typography journal: 01

After reading the Writer's Toolbox section of Writing for Visual Thinkers, I learned quite a few different ways to brainstorm for a project that I had never tried before. As the book says, it can be difficult for designers to brainstorm with writing because we are more visual than verbal. It is especially important to become a verbal thinker because it is more likely to lead to lateral thinking, which reveals less obvious, and often more successful, ideas. The writing exercises done during and before a project can also serve as reference to look back to once the project is done. Finally, writing exercises can also prove to a client that you can think in several different ways and can provide several types of research for the client to look over in regards to a project.

While reading this section of the book, I completed a few of the exercises in terms of the book I am re-designing, The Lovely Bones. Here are my results.

MIND MAP [click to enlarge]
Begin with a general concept word in the middle and branch out with words that relate to the concept word. Repeat, layer by layer.

FREE WRITE
Write for a period of time about your topic. Write anything and everything that comes to mind without erasing or taking then pen off of the paper, think about questions you have about your topic and your thought process.
The Lovely Bones is one of the most dreamy and lovely, delicate pieces of literature I have ever written. The sheer beauty and tragedy intertwined into the story line make this novel one that pulls at the reader's heart and causes them to cry out for a solution to the injustice done to Susie. When I began researching this novel I started to wonder what is the book's message? As I think further about this question during my free write, I realize it may have several messages, though none of them are too clear. My first message was that evil does not go unpunished. Upon thinking about this more, I realized that isn't true in this novel. Though Mr. Harvey does not kill another girl after Susie and dies, himself, Susie's family never finds out who Susie's killer is, nor do they ever find her body. Although Mr. Harvey is killed, he isn't necessarily punished, and justice was not served to Susie's family. I also have thought that the message may be one of hope or relationships. Hope because Susie's family continues to look for her, regardless of the lack of leads the police have. Relationships because once a tragedy.. actually, I think a better message than relationships might be the effects of tragedy on individuals. I guess that's not a message, rather a theme or concept. But, I think once Susie dies, her family changes drastically, as do their relationships with one another and the world. I also have thought about how the reader feels when they read this book for the first, second, or hundredth time. Every time, it seems to mimic the feelings of Susie's family, perhaps. The longing for a solution, the hope that Susie returns, or maybe the hope that Susie's message will get through to her family. Regardless, the story moves you, pulls you, and makes you believe in Susie and her story.


WORD LISTS [click to enlarge]
Begin with a general concept word, beneath it make a list of descriptive words, metaphoric words, or oppositional words, all relating back to the general concept word.