All Buy Myself

FREIGHT

2008-07-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

although this is kind of old now it should still be published!! Freight is the project which I was Art Director for and which was launched at the Leeds Met Graphic Arts & Design degree show 2008 as part of the Arts Festival '08. It was a great success and it was really great to have all the stress culminate in such a fabulous result. Go Team!!

Short Films

2008-04-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today i couldn't help but do three things:

1: Play with bevel and extruded type in illustrator

2: Redesign the poster promoting short films showing at the faversham on saturday (because it is horrible)

3: Make a poster using YELLOW!!

(There is also a grayscale, photocopier friendly version for good measure.)

Royal Shakespeare Company

2008-04-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

This was a quick one / two day project exploring an idea i had for a series of posters which could run for a set of Royal Shakespeare Company shows. The main premise is that you have big, bold type quoting the appropriate play; using the red of the RSC logo as a single colour print. I have chosen to use New Clarendon for its heavy serifs and pure beauty. This also proved to have some challenges when kerning and has given the posters a touch of quality which was missing without it.

(There are 7 posters in all but i have only uploaded a selection; but you get the idea)

Space Opera Book Series

2008-04-08T15:17:00.001-07:00

Here is the final artwork sent off to D&AD for the Space Opera book series brief. I'm pleased with how the final images came together and generally how the planning of the format works well across different titles.

Quida Update

2008-04-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

Here is the current incarnation of Quida, now more commonly know to those in the know as Quida Sans. Notice the removal of the quiffs and D.A's so that the typeface is more user friendly and is less for display, although it has been chanced since this outing it hasn't been exported as a useable file yet.

Final Isotypes

2008-04-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

Here are the final isotypes which i submtitted, for some reason they didn't fully upload on the last post. Also noticed the magnificent vending machine piece of artwork.

Audi Design Foundation

2008-04-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since i updated this so it sounds like it just might be a good time to do it! Here we have my final submission for the YCN Audi Design Foundation. All the isotypes have an element of the straight and the round to get around becoming too stylised and less communicative on things which need rounded shapes.

Hex Font Working Progress

2008-03-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some drawings and things charting the progress of detail decision making for various characters of my new font, working on the cues at the moment, still need to think about the caps.

Jealous & Confused

2008-03-03T13:51:00.000-08:00

Saw this the other day and I can't believe that it wasn't chosen as the logo for Nation Year of Reading! It is so simple as to be a piece of genius, has a friendly corporate demeanor but also has a modern edginess too!! One day I shall create something equally brilliant!

Some other good work by this studio made from ex-LOVE member

http://www.sample-us.co.uk

Check it out kids!!

50 Years of Helvetica - 1967

2008-02-28T11:16:00.000-08:00

The poster is 50x50cm and represents THE cultural event of 1967, the release on 1st June of The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". And the symbols are just for a close up from on the poster as they are rather schweet!!!

Recent Work...

2008-02-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

Here's a few updated things and a bit of new work. The revised CODE OF CONDUCT poster, decided to do it all CAPS and make the layout more blockier to make it seem more like a real old-school london transport poster, i think it gives it more authority, although i'm still not entirely sure about the pt sizes.

the updated tony blair poster, still in caps but better revised and hopefully the final version, however i need to see a printed version to be sure at various scales. i think i did a pretty good job on the h&j's for this and i'm pleased with the overall finish. pushed it to the edge then brought it back one when it broke.

then just more sketches in the development of my font for the space opera book series, just working out on paper more finalised ideas before i put them into fontographer. still unsure about what kind of 'a' to have and whether to have square or rounded line ends.

My New Font

2008-02-03T13:05:00.000-08:00

Here are the beginnings of sketches for a DIN inspired font to use on the book cover project, for chapter headings and a paper slip/tube for title/author etc.. A continuous line width, using square terminals and rounded corners with an extended flared motif, sort of like a serif, but not...

Milk To Spoon

2008-02-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

More drawings in development of a series of logos to be used on a hot drinks vending machine, currently focussed on the milk and sugar logos having conquered the teabag...i have chosen the cow to represent milk with a droplet within the body above the udder. Spoon for sugar, angular to remain in keeping with the overall visual style of the set.

More Blair...

2008-02-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

This works much better in CAPS, the uniformity of the lines makes the layout much easier to sort out. However i have since learnt about H&Js so i need to make some adjustments to perfect the fabric of the text.

Space Opera

2008-01-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

Fresh work for the Space Opera book cover series. The theme is to have the cover as a solid image, with unexpected/uncommon information on the spine, then more information on the back. Before developing the innerds!

Blair

2008-01-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

A poster taken from a political speech. I chose the speech given by Tony Blair shortly after 9/11 in the House of Commons; because it is the first significant political event I have really paid any attention to, not because I love Tony Blair. The speech gets better at the end, the beginning is unimportant and just sets the scene, hence why I have presented it in the way that I have. Set in Helvetica which is clearly the Tony Blair of fonts. This is A1 in real life.

This is still a working progress, I need to figure out some of the bugs and perfect it.

Polar Triangle

2007-12-28T16:22:00.000-08:00

Found this on the web. Could possibly be something to think about when constructing the imagery for my book covers. Some kind if iconic image representing each book then reduced to a geometric/pixelated image pattern.

Something Like This....

2007-12-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

This is along the lines of what I might produce with the book cover project. Geometric patterns mixed with colour and type along with an air of mystique...

The other image relates to the drinks machine logo work, but also it is a nice piece of information design.

Taiwan Recycle Logo

2007-12-22T14:04:00.000-08:00

Found this randomly on a website, apparently it's the Taiwanese recycling symbol. Works nicely with the four inward arrows creating for white arrows pointing out. A brilliant use of dark and white space.

More Nice Things Done By Other People

2007-12-19T14:15:00.001-08:00

Here are some pieces of design i like and which i have found by chance surfing on the internet and stuff.

this is a really good website :http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/permalink/graphis_annual_71_72/

Space Opera

2007-12-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

Here you have the beginnings of the cover design for the Space Opera science fiction series of books. I'm looking at creating complex patterns to implant hidden messages and text within the pattern. Thinking about dual level far and close. Pretty and interesting. Working with colour and I have chosen the hexagonal shape for cell/honeycomb patterns. These are the starting points of investigation and layering and layering and layering. Keep your eyes peeled.

Audi Design Foundation

2007-12-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

Finally got round to getting some of these icons vectorised from the pencil sketches into the computer so here are the two finalised icons fully digitised.

Audi Design Foundation

2007-12-12T13:52:00.000-08:00

Drawings for more icons of the beverage drink machine. Teabag drawings becoming more finalised (finally). Spoons more or less sorted for sugar. and The cow is probably being too stylised, whilst they still have the essence of cows within their icon, udders and spot,s there is also a loss of detail and realism which the other icons do not loose.

2007-12-11T09:47:00.001-08:00

Does seeing great design inspire you to create or does it merely dash your hopes for creating genius yourself?

Interesting things with good ideas///

2007-12-11T09:43:00.001-08:00

These are just a few things I've discovered whilst inanely surfing the web (forkplane and pie chart badges) and also I was queuing in the post office this morning and thought what a good logo the top-up logo actually is!

Audi Design Foundation

2007-12-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

More drawings for this brief, working on the change logo of a hand and coins, no coins here yet...still trying to work with an originally organic shape whilst keeping a cohesive style for each and every logo.

Digital Font Research

2007-12-09T09:29:00.001-08:00

Font these the other day in a couple of books whilst waiting for my XLA tutorial with Aidan. Interesting to see something similar but different to work which I am producing.

Aiden Tutorial Notes

2007-12-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

- Problem solving / Communications - and its aesthetic treatment / resolution should not be separated?

- Modernism - Now in 2007? Why? Is there a retro/nostalgia for these forms? International style modern?

- What is the question that over arches everything that you will do?

- Keep the blog up to date, find a way of doing this on a daily basis

- Relationship of British graphic design to continental Modernist design (Swiss, Dutch)

- Birdsall, Fletcher, Chermayeff, Geishmarih

- 1960s

- American Modern 1940-1970 (Book)

6/12/07

Fwis Logo Design

2007-12-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

I really like these three logo's by Fwis. Just found their work through clicking links from somewhere. There's a lot of other good work in different forms at http://www.fwis.com .

"Lv" logo for Lipstick Vine has a simple elegance which could clearly be applied in a variety of ways to various products.

"Fivehead" its again brilliantly simple. A five-sided head with eyes created for an online video website.

"PA" for Public Art the PA grabs the attention on its own in a circle but then the text below conveys the message without repeating itself.
"Fwis is a graphic design firm that specializes in fresh, concept-driven graphic design for some of the most savvy and complex companies in the world. Since 2002, Fwis has worked with such clients as Random House, Corbis, Barneys NY, Interscope, and The New York Times"

XLA 04/12/07

2007-12-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

The following is currently where my written work is at and is perhaps not in the correct order. Currently for the final presentation of my XLA I am considering a magazine style piece of writing with different aspects of my work split into several smaller articles rather than one large piece. I hope that makes sense.

"I like to be thorough when producing my work. Whilst coming up with an idea is a vital part of my method I also find that not producing a quality outcome can leave me unfulfilled. However I seem to come up with ideas to resolve briefs at a higher rate than I can design the outcome. Since the start of this term I have begun to understand that professionally this is not a problem and that keeping busy on multiple things is a healthy way of working. Generally I try and work on three or four things at once so that should I become stuck on one brief then I can unstick myself from another.

Another part of my design practice I have begun to develop is not only a visual language of my own but also an approach to working from idea to conclusion which whilst not reliant on using digital techniques allows them to be applied when necessary.

From the start of this year I haven't done anything like what I set out to do. Originally I had planned to produce a larger percentage of self initiated work; however I have ended up working on more briefs and as a result they have created a different kind of self initiated work than I had anticipated.

My work feels healthy; in my approach and the quality of the outcomes. It will be important to continue with this in the future. Something I do not want to do is limit my work by forcing it to sit in a specific genre or style. But at the same time I want to develop my own visual language as well as quality control. I want to use what is a appropriate to the design rather than what I want to do.

Within my practice I want to question the conventions, which are currently set in place, and basically ignore them; unless by using them I also ignore them. For example in advertising tits and smiles cover a nice creamy strap-line of lies. But I don't want to design this so I don't. I'm sure that commercially this is suicide but I'm fed up of it.

I have attempted to do this when working on the lastminute.com brief. By moving away from the product and supposed target audience, I instead have looked at the concept of tempting people in with more of a situation-based piece. Looking at visualising THE last minute and intriguing people into finding out more through a well designed piece, rather than the promise of sex.

Influencing my work is a lot of what I deem to be "classic" and "quality" design. By this I mean work, which has stood the test of time as still looks fresh and timeless today as much as it did twenty, fifty, or more years ago. Examples of designers I am interested and work well as an example are Jan Tsichold, Ernst Keller and Paul Rand. Whilst these are obvious influences you can't deny their quality and this is something I want to convey in my work. A quality piece of design is timeless, its simple.

If I were to describe my work in a short simple way I would say bold, dynamic and meaningful. Boldness very much influences the visualisation of my work; using thick-cut lines and large areas of colour or lack-thereof (white space). Dynamic due to the perhaps utilitarian nature of multi-cultural visual message and the development allowing pieces to work in different situations such as colour or b/w; or in other languages. Meaningful links in with the iconic or logo nature of my work where more than purely the visual message is shown but also the unseen but communicated information; for example the cache that a brand would convey on any product in any place no matter what: A Disney branded gun would be more fun to a child than a US Army branded one.

Something which I want to avoid in my work relating to branding and advertising is being hypocritical as whilst yes in an "ideal" world brands wouldn't play a role in which goods you and me would buy, in this world they do and I am guilty as charged when buying certain brands over others for what they represent. So whilst having a critical and anti-consumerism edge at some points, I also don't want to suppose that I don’t succumb to brand identities."

Digital Font Type01

2007-12-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

Scanned in working out dimensions ready to import into Illustrator/Fontographer to produce final font. Drawn on a mixture or graph paper and tracing paper using pen, pencil, and ruler. 04/12/07

overflow 1

2007-12-03T14:56:00.001-08:00

I started the year watning to produce my own self inintiated work focussed on the "evil" of brands and advertising and to some extent be anit-consumerist. however in the same turn i did not want to produce anything which was hipocritical from my own beliefs, perspective and actual actions. so being anit-consumerist all the way would be wrong becuase i by things becaues of which brand ti is or isn't and stuff like that.

however once i sat down to do work i ended up doing a lot of briefs and found that the best way to get out my ideas and things was through the briefs erather than my personal work which took a back seat but also developeed and gained new sectiosn via off shoots from briefs (like the lastmintue.com/digital font). working in this way to produce a personal style rather than some overblown ideological anti-consumerist ranting.

Rambling!!

2007-12-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

The following rambles originate from the start of the year before formulating into my previous proposal:

"Advertising. Commerce. Consuming. Okay I admit it. I am a consumer. In the modern world of global warming, ethical products and mass marketing it is almost a sin. Is it? We're all consumers whether we like it or not. To be truly self sufficient is virtually impossible because the world revolves around money. Buying and selling. Whilst I have admitted my consumer status, I am rarely swayed by advertising, in its numerous forms in our society. I can't remember the last time I saw an advert and had to buy what was being sold to me. I don't walk past a bus stop and suddenly have an urge to buy perfume, or a burger or see the latest box office film. As a means of communicating information it is becoming more and more difficult to stand out from the crowded streets. Too much information. We are overloaded by visual information, even when trying to seek out specific information we become side tracked by some more information. You're watching tv, but your on the internet aswell with a magazine open next to you and there's a half read novel in your bag and the latest record is playing through the stereo, plus people wanting attention. This isn't really going anywhere."

"Design for the masses. Something for everyone that's useful. I want to create work which could be mass produced, and yet is personal to each individual. The Every-brand. I am interested in consumerism, advertising and marketing, its effectiveness in the modern world. Physical design which has a value to its owner. Everything is becoming too disposible, music, media, the written world. Virtual life isn't everything it's cracked up to be. But it is great aswell. What does an mp3 look like?"

"I want to address consumerism and advertising in the modern world. Look at how effective advertising still is in its proliferation throughout our day to day life. With so many brand messages alerting us to new products continuously do we stick with a brand or change. How does design affect this? What role dose it play? Should designers take responsibility for the information overload? After all we make it look nice. Are you more likely to buy a brand because you prefer it's logo over another? Despite its attached stigma?"

I hope these have been interesting

Learning Agreement

2007-12-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

(From October) Learning Agreement/Statement of Intent:
"For my final project in Level 2 I looked at the general public’s addiction to celebrity and “reality” television; highlighting the fact people are constantly under daily surveillance and caught on camera, as much as if not more than celebrities.

My work is often concept led, looking at the idea and information behind the design as much as the design itself. Moving on this year I want to look at consumerism and advertising through design. The way in which the design of a brand can make or break it, and the values which are associated with it; positive or negative. I do not intend to aim for a specific outcome. Rather I would prefer that my research and opinions inform the manifestation of my work. I have always found using typography and layout to be my strengths and as such my final outcome will most likely display a preference towards this. Influencing my work is Modernism and Swiss design, with their clean lines and geometric shapes; mixed with contemporary work by The Designer’s Republic and Anthony Burrill amongst others.

I am interested in the personalization of design, where mass produced objects become personal to an individual through their preferences and use of a product; from something a simple as a t-shirt to an iPod. Self expression in the face of advertisement overload."

(From November/December) XLA:

"Since the beginning of the year my work has taken a different route from what I had proposed, however I do not think that this is a bad thing. By allowing my work to take its own path I have re-discovered how enjoyable design can be. Whilst trying to work dynamically on a range of briefs I have begun to develop what I deem to be my own graphic language, something I haven't done before. Strong influences for this are taken from Modernist design, with strong colours, shapes and discipline mixed with a more light-hearted pop culture tinge.

Public Transport Poster

2007-12-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Responding to the brief to encourage strangers to talk more on public transport I have devised a code of conduct for people to abide by when talking to each other instead of purely getting them to talk. The first draft of the rules is outlined on the previous post along with a couple of examples of London Underground posters.

Also included in this post is some information about the font specially designed to use on public transport and the underground.

Public Transport

2007-12-03T13:54:00.001-08:00

Official
Public Transport
Conversation Guidelines
2007/08

1. Be polite

2. Talk clearly at a reasonable volume

3. Do not be threatening

4. Be friendly

5. Perhaps discuss common themes, such as the weather

6. Use appropriate language

7. Enjoy the company of others

8. Maybe you could compliment someone on the way they dress

9. Remember not everyone is a nutter, but always proceed with caution

Follow these basic rules and use your common sense and soon society will be a harmonious place. Enjoy the ride.

Department of Transport

Digital Font

2007-12-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

Development of the digital font following on from the lastminute.com brief. Eventually this will result in two fonts. One working as close as possible to the original format. The other using all different angles and sections creating a more versatile font.

Flirtbox

2007-12-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

Further development for the Flirtbox brief (online office worker chat/flirt website). This is sort of a storyboard/comic-book poster documenting the journey from logging on to pairing off.

YOU (me)

2007-12-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

One of the Roses briefs asking for a self-portrait using design. The idea is to produce a poster containing Vital and Un-Vital but quite interesting statistics which will obviously incredibly well designed and presented. There is the possibility that the overall design could be an empty vessel with which to fill in anybody's details. This piece of work is still very much at the early concept stages.

Possible categories can be seen in this sketchbook page.

Audi Design Foundation Part 2

2007-12-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

These drawings are more refined development of the sketchbook drawings. With these I was trying to set out the dimensions manually before converting into a digital version using Illustrator. whilst still not entirely sure that a teabag is an international symbol of tea it is currently my favourite way of visualising the beverage. I and still developing what is the appropriate way of showing a teabag.

Also included in this post is a page from "World Without Words" by Michael Evamy. Part of ongoing research.

Audi Design Foundation

2007-12-03T13:24:00.000-08:00

For this brief I am designing a set of icons to be used on a text-free drinks vending machine, I am currently working on hot drinks however there is potential for soup and cold drinks.

these sketches are from the early stages of development outlining the general visual approach for the work.

Southwell Minster

2007-11-18T13:47:00.000-08:00

Yet more development of the logo " This is how far my developement of the Southwell Minster logo has come, reduced from "Southwell Minster" to "SM" and the gradiated tree/cross/castle on the right hand edge combined with the rounded corners of the left side, matching their website design making it less harsh and more welcoming whilst keeping a modern appeal...."

Southwell Minster

2007-11-18T11:33:00.000-08:00

http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/courses/graphics/
This is all the working out and stuff for the Southwell Minster Logo Design Competition (to be submitted on 30th November) from first concept through to more refined and definite designs. The basic premise of the design is the combination of the crucifix and a tree (the symbol of nottingham, of which the minster is of) which has resulting also in looking like the walls of a church from above too! the multiplication of the logo is to represent the (sherwood) forest ie/ lots of trees!

pinocchio for opera north

2007-11-18T10:47:00.000-08:00

design poster and flyer for opera north's production of pinocchio to appeal to the young/student audience reflecting the darker take on the story for this production. please note that i have spelt pinocchio wrong in this design!

digital diy

2007-11-07T05:37:00.000-08:00

as a side project and result of the last minute brief i have come up with the idea to produce a customizable poster which uses the digital font as its basis, although i may need to alter it with some angles too. but similar to the pixel poster which should be on this post too. diy design.

lastminute.com

2007-11-07T05:31:00.000-08:00

This is the final advert design for this brief fully artworked from the previous incarnations and mock-ups also included in this post. The main concept is taking the tagline given by lastminute.com of "live every lastminute.com" so basically, a clock ticking down. 60 seconds represented visually. I have to create the digital watch type myself as there is not a font which matced exactly what I wanted. I will develop this into a real font.

lastminute.com

2007-10-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

taking the literal meaning from last minute, THE last minute, 60 seconds, representing this in the advert using digital lcd display watch type, this is just from the sketchbook mind you, will sort it out a bit more tomorrow

lastminute.com

2007-10-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

Big Draw 25th October

2007-10-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

My personal contribution for the Big Draw on 25th October at the Leeds Metropolitan University. Jo gave me a photocopy card and said to get some books and photocopy them and see what happened, this is what happened that afternoon. Afterwards I gave them to a guy called Toby as I recall, but I haven't a clue as to what he did with them but it would be interesting to find out....

Big Draw 25th October

2007-10-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

lastminute.com

2007-10-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

How long have you got?

"live every last minute .com"

How long do we have left to live?
What should you spend it doing?
Life trickling away......
Sands of time (HOURGLASS)

Tutorial 23/10/07

2007-10-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

LAST MINUTE:
- not just travel
- flowers, tickets, meals etc...
- the last minute (icon)
- eye zoom too druggy? good or bad?
- not a journey
- ryan mcguiness flatness is god

SELLF:
- critical
- tone
- not too many puns in one place
- full circle
- work becoming part of what it criticising
- absorbance into popular culture

FLIRTBOX:
- neon
- colour
- merging
- night/day ... office/play
- blowing a kiss, positioning
- logo/advert
-

FB 2nd Mock

2007-10-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

new mock up for flirtbox - filled out logo and change of format, portrait to landscape, just a bit of a re-jig

Flirtbox

2007-10-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

first illustrator mock-up of flirtbox brief solution, 25-30 yr old chat/date website

twenty four

2007-10-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

my designs for the number twenty four 24 submitted for use to celebrate the library being open 24 hrs also co-insides with the big draw on 25th october apparently

Monday 15th October

2007-10-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

Update:

Just a couple of things really, looking at using serif type to combined script letterforms combined with letters to make newly subtle icons to place in text for advertising/branding work using taglines such as "all buy oursellves" and "sell£/f"

combination of '£' and 'f' characters

also grid systems using monetary units as a basis 1 2 5 10 20 50 etc...

Paul Rand

2007-10-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

American artist/designer Paul Rand. Since we (and by that I mean the people of my generation) have all grown up with these brands, such as "IBM", "abc" and "UPS" we instantly know what they mean and stand for, even if we don;t use them. And even though they were designed over 30 years ago they haven't really dated, a testiment to the quality of the design. I'm becoming more and more interested in "quality design" something which there isn't enough of in our over-saturated culture.

Swiss Design

2007-10-10T08:05:00.001-07:00

Swiss Design. What do I like about it? Well its the whole sort of concept through to final visual outcome methodology which I like and can really engage with. The use of grid systems, and just "proper" design! It seems that with so much software readily available people don't engage with the design as much as in the early days. This is almost art to me. The use of space to represent the information with minimal./essential flare. The content isn't over-ruled by the design, they both work together as one, harmoniously.

Foundation 33 Greetings Cards

2007-10-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

The reason that I like these greetings cards is for their utilitarian approach to such a commonly poorly executed piece of gift related subject matter. Quite often greetings cards are shit. And by applying minimal, utility styling to them reduces them to their core ideals, What is it for? Who? From Whom? No fancy pictures which bare no relation to either the recipient, its sender, or the occasion at hand. Well done.

I Like Work

2007-10-09T13:05:00.001-07:00

This is the result of me looking at Swiss graphic design all afternoon and then picking and interesting quote from the book "The Art of Looking Sideways". Combining the two using a minimal graphic style. Oversized quotation marks resemble the numbers 66 and 99; which link to the two lines refer to the hands of a clock, relating to the passage of time implied in the text. Notice the detail of "work" and "for hours" in italics; a motivational device should this piece end up stuck in the studio. The blue has no real relevance other than I thought it looked lighter than a solid black.

Jerome K Jerome was an author, there is more information on him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_K_Jerome

Concept Idea: Grid Systems

2007-10-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Just had the idea, possibility to base a grid system on values which currency comes in:

1p = 1mm/pixel?
2p
5p
10p
20p
50p
£1 = 100
£5 = 500
£10 = 1000
£20
£50 = 5000?

doesn't have to be those specific values. Idea links in with work based on consumerism/advertising. Obviously Money is closely linked. Perhaps the physical dimensions/measurements of the money could be used also?? Would be interesting since the size doesn't always increase with the value of the currency. (possibly euros?)

Grid System 01

2007-10-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

First experimental grid system for laying out various design pieces. Based on the principle of a 100 x 100 square in the top left corner, moving onto a 50 x 100 rectangle rotated 90 degress, 25 x 75 rectangle and so on. These shapes then create a grid system to work off shown here in three forms. One: Solid Square and Grid Lines. Two: Solid Squares only. Three: Grid Lines only. Using simple shapes and maths to create a (hopefully) dynamic grid system to work off.

Note: These aren't very precise drawings as the work is at an experimental stage

Tuesday 9th October

2007-10-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

From today's series of looking at books and articles these are some things which I would like too look into further (aswell as the previous things which I haven't mentioned on here and still haven't looked at):

- Ernst Keller "the father of swiss graphic design"
- "Die Neue Typographie" Jan Tsichold (an english copy would be good)
- Grid Systems (possibly apply to bad new design

"I like work - it facinates me - I can sit and look at it for hours" Jerome K. Jerome

From looking at Swiss design I have considered more the idea of mass design and its use by the individual. UNIVERSAL / personal

Also I need to buy a ruler.

Amnesty International Flyer

2007-10-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

I've kept this flyer since having it in a newspaper a the design really stood out to me. I haven't shown it all here and you may not have seen it, or you might have. What I like about it is the strong, solid message which it portrays through the text alone, without the need for guilt inducing photographs which turn off more people than they do on. By sticking to minimal colours and using the format to emphasise the message (you read as you unfold) I would say that this is a successful piece of design. Designer unknown.

Sketchbook Scans 8th October

2007-10-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

Three scans from doodles in my sketchbook:

"All Buy Ourselves" a play on words as a slogan working around the theme of people buying their self image from the brands and products that they own and selling themselves and replacing them with products

"Self Sold" similar idea, selling yourself, being sold products/brand. typographic solutions to experimental wording

"F£" detail for development from previous sketches putting letter symbols with monetary symbols, icons and merging the two

1st - 8th October Sketchbook Update

2007-10-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

A few snippings from my sketchbook ramblings and thoughts to show you an insight into my working practice and keep me updated and organised.

- BUY ME it's what adverts are for. Part with a piece of yourself and replace it with a product.
- The Brand sells to you, You buy The Brand, The Brand owns you, You've lost yourself.
- What is good design? Responsibility to quality design?
- Design Values?
- ALL buy 0UR$E££VE$ (all buy ourselves)
- The way people read words (Look Into)
- Is Advertising BAD - Yes/No?

"Wouldn't it be interesting if there were only one typeface in the world? Designers would really have to think about the idea behind their designs instead of covering it up with fancy typefaces. One, universal typeface would really strip away all the flashy emptiness in design. And, of course, that one typeface would have to be HELVETICA." Erik Kessels (Homage To A Typeface)

"It is basically what distinguishes branded from unbranded products...If we have a clear picture of a brand in our minds to refer to, we can handle it easily in decision making, even at lower levels of consciousness. The identity of a brand endures over time...We have the reassurance that comes with familiarity and with the sense of pattern and order this gives us." (The Consumerist Manifesto)

"We have endless views, actually, about how our washing smells, about bottled versus tap-water, about the difference between instant and ground coffee, about labels, product performance and personal gratification." (The Consumerist Manifesto)

Helvetica - Homage To A Typeface

2007-10-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

A few of my favourite excerpts from the book Helvetica - Homage To A Typeface by Lars Muller. Nice little book celebrating a classic 20th century typeface in it;s numerous uses throughout our world. I for one am a fan, particularly Helvetica Narrow Bold.

Statement Of Intent

2007-10-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

For my final project in Level 2 I looked at the general public’s addiction to celebrity and “reality” television; highlighting the fact people are constantly under daily surveillance and caught on camera, as much as if not more than celebrities.

My work is often concept led, looking at the idea and information behind the design as much as the design itself. Moving on this year I want to look at consumerism and advertising through design. The way in which the design of a brand can make or break it, and the values which are associated with it; positive or negative. I do not intend to aim for a specific outcome. Rather I would prefer that my research and opinions inform the manifestation of my work. I have always found using typography and layout to be my strengths and as such my final outcome will most likely display a preference towards this. Influencing my work is Modernism and Swiss design, with their clean lines and geometric shapes; mixed with contemporary work by The Designer’s Republic and Anthony Burrill amongst others.

I am interested in the personalization of design, where mass produced objects become personal to an individual through their preferences and use of a product; from something a simple as a t-shirt to an iPod. Self expression in the face of advertisement overload.