Finding the Lord god bird
Lord God Bird Annabel Aman
This book is dedicated to the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, non-living or possibly even living. Without your demise, this book probably wouldn’t have been made.
2
Table of Contents Project Outline.............................................................................4 Symbols........................................................................................5 Zoo History...................................................................................6 Smithsonian National Zoo System.................................................7 Ivory-Billed Woodpecker...............................................................8 Finding the ‘Lord God Bird’........................................................10 Matrix..........................................................................................12 Sketches.......................................................................................13 Symbol Drafts..............................................................................14 Final Design.................................................................................16 Integration in the Symbol System.................................................17 Bibliography................................................................................18
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Project Outline The goal of the symbolform project was to develop a mark that fits into an existing symbol set and understand the role symbol systems play in society today. Furthermore, through this primary focus, it was important to gain knowledge of the process of developing any kind of simplified mark. This includes experiencing the physical skill of drawing necessary in order to design symbols and transfer this process into a more powerful visual communication. Through using publishing software like InDesign as a way to create a multi-page process book, this development can be presented in a more creative and cohesive manner.
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Zoo Symbol System designed by Lance Wyman for the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Symbols Symbols serve as the “alphabet of human thought” - a universal meaning to create messages without spoken or written words and free of enducational or language barriers. One example of a symbol used in design vocabulary is called a pictogram. A pictogram is an image that represents an object. This is especially important when trying to convey information through a common visual language able to be understood regardless of one’s native language or level of literacy. In contrast, a logo or logtype is mainly compriesed of typography.
Pictogram
LogoType
1972 Munich Olympic Pictograms created by Otl Aicher.
Coca-Cola symbol as purely a typographic logotype.
5
zoo history The model of modern, public zoo became popular in the 18th century, during the Age of Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment was a period in European history when science, logic, and reason were pushed forth as ideals of society and government. Therefore, the scientific focus of this age expanded to zoology.
Animal artists at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris. From the magazine “L’Illustration”, 7 Aug. 1902.
6
The first modern zoo, built in 1793, opened in Paris, France. After the French Revolution, while the Ménagerie du des Plantes was relocated, early zoos were more simillar to museums of living animals than as a resemblence to their natural habitats. Animals were then kept in tight display areas, as zoos tried to fit as many species as space could allow. Today, zoos are meant to educate and entertain the public, but have a stronger emphaiss on scientific research, and the conservation of species. There is much greater emphasis in giving animals more space, and trying to closely recreate natural habitats.
Washington zoo system The National Zoological Park in Washington, DC uses a way-finding symbol system set to assist visitors in finding where the animals exhibited at the zoo are located. Designed by Wyman & Cannan in 1973, the animal symbols can be seen on TOTEM like structures in order to identify trails that would take visitors past all the major animal exhibits in the park.
Wayfinding TOTEMS from the National Zoo in Washington DC.
On the higher level of the TOTEM displays the pictograms of animal exhibits along that path. In total, six color coded TOTEMS are used to make the beginning of each trail and another six are used to mark the end of the trail. The purpose of the design: to allow the zoo experience to be divided into a series of family visits rather than an exhaustive one-day tour.
7
ivory-billed woodpecker At 20 inches in length, the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is among the world’s largest woodpeckers. The wings show a while trailing edge from above and below. These white wing patches fold to form a white “shield” or “saddle” on the black back when the bird is perched.
“Males have a prominent red crest”
Information about Ivory-billed Woodpeckers is limited since there had been few in-depth studies of the species. Most of the information known about the species comes from a three-year study conducted by James Tanner of a population of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers from what was known as the Singer Tract in Eastern Louisiana.
A while line forms below the head, runs down the neck, and onto the back of the bird. The face is largely black, as is the chin. Males have a prominent red crest; the female’s crest is black.The Ivory-billed Woodpecker resembles its more common, but slightly smaller cousin, the Pileated woodpecker. James Tanner with Ivory-Billed in 1938
8
Hand-Colored Photo of a male in 1935.
The Ivory-billed is usually territorial, but when resources become scarce it can be nomadic. A home range of about one pair every six square miles per seventeen square miles. In poorer foraging habitat, Ivory-billed Woodpecker’s home range size might even be larger.
Most ornithologists who studied the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, beginning with Audubon and continuing through Tanner, believed that it mated for life. Ornithologists today speculate that the bird may live between 10 and 15 years. 9
Finding the Lord god bird Massive logging activity in addition to hunting by collectors devastated the population of the Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers in the late 19th century. The only footage of the Ivory-Billed was recorded in 1935 along with the sound of its call. In March 11, 1967, the bird was listed as an endagered species. There have been many unconfirmed reports about the bird, but many ornithologist believed that the species had been wiped out completely, and it was assessed as “extinct” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1994. This assesment was later changed to “critically endagered” based on the idea that the species could still be in existance.
10
Colored-Image of Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
In April 2005, seventeen authors headed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO) published a report on the discovery of at least one Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, a male, in the Big Woods area of Arkansas. However, much debate has been published on whether or not the sighting was actually of the Ivory-Billed, and not of another species.
“No hope in saving the bird, even if it still exists.”
While no scientific evidence has been found to confirm the existance of the birds, the recurring unverified sightings of the woodpecker has played a big part in getting the public’s attention. However, as of February 2010, the Cornell researchers concluded that there would be no hope of saving the bird, even if it still exists.
11
Matrix
X
Mating
Foraging
X
Flight
Hammer
X
White Bill X X
X
Crest Color Tail Feathers Large Size
X
12
In trying to understand what features were important to the final design of the animal, it was important to layout a set of significant features with the corresponding animal activities. Therefore, by building an animal matrix, we can determine what parts of the animal are truly important to include while still maintaining the simplicity of the original symbol system.
Folded Wing
Physical Appearance
Feeding
Activities
Sketches
Early Sketches of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
13
Symbol Drafts
Experimenting with accenting the crest and feather features.
Adpated Sketch
14
Rough rendering of woodpecker with a black background.
Through the transition between sketches and making the animal symbol, it was important to highlight the significant physical features of the animal, as well as to retain the simplicity of the symbol set. The following set also varies in the structure of the eye. Initially, the the eye was a more abstract shape, however after experimenting with different options, the solid black circle was the best fit for the symbol.
15
Final Design In this final design of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, two major features were changed in order to give the animal a more natural and cohesive appearance. Firstly, the angle of the neck was slightly lengthened and tilted in order to position in the bird in its “woodpecking position.”
Secondly, the bill of the wood-pecker was changed to become sharper, smoother, and more direct in order to significy the great importance the bill has in hammering, wedging, and peeling off bark to find food. 16
INtegration into SYMBOL SET
17
Bibliography http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/evidence/segments/segments/launching http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/woodpeckers/ivory-billed-woodpecker/ http://www.factzoo.com/birds/ivory-billed-woodpecker-extinct-endangered.html http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/zoo/?ar_a=1 http://www.hermanmiller.com/why/talking-pictures.html http://www.fws.gov/ivorybill/pdf/IBW-general-brochure.pdf http://billcannandesign.com/zoo.html
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This book is dedicated to the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, non-living or possibly even living. Without your demise, this book probably wouldn’t have been made.
2
Table of Contents Project Outline.............................................................................4 Symbols........................................................................................5 Zoo History...................................................................................6 Smithsonian National Zoo System.................................................7 Ivory-Billed Woodpecker...............................................................8 Finding the ‘Lord God Bird’........................................................10 Matrix..........................................................................................12 Sketches.......................................................................................13 Symbol Drafts..............................................................................14 Final Design.................................................................................16 Integration in the Symbol System.................................................17 Bibliography................................................................................18
3
Project Outline The goal of the symbolform project was to develop a mark that fits into an existing symbol set and understand the role symbol systems play in society today. Furthermore, through this primary focus, it was important to gain knowledge of the process of developing any kind of simplified mark. This includes experiencing the physical skill of drawing necessary in order to design symbols and transfer this process into a more powerful visual communication. Through using publishing software like InDesign as a way to create a multi-page process book, this development can be presented in a more creative and cohesive manner.
4
Zoo Symbol System designed by Lance Wyman for the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Symbols Symbols serve as the “alphabet of human thought” - a universal meaning to create messages without spoken or written words and free of enducational or language barriers. One example of a symbol used in design vocabulary is called a pictogram. A pictogram is an image that represents an object. This is especially important when trying to convey information through a common visual language able to be understood regardless of one’s native language or level of literacy. In contrast, a logo or logtype is mainly compriesed of typography.
Pictogram
LogoType
1972 Munich Olympic Pictograms created by Otl Aicher.
Coca-Cola symbol as purely a typographic logotype.
5
zoo history The model of modern, public zoo became popular in the 18th century, during the Age of Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment was a period in European history when science, logic, and reason were pushed forth as ideals of society and government. Therefore, the scientific focus of this age expanded to zoology.
Animal artists at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris. From the magazine “L’Illustration”, 7 Aug. 1902.
6
The first modern zoo, built in 1793, opened in Paris, France. After the French Revolution, while the Ménagerie du des Plantes was relocated, early zoos were more simillar to museums of living animals than as a resemblence to their natural habitats. Animals were then kept in tight display areas, as zoos tried to fit as many species as space could allow. Today, zoos are meant to educate and entertain the public, but have a stronger emphaiss on scientific research, and the conservation of species. There is much greater emphasis in giving animals more space, and trying to closely recreate natural habitats.
Washington zoo system The National Zoological Park in Washington, DC uses a way-finding symbol system set to assist visitors in finding where the animals exhibited at the zoo are located. Designed by Wyman & Cannan in 1973, the animal symbols can be seen on TOTEM like structures in order to identify trails that would take visitors past all the major animal exhibits in the park.
Wayfinding TOTEMS from the National Zoo in Washington DC.
On the higher level of the TOTEM displays the pictograms of animal exhibits along that path. In total, six color coded TOTEMS are used to make the beginning of each trail and another six are used to mark the end of the trail. The purpose of the design: to allow the zoo experience to be divided into a series of family visits rather than an exhaustive one-day tour.
7
ivory-billed woodpecker At 20 inches in length, the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is among the world’s largest woodpeckers. The wings show a while trailing edge from above and below. These white wing patches fold to form a white “shield” or “saddle” on the black back when the bird is perched.
“Males have a prominent red crest”
Information about Ivory-billed Woodpeckers is limited since there had been few in-depth studies of the species. Most of the information known about the species comes from a three-year study conducted by James Tanner of a population of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers from what was known as the Singer Tract in Eastern Louisiana.
A while line forms below the head, runs down the neck, and onto the back of the bird. The face is largely black, as is the chin. Males have a prominent red crest; the female’s crest is black.The Ivory-billed Woodpecker resembles its more common, but slightly smaller cousin, the Pileated woodpecker. James Tanner with Ivory-Billed in 1938
8
Hand-Colored Photo of a male in 1935.
The Ivory-billed is usually territorial, but when resources become scarce it can be nomadic. A home range of about one pair every six square miles per seventeen square miles. In poorer foraging habitat, Ivory-billed Woodpecker’s home range size might even be larger.
Most ornithologists who studied the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, beginning with Audubon and continuing through Tanner, believed that it mated for life. Ornithologists today speculate that the bird may live between 10 and 15 years. 9
Finding the Lord god bird Massive logging activity in addition to hunting by collectors devastated the population of the Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers in the late 19th century. The only footage of the Ivory-Billed was recorded in 1935 along with the sound of its call. In March 11, 1967, the bird was listed as an endagered species. There have been many unconfirmed reports about the bird, but many ornithologist believed that the species had been wiped out completely, and it was assessed as “extinct” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1994. This assesment was later changed to “critically endagered” based on the idea that the species could still be in existance.
10
Colored-Image of Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
In April 2005, seventeen authors headed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO) published a report on the discovery of at least one Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, a male, in the Big Woods area of Arkansas. However, much debate has been published on whether or not the sighting was actually of the Ivory-Billed, and not of another species.
“No hope in saving the bird, even if it still exists.”
While no scientific evidence has been found to confirm the existance of the birds, the recurring unverified sightings of the woodpecker has played a big part in getting the public’s attention. However, as of February 2010, the Cornell researchers concluded that there would be no hope of saving the bird, even if it still exists.
11
Matrix
X
Mating
Foraging
X
Flight
Hammer
X
White Bill X X
X
Crest Color Tail Feathers Large Size
X
12
In trying to understand what features were important to the final design of the animal, it was important to layout a set of significant features with the corresponding animal activities. Therefore, by building an animal matrix, we can determine what parts of the animal are truly important to include while still maintaining the simplicity of the original symbol system.
Folded Wing
Physical Appearance
Feeding
Activities
Sketches
Early Sketches of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
13
Symbol Drafts
Experimenting with accenting the crest and feather features.
Adpated Sketch
14
Rough rendering of woodpecker with a black background.
Through the transition between sketches and making the animal symbol, it was important to highlight the significant physical features of the animal, as well as to retain the simplicity of the symbol set. The following set also varies in the structure of the eye. Initially, the the eye was a more abstract shape, however after experimenting with different options, the solid black circle was the best fit for the symbol.
15
Final Design In this final design of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, two major features were changed in order to give the animal a more natural and cohesive appearance. Firstly, the angle of the neck was slightly lengthened and tilted in order to position in the bird in its “woodpecking position.”
Secondly, the bill of the wood-pecker was changed to become sharper, smoother, and more direct in order to significy the great importance the bill has in hammering, wedging, and peeling off bark to find food. 16
INtegration into SYMBOL SET
17
Bibliography http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/evidence/segments/segments/launching http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/woodpeckers/ivory-billed-woodpecker/ http://www.factzoo.com/birds/ivory-billed-woodpecker-extinct-endangered.html http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/zoo/?ar_a=1 http://www.hermanmiller.com/why/talking-pictures.html http://www.fws.gov/ivorybill/pdf/IBW-general-brochure.pdf http://billcannandesign.com/zoo.html
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