Flag Initial Ideas

By using threshold and bitmap mode I first created new imagery from source images to use in initial designs for the flag. The main concept behind these initial ideas was the association that the music genre, Pop Reggaeton can be classed as explicit. 

This provoked thought into how explicit things or objects are censored. Then I began to think of ways I could visualise censoring in the design of the flag. My ideas included block coloured strips, hand rendered or drawn lines, different brush styles and strokes. 

Block coloured shapes overlaid using the filter 'multiply' and finally the idea of creating block solid shapes to visualise pixelated block colour. As censored images often use pixelation as a form of censoring. 

Facts that inspired the design:

5 Facts
- Vocals include rapping and singing, typically in Spanish.
- A musical genre which originated in Puerto Rico during the late 1990s.
- It is influenced by hip hop and Latin American and Caribbean music. - In 2002, Senator González led public hearings to regulate the sexual “slackness” of reggaeton lyrics.
- The new genre, simply called “underground”, had explicit lyrics about drugs, violence, poverty, friendship, love and sex 

Initial idea 1: 

Block vertical strips

Perhaps lacks visually translating the meaning of censor could be improved by increasing the width - more of the image would be censored. 

Initial Idea 2:

Horizontal strips 

Works better than the first as it effectively visualises the idea of being censored due to better placement of the block colour. 

Idea 3:

Hand rendered or drawn lines using Illustrator creates a more practical technique perhaps creating a more hands on aesthetic. 

Idea 4:

Different brush styles and strokes adds texture to the design.

Idea 5:

Block coloured shapes overlaid using the filter 'multiply' uses colour in a way that harmonises with the original image.  

Idea 6:

 Creating block solid shapes to visualise pixelated block colour creates a contemporary style to the design whilst also effectively visualising the message of 'censored'.