Rational: Plus Reflection

Rational: 

The inequality I focused on was women sexual abuse and specifically the idea around rape and sexual consent. I decided to create posters that emphasized the importance of both parties consenting. I did this through the use of using food to visually show how invasive and shocking sexual abuse is in New Zealand. For my ‘stick it in’ poster I used a confronting photograph to convey a strong sense of wehi which forced viewers to challenge their opinions on this inequality in New Zealand. By having tomato sauce and a sausage it allowed informal tone that viewers could connect with. For my ‘crack on’ poster I used an illustrative line drawing paired with the technique of assaulting the surface to create double the meaning with the text and the cracked egg. This approach was less confronting, but the juxtaposition demonstrated the strong meaning of how victims fell both physically and mental when experiencing sexual abuse and allowed viewers to consider the wehi and the feelings around how horrific sexual abuse is. The main fundamental design principle I used was playing with scale of my images on the posters to create visual impact.  

Reflection:

Overall I really enjoyed this project as I found it very hands on and found that I took a good creative approach to my designs. By taking photos and not just sticking to illustrator to create images it allowed my designs to have more depth. Throughout this project I also developed my photoshop skills and there are a few more valuable tricks and tips that I will use in further design work. I found that I kept well onto of bookwork and this benefited me well as in each studio class I could show physical print outs and gain good feedback. This has defiantly been my favourite project so far this year.

I was disappointed in how my final 'Crack on' poster printed as it had a few marks that weren't made by me. Next time because it was a photo and the background is black I would print on glossy paper. 

Week Six: Monday

Over the weekend I was able to take the photos that I needed. I created more concepts however after getting Lees feedback I realised that the focus was now on the hand and rather the sausage which doesn’t communicate my idea strongly. So during studio I was able to get some help off another student with regards to photoshop skills and have now nailed the image composition. I feel as though my type is working, so all I need to do now is just touch up minor details and make sure all text is aligned. For once I am feeling not too stressed about my work and I am going to aim to send my posters to the printer tonight. My to do list now consists of updating my bookwork; writing my rational and outlining the Ihi and Whi components of my work. 

Week Five: Thursday

Due to my flight being cancelled in Queenstown and being delayed by another day I wasn’t able to achieve getting photos of the tomato sauce being a love heart, so wasn’t able to make much progress on my stick it in poster. However I added eggshells to my crack on poster and both lectures have said this is working and that there is nothing more that I need to change which is a positive. Fay has suggested a new call for action so will look into that and add this to my posters. Tomorrow I will aim to take photos of tomato sauce shaped as a heart. I have also come up with another concept of a cucumber against green background but feel as though my sausage poster with the changes needed will be stronger and convey more whi to viewers. At the moment I am feeling pretty confident with where I am at, as I feel as though over the weekend I will be back up to speed.  

Week Five: Monday

I am down in Wanaka so have missed this interim presentation which I feel as though it would have benefitted me well, but had booked my flights before I knew the dates so I just need to make sure I speak to both Lee and Fay on Thursday and keep up to date. Lee was able to give me good feedback via email suggesting that I play around with grid systems. She also pointed out that the fingernail needs to be male and the idea of the tomato sauce being shaped as a love heart. These are all ideas that I will play around with and fix for next class. 

Week Four: Thursday

Unfortunately I wasn't able to make studio today as I emailed my lecture Lee to let her know. I will also be away down in Wanaka for Monday so have emailed Lee and Fay with my new concept of a sausage going into tomato sauce to get some feedback. For this concept I have also played around with the tomato sauce being my typography and am hoping that this adds depth to my poster. I also want to refine my crack on poster so that on Thursday I can almost be set on it being my final. I did also decided to stare away from the barcode idea as I feel as paired with the crack on poster the meaning isn’t very similar whereas the ‘stick it in’ makes more sense and both are about consent. 

Week Four: Monday

In the pit we looked at plagiarism and the importance of always referencing your work. This is something that I need to make an effort with and instead of just downloading an image I should also be saving the link in a folder. We also looked at student examples and this gave me a good motivational push. Over the weekend I came up with a new concept of ‘consent before you stick it in’ where I photographed a finger going into a jam donut to signify the act of sexual abusive and how uncomfortable and confronting it is. Lee gave me good feedback on the idea however the use of a donut didn’t communicate it clearly. My idea was that it men and women penetration however if I use food that represents a dick this will be clear for viewers to understand the meaning. I will aim to take photos with a sausage and cucumber before next class.  

Week Three: Thursday

The studio was an interim presentation which I found very helpful as I was able to draw inspiration from other students as well as getting a good understanding of what posters/concepts were working and not. I found that my ‘crack on poster’ was still quite strong so need to find ways to develop this further, however still keep the simplicity of the egg paired with the quote. The other poster of the ‘barcode’ received good feedback visually however and I need to consider how a barcode implies consumerism. I need to look further at how by changing the text from ‘stop scanning her’ to the idea around ‘she’s not a product’ and how this allows a stronger and clearer meaning around respect towards women. Over the weekend I will continue to develop ideas and aim to come up with a new concept.