B R E A K T H R O U G HJames Devereaux-Ward

Self Promotion......................................... 04K.I.S.S......................................................06The Imperfect Helvetica............................10

Handmade & Bound...................................16Type Distortion..........................................20Traces of traces......................................... 22Blur........................................................... 24The Little Book of Lies...............................28Deconstruct...............................................30Duplicate...................................................34

Reflection..................................................38Creative Thinking.......................................39Inspirations................................................40

C O N T E N T S

Breakthrough

Below a spread from the publication ‘K.I.S.S’

Here is a publication containing some of my inspirations from the summer 2011. I have placed these all within one

book using tracing paper to represent my inspirations merging together, to become a unique piece of work in

itself. The title K.I.S.S is an acronym for ‘keep it short and simple’, which I wanted to bring to my work this year. This also reflects in the design of the publication, where I have

used minimal type and a simple grid structure.

K . I . S . S

Publication

Link: view full publicationBelow: pages from the K.I.S.S publication

To use Helevtica within design is a topic which always gets brought into conversation. I wanted to challenge the typeface Helvetica to create a new exciting font from the

original. The process has been documented into a series of publications as the type develops. I used a photocopier to

manipulate the typeface as it is a process I wanted to explore. The brief was to create a video exactly three minutes long following the dogme rules.The process was filmed initially

with Tim Harris, and then re-shot with Justin Devon Moore. I wanted to focus on the repetition of the process and the detail typography which was being created. This project

opened my eyes to working with video editing which I really enjoyed and want to persue in future projects.

T H E I M P E R F E C T H E L V E T I C A

Process Video

Link: view full film hereBelow: screenshots from The Imperfect Helvetica video

Above: a spread from the second publication ‘The Imperfect Helvetica’

Link: view all publications hereRight spreads from the publication Below: front cover

As a result of manipulating one publication, I ended up creating a series of five. This shows off the stages and development the typography went through. The

publications went from being in a rigid form and within a grid to a fluid imperfect typeface. This brief has inspired me to carry on the theme of translation which is reflected

with later briefs.

T H E I M P E R F E C T H E L V E T I C A

Series of Publications

Work work work work is a screenprint I have created to inspire myself and others to produce more work. By placing

it on the front cover of a sketchbooks and a series of A2 prints we would be constantly reminded to work as hard as we can, in order to succeed in life. These prints were later

sold at the Handmade & Bound event at St. Brides Library.

W O R K W O R K W O R K W O R K

Print

Left: limited edition A2 screenprint posterBelow: screenprint sketchbooks

The book fair was full of colourful work and had a bubbly atmosphere. Everyone was very friendly and it was particularly nice to talk to other students and artists about

their own work. I also managed to sell a vast amount of prints and sketchbooks which was nice.

While I was at the Handmade & Bound event at St. Brides Library Justin Devon Moore, Tom Hagerty and

myself filmed the day. We tried to capture the wonderful atmosphere, the history of the St. Brides library and the wide selection of work at the event. This would be edited into a lively and upbeat video to showcase the day and act as a teaser for next years event. This project also helped me to consolidate on my editing and filming skills which I would like to develop. We are planning to attend other

events like this and record the day to develop our skills and to get our videography out into the world.

H A N D M A D E & B O U N D

Event Video

Link: view video hereAbove: screenshots from the Handmade & Bound Video

To build on from the idea of translation I have played around with layers of type. I printed duplicates of the same typography and then cut each page so that I could distort

and manipulate the type. The words are quotes about translation which is reflected with the outcome with the

images morphing from the original.

T Y P E D I S T O R T I O N

Experimentation

I have taken some of the most recognisable shapes and tried to trace around it exactly. I would then traced the trace

while trying to leave half a centremetre between each shape created. Copying a copy always leads to an interesting

distortion of the original. Here I have communicated the idea of mistranslation just like the game Chinese Whispers,

where the original words slowly develop into new words just like my shapes transform. I was influenced by Tony

Orrico who represents the perfect human by extended his arms fully and creating patterns with circles, repeating the

process until it is visually engaging.

T R A C E S O F T R A C E S

Experimentation

Right: screenshot from the Blur video

B L U R

Video

Above: screenshots from the Blur VideoLink: view film here

While experimenting with the dogme video, another possibilty was to document my journey home. Myself

and Lance were filming a train late at night and enjoyed blurring the image, by placing the camera out of focus. I then used this idea while travelling around in my car

late at night, as colours would influence the image more. Bright hues from shops, cars and street lamps appeared

in the short films. I have then edited these films to one of the songs we were listening to in the car which suits the

movement in the video. The video would be used as a teaser of the album from Gasoline Monk.

This is a publication created from a blank piece of paper and placing it through the photocopier a series of times. Each

time a piece of dust was picked up, which gradually developed into darker areas. After forty six pages the sheet of paper left was completed black. I have been inspired by Daniel Eatock’s approach to his work, most notably where he took a new laser

toner and printed off as many black pages as possible, until it ran out. This is very similar to what I have done here in

my own work. I positioned my photocopies into a landscape publication to reinact the process of lifting up the lid of the

photocopier, of which can be seen on each spread.

T H E L I T T L E B O O K O F L I E S

Photocopies of Photocopies

Above: front coverRight: A spread from the bookLink: view whole publication here

THELITTLEBOOK OFLIES

Right: Fairley press with wooden letterpress

Here I have deconstructed the word ‘deconstruct’ by taking the magnets and frame away after the first letterpress print. Letterpress artist Alan Kitchings’ work is very experimental, playing around with angles. This is what I wanted to try and play around with. While inking up each block and printing, the wood type moved around in all directions leading to this

nice series of prints. I left the full stop with the magnets around it to show off the movement more from the other

letters. I wanted to create a series of publications, where the content gets deconstructed. The prints would then act as the

front covers of the publications.

D E C O N S T R U C T

Experimentation

Below: a selection of printsLink: view all letterpress here

Right: experimental letterpress ‘duplicate’

Link: view full publication hereBelow: front cover Right: spreads from the publication

Duplicate is a publication containing Walter Benjamin’s text called ‘The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. The title ‘Duplicate’ reinforces this idea. Letterpress is a process which can be easily copied for

mass production. The letterpress type flows through each page within the publication to emphasise Benjamin’s

points. Only letters from the word ‘Duplicate’ are seen in the publication.

D U P L I C A T E

Publication

Above: Personal website

Summertime was a great opportunity to learn new skills. I

took the opportunity to design and build a personal website

from scratch, showcasing my work as a graphic designer.

I self taught myself basic html and css while using Adobe

Dreamweaver. I also obtained a good understanding of web

design which took considerable time. The website is still a

work in progress, but is taking shape very nicely. The design

and layout of the website is kept as simple as possible, so I

could update it when needed, and so viewers could easily

navigate through. I have learnt so much through trial and

error and now have obtained a basic understanding of the

topic. I would like to persue coding after I have graduated to widen my knowledge.

S E L F P R O M O T I O N

Website

Link: view website hereBelow: pages from my website

Upon reflection I believe I have successfully experimented

with a wide range of mediums producing interesting

outcomes. This has been most notably either through

publications or videography. During this semester I wanted

to tackle my weaknesses which included typography, coding

and editing software skills. This is what I have embraced

and tried to improve by incorporating these into my

projects, most notable ‘The Imperfect Helvetica’.

I realise that I am a designer who enjoys restrictions, The

first two projects were set to us by our lecturers and these

I believe are my strongest projects. It helped having clear

outcome requirements to position my experimental work.

I have particularly enjoyed developing my skills with a

camera and also by combining text and images within

publications. Hopefully this will make me a better designer

in the future, as I will have a wider understanding of the

new software skills I have developed. Analogue processes

is still what I enjoy the most, which includes letterpress,

screenprints and illustration. However now I have a greater

knowledge of digital skills. I have experimented with

photocopiers, videography and creative software to expand

myself as a broad graphic designer who is comfortable on

most platforms. Building myself a website has opened my

eyes to the digital age. The internet is the future for design

I believe, and so by having a basic understanding of the

topic I hope to develop my skills in the near future. I would

like to create a completely new website for myself next year,

before enganging in client work.

I wanted to develop some projects, especially the

‘Deconstruct’ letterpress series where I wanted to explore

placing them on the front cover of publications and

experimenting with the content to reflect the front image.

This would have developed my layout and typography skills,

and would also have fit better within graphic design rather

than just being experimental letterpress prints.

Overall I am fairly satisfied with the quality and quantity of

the work I have produced. I have experimented with a wide

range of processes and mediums, with many of the briefs

having a successful outcome. I have also designed and coded

my own personal website which was a huge mountain to climb.

My new software skills including Adobe Illustrator, Premier,

Dreamweaver and Final Cut Pro has dramatically expanded

my skill set as a designer. The knowledge I have learnt this

semmester will help me not only for my final major project,

but also in the design industry after graduating.

R E F L E C T I O N

Evaluation

C R E A T I V E T H I N K I N G

F.m.p Proposal

I plan to develop my skills with typography, grids and

editing skills by incorporating them into my final major

project. I would like to produce a series of publications with

a variety of content so I could experiment with the design

of each completely differently.

Several key words which I would like to investigate are :

repetition, manipulation, transformation, development,

translation, duplication, replication, compression. Perhaps

a publication for each would be interesting to persue. Each

publication would not only work as an individual but also as

a series of investigation. The content could be found theory

on each topic and my aim would be to represent the text as

best as possible through the form, structure and layout.

Each publication would then have it’s own video to

accompany the text similar to ‘The Imperfect Helvetica’

project. where the publications development became the

video itself.

Special Thanks To

Justin Devon Moore,

Lance De Vries

Tim Harris

Mika Vaajoki

Tom Hagerty

Links

K.I.S.S Publication

The Imperfect Helvetica Video

The Imperfect Helvetica Publications

Handmade & Bound Video

Blur

Deconstruct

Duplicate

Personal Website

I N S P I R A T I O N S

Bibliography

BooksTemkin, Ann. (2009). Gabriel Orozco. New York. Tate

Publishing.Baines, Phil. (2005) Penguin by Design. England. Allen

Lane.Eatock, Daniel. (2008) Daniel Eatock Imprint.England.

Princeton Architectural Press.Shaughnessy, Adrian. (2010) How To Be A Graphic

Designer Without Losing Your Soul. England. Lawrence King. 2 Edition.

Shaughnessy, Adrian. (2009). Studio Culture. England. Unit Editions

Evamy, Michael. (2007) Logo. England. Lawrence KingTaylor, Fig. (2010). How To Create A Portfolio & Get

Hired. England Lawrence King

Personal Websites Mark Porter, Josep Roman Barri, Brice Bischoff, Studio 8, Alida Rosie Sawyer, Pentegram, Deutsche & Japaner, Theo

Simpson, Daniel Eatock, Anthony Arias, Katrin Schack, Fuel, NeoNeo, Craig Ward, Tony Orrico, Lita Albuquerque

Blogs Ignant, Its Nice That, Booooooom, Flickr, GDNM, The New Graphic, Aisle One, Visuelle, September Industry,

Many Stuff, FFFOUND!

Interview Oliver, Vaughan (2011) [conversation about collaboration

and copyright in Epsom held on 5 December 2011]

DocumentariesR.I.P. Remix. (2008). Directed by Brett Gaylor Good Copy,

Bad Copy. (2007) Directed by Andreas Johnsen,

Films The Idiots. (1998). Directed by Lars Von Trier. Denmark,

Copy Shop. (2001). Directed by Virgil Widrich

Events Handmade & Bound [held at St. Brides Library, London

on 20 November], Critical Tensions [held at St. Brides Library, London, 10 - 11 November] including talks from Alan Kitching, Jonathon Barnbrook, Zoe Bather, Marina

Willer, Vaughan Oliver, Phil Baines