Exercise 2 - Editorial interpretation

Taken from the January issue of Hi Fi news, the editor asks the question; how relevant will the content of the current issue of the magazine be in 50 years time. In answer to his own question he points out that the Vinyl LP is now over 50 years old and is enjoying something of a resurgence in popularity.
Attention is also focused on the CD. Launched 30 years ago the magazine will be helping celebrate its pearl anniversary.
His second point is regarding hearing. It’s a vital part in the music reproduction chain; but how many people take as much care with their hearing as they do with their sound reproduction equipment. Is it the elephant in the hi fi listening room?.
My interpretation is that ‘good’ technology, particularly in music reproduction, lasts longer than expectations and that new emerging technologies don't necessarily dictate the fate of the older technology.
Ideas to interpret this editorial through illustration included incorporating symbols and or images of the past, present and future sound playback technologies living side by side. I researched symbols used in laser technology and from hifi equipment manuals and circuit diagrams.

Initial rough

I felt that key to the design would be a suitably futuristic 'listener' and in browsing

the internet for a likely subject, I happened upon manniquin heads used for displaying wigs. One in particular caught my eye; it had all the attributes I was looking for, a futuristic visage, slightly android, androgynous appearance. Unusually small ears which had the potential to show the evolution of the ear that may happen when all sound is compressed e.g. mp3 etc
The next step was to sketch ideas as they came to me combined with some of the symbols I had already found.. ending up with an ideas mash up! emphasising some of the key words and thoughts from the editorial.

I then went through a kind of selective thought process, mentally rating the sketch ideas and discounting the elements that I thought weak or not easily identifiable. After this process I had in mind to keep to three main images. I liked the idea of the use of the head to create 'the listener' and an image of a CD as my 'old technology'. But I needed some way of illustrating that the listener was involved in the process of listening to digital compressed sound, the sound of the present possibly future technology, possibly using binary code...I sketched some ideas.

Sticking with the concept of binary code entering one ear and leaving the other I made the first draft of the layout.

Happy with the design so far. I was unsure of what media to use. I felt the right finish would heighten the impact of the simple design. Although unfamiliar with the use of pastels I experimented a bit. I will admit that experimentation was limited and I had at one point settled for this version.

I really had in mind that the binary code would be quite subtle but could see that it would, potentially, take a lot of experimentation to achive the desired effect. And at that point I left the exercise to carry on with the first assignment.
Endeavouring to get this record on the blog I re-appraised the design and looked at constructing the design in Photoshop. I have some experience with the software but am unfamiliar with a lot of the tools. I did a bit of experimentaion.

I am quite pleased with the attempt. It obviously requires more work. I would like to 'paint in' the body and possibly reintroduce the binary code effect but this would require further practical instruction in Photoshop.