“HAND MADE TYPE” BY TIEN-MIN LIAO

'“Hand Made Type” is an animated project that shows hand-drawn uppercase letters painted on hands, speedily and subtly converting to their lowercase equivalents in fluid movements.'

https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/08/creating-lasting-impression/

This type is unusual and original which makes the design memorable. Through using hands as type, we are able to illustrate the letters in an expressive way. From the two images, an illustration has been created which transforms the upper case letter into the lower case letter. 
This is an example of 3D typography which I have been exploring for the Processes and Production module. 3D handmade typography is a technique to consider when thinking about designing my Guide to Happiness project for the Collide project.  It is necessary to think about how I will communicate my advice through the use of type, to form a reading experience.

Richard Billingham: Photographer

Richard Billingham's work 'Ray's a laugh', published by Scalo in 2000, captures personal records of family life, not usually captured. His photographs, taken between 1990 and 1996, tell a story of his upbringing by parents, Ray and Liz Billingham. Ray was an unemployed alcoholic and Liz was an overweight animal lover. Richard Billingham was brought up in Cradley Heath, West Midlands, where his family lived in a cramped council flat, after being made redundant.

'This book is about my close family. My father Raymond is a chronic alcoholic. He doesn’t like going outside and mostly drinks home brew. My mother Elizabeth hardly drinks but she does smoke a lot. She likes pets and things that are decorative. They married in 1970 and I was born soon after. My younger brother Jason was taken into care when he was 11 but is now back with Ray and Liz again. Recently he became a father. Ray says Jason is unruly. Jason says Ray’s a laugh but doesn’t want to be like him.'
(Quoted in Ray’s a Laugh, back cover.)

The photography was not taken to shock, offend or be political. Billingham created the work to be meaningful and to communicate the reality of his family life. He used out of date film and got the images processed at the cheapest place, emphasising the families poverty. He states 'I was just trying to make order out of chaos.'

Richard Billingham, 'Ray’s A Laugh', Scalo, Zurich, Berlin, New York (1996)

Richard Billingham, Unitled (1994), Fuji, long life colour photograph on aluminium, 105x158cm

Billingham's work is something out of the ordinary. I take photographs to remember occasions and have used a collection of photos taken on holidays and anniversaries within my collide project to emphasis happy memories. Billingham's photographs do not capture happy moments. They capture the reality of his everyday life. His collection of photographs are personal, yet we have access to them and they have been published within a book. 
Through photography, we have been introduced to the personalities of Ray and Liz Billingham. The images capture these characters, that are representative of a story. The collection is a story which narrates Richard Billingham's upbringing. Linking this example to the conversation project, the collection of photographs converse emotion and demonstrate a lifestyle we may not be familiar with.

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/billingham-untitled-p11756/text-summary
http://www.americansuburbx.com/2010/07/richard-billingham-rays-laugh.html

Richard Billingham, Ray’s a Laugh, London 1996, reproduced [pp.94-5] in colour 
Mario Testino, Richard Billingham, exhibition catalogue, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham 2000 

Happiness/ Future Self Idea Development

Happiness/ Future Self Survey

For the Collide Project, I decided to create a survey to see peoples thoughts on the theme happiness. I found that working hard was something most considered to be successful which I also feel to be true. Inspired by Shannon Lea's work, I asked peoples dream and nightmare scenario. I found that most peoples dream scenario focused on having a happy family. Something I have been thinking about is past memories that have made me happy therefore, thinking about family and childhood was a theme I felt most personal and strongly about.

Cinema 4D

Paul Dolan on Happiness

 Extract taken from the article by The Sydney Morning Herald, 'Paul Dolan on Happiness by Design: finding a balance between purpose and pleasure.'

I have analysed this extract to further enhance my understanding of happiness and different people's interpretations.

Power, J. (2015). Paul Dolan on Happiness by Design: finding a balance between purpose and pleasure. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/paul-dolan-on-happiness-by-design-finding-a-balance-between-purpose-and-pleasure-20150515-gh2doo.html

Shannon Lea (Home) Maker 2015

Shannon Lea's work has been something that I found most interesting when doing initial research at the beginning of the Collide Project. Two different inks where used to created the printed version of the scene and neither could touch as phosphorescent ink would only glow if printed onto a white background. Therefore, both illustrations had to be built up around the other, together but entirely different. Lea has also created a digital version of this so the screen changes when the lights are turned off.

The one seen in day light shows what she wants for herself 10 years from now. She wants to be designing and concentrating on her craft, being a wife and a mother is something she does not consider.  The image visible during the day shows her current ambitions and in the night she is faced with a future she doesn't want to be hers.

Her question to herself is will she still feel the same in 10 years to come. Will her ambitions and future turn out differently.

I like the exploration of materials use within this project. Lea has thought outside of the box which suggests her creativity as a designer.