SUGGESTIONS LAYOUT

My project keeps evolving but it feels like a very slow process. In get stuck when I doubt and then I sort of panic. Despite that I think I had a very productive day, I found myself asking why am I doing this and if it's worth keeping all this memories.
Anyway, today I'm not feeling very sure about having the suggestions or ideas hanging in the wall, which are meant be for people to understand what they have to do with the samples and how they have to put them in the request format.
I started designing the layout and the text is based on the leaflets and samples displays of paintings that I found at the designers shops. The text itself is quite cliche but is what I want to show. I changed some words to give the context of memories-colours relationship.


I also used some of the expressions that can be found to describe things at decoration websites. The first page I designed is meant to explain why the need of this sample book, but although I wanted it to work as the suggestions board that I saw at the designers shop, I was sure I didn't want it too look too "graphic design", like some kind of advertising. I want to keep the idea of the inexpensive, the basic, the simple. I played with the layout and it was hard to find a look since I can't decide how to make it look like a sample book without compromising the design.
Maybe the answer is keeping things simple, regarding the basic sort of aesthetics of the archives.
Simple fonts (typewriter style), labels, old archival paper.

INSPIRATION: Colour samples

THINGS TO CONSIDER

• 10 for each month might not be enough. I think I could make one memory a day (i.e. 30 for september) or even more, since I don't want the box to look weak or empty.
• I'm just wondering if I need a bit more of text going along with the images. I will have some at the suggestions wall, but I'm wondering what would people think when they complete the sample form.
• The text of the sample request form needs to be quite clear for the public.
• Do I want to leave the audience wondering what to do with all the pieces on the table or do I want to be quite clear? Maybe I just need to find the way of balancing that...
• What do I want to do with all the samples when they're ready? I think I want to create a book out of it so it's important to think about the layout of the sample request form.
• What would I do afterwards with those books? 1. They can become another project. 2. They can be for sale.
• Suggestions and sample request forms must be same size if I'm thinking about making them into a book.
  
• The stickers are not that easy to peel off so maybe the big blank adhesive sheet doesn't work. Maybe I do need the individual labels.
  

IN THE MAKING!

I started creating the images for the sample box. I started with the yellow tones since is the colour I chose for September (happy, sort of holiday memories). I'm enjoying the process of going back to those memories and give them a new context, draw on them, think about how they would work as samples. I did 10 in one page because is easier to fit them altogether in order to compare them with each other. Then, I print and cut them in half because when they are complete they look too big (almost 10 x 5.5 cm) and the idea of samples is lost.So I quite like that they look like threads of paper, like paper testers. It also brings up the idea of memory fragmented, the anxiety of putting things together and the impossibility of coming up with one clear picture of a past event.


At this stage I'm regretting not have taken as much pictures as I would have liked. But I have a bad relationship with my camera, I'm hating the poor old thing (even though is still useful) and I desperately want a new one.
About the images itself, I think I prefer the ones I drew more on top. So maybe I need t work more on that. Also need to make the colour contrast more evident between each image. I'm still quite interested in make it all look simple and low cost. But it has to be sleek as well. Is important so stressed the idea of impermanence, of the paradox of how precious we consider memories but also how easy to lose and dispose they are.

WAYS TO TITLE WORK- Cornelia Parker

Thirty Pieces of Silver (exhaled)
Cornelia Parker, 2003
Thirty pieces of plated objects crushed by 250 ton industrial press, metal wire

Talking about how to title our work (always a very difficult thing to do), Sarah recommended me Cornelia Parker's work. Very inspiring.
Found here

DECISIONS

• Cardboard box: divided in 10 compartments
• Samples (adhesive): one corresponding each day (but then it would have to be reproduced too many times)
• Many samples of each month would imply I have to have millions which is a lot of money and time. Why 10 for each month? It seems like a random chosen number and it doesn't make sense.
• What if I make each memory for each day and then find the way of reproducing them for the audience.
• How to reproduce them taking money and time into account?
• How to display both originals and copies in the box? Maybe I don't need to show the originals. Maybe that is only shown on the suggestions board. In that sense: 1. I don't have to separate both originals and copies. 2. The audience gets to have everything although is in pieces. Ideas of both private/public and personal/universal aspects are present. 3. It saves time and money.
• Not every colour has to correspond to a particular month. It can vary.

PLAY

Mix and match. One of the systems I've been thinking about is designed for the audience so they can pick and choose from my different memories and make a new memory. But would they take the final outcome with them? I'm still not sure how I feel about it.
People choose the colour for their walls and furniture according to the mood and style they wish to create in a room. I'll classify my memories by the emotional association I give to them by colour so people will choose from my samples to create a memory that suits their mood or style.

IDEAS FOR THE SAMPLE REQUEST

And this are so far the contents of the piece: