'What is a line?': Reading material and design influence.

For one of our 'What is a line?' session workshops, we were asked to bring along four books which related to our chosen subject. Of course, my subjects were clear: astronomy, constellations, and stars, however, I was unsure as to how design focused this subject would be.

The books I gathered were:

- Wonders of the Universe by Professor Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen

- Philip's Star Finder by John Woodruff and Wil Tirion

- A concise guide to the stars and planets by Duncan John and

-  Dorling Kindersley Stars and Planets by Ian Ridpath

Overall, I was really pleased with the books I purchased- some elements of which had huge influence upon my work...

I loved how bold and design focused the style and layout was in Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen's 'Wonders of the Universe'- really helping the reader to engage, focus and respond to the book- visually inviting, often using bright colours- particularly in an organisation-like scheme of colour coding along the right-hand side of the page to corresponding chapters/headers.

Simple, bold geometric shapes and totally unfussy- a great design focus for the complex yet very rational world of science- would really suit the style of my own work and designs in the constellations project.

These star maps in Woodruff and Thirion's 'Star Finder' inspired me to create my own- with a Sophie twist. Although I was, of course, very engaged and interested in their designs from the start, I wanted to break them down to an even simpler and more design-like style (see work posted earlier in the blog for reference).

This book, 'A concise guide to the stars and planets', along with other internet image sources proved really useful when illustrating my own constellations. Without tracing the original constellations, I wanted mine to look as accurate and truthful to the originals as possible.

Undoubtedly the most useful book I encountered throughout the entirety of this project, 'Dorling Kindersley Stars and Planets' by Ian Ridpath was an excellently written book, with a wide target audience and a narrative and written word that wasn't too complex or imposing- a great start for the amateur star-gazer or astronomical enthusiast. This book proved most useful to me for information regarding size, name abbreviations, etc. This felt like a book I could really trust.

What is a line?: Varying outcomes.

Whilst searching for inspiration for my what is a line? constellation designs, I came across many inspiring and unusual hand-drawn designs in which constellations are represented- in both a scientific and informative way, and also in the mystical, fantastical way it is also often percieved (a jekyll and hyde view and personality of the subject which I have always been fascinated by). Here are some examples of the outcomes I have sourced and research, some helping to inspire the later stages and development of my own design practice...

Illustrative designs by Harriet Gray, a Shropshire based freelance illustrator (as I hope to one day be also!)

http://www.etsy.com/people/harrietgray?ref=ls_profile

I am really fascinated by Harriet's photo-perfect illustrative style, and her blend of materials and techniques used to create her images- often of a magical, and dream-like aesthetic- constellations being one of many running themes. A great combinatin of the natural and the surreal- great badge also, reminds me that graphic design isn't limited to pen, paper, and a computer, but your imagination.

http://www.classroomjr.com/printable-constellation-maps-virgo-and-libra/libra-constellation/

Unfortunately, I can't link in the images directly, but the site above has some great examples of star map sheets and how to distinguish each constellation. On Monday 18th April, I posted my finished star map designs onto my design practice blog (www.s-wilson1013.dp.blogspot.com), and feel happy with the results I achieved- but if I were to go on to develop them further, I could add more key guides to spotting each individual constellation.

What is a line?: Thinktank Planetarium.

http://www.thinktank.ac/nowshowing.asp?section=840&sectionTitle=SCIENCE+ART+%40+THINKTANK+PLANETARIUM+%2D+click+on+individual+artworks+to+find+out+more

.

The thinktank planetarium site- with information about mock-stargazing experiences, as well as taught inductions and presentations into the study of astronomy- in a range of formats and suited for a variety of age groups. Within the next two weeks I hope to travel to the thinktank museum in Birmingham to require some much-needed primary research- taking photographs of the projections and gallery viewings.

Due to difficult and tempramental weather conditions, etc, taking photographs of the stars in the night sky does not always prove easy due to the aforementioned conditions- clouds, mist and so on- I will continue to persue attempts to photograph the night sky and see the results I achieve.

What is a line?: Mixing textures.

http://www.therewassomethingwrong.com/#718473/About

A few weeks ago, I came across this great illustrative design by one of my favourite student designers, Falmouth-based Shawn Correia, whose work I have been following via his flickr account for quite some time- with brilliantly inventine, sharp character design with a very distinctive and detailed style.

I was particularly drawn to this image, inspired by space and constellations, it has gone on to inspire me. Time permitting, I would like to explore the variations of line- perhaps combining different shapes and textures with one another to see the aesthetic difference this makes- and the imapct upon the viewer. A potential style to explore for my final constellation guide books.

What Is Graphic Design For?: Type- Alex Trochut for The Rolling Stones.

http://www.alextrochut.com/#/alex

I first came across Alex Trochut's wonderful, and diverse typographic and illustrative design work from Tashen's 'Illustration Now! 3' book publication. 

Alex Trochut is undoubtely one of my favourite typographers- his style so diverse and varied, he shows brilliant communication and traslation of themes through a variety of client-based design, including The Guardian's G2 supplement, British Airways, and The Rolling Stones (their vinyl cover, designed by Trochut, pictured above).

The aforementioned vinyl cover particularly caught my eye- as a natural magpie for bold, metallic designs such as this. The cover typeface looking truly desirable and tactile- almost urging you to go and touch the smooth curves of the gold- a truly luxurious and engaging design with a great consistency for the intricate oriagami fold of the CD edition, and the LP vinyl slip covers.

A really bold and classy design, this visually works so well as a clear message that this vinyl, this music is of "golden" quality- it doesn't need excessive flourish and garish design, it stands alone. 

A wonderful typographic design which reflects the band and the product greatly.

What Is A Line?: Constellations- Papercuts.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66769075/constellation-papercuts

Another set of wonderfully bold and creative (paper cut) design prints by monpetitfantome on www.etsy.com
with constellations including Ursa Major, Sagittarius, Geminin and Perseus all made from hole-punch designs onto black card. Really simple idea that could easily be re-produced in my experimentation phase of the design project, but really effective.

http://soolip.blogspot.com/2010/12/winter-sky.html

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61175686/constellation-eco-cards-set-of-5

Another great papercut constellation map- using similar techniques- the hole punch effect but once more altering the size of the stars according to their visual prominence within the constellation. For me, the best thing about this design is how it's been photographed- the light coming through the card onto the white stock behind reflecting the light that radiates from the stars at night. Brilliant technique- this is a definate to experiment with.

What Is A Line?: Constellations- Illustration and Typography.

Researching my two particular favourite areas of method of delivery within graphic design- the epitome of type and image...illustration and typography...

http://space.about.com/library/graphics/constellation_patterns.jpg

Really clear and strongly-communicating design- I like how the constellations have been represented within the circles (reminding me of the embriodery hoops which I have researched)- almost as if you were looking through a telescope to see these stars yourself. 

Although the brief title is "What Is A Line?", what I particularly like about this design, and with constellations in general, is that your eyes naturally create the line, an automatic "dot-to-dot of the sky".

http://littlewillow.com/category/artwork/page/8/

the constellation of the elephant by alexander beeching

Really creative design- making a linking sequence of constellations within another shape. Really complex looking interlinking lines and dots to represent the stars- really inventive design.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/p3anut/2710615474/lightbox/

by Susan Settlemyre Williams, design by Cassandra Ellison
This poem is reproduced with permission from Many Moountains Moving Press.

Similar to what I have already been designing for my initial design stages of the project on my design practice blog (http://s-wilson1013-dp.blogspot.com) but without the lines linking the constellations together. I also like the addition of the smaller stars around the major stars (which make up the constellation)- adds a bit more interest to the image.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/57058779/when-i-die-i-shall-become-the-stars

One of my all-time favourite illustrative constellation designs created by 'monpetitfantome' on etsy (www.etsy.com) a creative use of combining langauage and imagery- ursa major being also known as 'the great bear'- a really charming and magical monochrome design.

http://store.scrapgirls.com/product/21692/

Whilst considering creating my own typeface based upon constellations, I discovered a few interesting designs along the sort of style I was imaginging- I like the "dot-to-dot like" look of this typeface, though, again, I feel it is perhaps a little too child like for my info graphics style that I am aiming to achieve in my deliverables.

http://www.csebels.com/index.php?/project/constelation-type/

I really like this typeface design- abstract and constructed well- created from a photograph of the night sky, this is a really interesting concept which could come up with a wide variety of results- definately one to try out when I have an oppurtunity to get away from the city and photograph a clear night sky!

http://font.downloadatoz.com/font,31411,constellation.html

Again, a good series of constellation- like letterforms and glyphs- though this time perhaps a little too cold and mathematical-looking, I need to find a good middle ground- perhaps working and developing my typeface from an exisiting one which suits the theme to encorporate the constellation features at a later stage.

What Is A Line?: Constellations- Screenprinted.

Whilst searching for screenprinted deliverables with the theme of constellations online- the majority of what I found was in fabric or textiles form, which has really inspired me to expand my design ideas outside of just the book or poster deliverable. These are a few of my favourite examples...

http://vinteeage.com/constellation-mens-t-shirt-vintage-t-shirt-review-vintage-vantage-vintage-vantage/

...The elusive "funky penguin" constellation...finally discovered!

I had talked with friends and group mates about originally creating a "create your own constellations" guide filled with funny or amusing animals and inanimate objects- whereas I can experiment this, I really want to push my design as a commercial commodity (sadly I can't just create everything for me!)- I will experiment with a few designs, but I think it runs a risk of potentially communicating poorly. Whilst the ironic science hipsters may realise that "the funky penguin" or "the china teapot" are not real constellations, not everyone will! (Alas!)

http://www.redbubble.com/people/sjaros/t-shirts/4299418-1-orion-constellation

http://www.redbubble.com/products/configure/3491802-t-shirt?style=vneck

Good, clearly communicating constellation (orion and lyra) t-shirts in monochrome. Bold designs, though I think I would want something a little more visually complex...or, to put it in my language...snazzy.

http://www.acollective.com/tshirtblog/tag/constellation/

http://tshirtgroove.com/pigeon-constellation-tee-shirt/

More great "fantastical" designs (how I wish there were pigeon and bicycle constellations...!)- definately something I will play around with. I also hope that I get the oppurtunity to screnprint- not only for t-shirt or fabric design but also on paper stock. The colours you can produce with screenprinting- the vibrant metallic gold and silvers, or even glow in the dark inks would be really appropriate for my designs and would create a great hand-rendered effect- a style I believe that would be well-suited to the magical and awe-inspiring galaxies and nebule in which our constellations live.

What Is A Line?: Constellations- Dot-to-Dot.

One of my original considerations for this project was to create a dot-to-dot constellation guide or colouring book (perhaps particularly targeted at children as a learning tool?). Here are the few examples I found online...

http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/2010/09/constellation-dot-to-dots.html

Here- a design shown specificially for an educational tool for children- very simplistic and visually representative of the subject. As I would like mine to be a lot more design focused and crisp, this is a little too child-like for me- but a good idea. Perhaps I could use smaller vector stars, dots, or crosses to represent the major stars within the constellation?

http://longstreet.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83542d51e69e2013480e06561970c-500wi

The example above shows some of the difficulties that may arise from creating a dot-to-dot design. As many of the stars within a constellation are clustered together, it wouldn't necessarily make for a very clear image when completed. You would definately need numbers, and from the photographs of the constellations I have already researched and produced on this design context blog, it could clutter the image- when I want to really experiment with the use of negative space. 

Probably not the method of delivery to go for, though I will experiment all the same, undoubtedly.

What Is A Line?: Constellations- Quotes and Sayings.

Researching secondary source quotes and sayings about stars- to potentially use in combination with image, or perhaps a constellation-like typeface I could create- an inspirational or memborable poster?

Some of my favourite sayings I gathered from various online sources...

“With every passing hour, our solar system comes forty-three thousand miles closer to globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules, and still there are some misfits who continue to insist that there is no such thing as progress.”

-Ray Floyd

“Things are as they are. Looking out into it the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.”

-Alan Watts

“His head is made of stars, but not yet arranged into constellations.”

-Elias Canetti

Be able to recognize many of the major constellations and know the stories behind them.
-Marilyn vos Savant  

She would give them order. She would create constellations.
-Thomas Pynchon  

The stars are suspended on strings that
are pulled up in the daytime and let down
at night.
-Babylonian Mythology, 3000 B.C.

Space is big
Space is Dark
It's hard to find
A place to park.
-Sidney Harris (American Scientist magazine, 1975)

 

When it is dark enough you can see the stars."
-Charles A. Beard

"Ye stars! Which are the poetry of heaven!"
-Lord Byron (1788-1824)

"You and I a flesh and blood, but we are also stardust."
-Helena Curtis, on the formation of the earth, Biology, 1968

"Today gives us a chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars."
-Henry Van Dyke

"The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible."
-Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

 The stars we are given. The constellations we make. That is to say, stars exist in the cosmos, but constellations are the imaginary lines we draw between them, the readings we give the sky, the stories we tell.  

- Rebecca Solnit 

"For what's the use of talking with a man who has a disease and thinks about the stars?"
-Bertolt Brecht

What Is A Line?: Constellations- Embrioded.

Research secondary sources, focusing on constellations- type and image created through embriodery and stitch...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64116274/zodiac-embroidery-kit-diy-constellation

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61990268/libra-zodiac-constellation

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64116272/zodiac-embroidery-kit-diy-constellation

I really love these embrioded constellation designs by artist 'minature rhino'- an American esty (www.etsy.com) seller. Her bold textile and stitch designs use bold, simple imagery which visually communicates well with striking colours- royal blues and golds or navy and whites. Along with the simple dashed line, she combined the complex french knot method to represent the main stars within the constellation- the dashed line joining them together, as if it were infact a line in the sky (though this of course is just a visual aid for recognising the constellations). Also, a really good combination of shapes- the rounded frame of the embriodery hoop, the stars and constellation form made up of lines and the rounded knots of stars to fill negative space.

I've already begun creating a few embriodery stitch designs, but this has definately inspired me to go on and persue this- with time being my only real constraint in the design process. Although I am lucky enough to be a relatively experienced with embriodery (my pre-FMP project at college was a fashion and embriodery one), it does of course take a lot of time and patience, which sadly, graphic design doesn't always cater for!

Could consider scanning in or mixing with other mediums for a 2D deliverable also?

http://charlottesfancy.com/category/pretty-things/page/5/

Another design from minature rhino- but this time combining the constellations with another image. Perhaps not formal enough for the info graphics style that I am aiming for, but a great use of line. Really like this design- I want to start stitching again now!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/55179129/when-i-dip-you-dip-we-dip-hand?ref=sr_list_4&ga_search_query=embroidered+constellations&ga_spelling_corrected=embrioded+constellations&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

Another etsy seller- this time ByBelinda- a simple constellation pattern here applied in a decoupage-like card format. Really simple but quite bold and striking. I'm not too fond of the white paper at the bottom- I probably would have typed white on black onto the card- but this is more of the bold style I am hoping to achieve. Despite the fact that it would be really great to be elaborate and quite abstract with my designs, with the entire 88 series of constellations to reproduce, as aforementioned, time will be of the essence!

http://pinterest.com/pin/2453274/

Another great embriodery here, this time by artist Margie Schell.

Really inventive use of mixed media here- she combined electronics with textiles with the main stars in the constellations as LED lights inserted into the embriodery fabric, with the stitch joining them together to make the Ursa Major constellation (also known as 'The Larger Bear'- as it is depicted here). Really clever idea- I'd like to see the design when lit.

http://wazocafegallery.blogspot.com/2009/04/fresh-from-makery-embroidered-summer.html

Designs by Rebecca Grigsby- I like the more contemporary and design focused style of these embrioded designs- really clean and crisp, and combining the name of the constellation on the back of the cards- really clear and communicates well. Could even be applied to placemats or beermats- learning on the go!

What Is A Line?: The Hubble telescope.

Jet in Carina

 http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire/pr2009025e/web/

A link to the Hubble telescope satellite website- full of beautiful and stunning pictures of stars and astronomical discoveries. 

Sadly, there is not a direct selection for viewing constellations, but focusing more of nebule (masses of interstellar dust and gas- often creating bright, colourful images such as Jet in Carina, above), red and white dwarfs- tracking the life span as a star, as oppossed to the more common constellations.

What is a line?, Constellations: By Size Order.

For potential format and ordering for my final infographics designs- as opposed to alphabetical, as they would usually be arranged. Possible consideration, experimentation needed...

1. Hydra

2. Virgo

3. Ursa Major

4. Cetus 

5. Hercules

6. Erinadus 

7. Pegasus

8. Draco

9. Centaurus

10. Aquarius

11. Ophiuchus

12. Leo

13. Bootes

14. Pisces 

15. Sagittarius

16. Cygnus 

17. Taurus

18. Camelopardalis

19. Andromeda

20. Puppis

21. Auriga

22. Aquila

23. Serpens

24. Perseus

25. Cassiopeia

26. Orion

27. Cepheus

28. Lynx

29. Libra

30. Gemini

31. Cancer

32. Vela 

33. Scorpius

34. Carina 

35. Monoceros

36. Sculptor

37. Phoenix

38. Canes Venatici

39. Aries

40. Capricornus 

41. Fornax

42. Coma Berenices

43. Canis Major 

44. Pavo

45. Grus 

46. Lupus

47. Sextans

48. Tucana 

49. Indus

50. Octans

51. Lepus

52. Lyra

53. Crater

54. Columba

55. Vulpecula

56. Ursa Minor

57. Telescopium

58. Horologium

59. Pictor 

60. Piscis Austrinus

61. Hydrus

62. Antila

63. Ara 

64. Leo Minor

65. Pyxis

66. Microscopium

67. Apus

68. Lacerta

69. Delphinus

70. Corvus

71. Canis Minor

72. Dorado

73. Corona Borealis

74. Norma

75. Mensa

76. Volans

77. Musca

78. Triangulum

79. Chamaeleon

80. Corona Australis

81. Caelum

82. Reticulum

83. Triangulum Australe

84. Scutum

85. Circinus

86. Sagitta

87. Equuleus

88. Crux

What is a line?: Constellation name abbreviations.

1. Andromeda/And

2. Antila/Ant

3. Apus/Aps

4. Aquarius/Aqr

5. Aquila/Aql

6. Ara/Ara

7. Aries/Ari

8. Auriga/Aur

9. Bootes/Boo

10. Caelum/Cae

11. Camelopardalis/Cam

12. Cancer/Cnc

13. Canes Venatici/CVn

14. Canis Major/CMa

15. Canis Minor/CMi

16. Capricornus/Cap

17. Carina/Car

18. Cassiopeia/Cas

19. Centaurus/Cen

20. Cepheus/Cep

21. Cetus/Cet

22. Chamaeleon/Cha

23. Circinus/Cir

24. Columba/Col

25. Coma Berenices/Com

26. Corona Australis/CrA

27. Corona Borealis/CrB

28. Coruvs/Crv

29. Crater/Crt

30. Crux/Cru

31. Cygnus/Cyg

32. Delphinius/Del

33. Dorado/Dor

34. Draco/Dra

35. Equuleus/Equ

36. Eridanus/Eri

37. Fornax/For

38. Gemini/Gem

39. Grus/Gru

40. Hercules/Her

41. Horologium/Hor

42. Hydra/Hya

43. Hydrus/Hyi

44. Indus/Ind

45. Lacerta/Lac

46. Leo/Leo

47. Leo Minor/LMi

48. Lepus/Lep

49. Libra/Lib

50. Lupus/Lup

51. Lynx/Lyn 

52. Lyra/Lyr

53. Mensa/Men

54. Microscopium/Mic

55. Monoceros/Mon

56. Musca/Mus

57. Norma/Nor

58. Octans/Oct

59. Ophiuchus/Oph

60. Orion/Ori

61. Pavo/Pav

62.Pegasus/Peg

63. Perseus/Per

64. Phoenix/Phe

65. Pictor/Pic

66. Pisces/Psc

67. Piscis Austrinus/PsA

68. Puppis/Pup

69. Pyxis/Pyx

70. Reticulum/Ret

71. Sagitta/Sge

72. Sagittarius/Sgr

73. Scorpius/Sco

74. Sculptor/Scl

75. Scutum/Sct

76. Seprens/Ser

77. Sextans/Sex

78. Taurus/Tau

79. Telescopium/Tel

80. Triangulum/Tri

81. Triangulum Australe/TrA

 82. Tucana/Tuc

83. Ursa Major/UMa

84. Ursa Minor/UMi

85. Vela/Vel

86. Virgo/Vir

87. Volans/Vol

88.Vulpecula/Vul

Important information to add to my final info graphics designs- important section for key words- possibly helping to understand abbreviations when written in text form.