Madelaine Julia Janiga-Warren

A practice-led research exploration revealing local and difficult histories through interactive publication design

GSR1863 is a practice-led research exploration that chronologically presents extracts, articles, and archival documentation and photographs in the form of a publication, to aid in bringing awareness to an element of forgotten and difficult history in Aotearoa. The project utilises interactive publication design to visually communicate the largely unknown events that took place in the period surrounding the origin and construction of the Great South Road in Aotearoa, and its significance in the eventual invasion of the Waikato and land confiscation by Crown Forces.

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. Interactive elements in the form of inserted archival photographs and documents, and rephotographic features, aim to promote deeper engagement. 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. It is hoped that the book would act as a steppingstone for readers to further engage with and explore both local and national history.