AT 103
Basic Design I
FALL 2011
Project 1: Line
Materials: Black India Ink/ 10 Found Objects (tools)/ Bristol Paper/ Scissors/ Glue
Part 1: Experimentation
Find 8 objects that you can use to make marks with—This can really be anything from a screw driver or coin to a twig, a leaf, a feather, a fork, a toy, a comb, a nail, a piece of recording tape… Be imaginative when picking up your materials. Remember that the resulting lines and consequent expressive aspects of them will depend partly on the materials selected.
Take 2 pieces of paper and divide them into 4 equal parts. This will give you 8 squares/rectangles.
Experiment making different lines with your found objects in each of the squares.
Do this by dipping your found object into India ink and then marking on paper. See what kind of marks you can make. Experiment with a different found object in each square and write down the element used in each case for your reference in the next step of the project.
Part 2: Personal Alphabet
On a separate piece of paper, and based on your previous experimentation with different materials, use several found objects to design your Personal Alphabet.
You can use direct marks with ink, and /or collage using both cut pieces of ink lines and the objects you have brought. Through your experimentations and possibilities of combinations of materials and techniques, you will be also researching on your line/ marking style.
Think about how the lines and marks (and objects used to create them) will inform the viewer about your representation of symbols and marks.
Ask yourself if your lines look graphic, relaxed, severe, expressive, classic, contemporary? And how they relate to you as a person, and as a visual communicator.
Research on different creative alphabets from artists and designers. Here an interesting link to begin with:
Note: Think in advance how you would like to organize your alphabet in terms of scaling letters in relation to each other, and layout in relation to your page.
