Summative statement

Albert Einstein once said:

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.”

My dissertation primarily focuses on the effects animal agriculture is having on our environment, as well as the health and medical risks that correlate with a meat eating diet. The exploration of fast food in relation to these problems was then studied.

Because a variety subjects under the same umbrella were researched, it was important that I chose the best way to illustrate and synthesise the practical work with the theory.

The practical element to this module was the most influential aspect for me, in the sense that it opened my eyes to the endless possibilities illustration provides.

Understanding the importance of my topic personally, helped me to push my illustrations forward into various contexts, so that a greater audience could be reached. Using illustration as a tool to communicate and educate made me realise that my practical could work across a breadth of disciplines.

Having a magnitude of varying outcomes enabled me to inform differing audiences. Discovering my love for texture has also helped shape this module for me. Linking various elements of the theory and practical in order to create harmony between the two was best achieved through the use of mono print textures.

This module has allowed me to explore contexts, disciplines, communication channels and my own personal values, and this is something I will carry forward in the future.

Presentation Boards

Practical development

Mock-up (Infographics)

The proposal of a leaflet is suggested here. 

Combining the illustrations made for editorial and for info graph are both included. The idea that the detailed image is the front cover and the information inside is simplistic and easy to understand. 

I could essentially write the tiniest amount of information to get my message across, which is the most important aspect of the infographic I think. 

Images placed into context- Editorial

Using mockups from graphic burger allowed me to display my final outcomes in the necessary context. Using articles that have previously informed aspects of the theoretical intrinsically linked with the illustrations I have created here.

Would like to create some more editorial pieces in the future. Illustrating articles is something that really interests me now. 

Infographic #3

I decided to make a McDonalds infographic, so that I had an element of the practical that responds to the fast food element of my dissertation. I had researched quite a lot about it so the facts were already somewhere in my brain or in a book or article, so there way no need to source new information, just figure out a way to communicate it effectively. 

I chose to format the infographic in the same way as the first, because the facts and images were displayed in a visually engaging well and I wanted this to be similar. 

This one highlights the medical problems associated with a meat eating fast food diet, rather than the environmental effects. Trying to tie together all areas of information explored within the dissertation through various outcomes has made me realise how imagery can take on various functions, depending on the context it is placed in.

Certain elements of this have been used for editorial pieces as well as the cook book, but each target a different audience and communicate differently. 

Red infographic

I think this infographic works a little better in red, emphasising danger and urgency. I might print a few out and stick them around to see if they attract or evoke a response at all. 

The effective use of colour was discussed in my theory, and its been an important part of various tests within my practical work, and has linked various themes and highlighted points made within the dissertation.

Red can be associated with high energy and power. I want this infographic to be powerful, and hope that it raises awareness. 

Infographic #2

Using previous imagery created for the infographics I was able to explore another way to communicate varying information. There are exactly 100 tree's here, and 70 of them are black to display the percentage of rainforest destruction. 

This serves as a visual form of data, which is what I wanted to achieve.

I understand how to create infographics a little more now. Its not necessarily a style that I want to continue working in, but I'm glad that I've explored this area, and its something I will be able to add to my skill set in the future.  

Exploring various contexts and disciplines has given me the time to reflect and understand what resonates with me and my practice, which has been an eye opening experience. 

The cookbook

Overall Im quite happy with the cookbook, because its something thats really been through a process. From generating textures and sourcing recipes to actually putting together, the whole thing has been a learning curve for me. 

There are so many things I would change now that its finished, but I think thats my mind over thinking. Im not a book designer, however Ive shown that I can place my illustrations into this context, which is the positive thing I will take away from this. The belly band is my favourite, and I've chosen two to put forward for submission, one on the book and one on the sleeve, to show the difference in materials used. 

The layout of the book was the most challenging part for me, and probably could have done with a graphic designers help, but the time available was short due to the print slot I had booked, which meant 27 hours sat by a computer over the course of 3 days. That made me realise that I still and probably always will prefer analogue methods of image making. Its been good to build my skills in Photoshop though. 

Overall I'm pleased with this because its seen my practice progress, and its something that I really wanted to make. 

Texture book

A while ago I proposed making a book from the mono prints, and I've finally done it. I wasn't sure if I would have time, but I pushed myself to get it done because the textures are such an important aspect of this module. 

I wanted to learn something new, so watched a youtube tutorial and stitched the book a little differently to what I normally do. The book it quite small, as I plan to mount a few of the other prints onto boards, but I think I could make a huge book of texture from now until the end of the degree, building and adding to it so that the possibilities are endless with textures when the book is complete. Discovering a way of working that combines print and digital has been so amazing and I'm excited to keep it going.

What I want to say. IMPORTANT.

Using my illustrations across a breadth of disciplines has been challenging for a variety of reasons, but also something that has pushed my practice forward no end. I never thought I would be able to create editorial images, or infographics. Ive pushed myself out of my comfort zone and in doing so, found things that I absolutely love. 

The essence to this practical work was that I didn't have one final outcome that summed up the whole module, but that I showed my ability to use my illustrations to communicate my essay in more ways than one. I know I'm not a book designer, and that certain elements of my practical aren't incredible, but my main objective was to educate as wide an audience as possible. By using illustration as a tool to promote a certain cause or way of life, with that being something I stand for, thus placing my values at the core of what I do.

Ive learnt so much about my practice through the method of image making and the process rather than focusing on the final product, and this is what I value most and will take away from this module. 

Self Evaluation- KEY POINTS.

What have I learnt from this module?

Ive learnt so much about my practice and my values as a practitioner.

- Ive learnt a new way of image making that incorporates texture and links analogue techniques with digital. 

This is something that Ive struggled with in the past. Ive always wanted my love for traditional print methods to be at the core of what I do, but having the ability to use these prints effectively within digital, and having an image thats slightly more refined at the end is something I'm really pleased I've learnt.

How to create work with a function. Figured out a style that works across a range of disciplines within illustration.

This has been the key learning curve for me. 

I wanted the practical body of work to have as large an audience as possible, which meant applying my illustrations across a range of products and placing them in varied contexts was essential. Understanding that this was possible with the style and method of image making I have learnt is something I will definitely carry forward within my practice. 

Creating work with the function that communicates effectively through different channels of illustration has been eye opening and inspiring. 

Final crit

Final crit was alright. But made me realise I needed to make it clearer that I had a variety of outcomes, and that the cook book wasn't my final resolution, but one element of the final resolutions. Im glad I had the crit because it made me realise that my communication of this was perhaps not clear enough, so a few clarifying blog posts and clearer presentation boards will follow from this. 

Foiling the belly band

I wanted to push my skills forward, and learn some new techniques throughout this module. Which is why I decided to foil the title onto a belly band. The process was completely new to me but so similar to screen printing. Ironing on the metallic foil and then revealing it was really exciting. Im really happy that I've pushed my skills within this area this term, as I thought I wouldn't be able to. The outcomes are varied, but I was left with a few that I was particularly happy with. Foiling onto tracing paper seemed to work best, and is the one I will take forward into my final.

Mono printing with cabbages

Thought I'd try something new to add to the collection of textures. Had a cabbage in the fridge that I had wanted to print with for ages, and finally manage to do it during the christmas break.

The exploration of texture is the focus of this module for me, so exploring it as much as possible is essential to my evolving practice.

Creating the prints meant spending time in the print room, which I love and wanted to get better at this year so Im glad I've managed to factor this into my practical response. Creating brushes out of these images on Photoshop has been a really effective use of my time, as the process is much faster once the brushes are set up. Left me with plenty of time to experiment with drawings, layouts, type etc. 

App proposal

The idea behind this is a cookbook app, to help give the consumer healthy meat free ideas for dinner. A good starter app for people new to vegetarianism or just someone who likes to cook! Illustrated vegetables will be the homepage, you see whats in your cupboard or fridge, and select that ingredient, then a few recipes that include that vegetable would come up, as displayed above.

Phones are the now. Everyone has a phone. Placing my cookbook into this context essentially means a greater market. The app would simply promote the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle, with added illustrations and new recipes constantly being updated so that it doesn't get boring.

Reaching a wider audience is the most important aspect of this, which is why its vital to keep up with the advancing social media aspect.