WHAT IS GOOD?//PUBLICATION DESIGN RESEARCH//OUGD505

WHAT IS GOOD?//PUBLICATION DESIGNS
I have been looking into some publication designs for ideas on visually what I think will look good for my own.  These are some I've found that I either like as a whole or I want to take certain elements from and use in my own designs.

PROJECT: 'A DROP IN THE OCEAN'
A brief to highlight remote islands around the world delivered through a promotional package and catalogue. 

'A Drop In The Ocean' profiles five different locations in its first edition and aims to inform and inspire the reader about these unique environments. Facts, figures, photographs and a brief history of each island/island group can be seen in the hand-bound catalogue. Corporate stationery to address the customer has also been designed along with individual itinerary booklets and a set of limited edition prints featuring maps of the islands, which are all wrapped into a deluxe package. 

 I think this is a tidy and professional looking way to put all your products together.  With good use of stock and a possible logo on the front, I think it could make a good travel type pack.  It folds out nicely to reveal the products inside.

 This is a good example of something I would like to create to do with Paris, I think it works well as a set of products and I like the use of photography, something I hope to incorporate in my range of work.    

Attention to detail, I like the subtlety of the logo on the right hand corner of the book.

These small set of books are something I really like about the range, with the right photography, its simple but effective design can look very interesting and eye catching, with a subtle title in contrasting colours.

I like the variety of stock used, I think it works nicely, the light brown in contrast to the black and white.

PROJECT: DWELL - COSTAL CITIES REVISITED

Idea and visual identity for a travel guide to coastal cities around the world, but from a rather offbeat and alternative viewpoint that is slightly different from the usual glossy travel magazines that focus either on popular tourist attractions or luxury travel.

This focuses mainly on photography, which is something I'm looking to use in my publication.  I like the plastic sheet front cover overlapping the photo with the book title on the front.  If I found a photography of paris that would work with this technique I think it could work well.

 Its simple design but I think it works, I like the idea of having the photo take up the majority of the page and having a white block layered with text.

 Something I want to try and do is cut type out of the photograph, as in this spread:

PROJECT: PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK

Using photography and other artistic mediums, create some sort of book with the purpose of spreading artistic visuals. I chose to create a book which showcased my photography up to that point. I used a technique for stitching/binding signatures that we learned in class in order to create the entire book by hand.

This is something that differs from the first two, in that the topic isn't to do with a place or travelling, its a book focusing on photography, I just think some of the photographs and the layout could work quite well when putting something similar together.

I would like to have some of my photographs span over two pages, however this depends on the quality of the image.

PROJECT: TRAVEL JOUNAL - JOSEPH JOHNSON 

New York / London / San Francisco 2010 is a self-initiated publication documenting my travel during 2010. The aim was to communicate my experiences to others by outlining my daily activities and exhibiting my photography.
—
Scope of work: Book design / Photography
—
Self-initiated 2010

I like the idea of having a fold out section of the book that could hold details about something more specific, I would like to feature the French language in my publication somehow.

WHAT IS GOOD?//FURTHER FORMAT EXAMPLES//OUGD505

FURTHER FORMAT EXAMPLES - RELATING TO MY TOPIC
I have decided to research five more formats but look at them from a more specific and personal point of view as to how I could make them fit in with my ideas for, 'what is good.'

For this brief I want to look at publication design, and creating a range of different publications that could work as a set. I want to look into different ways of how publications can be displayed through different design formats.

PUBLICATION DESIGN

 I think this looks good, clean cut, nothing too over complicated with the design.  I like the embossing of the logo, this gives it a professional touch.  The design of the publication is simple, it looks as though it works as a folder, this is something I could consider when making my 'exhibition of.'  Somewhere to enclose information and bring it all together neatly rather than loose designs.  The basic design works with it being hole punched on the right hand side, the centre of the margin.  Then string is tied to keep it in place.

I think this is quite a simple design in terms of process, its simply string tied around the the publication to keep it in place.  I think this could work well if i made a set of three small publications and tied them all together in this way.  This could work well within my design as my topic is an exhibition of Paris, and therefore has aspects of travel in it which I think could reflect this style where the string is wrapped around to bound the publications together . 

I think the design could work quite well, especially bearing in mins my title is 'An exhibition of Paris.'  I think it would look quite nice to have the range of products sealed in a plastic sheet to keep it pristine.  i could print onto the cover to give it a professional finish.  

 This is something that, if I used a suited stock, could make the overall design look well executed.  The wooden sleeve has been made to slot the book/s in perfectly.  This is something I'd consider if I was going to make two or three small publications, as the idea of a case to keep them all together would appeal to me.  The front of the case has also been laser cut with the initials of the book on.  This is something that could work well if I found something iconic or recognisable, i.e the Eiffel Tower.

This seems fairly easy in terms of production methods, something simple which can hold the publications together.  This is something I'd definitely consider if I was going to make more than one publication for the project.  

Laser cut publication sleeve.  Production methods would be done on a laser cutter, in terms of durability it looks as though its fairly delicate, depending on what stock you use, however.  I think this could look good with some of the architecture around Paris, as it would create some interesting lines, which would be done easily enough but look professional.

WHAT IS GOOD?//FRENCH CUISINE//OUGD505

FRENCH CUISINE:  PARIS DINING 

Dining in Paris is the stuff dreams are made of: elaborate dishes made with top notch ingredients, artfully presented by passionate chefs.

Unless, of course, you happen into one of the infinite restos where instead of having a mind-blowing meal, you’re served mediocrity along

with impressive attitude. In fact, doesn’t it taste like those vegetables on your plate came straight from a bag?

Of course every town has its dining hits and misses. But for so long, it was unfavorably risky to gamble on your average neighborhood bistro in Paris. But finally the tides have turned. We seem to have arrived at a place where you don’t have to break the bank to have a fantastic meal that gets your heart and stomach juices pumping.

I recently had a handful of such experiences—mostly, unsurprisingly, in the tenth and eleventh arrondissements, where the most creative cooking seems to be happening these days. What was it about these experiences? They all had comfortable atmospheres, what with books stacked on the bar and crates of wine on the floor.

Lovely service with zero attitude—places where the staff actually smiled and indulged in a little banter. And loosened policies and philosophies where it was okay to have just one plat and noentrée or dessert, or to even make an adjustment to the ingredients. While I wasn’t blown away by any one meal, I’d happily go back to any of these places for their own brands of informal elegance.

La Pharmacie (22, rue Jean Pierre Timbaud, 75011, 33 01 55 28 75 98) is, as you might expect, situated inside an old pharmacy. It has a bold turquoise façade that gives way to a cheery, warm interior of bookshelves lined with wine glasses, a petite kitchen tucked in the corner, and an equally inviting staff.

The menu is simple—five entrées, five plats and five desserts—and the wine list, eclectic. Everything—from a fricassé of sautéed mushrooms to steak with Chimichurri sauce—fits in the “comfort food” category. My own yellow bass, served with a generous portion of mashed sweet potatoes was just the ticket on a cold winter’s night.

Though the ballyhooed American chef, Kevin O’Donnell, has left L’Office (3, rue Richer, 75009, 33 01 47 70 67 31), the restaurant’s menu is still arresting, thanks to Japanese chef Yosuke Yamasi. There are three options for each course, defined by three ingredients. For example,“Burrata / gazpacho / basilic” and “Bar / tomate fumée / speck.”

You can either allow your own imagination make the leap (and undoubtedly be pleasantly surprised by what’s delivered to you). Or ask the waiter for a full description. With Jimi Hendrix and Led Zepplin playing in the background, and neighborhood couples and friends crammed in at the small dining room’s tables, nothing is too sacred or precious.

My best meal was probably at Albion (80, rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75010, 33 01 42 46 02 44), a restaurant/wine shop in the gut of the tenth. I’m always drawn to appetizers more than anything else and love making a meal out of two of them, rather than the traditional entrée-platapproach—behavior that I once wouldn’t have deigned to display in Paris.

But our lovely waitress, who slid easily between French and English, didn’t bat an eye at my request and I had a most satisfying meal as a result. It started with delicious dish of rougetdecorated with shaved fennel, slices of grapefruit and sprigs of dill, followed by decadently creamy risotto, with fine strips of Comte on top. So it was mind-blowing. But still, pretty awesome.

WHAT IS GOOD?//THINGS TO DO IN PARIS//OUGD505

THINGS TO DO IN PARIS: RESTAURANTS, CAFES AND BARS

Wine Tasting at Baron Rouge

When the Marché d’Aligre packs up for the day, well-stocked wine bar Baron Rouge is where folks go for a post-shopping tipple and an aperitif of saucisson or oysters. Arrive early and you might just get one of the few tables by the zinc bar: alternatively, follow the crowds and stand at one of the Baron Rouge’s quirky counters, made from old crates and barrels, outside on the narrow pavement. 

Le Bristol

Dress in your finest every first Saturday of the month and head to Le Bristol for an afternoon tea with a difference. Taking advantage of its prize location on rue du Faubourg St-Honoré, the palace hotel invites its haute-couture neighbours (think Céline, Yves Saint Laurent and Givenchy) to strut their designer collections in the hotel bar, while you tuck into the Bristol’s delectable tea cakes (the whole affair costs €50). The pastry chef even concocts a special gâteau for the occasion, inspired by the designer on show. 

Pause Café

Featured in Cedric Klapisch's 1996 film Chacun Cherche son Chat, which was shot on location in the neighbourhood, the Pause Café has managed to prolong its moment of glory thanks to its large terrace on the corner of rues Charonne and Keller. Inside, the modern salons benefit from a smattering of primary colours with ornately plastered ceilings and plenty of light. Having been immortalised on celluloid, the friendly staff occasionally let fame go to their heads: service can be excruciatingly slow at times. The food - French café fare with an Asian twist - is not bad, but you might be waiting for a while; best to order a well-mixed cocktail to pass the time.

Chez Prune

Chez Prune is an excellent lunch spot, and still one of the best places to spend an evening on the Canal St-Martin. The local bobo HQ, this traditional café, with high ceilings and low lighting, sticks to a simple formula: groups of friends crowd around the cosily ordered banquettes, picking at moderately priced cheese or meat platters. Mostly, though, they come for a few leisurely drinks or an apéro before heading to one of the late night venues in the area.

Point Ephémère

Housed in a former warehouse for art deco construction materials, Point Ephémère capitilises on its position next to the waters of the Canal Saint-Martin with a great outdoor area. In 2004 it was an artist’s squat of some 1,400 metres squared, which quickly became hugely popular and near permanent – to the chagrin of Paris’s City Council. Today, this breeding ground of all things artistic organises exhibitions, concerts and evenings of independent music specialising mostly in cutting edge pop, rock, electro and hip-hop, all of which are within reach of youthful budgets (€10-12 entry).  

We like the Berlinesque setting with its layers of graffiti, its bare concrete, its enormous glass roof and its small-scale exhibitions. In summer from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, the aperitifs attract the crowds – reaching the bar can be something of an achievement. You can eat lunch and dinner here on the pretty, sunny terrace, and the food is good if a little expensive for the portion size. You’ll jump every time a fire engine zooms out of the neighbouring fire station, but will soon settle back in next to the water.  

Le Tambour

Banal during the day, Le Tambour is the late-night haunt of all the neighbourhood’s night owls and insomniacs, staying open until 3.30am. The atmosphere is warm, though it can get a little crazy between the drinkers draped over the bar and the gruff, strapping barmen. But it’s always fun mixing in with this eccentric nightlife – more often than not you feel like you’re in a sailor’s tavern, decorated with a jumble of salvaged road signs, rather than in a bar in the centre of Paris. Here, you can satisfy any cravings for andouillette,a malodorous intestine sausage, for pig’s feet or simply for steak, at any hour of the day or night. To go with these rustic dishes, order a box or a bottle of wine à la ficelle (you only pay for what you drink). As you’d expect, the low prices increase slightly in the early hours.

Le Potager du Marais

This organic vegetarian eatery near Beaubourg is proof that you can fit an entire restaurant into a shoebox: You will be fighting for elbowroom with strangers on tables crammed in along one wall, but what the Potager du Marais lacks in space, it makes up for on the plate with luscious, homemade dishes brimming with pulses, tofu, fresh, crunchy vegetables and beans. The mushroom terrine, served with gherkins and salad is a real winner; and mains like tofu and sweet pumpkin hachis parmentier (a veggie Shepherd’s pie) are genuinely filling and yummy. Dessert - perhaps less gourmand than the rest - might include a bowl of tasty apple and green tea purée, or a fruit tart. If you require gluten free, the Potager gets brownie points for its multiple choice of dishes – a real rarity in Paris.

La Flèche d'Or

This much-loved indie and electro venue, which reopened in November 2009 after a six-month shutdown, is set in the old Charonne train station - a quirky setting for concerts by a stream of local and international groups and DJs. Needless to say the line ups are eclectic, with three or four bands playing a night.

WHAT IS GOOD?//PARIS INITIAL RESEARCH//OUGD505

DIRECTION:

I have decided to do some initial research on Paris, even though I'm aware that the topic in general is probably too broad.  I want to look into different aspects of Paris, Parisian culture etc. to see what area I want to focus on more.

THINGS TO DO IN PARIS:
CULTURE

THE LOUVRE
A behemoth of a museum, the Louvre has galleries and wings so vast you could easily spend a day feasting your eyes on treasures like the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Egyptian mummies - not to mention on the building itself, which sports sumptuous architecture erected and remodelled over the centuries by the rulers of France. When cultural overload sets in, take a breather in the Café Mollien at the top of the grand Mollien staircase. Great for a restorative sandwich, its terrace also offers one of Paris’s finest views over the Louvre’s Tuileries gardens. 

Musée d'Orsay

The old Belle Époque Orsay train station was converted into the Musée D’Orsay in 1986 to house one of the world’s largest collections of Impressionist and Post-impressionist art. Aside from works by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec, you'll find a dapper collection of decorative arts from the Art Nouveau era and a wide range of 19th-century sculpture. Digest it over coffee in the café behind the museum’s giant transparent clock. And don’t miss the classical music concerts in the Auditorium. The performances are consistently top-notch and usually involve world-famous musicians. 

NOTRE DAME

Quasimodo certainly had good taste: the views from Notre-Dame cathedral’s towers are nothing short of stupendous, especially on a cloudy day, when the skies spin a moody hue across the River Seine and on towards the Eiffel Tower. From the top you also get the best view of the cathedral’s famous gargoyles - cheeky little chimeras whose ugly mugs watch over the city below. Unbeknown to most, they’re not originals; architect Viollet-le-Duc added them in the mid 19th-century when he restored the cathedral to its former glory. 

Arc de Triomphe

Power up your legs and climb the 284 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. The views sweep in geometric splendour between the arc of la Defense and the Louvre. It’s also a plum spot for observing Parisian driving techniques: the unmarked traffic island creates speedy anarchy with cars nipping around invisible lanes like beetles with a death wish. In fact, have an accident here and it’s automatically 50/50 on the insurance claim, no matter whose fault it is. Back on solid ground, spare a thought for the Unknown Soldier whose grave sits solemnly in the centre of the arch. 

Les Passages Couverts

More than just olde-worlde shopping malls, Les Passages Couverts around the Grand Boulevards are atmospheric old covered passages that date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Glass-roofed and utterly charming, their second-hand bookshops, tea-rooms and gift boutiques make fun alternatives to stores elsewhere in Paris, and some of them wouldn’t look out of place as the setting for a Sherlock Holmes mystery – especially the Gallerie Vivienne and the Passage Jouffroy, which houses the Musée Grévin, Paris’s answer to Madame Tussauds. 

EIFFEL TOWER

The most famous edifice in the world, the Eiffel Tower, was originally erected as a temporary exhibit for a World Fair. Thank god it wasn’t pulled down! It provides heart-stopping views over Paris and is visible from most vantage points across the city. There’s also a panoramic champagne bar on the 3rd floor, a brasserie, and the Michelin-starred Jules Verne restaurant where Alain Ducasse creates elaborate dishes. At night, cross the river to Trocadéro to watch Eiffel’s girders sparkle like fairy lights on a Christmas tree (every hour, on the hour). 

Centre Pompidou

As cutting-edge as ever, the ‘extra-skeletal’ Centre Pompidou is home to modern art treasures by (amongst others) Braque, Dubuffet, Matisse and Ernst, plus ever-changing temporary art exhibitions that ensure that no two visits are ever the same. Get there early when the queues are bearable, or arrive at 6pm and stay until closing time at 9pm, after which Georges, the Pompidou’s trendy rooftop bar-cum-restaurant, serves moreish cocktails in a futuristic setting with panoramic views over the city. 

Palais Garnier

The 'wedding cake', as the Palais Garnier is nicknamed, wows a highbrow crowd with some of the world’s best ballet and the occasional opera. The building is an ode to opulence, dripping in marble and gold leaf. It’s also rather fascinating, with the underground lake that inspired Gaston Leroux to write Phantom of the Opera (now used by the fire-service for diving training), and beehives on the roof which produce the honey on sale in the Boutique de l’Opéra. To make a night of it, opt for dinner in the Restaurant de l’Opéra - an avant-garde, red and white affair set in the Palais Garnier’s former horse and carriage quarters. 

http://www.timeout.fr/paris/feature/selection/cultural-highlights