LIZ HEWELL
STRANGE CONNECTIONS
BRAINSTORMING
RESEARCH
SKETCHES
THE FINAL PRODUCT
GRAPHIC DESIGN 1: A 1
These are the two words I chose, not really knowing what I was getting myself into with this project. From these two words, I am supposed to make a connection and come up with a concept for Project 3 in Graphic Design 1. So, to begin the proecess, I began brainstorming.
Brainstorm
Toupee and Experience.
Visual Brain Dumping To begin the brainstorming process I started with Brain Dumping. This technique is extremely useful for getting images down on paper. Under toupee I thought of the stereotypical shape for a toupee. I also thought of personifying it, showing a man bald and thought of other areas that con- Define After some visual brainstorming, the next step was to look up the definitain hair on the body. tions for Experience and Toupee on various websites. I didn’t find anything While brain dumpunique or unexpected, so I continued brainstorming. ing for experience, I thought of education, age,careers, and the natural life cycle.
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Brainstorm
BrainStorm
Mind Map
Next I mind-mapped the words for Toupee and Experience. I found a lot of connections between vanity, aging, and relationships. Then I continued to write thoughts down and brainstorm.
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Brainstorm
BrainStorm Action Verbs and Rhetoric Figures
I continued to explore through action verbs. I distorted and personified the toupee.
Experiences with Toupees
Then I listed all of the experiences with toupees that I could think of. Some initial thoughts were to make toupees a trend for celebrities. Perhaps they could be in popular styles, or in different colors.
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Research
BrainStorm Then I continued to mess around with different ideas. I thought of doing a 50’s style influenced informercial for mustaches. Basically, the mustache would make the boy into a man. However, this was veered to far from toupee.
Next, I researched toupees: what they’re made of, how to care for them, etc. Then I thought, what if I personify the toupee? Perhaps it could be a short film or book from the point of view from the toupee.
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Sketches
I continued taking notes on how to care for the toupee and how to attach it. I questioned what leads someone to wear a toupee. Then I created a long list of life experiences.
I continued to play around with toupees being a trend or a fashion statement.
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Sketches After more brainstorming, I realized I really liked the idea of personifying the toupee, so I continued to think about a film. This made me think of a storybook or illustration of a toupee’s daily life and adventures. I thought about the toupee waiting to be bought at the store, and the excitement it must get from having an owner.
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However, the final idea ended up becoming my favorite. I decided to make an advertisement for a toupee bonding adhesive brand. I wanted to show a man getting ready and proposing to a woman, with the caption saying something along the lines of “this is no time to worry about your hair.� However, Professor Dorn suggested that I show the photo going wrong, because that can communicate the idea in a concise way.
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Sketches
So, for the final product I decided to get friends to help me photograph a toupee going wrong. I purchased a bald cap and a wig for one of my friends to wear. The idea is that a group of friends come together for a reunion and while conversing the man’s toupee is sliding off. This is due to lack of proper adhesive, thus showing that if you don’t use Fit Well adhesive, your toupee will not fit well, thus making you look ridiculous to all your peers. His friends are confused can’t help but stare at his ill-fitting toupee. This encourages toupee buyers to use the brand, for fear of awkward situations like the photograph represents.
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