Brief

I was tasked with designing a comprehensive body of work centred around a topic of my choosing. This project required in-depth research and a methodical approach to refine and develop the concept over time. The research served as the foundation for key design decisions, shaping various elements such as materiality and ensuring the work resonated effectively with the target audience. The final objective was to create a tangible artefact that contextualised the subject matter and showcased and supported the depth of my research and design exploration.

Rationale

Flexible Visual Systems in Constructivism became the title of my project after numerous iterations and careful development.
This evolved into a well-researched and thoughtful exploration of design theory, focusing on visual systems constructed from components and shapes, systematically broken into quarters. The project was driven by experimentation with these methods, originally rooted in modernist design principles.

Through this process, I developed a rationale for adapting these concepts into contemporary practice. My research led me to the work of Dr. Martin Lorenz, a prominent designer and author specialising in flexible visual systems. This discovery further enriched my understanding and inspired the integration of historical references, particularly the art movement of Russian Constructivism.
The project demonstrated how the principles of this influential movement could be reimagined into a fully adaptable and flexible visual system, opening opportunities for further exploration and application.

Resolution

The resolution evolved into a significant body of work, culminating in compelling visual artefacts. This comprised of a print making pack and two printed posters both using methods of screen printing and digital print. The idea was to include these to add visual connotation towards the success of this visual system and how it can be adopted through different print mediums. However, my most successful piece of work was the print making pack. This was because it became an engaging experience for users to explore printmaking while educating them on the principles of Flexible Visual Systems. Developing this pack enabled users to generate ideas with ease, which could later be refined and adapted digitally. Its accessibility allowed me to test the final outcome at my end-of-year graduate showcase at the University of Portsmouth, where I observed its impact on both my target audience and the general public.

The success of this project earned me a First-Class BA Honours degree and led to it being showcased at the D&AD New Blood in London. It was also selected as a finalist for the South West Design + Digital Student Awards and shortlisted for the Global Graduate Design Show in collaboration with Gucci.

This project highlighted my ability to merge conceptual thinking with practical design solutions, creating an impactful and educational tool that resonated with diverse audiences.