p r a g u e . b l a g u e

*SwEeTrEe fOr aRcHiVe*

*SWEETree*
After long brainstorming at "Kava Kava Kava" in beautiful weather, I decided to make a handmade poster for my archive.
Poster will be mix of black ink and collage of snack packages that I've collected.
My original idea was to scan all the packages and make a poster in the computer.
However, after scaning few of them, I noticed that each package uses different material and it's texture disappears when you see it on screen.

I say my idea for "SWEETree" came from my obsessive love to sweets in Europe : )
It is basically a tree that shows my growth of love in sweets.
It will be organized by color and cordinated so that tree will change it's color from black to warmer color.
I would also like to draw some silhouette of characters that can be found in these packages (like milka cow and haribo bear!) so that they will be sitting on the branch.

So, my next step is to go get a large paper for my poster.
then,
I'll be ready to eat... I mean to make a poster with these sweets packages : )

DoOr wItHoUt HaNdLe...

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU WALK UP TO THE DOOR, AND THERE IS NO DOOR HANDLE?
INSTEAD,
YOU SEE A DELICATE BOX SITTING ON A DOOR...

Opening the door or gripping a door handle is something that people never pay attention anymore in this busy world...
But some door handles are BeAuTiFuL enough to make somebody HaPpY.
And I was one of them...
I came up with this idea because I was very impressed by the door handles that I saw at the Bilkova Villa.

By placing door handles inside this delicate box, the box will become a part of door, which also becomes a tool to create a moment between the artifact and human being.
The door used in here is very simple compare to the box itself to create a "gap" in time and design, which also brings appreciation in the handle.
The pattern on the door that is also used inside the box is re-appropriated from the czech's traditional cloth.

MaSa'S pOsTeR

Here is my poster for the studio show!
I agree to Sarah (who agreed to Kyle!) that making this poster was fun, FuN, FUN!
and especially when your file size end up really small like 756KB without knowing....
It FeeLs GoOd~~~!! sorry KyLE!!

tYpE iN pRoGrEsS 2

*pRaHa BaDgE FINALS*

pRaHa BaDgE is a souvenior that helps tourist to remember the joy of accomplishment after experiencing the transportation system in prague. Because pRaHa BaDgE also introduces souvenior from a new fashion aspect, the final presentation was done in "fashion magazine spread."
Magazine includes total of 24 pages including the cover and the back, and created in the book that provides a description of typeface called "Metron," which was designed specifically for metro system in prague in 1970 by Jiri Rathousky.

DeSiGnErS iN BeRLiN!

[NODE Berlin/Oslo - Andres & Serge]

[Andrea Tinnes]

[Ole Schaefer]

[Tobias and Birgit]

BeRLiN was just AmAzInG!!
This trip became very valuable experience to me, and I was very inspired by all of them.
All I need to say is BeRLiN was
filled with FASHION,
lots of CHOCOLATE,
&
was full of DESIGN!!!!!

pRaHa BaDgE

"A BADGE is a device, path, or accoutrement which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority, a sign of legimate employment, or as a simple means of identification."

Culture difference always becomes a big part of struggle for tourists.
Even a little thing like reading signs on the street, buying tickets, and getting to the right place becomes a challenge. However, it becomes a part of joy in the trip when one can figure it out.

"Praha Badge" is a souvenior that helps tourist to remember that small joy of accomplishment in this city.
For this project, I am planning to make a four different sets of badge, and those are;
1. transportation (metro/tram)
2. locator (few collection of locator that shows from Praha 1 to Praha 10)
3. street signs
4. collection of things that will be taken out of context (ex. post box & train door)
These will be sold in the vending machine and will be placed in the right context.
For example, sets of transportation badge will be placed in the metro and tram station so tourist can buy as soon as they accomplish something.

Like I wrote on previous blog, I am still curious and looking for the boundaries between the "obviousness" and "subtleness" in souvenior, as well as "fashion" vs. "souvenior."
In these badge, I can see tourists personalizing it and wearing it as part of their souvenior.
But souvenior to them becomes only parts of "cool" fashion to others.

tYpE iN pRoGrEsS

This is my type progress so far.
and these are some of the lists that I noticed and need to be thinking for my next version...

-Filling the counter space didn't work for this type. The weights does not hold together when letters are placed next to each other.
-Using perfect circile for the counter space might be too strong... may be use a perfect oval?
- Ascender and descender is too long. Because I am using light line weight, long ascender and descender gets lost and make it unbalance.
-All the letters with counter space lost the idea of "one line drawing."
-Where does the line ends?
-Use double-story "a"
-Look at different serif and make it fancy : )

SoUvEnIrS

The very first thing you see in this store is the collection of scarves and hats on both sides of the front door. These items reference the season and weather that Prague are currently in, and they are sold more for the tourists need than the souvenir purpose. However, there are some items, such as “pashimia” scarves, that reference the trends in Prague and all over Europe. Trends in fashion have been always attractive to people and wearing some kind of trend in different country makes people to fit in the place.
Another souvenir that is related to fashion in this store is the collection of soccer uniforms of different countries. Soccer has been always the big universal events to people, and it is one of the popular sports that are played in all over Europe. Instead of limiting uniforms to team from Czech Republic, displaying uniforms of famous player from different countries make tourist to connect with their own country and make them feel comfortable. It is also true that many people visit European countries to see soccer games. While these uniforms are targeted to many of those people, they also attracts regular tourist to go to see the game.
Because this souvenir store is placed street away from the old town square, clocks that mimic the clock of Staromestska radnice attracts people’s attention more than others. This kind of souvenir always becomes special to people because it reference to the fact that you were there. It is likely that the object was manufactured in Czech Republic because all the details become important for the tourist.
It is obvious that many souvenirs, such as magnets and key holders, are mass-produced and could be found in many stores. Therefore, handmade souvenirs, such as figure of baby Jesus, become more special and attractive in this case. It is true that handmade object is likely to be expensive. Yet, there is a great difference in the value.
After seeing several of different store front in Prague, I noticed that many of the souvenir is about “OBVIOUSNESS.” I can see people who creates souvenir are trying to represents the place, and many tourists are looking for the things that proves that they were there. Many tourists are not buying souvenirs to represent themselves. Therefore, design becomes less important than the obviousness.
But where is that borderline?
Where is the line that design and obviousness meets?
Souvenir that I’m looking for is something that I can personally connect.

fonts search

Astron Cyrillic Normal
The use of strokes in this font are very similiar to what I'm drawing so far.
I have a very heavy stroke on one side, and there is a contrast between left and right side.

Amadeus
I found a similarity in the style of ornaments in this font.
I'm still studying different styles of ornament right now to find the best way to integrate the decoration into my type.

Isabella
I have a similar end point as this font have.
My end points are designed to make the type look softer.