Speaking from Experience-Book layout

This post is looking at applying all the aspects worked on separately into the the final layout design for the book. Its bringing together all aspects, to create an effective layout, that gives the sense of formality, with basic images cementing the point behind the text. its important that all off the aspects on the page show consistency in layouts and spacing.  The size of the book i am going to make is A5, i think this will add to its formality, as its specifically not a size that is easy to carry around in a pocket, as a size that shows purpose, in the sense that you purposely have to put into your bag to use it. It is this purpose that a user of the book, would have. As he/she is purposefully trying to alienate themselves. It also allows me to rights a fair amount, without using a typeface that is to small.

Page Construction-1

Here i have added the boarders, i will uses these as guides as well as the rule marks on the page. The Boarders will help to finish the page, in terms of image. Especially as the colour scheme is black and white. 

Page Construction-2

The next aspect of the page i am adding is the text, this has to be perfectly alined with each other to create an effective end product,visually. I used the rulers as u can see below. The text sits around 3/4 of the way down the page, this leaves room for the next parts. The text has been centred and alined to fit the page, creating a square. This adds to the formality and neatness of the outcome. 

Page Construction-3 

On the above image you can see, i have added the boxes that the title of the page and the socially awkward rating sit in. I have used the rules to create alignment again. The thickness of the lines are 1pt this so when the images are added at 2pt the lines do not draw the eye away from them. 

Page Construction- 4

The next stage shows the titles going in, they again are aligned with each other. They are minion pro 18pt, unlike the main body of type which is a 12pt. This draws eyes to the title. The spacing between letter is adjusted if the title is to big for the box. the size of the box will no change throughout the process.  You can see the page starting to take shape now. I like the way the layout is looking and i think it defiantly achieves the formality i was looking for. 

Page Construction-5

Here you can see the final page layout. all the images and parts of the page are lined up against each other, and sized perfectly. I Think as the final image show, you can really see where i took influence from survival guides etc. I think it creates an pleasing final layout, which demonstrates formality. The typeface used also is very effective both as titles and for the main body of text. The rest of the double page spreads are showed below. 

Speaking from Experience-Front Cover Design.

For the front cover i wanted to, create something that embodied awkwardness in a way, along with an eye catching cover to attract readers. I think its important that final product isn't something that readers would not throw away immediately. I also wanted to stay consistent through out to the formality of the book, along with taking inspiration from the how to and survival guides that are already on sale.

Looking at the design boards above, i think the strongest ones, are where the legibility is tested, as this adds a certain degree of awkwardness. Early on in the in project, i decided that black and white vectors and pages, of the inside of the book, would add to the image i was trying to portray. However i think colour on the outside of the book, will help draw peoples attention. I think the first two cover designs demonstrate to much colour, and thus i decided to avoid using them. Using the text that i am using through out the book on front cover is important in creating design consistency. 

Looking at the text layout and all round image of the front cover, i decided to go with the last two on the bottom design board as the front and back cover. The two lines are meant to add colour and to give the impression the the text is closed off by something or 'standing alone' The legibility of stand alone, is awkward, however is still perfectly legible. 

From a design point of view, the two lines, when the book is constructed will create a continuos flow over the front and back cover, which will look strong.  

Speaking from Experience-Choosing the Book Title.

Choosing the title of the book was a difficult process, i wanted something would suggest alienation and academic success. I inspiration came from brain storming potential names, and the words Stand Alone.
The idea behind this is, standing alone, creatively and personally.

"STAND ALONE, CREATIVELY"

It also works in the sense, that by following this book, you are finding creative ways to alienate yourself or stand alone.

Speaking from Experience-The Theory

The first page of the book will be an explanation on the theory behind the book, i think it is important to highlight this early on in the book. As it gives each page purpose when reading it. It will also help for people to understand that the book is designed to amuse.
The Theory has been laid out in a way which suggests an equation, which enables people to understand it more effectively.

Speaking from Experience-The socially Awkward Rating

THrough out the book, i need to subcategories each action in a certain way, during the research stage of the project this was done by using these headings:

Clothing
Drinking/going out
Chatting up the opposite sex
Hobbies/interests
Past History
Other.

However i have come up with a socially awkward rating, which will be included on each page, it will take into consideration, the difficulty of the action,how embarrassing it will be to complete successfully and the magnitude you will manage to alienate yourself from the group.

This digram will appear at the start of the book. And the rating at the bottom of every page.

Below are how the rating will look on the page, following the layout demonstrated earlier in the blog. 

Speaking from Experience-Vecotring images

The next stage in the process is to start drawing the images to represent the action. I want them to be simple black drawings, relevant to the awkward situation. i want simple vectors, as i don't want to take away, from the main body of the page which is the instruction on how to be socially awkward. They don't have to be directly relevant to the writing,  the images are really just there to remind the reader of the situation. The vectors are shown below:

The Batman

For this vector i wanted, to simple have the batman symbol, the writing is all about dressing up as batman on the first day to create friction between you and your peers. the reason for choosing the symbol is that it doesn't give away what the text says. 

White Supremacy

For this vector i was slightly more obvious, White supremacy is somewhat more difficult to illustrate without being, potentially, insulting as a result i took influence from the i love NY t shirts, and applied this to nazi's. which is what the text is about. 

So You Think You Can Dance 

For this vector, i wanted just a simplistic figurative diagram, not giving away to much about the content of the text, which is about embarrassing yourself on the dance floor. 

This was drawn free hand then scanned in. 

Big Fat Gypsy 

This was the most difficult vector to do, it took, along time and even now i am not entirely happy with it, getting the perspective right, was difficult. It obviously, reflects the travelling side to gypsies. 

Builders With A Difference 

This vector doesn't make the contents obvious at all, and it is playing on the builders bum, this is perhaps my favourite vector in terms of it not letting on to the contents of the text. 

The Sick Trick 

This vector is just playing on the name i have given the socially awkward action. I think perhaps it could be re thought, as it has very little relevance to the action. However i like it as an image. 

If Looks Could Kill

I think as an image, this leaves a lot to the imagination, however i think it adds to the humour of the writing. As it gives the impression of stalking someone. I like the way this image compliment the humour in the text. 

Breakfast,Lunch And Dinner 

This like the previous set of vectors adds to the humour of the text, and as a pages will work well, as it is a flat image, which will compliment the layout i have chosen to use. 

Prison Tales

This i think is the most visually appealing vector, i think the style of the simple line drawing, makes the image stand out from the page well, it is also quite a powerful image, which will be easily remembered. 

Is That You?

This vector is simply playing on the text, representing a deodorant can. 

Social Status 

Using the Facebook logo, as a vector gave meaning to the title 'Social Status' which is effective. Will also help to readers to remember the contents as its such a well known logo. 

Divine Right

This vector was constructed using tattoo diagrams, i think it gives a nice finish to the final image. I like the heavy black used, its something that i may use on more of the vectors. 

Death Collector 

This image has been live traced, which surprisingly doesn't look out of place from the rest of the vectors, as a result i decided to uses it, as the image is strong. 

The Hoarder 

Dynamite

The inspiration for this vector has come from the film Napoleon Dynamite, the vector is relevant due to the t-shirt the main character wares through out the film. The text will look strong on the page. 

Copy Cat

Vectoring The cartoon cat, top cat, has relevance, due to the title of the page, is a good looking image. The image itself gives a sense of purposeful action, which is what a copy cat would do. 

I think as a set of Vectors they help portray the message in the writing without giving to much a way. The also work in harmony with the text, in creating humour which is the really the soul purpose of the book.