Processes

A core part of this thesis project is the process with which these pieces were created. Analogue and digital design processes were used together, to create pieces that are a blend of original punk DIY design processes, that are intertwined with digital resources and applications.

Analogue Processes

• Sewing

• Illustration

• Handlettering

• Collage

• Distortion (through cutting, wrinkling, tearing)

• Baking

• Print (Laser + Inkjet)

Digital Processes

• Digital Painting & Illustration

• Handlettering via Procreate

• Image editing and distortion (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom)

• Booklet Making (Zine assembly via Adobe InDesign)

• Scanning

Combination

• Print (Digital systems to create a tangible result)

  • Using digital software as a way of assembly, using the printer itself so saddle-stitching rather than producing final copies by hand

Highlights

Below are some highlights of processes used to create pieces for the zine, which will be explored in much greater detail for my thesis defense in May.

The cover for Pandemic Punk stemmed from the above photo, a collage of all the collage elements created by hand throughout the project.

The Pandemic Punk logo was created digitally using Procreate, using a pen set meant to replicate many of the writing utensils I used in this project (permanent markers, mechanical pencils, micron pens). Another medium I was eager to try digitally was India Ink, often used by Raymond Pettibon, designer of the Black Flag logo whom I had researched earlier in the MFA program.

Using Procreate, I imported in the scans and added some further depth and distortion, before overlaying the image with the Pandemic Punk logo.

Sewing

In the piece “Let Us Do Nothing” the featured mask is an actual, functional mask. It was important to me that as many elements as possible in this project were actually created, not just mock-ups or prototypes. The mask was actually the first piece I made for this project. I do not own a sewing machine so I did my research, made a pattern, and hand sewed the mask. I had decided to use a Ramones shirt as the fabric, and for the straps, I did not have elastic to I took a tank top and removed the straps to use as the mask straps. I aimed to use materials I had on hand as much as possible during this project, while I purchased some supplies, I wanted to recreate the authenticity of using what was available to me, in a situation born of necessity.

Baking

Baking was one of the more unusual mediums I chose to use during this project. I chose to use the baking process to create type for the project, after writing the sourdough recipe included in the zine. I could not actually use that recipe to create the type, because I needed to avoid the dough rising too much and distorting the type. I also chose to cut and form the letters by hand over purchasing stencils or cookie cutters. This was to not only create a more rough result but also in reference to botched home DIY projects created in moments of boredom. While the intentionality was just to have the “Did It Help?” text, I went ahead and created the entire alphabet so I had the option to change the phrasing if needed.

Once the letters were photographed and cut out, I was able to place and enlarge as needed. I made them much larger than they were originally, the ability to manipulate the images meant I did not need to make them large in the initial creation.

Scanning

Scanning took trial and error to figure out how to replicate the distortion that occurred pre-digital sharing when something was scanned repeatedly as a method of sharing and circulating media. My own scanners at home and work were too high quality, and I was struggling to recreate this effect in a way that is not time-consuming, especially knowing how much I wanted this in the zine, as it is a common effect present in zines. I stumbled upon a solution on accident. iPhones allow documents to be scanned via the notes app. There are multiple settings you can use “Full Color”, “Grayscale”, and “Black and White”. I found that the Black and White scanning mode did a very effective job in creating the effect I wanted to replicate. This was something of a twist in this project as I expected to need to accomplish this by repetitive scanning. Throughout the project, I was able to use a combination of scanning techniques to create the look and feel I was hoping for.

While this was a digital process, the resulting effect had an organic feel as I could not always pinpoint how something would scan under the settings I was using, creating unintentional textures and patterns.

Recording Process

I wanted to share a process video from one of my pieces, I chose Wake Up as it involved collage and writing all within a digital space. Procreate really aided me in my ability to go back and review how pieces developed over time.