The overall theme of my project is to focus on narrative, specifically the Japanese tradition seppuku which was a tradition practiced amongst samurai’s that was part of the bushido code (the way of a warrior). It involved committing suicide by cutting the abdomens, often as a way to make up for defeat or bring honor to themselves. I will utilize illustration and motion to demonstrate some of the ideas of seppuku and make a short illustration book at the end illustrating a samurai who commits seppuku. 

I will take photos of a constructed samurai using a prop sword and kimono robe and draw a series of illustrations that illustrate the process of a samurai committing seppuku. I will also scan some blood splatters which I will create using red paint. I plan to take close-up photos of the prop sword. I may also take photos of plant imagery to aesthetically convey the cultural aspect of the Japanese tradition.

For my personal study, I will write about Saul Bass, the way he conveys reductive imagery creating a visual identity for a film and how he composes title sequences that would set the underlying mood of a film engaging an audience. This will connect to my project as I plan to use reductive imagery and utilize motion to demonstrate the idea of seppuku within my project and I will create marketing material like posters similarly to Bass that will promote the Book that I plan to put together near to the end of the project.
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Criticial Links:
Ukiyo-e (Old Japanese art form) – this will help influence my illustration, as they give the cultural aesthetic that I’m looking for.
Brand Brother (agency) – Help influence the Modernist branding of “seppuku.”
Network Osaka & Armin Hofmann – Use of black and white values, modernist Swiss design and layout which will influence the sophistication that I’m looking for within my posters.
Saul Bass – Motion design + visual imagery influence
Ikko Tanaka – Book Covers Design + Poster influence.
 
Fonts:
MSmart HK
nagayama_kai
Hasegawa
Bodoni 72
STSong
ZinHenaKokuryu
Scotch Display
Helvetica
LEMON MILK Pro FTR

First Stage - illustration
Second Stage - Branding
Third Stage - Posters
Fourth Stage - Motion
Fifth Stage - Book Making/Layout

For my final piece, I plan to do:
6-8 double-side pages with book covers, Title Sequence or a piece of motion work, Poster+Teaser promoting the work.