Graphic Novels / Myriad

I have a contact here and we are talking about some way of working together next year - but in the mean time - here is a Graphic Novel competition - not a million miles away from the narrative illustration brief from last year.

Film Poster Review

Nice article here on the poster for the film Tyrannosaur - always good to listen to other peoples critical analysis.

Design Brief

I have a brief to design a logo and some branding for a Brighton based skateboard retailer - if you are interested, drop me a line.

Mr Gretsy

Nice work here with a typo / illustraion mix - and visual puns galore.

The Bradford Print Project

Great blog to follow here.

Works in paper.

Very clever and creative paper work here by Bianca Chang

Very clever solution here to a simple exercise - but brings in movement and engagement.

Studio EMMI

Nice work here - and a very clever solution to binding that might be useful to some of your fanzine projects.

Guide to Copywriting

Very handy reference here on how to ( and why to ) protect creative work - I'd suggest you keep a copy.

Best of book cover design

Very interesting article here on Felt and Wire about the quality and relevance of modern book cover design. Good reference for FDA2.

Falconware repackaging

I'm sure that everyone recognises this product - there is an article here on it's re-branding via Creative Review and Gary Neill. It's very appropriate that it's turned up now because part of the FDA2 program next year will examine design within the context of popular culture and what we see as 'familiar' - and how designers reference visual language. Have a look at the website, and bear it all in mind.

NMM identity / SomeOne

Personally - I hate this, it looks like a nightmare to implement and is fairly derivative of a number f other identities - read the comments carefully and look at it in context. I'm more encouraged by the association with a student and how the internship opportunity came about - you all need to get into agencies and this is one way to do it - look at big projects that are out there now and do things that make you desirable.

Another Great Flickr page

Designers re-imagining Records covers as books ( here ), in clever ways examining themes generic styles - a really useful creative exercise.

Flickr Resources

There are literally hundreds of Flickr groups devoted to typography - here is a great one - which also examines fonts on film.

Something to Typographers

The Rob Roy Kelly American wood type collection and archive. Click Here

Next Year

I've finished all the endless meetings, reviews, paperwork and staring at a screen at Station Plaza for this year - so I'll mostly be based at my own studio until September working commercially. If anyone needs anything, email me and I can make an appointment to see you at the college if necassary.

As I'm here - I'll be able to get back to regular posting ( it seems that 200 people a day are checking the blog... not sure where they all come from..... and 40,000 have looked at it this year... )

I have been looking at the way the program is delivered and there will be some changes and improvements to next year - quite a few new things - but lots of good stuff too. The enrollment date for the new first years is set -but not the 2nd years - I'll advise everyone as soon as it's available.

If anyone is missing a summer brief - email me as soon as possible ( a few of you already have ). This project is not 'marked' as part of the program - but it will be the first time you will have a level 2 'crit' and I may be much harsher than you expect - so don't let yourself down!

Not getting it right

This is the new 'Made in Britain' logo - I hate it. It's quirky, twee, a bit fiddly and poorly ballanced. I can't imagine it working at a small scale without adjustment and it looks very difficult to place. I'm pretty sure you culd all do better. This is the generic news story that's been issued with it - there is no further comment in the design press yet - I look forward to seeing what happens.


PRESS ASSOCIATION -- A campaign for a new Made in Britain marque for products manufactured in this country has produced a logo after receiving an "overwhelming response" from the public.
Kitchen appliance manufacturer Stoves is leading the campaign after research earlier this year showed that half of consumers were confused about which brands could still claim to be made in Britain.
Denver Hewlett, chief executive of Stoves, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the response to the Made in Britain campaign, with widespread interest, a mention in the House of Commons and many other UK manufacturers showing their support. There is clearly an appetite for a standard marque."
He continued: "We think that this logo really captures the essence of the campaign and will proudly be displaying it on our website and marketing material and encouraging other UK manufacturers to do the same."
The marque is designed to be used by British manufacturers on their marketing material, websites and products to help consumers understand the origins of the goods they are buying.
A survey of 1,000 people earlier this year found that more than a third would buy British goods more often if it was easier to identify the country of origin.

SCCH in the park

Details on the main website here - design for this and the follow up beach event, by FDA1 Will Suckling

Studio Clearance

The show is now closed, so please collect your work as soon as possible - and anything that may have been stored for you ( FDA2 ).

I'm not 100% sure when Richard is dismantling the room - and I don't know what the room is being used for during the summer ( probably  Foreign Exchange students ) so it's important not to leave anything behind.

I'm in on Thursday for a school board meeting if anyone needs to see me .

Best in Show, D&AD - Creative Review

Nice mention here for Top Up students Ivan and Laura - with pictures!

Private View

Many thanks to everyone who helped last night - it was very successful - the whole department looked great, and it was good to see so many people in the college. I've had loads of brilliant feedback already, lots of very impressed people - so well done, and thanks for all the hard work.

Ali, Jane and Richard were really pleased with the gifts - as was I  - so thank you again.

I'll get back to everyone with specific feedback when it comes in - and I'll be in and out over the next few weeks - so let me know if you need anything.

We all thought that buying no-alcoholic wine was genius - even if it was a mistake.

Some Good News...

From David Fowler

I have been setting up a show at D&AD ( Design & Art Direction) at the Annual student year show at the Truman Brewery in Brick Lane.

All third year Graphics, Illustration & Advertising students show, we have a show stand. It lasts for four days, networking, heavily linked with industry, workshops, events etc etc They award 10 best work in show prizes across all work on display 5,000 approx students. One of our students, Jonathon Standbrook has been awarded for his work for London Transport for the 2012 Olympics. Fantastic news , especially as we are competing against all the top universities.