OUGD501 - COP 3 Proposal

OUGD501 - Practical - Testing

Now that the designing stage is finished it is now time to instead of just submitting the final outcome as this isn't what the practical stage pertains to, instead it is now time to use the final design outcomes to test the conclusion of my essay and further enforce the decision made within the essay.

The test was completed by printing off all of the different practical type treatments and asking as many different members of my class whether they think the neutral example, or the example of which I have implemented visual semiotics in to are most appropriate in conveying the actual meaning behind the world, this therefore creating a distinction between the type treatments that have been influenced by the structuralism and post-structuralism beliefs finally outlining from the perspective of other graphic designers of my age group whether one of the movements is more appropriate within graphic design.
The participants were then tasked with tallying along side the type treatments of which they believe things better represents the meaning of the word.

The testing ended up being very successful as in seven out of the eight different type treatments, my peers selected the type treatments of which had been manipulated be inclusive of post-structuralist beliefs and so therefore through the testing it was further outlines that the conclusion of my essay was correct in suggesting that post structuralism plays a bigger place in graphic design than structuralism.

OUGD501 - Practical - Finals

Here below are the range of typographic treatments that will act as the practical testing part of the module, each of the different typographic treatments was created by pairing up an original and neutral type treatment for each word, to ensure that neutrality in ensured for purpose of testing. The original and neutral type treatment for each of the words was then paired with an alternative version in which for each of them I have manipulated the typography, implementing visual semiotics in to the manipulations in order to fully covey the meaning making of the work, and to back up the conclusion from the essay that post-structuralism is most appropriate in graphic design.

OUGD501 - Practical - Ideas

Due to the fact that the main aspect of the essay part of the module centres itself on a discussion between the two different theoretical concepts, structuralism and post structuralism and wishing the essay I concluded that through academic reasoning post structuralism is most appropriate within graphic design my practical half to the project will centre itself not around a well rounded design outcome but will instead manifest itself around a means in which I will test the conclusion in the essay, through the means of the survey, further reinforcing what I concluded through the essay.

A range of typographic outcomes will be designed, in which each typographic treatment will include two different outcomes. The first of the outcomes will be one of which follows structuralism and its beliefs, conveying the a certain work, outlining the obvious connotations that come along with the word. The second example for each typographic treatment will include the use of visual semiotics of which are used to represent post-structuralism and its beliefs. The different typographic treatments will then be presented to a number of graphic designers in my class, as they are the target audience and they will evaluate which of the typographic treatments is most effective in conveying the meaning behind the world, and therefore will have me solidify the conclusion of the essay whether either of the movement have a place in graphic design as an art form

OUGD501 - Practical - Visual Research - Herb Lubbalin

The second section of research go which pertains to the final outcomes of this practical project lead me to look at Herb Lubbalin. Herb Lubbalin is a typography design of which implements different visual semiotic aspects within his branding and logo design, in order to further convey the nature of the company in mention through the logo but without any added information. He plays upon manipulation type to encourage iconic representation in oder to convey to the prospective audience what the company is about and stands for.

These additional visual semiotic aspects diversify the outcome from something that is simply typographic and conveying of the meaning of the word in to something much more representative. Instead of acting as a simply typographic approach to convey the word instead it becomes much more of and visually representative from in which it conveys the same typography but contrastingly it creates a visual dimension, further representing the concept and meaning behind the typography

OUGD501 - Practical - Visual Research - Expressive Typography

The initial point of research for the practical side of the module was to look at expressive typography and how it contains the aspects of post-structuralism that I am trying to convey. Expressive typography is an art form of which strays away from typography as a singular and descriptive text form of the word and instead translates this in to a highly visual and descriptive version of typography, straying away from typography as text and leaning it towards typography as an image.

"Letters are not just abstract notions, carriers of meaning; they are also real, physical shapes. Paying attention to those shapes, and using them as a visual element in graphic design, is an essential part of the art of typography."

The added visual semiotic aspects implemented in expressive typography act as a method in which visual aesthetics can be implemented to ease the conveying of meaning to the audience recieving the texts. Although it can often be rendered illegible, this adds to the visual aesthetics of the expressive typography, adding to the aesthetics of piece and how it conveys meaning.

OUGD501 - Study Task 08 - Evaluating CoP Practical Work

The practical aspects of the module that will come off the back of the essay section incorporates a survey/questionnaire of which acts as a test of the conclusion of the essay and to further back the discussion points forwarded within said essay. 

The literature used in the research stage for the essay is the information in which the practical outputs are designed around, in order to ensure that the aspects outlined in the literature research, defining the standpoints of the two theoretical concepts are present and testable within the practical outputs.

The practical does indeed communicate what it should do as rather than being an end project of which aims to evaluate the single outcome of the essay, such as a design project involving the aspects learnt instead it furthers the basis of my essay discussion as it allows for further discussion and testing to take place to solidify the conclusion from the essay. The means of testing the practical outputs will ensure that it is effective in helming to solidify the argument within the essay.

Within my practical work there are many successful elements, as due to the nature of my essay and the structure of how it ran, the end conclusion drawn from the essay needed to be assessed to ensure its validity, and so therefore the testing of these through a number of experiments that I would use to form a survey/questionnaire style testing rather than a well rounded final design products is the elements that has made the practical so successful.

Finally although the practical work in my eyes is really effective in concept for evaluation and finalising the conclusion within my essay, for the purpose of improving and developing it further a larger amount of examples will be necessary to ensure the test within the practical work is as succinct as possible, without a large enough load of examples the test could become inconclusive.

OUGD501 - Study Task 07 - Harvard Referencing/Triangulation

OUGD501 - Study Task 06 - Primary Research Consideration

The sixth study task tasks us to read the slides within the session of which teaches us about all of the different methods and considerations that are implicit within different types of practical primary research and then tasked us to evaluate the need or necessity of these primary research methods within our own projects.

Due to the fact that my whole essay's purpose is determine the appropriate of two different theories within graphic design practical primary research will play a massive part of the final practical project linked to my essay as the primary research will act as the means in which I test the validity of the conclusion from my essay, a conclusion will be drawn from the discussion within the essay and then the practical project will aim to test this conclusion with the primary research survey acting as a means to implement the test within the right target audience. Due to the fact that I am testing the point of the essay through the practical work the main primary research method will be the simple survey in which I present my practical work and test other peoples opinions on the subject.

The aim of it will be to test whether structuralism or post structuralism's beliefs are most appropriate to graphic design, supporting the conclusion of the essay. The survey will be aimed at graphic designers as they are the appropriate market to test the findings on.

OUGD501 Study Task 05 - Establishing A Research Question

Establishing A Research Question

Suggested Research Question.

This can be a topic or theme, but please try to be as precise as possible.

To what extent is the idea and validity of of the two different theoretical concepts, structuralism and poststructuralism relevant to the modern day graphic design industry?

Which Academic Sources will you reference?

Include a Harvard Referenced bibliography of at least 5 sources.

Lupton, E. and Miller, J. (1996). Design, Writing, Research. New York: Kiosk.

Chandler, D. (2001). Semiotics:the basics. London: Routledge.

Eco, U. (1984). Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Hawkes, T. (2003). Structuralism & semiotics. 2nd ed. New York: Rutledge.

Ward, G. (2003). Postmodernism. Chicago: Contemporary Books.