Publication Experimentation & Curation

The Making Process : Binding Techniques

- Japanese (Stab Stitching) 

- Pamphlet Stitching 

Media and Materials used : 

- Scissors 

- Stanley Knife 

- Bookbinding kit 

- Thread 

- Needle

- Pencil

- Pen

- Colour paper

- Wooden lettered characters 

- Tracing paper

These pictures show the first stages of the Japanese Stab Stitch binding. I adapted this binding method to only bind the publication centrally. As traditionally this binding method involves stitching the entire way across or to both ends of the publication. Although I wanted to use the skills i've learnt and adapt them creatively. Binding or stitching centrally made the publication slightly more accessible and interactive by making the publication appear more open. 

Sketching the layout to create a template

Creating holes using the measured template for the needle and stitch to go through 

The back of the publication to show the final outcome

Using the 'Pamphlet Binding' technique as this publication mockup was thicker and needed more stitches so that needed to be considered. It also had a booklet style layout different to the previous landscape flip book style of the previous publication. However the thickness of this publication and different paper stock made binding this way difficult. Perhaps staple binding would have been better however this would mean the handmade style of the publication would be lost.  

Sketching the template for pamphlet binding 

 

Another publication example adaptation of Japanese or 'stab' stitch binding. 

The image below shows the first mock up of the 26 objects publication the general theme was 'lost.' The theme was explored by challenging the basic conventions of a publication by using manipulation techniques. These techniques included folds, collage, tearing and cutting etc. This created an interesting publication with an alternative approach and way of visualising the theme and idea of being 'lost.' The different paper stock particularly the green and blue paper references a map an object most people would love to have to help them find their way when lost. Blue represents sea of water on a map and the green paper represents land. 

Further Zine and Publication Experiments:

Below shows my experimentation through different approaches to zines and publication. All of the examples below have been further developed with more consideration to curation. For example the zine 'what the fuck is that' was developed and further refined from the initial copy created in Steve Hockett's Wonder Room workshop. 

Refined Uncomfortable Images Publication

For this publication I wanted a larger photograph scale so focused on an A4 landscape layout. Varying the paper stock made the publication more intriguing and engaging. The layout and composition of the publication aims to create a higher between comfortable and uncomfortable images. This is visually represented through showing the contrast of happy animals to animals held in captivity or tortured. This demonstrates contrast and the comparison between comfortable and uncomfortable images. This high contrast comparison may provoke a more uncomfortable emotional response. 

Further Development 26 Objects Publication : Lost.

This sketch shows further development of type for my publication. After more careful consideration I decided my own handwriting or type would add to the personal aspect of the publication whilst also adding to the handmade style or approach I wanted to visualise through my publication. After sketching the type out I closely recreated it digitally using illustrator. Then I altered the hue to work in contrast with the images by changing the colour in Photoshop to white and converting the file into a png. This new type gave a more refined better suited finish to the publication. 

Here I altered the placement of type to generate two fitting publications using one set theme and layout. A nice word association with the word lost is 'found' so these two words combined the title of my publication 'lost & found.'