Get me a visual: Ongoing adventures in graphic design

2008-07-10T23:28:00.005+01:00

BOOKS & BOOKS & BOOKS...

Plenty of reading to do over the summer, not sure when I'll get time to actually sit down and plough through them, but I'll hopefully review the best ones in a couple of months...

2008-06-11T12:40:00.008+01:00

RIGHT YOU ARE.

Inspired by the Camberwell Summer Show 2008 signage I've just completed I put this together to celebrate all the arrows used (and a couple more to fill it out!). Plans are afoot for a possible screenprint project, watch this space or email me so that I might actually get round to doing it.

Signage and Map for Camberwell College of Art Summer Show

2008-06-11T12:36:00.005+01:00

Using Love's template (see previous Post), I came up with the idea of using a different arrow for each sign, a bit like they did for each piece of print. It started with about ten arrows that would be reused for all the different directions, but, never content with making my life easy, I decided to use different arrows for every sign (about 70 in all!). Suffice to say I've now got quite a collection. I look forward to seeing them around college and will return with photos in due course. I hope no one gets lost!!

Here is the Map (top left) and a selection of the signs.

Signage and map for Camberwell College of Art Summer Show

2008-06-11T12:34:00.005+01:00

I've been asked to produce the signage and map for the Camberwell College of Art Summer Show 2008. Here are several examples of the print that has been done by Love in Manchester (www.lovecreative.com) for all the University of Arts London End of Year Shows that I have to follow, featuring a distinctive Red, White and Blue / Futura meets random typefaces scheme.

Cowburn Stickers

2008-06-11T12:28:00.004+01:00

The blog!

Produced for a Credentials Brief at college to self-promote ourselves to potential employers in order to gain a summer placement and generally get work "out there".
Screen-printed on crack-back, you might see them around The Big Smoke or even be lucky enough to have received one.

Creative Camberwell Launch Programme and Flyer

2008-06-11T12:08:00.004+01:00

In collaboration with Adam Barclay and Andy Ainger, these pieces were produced for the Launch Party for a new arts organisation in Camberwell which can be explained as follows:

Creative Camberwell is a network of artists, community organisations and businesses who want to promote Camberwell as creative hub with a distinctive and diverse character, full of creative potential. We aim to support network members to connect and form fresh relationships.

Creative Camberwell will actively promote the value of arts and culture in the local area and its potential to improve and shape the place in which we work and live. Whether you are an independent artist, trader, community project or larger organisation, we welcome your contributions.

We were required to put forward a pitch for an identity prior to the print work and this incorporated a "3D double C" next to Avant Garde typeface. The original colour-scheme was a lot more muted than but during discussions with the client it was felt that something much bolder and eye-catching was required, hence the CMYK scheme! The event was very successful and friend Asha picked up a flyer, not releasing I'd done it and said "her eyes were drawn to it" (hopefully in a good way!)

For more on Creative Camberwell's work, go to: www.creativecamberwell.net

Great British Humour Posters

2008-06-11T09:32:00.004+01:00

Beginning life as a College Brief to create a series of "Typography only" posters for a campaign to advertise a new UKTV channel featuring the only the best in classic British comedies called "UKTV Gags". The focus was on the sarcastic, dark, daring, surreal and ridiculous sense of humour that gave us the likes on Spike Milligan, Tony Hancock, Chris Morris and The League of Gentlemen.
Inspired by British WWII and Transport Posters, I used a suitable weight of Gill Sans together with pastel shades reminiscent of seasides and cake shops (I sound like an Innocent Smoothie voice over!) The final posters were a play on old proverbs and also the shows they advertised:

Pleased with how they came out I have decided to produce some limited edition screen-prints of them under the Title: "A Beginner's Guide to Great British Humour Nos 1-4". I hope to get these done soon, watch this space.

2008-06-10T11:13:00.009+01:00

AIRE - MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, LEEDS

College brief set by Moving Brands, we were asked to create an identity for a fictional new modern art gallery in Leeds. Working in teams , we based our identity on geographical paths and contours (hence the name Aire, after the River Aire running through Leeds City Centre).

Brand guidelines were developed using the various contour shapes of the logo together with a series of colours indicating Depth.

These guidelines also allowed for the creation of posters and leaflets:

With hindsight, there is far too much going on and it has taught me to distill my ideas to the most successful rather than try and crowbar ever single idea in to one!

Repositioning Pie N Mash

2008-06-10T10:32:00.005+01:00

This a project from the back end of last year...

The brief was to create a route for the repositioning of so-called “un-cool” products. These ranged from Full English Breakfast and Tea to Port, Real Ale and Liebfraumilch. We were not given a choice as to which we would deal with. We were required to produce a series of integrated campaigns incorporating Print, 3D, Sequence and Interactive.
What followed was an intense period of knees-ups, rhyming slang and an expanded waistline. This led to my Cockney Party route, resulting out of the fact that Pie ‘n’ Mash is primarily a very traditional, working class, East End only meal.
A conversation with fellow students led me to utter, “Pie ‘n’ Mash is Cockney only food. It’s theirs, not yours. You can’t have it!”
This defence of Pie ‘n’ Mash from the non-Cockney hoards provided me with the perfect angle for the product’s repositioning and led to the development of The Cockney Party, standing proud and alone in championing Pie ‘n’ Mash as strictly Cockney only nosh.
The campaigns have been developed to make consumers wonder whether the party could actually be genuine using a strong political-style visual identity. The poster/print campaigns should be subtle enough for the viewer to question this and search out more information on the party themselves. Subsequently, interactive aspects such as the party website would continue the prettence, just like this document did when you first glanced (hopefully).
I wanted people to be emotionally involved with the campaigns and viciously opposed to the values the part stand for, without them being too aggressive or fascist. The use of red, white and black together with Gill Sans (in various guises) is a nod to the Nazis, Barbara Kruger and The Sun, while Rockwell provides a strong serif alternative. However, it is important that the good name of the Cockney is not sullied or tainted with the Nazi brush. The best way to avoid this is through the subtle use of humour, whether it be the cab livery or Party Political Broadcast TV spot.
As roll-out occurs, a guerilla opposition, “Pie ‘n’ Mash 4 All Coalition” would begin with a much more gritty, homemade visual identity - on bill posters, stickers, viral calls to ‘Join the Resistance’ and real-life demonstrations.

End of Year 1

2008-06-09T13:22:00.003+01:00

I've been pretty slack in keeping this updated having had to deal with stresses and strains of the final few weeks of the year, including an Industry Report on Durability, a 'Typography only' Poster campaign for a TV channel and my own screen-printed sticker campaign. I'll be uploading all this stuff over the next few days as I'm in the process of getting my portfolio sorted for work placement interviews.

Also, I'm going to be sharing various other things I've found on the web as well as some freelance/self-initiated bits and bobs I've been working on.

Stay Tuned.

2008-06-09T12:06:00.011+01:00

BEST FOOTIE SHIRT EVER????
Buy it here

I'm pretty lost for words. It's got everything: Pinstripes? Check. The Hummel arrows? Check. Laced collar? Check. Odd combination of colours? Check.

I'm so tempted to buy this design classic...

PS. Free Tibet

2008-03-26T13:29:00.005Z

How the logo might work on platforms...

2008-03-26T13:24:00.004Z

Lines extended from the logo to imply movement, referencing both trains and the underground map.

2008-03-26T12:47:00.008Z

The shop fronts were then turned horizontally and used to develop a "Mark" that could be used throughout the station architecture. Gill Sans was used as a nod to 1930s British Railway posters and placed over the strip and sections of the abstracts recoloured and then grouped together:
If that abstraction wasn't enough, I then built up layers for each of my colours and with a final white logo produced this:

2008-03-12T17:53:00.004Z

Having abstracted the shop fronts and chosen the most interesting from east side of Kingsland Road and replaced the colours with my Dalston Palette.
Shown here is the West Side:

2008-02-27T10:45:00.003Z

I'm in the process of redesigning the menus that I originally did last August for everyone's favourite Norf London boozer - The New Rose. Below is the current menu and then a couple of redesign ideas. As usual, comments or crit is always welcome.

Interactive shadow concept

2008-02-22T17:03:00.003Z

Based on the idea that a shadow does not differentiate between races, my concept is to have a system of cameras and lights installed that would create an individuals shadow in changing colours on the floor or wall of the station platform. The length and colour of the shadow would change depending on the time of day so that you would have a different experience and make your wait for a train more pleasurable.

Unfortunately, working out a system that would work and creating decent visuals has proved almost impossible for my tiny mind, so it's going into the draw marked "Ideas to be Revisited at a Later Date".

2008-02-22T16:59:00.006Z

Probably the concept that will become the final piece, blocks of colour have been created to represent a simplified version of the shop signs on Kingsland Road. Primarily it would be used to cover the walls or partitions of the platform but it could also be rolled out to cover all the station signage, information and so on.

I need to develop it with the shop frontages as well - at the moment it is too abstract for any locals to understand and I want them to have an affinity to the work.

The process was then de-constructed somewhat unsuccessfully to create this 2012 logo inspired poster!

2008-02-22T16:53:00.008Z

A word or words written in the many languages of Dalston on the platform as per Why not Associates work (below - no idea why the colour has inverted!). The difficulty here is deciding on what word/words to use. I was considering Good trip/Bon voyage but let's be brutally honest - that sounds shit. I then thought about using Kings Land or East and West depending on the particular platform but I'm not convinced this is a concept worth exploring further in the time I have.

Vintage poster Development

2008-02-22T16:48:00.003Z

My interpretation of the more abstract vintage posters. They work pretty well but I'm not sure what other compositions would work from the photographs I have already taken.

The Shop Signs of Dalston

2008-02-19T18:06:00.002Z

Dalston Ephemora

2008-02-18T14:16:00.006Z

Very random stuff I picked up on my last visit. Someone somewhere is missing a jigsaw piece of the flag of Mauritania! And the CD works - I've put the first track on as a movie below! Roots n culture. Peace out.

Colours of Dalston

2008-02-18T13:32:00.007Z

It's interesting that although the area is dirty, grimy and dull, there are loads of really bright signs - especially in the African/Afro-Carrib shops. Using these highly saturated colours would certainly brighten up a train station!

Languages idea

2008-02-18T13:22:00.006Z

I've been thinking about the multicultural aspect of Dalston and wonder if there's something in looking at the many languages that are spoken . If you take a quick walk down Kingsland Road you'll hear English, Polish, Turkish, Arabic, Urdu, Chinese to name but six.

I am determined to produce a piece that can be understood by everyone in the area and maybe this means I have to use as many of these languages as possible. Perhaps the platform has "Good Trip" written in all the different languages as some kind of typographic/graffiti carpet?!

You could use recycled rubber and achieve different colours as in children's playgrounds.

Vintage Travel Posters

2008-02-18T13:20:00.005Z

One of the first ideas I had was to do a pastiche of the old British Railways prints from the 1930s. Potentially not that easy with Dalston not being a typical tourists destination! Although I am keen to do some screenprinting and this would fit the bill, and also allow me to produce something with a bit of humour.

Pen and Ink Traces

2008-02-18T13:17:00.005Z

Taken a few of my favourite photos and spent a good few hours (with one eye on that terrible Sheff United v Boro FA Cup game) tracing them. Here are the results - Comments more than welcome...
I love these compositions - it could be done as a vintage pastiche ala vintage Railways posters - "Discover Dalston on the East London Line".

This was traced without taking my pen of the paper - cue hand cramp.

Rewritten Brief

2008-02-18T13:15:00.005Z

To concentrate my mind a little more I've written a list of things that the final piece must attempt to solve... just to make this project a bit harder!!!

Kingsland Road West

2008-02-18T13:08:00.003Z

Sketches

2008-02-18T12:43:00.003Z

Now I know I'm not the best illustrator in the world and find drawing people particularly difficult but I also know that "the most important thing about drawing is seeing" and that can lead to great ideas.

It's true that you really get a sense of everything when you start to look closely at pictures you are sketching (these were done from the photos I took rather than freeze my knackers off doing it from life!)

Chatting outside the bookshop.
Shops on Westside of Kingsland Road, south of Dalston Junction.
I'm pleased with how this looks, the inaccuracies give it a nice quirky feel.
Each side of the platform could have this running along them?

The little sketch below is an idea of the language idea on the shop frontages - each saying "Good Trip" in a different language in the style of the graphics currently on the the shops.

A selection of shop graphics in watercolour pencil.

Kingsland Road East

2008-02-18T12:39:00.008Z

Photos of every shop collaged together on Photoshop.

Another photography mission to Dalston

2008-02-18T12:36:00.004Z

Brainstorms

2008-02-18T10:55:00.005Z

Initial thoughts on the new Dalston Junction Station

2008-02-11T19:58:00.000Z

From the research I have carried out (extensively on the net and in person), it has become clear that my initial view that the new overground station is something that the local people would wholeheartedly welcome is somewhat misplaced. The redevelopment of the area has begun and historic architecture has already been demolished, most significantly the Dalston Theatre, but also several shops and houses previously given "conservation" status.

Developers argue that the new station development includes new shops and over 300 new apartments, however it appears that affordability is not at the top of the list of concerns resulting in more anger from residents who last year saw house prices increase faster than anywhere else in London last year. They are deeply concerned that by the time the new station and it's frankly pretty uninspiring complex is complete they will have been forced to move out of Dalston for good.

It's a difficult situation, on the one hand you have much needed improvement to the area's transport links which, as part of London's 2012 regeneration will bring much needed economic development, whilst on the other, it is not the current residents who will benefit but those moving into the area that cannot afford to buy in Islington or Stoke Newington.

How should this effect the brief? Well, let me do some brainstorming and I get back to you!

Official Literature

2008-02-11T18:54:00.000Z

Moodboard of Dalston Ephemora

2008-02-11T18:46:00.000Z

Shops on Kingsland Road

2008-02-11T18:40:00.001Z

Turkish baking

2008-02-11T18:37:00.001Z

Art deco architecture in Dalston

2008-02-11T18:33:00.000Z

Rio cinema, skol and poverty.

2008-02-11T17:47:00.001Z

The last survivor of Dalston's 20th-century entertainment boom is the justly celebrated art deco masterpiece - the Rio Cinema , one of the very few cinemas left in East London and, indeed, one of the few independent cinemas left in London.

Help is at hand

2008-02-11T17:41:00.001Z

This card was handed to me as I wondered the streets of Dalston, maybe I looked like I needed help. Should I struggle for ideas for this brief I may well give him a call.

Churches and Lions

2008-02-11T17:20:00.001Z

Shoplifters: Beware of the Lion.Saddam Binman... (can I type that, he does look like the former Iraqi despot).

The many faces of Christianity in Dalston.

Ridley Road Market

2008-02-11T17:12:00.000Z

You'll be sleeping with the fishes...

Osama Binned Laden

The Market - inspiration for the market out of Eastenders.

If ever you want to learn how to decorate a cake...

It's a village of shopping.

The sights and sounds of the Market.

The famous Dalston Peace Carnival Mural- opposite the site

2008-02-11T15:58:00.001Z

Demolition

2008-02-11T15:44:00.001Z

Train by Kingsland Shopping Centre.

Demolition in progress.I'm pleased with these pics.

Inspiration for Albert Square

2008-02-11T15:36:00.000Z

The Site of Dalston Junction Station

2008-02-11T14:43:00.001Z

2008-02-11T14:35:00.000Z

Crossroads at Dalston Junction.

Signs.

Snooker centre door

2008-02-11T14:25:00.000Z

Picture in the window of Chinese medicine shop.

Random shops on Kingsland Road

They know about Brands.

Photographic Highlights of my walk through Dalston - 7 Feb

2008-02-11T12:39:00.000Z

It was an easy choice for me to choose Dalston, it being 10 minutes walk away.
Here are the best bits...

Not Dalston - but interesting idea possibly?

Keeping Dalston's music heritage alive.

No Louis Vitton in Dalston!

Is there a shop called "Dalston" in Manhattan?

Project Brief

2008-02-11T12:27:00.001Z