Visual narrative collage

1Rob Wilson Adjunct Professor

[email protected] @rob_on_water

Digital Design

Spring 2019 F 9:00 - 11:50 AM 44 Park Row

Project 01

01 Visual Narrative Collage

One of the most effect tools a graphic designer can wield is powerful storytelling. Narrative is most often associated with literature. Novels, essays, short stories, biographies, and memoirs are all structures associated with textual narrative, while collages, comics, posters, gifs, memes, and videos are forms associated with visual narratives.

So what is a narrative? In short, a narrative is a an idea that has a beginning, middle, and end. Narratives can be sparse, or they can be dense, but complexity does not necessarily equate quality—some of the strongest narratives are those that use the least possible parts to be effective.

For Sale Baby Shoes Never Worn

Consider the above story by Ernest Hemingway, thought to be the shortest complete short story. Each word is needed to make complete thoughts within each line, and each line expands upon the narrative of the line before it. No line on its own gives the reader much narrative content, but the combination of each line builds that narrative in the mind of the reader.

We can analyze visual narratives in a similar way through the use of semiotics, or the science of reading signs. Semiotics theory breaks visual content down into component parts called “sign” which “signify” meaning. Multiples signs can be combined to form more complex meaning, or meaning that could not be created from a single sign.

There are many types of signs, below are the most common:

Icon - The Sign and Signifier are visually similar - Apple logo meaning apple

Index - The sign is a part of the whole of the signifier - Apple stem and leaf meaning apple

Denotation - The literal meaning of a sign - The word “Red Delicious” meaning a specific type of apple

Connotation - The sign becomes a symbol for a secondary meaning - an apple means good academic standing.

Metonymy - A sign which is swapped out for a sign in which it is closely related - George Washing ton - signifying the United States Government.

2Rob Wilson Adjunct Professor

[email protected] @rob_on_water

Digital Design

Spring 2019 F 9:00 - 11:50 AM 44 Park Row

Project 01

01 Process - Collage

For this project we will be focusing on collage as a format for visual narrative. A collage is a visual collection or at least 2 or more parts that are connected together in a layout. Elements of a collage can almost any source. Drawings, photographs (both taken and found), scanned textures, typography, written word, colors, printed packaging, cutting s from books and magazines... everything is a potential source for signs to help develop a visual narrative.

Step 1 - Gathering

For the first step in this project, you should be developing a written narrative, and conducting visual research concurrently. Let visual explorations, guide your conceptual narrative, and the conceptual narrative guide your visual research. Gather as much content as you can during step one.

Step 2 - Sketching

One you have a collection of good visual material, and have a mature concept, you should start sketching on paper, and with quick digital mock-ups, the organization of elements that will become the final collage. You should make at least 10 quick sketches. Sketches should be quick explorations of visual hierarchies, and need not to be fully developed mechanical.

Step 3 - Final Production

Once you have a sketch that you think is working, it’s time to move into final production. Scan your sketch, or bring a digital image into a 9” x 9” artboard in Photoshop. Then place each element, one at a time, until you have placed all of the elements of the collage into the artboard. From here, you can make as many changes, and process images how you need to in order to make a finished design.

Output The final size will be 9”x9” image area, printed with a 1” border on all sides.

3Rob Wilson Adjunct Professor

[email protected] @rob_on_water

Digital Design

Spring 2019 F 9:00 - 11:50 AM 44 Park Row

Project 01 1Rob Wilson Adjunct Professor

[email protected] @rob_on_water

Digital Design

Fall 2017 F 9:00 – 11:50 PM 44 Park Row Room 301

Project

01 Final Export and Printing

Place your 9”x9” final collage on an 11”x11” artboard.

There should be a 1” boarder on all sides.

You can print this on an 11”x17” paper at most copy shops, and in the library.

Cut 6” off the end to make an 11”x11” square. 11” 9”

9”

11”

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