Deisgn update

Create a series of six postcards focussing on a social or political movement.

Anti consumerism: Support and create awareness of the safe cosmetics act. Encourage consumers to buy responsibly for their own health.

Create awareness and promote change in the cosmetics industry.

I've decided from the word go that I DON'T want to do a set of cards that are purely print on a card. I want to find an idea that is creative and still focuses on type. By creative I mean it needs to be interactive and/or use materials that are out of the ordinary.

I'd really like to use packaging or something along those lines, to recreate that feeling that women get when they purchase new cosmetics, make my product seem important and life changing. This is how I will grab the attention of my targeted audience.

A few ideas over the holidays

• use imagery that depicts beauty then open up to ugly, effects of chemicals and poisons in products
• beauty is pain as a slogan
• play with the idea of envy, images of beautiful lips eyes skin etc
• use of typography would be similar to that on packaging of products, enticing, pretty

 I have been drawing some inspiration from two excellent books. One called 'Fingerprint' that focusses on handmade design.

"Would a love letter have the same power if it were typeset? Handmade objects are ultimatly about direct and meaningful communication between the artist and their audience."
   Jean Orelebeke

The other book is titled 'touch this' and its focus is on design that 'feels good'. The design is really ineractive, often an invite will turn in to an object or great peice of design that someone can keep.

These are perfect resources for me. Especially 'fingerprint', this book has really inspired me to get my hands dirty. Here are some materials and techniques I might be interested in exploring/ experimenting with. (This all depends on how it relates to my subject and time I have available)

• Transparent materials
• Print on thick card
• Slide viewer
• Using trophy engravers to engrave my type into a metal surface(really attracted to idea of using metal
• Letterpress on handmade paper (much more tactile than print on paper)
• Oragami, either have directions for user to make or send it in post as an interesting shape
• Cutting the text out of paper, card or whatever materials
• Make-up (nail polish, blush, foundation etc.)
• collage ink combinations
• woodcut
• photcopying, photgraphing and reprinting to create depth to my design

Some more tactile materials I may be interested in using/experimenting with

• Acetate
• Tracing Paper
• Gridded plastic
• Craftboard
• Bolts
• Glass
• Metal
• Handmade Paper
• Fabric, Thread, Collage
• Plastic
• Stickers (labels)
• Make-up
• Collage

One more awesome quote:
"Art is the portal through which you can walk to a new life"
    Bill Strickland