Graphic design Research

Regarding research, we all looked at a combination of graphic designers and illustrators who focused on using gradients and vector shapes. Graphic designers like Tom Juris who uses simple shapes, lines and text and he produces smart designs that look neat and clean, but have an undercurrent of edge. We also looked at artists that use gradients when producing images of scenery and we were impressed by the use of vibrant colour schemes, so we have to think about what colours we could use and what colours work as a set. Finally we looked at Allzee Lafon who use vector shapes to create everyday objects like a television or a phone, we were considering using this method to create objects found aboard the endurance ship. 

The Pitch

With the three ideas we had come up with we pitched them to the tutors at our college, which was huge help in boosting my confidence. After they took all of our ideas into account our group and the tutors discussed how we could do produce our ideas effectively and tell a story. 

We reverted back to following through with the idea of using posters and incorporating the time line into them. This way we could tell a story and have some interesting images through out. As the initial idea only used 4 posters we wanted to expand the amount of information we could use with the images so we decided to eight and we focused on two poster designs each. 

The next steps we focused on what stylised we were going to use and how we could make the posters part of set. 

Initial Sketches

Through extensive research and collaboration, we came up with 3 ideas that we thought could potentially work in terms of telling a story in a interesting and relevant way. 

Idea 1) Posters 

We thought that posters might be a good way of producing and presenting work. The idea behind this was to produce 4 posters each depicting a different part of Shackletons expedition. Each image would be relevant to his story and would tell the onlooker about what happened. The 4 posters would be brought together by a quote in the centre that would be from his own memoirs. We also wanted to place the images inside frames, we thought this would help to present the work in a more professional manner. We thought it was a strong idea that would incorporate our own individual skills and bring them together as a strong piece. 

Idea 2) Timeline 

The timeline idea was about learning and understanding what Shackleton went through. The concept of it was to create a timeline documenting his adventures,with relevant images along the way. The images would be chronologically ordered. It was a simple idea that the onlooker would follow the story and go on a journey themselves, in essence becoming “mini” explorers themselves. This idea was something different that would break away from the conventional style of presenting work. 

Idea 3) Gallery exibhition

This was all about presenting work to be placed in a professional gallery space. This was based on our visits to the war museum and art galleries, where we studied how professional artists and galleries  display work. This would help us in the future and now in terms of producing work at industry quality. 

About Me

Hi! I'm Jordan and this is my messy room behind me !

Im currently studying Illustration at Stockport college in the U.K. My aim is to become a full time illustrator. 

http://jordanraineyillustration.blogspot.co.uk is my blog that I use to upload any drawings I have done and different work created from Uni brief's. 

Below are my aims and why I draw. 

1) Why Illustration ? 

Ive always liked drawing and its a great way to express how Im feeling or to reflect on something. It's a load of fun as well !!! 

2) What way do you work ? 

I work in a multitude of ways from painting to pencil drawings. I always create imagery that means something, and makes that connection with the onlooker. 

3) what work have you done ?  

•  charity Parkinson's Equip

• 8x8 short stories 

• Macmillan Children's book entry 

• Editorial Images 

Contact me here jordanrainey21@gmail.com 

The Endurance Expedition- Book

The Story

As well using the book as a strong reference we also looked into what else was happening during the time period. To give us a good idea on how people will of been feeling at the time and how they may have view the adventure of Shackleton. We did find when returned from his adventure, after believing he would be viewed as hero, no one actually cared of his ventures. Unlike the heroes of world war one. 

Also, Roxie and I took it up on our selves to get another crew members account of the expedition so we read the book Scott of Antarctic. By doing this we found new opinions of how the expedition actually went but we also saw similarities to struggles and the crew members confusion to some of Shackleton’s decisions. This began to give ideas on how we could illustrate and then incorporate into our work. 

Team Discussion

With three of us being illustrators with different styles, strengths and weakness’s we needed to decide on how we could incorporate work with a graphic designer and how we illustrators could work together. We each individually went through past work and our own styles and discussed possible ways oh how we could create work. Through discussion we decided the illustrators among the group would focus on the images and detailed side of the work and Awez would focus on the typography side. Research would underpin all of our ideas and the group would all contribute to that. 

Collaboration - Story Telling

Originally we were given a selection of briefs to choose from where would then work in a group to create an effectiived outcome.

The brief that stood out to me the most was the Story Telling, it basically instructed us to tell a story without using the standard of written words. The story we would work work from was provided as well. Our chosen story was South, An Endurance Expedition. Based on the third expedition of Ernest Shackleton and his crew across Antarctica. 

My team members where as follows, Roxanne Kenworthy a fellow illustrator as was Chris Birchall and Awez Baij a Graphic Design student. As we used people from different areas of expertise it seemed a good idea because we could share skills and maybe do things we couldn’t of done before. This would be a new experience for me to learn how to work efficiently in a group. 

Watching

Isolation

The House

This was the house I imagined. I wanted to stick with using charcoal as I felt it best represented the darkness that was part of the book. 

The Stairs

I was trying to imagine what the main characters house would look like. I visualized a set of dark stairs.

Formby Beach - A Sense of Place

As soon as I read in the book that location was based around a Scottish beach, with a swirling rough sea and huge sand dunes, I knew that Formby beach near Liverpool was the ideal location. Its exactly like the location in the book and is one of my favorite places to visit. I spent the entire day taking photos and sketching out objects I could find as well as the beach and forest of Formby.  

"The Wasp Factory"- Iain Banks

The summer brief from uni, was to create a collection of images in response to a chosen book. I decided to pick "The Wasp Factory" as my book. The reason was based around the dark psychological themes of the book, I was excited to create imagery and give my own interpretations of what I read. 

The book itself was a fantastic read, and one I couldn't put down. Based around the life of an unconventional family, where the main character is sadistic calculated character, who's interests involve animal sacrifice and murder. I wanted to capture the darkness that engulfed his life and try and create imagery that reflected the location and themes of the book.  

8x8 "Same Time Tomorrow"

The 8x8 project is a number of short stories produced by creative writing students. The aim was to collaborate with them to produce imagery and a banner for their stories. My story is called the "Same Time Tomorrow"

I focused my illustrations on my interpretation of the theme of the story. Which in my opinion is isolation and dissatisfaction with the characters daily life. I made the images quite dark with slight hints of color used to represent the lack of color and enjoyment in his own life. 

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