Thoughts on Thesis: YBK + Disconnect/Reconnect
When approaching this book, I had two thesis statements in mind — Yearbook and Disconnect/Reconnect.
Thesis Topics
Yearbook
In my sophomore year of high school, I started taking graphic design courses. I instantly loved the process of design and wanted to become more involved with it. All of my friends asked me, or peer pressured me, to join my high school’s yearbook. I quickly became more and more passionate about it and earned the titles of creative director and editor of the “People” section. I grew a community in the art room of Ward Melville High School and is what made me want to pursue graphic design through college. Following this to Thoughts on Thesis, I want to create a yearbook with themes of who I was, who am I, and who will I be. Doing a close study of the people who are in my life, I want to document different interactions and relationships I have with the people around me and with myself in design. These concepts could be visualized through the lenses of the past, present, and future.
Disconnect/Reconnect
I don’t speak Spanish. My entire family does, expect me. My father grew up in Venezuela and moved to the United States for college but, the rest of my family still lives in Venezuela and Spain. So much of this culture was embedded into my childhood and is something I am so deeply connected to. From food to morals to traditions, my Venezuelan roots can be seen in my everyday practices. But, there is always a disconnect — a language barrier. For my thesis, I want to reconnect with this culture that I have lost touch with. The hardship my family has faced is something I will never relate to and their strength inspires me daily. I want to take the opportunity to tell their stories and bring life to the social and economic impacts of Venezuela. While this is a very personal project, many people can relate to this disconnect in other shapes and forms. Through my lens and the lens of my family members, I want to visualize this disconnection through a collection of interviews and deliverables.
Book
In terms of visual language and systems found in my book, I wanted to make a system that was as neutral as possible so I could explore both topics thoroughly. This book features four sections titled thesis statement, lexicon, research posts, past projects, and future projects. In my A to Z of inspiration, I explore sources that are exclusively for one thesis or the other and also some that support both. To help distinguish which is for which, I used a system of symbols to show each found on page 2.
My book features an array of typefaces all used for different purposes. For all of my lexicon letters, I chose the font Cirrcuscumulus. Because this typeface can be illegible at times, I decided to use it at select times. I also was drawn to this typeface because the strong breaks and reconnections that further relate to one of my thesis themes of disconnection. This typeface also inspired the use of lines to connect ideas as a motif because of the lack of curves in the typeface. In my lexicon, all my titles are vertical and on the edge of my grid system. I used the typeface Roboto Slab Light because it was airy and light while also maintaining the rigidity found through my spreads. This typeface was ideal because it didn’t distract from the other elements in the spreads. Another common typographic motif where the running lines of texts found at the bottom of each spread. This green, monospace text resembles my thoughts on each topic and why I thought to include it in my lexicon.
Another motif featured in my book is the monotone image treatment. This is a style I have been experimenting with lately and wanted to communicate in my book. To further push this language, I decided to print warm grey on warm grey paper and shades of green on green paper. There were many struggles when trying to get colors to register properly and lots of trial and error. The strict grid system used throughout the book allowed me to consistently vary each spread to create clean but complex and intentional spreads. For all of my full-bleed inserts, I chose to use a sturdier and brighter green color and for my inserts with multiple images, I utilized a lighter green paper. As my section dividers, I added green velum inserts and printed green titles on top.
For my cover, I decided to risograph the green and warm gold tones to mimic the risograph-like image treatment on the interior. I featured all motifs seen on each spread from typefaces, vertical text, chaotic but organized image placement, and lines to prepare the reader for what’s to come. Next to each image or block of text on the cover is a page number where you can find the spread associated with the featured content.
Video
For my video, I experimented with the established motifs from my books. Taking signature elements like the warm grays and green overlays, display typefaces, use of lines, and variation within grid systems, I played with the large scaled letters from my lexicon to give context to the content being shown in the video. This video requires the context of the book to understand the visual language and content featured in the video.
