Designing & Refining

Visited Apex Design in Petone to confirm they can print the book how the binders have requested and what they need from me to make it work. It sounded complicated but still doable. (Definitely spending $$$)...

I have been getting stuck on the flow and transitions of the book. I have nailed some certain aspects down like the colour palette from the Phulkari and when to add in the hand drawings. 

I had feedback to look into illustrations so I started to make my own version of the aunties and they turned out okay. Not sure about the bigger version for the section divider. This chapter is the driving force behind me responding to them and their judgement so I need to make it work and flow nicely. 

I took a coloured print mock up to class and received a good response as well as some good critique. I was told to lay it out on the floor and see how it all flowed. The feedback I received:

- good colour palette

- keep the transparent working drawings and have handwritten notes

- make sure the columns are shorter and there is a type hierarchy 

- get rid of the fake hand made looking paper background as it doesn't seem authentic

- make the photographs bigger or have strokes behind the outfits so the background doesn't take away from it

- have clear section dividers. Put the titles on the fabric pages

- The album-like style works so don't need to have full blown pictures at the end. Add captions!

- Get rid of the auntie dividers as they don't work

- The time line at the beginning should be over two spreads as it looks crammed

I worked on the feedback given and was able to refine and be more consistent with the flow of the book. The book in a way has become more elegant and personal. 

At this stage I still needed to keep refining and pick on the smaller details. I wasn't worried about the cover as I knew I was going to use the Phulkari fabric that brought it all together. It became a process of using what I had that was very personal and re-constructing it into something new.