Initial Research and imagery ideas

Glow in the dark bar feature which I am determined to configure but may not work as glowsticks and such stop glowing quite quickly opposing the artistic advantage of classic neon signages glow surviving for decades. It was also suggested by tutors that the book could be boxed, all flipped pages then revealing a LED light at the back which would be the Manchester Bee ideally, which would be a collectors/aesthetic selling point. In regards to glowsticks, this would make people interact and could be a selling point and a fun aspect to some, but it was an idea that the book itself can't be opened without breaking glowsticks which then lights them and allows the book to open.

All black stock to enhance my edited imagery and the contrast of the letters and crispness of any inks I use, and give the publication a unique feature. There are various types of black stock to experiment with

Hugely considered glow in the dark text to make it a very special experience in reading certain parts of my book but this would be a limitation due to the fact you wouldnt be able to look at the images while reading in the dark and also that glow in the dark ink isn't practical due to needing black light and its durability isnt a sure thing. Fluorescent inks however give off the same impression, and I am inspired by the illuminous cover of the Neon book which stood out in the library shelf almost immediatley, which I aim to do as neon does and to 'rethink what a book can be' as quoted in 'Every Book Starts With an Idea', where it is also stressed to make your book special amongst the thousands published endlessly.

Perhaps too childlike to our memory as this is a childs activity in which they scratch fireworks, but perhaps if a page or my front and back cover did have the feature of being able to be scratched to revel neon colours behind the black this could be a selling point and whoever the reader is can etch whatever they want in to the pages which are personal in to them. A limitation is if this would make the book less durable and it would get easily scratched unintentionally which wouldn't be great for a collectible, which in a way I would like my book to be like the prized neon signs of 1920's-1960's America, the peak of neon signage which are collected as antiques. Neon signage is having a comeback with it becoming more featured in bars and restaurants as quotations rather than brand names as seen within my photographs. Manchester band The 1975's design art in neon have been highly succesful and continous within their album tours and promotional material. Even the EU Referendum was designed with neon typography specifically to engage with young adult voters!

Continous typeface used- either handwrendered or an official font, to celebrate the function of neon bars which are continuous due to the liquid


Get lit- as the title, relates to a going out feeling and works with the night time look my publication could have to match the editing of my photographs and as I took them when it was darker to illuminate the letters, other ideas are  'There is a light that never goes out' in relation to the Smiths song from Manchester although this is quite long, it could be an appropriate title celebrating the location of the shoot.

Within research, there is an idea that useage of neon is 'in decline' and this could be a purpose of the publication, to embrace the craft and to show it is having a comeback, and could be a gap in the market but further research will have to be done by visiting places such as graphic design book shops, urban outfitters, photography shops etc to see if they have such books as envisionined.

I have also been directed to a local neon light company who I want to email and ask about the history and what drives them, and what can be done with neon signage or that has been done. Also prompted to have a question which the publication could answer, I thought of 'How does neon make you feel?' as I have seen some amazing quotations in the Neon book about the effects of such fluorescent colours and the energy they emmit.