Didactics

SONNENZIMMER (2015) Didactics: Warp and Weft: Poster Construction + Formal Additive Programs. Chicago: Green Lantern Press

Didactics finally arrived in the library last week and I've been giving it a peruse for the last few days and can safely say it is the most insane book on design I have ever read. It gives a really detailed report on Sonnenzimmer's various event poster designs in terms of project information, connection between the visuals and the event/music, and the composition, including intended line of sights and areas of interest. Along with each of these is provided a short exercise for the reader to carry out in order to inspire a creative process of their own.

The last part of the book, 'Formal Additive Programs', takes the reader through a process of deconstructing a drawing in order to produce something completely new. I'm excited to begin trying out some of these exercises myself as part of my poster brief and further studio practice.
This section can be found online here:
http://s147083.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sz.formal.additive.programs.pdf

Some notes:

• Surfer Blood and Turbo Fruits poster: The most energetic images arise from an improvised approach to design, which they can do because they don't show preliminary work due to the payment structure of concert posters. 
• Many designs begin with a quick character count and an exploration of ways to utilise the words' structure in the image "Redundancy is a constant danger in graphic design, and unless used subversively, rarely offers an original entry point to a subject matter". "
• It is important to take note of a band's visual aesthetic in order to steer clear of redundancy or even plagiarism. The downside of this preparation is that it can lead to procrastination through endless ideation. One way we avoid this is to impulsively 'throw down' a colour".