Research into Object: Soap

General background:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap

Reference in popular culture:
http://peoplessoap.com/blogs/news/84169732-9-best-references-to-soap-in-popular-culture

A soap opera, soap, or soapie, is a serial drama on television or radio that examines the lives of many characters, usually focusing on emotional relationships to the point of melodrama. The term soap opera originated from such dramas being typically sponsored by soap manufacturers in the past. 

Science and chemistry of object:
http://www.soap-making-resource.com/how-is-soap-made.html
http://riaus.org.au/articles/the-science-of-soap/

Art techniques:
use of solid soap vs liquid and various effects that can offer
https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/soap-film-on-can
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52wVrtA5krY

Soap in politics:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soapbox
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/item/b7db1d4a-390c-4a5b-b18f-174e0a7088bf
http://soapzone.com/boards/topics.php/shared/politics

Music Videos:
- TV series theme song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QejBwptSQZc
- ' A Little Bit of Soap ' originally soul / bluesy style but covered several times in different ways 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Little_Bit_of_Soap
- Conceptual art piece:
https://www.dezeen.com/2015/03/21/a-love-like-pi-jack-and-the-giant-music-video-kim-pimmel-soap-bubbles/
- Popular culture music video and song title:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFU_wJes-xE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_(Melanie_Martinez_song)
- 50 Foot wave - Bone China 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtNhrXL9pX0

Colour Research: Notes on Horizon episode

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1y4ffq_e01-do-you-see-what-i-see_tv


colour is effectively an illusion that helps us to see the world in a way that is useful
do all people see colour the same?
young vs old, men vs women, cultural difference?
how we feel about different colours
understanding how the brain sees colour = how it understand everything else

red won 2/3rds more - competitive situations - manipulated the way the contestants were being perceived by the referees 
linking colour - red - to testosterone - more aggressive - elevation in confidence - less stress 

testing time - blue = calm red = anxiety thus distorts your perception of a minute under different lights - blue pod 1 minute lasts 11 seconds less than in a red pod - red makes you highly aware of your environment - heightens arousal 

scientists see colour as more than just personal taste
we were born with emotions towards blue and yellow and in our nature, whereas we had to learn red and green - why we find the deep feelings calming, compared to a learning process, strong distinction between cool colours and warm colours - distinct feelings we're born with - red and green modern thing completely a function of our cerebral cortex - takes a lifetime to be able to associate a colour with a new feeling 

green a colour of pastures / red = passion vs danger
inexplicably linked to pleasure and pain 
function better in the world 

colour doesn't exist - it's a construct of your brain - there is nothing literal about colour in the womb - signal from your eye to your brain - your brain fixes the picture colour when changing environment, so colour stays constant, colour constancy, 
we know what colour something should be - our eye doesn't simply see colour our brain creates it by drawing on knowledge of what things should look like 
many aspects of whats makes us individual go into forming colour - the language you speak, the experience you've have 

new borns have very limited colour vision - develops over 3 months 
the words you learn could structure how the brain structures the visual world 

zoozu
vapa
borou
dumbu

as the Himba have the same word for blue and green they cannot spot the difference when put next to each other, however when a slightly different shade of green is placed next to another green, they can quickly tell apart as they have different names for these two shades, whereas we could not
thus the Himba with their 5 words see the world differently to us

colour is created in your brain, from the language you speak, moods you feel and memories you carry
one of natures great illusion 

women more sensitive than men to colour, and women with a more sense of control cause them to see the world more accurately 

Idea generation - Music Venues in Leeds; then & now

idea for wayfinding

general wayfinding in leeds research:
 http://www.lacockgullam.co.uk/walkit_leeds.html
http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/the-beautiful-meme-art-line
http://www.typetoken.net/typeface/adidas-laces-2011-buro-uebele/
http://www.pentagram.com/#/blog/125261

MUSIC IN LEEDS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_in_Leeds
http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/

music:
- low tech
- alternative scene
- punk history 
- music video sites 

music culture:
http://www.leedsinspired.co.uk/blog/my-generation-leeds-new-modernists

music video:
http://www.leedsinspired.co.uk/blog/snapshot-leeds-music-video-screen-leeds-film-festival - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEcFeNTWSB8
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/leeds-band-s-iphone-music-video-up-for-international-award-1-8181508

history of music in leeds:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_Leeds
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2008/09/03/music_leeds_artists_1970s_feature.shtml
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avRnFgF4-8M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0iWDXT4_dQ

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2008/10/06/music_leeds_artists_1980s_feature.shtml

venues and where they are / what they are like now:
https://leeds-list.com/music/the-sound-of-leeds/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/The-Garage-382150695147853/photos/?ref=page_internal
https://www.residentadvisor.net/club.aspx?id=62346

venues and places that have closed - what they are now - pointing out the loss of culture and gentrification of areas - highlighting youth culture and commoditisation of everything now 

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/music/five-of-the-greatest-leeds-music-venues-that-have-closed-their-doors-1-7491089

http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=2010812_171133
http://www.gigwise.com/photos/94168/from-the-cockpit-to-the-astoria-15-legendary-uk-venues-closed-down

leeds back in the day:
https://www.facebook.com/LeedsBackInTheDay/posts/476238385784558
music forums:
http://www.copsandrobbers.net/6873/rattle-robert-sotelo-the-wub-crumbs-thick-syrup/

Evaluation of colour

500 words on the use of colour in graphic design, research and images – evaluation of the colour group/harmonies/contrasts

Some argue that use of colour in graphic design is becoming a trend, and that designers are starting to use reoccurring colours in their works because it happens to be ‘in’ or fashionable. It can be argued that the pedestrian nature of using colour in this way produces work that lacks originality and creativity. This would be due to influence from media outlets that are resultant of technology and culture. It is a gradual process, which begins to stimulate a popular aesthetic.

In 2016 we saw vibrant hues to be popular picks in the graphic design industry, which is fitting with the 80s and 90s trends that have also come back. The pallet includes bright pastels, neon’s and richer, saturated colours. This is demonstrated nicely in Pantone’s Spring 2016 Colour Report.

In the Pool designed poster.

Paris-based studio ‘In the Pool’, designed this poster, which again exemplifies this colour trend. Its use of neon-like green and a more rusty yellow, ties in with this vibrant vintage trend in colour.

On the other hand however, we can see this response to fashionable trends in graphic design as a reaction to the consumer market, and therefore what things are attracting people. As a result, this could be utilised in an effective way for a particular produce.

Moreover, the use of colour in design and visual communication is vital to its success. Colour harmonies set a tone and character for the visual output of a piece, and thus are put in place for the viewer’s comfort.

Colours set a mood that can determine the qualities of a design. Anything from attracting attention or making a statement, colour selection is imperative for the success of the message being portrayed. For example, the use of warm colours, such as oranges and reds, crate an energetic and vivid scene, whilst cool colours like blues and some greens are considered soothing and calm. At the same time, if one wanted to incorporate neutral colours that lack emotive responses, white, grey and black are considered to have this quality of neutrality.

The selection of the right colour scheme could create the right ambiance, such as of sophistication and warmth, or contrastingly that of playfulness and colloquialism. Using colour successfully will establish the validity and authority of any design piece. It can be the most powerful design element when used right.

Different techniques have been established for particular purposes when considering colour. When taking examples we begin to see how a designer’s selection influences the purpose of a piece.

Some examples include;

- Complimentary colours, which are useful when you want something to stand out

- Analogue colour schemes, which are often related to nature, and found to be harmonious to the eye

- Triadic schemes, which produce vibrancy

Thus, a concluding argument would acknowledge the uses of outlets like Pantone, which produce this universal accessibility to colour for designers worldwide, drawing connections and allowing for these ‘trends’ to exist in the first place. As such, whilst we can view these trends as disrupting originality, conversely, we can also recognise them as informing development in design, as designers become inspired from others on an international scale.

Wayfinding in Leeds - Primary and Secondary research

Walking around leeds during both the shooting of our video, and going about my general routine, I gathered research into the existing wayfinding systems that have already been implemented in Leeds city. They vary in shape and form, and 2d and 3d, as well as imagery and text. 
When text is used it is evidently san-serif and in its more basic and readable form. Triangles are common as they can represent both an arrow and a sign with depictions inside, which is evident from this research too. 

Primary evidence & research:

People interacting with the wayfinding systems.

Thus, it is evident that throughout leeds there are wayfinding systems in place that accommodate and help masses of people every day. whether it be pictograms showing the toilet gender, where the food is available, the direction of an escalator, or even where is designated for a disabled person to park. 

Secondary research:

After exploring myself, I thought to research the design generation and application of the wayfinding system which Leeds operates. Named 'Leeds Walk It', the system supports the regeneration 'of a great northern city'. The city centre in Leeds is one of the largest retail centres in UK with out 1,000 shops and restaurants. As it has a vast variety of retailers, ranging in price and standards, consumers had polarised views of the shopping experience, as it was unclear what was on offer. 

The wayfinding strategy developed by 'Applied' identified the fragmented centre, highlighting the disconnected arrival points and retail clusters. the approach was simple; 'knowledge of one centre = knowledge of all'. As such it was established that each retail cluster would act as a gateway for the entire city, describing what the city had to offer and allowed visitors to plan their visits. 

The first realisation of the project was the development of the Leeds printed walking map which at a glance gave people an understanding of the structure of the city and on more detailed inspection revealed the retail offer in each centre. It allowed people to plan journeys using connections through each shopping mall and arcade.

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Study Task 1: Wayfinding Video

Study task 1

https://vimeo.com/192971222

Key considerations when approaching this task:

-       Is it interactive?

-       Will it be static?

-       Can it move or change?

-       What were you testing/ trying to achieve?

-       Would people react to something out of the ordinary in an everyday space?

-       How did it stand out, was it obstructive, was it playful?

Our video set out to be both playful and non-static. We wanted to create an environment that was distorted from an ordinary in a simple and low-cost way. The balloons perfectly enabled this 'random' environment where nothing was planned out or predictable in terms of its placement and peoples interaction. Due to it's interactive and playful nature, it was expected that some people would indulge and others wouldn't, however, against general stereotypes, this was not dependant on age as shown in the video. 

Semiotics of signs

Frutiger analyses shapes  to look at the psychology on how we respond to them in the form of signage. We used circles in the context of balloons, with the basis that Frutiger analyses that a viewer feels a sensation of claustrophobia with a sign that is inside a circle.  As they were outside the circle in this context, the audience may have felt a stronger freedom and confidence in some places (which led them to kick or header the balloon/circle). This may also be due to the separate set of connotations surrounding a balloon – it’s playful and not static, its always moving in all directions due to its lightweight nature. It could be considered nostalgic for some, or annoying for others depending on their own association with this common figure.

Audience, scale, contrast impact and clarity:

Was it tested in the right places – how would reactions vary in different locations – up and down or horizontal plains?

Due to the weather conditions, and the very heavy rain, it was hard to try out a lot of places with our concept. We were originally kicked out of trinity centre as balloons were considered a hazard there, this left up with very few options for how we could produce the type of wayfinding. With bad weather also effects the moods and attitudes of the public and thus their scale of interaction. Pathetic fallacy, I feel, did play a big part in affecting the scale and type of interaction we had.

Critique response:

Comparing and contrasting with other groups, and spotting trends in wayfinding for additional research

It was evident that…

-       Girls and boys signs seem very applicable; people have strong subconscious associations with the gender symbols and their own doors or paths that an individual identifies with and thus feels is directed at them as it is all-inclusive and not specific to certain people.

-       No entry signs or signals people take more seriously. A physical obstruction means people have no choice but to go around or avoid this is what was seen in all videos that included this sort of wayfinding obstruction.

-     People found it generally hard to get the public to interact, and that most likely, a more professional outlet would attract more people.