Visual Interview: the final result

The object of this assignment was to interview one of our classmates and design a spread that explains that person.  Through the use of text and photographs we were to create both a visual and physical experience to get to know our person. 

I struggled with this assignment, which is something I did not see when beginning this project.  I actually went into this assignment thinking that I would do something based heavily on a gridded system, and that did not end up happening.  The one thing that I used that was part of my first idea was the poem.  After my interview with Quinn I realized that poetry, the written word was something that she really enjoyed.  I then wrote a poem about her based on the style of the two poets that she gave me.  

One of the best things about the incorporation of poetry into design is that you have the ability to add more meaning to the words.  I don't think I fully gave the words all the impact that they could have, but I think I ended closer to the final concept.  I chose Archer for the typeface because it is Quinn's favorite and thought that it spoke a lot about her.  I think that it explained more about her that I did not discuss within the poem or in the visuals.

Prior to this assignment I had never thought about fully illustrating a person through mainly images and a bit of text.  It was difficult because I was trying to be less abstract. Abstraction is the style that I gravitated towards during this class.  I wanted to try to move away from that style towards a more cleanly, and professionally laid out composition.  This was hard to create because I struggled with how to lay text and images that it made sense and was not confusing.

But it ended up being a fairly well done design.  I think the composition on the outside really worked together.  I question if there was a better way to incorporate the text into the image.  I still need to work on the composition on the inside of the fold.  I had tried using different images or more overlapping to keep the same color scheme as the front, but couldn't find something to work.  All this means is I need to take more time later on down the road to make more of a connection of the outside to the inside.

front cover/fully folded.

back cover/fully folded.

first open full spread/opened like a book.

up-close detail of front composition.

open folded out side/fully opened outside.

inside of the poster/fully opened inside.

Visual Interview: the second layout

This is my second attempt at manipulating the images that I was using.  I wanted to try to bring more cohesion between both sides.

outside front 1(optional).

outside front 2(optional).

outside spread.

inside.

Visual Interview : the mock up

The mock up of our Visual Interview poster is due.  This is what the two images are below.  The top one is the image that is the outside of the poster that will only be seen as a whole image if the viewer chooses to unfold it all, otherwise it will just be in the split sections.  The main thing that I am questioning is whether the viewer will be able to understand all the poem text going together, and if all of that text is legible.

Opening - fold 1.

Spread - fold 2.

Closing - fold 3.

Full open image.

Inside image spread.

Visual Interview : the text

First part of the "Visual Interview": the actual interview.  My interviewee is Quinn Mahler.  We chatted for a while and I decided that the best way to describe Quinn is by using a poem that I wrote, as well as a few quotes that she said during our interview.  I wrote the poem, because Quinn is not only majoring in Graphic Design, but also Creative Writing.  I was asking her what types of writing she really likes, and one of them was poetry.  I asked her who a few of her favorite poets were and she told me two of them, Gertrude Stein & Lisa Jarnot.  I looked up and attempted to replicate their style of writing when I wrote the poem about her.

two sides that bind

flip the world to see all the sites

two pieces that combine

not as initially thought

fight for what she wants

help those who fall short

eyes hold the smallest piece

compassion cradles the world

time is limitless

            future sits high in the trees

her vision sets scenes

            clicks follow suit

           

her fingers wait for the moment of action

            utensils at the ready

her voice waits

            for the moment of need

her hands yearn

            for the ability to create

“I hate wearing pants.”

“Girls had to be in the kitchen cookin’ shit.”

“I like the relationship between person and self”

“I’m driven directly from my mood.”