Thursday 29 April 2010

Southern Railways 1962 ( E. Lander )


I found out yesterday that a selection of Hastings Seaside posters from the last century will be available to purchase soon from the Arthur Green shop on the prom, headquarters of the 'Save The Pier' campaign - the British Museum have agreed to relax copyright and editions are available fro £25 to £100.

Launching The Style Decade

Thursday 6th May - BBC Radio 4, 11.30am

30 years after it was launched, Robert Elms investigates the origins and influence of The Face, the 'style bible' of the 80s. The magazine was at the forefront of a remarkable change in the visual landscape of Britain in the 1980s: from Sunday newspaper supplements, to television ads, to ordinary high street shop fronts.

Until 1980 music magazines were black and white broadsheet papers like the NME and Melody Maker. Then in the summer of 1980 The Face changed all that. Started by the former NME and Smash Hits editor
Nick Logan, it brought a flash of colour to the magazine industry, mixing pop, politics, photography, fashion and style, all tied together by the iconic design of art director Neville Brody.


The Face advocated that music didn't matter unless everyone looked good. With the innovative marriage of fashion and music, 'the best dressed magazine' quickly became the arbiter of style and cool in 1980s England.


At its most successful The Face was at the forefront of every major youth movement and was pivotal in launching the career of models Kate Moss and photgrapher Juergen Teller. Taking stock, publisher Nick Logan and Neville Brody reveal what they believe to be the lasting impact of The Face on style and design.
Flickr group here.

Peter Blake Artbus to visit Brighton

The Artbus will be in Brighton for one day only next month on May 9th - all the details are here.

More Election Posters

Some entries from the Guardian 'design an election poster' thread that I told you about - the newest are here.

I really like this version of 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' film poster

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Closure of the print studio.

Just to advise you that Ian Brown will be closing the Screen print studio from 28th May - please make sure you factor this into any design work for your F.M.P

Edward Mybridge / Eadweard Muybridge Exhiubition

Tate Britain will host the biggest exhibition ever of work by the influential photographer, Eadweard Muybridge ( that's the right spelling - he wanted the Saxon Version ).

He's the guy who developed stop motion photographic techniques that break an image down into parts to show movement - an abridged version of his life story and show details is here - and it's pretty weird stuff. The show opens on September 8th.

There is a link here to a page of animated youtube movies of his work.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Mindmaps

David F. has found this handy video about the bloke who invented mind maps, it helps put them onto context better.

I've been very critical when some of you tend to use mind maps as an excuse for not actually doing any work - this will help you to get some practical use from them, rather than just using them as a way to avoid actually doing anything - and filling a sheet of paper with pretty patterns.

More Election Graphics

The Party Political Broadcast for the Green Party was released today - it's very interesting because it just uses cardboard shapes and 4 colours - in a simple animated style with a voice over. It's a good example of how something very complex and issues related can be communicated with simple, concise graphic images that suggest rather than dictate. it's a very clever piece of work - it also makes the other parties look dated and clumsy. You can see the film here.

( don't worry - I'm not electioneering - there isn't a candidate for the Green Party standing in Hastings and Rye - I checked )

Geometry Of Pasta


New cook book with a very graphic technique - there is a really good typographic black and white animation here

Ties in really nicely with the Pasta Promotion brief FDA1 had last term. Simple graphic annimation and nice clean typography - nothing that you couldn't have already done yourself - we have had enough briefs on type as image and how to be able to communicate ideas with simple symbols - this is just clear thinking and a straightforward brief.

Briget Riley

Good article in The Guardian about Briget Riley and link to her latest exhibition at The National Portrait gallery - focusing on her move from traditional work to the abstract graphic images that made her so influential.

I've mentioned her in the studio quite a few times, well worth paying attention to.

The Literary Platform






A new website focusing on the move from traditional to new media press, of special interest to anyone interested in books, design, illustration or the future of publishing, launches today.

The video here shows just how much potential there is in new media for expanding the print / digital interface. I suggest you bookmark and follow.

Studio Opening - Weds / Thursday

The Studio will be open as normal tomorrow ( Wednesday 28th ) until 4.30 when it will be locked ( if empty ) - if you wish to stay in 301 working, you may do so unsupervised until 6pm when Richard will be in until 9pm.

 On Thursday 29th - the studio will close at 4.30 again - unless anyone wished to work late - in which case, you will be expected to take responsibility for making sure all the computers are turned off and the windows closed, security will lock up at any time after 6pm when the room is empty.

Design Your Own Political Poster

If you go through to the Guardian Website there is an article on how to design and upload your own political posters for the general election - and if you go through to makeyourmark, you can submit your own of download PDF's of your favourites.

The best ones are the pure typographic versions - word play like 're-new-labour is really clever and simple, and the sort of concept that you could build a whole winning campaign on.

This is pretty close to a brief that year 1 are working on, so I'd recommend you have a close look.


( you know, we do actually think about the work we set you - we don't just make it up on the day.... )

Partnership Review 2010

As you all know there is a partnership review between Brighton University and Hastings ( SCCH ) this week, some of you are already involved. On Wednesday and Thursday afternoon many of the staff will be over at Station Plaza in Committee.  We have kept the disruption down to as little as possible - but there are a couple of instances when you may be unsupervised. We'd like to think we can trust you to carry on with your work. Not like yesterday when many of you skulked off as soon as I left the room - there isn't a single YR1 student who can afford to lose an afternoon - I'll be asking Jane to check on the attendances so that I can complete the register .... as I will be for yesterday.

Monday 26 April 2010

What makes an iconic photograph?

 There is an article in the Times that ties in exactly with one of the term 3 module briefs, link through here.

There is also a reference to an exhibition at the Atlas Gallery in London that starts on Thursday titled 'Faces of our Time'

Good Design improves lives.

From The Guardian today.

Yves Behar creator of the $100 laptop has worked with the Mexican optics company Augen to produce lightweight, almost unbreakable, customisable and inexpensive glasses.

Research showed that poor eyesight was severely effecting marks, and 11% of children were unable to read a blackboard or follow a lesson. Augen and Béhar are now looking at expanding the programme to other countries.



"This project follows our philosophy that design should continue to make a difference beyond the commercial world, and that non-profits do need emotional appeal and efficient solutions just as much as for-profit companies," said Béhar.

"Design can make a tremendous difference and we believe this is a responsibility that the industrial profession carries: to bring transformative solutions."

Sunday 25 April 2010

What's in Font?

The Mail On Sunday has an article about a change of font for the Foreign Office - it claims that the cost was £80,000 - obviously that's a poor reading of the facts - the brief would have been far more extensive than just a change of font. Personally, I preferred it before. The new font already looks dated to me - some institutions should not follow fashion, it devalues them - however, if you read the article it identifies the new font as Frutiger, which is most certainly is NOT.

What they do give us is a sample of the rules that would have come with any brand bible - important guidelines that govern the usage and application of any design rationale - they adopt a fairly mocking tome - and out of context it can seem comic - but this kind of rigid, well thought through structure is what design is all about.

More on The Independent Redesign

This weeks re-designed Independent on Sunday is actually very good, the changes are subtle but clever - the layout is much improved and difficult pages like the TV listings are far easier to read. In an age when people are encouraged to glean their news from the internet - traditional press needs to compete aggressively. The Times is about to charge for access to it's website ( a bold, but I think mistaken move ) so all the other media outlets are reassessing how they perform. The guardian already has by far the best conceived website, but it's incredibly expensive to run and loses them a fortune every year. The Independent site is actually quite poor, but perhaps investment from the new owners will address that.

This week - among other things, there is an article about the rise in popularity in Russian Art ( there is an excellent gallery of 20th century Russian Art on Norman Road ) and a detailed and very complimentary story in the travel section about Hastings and Battle as a 'Staycation' destination. There is also a really usefull spread about the 'Hand' motif used in the Iconography of Ulster - you can link through here - really handy for the First Years and the Wednesday briefs.

Saturday 24 April 2010

Creating an Iconic image.


David Fowler found this film on the excellent V&A channel.

It's a really useful resource for the first years who are on the '5 from 7' final module brief - it covers a lot of the important points in briefs like 'Superhero' and Iconic image' and it's key to understanding visual language and brand identity.

It's also great to see how the creative process can work.

Timetable week starting April 26th

FDA 1

Monday, you are in the studio 301 with Richard - you need the typo scrapbooks that you started over Easter and the initial work for the etching block with Jackie - I'll be checking and recording your progess for the module mark

Tuesday, Etching in the workshop with Jackie from 10am, as I pointed out - it's a workshop environment and you must be there on time.

Wednesday. You are working on the 5 briefs from 7 project - you are booked to have David, but will also be with me - at 1pm I need to go over to Station Plaza for the Partnership review, but in the morning I need to check your progess and record which options you have all gone for.

FDA2 

Wednesday - you have Andrew for the morning, then in the afternoon it's private study as he is also at Station Plaza, I've given him a rundown on all the individual FMP proposals we discussed on Friday.

Thursday

You have David Fowler

Friday

You have me again.

Friday 23 April 2010

JDO Design Brief

JDO are a branding consultancy based in Tunbridge Wells, they have set up a competition with a cash prize and work placement option - I have a set of posters in the office - and you can go online and download the brief - it's pretty simple, just look at their logo and create something new with it. Ask me if you want more details. This is from the publicity material.


As you know, on Monday 26th April, our competition will be launched, aimed primarily at any 3D, product and graphic design students, offering a chance to win a £1000 cash prize and a work placement in our vibrant 2D + 3D branding design company.

JDO is a bright young branding agency. JDO designs some of the world’s best known brands, expressing their unique personalities through various touch points such as packaging, dispense, product and environment.

Please find attached a copy of our 3 posters. As well as exhibiting our posters on the walls of your university, please circulate this email to all relevant students. Full details of the competition can be found on our website: www.jdouk.com/brief/

Thursday 22 April 2010

There has been a spring update over on Gary Neill's website - including blog and sketchbook - so pop over and have a look.

THE ELECTION 
TIME DEBATE



An invitation to staff and students at Brighton and Sussex Universities to participate in

THE ELECTION 
TIME DEBATE



6.30pm Wednesday 28 April 2010, Sallis Benney Theatre, 
Grand Parade, University of Brighton

The Panel:
 
·

Conservative Party: Charlotte Vere.
 (Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Pavilion;)

·
Green Party: Caroline Lucas 

(Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Pavilion.)

·
Liberal Democrats: Juliet Williams 

(Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Kemptown)

·
Labour Party: Des Turner 

(Current MP for Brighton Kemptown)




This QUESTION TIME style debate is your chance to challenge your candidates. We will take a range of questions covering all the main issues nationally, locally and in the Universities.
 


ELECTION TIME is open to all but there are only 220 tickets. Please email md17@brighton.ac.uk if you would like to attend, and your ticket will be emailed back. If you would like to question a candidate email your question, and be prepared to ask from the floor. 


www.brighton.ac.uk/CAPPE
Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics (CAPPE),
Faculty of Arts 
UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Pick Me Up!

From this weekend, Somerset House in London presents Pick Me Up, the first contemporary graphic art fair in the UK.

The fair will bring together the most exciting graphic artists working today, giving you the opportunity to buy limited edition, affordable graphic art, illustration and design.

Link through to the site here with all the information of what's happening over the week - and they even have a nice little blog here.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

Talks at the The De La Warr

I've been to a few of these and they are usually pretty good, this one looks pretty interesting and relevant to all of you.

Saturday 24 April at 2pm
Talk - Modern Times In Context

Art Historian Dr Graham Whitham will explore the social, political and cultural landscape that inspired the development of Modernism and influenced the key artists in the exhibition.

Tickets are only £5

The Independent re-design

The Independent newspaper ( which recently changed hands) has had a subtle overhaul - and a new review section.

For those of you who take an interest in these things, the design work has been led by Cases & Associates of Barcelona, and the headline fonts are Sun (in the main section) and Farnham and Clan (in Viewspaper). There is also an opinion piece from the Press Gazette that reviews the redesign here.

There has been a lot of focus on The Independent recently - the new owners also bought The Evening Standard and made it a free sheet, and The Independent has been struggling visually and commercially for some time. I'm not sure that this is enough to save them - I really hope they sort their website out - it's terrible.

Antony Gormley at the De La Warr

Just announced - Antony Gormley will install 'Critical Mass' - up to 60 life size sculptures of himself - on the roof of the De La Warr from next month - all the details are here.

This is a major event - he has already produced sculptures that sit along the rooftops of New York - and a similar installation is sited along the beach in Crosby, near Liverpool - and it's fantastic. It's a major coup for the De La Warr so make sure you get there.

Critical Mass was made in 1995 in direct response to the Remise railway terminus in Vienna. Although it has been exhibited in several major solo shows throughout Europe, and in part in the Hayward Blind Light exhibition in 2007, this is the first time it has been exhibited as a whole in the UK since the Tate St. Ives exhibition in 2001.

Further information on Antony Gormley and his work: http://www.antonygormley.com

Jonathon found this interesting and pertinent article in the papers today - not just timely - but YR 2 have a couple of briefs that are specifically geared towards Iconic images and the general election.

I remember this one from when I was a kid - it had a massive impact at the time and was really important from a design and history perspective.

Monday 19 April 2010

Art School / Time Shift

Art School on BBC4 was excellent - looking at the British Art Schools in the 60's - with an emphasis on Graphics - link to the site here - may be repeated, might also be on iPlayer - sorry I didn't spot it earlier.

Slightly off message...

Sunday 18 April 2010

D&AD Awards

D&AD Judging takes place at Olympia next week. Over 3,000 entries have been logged, tagged, stored, checked and triple-checked. We are delighted to have over 130 judges from 120 potential employers joining us over the course of the week.

Once again the Student Awards is being judged alongside the Professional Awards. The judges will be discussing a great deal of things, from the merits of the work in front of them, to what you, the student body, mean for the future of this industry.

But that aside, we know judging is a mystery for many of you, so please head on over to http://dandad.org all next week where we will be posting up interviews and exclusive content live from Judging. You'll hear leading creatives talking about work that is fresh and how it's changing the industry day-by-day, helping you to understand what will be expected of you, regardless of discipline, over the coming years.

Judges are free to tweet throughout the week, so for those of you who have entered, log on and get the hash tag for your category to see if you can get any hints as to whether you have been successful or not. Or better still, join twitter today and follow @baby_pencils and @dandad for all the news.

We will be contacting everyone with the results in early May. In the meantime, if all of this talk about competitions is making you wish you had another opportunity then don't forget there's still time to enter Doritos' King of Ad's competition (http://www.doritos.co.uk). You could win up to £200,000 which is ALMOST as good as getting a D&AD Student

Independent on Sunday.

Three very good articles - so well worth the cover price ( you also get a free DVD of The Assassination Of Richard Nixon - which is a pretty good film )

Nice piece on the architect Oscar Niemeyer - we trained with Le Corbusier, and is still working at the age of 102. Article on Charlotte and Peter Fiell - who are really important figures in the world of design publishing.

Really good article and pictures about great book design. Focusing on the work of cover designers with examples of how book designers work before and after the text material is applied. - it also flags up an exhibition at the V&A "Art and Design at Faber & Faber'

Also - a really interesting piece on the history of the Dr Marten boot.

Friday 16 April 2010

Important Information for YR 1

Monday morning will start off at 10am with a full briefing on the 'Communicating With Images' module - it starts with two print briefs - one for etching and one for silkscreen printing. There are two studio days booked in first ( consecutive Mondays) to prepare everything before you go into the Print Shop. I will want to see the scrapbooks and references you have been gathering over the Easter Break. Once you have had a read through I will email everyone a copy of the brief.

Straight after lunch at 1.30 we will go through all the Found Font images on the big screen. To make a slideshow you will need either Powepoint or Acrobat - if there is anyone who does not have the images ready - you have time to put them together in the morning.

Tuesday is C&C with Gary, and you will be given the 2nd part of the module brief on Wednesday at 10am.

Don't forget - if you have not presented your Interactive work to me yet, it must be done on Monday.

Creative Review Online Subscription Offer.

Creative review are offering an onlne subscription for the annual cost of £40.00 for a limited time only. You get all the current content and access to extra live content - like video, reduced prices on offers and merchandise - and access to all the online Monograph magazines. It's about half the price of a subscription and looks like quite a nice deal - at abut 80p per week.

You can link through to the website here, it's also been re-vamped like the magazine and looks really strong.

Conceptual Adds online blog

Emma found this - it's a collection of fantastic conceptual adverts - I know you are sick of me banging on about how important it is to have a good clear idea - and there are some stunners here. If you get the concept right and it does the job - you are already more than half way there.

If you look back to last year - Angie had one of the strongest FMP's because she had a very clear concept that people could connect with. I think this one on the left is brilliant - but it's so simple it's almost embarrassing.

Not too sure about the MacDonalds baby.... stuff of nightmares!

Thursday 15 April 2010

Creative Nerds

Another site found by Clare - Creative Nerds is one of many design community sites that are packed with tutorials, help and advice - have a look through the archives, bound to be something you can use.

CV and Proff Practice inspiration

Clare came across this really useful site for anyone who needs help putting their CV together, link to the CV gallery here.

Studio Opening - Friday 16th April

The studio room 301 will be open from 10.30 - 4pm tomorrow, I know a few of you have already asked if you can come in to work - so I'll be there all day.

Coley Porter Bell SHINE 2010 awards




















Brand design agency CPB who I'm sure need no further introduction ) have sent through the information for the 2010 SHINE awards. Open to all 2nd year students who graduate in 2011 ( you know who you are ). The prize is £3000 and a 3 month paid work placement upon graduation ( yes Laura - I'm talking to you )

To enter you must submit one piece of work from your year 2 portfolio that showcases your best talent. Closing date is June 26th - I have all the information and the rather snazzy poster in my office.

National Magazine Cover Archive


















Gary has forwarded a link to the NMCA - which is pretty handy as FDA 1 have a couple of appropriate briefs coming up - its also a really great resource for everyone else.

Wednesday 14 April 2010

Timetable week 39 / FDA 1+2

We are all back next week - April 19th - 23rd. It's a really busy week and I need you to be sure you know what's happening. Please note how the timing works on Wednesday, first years start at 10am, 2nd years start at 11am.

Monday 19th FDA 1

10am - start in room 301. De-brief on the holiday project, presentation of scrapbooks and all students to show their found fonts on the projected screen, exactly as described in the brief.

11am - you will be given the two briefs that you need to follow to prepare for Communicating with Images Module (etching and Silkscreen) starting Tuesday 27th.

Tuesday 20th

10am - C&C with Gary Neill, room 301 - your final day of the year with Gary and he has important things to do - if you are not able to complete the module correctly you will fail and cannot go on to year 2. You have all been told this morre than once.

Wednesday 21st - FDA1

10am in room 301 - I will be briefing you on the 8 week 2/3D module - you must be here on time - there are 7 projects to go through. After 11am you will be able to start research and brainstorming. You cannot be late for this session as we need to be done by 11am and I'll start without you.

Wednesday 22nd - FDA2

11am in room 301 - Andrew is not able to teach this session - which is quite handy really because I want to spend an hour with you introducing the Final major Projects / Presentation Module and how the term will procede. Andrew will be with you next week.

Thursday 23rd - FDA2

You have David Fowler today looking at your Presentation Project

Friday 24th - FDA2

You have me ( Richard ) Today

Future Lions Award

We have been invited to submit entries to the student Future Lions awards in Cannes.

Essentially - it's all about advertising concepts - if you can think of a good way to promote something that would not have been possible 5 years ago - you can enter. It's a bit tight, Entries by April 30th, but as it's concept based,..... great things have come from drawings on the backs of envelopes. I have some snazzy posters in the office - and the website is here. It's sponsored by Aqua - their site is here, it's a very flash (Flash) site..

The Careers Centre

I've been given some dates and info from the careers center - not all of the information is apropraite to us - but there are some useful courses and seminars - there is a link over on the right under 'resources'.

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Election manifesto Time.

As we have a General Election just around the corner, all the parties are putting the finishing touches to their manifesto presentations. These are really important and interesting design opportunities - essentially, they are trying to re-brand the UK in their own image, and it's a fascinating look at the image industry in action.

The main Parties are already out - and Labour have gone for a retro, soviet / utopian style image with a truly terrible typographic layout - it's very ugly, The image looks like one of the 1930's advertising images for suburban housing . The Consevatives have gone for a rather dull looking exterior - but have used some quite good typographic images in the style of Alan Kitching ( see image ) to jazz up their offer.

The Conservative party website is also really quite well done and very dynamic despite a simple grid layout - as is the Green Party.

Of course - I'll leave it up to you to decide who your favourites are - but you should be keeping an eye on the visual side of things. the interactive election night graphics are always are real flagship event for the TV design departments. I have set some projects for the first years that mirror what's happening on the news - so pay attention now.

Monday 12 April 2010

Photography shows in East Sussex

Alex Bratell has a really useful website that collates all the photographic exhibitions in the surrounding area - concentrating on Hastings and St Leonards.

The link to the site is here, and there is an article in HOT, the Hastings Online Times, here

Adobe CS5 unveiled


Adobe have finally unveiled the new version of creative suite - the adobe press release is here - and an overview at Mac Rumors here.

Due to be available retail in about a month.

Not sure how I feel about the box graphics....

Goldsmiths: But is it art?

 Monday April 12th 9pm - BBC4

There are many opportunities to shake your head in disbelief at some of the ideas expressed by the fine arts masters degree students in Victoria Silver's engaging film - mostly involving Roisin: "I shoplift things, eat them, and s**t them out. And that's the work." But you're also pulled into the hectic months the students face finishing works for a show that will be attended by thousands and could see them snapped up by galleries or selling works for big money. A critical remark from a tutor just before the show leaves Ian, who is in debt up to his eyeballs, uncertain as to how to proceed. And the person most people will identify with, former armour designer Thomas, is bemused when he changes his work thanks to the criticism of it being literal and is then told a piece isn't clear in its intentions. You may feel, as Thomas does, that "I don't get it," but if you enjoyed School of Saatchi, you'll enjoy this.

Want to nominate for the Turner Prize?

If you want to nominate an artist for the 2010 Turner Prize - you can - just follow the link here

Internship Opportunity

This Internship Opportunity has been received.

FTAPE.COM is a leading Online Fashion Resource with strong connections to various sectors of the industry, including PR, Magazine Publishing, Graphic Design, Modeling, Imaging, Styling, Creative Agencies and Leading Fashion & Beauty brands.


We are looking for two confident and creative interns to assist with the day-to-day running of FTAPE.COM, to start immediately. As F.TAPE is a smaller online company, both candidates with receive valuable hands-on experience in the running and management of a successful fashion website. The student should have a keen interest in Fashion, Advertising and Media.

Graphic & Design based intern:
Working directly with our in-house staff as part of Fashion Imaging.
Tasks will include:


* Resizing / optimising imagery for web
* Artworking layout of imagery for News Stories
* Managing a database of imagery from many clients
* Assisting the creative director with new sections of F.TAPE
* Maintaining database contacts
* Liasing with All Style Magazines, Design Agencies & PR Agencies
* Attending brain-storming sessions as part of our Development meetings.



Photographic Exhibition in St Leonards

New Work at the Lucy Bell Gallery

Landscape:One 
Private View - Saturday May 8th, exhibition May 8th - 29th 2010

The first in a series of four Landscape exhibitions  studying the variations of "New Landscape"
Richard Chivers, Marc Wilson and Zander Olsen have all been working on personal aspects of the British Landscape, breaking the stereotypical image of our preception of a traditional landscape photographer. Sometimes gritty, others conceptual . Marc Wilsons work explores abandonment, Richard Chivers work the scarring and intimate facades of quarrying, whilst Zander Olsen uses landscape as a tool to explore perspective.

Student Survey

Earlier in the year we asked you all to complete the NSS student survey, so far only 53% of the FDA G.C. have done so - it's really important that you do this, and reflects really badly on you if you don't - I need the rate to get up to 60% minimum ( I have a feeling that most of YR2 have already done it..... )

The link is here - NSS Student Survey

Sunday 11 April 2010

Butlers Emporium / George Street

If you know Old Town Hastings - you will know the old haberdashers by The Dragon Bar. It's been closed a while and is now an interiors / gift / antique type shop - it's just been taken over by a woman called Rose who is actually very nice.

Specifically to interest you - she has a lot of 'found' typography - bus graphics, shop letters etc - and some nice little graphic items, retro sketchbooks and modern takes on old packaging. Worth a good look.

Friday 9 April 2010

"The Purpose of Punk was to make the ugly beautiful"




















There are quite a few alarmingly respectful obituaries to Malcolm McClaren in the papers today - something that's fairly amusing for anyone of my age - you can work your way through The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian at your own leisure - but I strongly recommend you check out the original Grundy Interview that McLaren orchestrated but did not actually appear in. I watched this life - I was about 11, my mum was in the kitchen cooking chips - if she had caught me she would have been furious.

I've talked to some of you before about how grim Britain in the '70s was - and it's hard to think of anything in your lifetime that had the same kind of instant cultural impact. If it wasn't for this man - I think most of you would probably be working in factories or supermarkets.

Thursday 8 April 2010

Mid Century Modern Design



There is is an exceptionally good resource for mid-century modern graphic design books here - it's also a really well designed and laid out website, well work a proper look.

There is a bookstore ( they are very expensive ) but loads of contextual information for cross referencing.

Timetable Change, year 2

You are timetabled to have Andrew Robey on Wednesday April 21st - we've had to alter that and you are actually having me instead - it's your first day back of the final term and we have quite a lot to talk about in the morning - Andrew will be with you the following Wednesday as timetabled to talk to you about your presentation projects.

Jerwood Prize Publicity

The press shots from the Jerwood Prize presentation with the winning students and the Secretary Of State is now live, link through here to the story, scroll donw for a nice picture of the students, thankfully they have edited me out!

Storm Thorgerson

One of the worlds most influential Record Sleeve designers has a retrospective of his work in London until May 2nd, Gary Neill was also able to find this great link about the show and there is a link to the BBC story here, really worth making the effort to go and see.

His work is important from an historical perspective - but also in terms of how we got to where we are now with visual design.

He has his own website here that shows the full range of his work and there is a Wiki link here.

Printmaking Workshop

Joanna Kerr has been able to book Andrew Mockett for a one day Printmaking Workshop on April 27th - there may be  a couple of places left - if you are interested, you need to let me know as soon as possible.

Thursday 1 April 2010

Creative Review relaunch







Creative Review has relaunched on a much tighter, smaller and better organised format with a new logo and typestyle, - the website is also much improved. There is a permalink over there >>> on the right.

CR has been the industry standard monthly publication for about 30 years now and has been through quite a few changes - but the new format looks much stronger and more serious. You get quite a few benefits from subscription - but the Library also carries a copy

Live Brief: Battle Arts

Joanna Kerr has given me a really nice little live brief to create a new logo / typographic treatment for Battle Arts. I'm going to re-write it as a professional brief and run it along client / designer lines - so it's suitable for anyone who wants to use it as W.E. - but it's open to both years.

Work like this is an excellent way to build your portfolio, raise your profile and create community contacts. I'll be ready to brief you straight after Easter - but feel free to drop me a line if you are interested.

House Industries Playbill Silkscreen

Originally a font design company ( or 'Foundry' ), House Industries have branched into graphics, print, interiors, retail design and accessories. They are very good at developing themes font families and have a strong illustrative style and command of colour.

Their live blog is required reading - 1st years have a playbill brief straight after Easter that takes them into the Silkscreen module - there is a link here with an almost identical project that shows you what you can achieve.

You all have a copy of the brief and I would include some House Industries work in your research

RE:MISSION Live brief

There are several of you who have been working on the Re:Mission brief in both the 1st and 2nd years. I'd like to see the results on Wednesday April 21st straight after lunch - this is really important for the 2nd years who are using this project as a live brief. I've seen a couple of really nice pieces so far, lets hope they are all up to the same high standard.