Brief: To design a booklet on a topic of choice that makes use of the effective combination of word and image: the creation of meaning via the interaction of verbal-textual and graphic elements. I chose the theme of 9/11; disasters have always interested me, and the large collection of visuals and statements surrounding 9/11 are striking.
The format and rough length of the booklet were specified, yet there was little limitation further than that.
The front cover. I wanted this to only subtly hint at the topic and stay restrained such that the inside could build in impact, yet for 9/11 to be recognisable.
The opening page consisting of a short paragraph on an empty blue sky.
The first spread, leading on from the previous page and introducing a striking subject – the first plane.
The second spread – the impact. The typesetting (words) feels the impact within the image.
Spread depicting the explosion of the second attack on the World Trade Center. At this point in the booklet, the typesetting has advanced to an extreme level of deconstruction to coincide with the worsening disaster.
I began this project by sourcing text and images online. My text is a composition of the official report on 9/11 and a news report from the following day. I examined the text for pivotal visual descriptions for which to base my imagery off, and common themes which I might wish to depict throughout the booklet.
I took the decision to minimise my depiction of people in the booklet, out of respect for the victims, but also because it put the focus on the chaos which was at the forefront of the text. My main inspiration for my decision to deconstruct the text was the designer David Carson; I considered that breaking apart the words and losing readability was highly appropriate, mimicking the evident chaos and disruption.
Key for my analysis of my selected text.
Part of my text analysis.
Some of the images I sourced online for the project.
The composite image I developed that runs across 5 pages to show the progression of the collapse.
Experiments with showing the plane strike and building collapse.
Experiments with representing the darkness or ‘black’ which people experienced as a result of the collapse.
Experiment with blocking out the image of the plane as to suggest its invisibility as a threat.
Early experiments for the opening page.
Experiments with depicting falling and impact.
Experiments with distorting and obstructing the words to create distress and chaos.
Check out the full booklet on screen below:
My final booklet reflects the seriousness of the topic via the prominent use of black on the cover and throughout the text. Words lose structure and become broken up as the spreads progress, linking to the crashes and collapse of the towers, and overall destruction and disruption. In this way, the text acts to visually depict the series of events. I used solely real photography of 9/11 and its associated artefacts in order to retain the immersion and subsequent insight of the booklet.
Below is my project report, which details my research, design process and thinking from throughout the project. I began by examining the combination of word and image in existing graphics, and then sourcing and analysing my own collection of words and images for use in my booklet.
This project challenged my creativity, and reminded me that there are multiple effective solutions to a problem; word and image can be combined in so many ways to different effects.
