(B9) Home: Researching and Formalising Brief

Starting Home Project, have 3 weeks to develop the publication. The focus of this week is to identify a concept for the publication and discern the most appropriate imagery to achieve this (with felix). Next week will be spread wireframes, typeface and photographing (Felix), then the final week is collating, develop narrative and refining.
(Working on B4 'The Guardian' throughout so overflow days for production when I'm back after easter). 

RESEARCH

PENTAGRAM: Dear New York

https://www.pentagram.com/work/dear-new-york

'An online experience captures New Yorkers’ feelings about the impact of Covid-19 on life in the city.'

'The team began the design process by thinking expansively about what makes New York City, New York City. Key references and ideas quickly emerged. First, the team wanted to allude to the often random, unplanned occurrences—sidewalk collision, chance encounters, overheard conversations—that make living in a major metropolis so vibrant, and that were sorely missed during the city-wide quarantine. A simple content framework was devised around the prompts “I miss you for…” and “I hope you will become…”, inviting users to contribute their reflections on both a nostalgic past, and an ideal, reinvented future. '

• The purpose behind this publication is what makes it so effective, the clear and simple message they're wanting to communicate to the public through stories from the public is a cyclical process resulting in an outcome that allows people to feel part of a community during a difficult time. 
  - It would be really interesting to have the project Felix and I are working on encorporate stories from people who live in Sheffield or have lived in Sheffield. This human-ness is so lovely to read and would add a lot to the project.
  - Would need to think about the relevance though.
• This project is providing comfort to those who have lost their sense of community during the pandemic. I don't want to comment on pre/post pandemic pandemic Sheffield as I feel everyone fully understands the extent of the pandemic and don't need it solidified in a project. Would want to focus on something else. 
• The intention of communicating what makes NYC, NYC is something I want to explore about Sheffield and present in this publication. 
  - Would be good to identify one theme (as there are many avenues to explore) and focus on this one to keep the intentions clear throughout project. 

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MAX CREASY: Casual Relationships

https://www.antennebooks.com/product/casual-relationships/

• This idea of the casual relationships people develop in Sheffield, with what things? why?
• 'The sequencing and design of the publication articulate the associations and patterns discerned from this promiscuous collection of images. '
  - This way of using imagery to present themes, commonalities and differences could be a way to present the way Sheffield works as a city. The photography can be harnessed to showcase themes and the design enhance this. 
• The book could be a way to showcase how people develop relationships with a place purely because it's where they grew up.
  - Maybe this could be the focus, more on the growth within Sheffield and how that's impacted how we view it.
  - Could look at people in terms of pre-sheffield and post-sheffield?

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LYDIA GOLDBLATT: Fugue

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/lydia-goldblatt-fugue-photography-060121

“Photographing felt liberating and intuitive,” says Lydia Goldblatt of the moment she first picked up a camera. It was while visiting her father’s birthplace with her family that she initially laid her hands on one, before being completely taken aback by the medium’s immediacy in documenting “things newly seen, even if the picture itself turned out to be rubbish.”

- This innocent, naive photography and taking photos for the sake of it could be something to embrace in the project, simply seeing the photos and content as they are and designing to enhance this.

'Still remaining an advocate for the immediacy of the photograph, Lydia’s process now gravitates more around the idea of thought – achieved through the act of making, research, reflection and analysis.'

- I think this is the approach that's best to have with this project, thought, ideas, generate a clear vision in terms of communication then go out, capture it with Felix come back and work with designs. Would want to work with the images rather than design a book and slot the imagery in.

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PETER MITCHELL: Early Sunday Mornings

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/peter-mitchell-early-sunday-morning-photography-091120

'A photographer now held in high regard for his portrayal and focus on the “strangely familiar”...'

“To Leeds people – and far beyond – this is home”

'With each photograph capturing the city as the sun rises on these early Sunday mornings, each architectural shot of Peter’s is met with shadows cascading over every building, or elongating the frame of a person featured. Taken at this time in the day, and at a time when English Sundays were rarely spent out and about, Peter’s photographs also depict the city waking up. '

- The consideration into the ways of capturing information on photo to present the different tones and feelings. This needs to be considered when taking photos for this project.

Think about the types of photographs to take and go get them when it's right (if possible), not just in one day. But also allow happy accidental photos to be there, these really shine through and feel much more authentic. 

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OCCUPATION AND HOSPITALITY:

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/we-became-aware-019-occupation-and-hospitality-publication-070119

https://artpapereditions.org/product/book/sd024-occupation-and-hospitality/

• What's really exciting about this publication is the feeling it communicates to the audience, as well as the actions. You have to rumage and navigate your way through the publication in order for it to make sense.
  - This idea is something that I feel is very relevant to how people perceive Sheffield to be as a city.
  - Should think about the form of the book and how this will impact the experience the audience has, not just the content. 
• Design features like the fold out pages propose difficulties with production but add a lot of tactility to the publication. Need to consider the practicalities of producing a publication that relies heavily on physical production during the current pandemic.
  - Think if there are ways to work around it, sections to focus on, digital rentitionst hat could be effective. 

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Biba Kosmerl: Organized Disorder

A book, dealing with some very important existential questions. Does our personality show in the way we approach food on a plate? Does our eating style reflect in our daily life and design? Does it show in the way we choose clothes or furniture, or talk to loved ones? Can a hyperactive person with a short attention span ever be a true modernist?

• Exploring abstract concepts through photography and print. I like the organisation of this publication as it has enough visual difference to be interesting but enough consistency to be understood. I feels like a whole piece but each spread also works well individually.
• The little hand drawn additions to the pages are really lovely, they add a sense of personality to a publication that comes across as fairly cold. 
  - What other elements can be added to achieve this other than hand drawn features. Could alterations to the publication contribute? Tip ins, duplexing etc? 

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FORMALISING BRIEF SHEET: