Sketchbook: Process | Gabby Rancitelli

Statement of Intent

For this project, my intent was to create a sketchbook that I could use for the remainder of the semester for mind-mapping, visual and non-visual strategies, and brainstorming. In addition to our sketchbook development, we were taught how to operate the laser cutter on our own in Hopkins Hall. The laser cutter allowed use to create clean and precise lines. In this assignment, we were required to use as least three types of paper inside the sketchbook, use laser cutting/etching on the front cover in some way, be between 5″x7″-9″x12″ in size, include binding, and incorporate our name, course and year on the back design. The materials I used for this project was mat-board, lined paper, drawing paper, tracing paper, graphing paper, four holed snap clips (binding), the laser cutter, Adobe Illustrator, and a hole puncher. My goal for this project was to create a sketchbook that accurately describes my personality and exploring/advancing my knowledge of the laser cutter and its abilities.

Ideation

In Exercise 1, we were instructed to create a miniature sketchbook following one prompt. The prompt I chose to create my sketchbook about was ‘What Would You Find At The End of The Rainbow?” The part that made my work flow was each page’s ‘item’ started with a letter from the acronym, ROYGBIV.

These two images display a possible design for my back cover of the sketchbook (image one) and mind-mapping of materials and cover designs (image two). Although I did not continue with that design for my back cover, I did use my mind-map to decide on my cover design, paper types, and cover material.

Iteration and Production

The first image shows my original sketchbook cover design which is an outline of my first tattoo and the second image displays the hole punching positions/spacing throughout my 8.5″x11″ sketchbook.

These images display the digital version of my sketchbook front and back covers. I decided to go with the “magazine letter cut out” look with a wide range of fonts and sizes. I carried out the front cover design to the back cover to keep it consistent.

Physical copy of my sketchbook’s front and back covers made out of blue mat-board and laser printing the design onto each cover side.

View inside my sketchbook with four types of paper: lined paper, drawing paper, graph paper, and tracing paper.

Size: 8.5″x11″

Materials: Matboard (front and back covers), graphing paper, tracing paper, drawing paper, lined paper, and four hole snap binder clips.

Hidden Element: Pocket for scraps of paper (leftover Bristol paper)

Mediums: Graphing paper, tracing paper, drawing paper, lined paper

Page Count: 35 pages

Reflection

This assignment brought quite the learning curve due to the open-ended-ness of the project. Sometimes I work better with more boundaries and requirements, but this project taught me to follow my own taste in design, rather than focusing on other people’s projects. I think my greatest achievement for this project was my cover design. I enjoyed how the laser printer etching application made the mat-board turn brown/gold to contrast the blue mat-board finish. I work better on online applications rather than hand drawing which is why I enjoyed this project so much because Adobe Illustrator allows me to tweak my work online easily and efficiently. My biggest challenge with this assignment was adding the “hidden element”. I am not overly excited about how my hidden element turned out due to how sloppy the inside pocket looks. I do wish I would’ve spent more time researching possible hidden elements and other binding methods rather than just the binder clip/spiral coil methods. Overall, I am happy with my final result for this assignment and I look forward to filling the 35 pages with mind-maps, doodles, sketches, visuals, and non-visuals.