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POOLE’S REJUVENATION

AN INTERVIEW WITH CARMEN MOORE

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START GATHER AND WHAT WAS THE INITIAL VISION FOR THE PLATFORM?

GATHER was originally an idea without any sense of direction. The idea was to offer the community a platform to showcase things but no idea what the outcome of the space would be and it needed streamlining, which is when they bought me in - the community manager. There was no ideas about what they wanted or how it looked, Legal&General (the landlords) just wanted charities to come in, or somewhere to do something with. I then developed this into something where events had to be held for the community to join in, get involved and learn from. Legal&General initially wanted 1000 events a year but this was just not feasible as there are 365 days a year so there would need to be at least 3 things on each day.

GATHER exists elsewhere - in Eastbourne, however, no two spaces are the same. The space is based on the community: In Poole, its very culture and art based so the unit needed a sink for cleaning up after workshops, there would be art exhibits and fun creative workshops for all ages. The Eastbourne unit has a different community manager, and she caters things to her community, so there is more charitable events than in Poole and its more education based.

WHAT PROMPTED THE SETUP OF THESE THINGS?

Legal&General realised that the high street was dying, the shops were dying and they needed to do something about it. They wanted a space that was free to use for the public, which might entice them more. They needed to regenerate a lot as the units they chose to work with had been out of action for a long time. L&G are very forward thinking, but weren’t onsite a lot, which meant the project needed to be more hands on so they could see what needed to be done exactly and how to do it. It required innovative and creative thinking which is what I had and why they wanted me to be a part of the development process, as I know the community and I’m local so can bring exactly what the people need.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHICH EVENTS TO HOST? HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THEY RESONATE WITH THE LOCALS?

Getting people to come into the space in the first place requires a lot of calls to charities, businesses, schools, people I know personally etc. It was hard to build a constant booking. When first setting it up and making the calls, I quickly realised that a lot of people wanted to book out the space weekly or very consistently. So I either gave them Mondays or Tuesdays as weekends and were for more family oriented activities. People were either booked in for the whole day or no day. Additionally, a lot of companies wanted to use the space during half term, so I had to decline a lot of people as I had to consider and prioritise who is more likely to be around that time of year and what festivities occur, and cater to that specific need, such as child friendly activities during half terms, and Christmas festivities over the Christmas period etc. Moreover, during the Christmas period, The Dolphin’s opening and closing hours are later, which means that people are typically out later - I used this to her advantage to bring in specifically catered adult only activities. Tipsy Canvas for example, came in once for a ‘paint and Prosecco’ night which was a massive hit and a lot of fun for all those involved

DO YOU GATHER FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT EVENTS/ FUTURE IDEAS? IF SO HOW?

Yes, the community is very involved in a lot of the decisions and what they want to see come to Poole. This is typically collected through social media; Instagram comments, polls and story Q&A’s for the younger generation and Facebook for the older generation.

The customer service/ destination host - Caroline Taylor also does surveys with the public about what they want to see come to Poole, whether its events or new shops. Some things, of course, aren’t doable, but some are and when they come to life it brings more people out as they see their ideas in real life.

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHALLENGES IN SETTING UP THE SPACE? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?

All it was a challenge. Finding people to come in specifically, as I didn’t want any religion or politics. I had to be really selective about what went into the space and how it helps the community. For example, it’s all well and good having an art exhibition in the space but after people have walked around and viewed it all that’s it. I wanted the community to really get involved and either be able to learn something from it or create something for their own. Another issue was how they promote their company or their reason (if its a charity) - I didn’t want them just sat at a table handing out leaflets to people, I wanted them to draw people in and get them involved in whatever was going on, so it was an actual experience for them. I also experienced a lot of cancellations with companies booking out the space. As it’s a free space for them to use, they would cancel and then it would be a struggle trying to get someone to come in last minute. Getting people to come out post lockdown also posed as a struggle to me, I had to promote Poole in an exciting way to both the businesses and consumers, and give them a reason to not work from home anymore

For Street Market, I had to make sure that the businesses I was getting in weren’t selling cheap tat, that it was sustainable and not off of Temu, which a lot of businesses were doing to my surprise, so I had to turn them down. I also had to make sure any food businesses I was getting in the market had quality food and that it was somewhat reliably sourced. Additionally, for the Street Food portion of Poole, I had to call up people and make sure each space was set up right for the companies and their needs, making sure they have an alcohol licence if they needed one etc. I have no idea about building a kitchen, so a lot of calls were made in this process.

The main challenge overall has been maintaining and increasing the footfall of Poole overall.

HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK SINCE SETTING THIS UP?

Oh there has been a lot of feedback, GATHER is highly rated by all and I get very positive feedback. After each company has been there, they’re sent a feedback form to fill out with questions on it like ‘What was the event?’ ‘What was todays footfall’ ‘How much was raised (if applicable)’ ‘What improvements do you have?’ Etc.

The responses include things about how being able to provide a space to exhibit work is amazing, how the event-holders love the space, it’s bright and airy, compliments are given to the cleaning staff and to myself. Those raising funds for charity show their gratitude for the space and the opportunity to use it, and how they appreciate being in a prime position in town. All these responses make me appreciate the space even more and what I have turned it into. We have Poole College come in every year at Christmas to display and exhibit their work, this helps in their confidence as they have to sell all their art work and all funds are donated to charity.

As for community feedback, again, it’s really positive. The only negative thing I think we have ever had has been that people didn’t know about it or a particular event that was going on, for instance, one lady was really into ceramics and we had one ceramics group come in that she missed - when I got them in again, I made sure to advertise it better and she attended, loved it and became a part of a group from it.

A really popular event we held was a collaboration with Dorset Mind during mental health awareness week in May, where each day covered a different topic. The first year they did it there was such a massive queue for the free counselling as people just weren’t able to access any form of counselling without being put on a huge waiting list, so as soon as they heard about this collaboration, they came to Poole. This prompted the introduction of Access Wellbeing - a separate wellness centre opposite Wilko where people could go to for this sort of thing, but permanently. So yeah overall, community feedback is pretty positive too, people just like that they learned something new they didn’t intend to, or became part of a group, organisation or charity.

HOW DO YOU PROMOTE THE EVENTS?

We used to use a London agency that would do all our promotional work for us, but as they weren’t on site, it was hard for them to promote what was on without them seeing it first hand. But, social media is mainly used to promote things, we have @thedolphinpoole on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook as well as a “what’s on” tab on our website. This of course only reaches a certain demographic, ones that use socials or the web, it doesn’t feel all inclusive. So, we use the Daily Echo to tell people what’s on, as well as easels with promotional posters that are dotted around the centre, there is also a large chalkboard wall outside of gather to let people know what’s on, as well as give them the creative freedom to design their own sign. There is plans to get a part on the radio, so I am hoping that this happens soon. But there is also collaboration with PIER Journal in the works which is very exciting. Things we do try and avoid with promotional touch-points are things like leaflets as due to the type of flooring we have in the centre, if people litter or drop them, they pose a great danger as they become a slipping hazard, so we rule these out completely - they are also just not very sustainable as it leads to a lot of waste eventually.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT EVENTS ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS?

All events are completely free for the community, and we don’t charge for the tenants either. It is a challenge to make sure that the space is diverse enough for everyone, but we include events such as Pride, Diwali, Black History Month, Day of the Dead etc. I do get the odd few people coming to me saying things like “why do we have this, we need blank instead” but I have to ensure that no one feels left out. I ask Caroline to gather feedback from the public about what they want to see, such as, one year Chinese New Year was requested, so we had this come in and had a large dragon going through the centre - this was really fun to see and it was fun seeing the shock on retailers faces as this huge dragon floated past their shops. As a centre, we also do a thing called ‘sensory Sunday’ where all the lights are dimmer and music is lowered or off entirely which allows people that are neurodivergent for example, to be able to come in and shop comfortably. Things like this, as well as feedback about what the community wants to see really ensures we cater for everyone.

HOW DO YOU ENVISION THE FUTURE OF GATHER AND ITS ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY? DO YOU SEE POOLE EVOLVING FURTHER?

I think GATHER is a very integral part of the community and The Dolphin, it has helped build a community. I would, however, like to be able to reach out further to those who haven’t heard of it, I want it to be the first place people think of in the town, and for it to become the place people want to go and use. We can’t expand it without removing tenants of other stores, which isn’t doable, so reaching out is the best we can do to expand socially rather than physically.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY SPECIFIC GOALS OR OUTCOMES THAT YOU HOPE TO ACHIVE WITH GATHER?

To be honest, I want to keep it as it is. I want to keep it as the community platform that its become. A lot of people are interested in buying it out but I don’t want to let them. GATHER does what it says on the tin and its become an integral part of the community.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE THE SUCCESS RATE OF THE EVENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY?

Everything is measured through footfall. I have installed a little counter above each entrance on the sides that measures the footfall for each day/ event. We also measure by how long people stay in the centre - more time equals more money. It used to be an average of £10 spent per head, now it’s £17. Doesn’t seem like much but if you think that’s just an average and how many people are in the centre at one moment, it adds up.

Since setting up gather in 2021, footfall has increased quite a lot: in quarter 3 (so July - October 2021) the quarterly footfall was 2,468,000. The same quarter but in 2024, the footfall was 3,067,003. Everything new implemented into Poole has helped this increase though - NHS clinic above Beales, they have increased the footfall massively, Access Wellbeing, FOUNDRY, KINGLAND, Street Market and now the Street Food.

Community feedback is also a massive way that we measure the success as well as the feedback from the people hosting the events. As I mentioned before, we don’t get any negative feedback from anyone, so we’re obviously doing something right.

ARE THERE ANY PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES OR ORGANISATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL?

GATHER has worked with so many partners, Access Wellbeing, Pramacare, NHS, Poole Bid, Dorset Chambers, BCP, Poole Museum, The Lighthouse, RNLI, AUB, Dorset Mind… the list really goes on. All these partnerships were built through GATHER itself. Really shows how it brings not only people together, but businesses and charities. They have all been beneficial though really, I love having students come in from AUB and Poole College, but Dorset Mind collaboration was super successful and beneficial to the community.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE COME TO POOLE?

Constant regeneration.

Obviously the people want big brands like Zara, TKMaxx, Urban Outfitters, but it just isn’t doable.. yet. I would like to see them come in too, but the only way these things can happen is if units free up. The outdoor bit in KINGLAND is for local businesses only, and every unit elsewhere is filled currently. Additionally, three of the retailers that gained the most footfall along KINGLAND have now expanded into double units. So Wild Roots, Restored Retro, and Grounded Coffee are now all in double units. There have been a few people that left after the 2 years rent and business rates free, so I had to get in new people, most of whom I knew. For instance, Lavender Moon used to be down in Old Town by the Quay, but I got her in and now her footfall is through the roof. Millets has recently gone from KINGLAND, so we will be using this space to rent out throughout Christmas for part of the Christmas market that will be happening this year which is exciting, but people can rent it out to display their stuff or hold a workshop for a week or so at a time.

There are big plans in the works for where Argos used to be, and the row of shops that follow behind, but there is a lot of work required to fix these up. They are in such disarray. If a big company or retailer wanted the space, we can expand backwards and up by knocking down the offices above and removing a few shops behind but we’re just waiting at the moment, so keep your eyes peeled

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22 Questions About my Community Space

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY SPACE?

A community space is a place where people come together to engage in activities, share ideas, and build relationships. It can take many forms, like parks, community centres, libraries, or even cafes. 

WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES A COMMUNITY SPACE?

Its ability to foster connection, interaction, and engagement among people. It's a place where individuals can gather, share resources, and participate in activities together. 

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

General need for a community hub where people can come together for various activities, such as art showcases, cultural education and celebrations. Lack of places for social interaction, learning, and collaboration on different projects or initiatives.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

Create a multifunctional community space that addresses various challenges. This space could serve as a solution to foster connections, support local initiatives, and provide resources for different interests and activities. It would be inclusive, welcoming and accommodating diverse interests, from arts and crafts to technology workshops and wellness activities. Regular events, workshops, and meet-ups can encourage community engagement and participation, helping people connect with one another. The space can also host discussions and panels on local social issues to foster awareness and action within the community.

WHAT AM I OFFERING?

Offering a place for individuals to connect, engage and build relationships. It serves as a hub for social interaction, collaboration and support - fostering a sense of belonging among residents 

WHY AM I OFFERING IT?

I am offering it because I recognise the importance of community in enhancing quality of life, promoting unity and providing a supportive environment where people can come together to share and experience resources. 

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF IT IN A 15 MINUTE CITY?

The space can help strengthen local ties and create a vibrant atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed and valued

WHAT DOES A COMMUNITY SPACE OFFER TO A 15 MINUTE CITY?

Social Interaction: It provides a place for people to meet, socialise, and build relationships, fostering a sense of belonging.

Support for Local Businesses: It can serve as a platform for local entrepreneurs to promote and sell their products, helping to boost the local economy.

Cultural Events: Community spaces often host events like markets, workshops, and performances that celebrate local culture and bring people together.

Educational Opportunities: They can provide resources and programs for learning, skill development, and community engagement.

Wellness Activities: Many community spaces offer fitness classes, wellness workshops, and recreational activities that promote health and well-being.

Exhibition space: Offers artists a chance to showcase their work, gaining exposure and connecting with potential buyers, enriching the community's cultural landscape.

HOW IT IT UNIQUE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER COMMUNITY SPACES?

It focuses on local artists and their work, showcasing talent that reflects the area's culture. Additionally, if it’s run by a charity, it can integrate social causes into its programming, creating a space that not only promotes art but also supports community initiatives. I would also consider hosting events that encourage community participation, making it a lively hub for creativity and collaboration.

WHAT IS THE UNIQUE SELLING POINT?

I would offer a variety of events and activities that cater to different interests, from workshops to social gatherings, ensuring there's something for everyone. I would also collaborate with local businesses and artists to host events, showcasing community talent and promoting local culture and incorporate eco-friendly practices, like using sustainable materials or hosting zero-waste events, to attract environmentally conscious individuals. The space would also be an inclusive environment that welcomes people from all backgrounds, promoting diversity and inclusivity through events and programming.

The foundation's unique selling point lies in its dedication to supporting the community through funding local projects and initiatives. It creates opportunities for artists to display their work and connect with the community while also emphasising the resources that enhance community engagement and development, ensuring events are accessible and beneficial for all residents.

WHO IS THE AUDIENCE?

Primarily be local residents looking for a place to connect, engage, and participate in various activities. This includes individuals of all ages, such as children, teenagers, young adults, and seniors. Families would also be a significant part of the audience, along with artists, community activists, and anyone interested in personal development or sharing their skills and culture. Additionally, organisations and groups seeking to host events or workshops would be included. 

WHY DOES MY COMMUNITY SPACE EXIST?

It exists to fill a specific need or gap in the community, whether that’s promoting local art, supporting charitable causes, supporting health and wellbeing, or fostering connections among residents. It’s all about creating a space that brings people together and enhances the local culture. 

WHATS ITS MISSION?

Create a welcoming space where people can connect, learn, and grow together. It empowers the community through art, culture, wellness, collaboration and promoting local talent. 

WHAT ARE ITS GOALS?

Encouraging creativity: Providing resources for local artists to showcase their work and collaborate on projects can really enhance the local culture.

Community Engagement: Hosting events and workshops is a great way to encourage participation and strengthen community bonds.

Supporting Local Causes: Partnering with local charities to address social issues shows a strong commitment to giving back to the community.

Accessibility: Ensuring the space is welcoming to everyone is essential for inclusivity and community spirit.

Sustainability: Implementing eco-friendly practices not only promotes environmental awareness but also sets a positive example for others

Cultural Appreciation: Incorporating cultural events and celebrations can help foster understanding and respect among diverse community members.

Wellness Initiatives: Offering wellness programs such as yoga classes, meditation sessions, and health workshops can promote physical and mental well-being within the community.

WHAT ARE ETHICS CONSIDERED IN THIS SPACE?

Inclusivity: Ensuring that everyone feels welcome and represented, regardless of their background.

Transparency: Being open about how decisions are made and how funds are used, especially if you're a charitable organisation.

Respect for Artists: Supporting fair practices for local artists, ensuring they receive appropriate recognition and compensation for their work.

Community Well-being: Prioritising the needs and interests of the community in all activities and initiatives.

Environmental Responsibility: Implementing sustainable practices to minimise your environmental impact.

WHATS ITS PURPOSE?

Create a vibrant hub for creativity and connection. Aiming to support local artists, foster collaboration among residents, ensure the wellbeing of the public is looked after and address social issues through art and community engagement. Essentially, it serves as a platform for expression, learning, and growth, enriching the lives of those in the community. 

WHAT ASPECTS OF THE SPACE I AM DESIGNING RESONATE WITH ME?

The idea of supporting local artists and providing them with a platform to showcase their work. The focus on community engagement, where residents can come together for workshops and events, is also appealing. Additionally, the commitment to inclusivity and ensuring everyone feels welcome, aligns with my values. 

WHAT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ARE HIT WITH THIS SPACE?

Good health and wellbeing (3): Engaging in community activities can improve mental wellbeing and foster a sense of belonging, contributing to overall health

Quality education (4): Hosting workshops and cultural events can provide educational opportunities for community members to learn about different traditions and skills

Reduced inequalities (10): The space can serve as a platform for marginalised communities to share their cultures and traditions, helping to reduce inequalities

Sustainable cities & communities (11): By creating a community space that fosters social cohesion and inclusivity, it promotes sustainable urban environments

Peace, justice & strong institutions (16): By promoting dialogue (open conversations and exchanges of ideas between people. It involves discussing different perspectives) and understanding through cultural festivities, it contributes to to peaceful and inclusive communities

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY SPACES?

Local Community Centres: These often provide similar resources and activities, such as workshops, classes, and events aimed at engaging the local community. e.g. 📍Mudeford Wood Community Centre

Wellness Centres: Places that focus on health and wellness, offering yoga, meditation, and fitness classes, may compete for similar audiences interested in wellness activities. e.g.📍Access Wellbeing - Poole📍BCP Leisure - Poole

Cultural Organisations: Nonprofits or cultural centres that promote cultural appreciation and host events might also be in competition, especially if they offer similar programming. e.g.📍Hampshire cultural trust

Libraries: Some libraries provide community spaces for events, workshops, and gatherings, which could overlap with the goals for community engagement. e.g.📍BCP libraries 

Co-working spaces: They frequently host events, workshops, and seminars that engage their members, potentially drawing attention away from similar offerings in your community space. e.g.📍FOUNDRY - Poole

WHAT AM I OFFERING THAT THESE SPACES AREN’T?

My space would stand out from others by being multifunctional and inclusive, catering to a wide range of interests and activities. While many community spaces focus on specific areas like arts or sports, this one would integrate various elements, allowing for more diverse interactions - such as wellness, I am also offering both an outdoor and indoor space that can be utilised for various things. 

It would prioritise regular events that encourage engagement, rather than just being a venue for occasional gatherings. By addressing local social issues and encouraging discussions, it would also serve as a platform for awareness and action, making it more than just a space, but a driving force for community growth and connection.

WHO ARE SOME OF MY COMPETITORS?

KINGLAND Poole Highstreet - rejuvenated by Hollie Newton, turning a dead highstreet into a lively community space by prioritising the support of local businesses

Image source: http://hollienewton.com/project/kingland/

GATHER in Poole Dolphin - set up by Carmen Moore, bringing Poole together as a community by liaising with local businesses, charities and individuals to bring consistent and diverse gatherings to the centre

Image source https://www.pooletogether.co.uk/dolphin-centres-gather-unit-a-symbol-of-success-for-poole

FOUNDRY in Poole - Adam Walker helped offer a vibrant workspace with private offices, dedicated desks, meeting rooms and a co-working members lounge into the heart of Poole. 

image source: https://www.foundryuk.com

THE PUBLIC THEATRE - Paula Scher created a bold visual identity for the Public Theatre, featuring a striking logo and vibrant graphics that reflect its commitment to diversity and inclusivity. Her designs help elevate the theatre’s profile in the arts community.

image source: https://www.pentagram.com/work/the-public-theater/story

WHAT DO I NEED TO CONSIDER FOR THIS SPACE?

Accessibility: Ensure the space is easy to access for everyone, including those with disabilities.

Amenities: Consider what facilities are needed, like seating, restrooms, and Wi-Fi.

Safety: Make sure the space is safe and secure for all users.

Activities: Think about what types of events or activities will take place and how the space can accommodate them.

Community Needs: Understand the specific needs and interests of the community to create a welcoming environment.

Flexibility: Design the space to be adaptable for different uses and groups.

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It's my 1 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

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Final Hand In

I did it

Yippee!

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Year 1 to Year 2 Transition Handbook

In the next year of my studies I would like to improve on:

Cohesion & Presentation

Making my projects of similar colour palettes so when it comes to creating my process book, it will be easy and I will already have a defined palette to use throughout

Time management

Start posting on tumblr as soon as I do something and design my process book early on so it is done as an actual process rather than all at the end

Also start projects as soon as they are given out and power through any blocks, I have a tendency to get stuck at the start of a project and get big artist block. Sketch out initial ideas, make mindmaps, create mood boards, make quick-thought notes.

Organisation

This is more of a personal one to improve my own productivity - but keeping my desktop organised and having items in their correct folders so when it comes to editing Adobe files I don’t have missing links.

Also save a new copy of each version of work documenting each tweak and name it V1, V2 V3 etc so I know whats what

Research

This was advice from a Level 6 student, to link projects to things I am genuinely passionate about. I can then research deeper and speak about it freely rather than just on information I have learnt, I can also have a better connection to my work as it will relate to a passion

Also do some primary research, send out annoying surveys, bug people for answers. It helps determine user audience and asset design

References

Keep a list of references I use in one place as I do my work (and date them) rather than in each blog post as this will make bibliographies at the end much easier

Consideration

When taking pictures of my work, make sure they are decent enough to be put into a process book

Branch out more

Sign up for more workshops to make the most of the resources available at uni. Also experiment with different techniques - not necessarily change my style as this is something that has not worked for year 1 but implement my comfortable areas with something I am slightly less confident with - ie lino printing

Document

Begin planning and designing a portfolio - this links back to presentation and colour palettes as cohesive work will look better on social media

Planning

Plan out ideas with thumbnail sketches to refer back to, whether it’s packaging ideas, app ideas or page layouts. (Even if unused it shows development)

Visual Assets

Create moving posters, adverts, social media assets, loyalty/business cards, bill board mockups… etc to give the brand a more authentic feel and build up the content density for the project

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Place of Words Magazine Bound

I wanted to give my magazine a more proper feel so asked Jordy to help me paginate it so that I could staple all my spreads together and have a final piece to show rather than all my spreads separate. It also helps me visualise it better and see it function

It was also useful to learn how to paginate, not that I will remember but helpful nonetheless.

Mockup:

I used https://graphicburger.com/?s=magazine to find a mockup for my magazine and it came out really great

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Place of Words Final Design

This is my final magazine with all adjustments made.

Feedback:

During the presentation, Hannah and Briony checked over my work to see if there were any minor fixes that needed to be made but I had no criticism which was great. They really liked the adjustments I had made since the last time they checked it and gave me the go ahead to finish it and print it. There was a bit of controversy about the head on the last page but I think its a nice addition and fits with the quirky style of my magazine and fills up some white space to make it look less unfinished.

Hannah really understood the black page symbolising the more sinister side of fashion and the workmanship that goes into making the clothes that completely goes amiss, as do the workers that create them. I also got compliments on my new image on the black page, as it still gives off the same message but flows better with the rest of my images. They liked my attention to detail with the framed image being of a model, the postcards and the door and window showing the luxury outside… if they were allowed to get there. I am so glad I changed my image in the end as it looks so much better, even though I didnt want to let go of my other one.

I am really happy with my feedback and it has given me a lot more confidence in my piece of work in comparison to the start where I hated all my image making and everything about the magazine in general. All my type aligns to the baseline grid and follows the columns, theres page numbers, my margin is decently sized, my rag is tidy and theres no orphans or widows. The minor tweaks along the way really helped make the magazine the best it could be, so I am proud I no longer have any alterations to make to it.

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Process Book Shots

These are my finalised process book shots done in the studio. I photographed my favourite pages and the singular front and back pages. The alignment for the front and inside front cover were perfect and there's no white borders or strips anywhere.

I really like what I added on these two pages, I think a message from the artist is a nice touch and I will be carrying this over in future books. The addition of the 3 stacked semi circles on the right helps to balance out the business of the left side cover while still keeping it nice and simple. Unfortunately, the pages of my book were slightly out of line with the cover when sticking it so the bottom of the shapes were cut off but as I had large margins on my pages it didn't effect the rest of the pages - and any with a full bleed image got cropped within the bleed marks still.

The addition of the tabs on the right hand side of each page was nice as when you look at the book side on you can see the block of colour (not pictured very well)

I really like my contents page and think it's unique to anything else I had seen. I maybe could have shrunk the text a bit more so that less was cut off but it is still 100% readable and works well. The pink and red contrast is nice yet still similar and the wavy line through it ties in everything well.

My front cover is simple yet gets the message across and still ties in all elements from my book - design wise. I like the colour difference from the back to the front and that the shapes cross over to the back - allowing me to add in my name in one of the shapes.

these are some of my favourite spreads. I like the layouts of them and how well you can see the images due to the size of my book, it helps being able to read the mind map for ideas and you can also slightly read the Miro board text. I really love the tracing paper page and how it symbolises my thinking in illustrating on top of images. I do wish however that I could have credited the images but I lost the links as they were downloads.

Evaluation:

At the start when we were briefed about this I was quite hesitant as I had too many design ideas so didn't know what to pick. I had the intention to work on it while doing projects so I could update it as I went but I'm glad I didn't as leaving it till the last few weeks of term meant I had more pieces to work with and flow through my book. I have really loved the process of making this book, being able to have my blog in a physical form with elements of my design implemented throughout. There are definitely some errors within, however only minor. I could have definitely done with doing an entire test print rather than just the first few pages as I forgot some of the coloured tabs on pages and there was a random shape on one of my pages too. These are such small problems though and don't affect much within my book. However, one slightly more major issue is that my QR codes have deactivated, the website I used only allowed a 7 day free trial (something I didn't even know about) which had timed out by printing. The canva created QR codes work for my app pages but none of the other ones do which is quite frustrating, so I will print out new versions that work and paperclip them in and update them on the indesign file to have functional ones for upload. This is something I will definitely take into consideration for my next book as I really like the feature as it makes the book quite interactive. I also didn’t proof read my text which is something I should definitely do, to make sure it all reads okay and to ensure there are no orphans or widows. Next time I will also try and keep all my text widths the same as they do vary throughout the book - and I will put more time into perfecting these things to get into the habit of doing it for future text heavy projects (and its just good practice in general). Overall, I am really proud of myself for achieving this, especially it being my first one and I look forward to creating more and being able to see my development from book to book and compare my first book to my final one.

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Printing, Cutting & Binding

As my process book is quite big, I had to print on the large format printer on A1 paper. Beatrice the Printer messed up the print the first time and it was about 2cm misaligned length ways and wonky.

This could have been due to the paper thickness as the first print was on regular paper.

The next print Jordy put it on an indesign document the size of the paper and printed it on 200gsm instead and it aligned PERFECTLY not even a millimetre out of line. Praised Beatrice for this and began creasing my pages ready for Jordy to bind them

As this was printed on an inkjet instead of a laser jet like my inside pages, I did lose some of the boldness of the colours and they printed much more dull and muted but this isn’t a huge problem. I think it still looks really good - it just would have been nicer to have the black arch more black but instead its got a green-y tinge to it.

This is my final book, the flaps are a really nice addition and the size worked out well. I send my praises to Jordy though for managing to work around my unnecessary additions of these things and binding a book this size and trimming the pages without trimming the flaps off. I ended up really lucky while creasing my book and getting my spine measurements bang on. Everything aligned perfectly, all the crop marks and crease marks were matched up and none of the pages had any alignment errors, only human errors from me from me not proof printing the entire thing first before final printing. But this is something I can fix later on in future books and for my digital upload.

As I loved my book so much and liked the size of one of my test prints, I decided to make a miniature pocket sized version of my process book to have for safe keeping. The QR codes work in this one and I fixed some of the print issues

[mo79zz]

Process Book Final Layout

These are my final spreads completed for my process book

I am so pleased with how they cam out, I think they encapsulate my style perfectly. Despite me hating the work I produced this term as it wasn't really my style at all - I think seeing it in a process book with design elements I enjoy has helped me feel less conscious about my work.

I included QR codes inside that can be scanned and take you directly to the assigned page, such as research websites, my blog and bibliography and my groups app presentation. Doing this worked really well as I could include work that wouldn't fit in otherwise.

The last two pages are singular pages that go in the front and back of the book and include a message from me summarising this year/unit, and a handbook for myself going into year 2 so I know what to work on and improve.

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Process Book Progress

Once I got started in documenting my work in the process book it was pretty easy going from there.

This is my finalised front cover and inside front, I added flaps on the inside so the cover has a nice edge to it, and I included a QR code link to my blog on it.

I originally had quite busy pages in my book but I simplified them down and just added pops of colour here and there from the shapes on the inside front cover. I think the simpler pages work a lot better and with the size of my book being about an A4 size per page, I could get a lot on there.

I did some test prints, one mini one and a few pages to actual size to see how big they would be. I should have probably considered size beforehand as my front cover will have to be printed massive.

[mo79zz]

Process Book Updates

This is my first proper print out test print of my process book with a new updated front and back cover, shape and size. I wanted to simplify my cover and have something I could repeat onto the back as well.

As I was scrolling through Pinterest I found these as inspiration. I really liked the first one and it reminded me a little bit of Bauhaus design so I looked into this more.

This sort of style seemed really achievable to create and also matched well with the app design from project 2. I was thinking of shrinking down my colour palette and having less shades but I'm glad I didn't as I wouldn't have had the outcome I do now.

I ended up with this as my front cover with a repeating pattern on the inside

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Additionally, I changed my contents page design slightly as after some peer reviews, they said that the graffiti-style font didn't fit in very well with the rest of my book. I really really like the outcome and feel like I have much more direction now.

[mo79zz]

Magazine Refinements

I made some final adjustments for my pages before my tutorial today. I asked Jordy for help with my text layout and got her suggestions for how to make all lines finish at the same level. I aligned all my text to the baseline grid and removed the rows and just used the columns as the rows were an unnecessary hinderance.

I changed my intro page so that the title was all on one page, as the way I had it before didn't print properly and also meant that when it is folded, the words were split up. I highlighted the "break up" in pink and added some broken fragments between the broken text to add emphasis

From the feedback I received in my tutorial, I needed to improve on the cohesion of my magazine as I had 1 image that was illustrated and the rest were all collages. I recreated my drawn image with collaged material instead to make it flow better. As I was such a fan of my drawn image I had an unsure feeling about the new design but after some peer reviews, they agreed it fit much better and still encapsulates the message from the text.

For this spread I got the suggestion from Hannah to move the pull quote onto the right hand spread in placement of an image and I ended up really liking the result.

Adding in the head was a suggestion from Anna as the model on the left side has no head, adding in one peaking into the right would balance it out, I really like how this looks and the yellow contrasting to the pink.

After speaking to Sally, she helped me with some minor improvements and increasing my white space as I didn't have a lot of it on the first two spreads. I dropped some of the text so that it aligns with my images, for example the last spread's text aligns with the top of the models neck.

I feel like my magazine is really cohesive and flows nicely and I like the pops of pink on each page. My text is just within the word count and this fills up my pages nicely and the font choices match the vibe well.

My magazine is 99% done now, I just need to get the double checks from Hannah and Briony and do some further research into the topic for the presentation

[mo79zz]

Magazine Test Printing

I did some first text prints of my magazine to check font sizes and colours.

I discovered that the light font on the black background was not visible at all. Then I decided to change the body text from Source Sans 3 - a sans serif font, to Garamont - a serif font as this flowed better with my headings.

I also changed the pull quotes to be Didot to match the headings, but the stems on this font are really skinny so it didn't show up on the black background so will have to rethink and change them to Garamont as well.

[mo79zz]

Final Postcards

These are my final postcards, I really like them as a set and how the back matches. I decided on a plain belly band of brown paper to not take too much away from the images as they are quite busy

I did some research into vintage postcards, discovering peoples love for collecting them.

The linked blogpost explains what postcards mean to people and how they connect people together and are used as windows to the past. With bright vibrant colours, intricate designs and attention to detail.

I want to have the same sort of keepsake-feel with my postcards, something that people will have to keep and cherish and reminisce about.

I feel like I hit the nail on the head with the feel of vintage postcards and I would buy them in a tourist shop if I went to visit one of these locations. I like how all the images are from the same area so they could be sold in any of the shops in the locations I drew

I am not too happy with my feedback as I did really like them and now I am not so sure about it. I got comments about the locations not being too noticeable and it feeling too 'spot-the-difference' and how I split the 'Dorset' across two lines which didn't make it obvious to the reader what it said. I got feedback from other peers and they read it fine which reassured me, I am happy with the outcome nonetheless

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Book Binding Workshop

In todays workshop Jordy showed us the process of binding a book with hot glue

It was quite a quick workshop as we aren't allowed to use the binding machine but it was interesting to see how our process books will be bound and that the chumbler isn't scary and isn't shredding up my book

[mo79zz]

Postcard Illustrations

I drew 4 locations around the Jurassic coast and these are my final illustrations

I am not keen on the type I used so I will be updating this

The flowers on each illustration are ones native to Dorset and found typically around the Jurassic Coast.

These are the 4 I picked:

Pyramidal orchid, found local to Old Harry Rocks

Bee orchid, found around Dancing Ledge

Ox-eye daisy, also local to Old Harry Rocks

Kidney vetch, found near Old Harry Rocks too

I thought incorporating these would be a nice touch and also give a nod to each location and the life it harbours.