Choosing a topic
The initial thing that we had to consider was the overarching topic for our project based upon this prompt–How might we use visual communication design to ______ the ______ in our locality? As a group, we came up with many topics based on current global issues from the world economic forum.
We agreed on the topic of cultural preservation, and our next task was to decide what means of cultural preservation we would be focusing on. Then we took some of our favorite means of cultural preservation and applied them to the prompt from earlier.
Deciding on the topic of fashion and clothing, we narrowed down even further into a focus of what aspects of fashion would apply to cultural preservation, leading us to come up with our final topic of fast fashion and sustainability.
Research
With our topic decided, we did some thorough research based on research questions we came up with to determine things like our target audience, the negative impacts of fast fashion, and a better understanding of upcycling and mending clothing. This helped up to determine whether we should convince people who aren't interested in ethical consumption versus enabling people who already care about the topic at hand. Then we organized the information to apply to our deliverables.
Conceptualization of Deliverables
Our initial intention was to create a physical exhibition on fast fashion and mending clothing. With the time limit of the project, we did not go forward with this plan and we just focused on certain deliverables.
The naming of the concept was based on terms associated with fast fashion, sewing, and upcycling. Our visual inspiration stemmed from maximalism–finding beauty in the intentional clutter of the clashing patterns and colors you can create through patchwork and other mending techniques. We chose "Raw Edge" as our final moniker to reflect upon this sense of clutter and messiness we were trying to achieve.
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To create this intentional state of clutter, a main visual element we wanted to utilize was pieces of fabric with contrasting colors and patterns. We decided to use real pieces of fabric and other sewing supplies that we purchased at our local consignment store. We hand-washed fabric in a bathtub, let them airdry, and scanned each individual piece to incorporate into Raw Edge's visual system.
In creating Raw Edge's study guide, we again followed a direction of intentional clutter and contrast. Raw Edge's logo incorporates several contrasting typefaces. The color palette has a combination of neutrals and bright colors. Indie Press was used to add a hand-crafted, almost like a linocut print. Alkaline Demi not only contrasts with Indie Press as a more delicate script, but also resembles thread. DM Sans is a clean serif for readable, small body copy.
In the first draft of the zines, we were going for initially more monochromatic compositions, but we then realized that they felt too unified. We were also going to spare the body pages of the scrap fabric pieces, but we then felt that they appeared to clean and simple. Hand-drawn illustrations were incorporated alongside each sewing step to create a stronger understanding.
Then the Posters and Zines were printed on the Risograph printer. about one hundred zines were cut, folded, and assembled. The back of each zine has a poster on it when unfolded.
