Tuesday 28 September 2010

what is graphic design?




I was introduced to this rather wonderful motion graphics short by my tutor, Fred Bates, in an induction brief, and I truly haven't been able to get it out of my mind since.
This simplistic, yet incredibly effective, and I believe, smart short has really inspired me, and I think it is a great example of the diversity and range available in both the aformentioned motion graphics and typographic design.

One of the elements I like most about this piece is the use of monochrome tones- particularly the white against the black. I know that many regard it as a "no-go area" but I actually quite like it, and have always prefered white on black as oppossed to the classic black on white, for a subtle, yet styalised edge.

The use of the audio track works perfectly with the fast pace of the presentation, showcasing the many numerous ways of presenting the simple word 'IT':

Buy it, use it, break it, fix it,
Trash it, change it, mail - upgrade it,
Charge it, pawn it, zoom it, press it,
Snap it, work it, quick - erase it,
Write it, cut it, paste it, save it,
Load it, check it, quick - rewrite it,
Plug it, play it, burn it, rip it,
Drag and drop it, zip - unzip it,
Lock it, fill it, call it, find it,
View it, code it, jam - unlock it,
Surf it, scroll it, pause it, click it,
Cross it, crack it, switch - update it,
Name it, rate it, tune it, print it,
Scan it, send it, fax - rename it,
Touch it, bring it, Pay it, watch it,
Turn it, leave it, start - format it.

etc...

The idea and concept are really so simple, though I consider it incredibly effective because of this- as many of the simplist ideas often are.


"graphic design...simple and effective."

Friday 24 September 2010

what is graphic design?



Andrew Rae- UK based illustrator.

I'm sure, like many great events, my discovery of Andrew Rae's work was a complete accident.
I really love Andrew's versatile, oddball illustrative work- blending the ordinary with the plain bizarre to create a new sort of wonderful magic- his portfolio like a step into his imagination.

Although I could pick any of Andrew's work to reserach and describe with devotion and enthusiasm, I have recently discovered small samples of motion graphics on Andrew's website that I really would urge anyone to take a look at (see the link above!)


One of my favourite animation pieces in the short series in this scientist (above), whom in the original picture (top of the page) has short, flat hair with his hand by his side, but when he puts his hand on the electrical socket, his hair stands straight up on end!
Surely, one of my favourite things about Andrew's work is his sense of humour and perception of the quirky charm of life.
He has definately inspired my work, and I'm sure will continue to do so for a long time.

"graphic design...simple and effective."

Wednesday 22 September 2010

what is graphic design?




I first discovered Steph's work, quite by accident.
What a charming little accident that was.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, Steph Baxter had not long graduated from the very course that I was delighted to soon be starting; a BA (Hons) Graphic Design at Leeds College of Art (not brown-nosing here, honest).

Aside from this mutual bond, I really did fall helplessly in love with Steph's sugar-coated, gleefully enchanting illustrative graphics, and am delighted whenever I am venturing through the internet to find a new addition to Steph's portfolio.

Never so much so, when the double-whammy of discovering a wonderful new magazine in 'Oh Comely', and finding a page of Steph's illustration's on a "culinary utensils quiz" on the back page (with words from Michael Bennett).

As I mentioned above, I really love Steph's ever-optimistic and playful illustrative style, that is so full of life and vitality, you cannot help but to smile when you look at them.
What i particularly love about this particular pattern illustration plate is both the personification of innanimate objects (there aren't enough burgers with smiley faces in this world) and the colour palette used.
The subtle differences between the mint greens, whites and yellows work really well together, and whilst, of course, containing a lot of pattern and attention to detail, the colour combinations work harmoniously, and due to it's matching colour scheme is very easy on the eye, and completely aesthetically delightful!

"graphic design...simple and effective."

what is graphic design?



Take me riding in the car, car...

During an animation project I studied during my two years on a National Diploma Art & Design BTEC, we were asked to research and review any particular animation or motion graphics that particularly caught our eye, whether it be negative or positive.

For me, this quirky, charming advertisement for the Audi Q5 was certainly the latter.

Even to this day, this two year old piece of film is one of my favourite adverts, as it's simplicity, I believe, really does speak volumues.

I really love the combination of materials used in this advert- the illustrative animation, the cardboard net relief which gets constructed into the car, and then, of course, the photographic film to showcase the "finishing outcome" of the Audi Q5.

Aside from being very memorable and as I mentioned before, charmingly unique, the animated character really cements the message that Audi are trying to get across- that each car is made, inspected and created with the upmost care and attention to detail- just as this character shows.
Each car is put together perfectly, and upon this view, you can depend.

I still believe, two years on, that this advertisement is truly refreshing and shows motion graphics in a wonderful light. The playful, almost child-like construction and delivery of the animation takes away the "hard-nosed" edge that businesses (in this case, car manufacturer, Audi) often have, whilst still providing a service you will, undoubtedly remember.

"graphic design is...the effective delivery of a message, idea, or concept through the use of visual language."

Tuesday 21 September 2010

what is graphic design?


FAST 3ème édition
by Audrey Malo.

Audrey Malo is a young, and exceptionally promising young graphic designer and illustrator from Sorel-Tracy, Canada. I have followed her work for some time, and have been inspired by her great versatility and creativity within her designs- so much so, that i am the proud owner of three of her illustrative prints!

This piece was comissioned from the local arts festival in Sorel-Tracy, and was created using scanned texture for the background, and layering shredded and "hole-punched" circular paper before adding the poster title, and neccessary information.

I really like the combination of materials used in this promotional piece and I believe fits perfectly between computer-generated, and hand-rendered design with the tactile effect of the aforementioned paper cuts built up upon the piece.



"graphic design...simple and effective."

what is graphic design?



Danny Brito, aside from being a rather wonderfully talented artist, i believe, possess a rather charming website.

The picture above shows a screen capture from the homepage of Danny's website (which i urge you to go and visit!). I not only love the bold, bright type and vector illustration which he combines (especially that playful, cute bunting!) but also love the interactivity of the site, as, when you scroll over the 'shop', 'leave', 'home', 'work', 'blog', and 'info' buttons, displaying a charming array of colours, perfectly complimenting Dannny's quirky, retro, and perfectly charming style.

"graphic design...simple and effective."

what is graphic design?


Penguin Classics.
est. 1935.

I have always been drawn to Penguin classic covers. Really, I don't know whether it's because i love the colour orange (I type, whilst wearing an orange hoodie...), love literature, or love penguins- but my guess is, that it's all three.

From initially posting this picture and going on to research the history of Penguin classics, I really have become enchanted with the publishing house's history- creating a "flippant" character (i.e the penguin)- an innovative yet simplistic icon design that really has stood the test of time.

I love the colour scheme of these classic covers, and think that the bright works wonderfully with the soft cream, both working in contrast with the bold, black lettering which showcases some of the most celebrated modern-day classic literature in a uniformed, yet stylish set.

"graphic design...simple and effective."

what is graphic design?


dir. Julia Pott.

In honour of starting things with a bang, I have decided to blog Julia Pott's beautiful and poignant animated short film (to contribute to the motion graphics work I have decided to collect and research for this project- along with publishing/editorial graphics, and poster/promotional design graphics.

I have been a fan of Julia's artwork for quite some time, but it was only today that I sourced out her animation for the first time, and was so delighted that I did.

She blends a heart-warming subject of which we can all relate with a unique and distinctive character design, notable for her use of pastel tones and animals of all shapes and sizes.

Before discovering Julia's work I believe that my graphic and illustrative taste was quite narrow-minded, and often found myself only really appreciating perfectly clean-lined art work, almost as if it had been factory-made.

How times change. Julia, along with many other skilled designers and artists have really opened my eyes to hand-rendered effects and aesthetics, and now I can think of nothing more delightful, and not only appreciate, but practice this method as much as I possibly can.

I particularly love Julia's mixture of typography throughout this animation- text and colours that you would rarely see together seem to work perfectly among the abstract scenes of animals whispering sweet nothings to one another on the telephone, and unicorn's mourning almost lovers.

In the past, I have found my patience for creating animation to be somewhat limited, but this has truly inspired me, and now feel that this art is something that I would really love to be a part of.


"appropriate, creative, obsessive, frustrating, organised, structured...design lives in the detail."