Class Six

Notan Label Assignment

Today we are going to go over the format of the Notan Label Assignment. This connects directly with the previous lesson in which we created a balanced design between the black and white masses in the Dow Landscape design. In this assignment we will take the linear design from Project 1, “Origami and Branch” and create a new composition. This new composition, which will be a fragment taken from Project 1, will form our Label Design. Think of this as a commission that you have received to create a commercial label design for a retail company that may be a fashion house or an interior design company. Create a label that is interesting and eye-catching and will help sell the product.

Assignment

Materials:

  • 11 x 14 pad
  • 2B or B pencil
  • Gum eraser
  • Tracing paper or tissue paper
  • Masking tape to hold paper
  • Markers- 1 thin; 1 thick
  • Drawing Project 1 (Origami and Branch)

Assignment: To create a design for a commercial label.

It could be an interior design company or a clothing retail store. It does not matter. Think of it as a commission to create a design for a company based on your Project 1 drawing. You are to take a portion of your drawing (do not use the whole image, only a part) and compose an interesting Notan design. It can be any format: Vertical or horizontal; square or rectangular; Tall and thin or wide and fat. Up to you. Use your imagination. This Label Design must include a border either black or white of any thickness. Please be accurate and square the border properly. You may round the corners or create a design pattern in the corners. Be creative but not excessive. I want a clear bold, eye-catching design that will sell the product.

Trace the portion of Project 1 that you wish to use. Use a B or 2B pencil that is in your kit to trace/flip/transfer to your 11×14 pad. It must fit on this sheet and not go to the outside edge of the paper. Place it nicely on the sheet. Be conscious of the shape of the black/white areas that you are transferring. You will need to enclose that shape so that it can be filled in with black marker. You may need to trace both sides of the line. Remember black must go against a white line or the reverse. Follow the same method as we had done on the Dow Landscape assignment. This design must include a border of black or white. No typography or lettering. Remember to use proper marker technique to lay in the large, black areas.

Upload photo to the assignment section.

T/TH, Due:

M/W, Due:

Secondly, Please watch the video and answer questions for, “Tone and Value, Edge of the Pencil”. T/TH, Due: ; M/W, Due:

Here is my tracing in which I used a portion of the larger design. On the areas I intend to use black, I have enclosed those shapes. I was careful to get the character of the line I had in the original design. Don’t forget to include the border.
Here is the same house and tree cropped in different ways to create various compositions. Think about the shape of your label design.