OUGD505: Publication Final Crit

For this crit, we presented our final publication mock-up's and ideas in small groups. This gave us the opportunity to ask questions about decisions we were unsure of. My three questions were:

1. Which stock do you think would be most appropriate?
2. Is the content useful?
3. I am currently using a black and red colour scheme with a varied opacity. Is this effective, or does it need more colour?

My feedback:

1. 160gsm - thick but not too thick, experiment with both coated and uncoated.
2. Yes. The information all serves a purpose without bombarding and causing confusion.

1. I agree with Harrison (above) and think the more you experiment, the better. You want something sturdy enough for the braille.
2. Content is definitely useful.
3. Is red a relevant colour used within braille? You could make it directly connected.

1. I think a combination of stocks - true grain for embossing, and white matte for content.
2. Would be interesting to see where braille is used - examples? You could do illustrations of way-finding or something.
3. Limited colour scheme is good, but why red?


Strengths: 

• Using embossing to show how braille works by touch is effective.
• I think the embossing idea works really well - experiment with wood to start with as this is quicker than a copper plate.
• Illustrations for the alphabet are really clear and easy to digest. 
• Embossing would make it look really and it is appropriate.

Areas for improvement:

• Belt punches - try producing your own braille
• You could try using tracing paper for embossing. +1 - This might be a quick way to do things.
• You could experiment with bubble wrap exercise - pop exercise
• Research how people produce and teach their own braille
• Experiment with scale/ braille size.
• I also think using bubble-wrap would be fun to experiment with. - There is an existing calendar where it has been used.
• You could wrap the whole thing in bubble-wrap stuck on paper with the relevant circles highlighted/ printed underneath. 
• Rather than just talking about the alphabet, you could briefly go into other areas e.g where it is used, difficulty etc.

Considerations:

• Consider using watercolour/cartridge paper style stock - it feels soft and is white, but textured so blind embossing will will compliment the stock. 
• You could emboss onto tracing paper pages that slot in between and overlay images of braille. 
• Maybe include sentences in braille for the reader to practice reading and deciphering to help them learn. 
• Could you play around with the with the layout? 
• Possibly add pictures to pages about Lewis Braille and pages of info.
• Could you bind the publication to represent braille as well? You could use black rounded seals and they could even spell braille as well? +1
• Don't get too carried away with braille otherwise you will be in danger of overkill.