GSR 1863: A Practice-Led Research Exploration Revealing Local and Difficult Histories Through Interactive Publication Design

Abstract

This exegesis considers a practice-led research project that addresses the importance of remembering local histories through an exploration of the Great South Road. The project aims to utilise interactive publication design to visually communicate the largely unknown events that took place in the period surrounding the construction of the Great South Road in Aotearoa, and its significance in the eventual invasion of the Waikato by Crown Forces. The methodology involved in this research consisted of a historiographical approach coupled with heuristics, by employing methods such as historical and archival research, field work, and literature review. The visual aesthetic of the design system draws on experimental layout and the application of distressed, weathered textures to communicate and emulate a historical war-time aesthetic. The publication includes interactive elements in the form of inserted archival photographs and documents to promote deeper engagement, as well as rephotography features. The overarching aim of the research and its outcome is ​to address the​ ignorance of the difficult history of Aotearoa amongst many New Zealanders and shed light on the lasting repercussions of colonising events on our society today.