Exercise: Giving instructions

Step 1: Collecting reference material

I sourced images and existing instructions (a mixture of text and pictorial) from image searches online and by photocopying boxes of tea in my own home. A lot of the instructions I found (particularly when I looked through my own teaching resources) were clear, sequential images with accompanying text. Most were numbered, and all boxes/images were the same size.

Initially, I was considering showing the process for any type of tea and showing the different times needed for the tea to brew and the optional additions. However, it seemed far too complicated once I researched various teas, so I made the decision to stick to a general ‘cup of tea’ and try to encompass the process in a standard sequence of events.

Step 2: Ideas

Firstly, I noted down the steps for a cup of tea, using normal breakfast tea as my focus but trying not to be too specific to the ‘type’. I also did a few sketches of pieces of equipment I’d need in the process.

I started mapping out the process with images and numbering the images. Some of the processes could be swapped or grouped together; for example, some people take out the teabag then add milk/sugar etc. whereas others change this order.

After getting a clear process down, I started playing around with ways of showing this process as a set of practical instructions but also as an appealing work of art.

I critiqued as I went along and kept using my analysis to adapt the instructions.

I had another look at B and made it bigger. I felt that the teabag on the top row could be larger, again, to emphasise the meaning of the instructions (the hot mug at the end could easily be coffee without the emphasis on the teabag).

Here I also started experimenting with splitting boxes; the second image on the top row was split in two to show the switch being pushed down. I decided this split was probably not necessary, but it made me consider other stages that could be shown through smaller ‘close-up’ panels.

I was also pleased with some of the items overlapping/venturing outside of the frames to add interest to the image; for example, the curved arrows, the teabag and the pouring water. The end image also breaks free of the boxed-style.

My notes on this trial show I was still not happy with the clock/waiting/brewing image. I played around with the clock idea and the process of the tea becoming stronger as it brewed. I felt that this, in the context of the instructions, made sense and meant that I didn’t have to use as many words. Also, it is far more open to the type of tea; it can be applied to the general process of making a cup of tea, rather than setting a specific time in the instructions.

I briefly tried a central teacup with the process travelling clockwise around the tea. Although it was visually interesting, I had already started to establish a hierarchy in my boxed layout and this seemed too floaty for my liking.

I returned to the boxed layout but started making changes and experimenting with each component. Here, the teabag and pouring images have been merged slightly, because, as I had been drawing the instructions, I realised that it didn’t matter about this order (some put the teabag in before the kettle has boiled, some after the kettle has boiled – as long as the final step on these top two rows was the boiling water, that would work). I also has been playing with an idea to use the steam from the kettle to write 100°C, but broke this down further. Another consideration was the choices at the bottom of the instructions – did more detail need to be added here? I was very conscious of not overcomplicating the image.

The two panels I had circled seemed a bit boring and I felt they could be broken into sections to zoom into different parts of the kettle. This could also add interest as well as showing more detail.

I was also experimenting lots with both the position of the teabag and the teabag string and how this could be used.

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This was the final draft I tried, but there were some changes I made as I created my final artwork.

I was confident that I didn’t want to use any colour – I wanted to stick to black/white/grey. This, for me, was an exercise to trial sizing and also to use a mixture of quick, simplistic drawings with detailed drawings to create a good balanced piece and to emphasise the important images.

Step 3: Final artwork

I am very happy with the final image! It took a lot of time and tweaking, but the finished product has turned out better than I expected.

Firstly, it was important to me not to overcomplicate the image and to have a good balance of detailed drawings and more simple drawings. To achieve this, I used biro for some parts – mostly reflective elements, like the metal on the kettle and the pouring water – and markers for the other parts – like the mug, which I kept clean and simple. I hoped that this would make the instructions easy to understand while still providing interest.

As I created the image, I played around with the various shaded of grey for background panels. For three of the panels, I decided to use one word repeated to add interest and also to emphasise the message of that image (e.g. ‘choices’ for the milk/sugar/honey panel). If I could change anything, I think the clock panel and the milk/sugar/honey panel have backgrounds that are too similar. I tried to combat this by changing the font and outlining the clock, but I’m still not 100% happy. I did consider inverting the black and white in the milk/sugar/honey panel, however this impacted on the bold mug of tea on the right, which I wanted to be dominant. The contrast between the black cloud and the white cup of tea works well, so I decided not to interfere with it!

There were a few additions to the final image; notably the biscuits in the black cloud! I thought the image looked too stark and simple, so I added the detailed biscuits to break it up a little. It also adds some more white to this corner, which balances the image.

SHOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS TO OTHERS: All knew what process the image was showing, so that was a huge positive! The mug and the teabag stood out the most, establishing a specific topic before looking at the rest of the image. Two people felt the message of the instructions was to recycle the teabag, which I understand as the recycle symbol stands out. Perhaps a classic metal corregated bin would work better? Lots said the order was clear and the images were obvious.