OUGD601 - Dissertation Presentation

Presentation slides showing the general themes of the dissertation and the research question:

Starting from my chosen specialism in editorial and publication design,

my dissertation will be about design and publishing

Specifically I want to look at queer publishing and the role and importance of design within that

Within the full spectrum of magazines, books and printed journalism, only a very small proportion is devoted solely

to the voices of queer individuals (and an even smaller percentage of those actually get the content right). I want to examine the history, present and future of queer publications, from a design point of view. As part of this dissertation

I will explore zines and self-publishing as one of the main forms of queer publishing

And then as a counter I will also explore queer commercial publications

Sources that I have already looked at include...

I will analyse how they use aesthetic to validate themselves, and the problems that this causes,

favouring aesthetic over function and purpose

My essay question is:

OUGD601 - Context of Practice Tutorial 1

First meeting with Dominique in regards to my extended essay. The main topics for the essay were discussed and the initial title was analysed:


What Is the Importance of Graphic Design Within Queer Publishing?


It was suggested that although the question would already draw on quite specific research within publishing as a whole, it was still perhaps unclear as to what would be investigated in regards to the importance of design.

Questioning what research would be undertaken and what case studies might be analysed it became clear that a large focus of this essay would be whether or not certain queer publications were successful, and what part graphic design played in this success. With this suggestion the question was altered slightly to reflect a more direct investigation of the relevance of graphic design to this topic.


What Is the Importance of Graphic Design to the Success of Queer Publishing?


Initial research was also discussed and it was agreed that my previous visit to an archive of queer and women's publications was a good starting point for primary research. Drawing on personal existing knowledge of zines and self-publishing as a queer individual also provided a base for expanding secondary research into the zine phenomenon and the graphic design movements that arose from this.

It was agreed that for the next tutorial a full essay plan would be created and research into the main themes would be continued.

OUGD601 - Practical Work - About Honey #1 Final Publication

Portfolio images of the completed publication. The magazine is packaged in a black plastic zip lock bag to simulate both the material of fetish latex and the heavy packaging that is often used for adult magazines.