OUGD503 - Studio Brief 1 - A Brief History of Time (4 Days) - Idea Generation - Visualising Ideas

Developing Ideas

Light Photography

Light photography has been used as a way of replicating the big bang in a semi - realistic way. 

By photographing the torch on a phone this allowed star like abstract images to be captured. Putting the phone on a white background meant the light showed the form of the phone within the imaes. 

Placing the phone on a black piece of paper in a dark room was more effective than on white because then the phones shape was not as noticable.

In some of the images a small blue light was captured which reflected the idea of the the big bang (the larger white dot) and a black hole (the blue dot) all in one image. 

Changing the angle that the image was taken meant that different light reflection could be captured.

At some angles multiple reflections were captured although these were aesthetic they did not define the the big bang and black hole as to separate things. 

Changing the focus while taking the image meant that the circle created was sharper.

Inverting images

To play with the concept of 'from the big bang to black holes' one of the images was inverted to look more like a black hole. Having one image on the front of the book and the other on the back would reflect the title and the progression between the two ideas within the book. 

Inverting the image in this way allows some of the outside colour to be shown making it look like it is curving inwards in a funnel shape.

Changing the cover Big Bang to this image better reflects an explosion because of the radiating lines from the flash.

Light Painting 

Light painting was used to reflect string theory as a fluid and multidimensional thing.

The use of the technique allows layering of light to be created within the image reflecting a tangle / web of interlinking 'strings' which describes how strings make up everything.

String theory is multidimensional so the three dimensionality of the image creates a sense of depth and layering. 

Having  shorter exposure time meant that not much movement was captured within a photograph.

Extending the shutterspeed meant that there was more time to photograph the movement of the torch, whilst shaking the torch more in front of the camera allowed more lines to be captured.

Some of the outcomes had good contrast and clarity within the lines and background creating an impactful and dynamic image. Depth is also created through the use of overlapping lines and gradients making the lines look like a web of strings.

The lines could be used as a guide for placing the type within the layout.

Whilst doing the light painting for the string theory idea an image was created that looked like a black hole. This could be used with text so that it looks like it is being lost in the black hole. Some of the type experiments created could be overlaid on the image in white.

Scanning Materials 

Based on string theory it was thought that representing this physically could be an interesting way of visualising the idea. String was experimented on the scanner to create various effects. 

Using a full ball of string on the scanner was supposed to reflect how the complexity of string theory.

However using this in this way does not really communicate anything about string theory as a concept.

The setting on the scanner needed to be changed from black and white which had too much contrast, to a colour setting which allowed more grey scale to be shown within the images and creates a sharper image with more detail.

Laying the ball of string on its side meant that the raised edges of the ball were not as defined as the rest of it creating a sense of blurring and movement within the image. This reflects the concept of the strings within string theory vibrating and moving at different frequencies. 

To create more movement within the image, the whole ball of string was moved which distorted the image further , however this looks more fluid rather than creating a sense of movement.

Within the book string theory is described as a something that stretches through multiple dimensions. Diagrams within the book show that a line of string forms a plane through dimensions. This is recreated with the ball of string by dragging the material vertically down the screen. 

This image is the most effective out of the images for this concept as the distorted progression is clearer and less fragmented. 

Moving the ball in a more random fashion to create movement made the images look more fluid which doesn't really fit with the vibrating movement described in the book. 

Using individual pieces of string on the photocopier to create movement was more effective in creating the vibrations described within string theory. Strings in string theory are described as filaments of vibrating energy with different vibrations determining the different particles that they make up. Within these images it looks like the strings have been plucked and are moving up and down. 

The contrast between movement and sharp lines reflects the idea of vibration and static. The thin lines also reflect the description of strings in string theory as thin filaments.

Moving the string around on the scanner produced more curved and tangled looking designs creating the impression of fluidity and complex interlocking of elements. 

Photographing a tangle of string made it more obvious that the material had been used and would allow the viewer to understand the link between the theory and cover image. 

Type Experiments 

From the book it is suggested that the universe has expanded from the original big bang and will continue to do so, then it will begin to slow down to the big crunch.

The typography for the cover has been used to reflect the shape of the expanding universe which started off small then gets bigger and reduces again. Line length was adjusted to create the shape.Increasing and decreasing the point size of words also allows the shape to be created whilst enhancing the idea of expansion with words physically getting bigger.

Within the book the idea of space - time is described as a diagram with light being an example. Light is shown as a cone within a space time diagram as the beam radiates as it moves through the dimensions of space time. 

To reflect the layers of space time the light diagram cone has been used to visualise the effect of the different dimensions.

Adapting the line length of the title allowed for the cone shape to be created. The use of a small point size at the bottom of the cone reflects how light starts small then enlarges and spreads out. Having equal line spacing creates the impression of consistent layers stacked above one another. When created this formation also looks similar to the shape of a black hole, so readers may misinterpret it for this simpler concept.

By placing the authors name at the bottom this suggests a starting 'plane' for the light beam emphasising the fact its radiating from a point.

Having the first part of the title bolder and larger than the rest of the title creates a hierarchy within the design.

Combining Type and Image 

Layering the typographic designs on to a solid black background emphasised the changes in size and boldness creating strong contrast within the design. Colouring the authors name in grey stands out however allows the title to be the most importnat part of the design, using colour in this way creates hierarchy within the design.

One initial idea considered breaking up exclamation marks and question marks to create a galaxy of things still to understand, whilst full punctuation would suggest what we do understand. The use of both these punctuation marks would wonder / intrigue and signify the unknown. 

Layering the text over the background punctuation makes the design look a little cluttered. Making sure that the punctuation is not behind the title typography may look less jarring. 

Layering the shaped title typography over one of the light painting images creates the sense of a black hole consuming the type which is emphasised because of the reducing point size.

Moving the text down so that it overlaps the circular ring suggests further that it is moving into the hole. Changing part of the title to black allows it to stand out on the white part of the image. 

Using the coned shape typography works effectively in suggesting that the title is being sucked in to the 'black hole'.

This idea reflects the title 'from the big bang to black holes' by using an image that represents the big bang through a bright light on the front cover and a black hole on the back which uses the same image but inverted. The similarity of the images creates contrast between the two sides of the book whilst creating consistency and narrative across the whole design. 

The use of a serif typeface for 'A Brief History of Time' reflects the historical chronology throughout the book. Combining this with a sans serif suggests the progression from old concepts to modern concepts as within the book. 

Type has been combined to mimic the lines of  the fluid light painting, which suggests the multidimensional aspect of string theory and creates a sense of interlinking 'strings' that make up everything. Working with the shapes of the image in this way allows the text to become a three dimensional element as well. Reducing the size of text on 'strings' in the background plays with a sense of depth.