# data[].attributes.body
Starting this unit we were tasked with creating a magazine spread in groups. The magazine needs to have a consistent theme both visually and content- wise. This week we were explained how briefs work and a lot of the basics I need to grasp in terms of the expectation the course has for us. I'm looking forward to the work I'll be making.

# data[].attributes.body
We were tasked with a library activity where we picked five books from the library using various methods and then chose an image from each book. I then scanned the images and printed them in the library. I found this activity quite helpful as a briefing on how to use the scanners.

Part of the activity also relied on citing our images and we were handed the sheet below to fill in as we completed the activity. These are the images that interested me and their citations:

#inquiry

#knowledge

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Intro To IVM Independent Study Task Week 1

# data[].attributes.body
My citations

#inquiry

#knowledge

# data[].attributes.body
Today we worked on a collaborative collage made using the images we found in the library as part of our task. We brought in what we had photocopied and cut our images up to fit them into a mind map that included all the themes that inspired us. We used markers to connect our themes and find similarities within the images that inspired us. We ended up finding quite a few similarities. The overarching theme of our combined interests was the concept of community around a historical art practice. My team was inspired by tattoos and textile patterns as well as fortune telling and more specifically tarot decks. This was our outcome:

#inquiry

#communication

# data[].attributes.body
I’m researching magazine spreads and what elements make them clear to read and appealing. So far I’ve been scanning in pages from different magazines that I find interesting and referencing back to them when thinking about the “ feel” I want the magazine to have. Iv’e been looking at large publications such as vogue but also smaller and more artsy publications. I find large publications like vogue look very luxurious and curated, which enhances the reading experience because of their use of negative space. I also found smaller publications have a less “ high end” look but often are a lot more colorful and interesting to look at. I lean more towards the maximalism and soul of smaller publications, however I’ll experiment with both ideas

#inquiry

#knowledge

# data[].attributes.body
We had our first CTS session as a class and collectively reflected on what illustration means to us as well as the applications of illustration. I found the ideas of my peers to be very thoughtful and it prompted me to reflect on my own work and how it fits into the landscape of illustration.

#inquiry

# data[].attributes.body
The collaging activity helped me decide I wanted to write about tarot cards

#process

#inquiry

# data[].attributes.body
In our groups we designed a color palette to roughly follow as we make our spreads in order to make the magazine visually cohesive.

#process

#communication

# data[].attributes.body
After choosing our main themes and colors I created a rough sketch of my ideas for the illustration. The person would be holding tarot cards from a bird’s eye view and a hand would come in from the opposite side picking a card. This is a consistent element I want to keep no matter my composition

#process

# data[].attributes.body
I began working on layout ideas for my spread

#process

# data[].attributes.body
#process

# data[].attributes.body
#process

# data[].attributes.body
#process

# data[].attributes.body
#process

# data[].attributes.body
In our groups we began thinking of titles for our magazine, we felt the title “Oddities “ fit with our ideas well and encompassed what we envisioned the themes to be. My teammate also created this incredibly useful mind map on how our title connects back to our themes:

#communication

#knowledge

#inquiry

# data[].attributes.body
We had our first studio coaching tutorials in our groups and spoke with our tutor about the progress we made this week. We brought her our ideas for the title and the color palette we designed which she helped us refine. We also discussed our topic ideas for the written part of the work and she steered our research in a clearer direction. I found this very helpful

#inquiry

#communication

# data[].attributes.body
In our groups we began thinking of our cover design and I created this collage as a starting idea. We did our best to bring together everyone’s ideas and reference a little bit of everyone’s research focus.

#communication

#process

# data[].attributes.body
Today we worked on our typography and cover page ideas in our group.

We started by writing our title on a piece of paper and passed the paper to our left every 25 minutes so that the other group members could work on it.

I enjoyed the activity as a lot of good ideas were brought up through what my group made.

This ended up informing our decision on designing the magazine cover, especially in the use of colorful patterns and prioritizing making the title eye-catching and easy to read.

Here are our outcomes:

#communication

#enquiry

# data[].attributes.body
My teammates created these two mock-ups of a cover page.

We decided to lean more towards the image on the right due to it’s perspective. We also aim to change it as we go to make more space for the title

#process

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
In this CTS  session we discussed our Information Landscape and why the research process is so important in academic environments.

This made me reflect on how to conduct my research efficiently and how to make the most out of the tools available to me.

I visited the library and found two resources I am interested in.

The first is “Iconic Tarot Decks : The History, Symbolism and Design of over 50 Decks” by Sarah Bartlett ; and the second is “ The tarot: history, symbolism and divination” by Robert Micheal Place.

I will be referring back to these as I write my essay.

In the second half of our CTS session we also went over the expectations for our presentation, and were assigned to read the academic article “making (the) subject matter: illustration as interactive, collaborative practice” by Luise Vormittag. The article talks about what it’s like to be an illustrator in the present and how self initiated projects aimed at specific communities can be incredibly impactful. The article also gives some examples of these types of projects, most of which revolve around very small communities and are informed by intimate conversation between the artist and the community members.

#knowledge

#Inquiry

# data[].attributes.body
As a task we analyzed an illustration of our choice from the website “It’s nice that”’. I analyzed Sisi Kim’s “Childhood Nostalgia” 3D digital illustration. Here are some of my notes

#knowledge

# data[].attributes.body
Today was my personal development day. I began thinking about the illustration to make for my spread and researched modern tarot decks. and tried to identify what drew me to them visually and was particularly inspired by the “ Starspinner Tarot” deck by Trungles. The artist uses an incredibly colorful style and impressive composition, as well as inclusive imagery in his deck. For instance he created 4 “ The Lovers” cards representing lgbtq+ couples, as opposed to a traditional tarot deck which only includes one.

#knowledge

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Intro To IVM Independent Study Task Week 3 2

# data[].attributes.body
Task reflecting on our themes

#process

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
I took my own reference photos and created some line art as a starting point to map out my composition more clearly.

#process

# data[].attributes.body
in our Digital Skills class we were tasked with creating a two-page spread on a topic of our choice as a way of getting used to using industry standard tools such as Adobe In Design. I created a spread with a recipe for a Negroni

#process

#Inquiry

#knowledge

# data[].attributes.body
#process

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
Me and my group members began working on our cover page separately after allocating work for each of us. We decided to keep the illustration as linework only as to not overwhelm the image given that the background will be a very colorful pattern.

Here is my work

#process

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
I sketched out layouts for my magazine spread

#process

# data[].attributes.body
In our first workshop of the week we discussed visual hierarchy, contrast, balance and other essential concepts to design a magazine spread effectively. We went over typefaces and colors in the design of a page and how these affect the reader experience. I found this incredibly helpful as I’m still experimenting with the feel of my magazine spread and will definitively continue to do so. I was particularly inspired by the idea of using multiple typefaces for different types of content on the same page.

#knowledge

#Inquiry

# data[].attributes.body
I created a basic plan for the text on my magazine spread

#process

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
Me and my team have been discussing important aspects of the magazine, such as the order of our spreads, layout etc.

We decided on the order of our spread by thinking about the reading experience.

The first spread will be about the history of tattoos, the second will be mine and I will write about the history of tarot, the third will be about specific cards and overall more focused rather than a broader conversation on tarot. We feel this order makes the transition between reads effortless and organic.

#communication

#process

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
We discussed our ideas on typefaces as a group and came up with these inspirations \ ideas. None of these are set in stone however a good starting point to experiment.

#communication

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
Me and my group began discussing our layouts in a magazine context and how they would visually fit together. I created this sketch to visualize the layout of the overall magazine

#process

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
We were encouraged to create a plan for the incoming presentations and deadlines.

I’ve been keeping a weekly to-do list and will continue to do so

#process

# data[].attributes.body
My action plan until the beginning of week 5

#process

# data[].attributes.body
Me and my team decided on our speaking order for our presentation and I created a plan to follow.

#process

# data[].attributes.body
during this week me and my group are focusing own preparing for our presentation. I finished my slides so far and made notes to rehearse with. I plan on keeping my speaking time to 4.5 minutes.

#process

#realization

#communication

# data[].attributes.body
this is my final mockup for my spread. the text is just a placeholder as I was very conflicted between it being more historical or personal and I ended up writing too much. I'll edit it down where I can and fit the text after the presentation.

#process

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
me and my team did our presentation and I found the feedback really helpful. my tutor told me to include more of my research and better explain the theme of "storytelling". I did neglect to include the research part of my project in the presentation and that was my own mistake. I also didn't explain things like the link to storytelling very well. Next time I'll be sure to include these things in my presentation

#knowledge

#communication

#Inquiry

# data[].attributes.body
For my magazine text I did a lot of research on the history of tarot. I wanted to strike a middle ground between personal and academic text and I felt I had made it too academic. It was also over 800 words which was the original word count, however when the brief changed I also realized only about 350 words would comfortably fit on my page without sacrificing visual quality. I chose to cut down the historical part of my text to the bare essentials. here is the original historical part.

#knowledge

#process

#realization

# data[].attributes.body
Something else I struggled with was communication with my team. Next time I'll make sure to be more clear with what tasks need to be done and remind everyone of where we stand. For instance an example of this was when right before the presentation I realized my teammate had not included my work in the cover page of the magazine. I let her know to add it in and helped her do it. Had I not noticed my work would not have been shown in the presentation and I need to be more careful next time. Another example of where I should have pushed for more communication was in regard to our speaking time during the presentation. I had worked out we'd all get 4.5 minutes of speaking time granted 30 seconds spent on the introduction each and asked my team if they'd like to rehearse before the fact. I should have pushed more for rehearsals since during the presentation I went last and since we didn't rehearse I got to speak for about two minutes which meant I couldn't get to my research or my inspirations for the spread. Overall I feel I should have taken more of a leadership role.

#knowledge

#communication

#Inquiry

# data[].attributes.body
My final magazine spread without the placeholder text. Made in InDesign

# data[].attributes.body
the final historical text can be read in the final magazine pdf found in Week 5 posts.

# data[].attributes.body
In my text I also wrote a personal section, going over artists I researched and particularly like. this was the original text regarding these. I found it really interesting to do this research, however I was not sure how to present this information without supporting images. I aim to cut this down to something that feels easy to understand and is more of an encouragement to do more independent research. This way supporting images are not needed as I'm only giving the reader a prompt.

# data[].attributes.body
the outcome of the personal side of the text is shown in the final magazine spread posted in week 5

# data[].attributes.body
In my research I consulted heavily the books I borrowed from the library and also added in my submission pdf a slide with all the sources I found most interesting that sadly didn't make it to the bibliography. This supporting research is something I would do again if I were to re-do the project. Not only was it really interesting but I now have a new understanding of where the symbols in tarot come from and how the practice has become what it is today. Context in academic settings is very important because misinterpreting the origin of something can make or break an argument and I want to offer well presented and correctly synthesised information, even if it is only a few sentences.

#realization

#knowledge