Negotiated Projects

Negotiated Projects - Victorian Steampunk Book Cover

This module required me to develop a design brief linked to my particular graphic design skills, interests and to produce a final layout result. The module also included a sub brief of Phobias which was designed to create fast initial responses and aid the whole design process.

My chosen graphic design discipline pathway to follow and explore in this module is layout and print design  of which I have previous experience.  Layout and print design can be varied in project style from newsletters and flyers to brochures and book covers.

From prior research and initial idea storming my first idea is to pursue my interest in the Victorian Era (colours, styles, fashion, protocol, tradition, obsession with death and the supernatural etc) and combine this with the fairly modern sub culture take on the era called Steampunk.  I plan to create a traditional style piece with a unique modern twist (Steampunk).

I also have a keen interest in the Victorian Obsession with death, mortality, mourning and the supernatural as this played a key part in Victorian life and is rich and varied. I am interested in the many rules, regulations and superstitions surrounding this theme and plan to incorporate these facts into a book cover, contents page and perhaps a first chapter page in the Victorian/Steampunk style.

My thoughts are that the book would be non-fiction reference style and provide insightful, historical facts on the Victorian theme in a stylish way.  The intended audience would be 16 to adults and could be used as an academic reference tool or for general interest/hobby enthusiasts.

To summarise a professional brief would be:

Brief – To create a book cover, contents page and first chapter title page on the subject of Victorian death, mourning and the supernatural in the style of traditional Victorian combined with the modern Steampunk twist.

Target Audience – 16 to Adult.

Final Item – Ready to print PDF files with bleed marks of a book cover, contents page and first chapter title page.

Timescale – 12 weeks (module determined)

My working practise to complete this project will include extensive research into the Victorian era including the colours, styles, typography and fonts used in this period, as well as reference to the subject matter itself.

I will also be undertaking research in the sub culture genre of Steampunk in order to explore the styles, colours, textures and tone of voice this provides in order to successfully combine the two themes in the final piece.

I plan to create the layout using professional graphic design programmes including InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.  I will experiment the tone of voice of the price by utilising various physical mediums such as collage, paint, metal objects and digital media.