How To Make a Temporary Tattoo

One of my ideas was to make my own temporary tattoos. The only problem would be that of course it's something that is already out there, so there isn't really a gap in the market for them. I intend to resolve this by designing tattoos that aren't tacky and childlike. I feel this idea could work because as I found from my research, one of the main reasons that stop people from getting tattoos is the fact that they're permanent. 

Temporary Tattoo Paper

A little bit more research to confirm my thought that most temporary tattoos are tacky and typical...

What is design for screen?

Brief Use your design context blog to document your ongoing investigation of design for digital media. Investigate the question 'What is Graphic Design for?' by exploring a wide range of contemporary design practice.


The first thing I thought of when responding to this research brief is the Iphone and Ipad. It seems obvious that the many apps are great examples of good design for screen, particularly because they use modern technology to allow us to interact directly with images on screen. whether the apps have a practical purpose or are solely there for our entertainment, their is no arguing that they are massively engaging and very successful examples of design for screen.

Another thing I directly thought of is opening title sequences for films. I have come across some excellent examples that are great for setting the mood before a film and initially engaging the audience. I particularly like these title sequences that reflect the style of Saul Bass.



Tattoos... Primary Research

I have taken some photos of friends and classmates tattoos...

 

I also asked some of them to write down their meanings, the rest have either obvious meanings or none at all...

Tattoos... Facts, Statistics and Opinions

Statistics

• Life magazine estimated in 1936 that 10 million Americans, or approximately 6% of the population had at least one tattoo. Harris Polls, done in 2003 and 2008, shows those numbers at an estimated 16% (2003) and 14% (2008) of Americans now have one or more tattoos.
• Thirty-six percent of those ages 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those ages 26 to 40, have at least one tattoo
• According to the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, they stated in 2005, that of all the people they treat with laser and light therapy, only only 6% are getting a tattoo removed.
• There are an estimated 20,000+ parlours operating in the United States, according to a U.S. News & World Report article, which said, on the average, an establishment is being added in the country every day. The article ranked tattooing as the sixth fastest growing retail venture of the 1990s, right behind Internet, paging services, bagels, computer and cellular phone service.
• Search Engine Lycos, ranked the Top 50 search terms every week. "Tattoos" was the third most popular search term in 2002, the fourth most popular search term in 2001, seventh most popular search term for the year 2000, and the eleventh most popular search term in 1999. "Tattoo and tattoos" is one of only seven search terms to never fall out of the Top 50 Search terms in the 199 weeks since Lycos has been keeping track.
• In July of 2002 "tattoos" reached its highest ranking ever, coming in as the number two most requested search term on the internet. "Tattoos" was requested more often than Britney Spears, marijuana or Kazaa, illustrating that skin ink is more popular than "sex, drugs and rock n' roll!"
• As for who searches for tattoos more: given the top five ranked designs, which are tribal, cross, stars, butterflies and fairies, we'd say women.
• Among age groups, one-third (32%) of those ages 25-29 and one-quarter (25%) of those 30-39 have tattoos, as do 12 percent of those 40-49. The youngest age group (18-24) is one of the age groups least likely to have a tattoo (9%), the same as the oldest age group of 65 and older. Men are just slightly more likely to have a tattoo than women (15% versus 13%) and Democrats are a little more likely to have tattoos (15%) than Republicans and Independents (13% each).
• Not Many Regrets Most people with a tattoo do not regret getting it (84%). As to why they have this regret, one in five (20%) say it’s because they were too young when they got the tattoo while 19 percent say it’s because it is permanent and they are market for life. Others say they regret the tattoo because they don’t like it (18%) while 16 percent regret their tattoo because they fade over time. 
• How Tattoos Make People Feel When presented with eight different personal characteristics, majorities say that compared to not having a tattoo, having one makes them feel no different. This is especially true when attributed to being healthy, athletic or intelligent, where more than nine in ten with tattoos say it makes no difference in how they feel. Over one-third (36%) of those with a tattoo, however, saying having it makes them feel more rebellious, up from 29 percent who felt this way in 2003, and three in ten (31%) say the tattoo makes then feel sexy. One in five (19%) each say having the tattoo makes them feel attractive and strong. 
• What People Without Tattoos Think About People With Them Over half of those without a tattoo (54%) do believe that someone with one is more rebellious, almost the same as those who thought this in 2003 (57%).
• While those with a tattoo may think it makes them look attractive, those without do not agree as just under half (47%) say people with tattoos are less attractive (up from 42% who felt this way in 2003) and two in five (39%) of those without one, say people with a tattoo are less sexy. Just about one-quarter of those without tattoos, say those with are less intelligent (27%) and less healthy (25%).

 Facts

•  Once it is healed, there is very little that will screw up a tattoo. The one exception is prolonged exposure to sunlight. (the other is scarring, but that is patently obvious).
• The newer inks are better at resisting fading but whatever you do, if you spend lots of time in bright sunlight your tats will fade
• It always hurts to be tattooed. After all, the color is being inserted into your skin by using needles but, tattooing never hurts so much that you can not manage the pain.
• Tattoos are applied using a tattoo machine which has remained basically the same design since it was patented in 1896. Advances have been made in the quality of the equipment, but the process is the same. The machine causes a needle or combination of needles to first scribe a line and then apply colour. The tattoo pigment is inserted into the skin cells in the epidermis and new skin grows over the top forming a protective layer over the tattoo.
• Tattoos are rarely done in ink, what is commonly called inks, are actually suspended solid colour particles, mostly metal salts and plastics, but not vegetable dyes as commonly believed.
• There are no reported cases of HIV infection from a tattoo in the U.S., but there are three from dentist's offices.
• More women than men are getting tattooed today.
• Until 2006 it was illegal to get a tattoo in Oklahoma
• The first recorded tattoo is believed to have been found on a mummified iceman in 3300 BC. He had 58 tattoos, mostly dots and lines.
• In 1876 Thomas Edison invented a machine that ultimately became the tattoo machine, but it took modifications by Samuel O'Reilly in 1891 to adapt the device for tattooing.
• The second most common reason for tattoo removal is mistranslation.
• Tattoos done today don't turn blue when they age, unless they were originally blue, the inks are much more stable.
• A rooster tattooed on one leg and a pig on the other is said to protect a sailor from drowning. Neither animal can swim.
• An increasing number of people are having medical alerts tattooed to aid doctors in case of an emergency.
• A tattoo of an anchor on a sailor indicates they have sailed across the Atlantic. 
• People with antisocial personality disorder are more likely to have a higher number of tattoos in more visible locations, and covering a larger percentage of their bodies.
• Ancient Egyptians used tattoos to differentiate between slaves and peasants.
•  Tattoo machines can make upwards of 200 hits per second, that's up to 12,000 times a minute and 720,000 an hour.
• It is untrue that white or lighter colored inks are more painful to use.
• In 2002, 18 year old hair dresser Lee Becks was shocked to find out the tattoo he thought said, "Love, honor, and obey" actually translated to, "at the end of the day, this is an ugly boy."
• Eyeball tattoos are not done with a machine, but rather, the ink is directly injected into the eye with a syringe.
• Good tattoos aren't cheap and cheap tattoos aren't good. 

Opinions

Tattoos... Secondary Research

Some popular tattoo artists, all very different styles but all show some extreme skills.

Nick Baxter

http://www.nickbaxter.com/tattoos/

 

Joe Capobianco

 http://www.joecapobianco.com/tattoos/

 

Hannah Aitchison

 http://www.hannahaitchison.com/gallery/

 

Juan Salgado

 http://www.juansalgadoart.com/tattoo-galleries.htm

 

 Chris Garver

 http://www.chrisgarvertattoo.com/#gallery

Tim Hendricks

http://blog.saltwatertattoo.com/tattoos/

Shawn Barber

 

This tattoo artist, Shawn Barber also paints portraits mainly based on tattoo art and based around the skill and technique itself. An interesting look behind the scenes of tattoo art, by a tattoo artist themself.

http://memoirtattoo.com/pages/shawn-barber_pg.html

Kev Grey

 Not actually a tattoo artist, but many people have had tattoos based on his designs. Simple and original designs I think, a far leap from your classic tattoo designs.

http://kevgrey.blogspot.com/2007/12/tattoos.html

What if... Secret Leeds Research

Brief: Create three design direction boards showing research based on our rationale.

1. Problem 2. Evidence 3. We Intend To...

This brief is a development on our individually collected research for the Collection 100 brief

The idea for Secret Leeds originally came from a facebook group and website called Secret London that allows members of the public to share secret or less known clubs, bars, parks, restaurants, cafes etc

 

Inspired by Secret London we decided to create a Secret Leeds group of our own to see how much feedback we would get, and as a way to find some lesser known locations in Leeds 

Not many people responded to our group, maybe because there want enough time or maybe because people don't know enough about Leeds? Which actually conforms our problem that people don't know about the quieter, more secluded parts of Leeds. Although this is good, we still needed to find out more information about people's favourite places to go in Leeds, especially the residents. So we conducted a survey and these were the most popular locations...

1. Kirkstall Abbey 2. Yorkshire Sculpture Park 3. Hyde Park Picture House 4. The Pack Horse (Hidden Pub) 5. St Georges Field 6. Nation of Shopkeepers 7. Smokestack 8. Brudenell Social Club 9. Fuji Hiro 10. Park next to Liberty Park 11. Viva Cuba

Leaflets and booklets 

From looking at leaflets and magazines found around leeds we decided that there is already plenty out there for students, so it would be better to aim our project at the residents of Leeds.

Bakelady's tearoom

We further developed our idea by looking at a lady with a concept similar to our own. She has people book on her Twitter page months in advance a tea party at her tearoom set in a secret location, which isn't revealed to the customer until just days before.

We've decided to elaborate on this by creating branding for a 'secret picnic' which will include a picnic set and map taking you to a secret location.

St Georges Field

 Through the use of surveys and Facebook questionnaires, we found a field that is an ideal place for the resident that wants to get away from the busy noisy student life that Leeds has to offer. It is hidden behind Leeds uni and is quite secluded, this would be a perfect location for us to send our picnic goers.

We made three design direction boards to aid our presentation in our mid-way feedback crit.

Primary and Secondary Research

Primary Qualitative: Pictures of St George's field, our opinion was that it was quiet and secluded. We asked a resident and they said that they liked going to St George's because it is quiet and not full of students. As a group we decided that there is a lack of non-student places to go in Leeds.

Secondary Qualitative: 'Bakelady's homemade tearoom'. Bakelady doesn't reveal her address until days before the booking to keep it secret. She referred to it as the 'underground tearoom' and a magazine article has said that it is exceptional value with excellent homemade food and is a completely different way to spend your afternoon.

Primary Quantitative: We created a 'Secret Leeds' Facebook group- out of 20 members 3 replied, although this didn't help us to find more places it supported our thought that not many people know the hidden secrets of Leeds.

Secondary Quantitative: 4 out of 5 leaflets and magazines we looked at were aimed mainly at students.