Saturday 29 May 2010

Student Showcase: Colin Dunn

Very nice little portfolio site and blog by student Colin Dunn at MICA. His work is lovely, his typographic book based of found signage is beautiful and should be an inspiration to you all - it's essentially the same project you have all had.

He also has some student work on Lovely Packaging - simple but beautiful - just enough colour and humour to make it work.

Important note about computers!

As soon as you return after half term - you MUST remove / save or otherwise copy anything on the computer hard drives that belongs to you - check the desktop and the documents folder. If you think anything is saved under my login - check with me.

The computers will all be wiped and the software re-installed in a couple of weeks - and we don't know if we will get the same ones next year - so anything left behind will be lost forever.

FDA1 Half term

You will only have 2 weeks teaching time after half term, and bear in mind that our focus will be on FDA2 and their FMP. The last thing any of is need to do is chase after you - so please work with us on this one. I'm going to be around for nearly all of half term, so you have studio access if you need it.

Studio Clearance
We are stripping out the studio and office now - so please remove anything you want to keep a.s.a.p. - and PLEASE don't ask me to 'look after stuff in the office' - because that's being cleared out too. Anything not claimed will be binned.

Monday June 7th
Studio day with Richard - in the morning a quick open session about getting work ready to print and managing artwork. In the afternoon I will be marking all the screenprints and the etchings. You also need to have the Battle Arts work ready for the client.

Etchings - you were all given feedback on the etchings last week, I want you to revise your work as we suggested and present to me, printed at A3, mounted onto board - for final marking.

Screenprints must be presented with the work that you prepared to create them - and you will be expected to talk about them for a couple on minutes to the group.

Both projects are being marked as part of the 'Communicating with Images' Module and are important.

Tuesday June 8th
A non timetabled teaching day - private study, you have studio access - I will probably be in the studio and FDA2 may be about too ( no, it's not a day off )

Wednesday June 9th
David Fowler with the '5 of 7' briefs

The following week - starting Monday June 14th, you will all have formal tutorials with me - a timetable will be issued and you must attend with all your year 1 work presented properly, you can consider this a mock interview to get into the 2nd year.

On Wednesday June 16th you will have the presentation and crit for the '5 of 7 briefs' with myself and David.

FDA2 Half Term

During half term, you may come into the studio from Tuesday to Friday. If I am not in early to open up - ask a caretaker - of Ali if you can't find one.

I'll be around for most of the week and I would be happy to see any of you. I'm going to email all of you personally over the long weekend - but just to be sure - I want a coy of your rational emailed to me before next weekend - so I can edit / amended and return to you before we get back. This is a really important part of your FMP and you need to get it right - and out of the way asap. A few of you also need to tackle it early - as a way of defining what you are trying to do. Remember - you will not be in the room during assessment and your work and rational must speak for itself.

I also need you to remove anything personal from the studio and office, it will be cleared and anything left behind will be binned.

During half term I will be collating and checking your summative grades for the last 2 years, there are a couple of people that might want to have a quiet word with me about that ( you know who you are ).

Please email me directly if you need any help, rather than waiting until we get back after half term.

PS - David is on Holiday... proper holiday, contact me if there is an emergency.

Thursday 27 May 2010

Top 100 UK Design Companies

Design Week publishes the annual list of the top 100 Design Consultancies today - you can't access this online without a subscription - so check the library or pick one up from WH Smiths / Waterstone's.

Job Offer for graduate - Hastings Based

I have the details of a job offer for a graduate - the general details are here - please contact me directly if you are interested and I will put you in touch - they need someone urgently.

We're looking for a Trainee Graphic Designer to create website user interfaces, graphics, logos and cartoons. Experience in Photoshop, Illustrator or similar graphics packages is required. An ability to draw is essential.

This is a full time post that could potentially be filled by 2 students on a job share. We could also allow students to continue their studies in future, on day-release. We're ideally looking for students to interview from your Graphic Communication course (which closely matches our required skills), but we will consider anyone with talent.

Bexhill Museum

The £2m refurbishment of Bexhill Museum has just been awarded a major national prize at the 2010 Museums and Heritage Awards.

It's a really excellent little museum, beautifully restored and curated and well worth a look. Website here. ( It's just behind De La Warr )

Wednesday 26 May 2010

No1 Fake magazine

Hastings based independent magazine for writers, designers and illustrators

No.1 Fake is a magzine primarily for poetry and illustration, though we do often accept articles on a range of subjects, are not adverse to photographs or recipes, and would even accept a crossword if someone made one for us.

Our aesthetic is hand made, a bit messy, a bit punky. We love drippy ink, cellotape, spray paint, photocopiers, biros, typewriters, collage, newsprint, vintage paintings, scratches, acetate, rips, mess and anything that doesn't look slick, boring or computer generated. Too much of our world is created on a computer without being touched directly by a human hand, and we think this is just a bit wrong. Flaws and shaky handstyles, faded letters and unavoidable splatters of ink are what makes the world beautiful.

Contributions are always welcome. Facebook page
here

YCN awards success.

Congratulations to Jonathon Stanbrook from FDA2, and Caroline Courtland Smith from BA top-up - both have been awarded prizes in the YCN awards.

Really delighted for both of you, and congratulations from myself, David and the rest of the team - well deserved ! - It's also interesting that both students tackled the hardest briefs and both came up with excellent solutions. There will be an article with pictures shortly on the college website - I'll supply a link as soon as it up.

David's stoves


New icon suite for Windows












From next year - Windows for Mac will have a new icon suite - this is the first look at the release version.

Important notice for FDA1

You are screenprinting on Wednesday May 26th - there are still a couple of you who have not done your presentations - David has asked that this is done on the afternoon of the first Monday after Half Term - in the morning there will be a session on how to turn your work into print ready artwork - I also want to talk to you about the Battle Arts brief ( I'll post about this later ) and the final presentation of your etching work.

You will have some work for half term to submit on the Monday Morning - but nothing heavy.

David also asked that you give in your presentations to Jane Padgett or myself today to ensure that they are done by end of play today - and that your completed PP portfolio is handed in on the Monday afternoon when we return after half term - I'll remind you again, but there will be no exceptions. If, for whatever reason you cannot attend ( and it needs to be a very good reason ) - it's your responsibility to make other arrangements to get it there on time.

I also want all your work removed from the studio this week -we are starting to strip the studio out and if it's anything you value - take it away before it's lost.

Keep your eye on the blog this week ( and next ) for further announcements.

The History Of Publishing.

There is a good little slideshow over on The Guardian Website on the history of publishing in 20th century Britain - it includes the enclosed image of some book designers.....nice!

Possibly an early picture of me, Dave and Gary.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

New Designers 2010




Ellen came across this posting at DEXIGNER about the New Designers show 2010, should be of interest to everyone - the main site is here

"Every July in London at New Designers, some 3,500 newly graduated designers come together representing the top 200 design courses from across the nation to meet industry employers, the media, trend predictors and a design hungry public. It is seen as an essential resource for all who attend and an invaluable springboard for all who exhibit.

The event runs for two weeks, with nine design zones and two prestigious awards evenings. From animation to architecture, graphics to glass and fashion to furniture, New Designers is about vibrant content, celebration and reputation. It is an event for fresh thinking and aspiration".

Hand made type in action

This is a really perfect example of what the FDA1 screen printing brief was all about. The poster for the Picasso exhibition at Tate Liverpool is created from a hand made typeface - silkscreened in a single colour. It's simple, direct and economic - and exactly the same as the brief you are working on.

The back story and all details are here at the creative review blog.

Careers Forun / Presentation Advice Live

The Guardian Careers forum are running a presentation skills live advice bog today from 1pm - 4pm, and will archive the results - many of you have problems in this area - worth a look

The Times / Sunday Times

Both papers relaunched their websites today with limited public access for a short period. They have new architecture - layout and technology - rather like a high end version of The Guardian online styled to be more like The Times newspaper. I'm assuming they have also been very influenced by mobile device and iPad layout. I know it's day one - but it's not performing very well, there is far too much on the page and it's very tech heavy - too much motion and video - and most of the drop down menu buttons are failing. I lost half of the page after refresh and couldn't get it back. They also have a very large, memory hungry image at center page - hardly good for revenue. Quite a few of the simple embedded graphics are fuzzy or low quality - not what I'd expect for such a huge investment.

You will only be able to view the page for a short period - then it goes over to £1 per day subscription - which is a huge risk - and will dictate how news services on the internet develop over the next few years.

Personally - it's nothing revolutionary - and I'm more interested in function and suitability that being impressed by technology - the perverse thing is that no matter how clever, technologically advanced or animated a news site gets, it's still not as good as a low tech printed page. Mind you - you need to make your own mind up about that one.

Tate Modern Is 10, BBC 2

Tuesday 25 May
7:00pm -
8:00pm
BBC2

Art critic Matthew Collings celebrates the birthday of one of the most successful modern art museums in the world. With contributions from director of Tate, Sir Nicholas Serota, and artists Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry, Rachel Whiteread and Olafur Eliasson, this Culture Show special asks what lies behind the extraordinary popularity of Tate Modern, with over 45 million visitors to date, and examines how this institution has changed public perceptions of art forever.

Showcase: Papercrave

Dedicated to all things paper, Papercrave is a useful resource for all things folding creasing and cutting, some of it can be a bit twee - but there is plenty of good reference in here.

FDA1 will find it usefull for the paper bag brief.

Exhibition Showcase

FROM THIS POINT ON

photography from Sussex Coast College Hastings

SUE BARNES, ANNETTE BARTON, MEL BREWER, STEVE BOYDELL, SIN BOZKURT,

LIN GREGORY, SIMON HOOKEY, RICK HOUGH, WET MONKEY, LUCY PHILLIPS,
KAREN ROONEY, SHEREEN TURNER.


26 MAY - 1 JUNE 2010. HASTINGS ARTS FORUM
Gallery 2. 36 Marina, St. Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN38 0BU
Open daily, 11am-5pm.
01424 201636

Further information:

Hastings Arts Forum

Photo Hastings website

Facebook page

Sunday 23 May 2010

Example of an excellent FMP

Found by David McG. on the Behance showcase site by Alex Cornell - really lovely Final Major Project, might give you all some idea of the quality and quantity we need to see. This chap has really thought the brief through - the work if completed to a really high standard and very well conceived. Go throught to his website and have a look at his idea for re-branding Playboy - it's interesting to see how he progresses through the brief from an original concept - all the way through to a presentation book - and how the standard of his presentation makes all the difference.

Win a set of Penguin Red books

There is a competition to win a set of Penguin Red's here - last years book design module in year 2 followed the same brief of two colour only print - so save a go - will come in very useful...

Vintage Calendars

Nice collection of vintage calendar designs over on Grain Edit... you never know, might set this as a brief next year...

Polish Grahic Designer, Peter Haars

Brilliant site which appears to be a showcase exhibition for the Polish designer - Peter Haars ( My polish isn't great - I had to rely on a translation website! - but just looking at the work should be enough ) It's quite easy to work out how to navigate the site - and I like the link with the exhibition space - also, it's worth looking through his book designs and trying to source the UK versions to see how differently they are perceived here.

Lots of hand drawn typography worked into the image, very much 'of it's time' - and really exciting work. You can also see how much effort they went to save money - most of this work is a maximun of 2 colours. Looking at design from other territories and times is an essential learning exercise.

( a tip - Neste Vegg means Next Page )

Timetable - week starting May 24th.

Monday - FDA1 - In the studio with me from 10am, open session and talk about how to get things printed and how to select a paper stock, it's quite important that you are here and on time. In the afternoon, it's the Battle Arts brief ( Week 3 ) and I also want to review the etchings presentation and mark themf. I wil need to see all the etchings - printed as a hard copy - and we will talk our way trough each one, it's really important that you take part in this - I want your input here as well.

Tuesday - FDA1 - David Fowler wil be with you today working on the '5 of 7' briefs - I'm going to try and get over myself in the afternoon - but as it's the last session before half term - I want to review everyone's work in the afternoon. You should be pretty much resolved on your 5 pieces by now, and getting ready to present them for marking after half term. A couple of people have asked about joint projects and I've asked you not to go down this road.

Wednesday - FDA1 - screen printing week 2 with Kevin in the workshop ( the studio closes permanently for the move on Friday - be aware of this )

Wednesday FDA2 - Studio day in 301, no staff timetabled but I will probably be with you. Lots of really good progress here - some of you should already be looking at printing and presentation.

Tursday - FDA2 - Studio session with David Fowler today.


Friday FDA2 - Richard in the studio with this weeks special guest, Laura Middlehurst.

Thursday 20 May 2010

This is not what you think...

Font designers Dalton Maag have created a new font to challenge Helvetica - which they consider overhyped - test drive it for yourself on their rather nifty website.

Logo Design from start to finish

There is a really nice example of how a designer tackles logo design, Peter Lacey ( Chopeh ) is a freelancer based in Northampton - he has a nice, simple website and blog - here is an entry on designing a logo from start to finish.

What I really like is the way he presents himself - using the internet in a simple, practical way to communicate with the world and build a client base. Important things to take from this.... he uses a pencil and paper to work out what he is going to do before he sits in front of a computer - something many of you forget to do - and he provides a handy run down of the stages he goes through to create the finished logo.

Guardian Extra Launch

The Guardian have launched a new online facet to their media offer with extra - it's on a free trial at the moment but after August there will be a subscription, it's interesting to note that this corresponds with The Times becoming a pay per view site at around the same time, with many local papers considering the same approach to revenue sourcing.


It's very difficult to generate revenue from news sites, so it will be interesting to see how they manage - but there is an interesting little video here by Guardian Editor Alan Rushbridger about the future of new media and newspapers - and also a short history of The Guardian, and The Observer.

Showcase: Kind Company








Kind Company are a Brooklyn based design collective, only small - their work is commercial, understated and beautifully executed, it's also very 'warm' and human but still modern.

Researching design groups in the UK and abroad are really important ways to see how new trends emerge and how people problem solve from different perspectives. It's useful to see the output that's typical of company that is essentially just 2 people - their website is a masterclass in restraint and good layout.

I really like their solution for this restaurant - and it ties in with the talks I gave FDA1 about just what you are expected to do when you devise a new logo - and how far you are expected to take the brief.

The Culture Show Tonight.

Special edition live from the Brighton Festival, with an interview with Brian Eno - this years festival director. BBC2 7pm.

Competition Brief ( 22 days left to enter )

Great competition brief ( spotted by David McG ) - to produce a piece of social communication graphics as a poster - easy to enter and a great range of briefs - main page here, briefs here

Seven charities each provide a brief on a global issue. Anyone who wishes can enter one or more posters on any topic that inspires them. The best 30 responses to each brief – as selected by our jury – are collected in a catalogue and exhibited around the world. All the posters entered are supplied to the charities for them to use as potential communication tools through our free database. There is no ‘winner’, unless you count the charities and their message.
In our first edition we received over 1600 entries, the second 2700 the third 4210 entries from 163 countries around the world.


To enter the contest as easy as possible from all over the world, we host the competition completely on our website. All you have to do to participate is to upload your poster following the instructions on the “SUBMIT POSTER” page. That’s it.

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Something nice to look at


Great find by Emma - 50 really fantastic vintage Porsche posters - lovely stuff.

Iconic Images from The Vietnam War

There is an excellent slideshow on the Telegraph Website of some of the most iconic photographs from the Vietnam War ( it's the 35th Anniversary of the fall of Saigon ), if you did your research properly for the FDA1 Esquire brief, you will recognise many of them. Some of these pictures were taken the year I was born - and it's sobering to think that most of the American Soldiers in these photographs were the same age as you are now.

Having a good knowledge of social, political and cultural history is essential in the communication industry - you need to have a healthy interest in the world, be able to reference iconic and important images and understand that they have meaning and be able to use them effectively and responsibly.

Your brain is hardwired to make connections between things it has already seen, you can use this to add depth and meaning to your work and reinforce messages.

Most of the photographs reproduced here have huge cultural significance in America and many of the people in them are known by sight and name by generations - that's the power of photography.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

D&AD Award Winners

David McG. sent me a link to some of the winners, to be frank - I think they are really weak - and there is NOTHING here we didn't cover - there are very clear elements of work by Robert, Leah, Tom and David in here - it just shows how 'on message' we really were. The only thing I like is the presentation of the 'newspaper' books - nice gradient background to black and the text material laid over the top - books themselves underwhelming. The torn and curled paper version is very 'student' and we went for professional.

Guys, I think you did much better than this - and I'm not just saying that.

Agencies with blogs









As a starting point to your ( FDA1 ) data research brief from yesterday here is an example of what you need to find - Pentagram is one of the top design agencies in the world - and they run their front page as a rolling blog with news and to showcase new work. Like many agencies they also allow you to follow them on twitter and via other social media. There is a history of Pentagram here.
Interesting article in the Guardian about the Architect Rem Koolhaas and the 'art' of architecural books.

"In Britain we're sceptical of the idea of the architect as intellectual. Most people probably aren't aware that there's a whole realm of architecture that doesn't involve erecting buildings. But from Vitruvius in the 1st century BC and Alberti and Palladio in the Renaissance to Le Corbusier in the 1920s, architects have always produced books, not just to publicise their work but to lay down the latest architectural rules."

Monday 17 May 2010

Showcase: Artworklove









Superb website and beautiful work by the Anglo / French Artworklove collective - based in Paris - their work is simple and classic with unexpected twists.

They also specialise in the high end of the market where clients are more imaginative. It's interesting that they also publish their network of friends and collaborators on their site.

Sunday 16 May 2010

Modern Masters, BBC1 - 9pm - May 16th

 Episode 3 - Picasso, link to the BBC page here


"The life of Pablo Picasso is an exciting story of rebellion, riches, women and great art. In this episode of the series dedicated to Modern Art, journalist Alastair Sooke travels through France, Spain and the US to see some of the artist's great works and recount tales from his life story. Talking to architects, fashion experts and artists he investigates how Picasso's influence, particularly that of his Cubist work, continues to pervade modern life today."

Timetable, week starting 17th May

Monday 17th FDA1

FDA 1 will have a discussion and open session with me and guest designer Erica Smith about getting into the industry, freelancing, making contacts, networking and managing clients - FDA 2 are invited. This stats at 10am - don't come in late - it's very rude and makes you look unprofessional. After lunch we have a de-brief on the Battle Arts Live Brief and you need to continue with week 2.

Tuesday 18th FDA1

You have David F. and are working on the '5 of 7' briefs, we need to see progress here.

Wednesday 18th FDA1

You are with Kevin in Screen printing, week 1 of 2 - you should have already completed the layout for your design work and be ready to start. I also need your A3 layouts from the etching brief handed in to me - laid out as a DPS in Indesign with the typography finished and all the printers marks, these must be marked today.

Wednesday 18th FDA2

There are no staff timetabled but I will be in 301 so you are free to use this room - I will be contacting individual students I need to see.

Thursday 19th May FDA 2

David Fowler in 301 working on your FMP

Friday 20th May FDA2

Richard up in 301 with special guest Gary Neill

Showcase: Uppercase Journal

Uppercase is an American design publication, they also run a website, shop, blog and digital scrapbook with regular updates, links articles and discoveries.

It's beautifully presented and designed - and interesting that it has a very 'American' feel to it - and that the lines between design and illustration are more blurred than over here on the UK ( a good thing ). This link is directly to the blog, you can navigate around Uppercase via the directory at the top.

Saturday 15 May 2010

Claridges Rebrand

There is a good article archived in Creative Review about the re-brand of the Claridges store, I spent some time last week talking to FDA 1 about rebranding and this is a good example of how important it is to think about the whole brand, not just the logo.

It might also be inspiration to some of the FDA 2 students planning their FMP.

Student work online.








FDA2 student David McGillivary has been spotted in Struktblog, I'm really keen for any of you who can get work online to do so - it's great for networking, your folio and self promotion.

Friday 14 May 2010

More reaction to Waterstone's re-vamp

( notice I left the apostrophe in.... )

Less than favourable reaction to the re-vamp of the Waterstone's Logo over on the Creative Review blog, see here.

Gormley Slideshow on the Guardian

Amazing slideshow and good audio commentary of the Gormley installation 'Critical Mass' at the De La Warr on the Guardian Website. 

You can probably see Laura waving from her balcony...

Interesting website

Citynoise is showcasing a collection of colour transparencies from the early 1900's. I don't know what's more amazing - the fact that this is a view of the world 100 years ago and how much like it is today - or how different it is.

The national costumes are all gone, but the faces look familiar. Some of them look like Great Master paintings - others as if they were taken yesterday.

The image quality is superb, considering how primitive colour photography was then, and although some are retouched - others still have their true colours. Really astonishing stuff.

The Genius Of Design, BBC2 7pm.

Part two tonight - and we move into the mid-century, between the war years. last week's show was excellent, you would be mad to miss this.

"You need your head screwed on to enjoy this account of how design evolved in the 1920s and 30s. It's as carefully assembled and polished as any of the designs it looks at, including the steel Bauhaus chair, the Anglepoise lamp and the electricity pylon. As well as profiling famous objects, it captures the grand sweep of design theory and how it moved on: how the pared-down purity of Bauhaus was a reaction to the "viny tendrils" of art nouveau; and how the bossy modernist approach was trumped by a sexy, commercial aesthetic in America that gave us "dream machines". On that front, there's a revealing scene where a historian picks out the differences between two 1930s shorthand," he argues, "for the differences between Europe and America."

Thursday 13 May 2010

America Ground 2010


The America Ground / Robertson Street will have it's annual celebration on July 4th this year with a street festival - all the details are here.

America Ground is technically the 24th State of America, I know you think I make this stuff up - but it's true!!!

University Of Brighton, Summer Show, 5 - 10 June 2010

School of Architecture and Design
and School of Arts and Media


Includes illustration, photography, graphic design, fine art, printmaking and architecture.

Saturday - 12noon - 8pm
Sunday - 12 noon - 6pm
Monday/Wednesday - 10am - 8pm
Thursday - 10am - 4pm

University of Brighton, Faculty of Arts,
58 - 67 Grand Parade,
Brighton BN2 OJY

Guest Lecturer, Monday17th

On Monday - I have arranged for Erica Smith to join us in the morning to do a workshop on networking, to tie in with the session talk on getting your first job / commission.

Erica is a very experienced designer, based in Hastings - with a vast experience of networking and knows everyone in the Sussex area ( I'm not joking! )

This session is open to FDA1 & 2 if you want to join in - if the response is good I'm going to do more of these, there are a huge number creatives and design companies withing 30 miles of the college, and presentation, networking and building relationships are a core skill for all of you.

I'm really grateful to Erica for taking the time to do this - so lets be professional about this - I want you all in at 10am and ready to go - no skulking in half way through and mumbling something about your alarm clock.

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Nice Article in Grafik


Thanks to Emma for finding a great article about hand created lettering in the environment in Auckland NZ, as the author points out - 1000 examples of had made lettering in a city one million - equals one example per hundred people.

Showcase: Owen Glidersleeve







I'm 100% sure that most of you think I'm barmy giving you all these creative typography briefs and can't understand why I do it and how they can possibly be relevant.

Owen Glidersleeve is a very in-demand freelance designer specialising in the creative and unexpected typography that Art Directors love. Nothing in here is out of your skill range. He graduated from the University of Brighton 2 years ago. I think his work is brilliant.

Work Experience over the summer.

Graphic Design work placements in Brighton
Harrison & Co is a small design agency in Brighton currently seeking graphic design/illustration students to complete work placements at our busy studio. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience in a highly competitive industry. When on placement, students will be required to help out with creative problem solving as well as day to day tasks around the studio.

The placements are available from the start of June throughout the summer and will each last two weeks. To apply, please send an email as soon as possible which briefly outlines your interests and skills in the field, along with 2-3 examples of your work to Rob Sollom, email: rob@harrisonandco.com

Their website is here

A1 Printing.

Emily has emailed to say that there is an offer of £15.00 for A1 printing at the creative media center on Robertson street Their website is here and direct dial number is 01424 205400

Showcase: AquaVelvet







From now on I will be adding showcase section to the blog, an occasional spotlight on blogs, sites or online resources that I think are worth looking at - with an emphasis on personal blogs by creatives here and abroad. You can learn a lot about design by engaging with other creatives, investigating their thought processes and observing how they present themselves. We are in the business of communication - and how you act, talk, walk, dress and present yourself and your work are all things that telegraph messages about you and your work to potential colleagues and clients.

I'm starting with Aqua velvet - an American personal design blog, using a very smart Wordpress template. She obviously has a real fascination for Modernisism ( check out her biog ) and her mid century graphics collection is superb. Feel free to suggest sites for the showcase and I'll post them here

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Not the Guardian

Really interesting piece in Creative Review online ( you should be able to link through here without subscription ) about the redesign of Bloomberg Businessweek - which incorporates some of the ideas that had been developed for the Guardian a couple of seasons ago.

It's by Richard Turley - who is the Art Editor of The Guardian - you can see the similarities and a few key differences. You are all at the stage where you should be able to read 'trend' in design and begin to predict the visual direction the visual world is moving in, and this is a really good example of something that's current and well devised.

It's interesting how the comments community have reacted ( see the bottom of the article ) - the design industry is just like everything else, we all think we can do better.

New articles on The Literatry Platform

There are some really good new articles over on the new media site Literary Platform.

An interesting and useful call for entries to anyone interesting in creating artist's e-books

A very good little video by some french students showing a creative concept to bring the printed page to life with interactive media here

There is also a really good video and article about the ipad ebook of the Guinness book of records and how they were able to put together this immense project in record time.


A great piece about The Tube Project, and a host of other really inspiring and exciting stuff.

I really like this site - it's exactly where your industry will be when you graduate - so start getting your head round everything now

Monday 10 May 2010

Waterstone's new logo

The book seller ( among other things ) under the guidance of parent company HMV - unveiled it's new logo today as part of a major revamp of stores and wider company restructure. Persoanally - I hate it, I think it's dull, unexiting and bland - it says nothing about the brand, heritge or product - it could be a shoe shop or a bathroom supply shop.

I also have a MASSIVE issue with the removal of the apostrophe, which discards the value of a 'name' brand and just becomes a strapline. I know they have done this to move towards online only recognition - but it's a shame and devalues the brand. Essentially - it's lost everything. The old logo was clumsy and dated - but this is very weak.

Sunday 9 May 2010

Update on The Observer Book Cover article


They have put an edited version of the article I mentioned before up online now - you can read it here and the gallery is on the right hand side - click on the pict and it opens in a new window.

There are 11 book covers showing the UK and the overseas cover - the newspaper version goes into more detail and talks to the designers and art directors - get a copy if you can.

Timetable changes - week starting May 10th.

FDA1 - Monday May 10th

You have Richard for Professional and Personal development - there is a talk at 10am ( starting on time, please! ) about how the industry is constructed - how design companies are put together and how to fit in and find your first job - I'm also going to talk about branding - and in the afternoon we are starting a live brief - it's compulsary and you will have a real client - one student will get to see their work used in the 'real' world' - but I'm going to run it as a professional brief and go through all the stages a designer would need to go through through to the end of term so you need to be in every week.

For the next 6 weeks to the end of term - there will be a talk and group session in the morning to get you to understand the industry, and the live brief - directed by me along real industry lines , will be in the afternoon - you can't miss any of these sessions, it won't be repeated. You all know that you have a responsibility to make up anything you miss in your own time.

FDA1 - Tuesday May 11th

You have Richard again - because the print room was double booked today ( not my fault!! ) and Kevin is not available until next week on Wednesdays - it's a day to artwork up your A2 Playbill designs in preperation of screen printing next week. You really need this time to get your work finalised - so make good use of this day.

FDA1 - Wednesday May 12th

David today - working on your '5 of 7' briefs in 301

FDA2 - Wednesday May 12th

You have a day booked with Andrew Robey at Station Plaza to present your FMP strategy - you have all been briefed

FDA2 - Thursday May 13th

David in 301 - working on your FMP

FDA2 - Friday May 14th

Richard in 301 - with special guest Terry Lewis ( don't say I never do anything for you... )

The Observer, Sunday 9th May

There is an excellent article across 2 pages of the design section in The Observer Review today - explaining why book covers need different covers in different parts of the world - with input from designers, art directors, editors and authors - and lots of examples. It's not online yet - so I suggest you run out and get a copy - it's very interesting.

Saturday 8 May 2010

The New Review's Month in Photography

The monthly guide to the 20 best photographic exhibitions and books with photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Francesca Woodman, Ryan McGinley, Helen Levitt, Don McCullin, Man Ray, Sally Mann, Robert Frank and many more, slideshow included - click here.

Modern Masters / Genius of Design

Don't forget that Modern masters returns tomorrow at 9pm onBBC1 - everyone who saw last weeks episode on Warhol really enjoyed it - this week we move forward to matisse.

If you managed to catch The Genius Of Design last night - which was excellent, there is a book available to go with the series by Penny Sparke - it's cheap at amazon.

Friday 7 May 2010

D&AD Awards

Well folks, I'm afraid it's bad news - it seems we didn't sweep the boards this year.



Frankly, I'm stunned - you put together some of the strongest student work I have ever seen and I feel quite deflated. It has to be remembered that you are only a short 2 year FDA and then only in 3 days per week - competing with students who had 3 or 4 years full time teaching behind them - and there are always trends in these things, when the awards are published you might find that we don't actually like any of them. I also think there was a bit of a trend towards multi media and cross platform design in many of the briefs that you are not really equiped to compete at - most of the briefs asked for levels of work and elements that are beyond what we have the time to teach you.

If that jerk with the 'augmented reality book covers' wins something - I'll be very angry indeed.

The Genius of Desigh - BBC2, 7pm Tonight

Pretty much required watching for all of you.


"The gentle, placid tone of this look at how designers have changed the world is partly down to Denis Lawson's voiceover and lovely music, but most credit goes to the beautifully turned script, which floats us through "an alternative history of the modern world, told through stuff". We begin with glassblowers and potters and progress via Josiah Wedgwood and William Morris to Henry Ford. The programme knows how to make us marvel at the cunning beauty of a bentwood chair or a design for sheep shears unchanged since the 1770s. And there are nice teapots, too."

Thursday 6 May 2010

Graduate Showcase

Although it's geared towards BA students, 'IT'SNICETHAT' are calling for submissions to the 2010 graduate review - worth a very careful look - even if it's just a date in your diary for next year.

You should all be on the lookout for opportunities to promote yourself online - it's great for your folio and an important advantage when it comes to getting work.

De La Warr Facebook Group

In anticipation of the exciting and important Gormley exhibition - I see that the De La Warr has a facebook group - which includes updates - news and competitions - link here.

I also found an amazing picture of an early 1960's wedding at the De La Warr - amazing, check out the Nicholas Parsons poster.

Puffin Books 70th Birthday

There is a short film from the BBC on the 70th birthday of Puffin Books here, and you can link through to the main site with a full history here.

Really worth looking at this - FDA1 will have a module that directly relates to Puffin and Penguin next year - so start thinking about it now.

Tate Modern 10th Birthday

















Tate Modern is 10 years old - and to celebrate they are producing a series of talks, lectures and events starting later this month. They are also having a birthday procession and a free Arts Festival from May 14th - 16th, there is a link to the website here

The Tate also runs courses and workshops - some free - there is a link here ( ignore the horrible picture of two annoying looking arty types at the top - nobody really looks like that )

The To Do Lectures


David came across this site, essentially its an inspirational lecture and events series / foundation based in Wales that is designed to inspire and motivate creative people ( and non creatives... they do exist ), have a careful look through the site and the lecture series and how to apply / attend - the links page is really useful - and I really like the design of the site - I think it's excellent.

Sellotape Concept for FDA1 brief

Wednesday 5 May 2010

D&AD / Metro

I was in London yesterday and there was a large and very interesting article in the Metro Freesheet about the D&AD awards - it included the story of how student Sandra Zahirovic ( above ) was able to turn her entry into a real piece of work. Orion were so impressed with her concept and submission that they invited her into the company to recreate her work 'for real' and the resulting series of books have won great acclaim.

You can read about it on the D&AD blog here.

Tuesday 4 May 2010

Blue Sky Thinking

 I talked with some of FDA1 about iconic images regarding the '5 of 7' brief, and we discussed the vapour trail free skies as an iconic image - over on the Creative Review blog they have been looking for images to mark the occasion.

New arrivals at the de La Warr

FDA2 Laura took a few pictures of the iron men arriving to be lifted to the roof of the De La Warr ( from her luxury seafront penthouse ), I've already read on another blog that they created quite a stir.

FDA 2 timetable update - term 3

This week you are booked to have Andrew on Wednesday - David on Thursday and Myself on Friday, after this week - Wednesday is timetabled as a private study day - however - I will always be available, I'm suggesting that every Wednesday is set aside for studio access and 1-2-1 tutorials with me, which you can confirm in advance - or just check on the day by email to make sure I'm free. It's also worth noting that for the next 3 Wednesdays I am in the studio until 9pm. If you need to stay late ( which I'm sure you will towards the end of this term ) - Jane would like you to remember to sign the 'late' book downstairs ( in case of fire etc ) - but we should be able to keep the studio open by arrangement.

You all know that you can get hold of me at any time this term - and David is generally available if he can help. If anyone needs anything specific, ask sooner rather than later.

Guardian Camera Club

The Guardian Newspaper run an excellent online Camera Club, they talk you through assignments simply and show you how to use your camera creatively and with confidence - there is an archive and this months issue here.

I'm looking to introduce more use of your camera into the modules soon and we are planning a few talks and guides on how to control images better.

Monday 3 May 2010

Timetable - week starting Monday 3rd May

On Tuesday, FDA1 are in etching with Jackie. It's a 10am start again, and week 2 of 3. Remember to set asside some time to scan your images and layout your frontispiece / bookplate.

On Wednesday you have David for the '5 of 7' briefs, start the morning downstairs in 311 as FDA2 have Andrew and he may want to start the day with a talk - but in the afternoon you should be able to move around the studios. I'm probably going to be around in the afternoon and I'd like to see where you are all up to.

On Thursday - FAD2 have David in 305

On Friday FDA 2 have Richard in 305

'OUTSIDE'















Alphabet made from elements of the Union Jack - perfect example of what the FDA1 brief is all about.