#10 Mid-Point Submission

I have been working towards a submission which includes both prototype images and a written synopsis covering the current stage of the project. I have chosen to include it as I consolidation of the work conducted so far. The synopsis covers the initial research, ideas, sketches and experiments conducting during the early stages as well as a section covering where I would like the direction of the project to move next.

Introduction

The question proposed during the February submission was considering how graphic design could depict the lack of authentic representation of women within the Noir genre. This project aims to shed light on this fact using the medium of graphic design as a tool. The previous proposal submitted contained research and plans that have been utilised during the project’s development process. As a result, primary research and visual experiments have been conducted applying the earlier literature explored. The feminist critique has been implemented into the visual explorations and aided in analysing selected Neo-Noir films. Following this, the work of Jessica Heidt has inspired the beginning of an investigation into data visualisation. A consideration of the form the collected work could take investigated. Rather than one specific prototype, the project’s current state consists of these three aspects that have been explored and previous work that has led to these stages of experimentation.

Padlet

The majority of research conducted before proposal submission consisted of feminist critique and analysis from the 1970s onward. In order to gather ideas, a research matrix was created within Padlet. This consisted of research gathered during the earlier stages of the project. It was organised with regards to different themes to separate the different representations being discussed within the literature. During the creation of the Matrix, notes were taken on potential visual experiments that could be conducted concerning the research gathered. These potential ideas have not been used but are available if appropriate at a later stage.

Research Matrix in Padlet

Potential ideas collected during matrix creation.

Visual Illustrations

Gledhill (1978), Scott (2018), and others have been useful in developing an understanding of the archetypal female figures that appear within the Noir genre and specific ways in which they are regularly represented, which could be considered problematic. Using this research, analysis has been conducted on a selection of films to aid in creating graphic design visual outcomes. The result involved considering redesigning the posters for the films in question, focusing on how the female characters are represented. The project scope has been narrowed to the Neo-Noir genre. However, this needs to be constricted further to potentially a specific decade or director.

Initial notes taken regarding poster ideas.

Poster thumbnail sketches.

The films selected for the initial visual experiments consisted of Blue Velvet, Heat, LA Confidential and Mulholland Drive. Thumbnail sketches have been created to guarantee the inclusion of all the messages needed to portray where the problem lies in women’s representation (or lack of representation) in a selected film. The small sketches also helped developed ideas and aided the creative thinking process. The following creations, at this moment, have only focused on Blue Velvet. With Blue Velvet, the design was constructed as a full sketch before attempting to develop the outcome. Once this was finished, different software was used to experiment with how the visual outcome could be created.

Full design sketch.

Procreate was used first to create a digitally painted illustration; however, this did not seem to be a good fit, and the design later moved into illustrator. Once the visual was completed, different versions were created to experiment with different styles and effects. The work became more of an illustration of the female characters’ representation within Blue Velvet rather than a poster redesign.

Digitally sketching and painting in Procreate.

Digitally vector illustration created in Illustrator.

Earlier in the project, it was noted that comic art could be considered a method of creating visual work to tell a story and present visual messages, such as the ones included within the illustration. Upon further research and suggestions from peers, pop art was also considered a style that could be researched. Roy Lichtenstein’s work, in particular, inspired the use of certain effects within the illustration experiments. Further research on Lichtenstein’s working methods could be useful to develop these illustrations to a complete stage.

(Left) Sleeping Girl. (1964).

(Right) Collage for reflections on hair. (1989).

Set of digital illustration experiments.

Data Visualisations

The current illustration alone did not seem enough to attack the problem within the genre, so other responses need exploration. Upon re-watching Blue Velvet, it was noted that most leading characters were men and dominated both the screen time and spoken lines. Within previous research conducted for the proposal submission, the work of Jessica Heidt was discovered. Heidt discovered the voices heard within Pixar animations, such as Cars, were predominantly male, and she presented this through the collection data. For this project, data visualisation could be placed alongside illustration to explore the variety of issues regarding the representation of women once a specific area has been selected. During the creation of the Blue Velvet illustration, a selection of silhouettes where created which could be used as icons within information design. To explore this, a rough example of an infographic was created using these silhouettes to experiment with how screen time could be presented. As a result, the current focus has been on working with illustrations and infographics to present various information to the end-user.

(Left) Silhouettes created in Illustrator.

(Right) Data visualisation - screen time example.

Potential Layout Examples

To find space in which both aspects of exploration could sit beside one another, layouts have been created as a method of placing information that could be collected on a film within one place. Starting with editorial design, the different elements have been compiled together within one page spread. This could appear within a magazine or a book. These elements where reused and placed within different contexts. This exploration of potential solutions has helped to situate the potential project outcomes within the real world. The other layouts created include; a webpage, an email newsletter and a printed one. The best method for the presented will depend on how the target user would prefer to receive the information, and the best place for this kind of information.

Potential layout examples with key.

Next Steps

Upon discussion, it has been brought to attention that a specific focus area needs to be selected to collect the data for infographics. As a result of research, a few options have been identified. The first being a selection of Oscar-winning films. These could be either one from each decade going back to the golden age of Hollywood, or one decade, in particular, that would allow ten films to collect data from. The second could utilise sites such as IMDB. IMDB categorises films and creates ‘Top Film’ lists that could be used. Much like with the Oscar option, if the project is to move away from the Neo-Noir genre and take a more generalised route, then the first ten films appearing in IMDB’s Top 100 could be used for data collection. The third option would allow the project to follow the current releases. The result would be an outcome that can regularly be produced to monitor the representation as the industry releases new content. This idea keeps the target audience up to date with new releases and which films improve previous representation and which ones follow the footsteps of previous portrayals. These three options allow for a broader approach while still narrowing the scope of the project further. It also begins to remove any creator influence and bias as these have not yet been studied within this project’s context, whereas the Film Noir genre has.

A decision needs to be made with regards to what data should be shown. An example has been created showing screen time; however, it might be interesting to collect information on a few other areas. Once this has been determined and a choice regarding the previous options mentioned has been made, the data needed can be collected, and the design of information graphics can begin.

Bibliography