Arts Thread

The aim of this project is to explore the fascinating interaction of the Mycorrhizal Network. Connecting trees to plants, to fungi and other tiny organisms, this network is essential to all living things on earth. This publication explores the above and below ground elements of the network, examples of plant species found within a Mycorrhizal Network, as well as looking into the required conservation and restoration of this network. Two typefaces were used in this publication; Big Caslon CC and Univers. Caslon was primarily used in the context of display type and accent type sections. Chosen due to its organic yet organised feel, it mimics the intricacy of the network, yet doesn’t undermine how important the network is. Univers was used for the main body text, sub-heads and other page structural elements. It compliments the serif Caslon, due to the anatomy of the letters being similar both in a large and small point size, providing a neutral yet timeless feel. Throughout the publication, this incredible network is described as ‘tiny threads’, ‘intricate’, ‘delicate’. I wanted to explore a visual style which mimics this not only through the typographic element to the piece, but also through the visual style applied to the images. By free machine embroidering over the top of photographs of plant species found within the network, it demonstrates all the lines which connect one specie to another. The tactile element of the threads demonstrates that us, as human beings, are still involved in the network; in how we conserve and protect this system. All human life is lived on top of this huge, never ending network.

By creatively visualising recent history, the aim of this publication is to enable you to reflect on events which have occurred and impacted individuals globally. In the hope that through open discussion, prompted by the created visuals, we are able to see and reflect on what has happened, and can then ignite a passion to promote change for a better future. This physical large format concertina, spanning 4 metres in length, and 60 centimetres in height, explores the last 25 years of recent history; 2000 - 2025. The scale of the piece hopefully reiterating the impact the last 25 years have had on everyone. Using a combination of manipulated letterpress type, scanned newspaper titles and images, found imagery, and physical drawn illustrations and textures, a visual style was developed which runs across the length of the piece. Spanning across each panelled year this style visualised the last quarter of a century. This, alongside the textual components of the piece, gives further context to each year. Hopefully, this projects enables the viewer to take one thing away with them... We must learn and reflect from this period, to look ahead, to take action, to ultimately make a world we are proud to be a part off.