From Research to Practice: Alton Buckle
Concept: I was briefed to depict the story of a museum artefact. I chose the Alton Buckle, an Anglo-Saxon buckle found at a burial site in Alton, Hampshire. The buckle is located at the Curtis Museum; I was attracted to the glittering, iridescent beauty and rich history. Below are two photographs: one of the Alton Buckle and the other of 'Grave Goods' found at the burial site.
Research process: I used the museum library and gathered research materials such as the leaflet and document below. To condense and understand the content, I annotated the pages, reflecting on the relevance of the information for my audience. I omitted the majority of scientific research found as it was too complex and less relevant to the narrative. Interestingly the buckle appears to belong to a male of the highest status in the area, a leader perhaps.
Ideation: To develop my ideas, I created a Visual Mindmap where I sketched out possible layouts and developed various ideas. The use of colour aids reading and memory.
Making Process: To experiment and explore visually, I loosely sketched out the buckle using various materials, such as coloured pencil and permanent marker. To test another approach, I attempted rubber stamping for the first time; I enjoy the texture of the printed test. To ensure the leaflet could be reproduced I tested layout designs in Adobe Illustrator.
Final Work: The final outcome is a leaflet that opens in the middle to give a sense of unbuckling. It has been reproduced and printed on recycled paper made from coffee cups. Sustainability is important in my illustration practice. A paper band is used to keep the leaflet closed and can be used as a reading ruler for those who will benefit. A pale yellow background and large text make the reading experience more accessible. I would like to expand on this project in the future.
