Studio Brief 2: Initial Ideas

Based on initial research I've develop some ideas focused on how best to represent the Suffragette riot 1908 and its impact on Leeds.

Figure 1:
Focuses on one of the main reasons for the riot which was to get women the right to vote as the Suffragettes took every opportunity to raise awareness and embarrass the government. Within this screen print I wanted to incorporate modern issues that face women whilst engaging people through the ability for people to write on to the poster what they want women to have. Leonora Cohen is featured on the poster as she is reported to have caused the only damage at the riot and also went on to contribute significantly to the suffragette cause both in Leeds and London. In relation to colours used within these initial experiment I've used purple, green and white taken form the suffragette flag as purple represents loyalty and dignity, green represents hope and white represents purity. Personally I think this is one of my most successful experimentations due to the simple use of typography and image which together allow for a powerful impact on the audience whilst also engaging the audience  through the ability to write onto the poster and give their opinion.

Figure 2:

This experimentation takes inspiration from The Suffragette a newspaper produced to celebrate the actions of both the Suffragettes and Suffragists. I took inspiration from the layout of previous editions to recreate the cover in relation to the actions of the riot through the use of quotes such as 'break down the barricades' and 'men only' which was stamped over the tickets to get into the coliseum. I've incorporated the same green, purple and white as pervious experimentations which have been colour picked from the suffragette flag and a pervious edition of The Suffragette in order to reference the past in a modern aesthetic.  Personally this experimentation works well due to the replication of the layout however could be developed further to incorporate imagery within the typography on the front.  

Figure 3:
In order to create an interesting print I've experimented with incorporating a 3-D aspect into my print by including the ability to fold away a section of the poster to reveal the colours of the suffragette flag as influenced by the secrecy surrounding the organisation of suffragette riots and protests which allowed for maximum impact at the time. Although I think the incorporation of a 3-D aspect to my design is interesting the design as a whole needs to be developed further by potentially incorporating more abstract imagery that closely relates to the riot into the hidden section. I plan to get feedback on these experimenting in order to see how best to develop my initial ideas.  

Figure 4:
Based on further research I've developed pictograms to represent the events of the riot. The handcuffs represents Jennie Baines who became the first suffragette to be imprisoned after conviction for her involvement in the riot. The flag represents the suffragettes and the fight for the vote which was the underlying cause for the riot. The inclusion of the tickets represents the meeting which Prime Minster Asquith was addressing about the unemployment crisis in Leeds as the tickets where stamped with men only to stop suffragettes getting into the Coliseum itself. In order to further develop these pictograms I'v experimented with repeating them and overlaying to create a more interesting print which highlights the issues which caused the riot and subsequent events. The colours have colour picked from the flag like previous experimentations but brightened in order to allow the details within the pictograms to stand out easily. This experimentation is particularly successful due to the colours produced when overlaying the pictograms allowing for a more contemporary representation of the riot itself.

Figure 5:
This experimentation focuses of the quote that instigated the riot as Jennie Baines shouted 'break down the barricades and compel a hearing'. The inclusion of men only allows for a subtle reference to the fight for the vote which the riot in Leeds contributed to. For these experimentations I've taken inspiration from Sista Cortia Kent and Anthony Burrill due to the bold use of typography within their work. I've experimented with cutting up sections of the logo to distort the letterforms to represent the damage caused by the riot, as inspired by Sista Corita Kent. However I think the solid letterforms create a more powerful impact which better reflect the riot itself and highlight the issues surrounding it.

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 4

Figure 5