Tutorial Notes 050226
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Main tutorial discussion:
– It still alludes to a passport in many ways. Rounding the corners, foiling it can go on a step there.
– the devil is in the detail on this one, a set of minor decisions
– Move it towards a workbook – yes, can already see that happening with the stickers
– Illustrations and type are playful, go further, funnier, more playful. Using empire ads a good idea
– Text on the left side is unresolved relative to the illustrations
– Not a giant block of text
– Maybe think of it as a graphic novel with a continuing narrative that links? It’s already kind of moving in that direction.
– Dispersing the text
– You have the size and illustration style locked down, it’s now time to think about organizing the content. The text is feeling completely separate at the moment
– Interview with publisher – what other objects around a kids house would they put in? Connect the object to a modern context too. Global fast fashion, inequality, cheap labour etc.
– Flesh out the book a bit more, but the graphic don’t need to be this complicated. Distribute the text over multiple pages – where did this badminton shuttlecock get flicked to?
– Fingerprinting text for example, play with it, simpler. Just a line, first sentence only and then move onto the detail…
– Image of an official doing the fingerprinting.
– Moved away from day in the life structuring, backed up by the publisher, but it needs to link up
– Moment important, like going on a flight, capturing children and patents together.
– First page would be a dinner table with all the objects, or a house, ‘you may see these objects on your travels’
– MAP – pullout feels quite clunky to put together, just make it the last spread. A tipped-in heat of stickers.
– Binding discussed – could be stitched or hardback at this stage, likely the former.
– Sam – picture first words later, more stickers!
Work in progress peer review:
– “The word complex is important here; what degree of complexity has bee communicated at the moment? I think you can go a notch up”
– “how many kids actually look at their passports”
– “how do kids understand what passports mean? Could that be emphasized in some way?”
– “The artifacts of colonialism; how would you circulate this is a post imperialist country like Britain which doesn’t teach children about colonialism institutionally?” (*this could be the radical theme I have been looking for, could it all be in the placement?)
– METHODS “Love it! Very clear evolution of craft and production choices, feels very complex… Try to communicate more complex narratives like wars, battles, genocides, famines etc”
Action points:
– Writing – get it written, pick the objects, do a flat plan sketch and then get stuck in. Let the illustrations guide you.
– Prioritise the content for now, production later.
– engage with Tina Gaisford-Waller and local school on a testing level, advance those discussions
– poss title change, Where does it REALLY come from? (From Esther Waller, Chicken House)
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New references:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9q-1SA9Sw
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Publications drop-in
– 2-up, 2 sided Riso possible on A3, needs to dry overnight if possible. So two sessions. Meaning 4 sessions for approximately 20 spreads? Tbc
– Riso not busy at the moment, give a week’s notice if you can
– Stitching discussion another day
– This will likely be a stitched card-back short length interactive zine of sorts, not a book (what defines a zine?)/ Now that map is not a fold out. Will need to consider binding in a sticker sheet, somehow? That’s the next question.
– Papers swatches discussed at for a first look, mimicking the passport texture but on yellow. Will this be enough or does it need to be a leather substrate. I’m thinking thickness is important.