SYMBOLS DISCUSSION - Directional
Graphic arrows are pictorial metaphors. Taken literally (unmetaphorically) it is a drawing of standard ammunition from the time before firearms (bow and arrow). The principle of metaphors is that we don’t interpret represented phenomena one-to-one, but detect the characteristics relevant in the actual context. In contemporary signs, arrows are ubiquitous and their shape is in no way limited to their naturalistic representation of the lethal source of inspiration.
The arrow is meant and understood to indicate the direction shown by its orientation. The point indicates the direction. This is most clearly shown in directional signage of old.
Arrows are not the only graphic means for showing direction. A pointed hand – known in the printing business as printer’s fist – is used for the same purpose.
Escape signs that show a running man are also directional symbols.
Some of them though can start to send the wrong message. Have a look at these ones. The first one is clearly prejudice to wheelchair-bound people - when you see one, run away. The 2nd shows death by fire, stepping into the light and finally rising to heaven?
How about these ones? The first fire was clearly lit by the man slowly walking away. The 2nd one, while getting across the heat aspect, doesn't really show escape. The 3rd one? Gas powered?
Footprints on the ground could also be seen as directional symbols because a foot points one way (the toes being the top of the arrow) so therefore it is easy to see which way the footprint maker was walking. Unless of course they were trying to trick you and walking backwards! In some tacky sales techniques you'll often see footprints leading into a store - do you think that works? What sort of person starts following footprints?
What other directional symbols might there be?
Each week we'll start off with a small discussion about a specific symbol style, and then over the next week you are expected to go and find your own examples of that symbol. These should be recorded in your Symbols Portfolio (BC101 Assessment 01) so keep your eyes open and your camera at the ready.
Because these little exercises are designed to make you more aware of the world of symbols around you, Google searches will be frowned upon. We'll show a random selection in the following class - so make sure you have yours there and ready.
So your symbol awareness exercise for this week is: Find examples of directional symbols.
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LECTURE - Adobe Illustrator Revisit
So in an attempt to get your Illustrator skills up to scratch we are going to be revisiting some core skills.
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IN-CLASS EXERCISE - Humpty Dumpty
For the next 4 weeks we'll also be doing some in-class exercises. These exercises are designed to get you thinking about symbols and simplicity. This first exercise is called Humpty Dumpty and for this you'll be using Adobe Illustrator and the files are in the lecturers public folder.
You are required to tell the story of poor old Humpty in six frames (below) only using the provided WebDings (below the frames) - you may join the webdings, multiply them, crop them, whatever you want but only use the ones provided. Follow the story as you read it, not nessesarily as you remember it - what could Humpty be if he wasn't an egg? What could the king be if he wasn’t Royalty? Complete all 6 frames by the end of class.
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HOMEWORK
Next week you need to come and tell me what cause you've decided to promote for your Major Symbol Assessment (BC101 Assessment 02). You should also have started conducting some research into your topic - you'll be expected to put together a 800 word written piece, due week 4 so make sure you are on top of your subject. Hopefully you've chosen something you feel strongly about so it should be quite easy to bang-on about it for 800 words.
Next week you'll also need to bring in a magazine you can cut up, some scissors and some glue. You also need to get a hold of some A2 paper if possible - if you can't get any we can always put two A3s together (it just looks a little sloppy.) Choose a mag that has some decent images and headlines in it. We are going to use it to start exploring modular grids next week.
You'll also need to bring in an examples of directional symbols as discussed above in the symbols discussion part.
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INSPIRATION & EXTRAS
Each week the lecturers throw up things we find that relate to what we've been discussing or working on that week. Sometimes it might be things that relate to your major assessment and sometimes just stuff that we thought was worth seeing. If you find something you think we should be showing or something we just have to see let us know in class or throw an email over to me at matt@billyblue.com.au and I'll get it up here or on the Bluni inspiration site.
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ECO-Graffiti?
These are a few of those stenciled anti-car messages I found on the way up to Bondi Junction. At first I thought it was just some eco-bent street artist - turns out it's actually done by the Waverly council.
And that my friends, is why Bondi is so much better than Manly.
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Banksy on tour
Banksy's trip to Gaza gave him a chance to do some work on the Gaza wall - through some really simple symbols he manages to emphsise the ugliness of the wall and its pointlessness. There's some great stories about it on EI and in The Guardian with more pics. There is a really interesting quote from an old Palestinian man who said his painting made the wall look beautiful. Banksy thanked him, only to be told - "We don't want it to be beautiful, we hate this wall. Go home."
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Symbol Evolution
Two parallel lines will never be taken the same way since September 11th. What sort of symbols do we see in the below picture?
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Does it work?
Artist Julia Mandle and high school students creating directional lines that lead people to a new community park. Interesting but not everyone is a fan though - a comment on the youtube page simply says “give me a break, this is bullshit” another says “Dumb dumb dumb.”
In a way, I agree, you do expect more than what she produces. Yes there are big lines and seeing the lines being made by all the kids would have been intriguing but what if you weren't there to see it? Then it's just a bunch chalk lines that make a mess on the city streets. What's your thoughts?
