Sassoon as a typeface

So, after many trials of different typefaces that might work for my learning cards I finally decided to use Sassoon, a typeface researched to be well taken by children:

Why Sassoon?

Character Design Inspirations

Some really really nice vector illustrations that could work well with my idea. So simple but effective and gets the point through:

Genevieve Gauckler Website - inspiring work and good website

Random Tutorial

So, I had two random tutorials in the studio today. Probably just as well because I was a little stuck with where to go next with my project. It seemed like I had a ton of research done and I was getting a little bogged down with this part of the project and not actively going out and experimenting with my ideas.

Some things I was told to look at:

1) Maybe look at how the alphabet is taught in different countries.

2) Talk to classmates and 1st years because some of them have children or younger brothers and sisters.

3) Create a questionnaire asking people of their opinions of what works best when teaching children the alphabet for the first time.

4) Start thinking about stock, email printers and get quotes possibly?

The second tutorial which followed not long after took me by surprise a little because I was not expecting to have to explain where I was with my project twice but oh well, it still gave me some useful insights on how to develop my idea.

Feedback:

1) Research MONTESSORI which is a method of teaching (sand paper alphabet)

2) Go to bookshops to research the stock and format of children's books to get a feel for what works well. Also to see how they shelve the books.

3) Design a questionnaire for nursery- make it more exciting to fill in, target the audience.

4) Clarify your target audience, needs to be more simple if for young toddlers.

Leo Lionni

So some backstory before delving into Lionni's work. From 1931 to 1939 he was a well known and respected painter in Italy, where he worked in the Futurism and Avant-Garde styles. He then moved to the world of advertising design, became an art director and finally settled down in the 1960s to devote himself to becoming a children's book author and illustrator. He produced over 40 children's books. He experimented using a variety of mediums: paintings, sculptures, collages, drawings, mosaics, designs, posters and advertisements.

He became widely recognized as one of the most distinguished and innovative designers and artists of the twentieth century. His life, most especially his early, formative years, bears testimony to how his everyday experiences, his family, and his surroundings influenced him as an artist and creative thinker.

A very sweet story as to how Lionni discovered his love of creating children's books:

"In 1959, at the top of his career, he decided he would retire on his fiftieth birthday, move to Italy, and follow his own creative spirit.

I reached the conviction that all human acts have social and political consequences....You must feel responsible for every line you draw, for every decision you make.

Then, shortly after he made his momentous decision...

a little miracle happened.

He was taking his two young grandchildren, Pippo and Annie, from Grand Central Station to his home in Greenwich, Connecticut. When the two youngsters began acting up, he said, "I’ll tell you a story." He pulled out of his briefcase an advance copy of Life and began tearing out pages of the magazine, and from them, small round pieces of various colors.

I put my briefcase on my knees to make a table and in a deep voice said, "This is Little Blue, and this is Little Yellow," as I placed the round pieces of colored paper onto the leather stage.

His grandchildren were mesmerized by the story (as were the adult passengers sitting within hearing distance). When they got home, Leo showed the children how to make the story into a book. And it was a book they could “read,” even though they were too young to actually know how to read. They were thrilled with their accomplishment. The next night Fabio Coen, a friend who was a children’s book editor, came to dinner at the Lionnis’, saw the little book, and decided, right then and there, to publish it.

But it would take more than one evening with Fabio before I could fully understand how much the simple little tale of two blobs of color would affect my soul, my mind, and my way of life."

Lionni's work has a sense of innocence to it, it uses basic shapes to map out the figure of the animals he's illustrating. Sometimes his typography is made up of found paper which links and collaborates the text with the image. His innovative use of collage, white spaces, and clean, modern design was a major influence on Eric Carle, Ezra Jack Keats, and other children's book artists.

Rob Ryan

Possibly the most romantic designer in the UK due to his wistful screen-and laser-cut prints. Rob Ryan's work is special. It is special in the sense that it is something unique, something especially beautiful, something that manages to be contemporary while carrying a strong hint of timelessness, a big gust of excitement combined with a familiar waft of nostalgia, and finally, and most importantly his work always seems to appear out of the blue, spontaneous, romantic as it always seems to address itself directly to you.

In a papercut, all the elements have to be connected, human figures have to hold hands or touch, and as result of this technique and precision the sense of connection has become a defining element in Rob Ryan's work, both as technique and as subject matter too.

Rob Ryan's technique of hand-crafted backgrounds could well be something I could use for the backgrounds of my card designs. Depending on the theme I go for I can always use it as a developing point or spring board to try out something new.

Sara Fanelli

So, after researching different alphabet designs I realised that mixed media styled designs work quite well to make learning the alphabet more interesting and engaging. I feel like when books use just realistic illustrations they become quite boring because it's too similar to real life. It doesn't leave room for your own imagination to fill in the gaps and thus the children don't get the chance to learn about creativity which is something they really enjoy.

When thinking of mixed media, Sara Fanelli's work comes to mind as a first port of call:

I think her work is very creative but sometimes it's a bit too over the top and I don't know where to look because there's too much going on within one page. I like how all her work is so surreal but it still conveys the message well. It's a much more interesting way of representing the stories.

I like the use of different patterns to create the background, it gives a feel of having different textures which is more engaging for the viewer. In addition, the typography is always very interesting, not sure whether there's too much variation within each piece but it seems to work quite well as a combination.

Article On Sara Fanelli

Interview With Primary School Teacher

This was actually very pleasant, I got a few bits and bobs from the interview and it gave me a clearer idea of what works well when teaching children the alphabet. Although I think I need to interview nursery school teachers or parents rather than primary school teachers because my learning cards are going to be for toddlers, not children that may already know the alphabet and attending primary school.

Having said that, this was still a worthwhile experience. Reminded me of some of the child-hood learning techniques I endured during my years of being a child which was interesting. The interviewee was getting all flustered about teaching children because it is such a hard thing to do, especially the age group she is teaching (reception). She was telling me how they taught the alphabet using Jolly Phonics which meant teaching combinations of letters as well as individual letters using sound and motion:

"It's a nightmare teaching phonics! How can you teach a child how to pronounce 'knee!' with the silent 'k'?! You can teach rules to a certain extent but they just have to learn."

It was amazing hearing a teacher talk passionately about her job and not just hearing the positive experiences she's had but also the honest not so glamorous side which I want to address and help out with.

Typography Research

So, recently I've been looking at type in children's toys and books and I must say, a lot of them are really boring; but with good reason. The type tends to be sans serif and quite angular so it's clear to read and write. I want to experiment with the type I use in my design but I need to find a good balance of it being good design as well as being suitable for my target audience.

Boring sans serif examples, too angular

Not so boring serif examples, friendly and child-like

Need to start experimenting with type and choose some initial typefaces that might work. More Typography designs to come!

Bad Week For Professional Project!

Oh dear, so I've had a lot of deadlines this week and haven't been able to do a lot for the professional project. Feel a bit bad for slacking slightly but I've literally had no time to develop my ideas for this project because my attention has been turned to things like Theory Poster, D&AD and PPRD.

I will get back on it next week, I have to. I definitely need a tiny break from work this weekend though and then it's back to the drawing board for me.

Next areas to look at:

- Typography

- Character Design (Illustrations)

- Stock