

Book Cover Artworks 

Fig 3.1 Artwork 16

Book cover illustration

On the book cover, I wrote "My story" in Arabic using the same look and feel, I used Al-Thuluth script as it is more suitable for titles and headings

Feedback 

Week 04

 - Look for work of series.

- make other variations.

- don't make your work predictable.

- expand elements or introduce new elements in your artworks.

- Explore and come up with other artworks.

- keep all the artworks consistent, either pixelated or not. 

Week 05

- If you introduced a new element keep it.

- Don't be afraid to go outside the margins.

- make the thickness of the rectangle the same as the previous frame.

- I can see the variation in your artworks.

- Try to add an element of surprise 

Reflection 

Observation

While generating the textual information for the book, I noticed that it's not easy to begin writing, as I never wrote a story or anything more than 3000 words, it wasn't easy starting, but when Mr. Vinod advised us to just start without thinking, I directly started writing non-stop until I finished the 3000 words.

I also noticed that I'm still able to do Arabic calligraphy even I haven't practiced for a long time.

Experience 

I learned new techniques on how to apply textures and effects in photoshop thanks to Mr. Vinod's guidance and feedback, I transformed my plain pictures of artworks into old black and white calligraphy artworks which fits the theme of the book perfectly.

I really injoined lettering using my old calligraphy kit, this project was the reason and the thing that motivated me to write again. The book pushed me to make artwork daily.

Findings 

I found that placing the artworks into the spreads is harder than making them and editing them, a good placement of artworks and text can make the book pop and stand out, I applied the knowledge from the form and movement exercise to find a suitable placement of the artworks

Further Reading