Hand-in 1

My body of work is due to be handed in tomorrow so at this point I’m able to take a step back and evaluate my progress so far. 

My extended major project has advanced at a steady pace over the last 15 weeks. Working alongside D&Ad was difficult at first and my project did take a dip during those weeks but I gave it my best effort to not let my EMP suffer. 

It’s been mentioned to me that this is the last brief where I will have the freedom to do anything I want. Since I know this project will be a reflection of me I’m glad I chose the path that I did as I was able to design an outcome that really means something to me.

As a whole this project has been a difficult one, I’ve set out to achieve things that I’ve never done before and I hope I have done these well. 

Returned book photo shoot

I’d been waiting for the book to come in the post for a while and after it arrived I went straight to uni and set up the infinity curve. I took some really nice photographs but once I’d loaded them onto my computer I realised how wrong they were for the book. It was only once I saw them along side the other images that I realised they were much too harsh and staged. The stark white background was too much. 

SO…

I started again with the intention of giving the images a softer feel, like a glimpse into the real experience of receiving the book in the post. With the help of a friend I photographed my own hands as if it were from the perspective of my own eyes. It was a huge improvement and now the images fit with the overall tone of the book. 

Jeremy Continued

When I emailed Jeremy with my questions I sort of expected some of the answers I got. In particular that he has once has his wallet returned to him. Like my friend Kate that I posted about previously- it seems as though a good deed inspires more just like it. Similarly I’d assume that if someone experiences having something stolen, they may be less likely to help if they come across something.   

Correspondance….

some emails between Jeremy (one man who returned a book) and myself

Jeremy,

Firstly if possible, can you explain why you decided to pick up the book in the first place? Before starting the experiment I wondered if people would even look at the book and if so would they look inside to read the inscription.

Also did the inscription effect your decision? Would you have contacted me if there were no writing inside?

Why did you decide to contact me directly instead of handing the book to lost property?

Out of those who contacted me, you were the only one to go to the extra effort of both emailing and texting me. Why did you feel that it was important to do so?

How did it make you feel when I told you that you had been part of this study?

Finally, have you ever had another person do something similar for you? For example have you ever lost something and had somebody return it to you?

Thanks again for agreeing to do this. It’s a huge help!

Speak soon,

Victoria

Morning Victoria,

1.       I decided to pick the book up as I was working and it was a rather quiet Saturday morning with very few people around and was waiting for a tube.  Furthermore it looked out of place sat on the seat and was not the typical free papers thrown away or discarded.  The title of the book also indicated that it was for a child or younger person, whom likely had lost it, which probably affected my decision to pick it up.

2.       I would have contacted you regardless if a number was given, however the inscription clearly showed sentimental value and of someone away from home so had more meaning – hence why I texted and emailed (thought the young girl maybe upset)

3.       Contacted directly as the numbers and email address where within.  Lost property may not have even contacted you and all it would have cost me to return via post would have been a small amount of cash.

4.       Due to the sentimental meaning, I thought it essential to get book to you ASAP.  As item 2 above

5.       Relieved that a young person had not really lost her book.  Absolutely fine that it was part of study. 

6.       I lost my wallet once – the cash had been removed and it was handed into the police station (to be expected)

Hope this answers all the required info – take care

Regards

Jeremy

Stock

With 2 days left until hand in, I think know my layout is finished! It’s so hard to look at your own work objectively, but with a lot of constructive criticism and 23 versions it’s there!  

The next step in my project is to choose paper so I have started looking at stocks I feel will give my design the kick it needs. Some back and forth between myself and G F Smith has really been helpful, they’ve been kind enough to answer all of my questions and give me some great advice. 

In previous projects I dont think I’ve given enough consideration to how the choice of paper can build on a good design (or hinder it). But this time I really want to think it through. Especially since I have been given the luxury of a second deadline when I can hand in the printed outcome, this gives me an extra week when everything else is out of my hair to make decisions. Practically I know that I need to keep the spine to 5mm or under since the width of the hard cover spine is only 1cm. Having 46 pages makes this doable so long as the stock is no heavier than 150gsm.