BRIEF ONE: 78rpm – mp3 . . . A celebration of popular song lyrics of the 20th century
The invention of audio-recording media in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the development of mass-media entertainment through radio, and eventually television, led to an explosion of creative songwriting that has scarcely abated to this day. From Tin Pan Alley to Abbey Road, from 78rpm to mp3, the lyricist’s art has informed and influenced contemporary culture at every level. Each decade of the 20th century has its share of iconic tunes and charismatic writers and performers – we want you to celebrate their art in typographic form.
The Brief
Investigate the lyrics of at least two songs selected from different decades of the 20th century. Take the opportunity to express the essence and spirit of your chosen songs in a typographic ‘tour de force’. You may wish to compare or contrast, consider period, context, locations, include biographical or historical sub- texts, or simply celebrate the emotions that are aroused by great words.
Think laterally, develop high quality research, intellectual rigour and well-considered typography. You may wish to consider the juxtaposition of your chosen pieces – do they have anything in common? Do they address similar issues/themes? Are they polar opposites? You decide! The possibilities
are endless . . . .
A screen-based submission could be an interactive piece or an animated sequence – again you are encouraged to be innovative and exploratory. The use of sound, motion, interaction etc. offer many opportunities in
respect of the design, but do bear in mind that the submission should be typographic in essence and this requires careful consideration.
The challenge is to interpret the lyrics typographically. We would discourage overt use of imagery (eg photographs of performing artists) and suggest a subtle and sensitive approach to the inclusion of any illustrative content.
A list of artists to start you off: Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim, Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Marc Bolan, Joe Strummer, Joey Ramone, Madonna, M&M, Oasis, K T Tunstall, The Scissor Sisters, Coldplay, Black-Eyed Peas etc.
Target Market
Design students, discerning designers, and music enthusiasts.
Requirements
• Research and Development • Strategy • Specifications/Grid(s) • Dummy/Prototype(s)
• Presentation
Cross-reference this project brief with the ‘Assessment Criteria’ sheet.
Submissions will only be accepted in one robust portfolio no larger than a2.
BRIEF TWO: 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ...
The basis of this project could be the Dewey Decimal System with which you have become closely engaged during your study – we trust. However we are using its principle of classifica- tion of subjects into divisions and sub-divisions of ten rather than its application for organising your library.
We want you to consider the publication (through print and/or online) of a source of information on a series of subjects – not encyclopaedic – that will simultaneously inform and enthuse its users.
The Brief
You are going to publish under the title
10 things you should know about . . .
using one of the following 10 categories –
• Science
• Hobbies/Crafts
• Famous battles
• Travel
• Artists
• Sport
• Gardening
• Games
• Plays
• Authors
Each category will have 10 different subject areas. For example Games could have explor- atory text about the rules, how to play and the tactics needed to be successful in Poker, Back- gammon, Bridge, Monopoly, Scrabble, etc. Hobbies could contain Stamp Collecting, Cake Decorating, Knitting, Train Spotting, Writing, etc.
Identify a subject area in your chosen category and design a publication containing 10 things people should know about it. This will be a prototype design for the publication of the series.
The size and format is at your discretion. It could be a broadsheet, folded leaflet,10 different cards, etc. The copy should be concise and relevant to the understanding of the subject and must express the hierarchy of information.
In addition to your main piece, design two other covers in the category, plus a folder or container for point-of-sale and/or mailing. Similarly if you propose a partwork strategy, consider some- thing that will contain all 10 items within the category.
Alternatively, a web-based approach could use its inherent hierarchical structure to develop a resource that could even adopt a wiki approach for development – the choice is yours. However, the strategic and visual strengths of the proposal are our main focus – not programming.
Although the use of illustrative material is encouraged to, firstly, increase visual interest and, secondly, to make aspects of the facts easier to understand (particularly tactics or rules) the way typography is used to create an interesting visual publication should remain your main focus.
Target Market
Teens onwards
Requirements
• Research and Development • Strategy • Specifications/Grid(s) • Dummy/Prototype(s)
• Presentation
Cross-reference this project brief with the ‘Assessment Criteria’ sheet.
Submissions will only be accepted in one robust portfolio no larger than a2.
BRIEF 3: THE TRAIN STANDING AT PLATFORM TWO
‘Eventually everything connects – people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se.’ Charles Eames
Most of us have experienced a long rail journey – we witness the dramatic contrasts of the changing landscape, the inter-connections at various points along the way; various people embark and disembark; the dynamic is ever- changing ... finally we reach our destination.
The Brief
This brief challenges you to take a metaphorical journey on the theme of connections. Explore the theme as broadly as possible and take us on a journey that might link, amongst other things – people, events, philosophies, theories, objects, movements, inventions, history, literature, etc.
Your journey is only limited by your own imagination and the quality of your research – surprise us with the juxtaposition of your selected themes but be sure to communicate to the viewer the ‘connectedness’ of the thinking within your design.
You may wish to consider a linear journey, for example, focussing on a single theme such as ‘literature’. Alternatively, you might wish to take a more diverse route by connecting seemingly disparate themes – remembering however, that you must demonstrate the logic of the connections. This is the fundamental challenge of the brief. Your connections should not be so obvious that they fail to engage the viewer; equally they should not be so obscure that they cause
confusion in the narrative flow.
Here’s food- for-thought –
Victorian Music Hall – Charlie Chaplin – Communist witch-hunts – The Cold War – Space Race – Telstar – Digital TV
As ever, the goal is to communicate your journey through a visually stimulating piece of work that demonstrates robust research and development, considered typographic experimentation and craft, underpinned by intellectual rigour – a typographic ‘tour-de- force’.
We do not wish to be prescriptive about the form of the finished piece. It could be a high quality printed publication or a screen-based interpretation – surprise us with your ingenuity.
Target Market
Define your market, and how you will target it, in your Strategy.
Requirements
• Research and Development • Strategy • Specifications/Grid(s) • Dummy/Prototype(s)
• Presentation
Cross-reference this project brief with the ‘Assessment Criteria’ sheet.
Submissions will only be accepted in one robust portfolio no larger than a2.
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