COMMONSPHERE _ A portrait of a girl that became a squatter
As simple as it should be !
The project presented consists in the result of the theoretical and visual study of a reconnection (previously posted) conducted throughout a Master's degree in Graphic Branding and Identity at London College of Communication, UAL.
CommonSphere provides a series of books that visually transmit the essence of hidden lifestyles throughout the cities. What might commonly be perceived as a shelter for the homeless is often a conscious choice. Covering five real stories across Europe, each book narrative will allow the audience to explore parallel realities and discover homes that extend far beyond a physical existence. By pursuing simplicity and authenticity as the basic principles to achieve true happiness, each story portraits an individual that has discovered his own way of connecting to the surroundings where
the minimum of a daily routine becomes the essential.
The book presented consists in the book five from a photographic series. Each book will make up a collectable set that will provide a reflective exercise to the audience. Each narrative will present one main colour as the key element of the book design. As a collectable set, the different shades of the five books will create a gradient that will be expressed from the spines and metaphorically transmit the level of reconnection achieved by the individual. In this way, the first book will present the lightest shade of the collection and so, the lower level of reconnection. Each spine will have a connection symbol (based on the wireless symbol normally used) that will increase according to the number of the narrative, enforcing the fact that a reconnection consists in the improvement of a low level of connection.
As the individual acquires the following book, his level of reconnection will increase until he reaches the top,- the fifth book.
The layout created throughout the collection presents a minimalistic character in order to enforce the essence of living with the minimum and the importance of disconnecting from the materialistic world.
The cut in a rectangular shape presented in each cover of the collection set, represents the idea of a window, - an opening that allows the individual to see the inside -, transmitting the sense of sharing and truth featured by a communal place.
All the contents provided throughout the publication (regarding the concept, book design, photography and writing) were generated by me.
The book design provides a smaller range of layers built on top of each other which expresses the sense of diversity characteristic of a squat.This feature allows the individual to enjoy a pause moment during the narrative, in order to focus on the simplest details.
The narrative is visualised by a series of photographies.The whole imagery was edited and presented in both black and white and colours, in order to provide a visual harmony that enforces the sense of familiarity and union portrayed during the story.
The paper selected for the production of the book presents a range of textures and patterns that allow a more natural and realistic character to the visuals.
As the second part of the outcome,I attempted to create a brand manifesto that expresses itself as a bookmark. Once again, the design fits the whole identity of the brand.The bookmark also provides a smaller layer on top of the text which transmits a sense of mystery to the audience, when reading the manifesto.The two layers are hold by a thin string of rope which is metaphorically portrayed as an emotional bond during the narrative.
The third and final part of the brand resolution is expressed through a tote bag.
Following the concept provided during the narrative of the fifth book, - the minimum as an essential,- I attempted to create a front and back designed tote bag that metaphorically transmits the relation of duality between two types of bag: ‘a bag’ which refers to any bag, the easily replaceable one that it is associated to the common society; and ‘the bag’ which refers to the one and only bag, the irreplaceable one that is associated to the communal society.
In this way, the minimal concept provided was also applied in what refers to the material and methodologies adopted.The design was placed on a natural coloured cotton fabric, using the transfer printing technique.
As simple as it should be.
