Project Conclusions

If I'd been doing this project in term time I would have liked to include collaboration with other students, courses and tutors to make it more of an inclusive and diverse representation of Music From the Art School. I would have interviewed other students about songs that either remind them of their time at the Art School or if they could suggest any Manchester produced music which could have a particular relevance to the project.

 

I would have also liked to have been able to use the print workshops to produce printed tote bags to either package the records in or to service as a complimentary part of a series of music based products. I would have used the same design for these bags as is on the album artwork. I would also have produced flyers to put around the Art School advertising firstly for collaboration an submissions and then to advertise its sale. I may have also actually produced many more physical copies of the compilation and tried to sell them on a stall in Holden Gallery / Cafe.

I also would have liked to expand on the project by experimenting with different uses of the compilation. Particularly, a more interactive approach. For example, I could give new first years headphones and a map of the Art School and they could investigate the site whilst listening to the compilation.

I also would have liked to include more reasoning behind my choice of each track in the booklet / liner notes. And also have included an artists profile for each of the bands / musicians stating their links to the Art School, to Manchester or the importance of the track, for example describing a particular time of year.

Artists Statement

I am an illustrator who is interested in all aspects of DIY culture and art outside the gallery space. I am also interested in gender and sexuality issues and identify strongly as feminist. I have worked to commission for a number of clients, including record labels, clubnight and gig promoters, illustration websites producing illustrated products and visual artwork. I have also produced some of my own printed products featuring my own illustrations. I have recently been experimenting with a return to costume design.

Final back cover design

Including the final tracklisting which features mostly ex-students from Manchester School of Art

Final booklet concertina design

Includes a map of the Art School with a key of areas talked about in the liner notes. 

Final cover design

More front / back cover drawings

Fineliner drawing of Manchester School of Art tutors in 1890. I have made the grouping of people more circular in an attempt to compliment the roundness of the CD / record it will be housing.

Different options for the record booklet / liner notes

I also want to push myself in terms of producing the booklet for the compilation that is packaged together with the CD / record. I originally considered producing a standard CD-booklet type mini zine but I'm now thinking of different ways I could fold the booklet to make the booklet more visually interesting and innovative.

I have taken inspiration from this NoBrow booklet

also their highly successful series of 'Leporellos', large concertina books which advance a narrative as the reader progresses through the folds. It can also be pulled out to be transformed into a poster.

I also really like Chris Ware's innovative use of booklets and different folding techniques in his recent release, Building Stories. Chris Ware is a comic creator and graphic novelist, Building Stories is a coherent graphic novel packaged in a box containing many seperate comics and sheets of drawings which the reader must pick out a narrative from themselves.

Contents of the Building Stories box