Collaborative Practice Blog

I went to my sisters house to have a root through some of her old pictures, and couldn’t find anything on my Grandad Alan, and the search in my dads house failed too. My dad moved house, and a lot of things are still in storage or in boxes.

For my collaborative practice, I want to further develop my skills as a designer, with a particular focus on graphic prop design. I have really taken a shine to this area of graphic design, as I feel it is under represented beneath the large umbrella that is production design within the film and tv industry. The module began with a lecture about collaborations across the creative industries. This made me think about my own personal collaborative practice, and where I feel I sit within the creative industry. My practice can be defined into three creative categories, graphic design, craft and film and tv. My practice is a collaboration in itself! The aim of this module is to behave collaboratively, in an effort to improve my own practice. To improve my practice, I wanted to focus on the what I felt was the weakest part of my own personal collaboration, that being craft. I haven’t created work away from my laptop in a long time, and I wanted to focus on the physical making of the props. I endeavour to make work that is as historically accurate as possible, so when making props for a piece that is set in the past, it’s important to consider how this would have looked then, and how it would’ve been made previously. With this in mind, my collaborative journey began with me considering traditional craft and printing methods. I started looking for businesses in the North West area that provided classes in calligraphy and letterpress, two skills I feel would be very beneficial for me to learn. Both of these skills can be applied to the making of graphic printed material for period pieces, as opposed to creating them on a modern computer. These skills could also improve the authenticity of a made prop, something that I feel is an important factor. Annie Atkins, the graphic designer for Wes Andersons’ film The Grand Budapest Hotel runs weekend workshops at her studio in Dublin, and she said in an interview with It’sNiceThat, “What I need to teach them how to do, is how to create graphic design without a computer, because that’s how design would’ve been created for the period pieces they’re most likely to get jobs on.” Another factor I had to think about, is what work I was actually going to be making. I needed to consider how the work I was going to be creating would be beneficial and involve established and interested parties. It is all very well creating work to develop my own skillset, but how can I apply this to someone, or something else to increase my collaborative process. It is important to consider the social and networking potential of this module.

In the search for a letterpress studio in close proximity to me, it brought me to a small website link for Juniper Press in the Bluecoat Chambers, Liverpool. I emailed Ken, one of the directors and explained that I wanted an opportunity to meet with him, see the studio, and talk about the possibility of collaborating and creating some work together. I spoke about my area of interest, and that I was also considering involving other parties into the collaboration. Upon meeting Ken at Juniper Press, apart from being amazed by the vast array of equipment and work on the walls I was met with such warmth and genuine interest for my practice. This was such an enthusiastic start to my collaborative journey. I felt extremely positive from the offset and our first meeting. I visited Ken over two weeks and created some work based on a play I had seen recently in London at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Creating the small posters for the event were for me to test out the beds and the equipment, and to really delve in and get my hands dirty. Ken says it hasn’t been a good session unless you have ink on your hands! It is impossible to avoid. Setting the type for the design was incredibly therapeutic and satisfying. Working with type that is hundreds of years old means you are met with challenges, for example not having a complete alphabet of letters and numbers in a kit. With the font face I had chosen, there wasn’t a number seven suitable. Ken took it upon himself to find one. For our next meeting a week later, he had searched his collection at home and found a number seven perfect for the design. In regard to working collaboratively this was a defining moment for me, as Ken had really taken an interest in my work. It felt like the beginning of a working relationship, as opposed to me simply being an observer and admirer of his practice. We were working together to create the best outcome we could from his collection. We were both extremely pleased with the outcome of the design, he even kept one for his studio wall. Another bonus from creating this test, is that I can now use this design as an example of what can be achieved using Ken’s equipment, his knowledge and my skills as a graphic designer. I can now take this design to local theatre companies to showcase letterpress and what it can add to a production. It could be used internally within a performance as a prop to dress a set or used externally as a method of advertising a piece of theatre. 

So I finished my work with Ken and I was so happy with the outcome, as you can see with the videos and the images. I love that I can now use these pieces as examples of what can be done to achieve this traditional look when printing for anything, and in this case for the stage. It is a great way to bring together two creative environments, where each can appreciate the skill and craft that goes into their work. It’s two of my keen interests, and I think the final pieces really showcase that. 

I have been in touch with the Everyman and I am awaiting to meet them for the Light Night proposal. They want to create a set for something called Drag Lab. I have shown them the work I have created with Ken, and it will be really interesting to apply this skill to set dressing.

So today was fantastic! We completed the design for the poster/flyer. I am so happy with the way it turned out. 

I started the day in such a foul mood, and nearly didn’t go to the studio. I am so glad I did, mainly because the process of setting type is actually so therapeutic and relaxing! Ken went home and found a different number 7 for me in one of his kits at home, and it’s perfect! It fits in perfectly with the typeface we chose. 

I typeset the rest of the text, and had a play around with the positioning of it all. We were then ready to set the text onto the Albion. This piece of equipment is 146 years old! Ken showed me all of the tricks needed to get the best print. Setting the paper in place, centring the type block and securing everything in place. We had a few issues on the first few prints, with the pressure not being quite right. The impression wasn’t strong enough on one half of the print. Ken had to tighten and loosen the press about 6 times to get it just right! He knows the Albion so well, so knew exactly what to do.

The process of using 2 inks was interesting, and quite intricate. It took two of us to get it just right, holding paper over certain sections whilst we inked it up.

So today was fantastic! Really great to get back at it, and it all started to come back to me.

It’s such a personal and rewarding experience. Choosing the fonts, and the size. Then typesetting each individual letter and spacing has such fine detail. Ken is a fantastic teacher and talked me through everything, he is so knowledgable. I wanted to test the equipment today, and try out different lettering and spacing, and I got to do all of those things! I chose to typeset a poster I had seen from a play I saw last month. The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter, during the pinter season at the Harold Pinter theatre.

Here are some pictures from today!

Here is an update of the progress I have made so far with my collaborative practice. I am meeting with Ken today at Juniper press to start a practice poster made on his letterpress beds, and I’m really excited!

I have had Rachel from the YEP producers at the Everyman get back in touch with me about volunteering for their event ‘Drag Lab’ at this years Liverpool Light Night on the 17th May. I have invited her to the work in progress show this Friday to have a look at my work, perfect opportunity to network so hopefully she will come along!

So I just had a really interesting meeting with Ken from Juniper Press, the only letterpress studio in Liverpool, and it couldn’t have gone better. I am honestly buzzing with excitement. He seems really keen in collaborating with me, and allowing me to use his vast collection of presses and kits. He runs on a non profit basis, and just asks for donations depending on the volume of resources you use.

I am excited that I now have an option to use the letterpress beds, and these types of kits, as I didn’t know it was actually going to be possible!

I took a load of photographs which I’ll share too. I am going to meet with him next week, and take some work that I want to create with him. I will first build a poster on my computer, print it and take a copy. He can help me arrange some text and build the poster on the beds, and then I can see the comparison from traditional print to inkjet.

I am so excited to start this process, and he seemed even more excited that I want to collaborate with local theatre companies, to offer my facilities in designing possible props for stage, or posters for advertising, but using his facilities.

http://stagedoortheatreschoolcrosby.co.uk/senior-show/

I just had a really interesting tutorial with Jon, and I am finally starting to establish my practice and how I can work collaboratively.

I have realised so far, that I want to work on my own collaboration in my work, between film & tv - craft - graphic design, and that I want to work on my craft, so that I can make better props.

I have been in touch with Juniper Press studios, which is a letterpress studio that is based in the Bluecoat Liverpool. They offer letterpress workshops, that I am looking at attending. I have emailed Kenneth, one of the organisers and have arranged to meet him on Friday. I want to ask him a few interview style questions on what their team brings to the table, and what he thinks their role is within the industry. 

From this discussion with Kenneth, I thought it might be possible to create a collaboration with the university or some select students who would be interested in using these facilities. Their website says ‘Juniper Press is a non profit making collective of artists and designers  based in the Bluecoat in the heart of Liverpool. Over the coming year beginning on the 23rd November, we are offering workshops, courses , open days and demonstrations in the art of Letterpress. We hope to establish a community of interested individuals through membership so that Juniper Press will become a permanent feature  in Liverpool, used by a whole host of people.’ I feel this would be a perfect opportunity for them to promote themselves within the universities art school, but then also for students to work collaboratively and try new skills they may have not tried before.

We then moved onto how could I use these skills in a collaborative way, and how could they be applied. We talked about creating a network between the industries, and how I can apply my new skills to benefit others. This is when Jon mentioned Stage Door, and Emma Vaudrey who he has worked with in the past. They are a stage school based in Crosby, which she opened back in 2005. He mentioned that I should email her, and ask if they have any opportunities for me to collaborate with them. Possibly creating props, or posters for them, using some of my new skills. This would then be using my new skills, in a collaborative way, that would hopefully benefit both parties.

I then mentioned that I could get in touch with the Everyman, as my boyfriend is on their Young Playwrights Programme. They showcase a play they have worked on at the end of the year, so they could also be another collaboration, if I could offer my skills/facilities to them, to help promotion, or to help create props for their pieces of writing.

Practice is definitely key, I was focusing on one letter tonight can you guess which one. HHHHHA.