OUGD501: COP2 Graphic Design for Fashion

For this practical element I re-discovered my graphic design for fashion book which I bought from the Tate in St.Ives over five years ago. I felt looking through back this book could inspire me regarding page layouts, colour and imagery. The cover of the book is gorgeous I like the embossing, displaced imagery and colour, it works.

In regards, to my cover I want to develop something which is highly visual and stimulating opposed to minimal. I tend to stick with doing minimal clean design as I that is what I feel comfortable doing, but I would like to step out my comfort zone for this . However for a publication on the evolution of the female body ideal I feel there has to be imagery on the cover. I feel this would be more enaging. 

OUGD501: Finalised Idea for Practical Element

For my final practical element for context of practice 2, I will be producing a B5 perfect bound publication on the evolution of the female body ideal. Going through the decades with important iconic female figures in the media from each decade.

OUGD501: 1960's research

This era provided a complete overhaul with a fresh doll face, petite and androgynous look. Models like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton represent this thin ideal. Shift dresses, miniskirts and bug eye round sunglasses were all the rage. Amphetamines were popularly prescribed to women for weight loss along with the founding of Weight Watchers in 1963. I looked through my twiggy: a life in photographs for research, and pick out any images I want to have in my publication.

OUGD501:Body Image Survey

For help with my essay and final outcome for context of practice two I produced a quick questionnaire for my friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. The results I found were incredibly useful and a great insight into body image and the media. I typically used questions that would be pretty blunt so I would get honest responses.

I found the respondents answers incredibly interesting, it was a huge amount of people felt that the media's representation were an unhealthy image to follow. I agree most with the comment highlighted, the media needs to promote health and keeping fit. 

I think it's difficult to say. It's perfectly possible to as skinny as the media say a female should be whilst still being healthy, i think it varies from case to case really. It's mentally unhealthy I suppose, but physically, it varies.

1/28/2015 11:18 PM View respondent's answers

Yes, in that it is healthier to be fit, and often thinner, as opposed to being overweight. Some figures who are given media attention however, place the emphasis on being as thin as possible. This is equally not a healthy image to follow.

1/28/2015 6:04 PM View respondent's answers

I think people who have something to say about it just say it to try and feel more comfortable with being overweight! Obviously the media that drives size 0 is still a problem

1/28/2015 5:37 PM View respondent's answers

Everything apart from the fashion industry isn't so bad, Also on the other end of the scale I think the recent adaptation from the fashion industry of plus size models could potentially be dangerous from a health point of view. I feel it may cause people to ignore a genuine problem due to being afraid of this new "fat shaming" adjective thats come about.

1/28/2015 4:53 PM View respondent's answers

I think they represent and show 'fit' bodies, which are clearly healthy (healthy eating, good diet etc). Physically - yes, physiologically - no

1/28/2015 4:53 PM View respondent's answers

its progressing though

No, but there comes a point when a person becomes too fat for me to think they're attractive

1/28/2015 11:18 PM View respondent's answers

a healthy, normal body size, like i would imagine question 6 to be portraying

1/28/2015 5:37 PM View respondent's answers

Thats subjective as everyone has a different perspective of what "thin" is. But I would say that people around a healthy body weight and body fat percentage tend to be more physically attractive that those who aren't. Whether this is instinctive or due to social conditioning i'm not sure.

1/28/2015 4:53 PM View respondent's answers

I personally don't believe that it is the beauty ideal, but if you are thin you will more likely be considered physically attractive.

1/28/2015 4:53 PM View respondent's answers

Not thinness, but a healthy weight and level of fitness

1/28/2015 4:35 PM View respondent's answers

Boobs & bum

1/28/2015 4:29 PM View respondent's answers

Being healthy & toned

1/28/2015 4:24 PM View respondent's answers

It is the social idea, although I'm not sure I agree

This response shocked me actually I felt given the chance people would lose weight but its pretty much 50/50.

These answers were a great insight my favourite response was, You have to be happy with your own health/ looks I believe to practice "self-love"

I don't think your physical appearance affects your happiness, but more how comfortable you are with your appearance, so partly, i suppose.

1/28/2015 11:18 PM View respondent's answers

If you feel good your happier

1/28/2015 7:04 PM View respondent's answers

No, though you are likely to be happier if you are happy with your physical appearance.

1/28/2015 6:04 PM View respondent's answers

I think it's difficult to feel in good spirits if you don't feel good about the way you look.

1/28/2015 6:01 PM View respondent's answers

I'd say its completely down to each individual to decide this. It'l be a different answer for each person.

1/28/2015 4:53 PM View respondent's answers

Different for different people

1/28/2015 4:35 PM View respondent's answers

not completely but I think a lot of happiness comes from feeling good and healthy...which correlates with physical appearance. You know what I mean.

1/28/2015 4:34 PM View respondent's answers

You have to be happy with your own health/ looks I believe to practice "self-love"

OUGD501 Study Task 05

Write a blog entry for this task - discuss 3 things that you have learned, observed, noted about the dissertations that you looked at and how this will help when addressing your own written piece.



I didn't find any dissertations that jumped out at me. The whole experience of looking through the shelves at dissertations overwhelmed me slightly as I will be starting my research this summer into what I want to do! I was


Does the way female body is used in advertising affect the way society views women and young girls? 

Chapter 1 - Advertising Theory/Gaze Theory
Tone of Voice - used first person a lot, which is something I thought you just didn't use when writing an essay

Who are the Leading Drivers on the Road to Green consumerism? 

I chose to look at this one as I have interests in consumerism and global warming.
Chapter 1: Setting the Scene... global warming (climate change/greenhouse effect/sustainability and green consumerism have become part of everyday language).
The Green Consumer Guide

Psychology and ethics in advertising: An investigation into contemporary practice with specific regard to advertising aimed at children. This dissertation explores on how psychology and ethics play a role in the advertising industry, especially in regard to advertisements aimed at children. Chapter one is on the effects

My thoughts: 
From looking at these dissertations and just how weighty they are! I really need to start thinking about my dissertation and what I would like to write it on, choosing a subject I am interested in whether that be, editorial, advertising, women etc. Over summer, I will start researching, planning and reading books once I know what my dissertation topic will be.

A lot the dissertations had good primary research using questionnaires, interviews and visiting schools.

Across the dissertations I read the introductions gave me a very clear outline of what the rest of the dissertation is going to be about, planned well with chapters and very thorough.

Across all the dissertations I flicked through I noticed they were all incredibly well referenced something I need to improve on, as I tend to leave referencing til last I can make clumsy mistakes or miss things.