OUGD504: Design for Print: initial ideas

After carrying out research into the different print processes, I originally thought about creating a pop-up book. The pop-up book would be a brief informative guide to design for print. As I am aware I am not particularly good at most of the print processes, I thought this would be a more effective format to present my content. I thought about ways in which I could design a book which was interactive, engaging and unusual. 

I thought one effective way to achieve this would be to use a range of pop-ups and pull-outs to demonstrate each process. Ideally, I would choose a range of processes (between 3-5) to recreate through pop-up book themes. 

For example; screen printing would be demonstrated by using a pull down feature to show the before and after effect. Before: line drawing // After: line drawing with colour applied.

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During a Interim Peer Review session I presented my initial idea to a small group. This gave me the opportunity to gather a range of useful feedback. A few comments I received included:

• Who is the primary audience?
• Who is the secondary audience?
• Be sure to refine your content before you begin thinking about the pop-up features.
• Search online for cheap pop-up books -- deconstruct these to get a greater understanding of how the pop-ups are created. This will help when creating your own.
• No-stitch binding could be appropriate for binding the plastic covers? 
• Although the plastic cover could become scratched or damaged when being used, this could be relevant to the product -- scratched effect brings character and own mark-making dependent on the user -- causes the reader to feel comfortable when reading the publication, as opposed to feeling reluctant to use it in a messy/busy area where it is prone to damage.
• Consider using acetate for soft cover version?
• The book would be interactive - this is interesting and engaging for the reader -- something different.
• Remember to photograph development as documentation -- this could even be included in your publication itself as first hand examples of the context.
• Look at pop-up books in the University Library.
• Visit Waterstones and look at examples of pop-up books.
•  Try to aim the publication towards specific students in order to narrow down the processes you're going to do. For example, collagraph is not appropriate for Graphic Design students. 
• Could try using Coptic Stitch for hard cover binding?
• You have a clear view of what you are going to be doing.
• Knowing your limitations has made your idea stronger.
• What is the tone of voice?
• Who is the target audience?
• Consider future development.
• What type of pop-up book will this be?

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The next day we were put into different groups. This was in order to present our refined ideas to a new group of peers, but also to receive a Tutor's opinion. I was in Phil's group. I found this useful as I gain further feedback and ideas. This also confirmed a few doubts and changes I was considering making after receiving all of the previous comments. The new feedback was:

• Interesting concept
• Manual might be more appropriate?
• Making a pop-up book will take a long time to make -- consider this when making a realistic time plan
• Experiment with different stocks
• Don't bind pages to the edges -- research binding for pop-up books.