The Lab Blog

WEEK 10 - David Hart Presentation

2010-11-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Former entrepreneur David Hart spoke to the class about his experiences running a tie and scarf company that created original products for institutions like the Smithsonian. He covered the creative process, working with trade commissions, and touched on manufacturing issues. David then gave brief reviews of each student's projects.

HOMEWORK : Keep working on your project. Students being reviewed at Double Dutch pls organize your materials for a presentation Sherry Insley. See her bio and recent work. Students not being reviewed will be completing evaluation of each presenter.

CUSTOMIZE a Converse Sneaker Nov 6th

2010-11-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

Chuck Taylor's never looked so good. Or at least they will after you get a hold of them! Drop by Utrecht for a free demo and learn how you can create your own customized Converse sneaker with Molotow Paint Markers. This is a Utrecht exclusive Converse 'Blank Canvas' shoe [$49.99 at Utrecht]

They come in sizes 4-13 [men subtract 1/2 size from your reg size, women subtract 2 sizes from your reg shoe size, and narrow subtract an add'l 1.2 size from your reg Converse size]. Shoes are available at the stires, online and by phone.

Saturday Nov 6th

2-3pm

Call 410-727-7004 or email store17@utrecht.com for more information.

Utrecht Baltimore

229 West Chase Street

21201

MUJI

2010-10-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

Speaking of Branding, take a look at this book on Muji, the Japanese company that designs modest, anonymously styled products [The name Muji derives from mujirushi, the Japanese word for “no brand.”]

WEEK 9 - Fall 2010

2010-10-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

Presentation : Branding
We had a branding presentation by Mike Weikert. He did an overview of what branding is and how it differs from identity. We had a lively discussion about brands after his presentation, specifically how each of us was aware of strong brands that had eroded due to neglence [BP brand problems, BP:branding petroleum], brands that were enduring despite costs [Apple it's all about the brand], and brands that evoked public outcry [redesign of GAP logo]. We also discussed branding on local levels, less mega-corporate branding and how that relates to the individual entrepreneur.

Everyone was given handouts to prepare for the presentation including m Alina Wheeler's Brand Ideals and Process from her book Designing Brand Identity published by John Wiley & Sons, © Alina Wheeler, 2005. See the Readings sidebar for this book and others on branding to learn more.

Want to make some brand comparisons or read about what makes their brand work?
Apple and Lady Gaga
Apple and Google
Apple Labels [unrelated, but fun ;-)]

Last, we discussed how each week students must bring in their projects and Lab sketchbooks: mood boards, sketches, prototypes, no exceptions. Work-in-progress can also be shown on your laptop.

HOMEWORK: Continue working on your projects, revise your project or schedule to finish before Art Market and prepare for next weeks guest David Hart.

The next ArtMarket meeting is mandatory, Wednesday November 3, Brown 320 at 2:30

WEEK 8 - Fall 2010

2010-10-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Mid-terms : Work-in-progress reviewed

Pink slips will be issued if sufficient work is not presented.

HOMEWORK: 1] Read handouts for Branding Workshop with Mike Weikert. 2] Keep working on your project.

WEEK 7 - Fall 2010

2010-10-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

Workshop : Letterpress

This class was held in the MICA Printmaking Dept, with a demonstration on Letterpress by Kyle Van Horn. Students were asked weeks earlier to take a sketch or finished piece of art from their Lab sketchbooks and devise/design artwork for a 2.5x3.5 card. They could imagine this as a business card, a tag or label for their final project. The art was sent out for negatives, and polymer plates were made by Kyle with assistance from Ida Liffner [an exchange student in the class]. Ida wanted to learn more about making polymer plates and volunteered her time. Here are the pdf's of their cards:

[all artwork shown here is © 2010 by each student]

Students were also asked to bring in various sheets of paper to print on. If you have an interest in letterpress, there are a number of great people who are working in Baltimore in this illustration-friendly medium:
Kat Feuerstein's Gilah Press + Design
Mary Mashburn's Typecast Press
Val Lucas' Bowerbox Press

Letterpress is one of my favorite printmaking mediums. My new business card is letterpress, 2 sides, done at Gilah, printed by Whitney Cecil:

I was in Toronto at the Grad Fair Day talking about my new MFA in Illustration Practice, a program that grew out of this class The Lab, and sorry to miss this demo. Pictures will be added as soon as I receive them!

HOMEWORK: Prepare for Mid-term crits by organizing your work and bringing in all of your process work, sketchbook and prototypes. Read Project Assessment document and use to write your Creative Brief.

WEEK 6 - Fall 2010

2010-09-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

Presentation : Jaime Zollars

We started the day with a short video Mika wanted to show, then I showed The Handy Book of Artistic Printing, a Collection of Letterpress examples with Specimens of Type, Ornament, Corner FIlls, Borders Twisters, Wrinkles, and other Freaks of Fancy by Douglas Clouse and Angela Voulangas before doing a quick critique of everyone's project. Generally all in good shape, some behind.

Our guest today was Jaime Zollars who talked to the class about online marketing, DIY festivals/events, resources for making prints, shirts and card and much, much more. Jaime brought in a collection of shirts, wrapping paper, cards, and prints. She shared her enormous wealth of information and offered to answer more questions if you contact her. Her hand-outs will be posted here within the next week. To read more about Jaime, go to this interview in Communication Arts.

Please make sure you get on schedule! Midterm is in 2 weeks! Only 10 wks til ArtMarket!

REMEMBER to register for ArtMarket on Oct1

HOMEWORK : Bring in 8.5x11" paper for the letterpress demo in WEEK 7. Arrive in class to have attendance taken at 9am with Kyle Van Horn, who will be doing the letterpress demo with you in the Printmaking Dept. Try colored and white paper and different paper weights.

Keep working on your project!!

WEEK 8 is Midterm Crits. Come to class with ALL you prep work, comps, samples, storyboards, prototypes, etc. Organize them well and be ready for an individual review.

WEEK 5 - Fall 2010

2010-09-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

Workshop & Presentation : Gocco & Strathmore Paper Co
We started the day by exposing Gocco screens, building chipboard frames [see last weeks pix], then printing. Students were asked to consider the branding, identity and packaging of their project. The demo was also to expose them to alternative methods of reproduction. Anyone interested in doing additional Gocco printing can get supplies from Welsh Products, Inc. Box 6120 - 1316 Oak Circle, Arnold, CA 95223, 209.795.3285 or email at info[at]welshproducts[dot]com. Their website is www.welshproducts.com.

Here are some examples of their Gocco prints:

At 11am, Anna Fox Ryan from Strathmore Paper Co gave a presentation on paper history and papermaking. Students demoed with the paper samples. Lots of giveaways!

HOMEWORK :

[1] Using your Gocco art or a refinement of the idea, create a digital file no larger than 2.5"x3.5" saved as a PDF or Illustrator file. We will use this for a letterpress demo in 2 weeks. Line art images are the best. Make sure all line art is 100% black. Send file to ws[at]whitneysherman[dot]com by this Friday Sept 24th.

[2] Research our next week guest, Jaime Zollars, to prepare for her visit.

[3] Bring in your work to date with changes based on the afternoon critique.

[4] As always, bring in your project journal.

HOMEWORK :

[1]

WEEK 4 - Fall 2010

2010-09-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

Workshop : Gocco
The analysis of the selected entrepreneur was turned in. I asked everyone to lay their preliminary image ideas out for student and faculty feedback. Everyone had to describe their project succinctly [and were reminded this practice will help everyone craft their verbal presentation as time goes on].

Feedback was really great from everyone, lots of perceptive suggestions and thoughtful criticism.

I talked about Gocco [the Japanese craft print system verging on distinction] and how I adapt the printing aspect of it to get better results. Here are samples of Gocco printing on several blank journals and a onesy.

This is the B&W drawing I started with. Per instructions, it needs to be done with a carbon based ink or a toner based copy [which has adequate carbon in it]. Note the detail in linework and compare it to the samples. Fine line doesn't render well [tends to fill in] but the result on the samples is nonetheless pleasing. Smooth surfaces give the best detail, printing on knits will show the texture of the cloth. Consider this when creating your drawing.

This is a screenprint frame made of chipboard and tape. This one is set up for printing on a small Muji blank journal [see the middle journal in the sample pic above]. I've removed the acetate cover normally on the screen and have taped the screen in a position that situates the image where I want it on the journal cover. I will use a piece of chip board cut to the width of the screen. Ink is put on the top of the screen and each print is pulled until the coverage is good.

Students were asked to bring in surfaces to print on including paper and fabric.

NOTE: The ink dries fast so you have to work fast to keep the image clean. Have a clean space nearby to place your multiples. Working with a partner can speed up the process. Standard Gocco inks can be blended to make new colors. Mix enough for your project and save it in a small Tupperware-type container.

HOMEWORK :

1] Bring in a Black and White LINE ART PRINT-OUT ON A 4x5” SHEET OF PAPER of an image that relates to your

project [think logo, promo image, tag or label]. This can be sketchy but well thought out.

2] Bring in paper, other flat surfaces, cloth/clothing] to print on for GOCCO demo.

3] Bring $7.50 to cover costs of the Gocco screen and bulbs. Inks will be provided.

Week 2 - Fall 2010

2010-09-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

Field Trip : More Collective / Stem Graphics Printshop

The guys at Stem Graphics, Mike and Drew, took a huge chunk of their morning to show us around their screen printing facility, talk about starting their business, answering questions about creative partnerships and pulling the graphic on our shirts for our Lab shirts for ArtMarket in December [thinking ahead].

Amazingly, the color chosen for the run went well with the random shirts brought. Only one shirt was exactly the same color needing a color adjustment. Alyssa Nassner, who took The Lab last year, joined us. She is getting ready for Crafty Bastards in DC next month where she will be selling her screen printed pillows.

We all worked up an appetite and went out for a slice or two after the presentation.

HOMEWORK : Bring in a B&W line art print-out on a 4x5" sheet of paper. Use an image related to your project [something that could serve as a branding image or tag graphic]. It may be sketchy, but should be well thought out. Bring in paper or other surfaces to print on for your Gocco print. Bring $7.50 to cover costs of Screen and Bulbs.

Alyssa and Drew watch students pull

Mike talks shop

WEEK 1 - Fall 2010

2010-08-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Lab
Please make sure to follow this blog as it outlines your classwork homework assignments each week.
Feel free to look through the Archive to see projects done by students last year.
Check out the links. More will be added throughout the semester.

What we will cover in the first class:
Informal presentation session; Evaluation and group discussion of your semester ideas.

HOMEWORK : Formalize proposal; Create your Working Journal; Research More Collective; Bring in t-shirt to be screened; Complete your Technical Skills survey

Colin O'Connor : Positive Latitude

2009-12-15T10:36:00.000-08:00

Cody Griffith : Southern Prints

2009-12-15T10:31:00.000-08:00

Southern Prints are original works, letterpress, and digital prints by Cody Griffith.

Nargol Arefi : The Alphindabet!

2009-12-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

Acrylic and Gouache on Arches paper, 8.5 x 11 inches.

You can order prints from nargol@gmail.com

Jillian Yoffe : Weird Mammals

2009-12-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

Weird Mammals is a zine package that features 32 different strange and unusual mammals that the average American doesn't know much about. The package comes with a pack of four 1" buttons, a sticker, a letter pressed book cover and a screen printed vellum envelope.

Stephanie Devino : Ani-Mini-isms Brooches and Barrettes

2009-12-15T09:36:00.000-08:00

Andrew Morgan : The Illustrated Awkward Bestiary

2009-12-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

John Ward : Scurvy t-shirt

2009-12-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

Scurvy t-shirts are designed and printed individually by hand by John Ward.

Celine Loup : Door Ajar

2009-12-15T09:20:00.000-08:00

20 pages, black and white.

celineloupillustration.net

Erica Scheff : Chimera

2009-12-15T09:14:00.000-08:00

Everyone's dreams, like vision quests, contain symbols that are personal to them. Each Chimera was dreamed by a volunteer, and brought to life by Erica Scheff. Learn more by emailing her, or by visiting the Chimera Facebook group.

Week 16 : Last Class

2009-12-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

HOMEWORK : All of the following must be done to complete this course:

- Turn in a CD with minimum 3 images of project as 300dpi JPEGs. Please label your files FirstName_ Last Name_LabF09. Please label the CD with your name and course name.

- Post final project to the class blog. The following student need to post images of their product. This must be done this coming Tuesday IN CLASS as part of your work for The Lab:

Nargol Arefi, Stephanie Devino, Cody Griffith, Celine Loup, Andrew Morgan, Colin O'Connor, Erica Scheff, John Ward, Jillian Yoffe

- Creative Brief including:

Name of your project

Type of ownership [sole proprietor]

Your contact information : Website/blog, email address

Company Mission statement : This is written to describe your creative and business goals. It’s a pledge of sorts to the public and yourself.

Project Brief : [250 max] This should be descriptive and explain your brand. It should give the reader an idea of the material quality, the underlying intentions [educational, for fun, etc] and simply explain how it does this. It should make a visual impression in the readers mind by using appropriate words to describe your project [tactile, plush, etc]

Unit cost [actual] : List a breakdown of the following in this order:

1] total hours spent on the developing project x an hourly rate [your pay]

2] prototype materials

3] studio overhead [cost of your rent+ utilities] divided by number of prototypes.

4] Add these together to get the actual unit cost

5] Add profit mark-up [normally 20%] on to the unit cost. This may end up being much higher than your sale cost, but it will give you a basis for rethinking materials, manufacturing methods, venue for sale, etc. If you can recuperate costs by making more then this can potentially be viable.

Note: In an initial prototype run, your product price may be less than actual cost. Determine a cost you think people would spend, ask friends if they would buy it for that price. If the product sells out, you will find the next batch will be less expensive to make because there is not research time involved. In the case of commercially made products, there is no additional crafting time, thus lowering the cost of each piece.

Start-Up summary : List costs needed to begin your business. Make this bullet points or a list as follows:

Studio rent : A percent of your apartment used to create your project x you rent: example $500/mo rent x 20% = $100.

Utilities : Use the same percent of your gas & electric and phone as the studio: example $60/mo G&E + $40 phone + $100.

Materials costs

Equipment to purchase : Computer, copier, etc.

Advertising : Participation in festivals? Ads? Website? You blog? Who will you link to?

Product Distribution : Based on crits and your experience at Art Market, reassess where you think your product should be sold.

Sourcing : Where are your items produced?

Promotion : How will the product be promoted? Please be descriptive.

REMEMBER this entire Brief would be read by an investor. They would want to know you are committed to this project.

Sarah Straub : A Snowman for All Seasons

2009-12-08T12:32:00.001-08:00

"A Snowman for all Seasons" desk calendar by Sarah Straub

Kat Nicole B : Desk Demons

2009-12-08T12:28:00.000-08:00

Desk Demons! www.DeskDemons.blogspot.com

Kelly Miller : Little Henry's Obsession

2009-12-08T12:12:00.001-08:00

Little Henry's Obsession is a children's book used to teach children about moderation. The story follows a boy who has a fairly relatable obsession with video games. This story follows his journey to balance both his hobbies and his requirements.

Christina Kaputsos : Tigers, Gnomes, Little Flyers

2009-12-08T11:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Tiger Plush: These cuddly cats are just waiting for a new home. $15.00 each

Lucky Pocket Gnomes: These little guys will bring you luck where ever you go! $6.00 each

Little Flyers: Pull the tab and watch them fly. $8.00 each

Found only at Art Market or Email Order! You can order yours at ckaputsos@gmail.com

Brittany Brown : Earth Mother

2009-12-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

Earth Mother is an educational picture book about various tribes and folklore from Africa by Brittany Brown. Earth Mother is included in the brand umbrella of Njia Press, which includes prints and papergoods.

Kristin Nohe : Presidential Love

2009-12-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

Presidential Love is a project by Kristin Nohe, consisting of a deck of cards featuring Presidents and First Ladies, button sets, and letterpress prints.

Alyssa Devlin : Best Served Cold

2009-12-08T08:36:00.001-08:00

Best Served Cold, an interactive book designed by Alyssa Devlin to help viewers unleash their inner revenge instinct without causing harm to others. With accompanying postcards.

Rachel Dougherty : Hullabaloo Birthday Stationary

2009-12-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

Ta-Da! Hullabaloo birthday stationary by Rachel Dougherty.

Alyssa Nassner : Small Talk Bags, Pillows, cards, and more

2009-12-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

Pattern, Fabric, and Purse Designs by Alyssa Nassner and Small Talk. Fabric was hand printed at Stem Graphics with help of Christopher Muccioli. www.alyssanassner.com

Week 13

2009-12-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

Please bring all your PROTOTYPES in on Tuesday. They will be kept in the IL Office so we can load in projects for Art Market Day One at 8:15am on Wednesday Dec 9th.

We will do the inventory sheets and tags in class.

If you want to make a tshirt representing our group as The Lab, bring in a shirt and we'll do this in class as well.

Week 12

2009-12-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

Finishing your prototypes, making your inventory sheet and checking your work schedule for Art Market. That's what we are all about!

We have had feedback from class mates, from faculty, from gust speakers and from shops, now it's time for the big bad public to let you know what they think.

Week 11

2009-11-21T19:10:00.000-08:00

We love Atomic Pop

Their great selection of indy and commercial gems makes leaving without something almost impossible! We visited Atomic Pop, then came back to work on projects during classtime. Everyone is in the groove now, some have had to finish their creating early to meet online print deadlines. Next week the 2nd half of class get their projects reviewed by Rachel Whang of Atomic Pop at 9:30am. We'll meet in class to drive over.

Rachel shot all the photos you see here!

HOMEWORK : Keep working on your projects. Bring things to class each week for a progress check.

Week 10

2009-11-09T21:51:00.000-08:00

Kristin Nohe

Nargol Arefin

Cody Griffith

Alyssa Nassner

WORK -IN-PROGRESS: We did individual reviews to check project progress, reviewing completion of all things to date including the entrepreneur analysis, the use of labeling and packaging, online publishing dates, direction of concepts on projects and branding assessment draft. The branding assessment will lead to writing a project description for promotional materials and other business needs.

Next week we meet in class at 9am, have a brief talk about Art Market, then visit Double Dutch Boutique at 11am. All the class will attend, half the class will get a crit. Have your projects ready to show progress to date and describe the product using some of the tools learned in the Branding Workshop.

HOMEWORK: Attend the Photographing Your Work workshop at the Career Center, Wednesday Nov 4th at 2:30pm

Week 9

2009-11-09T21:30:00.000-08:00

Branding Workshop with Mike Weikert

Mike covered the basics of branding and demonstrated the difference between identity and branding. Here are some of the points he made:

What is a Brand?

A brand is not a logo.A brand is not an identity system. A brand is not a product.

A brand is an idea, not a thing. It is a shifting set of perceptions and associations that can be influenced but not controlled. A successful brand evokes an emotional response by telling a story that connects to its audience, transcending the product to represent something bigger—an idea, a movement, a way of life. Most importantly, successful brands ring true.

People are emotional and intuitive beings and react and respond to products and companies based on those emotions and intuitions. As a result, brands are defined by individuals, not companies, marketing firms or designers.

It’s not what you say it is, It’s what they say it is.— Marty NeumeierThe Brand Gap

Products are created in the factory. Brands are created in the mind.— Walter Landor, FounderLandor Associates

It takes a whole company to build a brand.—Blake Deutsch

A brand becomes stronger when you narrow the focus.—Al and Laura Ries

Brands are most successful when strategy and creativity work together.

— smart and beautiful.

— analytical and intuitive.

— logical and emotional.

When both sides work together (in the words of Marty Neumeier) you can build a charismatic brand.

Charismatic brand: product, service or organization for which people believe there is no substitute.

Students were asked to bring a draft of their brand assessment considering the following points in reference to their specific project:

Brand Strategy, Positioning and Identity.

Brand Strategy The combined understanding of three parts.

1. Position in the marketplace(target audience, competition)

2. Visual identity(product/service itself, logo, all design and communication)

3. Marketing initiatives (how your product/service is delivered to the audience)

Brand Positioning Define a platform that will provide a standard for judging the accuracy of all brand communications

Objectives—What are the goals of the product/service?

Challenges—What obstacles does it face in attaining those goals and getting the message out?

Target Markets—Who are you talking to?

Attributes—What characteristics best describe the product/service?

Points of Difference—What makes it unique?

Perceptions—How would you expect the product/service to be perceived by the public?

Reasons to Believe—What makes it different?

Essence—What are the significant features of of the product/service and what does it promise?

from this, we define this:

Key Messages—specific communication points.

Thematic Platform—visual and conceptual principles.

Imaging Criteria—standards for developing the brand identity.

Development Ideas—list of deliverables.

Brand IdentityVisual and verbal expression of the brand.

Execution of deliverables based on the Brand Positioning exercise.

BE AN EARLY BIRD : BRANDING WORKSHOP

2009-10-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Our Tuesday Branding Workshop in The Lab with Mike Weikert will begin at 9am sharp. Please arrive 10 min early to set up your work and be ready to start at 9am. Remember to bring all work to date, your handouts and questions AND you draft of the branding assessment.

See you Tuesday!

WEEK 7 & 8

2009-10-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

Week 7 : Mid-term individual crits were done in class. Any materials that needed reworking were collected [revamped proposals or Letterpress demo work]. The class looks like it is on-track generally for completing their projects. Some students may need to put the pedal down to get it all done. We discussed individual strategies for getting it all done, adapting directions, etc.

HOMEWORK : Read the branding handouts given out at the end of class. Some material is from Mike Weikert who will visit the class in Week 9, some is from Alina Wheeler, the Philadelphia branding expert. If you are really interested in branding, I'd suggest her book! Read this material throughly, reread it. Using this information, create a draft of your Brand Assessment. Pls have this typed to hand in. In Week 9, Mike Weikert will do a Branding Workshop and look at your project with an eye toward how well you thinking on your brand represents your project. Mike has worked as a brand focused designer for many years and is the Director of the MICA Center for Design Practice. Pls bring your work in to-date. This presentation and review will take a majority of the class time. Links to Branding information will be posted before the end of this week. Pls check it again for add'l info on branding.

Week 8 : Fall Break

HOMEWORK : Continue working on your project.

Art Market : Important dates

2009-10-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

Here are the Art Market date you need to know about:

Oct 14 : Informational Meeting 2:30 in B110

This is a good meeting to attend if you have general questions about how Art market works. You can also ask me in class.

Nov 11 : Required Mtg 2:30 in M110

This meeting will cover tags and other pertinent information. You must attend.

Dec 2 : Required Mtg 2:30 in Falvey Hall

This meeting covers all the last minute details and info about how the Market will run including packing up each night, recording sales and wrapping merchandise, etc. You must attend.

Dec 9-12 : The Art Market in Leidy Atrium

We will develop a schedule of work shifts for manning tables. Pls be aware we will need 4-6 people at all times.

WEEK 6

2009-10-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

This week we had a great Letterpress demo by Kyle Van Horn. Check out his site's TEACHING page for great letterpress resources. For this demo, students were asked to take the project imagery generated for the Gocco demo farther, make it more sophisticated, developed toward their brand identity. Students were also asked to bring a variety of materials to print on testing out their ideas and use of materials.

In the afternoon, we did one-on-one midterm assessments. If you were told something was missing, pls complete it or if you wish to improve your grade, you may rewrite your entrepreneur assessment, improve your identity ideas, etc.

This is Kyle!

Students mixed ink.

The rollers are inked.

The polymer plate is set on the press bed.

And the proofs are checked.

HOMEWORK : Develop promotional/branding ideas from the Letterpress demo. What did this exercise inform in your identity. Keep working on your project.

Art Market : Register Now

2009-10-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Art Market registration form is currently live. Please register today to insure your spot at the Illustration table. http://www.mica.edu/artmarket

ALSO: Please turn in your negatives to the IL Office, if you haven't done so already. Many of you had not and we need them to burn the plates ahead of time. It takes 2 1/2 hrs to burn them...we can't do it on Tues morning, so if your neg is not in by this weekend [place it in my mailbox], you won't be able to print on Tuesday!

WEEK 5

2009-09-29T11:59:00.001-07:00

Our guest today was Jaime Zollars who talked to the class about online marketing, DIY festivals/events, resources for making prints, shirts and card and much, much more. Jaime brought in a collection of shirts, wrapping paper, cards, and prints. She shared her enormous wealth of information and offered to answer more questions if you contact her. Her hand-outs are keepers. If you missed this class, pls see me to photocopy my set of her hand-outs. And to read more about Jaime, go to this interview in Communication Arts.

I also did a quick demo on the button-maker. An 8.5x11" Adobe Illustrator file is available with a copy line for your name and copyright info on it. It's easy to do. You can use the 1" button-maker in the IL Office. Check with friends and classmates to see if someone wants to split the cost of supplies and save money. You can buy supplies at Button Biz or American Button Machines.

HOMEWORK : Everyone should have had their negatives done for this week but most of you didn't. IMPORTANT : Please get you negatives done and drop them off to Erin in the IL Office BEFORE Friday Oct 2. Kyle needs to burn the polymer plates ahead of time so we can all print next Tuesday. Bring to class next week, materials to test out your letterpress demo on. Keep working on your project!! Also bring in work-in-progress for the afternoon review.

WEEK 4

2009-09-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

Elena Johnston did a presentation of her work since graduating including her Paper Kingdom book. Her collection of zines and indy published books was a great example of what's happening in the field today. Thanks to Elena for giving so much of her time to the discussion on indy publishing and for her insightful reviews of each students projects!

HOMEWORK : Create digital file 300dpi as a PDF or in Illustrator. MAKE SURE ALL LINE WORK IS 100% black! Email file to Alpha Graphics at production[at]alphagrap.com asking for a negative of the art. IMPORTANT: ask for RREU [right reading emulsion up]. Gang your 4x5 with another students to save money! The minimum size negative you can order is 8.5x11”. You’ll need to pay with credit card or cash when you pick it up. See their site for more info http://www.alpha-graphics.net/

WEEK 3

2009-09-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

Assessment of the student's digital skills revealed some students needed an InDesign workshop. Students had alot of really great questions during the workshop and all were encouraged to ask questions in the future.

The analysis of the selected entrepreneur was turned in. After the workshop, I asked everyone to lay their preliminary image ideas out for student and faculty feedback. Everyone had to describe their project succinctly [and were reminded this practice will help everyone craft their verbal presentation as time goes on].

Feedback was really great from everyone, lots of perceptive suggestions and thoughtful criticism. We were engaged in the discussion enough to miss going to xpedx paper company to get paper samples. All students are urged to visit their showroom to get paper ideas and pick up samples. Check out xpedx.com for their location and hours.

This is the B&W drawing I started with. Per instructions, it needs to be dome with a carbon based ink or a toner based copy [which has adequate carbon in it]. Note the detail in linework and compare it to the samples. Fine line doesn't render well [tends to fill in] but the result on the samples is nonetheless pleasing. Smooth surfaces give the best detail, printing on knits will show the texture of the cloth. Consider this when creating your drawing.

HOMEWORK : For the in-class Gocco demo - revamp your images based on the feedback; bring in a B&W 4x5 image on paper; bring in materials to print on. Attend the Exhibiting your Work Workshop, Wednesday Sept 16th, 5-6pm in the Career Development Center, Gateway, 2nd flr. Review guest artist sites elenajohnston.com and the paperkingdom blog. Bring all work-in-progress to class. Keep working on your project.

WEEK 2

2009-09-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

Assessment sheets were filled out and used to make formal project proposals. The proposals were turned in this week, after which we took a field trip to Squidfire to talk with entrepreneurs Kevin Sherry and Jean-Baptiste Regnard, co-owners of the firm. After an informal interview and demo, each student was allowed to pull a one color screen onto an article of clothing they brought, learning how much labor goes into making fine handscreened shirts. Thanks Kevin and Jean for hosting us in their Union Street facility!

Lunch break at Dizzy Izzy's was loads of fun as we filled the entire 2nd floor.

On returning to MICA, we watched Mark Murphy's dvd Scribble:08, a set of interviews with California illustrators who are breaking ground in new lines of expression and new places they see their work appearing. It features Joe Sorren, Martha Rich, Jeff Soto, Camille Rose Gracia, The Broken Wrist Project, Tim Biskup and the Clayton Brothers.

HOMEWORK: Bring in an image related to your project [B&W, 4x5 max]. It can be a preliminary image of something pretty well worked out. Keep working on your project. And research on of the following entrepreneurs/collectives, then write a 2 page analysis concerning one of more of them. You can cover one or use several to make a comparison paper. Please use the following links as a starting point for your research:

Mitch Nash Jessie Hartland Mike Mills

Little Paper Planes Berkley Illustration 1973

Paul Budnitz / KidRobot INK Illustration Tara McPherson

SPECIAL NOTE: Check out the BRANDS chapter on pg 50 in Lupton's Design It Yourself for tips on how to be thinking about your project identity.

2009-08-31T22:09:00.000-07:00

WHAT WILL YOU MAKE? Take a look at some of the past projects done for The Lab! More will be posted in days to come, but for now, enjoy these three books:

ELIZABETH GRAEBER'S "Second Monday at Noon" Recipe Book:

SIMONE THORNTON'S Sketchbook Anthology with screenprinted stickers:

HALI MALTSBERGER "Sleep" Book with accompanying CD:

During the semester we will visit small creative businesses including SQUIDFIRE, ATOMIC POP and DOUBLE DUTCH. They will give you insights into their beginnings and backstories. They'll also give you valuable advice about your project.

This is from our visit to Squidfire one year:

And our Letterpress demo with Kyle Van Horn:

And we'll have class visits including a workshop on branding with MIKE WEIKERT. Let's get started!

2009-08-31T22:05:00.000-07:00

WEEK 1 :
Informal presentation session; Evaluation and group discussion of your semester ideas.

HOMEWORK : Formalize proposal; Create your Working Journal; Research Squidfire; Bring in garment to be screened; Complete your Technical Skills survey