OUGD401 Context Of Practice Study Task 5

Practice Based Research

This task was set to begin our thought process of how we will take the research on points from the essay we had wrote and then to convert this into thoughts about the practical side of the project, and the research we would conduct from the essay points that could inform our practical work.

The first part of the study task was to take the practical issues/aspects from our essay and then to evaluate these issues on three different basis' the first being Technique, the second being Content and the third being Communication. For the content of my essay I chose to write about how graphic design played a crucial part in the expansion of the 1960's hippie counterculture and further discussing the individual aspects of the graphic design of the movement from the artists doing the graphic design to the individual elements of the mainstream lifestyle that the movement lent itself too such as the magazines and music of the time.

Technique

The graphic design of which was supporting the up and coming counter-culture feature the use of a lot of colour in order to add an element of attraction through interest. It also feature a very postern-modern approach seemingly following no rules or guidelines designed free and in what ever way the artist wanted. Further more there was a large focus on individuality and almost a sense of no need of perfection making the artwork engaging to its audience.

Content

The content of the graphic design was a combination of both typography but also image to accompany it. The content has a large sense of the fact that it was all hand rendered and drawn. Originality and engagement was apparent through the use of extreme typographic and attractive and eye-catching colours and illustrations respectively.

Communication

The whole main ethos and feeling that cam through the supporting graphic design of the time communicates and overall massive sense of expressionism, excitement and non conformity with the designer using whatever style they wanted to give a sense of youthfulness and revolution that the message of the graphic design gave. The whole belief from the counter-culture that the rules and normal guidelines didn't have to be followed and actually them having the freedom through the graphic design to do whatever they want. REBELLION


The next task to complete was to write a comment on three different aspect of the practical-based research. These three aspects are Research/Analysis, Exploration/Evaluation and Testing.

Research/Analysis

For my practical based research I will look at examples of graphic design from the era of which were crucial to the artwork and more specifically the pieces of graphic design of which were created for the purpose of anti war campaigns and this look into the style in which will help me work out what aspect of the graphic design style I could take into my practical.

Exploration/Evaluation

I will take on the inspiration from the aspects of the anti war campaign graphic design and take these into my design work so that mine benefit in the same way that the graphic design of the time did. Using this older style but instead in my work maintaining the expression and non-conformist stye.

Testing

To test my work I will ask for the opinions of my peers that through my practical work have I managed to display both the colourful and exciting style of the movement while also maintaining the expressionist and nonconformist sense to the work meaning that I have perfectly taken on the research and exploration into the research for my practical work.

The final task for this whole exercise was to now write a proposal for my my practical research by answering the following questions;

1.What is your research question?

Can the positive aspects of the graphic design of the time be used in a contemporary context and still be as effective as it was during the Hippie counter-culture?

2.Do you have a hypothesis (an assumed conclusion that you will endeavour to prove)?

By reflecting on the positive aspects of the graphic design linked to the hippie counter-culture I will able to prove that I can through my work that similarly to the design of the hippie counterculture I can reflect on the expressionist, non-conformist and attractive style used to gain the attraction of the youth movements.

3.What are the contexts of your research interests?

To prove that through the use of these techniques in my contemporary anti war design and evoke the same feelings and aspects found in the graphic design of the hippie counter-culture.

4.Sources of primary/secondary research.

Images and examples of work from the hippie counter-culture that features the show the aspects of the work that I am looking to take inspiration from. Then I will use crits to see if I had managed to incorporate the chosen aspects of the hippie counter-culture graphic design.

5.How will your practical work relate to your written work (synthesis)?

In my written work I discussed the aspects of the graphic design of the movement of which massively helped the expansion of the movement and in my practical work I will reflect on the aspects and recreate them in my contemporary anti-war practical work to achieve the same results as the actual graphic deign of the era.

6.What methods will you use to research, develop, create and test your work?

To sum up the whole process I will gain research by looking at pre-existing examples of hippie counterculture graphic design to see aspects of the design of which I believe helped the graphic design support the movement. I will develop the aspects that I look at into crucial elements that my work would definitely have to include to correctly represent the same ethos' displayed in the pre-existing work. I will then create my practical work with these aspects in mind and then finally test my practical work by gaining feedback from peers for if my contemporary anti-war designs incorporating the aspects from the hippie counter-culture design had perfectly displayed the feelings that came from the older anti war designs.