Tutorial notes 220126
Current iteration of Enquiry question:
Can parents and children engage with colonial legacy together?
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Points discussed:
(Victoria)
– Like the visual language, the type, composition for HP sauce.
– Enable children to ‘spot’ surprising connections, hiding them before in Unit 2. Playful idea of spotting the detail.
– (Mark) Is there something there about playing with the book format – perforating, stamping, fingerprinting. Can I get the reader INVOLVED in the actual book itself?
– The spread designs need something fun about them, even though it’s a difficult subject. Reference of AKIDSCO books discussed – pared back, typographic design without any kids characters etc. Is that enough? It needs some kind of fun or engagement about it.
– (Tutor) picked out some spreads from Israel/Palestine book. ‘Look you have a really big date, 1947!’. Agree that it could be more appropriate for kids.
– (Mark) It’s the language of the books that appeals, it’s straightforward and balanced, it holds an appropriate note for the parents in the book itself. Can I take that template and add some fun to it?
Horrible Histories mentioned as TOO comedic, using toilet humour. Probably too funny.
– (Tutor) Conceptually, this is a pretty fully formed project. It’s really clear in terms of what it is you’re trying to do. You have an audience. Your query is quite clear, which is ‘how can we find a way to communicate complex colonial histories to children?’. That’s what is driving all of this, so your next steps are less about finding a question and more about experimenting within those parameters.
– (Tutor) First direction preference. Tutor teaches brief called ‘Obliteration’ where an object is deconstructed in past and future contexts. In a children’s book format, that is a compelling direction to go in. Passport format makes more sense. There aren’t typically maps inside passports.
– (Tutor) Format. Postcard size is slightly bigger. Nice that it’s slightly bigger and accessible. A4 is too big. Books near the cash register in a bookshop, or in a travel environment. (Sam) likes bigger, somewhere between A6 and A5, (Mark) B format paperback is an industry format, 129 x 198? Attractive to a publisher from a printing perspective.
– Cover foiling, keep it, rounded corners.
– Content. Illustrations are working really, really well. The stamps added are starting to align with the passport. Continue to make them by hand and add. Is that part of the reading experience or are they printed?
– Typography. Title page is beautiful but is probably type you use to advertise the project. Straighter type is aligned enough with the vernacular to fit. Serious front page too! Lots of type going on. Could bring classic or sans to the cover? Coat of arms a good idea, leather substrate good, corner cropping from publications.
– What will the objects be? (Mark) Sanghera book as starting point. Could this all be in a temporal box? A day in the life? Yes! Maybe there should be something about the passport for the day (Tutor). A journey through the day and the objects we encounter. (Victoria) tea in the morning etc! (Mark) I like that because its direct comment on the curriculum if its based on a school day. Could this go along with their day? Reading the book at certain parts of the day (Tutor), is that where the interaction comes in? Linear narrative good. Omer kind of activity that makes them go to the next page (could this be stcikqered, or ask a question on one page and give a answer on the next).
– (Tao) Chinese achievement passport reference. Possibly ask your kids to record their day, so you can align, rather than it being me dictating. Has to be a balance between the two – broaden content, balance between author and kids content.
– Your first passport? (Tutor). Could this go back to destinations?
Action points
– Prototyping – get into the guilloche, really explore how it’s sitting, go back to its origins and its duality.
– Consider the interactivity point, questions, stamping, buy some as an experiment? Try it out on the kids?
– Consider the content, rewrite to go around a day in the kids lives. Could I consult the kids? Playtime? Invited my child to record their life in a day. Use it to influence the construction.
– Consider riso printing? Go see publications about possible format, binding, foiling, corners (PPC).