Gary Chang.
July 23, 2010
A little piece of architecture to throw into the mix. Hong Kong architect Gary Chang, did not want to give up his 344 sq. ft. apartment that he has lived in since a young boy, with his parents, sisters and yes even a tenant. Hong Kong is over populated so space costs money, most apartments are small and this is acceptable. Gary Chang decided to make his apartment work for him, and through his knowledge and expertise in his craft of architecture he created a home that consists of one room, that though a mirrored ceiling, he created sliding panels and walls that ‘transform’ into 24 different rooms, and it is all green living. Gary Chang calls his masterpiece “Domestic Transformer”. It is unbelievable.
Wool and Gas.
July 23, 2010
Warmth is invisible. Director Olivier Babinet alongside Lovo Films and TBWA Brussels wanted to create a film that made warmth visible. This piece is for natural gas, and through the use of wool, Babinet wanted to create a story of motion that shows the gradual heating of a house in the morning through natural gas. The scenes are created by going backwards, the scenes are covered with sheets of knitted wool which are then pulled. A beautiful, warm and innovative concept, that is such a simple technique which creates a beautiful piece of stop motion. This film took a month to prepare, 4 days and nights to shoot and had an impressive crew of 40 strong. The entire piece is created via the beautiful technique of stop motion, and it took four cameras to capture this. An incredible piece of motion design, that definitely managed to do all it set out to do.
I am.
July 23, 2010
I Am from Steven Nicholas Smith on Vimeo.
Film maker Steven Nicolas Smith took to the streets of Philadelphia and asked people to complete one sentence, “I am…”.
Smith then made a montage from the answers of the participants, delving deeper into the stories of those who cared to share more via delicately deep poetry, accompanied by visual imagery bringing you closer to the subject. It is a heartfelt, honest piece, that explores the inner being of the human race. A beautiful piece that depicts the inner thinking of people, and proceeds to explore the depths the unsuspecting public are willing to share with a complete stranger, and in front of a camera.
The trail of the Olympic Pictogram.
July 22, 2010
The Olympic Pictogram first appeared in 1936. For the New York Times, designer, and writer Steven Heller took a look through the varying Pictograms for the Olympics over the past few decades. Heller looks specifically at the ones that were successful and those that failed miserably. There were quite a few dodgy ones over the years, but it is a beautiful piece that proves a creative approach, and an intent to create a piece that is new, fresh, that has an element of risk that pushes the bar on the norm can prove to be the most successful approach. It also highlights a differing approach from purely black and white, to a bold use of colour.
(found via NY Times)
Nicholson and Bass
June 2, 2010
This semester we were given a live project- to rebrand a local printers to provide them with the best exposure possible. Their current brand is a mish mash of a hoarding culture of their history. Currently they have 3 different logos, each very different, each showing the progression of the company. I wanted to simplify their brand and provide the company with one simple design that would be instantly recognisable to them.
I decided to simply the entire look and feel, choosing to go with the simple ‘N&B’. I hand rendered and design a unique ampersand for Nicholson and Bass, the rights of which would be theirs. This would give them instant brand recognition from a single character in their logo. They are a printers to many facets of the design community, but mainly do print for fine art companies. I wanted the brand to marry both the print and fine art community. The ampersand was my way of doing so, I took inspiration from the Baskerville Ampersand but with my own modern twist. After doing so then intertwined it with the N and B to show the close knit relationship ethos of the company. Out of 50 people I was shortlisted by the company within the top five.
This is the proposal booklet, I hand made and handed in to the company as a summary of my brand strategy.
Women in Design.
June 2, 2010
I have just competed the second year of my degree, hence why the blog has been so quiet of recent. This Semester I undertook 3 modules: Advertising, Animation and Research & Writing. So I shall put up selections of this work over the next week or so, let me know what you think. I am currently sourcing the possibility of a placement for the next year.
The first project I want to share with you is the outcome of my Research and Writing module. It is a pre-run to the third year dissertation. For this module we had to chose the topic we are going to write about in our dissertation and we had to write a 3,000 word essay on our chosen topic, which also had to designed and handed in via hard copy.
Previously I have written two essays, one on design icon Paul Rand and the other on the effects of technology on the future of design. I wanted to delve further into the design industry with this essay, and choose a topic I knew very little about. I also wanted my subject choice to be controversial to keep my interest and draw me into its depths. After reading through many journals and crossing out many dissertation topics I happened to come across an article on the Design Observer Website by Michael Bierut called the‘The Graphic Glass Ceiling’. This article highlighted the lack of female influence within the design industry and how few female designers have not managed to get high ranking positions in firms worldwide. It delves into this dark gender gap highlighting that discussion panels world wide are male dominated. Reading it made me quite angry, and once I digested it I realised the honesty and openness within the article. When I list my favourite designers they are male, when I began to think of design icons, males lead the count.
I instantly chose this as my topic as I wanted to delve further and understand the industry I had wanted to enter for 10 years. Was there a future for me? Should I just throw in the towel now? After writing the essay I am still confused. Milton Glaser has been my design icon since I can remember and I was horrified to read his thoughts on the issue, when asked at a conference, although his thoughts are just honest and truthful. He said:
“women get pregnant, have children, go home and take care of their children. And those essential years that men are building their careers and becoming visible are basically denied to women who choose to be at home… Unless something very dramatic happens to the nature of the human experience then it’s never going to change.” About day care and nannies, he said, “None of them are good solutions.”
Once I explored this topic further I discovered that the gender gap was predominant back as far as the opening of the Bauhaus in Germany. Female students were slowly withdrawn from all arts and placed into textiles as the tutors and masters feared that if they were to succeed in the other arts such as architecture, metal work, painting that they would take jobs in the industry that they felt should be taken by males. After reading both sides of the argument, I feel that it is up to female designers as individuals to strive to be the best they can be and shed this stereotype and make the issue nothing more than a myth.
I felt that my essay was a strong argument in itself that I decided to go for an extremely simple layout, of three columns. I also chose a small format for the size; A5 landscape and I wrote it for women about women and I wanted a size that could fit comfortably into a woman’s purse. Just to assert the talents of the female I printed the entire booklet myself, binding it by hand too. I chose three different stocks matt, silk and a canvas. Let me know what you think.
I would love to hear everyones thoughts on the subject.
VW vs DeLorean
April 26, 2010
I absolutely adore this advertisement. It was created back in 2009 for the Volkswagen Independent Cinema Sponsorship campaign. It was the brainchild of London advertising agency by DDB London. An MOT Slip from 1985 that shows that the DeLorean fails its MOT due to body modifications! It hilarious, in one of the comment boxes it mentions the Flux Capacitor, which was unable to be checked as it was unknown what it was for. It is a very well executed piece of advertising, extremely witty and light hearted, and just throws you back in time a great timepiece and a great piece of nostalgia that successfully targets its desired audience. I delved in further into VW advertising and discovered that this wasn’t the first VW vs DeLorean advert. In the 70′s they had Roger Moore as James Bond, take on the two, quite a funny ad!
OFFSHOOT.
March 24, 2010
OFFSHOOT is brought to you by The Small Print, the same people who brought you 3 day event OFFSET 2009 in Dublin, at the end of last year. Introducing OFFSHOOT on the 22 April in Dublin, is part one of a special series of nights which will bring together local and international creatives, who will speak about their work.
This first event will present the talents of:
Dublin Based design studio New Graphic. (I have heard these speak before and they are hilarious)
www.newgraphic.ie
Serge Seidlitz an illustrator who currently resides in London whom has created work for MTV and Cartoon Network.
www.sergeseidlitz.com
Tomm Moore who is co-Founder and Creative Director of Cartoon Saloon. One of his features ‘The Book of Kells’ was even Oscar Nominated.
www.cartoonsaloon.ie
The event is limited to 300 tickets, and the tickets cost €8, so get in quick… BUY TICKETS
Pecha Kucha 5.
March 18, 2010
An amazing event happening the 1st April at The Sugar Club, Dublin. Pecha Kucha is 10 speakers, 20 slides each, and 20 seconds to speak about each slide. It is an amazing night, light hearted, quick and fun. It appeals to creatives in all areas, and its freedom means those who do not come from a creative background, could find joy in the night. The line up this time is amazing, I am especially looking forward to hearing Chris Judge speak, his illustration is breath taking. So if anyone is interested feel free to go along. Pecha Kucha 4 was an unbelievable night, so if it is anything to go by, you are missing out if you don’t attend this one.
My little space.
March 18, 2010
University coursework has been chaotic, so I have not had time to update my blog, which I am quite disappointed about. I just wanted to introduce you to my little space, were I have spent a lot of time in uni the past few weeks. This is my little cubicle in our studio, it is tiny, so I work in constant mess but I would not have it any other way, I work best in mess for some reason. Anyway this is my little area, my little studio, prototypes lay strewn across it from previous projects, animations and a tee designing project. Just a little insight into my world.
Typeface Film Screening!
March 5, 2010
Build / Standardistas present —
Typeface
Where: Conor Lecture Theatre, UU York Street Campus
Date: Thursday 25th March 2010
Doors: 7pm,
Tickets: £5
I just wanted to give a shout out about this amazing screening that is taking place at the University of Ulster Belfast in the next few weeks. The above video is a trailer for the film which focuses on The Hamilton Wood Type Museum in Two Rivers, a Midwestern Museum and print shop where international artists meet retired craftsmen. The film explores traditional technique and modern design, the combination of the historical and contemporary. One weekend every month the silence of the museum is interrupted by the buzz of fellow mid west artists whom drive across country to partake in print workshops. The unfortunate truth is that this magnificent museums days are numbered.
“A film about perseverance and preservation in the heart of America.”
BUY tickets here!
Wrangler’s Blue Bell Website.
February 15, 2010
This is a must see website. It is probably the best interactive website I have ever visited. It is plain, simple, to the point yet extremely fun.
The website was launched this month and was designed by Swedish interactive production company Kokokaka. It was designed to debut Wrangler’s Blue Bell Jean Spring Collection. Without giving too much away, the website is designed to allow the viewer to interact with the model using drag on your cursor. You get to see the clothes in action, try before you buy almost! Intrigued? Well go check it out, it can be enjoyed on many levels, it is for a male line but to me seems aimed at a female audience but from a design aspect it is pretty amazing, puts the power of flash websites to a whole new level! You can also download scenes, music from the site too. A site to remember! Let me know your thoughts on it! I love it!
Jasper.
January 29, 2010
This is what the package I mentioned previously contained. I am a published author and illustrator now.
Well not quite! For the last project of the semester in December, we were asked to create a visual narrative on an issue that effects designers in everyday working life. I chose to highlight the ethical and moral issues that designers meet everyday and the consequences of designers job choices. I chose to challenge myself and design something unexpected. I had already designed two posters that semester, I had previously created an animation, I wanted to create something different. Something in print that could be sent out to designers that would interest and intrigue them. So I settled on the idea of creating a 28 page, hand illustrated kids book that would visually illustrate the story, with little text, so it could be quickly read and digested.
I decided to name the book Jasper, I wanted to make a brand, a character that could last longer than one story book. A character that could present designers with different issues and stories that would affect and be appreciated by the design community. I wanted to create a character, that would be instantly recognisable that could beautifully transfer on to merch etc. I created this unique little guy, tall, with long, thin legs and arms, that only ever wore jeans with graphic t shirts. I wanted him to be approachable, someone a designer could relate to. Not some straight laced, well to do character whom dictated to the designer what they should and should not do. If you have not already gathered from my previous work I absolutely adore colour, and I wanted to make this book incredibly colourful just like any other kids picture book. Here are some pages from the book:
Throughout the book where possible I tried to experiment with typographic layout. Through my research of kids books, I found a disconnection between word and image, that words were just an after thought in their placement and they just looked awkward.
I also experimented with layout and framing. So pages were spilt into sections with differing illustrations, some were extreme close up illustrations with little detail, some were far away with much detail creating a scene.
I tried to keep the characters simple, not fussy in detail or colour. I wanted the characters to remain constant in style and shape throughout.
Below is the final page. I finished the book with a simple hand written statement by Jasper. I wanted the eye to be drawn to the statement so I used white space, rejecting the fussiness of any form of a background or creating any vision of a scene. The emphasis is on the message of the story, one last powerful hit.
I only had a week to write the story, illustrate all 28 pages, scan them in, typographically place the text, and send to the printers. It was an extremely intense process, but I was extremely excited to receive the finished product, a beautiful book in my hands that I had written and designed. This is definitely a venture I will return to very soon, I would love to create and illustrate actual kids books, but next time I will take more time to fully experiment with the process and outcome, maybe die cutting or pop up?
This is the back page to the book. I wanted the back cover to be hectic and the front cover to be simple. I have Jasper leaning over into the front cover, looking innocent and inviting, but you do not discover until the end or until you turn to the back that he is trying to hide his dirty secrets, the designs he has created that have bestowed awful consequences onto other living beings. I was so pleased with the cover.
Let me know what you think of my first book.
Publication.
January 29, 2010
In the last semester at university we as a class undertook the task of creating a publication, that would be sent out to local and international studios to showcase the talent within our year. This project was a group project, and the class was divided into groups of 3, and we were each given a studio or creative to interview. After the interview we had to design, and come up with a proposal for the publication, whether it be print as in a book, a collection of cards, or posters or be it media, in the form of a DVD or CD, or a website. My group received the amazing opportunity to interview Dublin Creative, Creative Director for Dynamo and Co Founder of The Small Print; Richard Seabrooke. It was an overwhelming task to undertake, interviewing a designer of such calibre and then designing some form of publication that he would then see, and would be tied to him. The pressure was at times overwhelming but I think that just added to the creative process, as a group we broke up designing and working on different parts of the proposal. One of us designed posters, another packaging and another quotes from printers etc.
These are some of the pieces that I created for this project. My main task was to create posters for the publication. We had decided to propose to the class that we create a package which inside housed 18 posters, each creatives interview on one separate poster. Double sided and full colour, one side holds an interview designed using a beautiful typographic layout which compliments folds and the otherside an illustrative poster that in some way represents the subject.
I created over twenty designs for the poster. I adore the colours and the modular typography used in the branding for Richard’s company The Small Print, and the idea of modular shapes and colours is what I ran with, when creating the posters. Some where photomontages, some purely typographic, so illustrative and some a mixture of all. The poster was thin long rectangle, made from two squares. The fold was two diamond folds on each of the squares. Each poster, is received as a square, and it unfolds beautifully, I think it is an extremely exciting fold.
I created this little cost effective envelope (as a cheaper alternative to the beautiful one that we had proposed that Rory Murphy designed). It is created out of a piece of tracing paper, with the name of the participants wrapping around it, and a beautiful bold sticker begging the recipient to open it. I wanted the envelope to be visually exciting and intriguing.
The idea then being that once the envelope was opened 18 mini squares would be awaiting inside, to be opened and the viewer would be faced with a informational interview, that they can read and then once finished they can stick up the posters of their choice, if not all of them, in their offices.
Below is the contents of the package that the recipient would receive. Unfortunately, this proposal was not chosen although we put up a good fight and I am extremely proud of this piece of work.
Excitement.
January 29, 2010
I recently received the most exciting package in the post. I have never been so excited or nervous of receiving post in my entire life. I do not think I have ever opened a piece of mail so fast. ( I also don’t think I have seen a package sealed with so much glue.) I had tracked this parcel for four days as it traveled from one side of Europe to another via FedEX. I will upload the parcels contents once I get pictures later on this evening.
