Paper Experiments - Art Fund - Competition brief

I then began looking at different types of illustration in 'Kaleidoscope - The Art of Illustrative Storytelling' to find some inspiration. I was considering types of illustration which would appeal to students in general and stand out against the different types of advertising on Instagram and in public. I wanted the designs to be put into both a physical and digital context, in order to adhere to the brief's specifications. By advertising digitally it immediately targets the younger demographic but by also creating physical poster designs it gives the viewer a taste of the physical experience of a museum/gallery. Especially as the campaign is meant to be encouraging students to get a detox from social media.

These paper illustrations created by Toru Bannai particularly appealed to me. Creating a tactile and spacious feeling in their design. By having lots of open spaces it allows the mind to breathe when you're looking at them - which is exactly what the designs should indicate a museums or gallery can give the viewer. Museums and galleries have such a large focus on high ceilings and open spaces it felt very appropriate to have illustrations with big open spaces.

1) Blue Sky
2) The Sea Which Came with Father

I created paper illustrations inspired by Bannai's work. Each element of the figures was intricately cut out and positioned. They were made very small against a large background, with high ceilings and a clear horizon line. The colours I chose were soft and muted, giving a tranquil and natural feeling to the illustrations. The brighter points of red stand out in the design to give the piece some depth. For a few elements I have also created textures with pencil and then cut shapes from them - the man's shirt for example. This also some variety and depth to the designs. The painting, dinosaur and sculpture in the background are to indicate to the viewer that the space is a gallery or museum. Each one is subtle but the detail involved should attract the viewer. They are not overpowering or insistent - put perhaps something louder and brighter would be more appropriate to attract a student audience?

I then did some digital experiments over the top of the collages. The lines coming from the heads are to indicate the mind wandering and breathing in the wide open gallery space. The lines also directly link the ArtFund branding, which consists of simple line illustrations.

The first experiment with the curly lines didn't have the right effect as it almost made the viewers look confused. By having the lines gently spread across the page it gives a far more open and thoughtful meaning. I particularly liked to the fourth design, involving the dinosaur, as the lines curve together almost as if the two viewers are having a shared experience. Although this might slightly distract from the main purpose of the lines, which is primarily to show an individual's thoughts wandering.