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REVIEW ON FINAL PIECE

Limited on time to print A2, I decided to create a small mock up of my map in A3. I am pleased with the final outcome seeing as it was my first time using illustrator. Whilst I know I could have pushed the visual lay out and ideas further for this map, I think it was a success as a first try with indesign 

The aim of this map is to illustrate key Tobacco lords in the 1750′s, and illustrate how they have influenced Glasgow’s architectural landscape within Merchant City, and how they managed to gain so much money in that period. 

I quite like the simple, graphic layout - however I think I could have also experimented more with the illustrative style I was trying out before. Talking to Mitch earlier, he said that the drawing had more life to the map in contrast to the graphic design. I think taking the graphic approach does dry out the historic narrative illustrating the story of the Tobacco Lords in Glasgow, and makes it much more focused on function rather than telling a story. I think I could have possibly focused more on illustrating individual Tobacco lords, and possibly created portraits on the other side of the map. So I think the map does work well for directions, however I think I could have gone for a more playful route for the final outcome. 

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Here I was playing around with Illustrator for the first time and trying to demonstrate roughly where key buildings are in Merchant City were and the main grid lay out. I’ve noticed that the grid lay out is slightly squint, however I am pleased how it has turned out graphically. 

Despite this, I am slightly conflicted wether the drawing or graphic design is more successful. I feel the drawing has more life, whereas the graphic design is slightly static. I think for telling a story in regards to the Tobacco lords, it could have been slightly more illustrative than factual based. 

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Focusing on the Tobacco Lords 

Plans for the map / deciding what to illustrate and how to illustrate the ideas  

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(pic above) trying to play with watercolour to create a ‘historic’ map. I think this looks good, however I’m finding it difficult to accurately draw buildings and a grid out with the right perspective. But I think the illustrations of buildings actually works well to pin point key buildings (despite my earlier opinion that the illustrative style looks tacky). 

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Experimenting with Mapping Merchant City

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The history of Merchant City - mapping out time 

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Disappearing Glasgow / Lighthouse Gallery 

Whilst this is not completely relevant to my map project - I thought this idea of time and Glasgow’s architectural landscape changing over time was somewhat relevant to my project. Photographer Chris Leslie focuses on architecture from the 1950′s (specifically the high rise buildings which soon had to be demolished), whereas I am more intrigued with Glasgow’s historic buildings in Merchant city - which tells the story of Glasgow’s industrial revolution and Tobacco lords. 

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Focusing on Merchant City 

Remembering the walk we went on with Mitch, I remember being really surprised by the fact that Merchant city was famous for being an area which was involved with the trading of slaves. Since we live in a different time period, I really can’t imagine Merchant City having anything to do with the slave industry - seeing as the streets there are filled with high street shops and well known food chains. I’m really surprised to hear about Glasgow’s dark past, and seeing how it has evolved from this in time. I think it would be interesting documenting / creating a map in regards to this era / area. 

I think rather than focusing on all of Glasgow, it would be more beneficial to simply look at Merchant City. Documenting the history of Glasgow would result in a very cluttered map (seeing as Glasgow has a rich history, and documenting time and events on maps is incredibly difficult). I think Merchant City has a really rich history, specifically in relation to the Tobacco lords and its involvement with trade thanks to the River Clyde. Could be a possible point for development. 

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Article: 'the city's role in architecture has largely been forgotten’.  Think this is a really interesting concept in regards to Peter’s idea, in illustrating how a particular building encapsulates so much of Glasgow’s history in it. The simple residential or commercial buildings we see every day, must have had some grandeur back in the 1700′s. I’m sure the G.O.M.A must have been incredibly grand in its time, however it is interesting to think that this used to be a house for William Cunninghame in the 1750′s, transforming now to a modern art gallery. 

After reading this article, I decided to investigate more facts and information regarding Glasgow’s history. This article pointed out some key factors which influenced Glasgow’s layout, which was due to the: Industrial Revolution, Tobacco Lords (merchants who were involved with trade),  the significance of the River Clyde and the huge increase in population. 

Possible idea for a map: Creating a map for a 1750′s Glasgow, where they can pretend to be in a different time period, and perceive the buildings how citizens in the 1750s would see it. 

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Wanted to look at different types of maps, and the way they lay out locations and places. I quite like the illustrative style in the middle one, however I feel the bottom one is a bit too cartoony / (has too much tourist appeal?) 

I quite like the clean cut maps which are straight to the point in regards to directions etc. Possibly continue this clean cut lay out design for a future map design.  

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I remember talking to Peter one summer, and him saying ‘the best way to understand a city is by exploring the urban landscape of it. You will understand its history, socially, economically and culturally through the architecture and urban planning’. 

I think this concept is really interesting - to understand how a city has developed over time due to the type of buildings popping up, how the street planned out, and where things are situated within the city. I think it would be interesting to apply this theory to Glasgow, looking at how the city has developed over time, the significance of the River Clyde, and possibly the industrial history which Glasgow has. 

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31/01/16 Note taking of Glasgow’s History 

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31/01/16 - Mitchell Library and Maps of Glasgow 

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Tutorial with Mitch

Reflecting on the past lectures and workshops, the things which I am most interested in right now are: 

Illustrating how the architectural landscape has changed due to social, economic and political values changing over time 

Would like to look at key time periods to see how they differ to each other

Look at how the Architectural landscape has changed overtime 

Advice 

The tricky thing with mapping out history would be to illustrate it visually. Mitch gave me some ideas in how I could do this, such as using block layers to illustrate a particular time period. 

Maybe focusing on a particular zone? Whole of Glasgow might be slightly overwhelming. 

Look at the historic development in a particular area. 

Contrast possibly between two time periods? 

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Infographics

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30/01/16 Screenshots of my favourite maps and Artists at Mitch’s Mapping Lecture

Key points to reasons why I like the Map

City of Anarchy, Axonometric Cutaway: 

Maybe I am being slightly biased, but I love this map because of the content being based in Hong Kong, the axonometric cutaway of the Kowloon Walled City, and the fact the infographics are really interesting.

Whilst looking at the map, I don't find it 100% visually engaging, however it is the maps ability to express so much information visually which I really like. I think I might look further into infographics to express Glasgow’s history. 

Multiple Juxtaposions, Kowloon Walled City:  

Visually its beautiful, but I see it more as a piece of art than a map. It illustrates the chaotic nature of the Kowloon walled city. Perhaps it is a map in a way to illustrate that there were no rules or order to the Kowloon Walled City. 

Class Geographies, Charles Booth, Poverty Map: 

It reminded me of blocking in the Drawing workshop we did. Utilising blocking and layers to illustrate different class systems. It was an accessible way to understand the information. 

A Personal History of Kings Cross, AA School of Architecture, Mapping the psychology of an area: 

I like how it is a contemporary map, pin pointing different interpretations to a place. Its particularly the ability to combine different interpretations on one map - Might be a good visual reference to see how I can illustrate different time periods on a map.

Similar to Where Dey At, which maps the vibrant music scene in New Orleans - utilising quotation boxes and pin points to illustrate information. 

Lead and Lies, Maps literal and metaphorical ideas of the poisonous, environmental poisons released into New Orleans: 

Much alike to Charles Booth’s Class Geographies, I like its ability to utilise gradient and blocking to illustrate the information / poison coming out.