CONTEXT OF PRACTICE 3 - END OF MODULE EVALUATION

CONTEXT OF PRACTICE 3 - SUBMISSION DESIGN BOARDS

CONTEXT OF PRACTICE 3 - PHYSICAL OUTCOME - SYNERGY

PHYSICAL OUTCOME RATIONAL

Our planet is currently facing monumental changes which are undeniably a consequence of human influence. Since the start of the industrial revolution humans have unremittingly polluted and mindlessly used non-renewable resources. Consequently, humanity has been left with a choice, build towards a sustainable society, or keep on consuming towards the destruction of the planet.

The content of the paper looks to address the varying facets surrounding the environmental issues currently faced by humanity, outlining the problems existing within modern society and offering insights into the movements currently building towards a sustainable future. Initially, to help readers understand the context of what is later discussed, the paper will specifically outline and analyse the source of the environmental problems currently plaguing the earth. By defining the source of the problems it subsequently becomes easier to identify the solutions and support the ideas needed to facilitate them.

Once the source of the problems has been identified, the publication subsequently reviews the movements’ currently supporting and disseminating philosophies key to creating a positive future for the planet. With a specific focus on the transformational festival movement, the publication will review the intrinsic values, activities and sustainable technologies key to creating the positive atmospheres characteristic of transformational events. It is identified that the philosophies and approach to existence practiced at such festivals help to create temporary environments that illustrates how a future society, focused on environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of its inhabitants, could essentially function.

The final chapter establishes the importance of the need for a social revolution and global transition towards complete sustainability, specifically aiming to establish how such a transformation can be attained. Building on information presented in the previous section, the paper reviews the significance of transformational events to this global transition, reviewing the application of their sustainable technologies and values to permanent settlements. The paper concludes by looking to the future, studying how the transformational festival movement is starting to form networks, expand, and how ultimately, change is already underway.  

The main aim of the paper, and justification for its existence, is to help raise awareness of the transformational festival movement, supporting free cultural space communities and their significance to the global transformation. Essentially, by disseminating such information, the paper itself becomes a tool for change and actively contributes to strengthening the transformational movement. To ensure that the paper adheres to the sustainable philosophies discussed it has been printed in a limited run, using newsprint made from post-consumer waste using vegetable based inks. For those unable to get a copy of the publication, or for the people looking to further distribute the information featured within it, a PDF download available online by following a link featured in the outcome. 

SYNERGY 

The outcome embodies various aspects of the dissertation, with slight revisions to the content to make it read fluently. The content featured withing the physical outcome is coherent with the dissertation and helps to form a synergy with it as;

• The publication actively communicates relevant points made within the dissertation.
• The final part of the dissertation discusses the importance of forming global networks and raising awareness of the movement to achieve the transformed worldview needed to overcome capitalism - The physical outcome acts as a way of achieving this by disseminating relevant information needed to facilitate social change. 
• An overarching theme of the dissertation is sustainability - The physical outcome actively contributes to this philosophy by embodying aspects of sustainability throughout its production.   

CONTEXT OF PRACTICE 3 - PHYSICAL OUTCOME - PRINT PROCESS

The physical production of the outcome was completed over the course of three days due to the multitude of problems that were encountered during the print process. Luckily, due to some effective time management, I had time to rectify most of the problems that arose. 

The print method chosen to produce the newspaper  is screen printing, a technique that was chosen for its low impact, low cost and ability to produce large print runs. To ensure that the environmental impact of the production process was kept to a minimum, the eight double page exposures were arranges on to two large A1 screens, removing the need to coat and expose eight smaller individual screens.  

As it was previously outlined, the acrylics usually used when screen printing contain VOC's and an assortment of other harmful chemicals. Therefore, to ensure the outcome adheres to the strict principles of sustainability, the outcome was printed using vegetable based acrylic paint.

Additional decisions made to reduce the environmental impact of the print process entailed placing the different aspects of the illustrations featured in the outcome onto one large screen, removing the need to expose a number of individual ones. 

When printing the illustrations, parts of the screen were masked off so the individual aspect of the image could be printed. On images that contained a number of visual elements, this process was repeated creating aesthetically engaging layered images.

PROBLEMS 

The first problem was encountered when trying to print the black layer of the outcome which contained the body copy and titles. Due to the large size of the screens and small size of the text, it was hard to apply enough pressure when printing the pages to ensure the exposure printed correctly. A consequence of which resulted in information being hard define or not printing at all. 

This was a big problem, as the content is an extremely important aspect of the outcome. Therefore, to overcome the issue, I had to clean and expose eight individual screens that were much smaller in size and would allow me to apply enough pressure to print the text correctly. Unfortunately this was a very time consuming process which used up valuable time.  

Due to the form selected for the newspaper, the page exposures where slightly smaller than an A3 sheet of paper. Therefore, eight individual A3 screens were exposed to print the bodycopy of the outcome. Unfortunately, this meant that I had to use more chemicals and energy to produce rectify the misprint, however, it was an unavoidable process to achieve the high standard of outcome desired.  

Unfortunately, after exposing the eight individual screens I discovered that despite the application of increased pressure, some spreads still were not printing correctly. Two reasons for this was the dens viscosity of the ink used, which clogged the screen prohibiting a clean print, and, the existence of unexposed emulsion which would not wash from the screen after exposure, also prohibiting a clean print.

The problem was overcome by watering down the ink and changing its viscosity, a decision which allowed me to print the majority of the spreads problem free. However, there was one spread that still would not print. To solve the problem I tried cleaning and re-exposed the screen, a process which was completed three times, but unfortunately the text still would not print. Due to impending deadline, to my dismay, this was a problem I unfortunately could not rectify.

CONTEXT OF PRACTICE 3 - LIVING PLANET REPORT 2014

CONTEXT OF PRACTICE 3 - FORMATIVE FEEDBACK 4

Today I had my final formative feedback session with Richard in which we went over the varying dissertation amendments and reviewed my progression with the physical outcome. 

Over the christmas period I spent a lot of time writing and refining my dissertation ready for the deadline in early January. Therefore, the copy of the essay that Richard reviewed before the feedback session was completed to a submission standard, enabling me to receive feedback on all the relevant aspects of the piece before the final submission. 

In preparation for the session, I also presented my current progress with the physical outcome. Although only still in the early stages of design, it was good to show Richard the aesthetic theme and direction the outcome is heading in. The sheet that was presented is displayed below. 

FEEDBACK SHEET

During the session, important points discussed were noted down the feedback sheet that is displayed below. 

IMPORTANT POINTS; 

• 9,897 words - Do not add anything else!!
• Single line spacing for extended quotes.
• Italicise titles of books - bibliography.
• Explicitly evidence synthesis on blog.

PROGRESSION - 

Overall, the session was really useful and left me in a positive frame of mind before the COP3 submission. 

Progression from the feedback session is fairly straight forwards, with regards to my dissertation, I need to...

• make the last few amendments outlined during the session. 
• Have a final read through the dissertation before printing and binding. 

Moreover, with regards to the physical outcome, at the current position I am at with the piece I simply need to...

• Finish the last aspects of digital design.
• Screenprint the outcome on Monday.
• Blog process and synergy with written piece.  

  

CONTEXT OF PRACTICE 3 - PHYSICAL OUTCOME - SELECTING STOCK

As one of the predominant themes running throughout my dissertation is sustainability it is essential, for the physical outcome to not be contradictory, for the piece to be produced with as little environmental impact as possible. To ensure that this is possible, every aspect of the outcomes production must be carefully considered. 

One of the first things I decided to define is the paper stock the outcome will be printed onto. Due to the short time I have to design and produce the outcome it is essential that I order all of the necessary elements needed to ensure that they arrive in time to produce the outcome. 

LOVELY AS A TREE - 

I started the process of selecting a supplier for stock by reviewing the 'Lovely as a Tree' website, a site which gives information on how to be an environmentally aware graphic designer. 

Along with general advice, the website also features a section specifically dedicated to helping designers select environmentally friendly paper suppliers. Due to its relevance to my project, Information available on this the section of the website was subsequently used to help me define the specifics of the   

IMPORTANT INFORMATION -

• Choose a paper with the highest percentage of post-consumer waste as possible.
• Unbleached recycled paper undergoes fewer processes than other recycled or virgin fiber and therefore uses less energy and chemicals. 
• Look for FSC certified materials - although not completely legitimate it is the most widely agreed certification scheme available for paper. 

EU BASED PAPER SUPPLIERS - 

Also available on the 'Lovely as a Tree' website was a list of EU paper suppliers that produce and/or sell low-impact, recycled paper. 

AYLESFORD NEWSPRINT - 

CERTIFICATES - 

Below are the certificates available on the Aylesford website evidencing their commitment to producing a low-impact environmentally friendly product. 

CONTACT - 

Unfortunately, Aylesford Newsprint only supply their stocks in huge web fed rolls suited for large clients mass producing publications. As my outcome will be screen printed and only produced in short run of publications a web fed roll of paper is a completely unsuitable choice. Therefore, despite the perfect nature of the paper and the UK location the supplier is unsuitable for the project. 

Upon being told by Terry that the paper selection is unsuitable I was also directed to a seperate supplier who they believed sold recycled newsprint made from post-consumer waste.  

MIDDLETON PAPER - 

CONTACT - 

BACK TO UNIVERSITY 

Upon returning back to university on the 5th of January one of the first tasks I set myself was to find out if the newsprint available from university was produced from post consumer waste and if it was purchased from a UK manufacturer. 

STANDARD NEWSPRINT - 

• Made from recycled, post consumer waste.
• Purchased from UK supplier. 

CONTEXT OF PRACTICE 3 - DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT

Once I had finalised the concept, defined the specific details of the publication, finished my dissertation and defined the relevant design decisions, I was in a position to start the digital development process of the outcomes design.

CREATING ILLUSTRATIONS

The digital design process was started by first creating the title page illustrations. As the three main chapters that will be featured in the publication had previously been defined I was able to create illustrations relevant to each of the individual sections.

• Capitalism and Climate change. 
• The Transformational Festival Movement.  
• Forming Networks/Facilitating Change. 

Due to the print method selected to produce the publication all images featured had to be edited and turned into single colour, halftone images. If this process was not completed before creating the final illustrations the images would not print correctly. 

To achieve the desired effect, the selected images were placed into Photoshop, had their colour discarded and were edited using the 'Colour Halftone' filter. 

Additional to the halftone images, I also created a range of vector based illustrations that had relevance to some of the visual themes outlined in the development stages of the project.

REDUCING SCREEN AMOUNT 

Reducing the amount of screens used to print the outcome will reduce the environmental impact of the physical piece. Therefore, as sustainability is one of the predominant focuses of the module, I decided that when printing the publication I will expose all of the individual illustrations on one screen. Exposing the screens in such a way not only reduced the amount of screens needed to produce the publication, but will allow me to build up layered illustrations by combining the individual illustrations. 

DESIGNING THE PUBLICATION   

After the illustrations had been created for the various aspects of the outcome I was able to progress with the digital development of the newspaper. The design process was quick as I had the rewritten body copy and illustrations ready to drop into the created layouts.

As previously outlined, I decided to utilise a small size for the publication to ensure it is easy for recipients to carry around and read on the go. Therefore, I had to set up a custom sized document that had pages slightly smaller than an A4 sheet of paper.

• Infographics where created in illustrator to help readers visualise the statistical data presented within the text.