Monday 28 February 2011

More new work from Pentagram

Some very nice work here that crosses over from the Wine brief to the Typo work FDA1 have done.



The Beauty Of Books

If anyone was silly enough to miss tonight's episode of 'The Beauty of Books' about paperbacks, focussing on Penguin book covers - there is a link to the home site here - you have 7 days to watch. It was excellent - don't miss it.

FDA2 Essays and work. Important

To confirm what I was able to tell some people at the end of the afternoon - I have spoken to Gary and we have decided to move the final submission date for essay 1 from this friday to March 30th - and on that day you will be briefed on Essay 2.

This gives you all the chance to have a session with Hannah Rollings. Hanna is engaged to make sure your essays are in a fit state for Gary to mark - you MUST not submit anything to Gary unless Hannah has seen it first.

I think that after today you might all realise just how much work you have to do - and how hard you need to work this half term.

Sunday 27 February 2011

Timetable - week starting Feb 28th.

Things are different from this week - all students are in on Mon/Tue/Wed as discussed. On Thursdays I understand that Fashion are photoshop training - but will not take up the full room, and Fridays are probably ND graphics - but again, not the full room. The new arrangement will settle down fairly quickly we can make it work.

During half term the ceiling in our studio was taken down, the leaks repaired and a new ceiling put up. I wasn't given any warning and all of the desks and your work was moved out of the way. I've rearranged the desks in such a way that there is now slightly more space - and the layout seems to work better. I also have my own desk in the studio rather than the staff room. I was a bit surprised how many of you left all your work, materials, equipment out over the half term break, and because it was moved about - I need EVERYONE to clean up after themselves on Monday please. Several of you have already brought in large storage boxes - you MUST do this, remember that there will be other people in the room on 2 days of the week now, so look after your stuff.

Please remember, on Monday - FDA1 are in from 10am - FDA2 are in from 1.30pm.


Monday Feb 28th

FDA1, Critical and Cultural studies with Gary Neill. 10am start. Please don't be late - it's really important that you attend and concentrate here. In the afternoon Gary has a brief for you that complements both C&C and PP. It is very much reasearch and self reflection based - and that means making friends with the Library.

FDA2, Studio meeting with Richard. I will probably set aside another room for this as I want to talk to you about a number of issues on your own - but you MUST be ready to start at 1.30pm.


Tuesday March 1st

FDA1, 10am start in the main studio for a brief lecture and the presentation of the Website Design Module. You must not be late for this session. This is your first 'single brief' module and carries a lot of weight at the end of the year. It includes training and creative work - managing your time and being self directed.

FDA2, you have several important tasks to complete before Easter. C&C, PP, YCN, D&AD ( which completes your 2/3D design Module ) and the resolution of the Packaging Design Module. All of these will have been covered in the meeting on Monday afternoon - and direction on how to manage your time. By the end of this half term you will have finished all your modules, except your FMP. In previous years - part of the PP module has continued into term 3 - personally, I'd rather not do this - but we will talk it through on Monday and you can decide how you want to handle it. I think that submitting your final PP portfolio and giving your presentation in the first week back after the 4 week Easter break is probably the right move.


Wednesday March 2nd

FDA1, Website design module, first full studio day

FDA2, Start of the Formal Tutorial program, as to be discussed on Monday afternoon.

Om Thursday and Friday I will start the interviews for next year - they will carry on for 3 weeks (there are already 50 booked!!) - if any student needs to see me, I am in the studio at all times - either drop in or email for an appointment.

Friday 25 February 2011

New Wordpress theme

Released today - it's called 'Choco' - not that keen on the brown version, but it also comes in charcoal grey and black - which looks a lot like a standard designers portfolio, and I don't mind that look at all.

There is a sample blog here - and the main theme page is here.


Street Graphic Tomfoolery

For the story - click here


Useful Resourse for FDA1 and 2: Parcelpost

FDA2 need to study this site and the products here carefully over the weekend - in particular anything pattern and paper based - you will have an important task on Monday that must be taken seriously.

FDA1 should note that this is a fairly straightforward Wordpress site - free to use and very adaptable - being used successfully in a commercial environment.

Credit to the Credits

Interesting article here from The Independent about the quality of film titles and credits.

Something Different

I really like the function of Axel Peemoeler's website, it's custom written script allows you to move the items about and rearrange everything - personally I think it's a bit ugly as it is - and there is a stonking typo on his 'about' page, but I think it's very clever and worth playing with - it takes a moment to figure out what's happening and it certainly says 'innovation'


Thursday 24 February 2011

Folding card lamp

This is nice - and it should be of real interest to FDA2 - a couple of you tried something similar with your Soap packaging. It's in French, but you can tell what's happening from the pictures. It's made from a single square sheet.


Problem Solving.

Research and investigation are the key skills for problem solving in design - if you do not have a foundation in the understanding of something, you will only ever be a decorator or a stylist.

It's the same weakness that repeats over and over again with students, lack of investigation.

"Of each particular thing ask: What is it in itself, what is its nature?"


Marcus Aurelius 121 - 180AD

More from September Industry

This is another very slick design - personally, I think it's too dry for me - it lacks all the warmth and humanity that I associate with something social or comforting like tea drinking, but the concept is very strong - always ask yourself "What is it? What is it trying to tell me " when presented with a design problem. I love the pattern made by the tea strainer, it's familiar enough - even though we don't really use them now - and makes an excellent marque.


September Industry / Woodhouse

There is a really interesting piece of work here. In some ways I think it's a little bit dry - but I really like what they have done with this cardboard box - just with the simple application of the woodgrain print it's become something clever, witty and modern - it's interesting that many of the 2nd years struggled to manage the synthesis between packaging constructs and natural materials - this shows how easy it can be. You don't have to struggle to make thins work - just think for a moment and examine what they actually 'are'.

Coralie Bickford-Smith

CB-S is one of the most important designers in the UK today, her work with Penguin is legendary. There is nothing on this site that I don't wish I had done myself.

You all really need to be familiar with contemporary designers - and there is nowhere better to start than here. ( I even like here tea towels!! ) Go through the whole site carefully and look at the work - try and decode everything and appreciate how strong it all is.


self portrait CS-S

Churnalism

I'm sure you are all sick of me telling you that words are just as important as pictures, to work in the design industry you really need to be aware of the wider context of social media and culture - even if that just means watching the news and reading a newspaper every day. I love this new website - it's what the internet was invented for, the press release is below - and can you please take note that we use exactly the same process to work out how much of your essays are cut and pasted from the web & library books etc....


recycling press releases.

Churnalism.com has been launched by the Media Standards trust and takes up the baton from Guardian journalist Nick Davies – who popularised the term Churnalism, for journalism which is little more than re-writing press releases, in his 2008 book Flat Earth News.


The site invites people to paste press releases into it, Churnalism.com then compares the press release with news stories published online to reveal how much is apparently cut and pasted by the journalist.
Examples this morning include a press release from Asda stating that families are now £8 a week better off than a year ago, which was apparently 89 per cent cut and pasted into a story appearing on Mail Online.

A press release from One Poll stating that it takes the average woman a year and a half to “feel like a woman again after childbirth” was apparently 97 per cent cut and pasted into a Mail Online story.
Media Standards Trust Director Martin Moore said: “News organisations can now be much more transparent about the sources of their articles, but most of them still aren’t. Hiding the connection between PR and news is not in the interests of the public. Hopefully churnalism.com will nudge them to be more open about their use of PR material.


“Even with press releases that are clearly in the public interest - medical breakthroughs, government announcements, school closures, and perhaps even this website launch - it is still better that articles are transparent about their sources.


“Maybe churnalism.com will also encourage more original journalism. Exposing unoriginal churn may help slow the steep decline in the amount of original reporting that we’ve seen in the last few years.”

The Art of looking Sideways

Very good interview here with Alan Fletcher here, forwarded by David Fowler - required viewing.


End Grain

A site designed by Bethany Heck - and of interest in anyone who loves typography.

Showcase: Nine Below / Timothy Kortman

I found the site of this freelancer in Chicago, it's very slick and polished - but actually quite simple and easy to digest - good use of a simple grid that supports the work - and nicely paced.

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Showcase: Bethany Heck

This is a link to the website of a recent design graduate - the work is frankly, astonishing - really lovely stuff. There is a lot of skill and well judged observation in all the work - very impressive indeed. I really like this fashion packaging, it's the sort of thing that does very well at D&AD.

Graphic Exchange

This site is one of the most valuable resources on the internet - most of the best work in design is presented her for you, well organised and beautifully shot - you should familiarise yourself with the archives and make sure you check daily for updates.

One of the key features is the standard of presentation - important reference for anyone putting their work together for portfolio, interview or competition briefs.

Aside from all the beautiful modern work - I really liked the humour and inventiveness of this wine labeling project.



Tuesday 22 February 2011

Design a Deck Chair for The Stade

This has FINALLY gone live - you don't have much time - details here.

Archer and Vine

Beautiful work - kind of bringing together both the typo brief and the wine and water brief that FDA1 have had - you see.. you do learn stuff at college - the reset of the set is here.

Paperless Design Studio

This is a really interesting article that spotlights the huge resources wasted in our industry - the studio in question received 60lbs of paper promotions in one month, from designers, suppliers and illustrators - so they set up an online alternative. Useful read and good little video to examine the issue here.

More Stanley Donwood

You can see more of the artwork that Donwood created for 'King Of Limbs' at The Outsiders Gallery - details here. This is particularly useful to FDA1 - they have a project coming up that requires some thought in this direction. There is also a Creative Review article here

Tuesday 22nd / Wednesday 23rd

Can you please try and avoid using the studio today - I've come in to find a team of Polish Builders replacing the ceiling and it's all a bit of a mess. Cheers.

Great Opportunity

"The Good Taste of Chocolate"

A presentation by Craig Sams, President and Co-Founder of Green & Blacks
At SCCH, Tuesday March 1st, 7pm - 8.30pm

( I believe there will be a tasting afterward, but keep that to yourself)

- update from Micheal Little

This promises to be an enjoyable and informative evening. To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, we will have available a selection of Fairtrade certified wines on arrival (at just £1 per glass).

Following Craig's presentation, there will be a free chocolate tasting and some time for question and answers.
However, places are limited and filling fast- so please RSVP mlittle@sussexcoast.ac.uk
to guarantee your place.


Showcase: Whatarogue / Sean Thomas

Sean Thomas is a design student from Liverpool studying in Leeds. His personal site is very clean, controlled and economic - as is his work. You can tell he's gone to a lot of trouble to present the work beautifully. His short film 'Signman' is brilliant. He also produced his portfolio as a staple bound booklet - ideal for sending out to prospective clients - and an exellent example of how to get your work across.

Monday 21 February 2011

The Beauty of Books

Excellent Episode tonight on Illustrated books - concentrating on the Victorian Era, technological advances and books such as Alice in Wonderland and the works of Mervyn Peake - really worth watching. Catch up here.

Pick Me Up / via Gary Neill

17-27 March 2011
Daily 10.00-19.00, Thursdays until 21.00
Embankment Galleries, South Wing

Somerset House is delighted to announce the second edition of Pick Me Up, the UK’s first contemporary graphic art fair. Due to popular demand after the fair’s successful launch in April 2010, Pick Me Up will return in March 2011 to the Embankment Galleries for a celebration of graphic art.

The best, most innovative and avant-garde graphic artists, collectives and galleries from the UK and across the world will exhibit and offer an exuberant mix of artworks for sale. Somerset House will once again become a platform for the graphic art and design community and a great place to experience first hand the energy and excitement of the graphic art scene.

A lively programme of events and activities will accompany the fair, including an open studio from legendary designer Anthony Burrill.

Showcase: Oscar Germade

Lovey work here from a Spanish designer who has only been out of college for a few years. Some elegant typography, including a font specifically for a vineyard and one created from a found stencil.

Self Promo
















This is a clever self promotional concept - it's a prototype from Nokia, a business card that folds into a mobile phone.

From Hastings Creatives.

Some of you may have read about this project in the Observer last week. Tony Pankhurst is a local businessman who used to present the sport and do the Sunday late-night show on Arrow FM. Like many in the local area, he is not best pleased with the way Arrow has turned its back on Hastings - moving out to Hailsham and soon all the way to Worthing whilst still pretending to be Hastings' "Local Radio Station".

Tony is planning an online station which will be very heavily speech based with local music and, to that end, he's on the hunt for locally-focussed content or content ideas.

If you are a local writer, musician or artist with either pre-recorded, high quality audio material or an idea for a feature Tony would love to hear from you. The station will have portable recording equipment available for you to use and will provide basic training in interview technique and editing on the freely downloadable Audacity program.

Some of you may also know about our project over here in Rye - RXFM which is a licenced FM Community Radio station that will be launching online this month and on FM later in the year. RXFM and HLR will be pooling talent and material as the two stations will overlap editorially.

To contact Tony at HLR email pankhurst@btinternet.com or to contact me at RXFM email info@rxfm.co.uk

Donwood on Newsprint

Really interesting article here on Stanley Donwood and his design work for Radiohead ( old and new ), in anticipation of an exhibition of his work with the band. Last years FDA2 tried to get a newspaper published to support the Diploma Show, ad it's something I'd like to look at again.

FDA1 should also read carefully, as it relates to a brief you will be getting either later this year or at the start of next ( depending how far we get )


D&AD

Interesting article for all of you - including last years FDA2 - who may remember the pain and trauma of this little project....

Typography at large

Poster for Northern Broadsides production of Hamlet at the Newcastle U.L Young Vic. FDA1 should be able to recognise the process here - understand the play, understand the location and the emotional qualities and reference the spiritual / spectral overtones. Nothing here you couldn't do yourself.

Sunday 20 February 2011

The power of Social Media

I read early today that an Egyptian man has named his new born daughter 'Facebook' in honour of the role that the site played in changing the balance of power in his country - this image just shows how valuable the power of branding and communication really is.

Revamping the blog.

You must have noticed that the blog has changed ( if not, perhaps you are on the wrong course.. ). SCCH was a little uncomfortable with us having an offline site that suggested it was 'owned' by the college - and for legal and copyright reasons I've been asked to either rebrand or utillise the college systems, which is fair enough. It takes up a lot of my time to run this blog, and I'm under no obligation to do so - but I think it's an invaluable teaching resource and in a lot of ways makes my life easier for all of us.

I'm probably going to migrate to Wordpress during the summer in line with some of the new teaching systems I want to bring in - but we shall be staying here until the end of your academic year.

The name was suggested by FDA1 Olga - I really like it, it has multiple meanings and is very appropriate for what we are trying to achieve here, I'll be re-branding the archive and scrapbook blog at some point as 'Reference Point' to match.

Saturday 19 February 2011

Deconstruction

Interesting post on the ever fascinating Friends of Type blog - this image was produced manually, not digitally.

Penguin Great Food collection

Latest major offering from Penguin, a series of food themed publications. The cover images are inspired by ceramic dishes and the embossed typo is lovely - I also like the little Penguin Logo.

Brit Insurance Designs of the year show

All the details are here.

The One Show Annual

Full of creative work from the last year, explores the idea that most annuals are quite dull, so all the work is provided on stickers, that you add to the pages to create your own personalised layouts.


Star Wars Typograms

"Luke - I am your Font"

Today'd Google Marque

Quite like this, ties in a bit with some of the FDA 1 typo submissions.

Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising

From 1-30 April 2011 an exhibition of art inspired by an iconic brand will be held at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising in Notting Hill. To celebrate the invention of the BiC® Cristal® ball pen 60 years ago, artists from around the globe have provided sculptures, portraits, a  haute couture dress and even ‘Cristal® chandeliers’ for the new exhibition called Inkspiration: The Story of BiC® Cristal®.

On show will be a recreation of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, drawn entirely using a single BiC® Cristal® pen, as well as sculptures incorporating the pen itself. If visitors feel inspired, they can also grab a Cristal® and draw or write on a special ‘doodle wall’ where they can express their thoughts.

Half Term Break

If anyone is missing the professional practice briefs ( FDA1 & 2 ) you must let me know by email straight away - you have a deadline to meet.

If you have not submitted a feedback form yet - please do so by email - not responding means you lose your voice as a student and can't participate in improving the course.

FDA1 will be getting Ident feedback from mysef and Simon at some point over the break, and FDA2 will be getting Packaging feedback and some other correspondence over the break too, once I have consulted with Tim.

I will be in the college for much of the break, if anyone needs to see me - email first to check I am there, but you are welcome to come in, and the LRC will be open 10 - 1pm - Monday to Friday.

Great Resource for everyone

Thanks due to Top-Up David McG - for a link to this astonishing designer resource and archive

Just when you’ve thought you’ve seen it all, you stumble across something like this German sitecontaining a MASSIVE amount of work from legendary designers like Brockmann, Ruder, Bill, Hofmann, Stankowski, Rüegg, Lohse, Huber, Tschichold and more. 
 
It just goes to show how prolific these designers were, especially Brockmann. I thought I’ve seen most of his work, but this site contains many designs that I’ve never seen, like the one pictured here. It’s like rediscovering him all over again. Not sure how he was able to get all the work completed. I can’t imagine ever producing this amount of work in my lifetime. Amazing.

Brand DNA.

Really interesting article about The Mulberry brand here, makes some important points about luxury goods that would be useful for FDA2 after yesterday presentation. I think this bit is very pertinent to all of you -

The two most important things she learned in New York, she says, were "a sense of polish, of being quite obsessive about detail" and "a respect for brands, and an understanding of the need to honour the brand.

Friday 18 February 2011

Modern British Sculpture by Pentagram

This is the identity and some campaign material for a major Royal Academy exhibition, it's being used on TV and around the world. Pentagram are one of the most respected design consultancies in the world.

FDA1 - if you look at the logo, typography and animated Ident - there is NOTHING in here that you can't do, everything you need has already been covered in the first 2 terms - if fact... I don't actually think the animation is that good, and you are all capable of a typographic solution at least as good as this.

I think the most important thing for all of you is to be culturally aware, the more you understand about your industry and the general creative environment - the more connected and informed you are, the better a designer you will be.

All the info here at the Pentagram site.

Thursday 17 February 2011

TV highlights

There was an excellent Culture Show tonight - I'd strongly recommend all of you to follow this program, it's essential that you are aware of the wider contemporary cultural landscape - the website and archive is here.

Later on there was an excellent documentary about the sculptor David Nash, again - a really important resource for you - go to the site here.

Royal Visit

I've just been informed that The Princess Royal ( That's Princess Ann if you are my age ) will be at Station Plaza on march 22nd to 'formally' open the building. It's probably going to be fairly disruptive and busy in the lead up but I'll do my best to timetable everything around the event so you don't lose out.

It's also the day before the IQER inspection starts....

FDA2 fee applications - for next year

I've been informed that FDA1 students may now apply for their fees for next year via the Student Finance Website.
The Design Museum celebrates the prolific career of the Dutch graphic designer Wim Crouwel in this his first UK retrospective. Regarded as one of the leading designers of the twentieth century, Crouwel embraced a new modernity to produce typographic designs that captured the essence of the emerging computer and space age of the early 1960s.

Spanning over 60 years, this exhibition will cover Crouwel’s rigorous design approach and key moments in his career including his work for design practice ‘Total Design’, the identity for the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, as well as his iconic poster, print, typography and lesser known exhibition design. The exhibition will also highlight Crouwel’s rigorous design approach exploring his innovative use of grid-based layouts and typographic systems to produce consistently striking asymmetric visuals.

More about Wim here

FDA1 / Idents

I should have mentioned this yesterday - it's a fan vid for the track 'Sleep The Clock around' by Belle and Sebastian - it's made from chopped up engineering training films and has a thematic device of moving through circular motifs - in the same way Jo had her Ident moving from shower head to plug hole etc in her Phsycho tribute - very simple but effective.

( don't forget to send me screenshots for the marking please )

Wednesday 16 February 2011

New Wordpress template

Released today - 'Duster' is a new graphic Wordpress template that runs of modern website lines - with a good home and holding page layout ad lots of functionality and adaptability.

Good timing...

Found by Gary Neill - Exhibition, the Film Posters of Saul Bass - details here

Drop box for C&C

There is a secure drop box installed downstairs in the student services area - by David Fowlers Office - it's date marked and collected daily.

When you have competed your Critical ad Cultural work - you will be directed to deliver your work here before the deadline given ( not by email please - only via this process ).

This is a University Standard procedure now and needs to be observed carefully, talk to me if you don't understand anything.

LRC opening over the holiday

The Library will be open from 10am - 1pm from Monday to Thursday - please take advantage of this quite time - FDA1 - there are plenty of examples of self promotional design in the graphics section, FDA2 - make use of the LRC for D&AD and YCN work.

Wednesday
























Excellent work today from everyone, I was really impressed with everything. Don't forget to let me have your Ident screenshots as soon as possible.

I had wanted to talk more about Camille's Typography - but the file was corrupted - so here is one of her best cards - I think it's lovely - really simple and well executed.

Have a good break, drop me a line if you need anything - if you need to see me, email to check that I am about

Tuesday 15 February 2011

This is a new one for me???

Good website design

Spotted by Gary Neil - very interesting interface - here.


Monday 14 February 2011

Trip to British Museum

The Stade Education Project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund has organised for a 33 seater Rambler coach to travel from Hastings Old Town to the British Museum in London (return) on Tuesday 15th March 2011 
 
The trip is primarily for Stade Education Project Volunteer Guides to take part in a private tour from 2pm to 3.30pm of the British Museum and have a talk about good practice in guiding by Kusuma Barnett, who was Head of Volunteering at the British Museum for many years and was awarded an MBE for her services to Museums in 2006.There are 20 places on Kusuma’s tour. 

This leaves 13 seats in the coach for anyone else who might be interested in a trip to the British Museum. These seats are being offered at £5 each. Payable in cash on the day, or in advance.

The coach will leave from the Boating Lake on Hastings seafront (near the swan pedalos) at 10am sharp. We will return to the same place at 6pm.

Please bring a packed lunch or money to buy lunch and tea.
 
If you would like to join us, please contact me, Beatrice Rapley, Stade Education Officer on: brapley@hastings.gov.uk   01424 451167 Mobile: 07989259574



Beatrice Rapley - Stade Education Officer
Old Town Museum

Printing at SCCH

You will notice when you print at college that your account has been monetized, after the half term break - you will be able to top up your account downstairs in Reprographics (by the back stairs - towards the rear lifts).

It's important to try and conserve resources - and hopefully people will use the printers less and there will be no queues now.

Sunday 13 February 2011

D&AD news

ENTRY SITE NOW LIVE:

First up, I'm pleased to announce that the entry site is now live. students can login here to start creating their entries: http://www.dandad.org/awards/student/2011



We have two new members on our team who will be on hand to answer queries about formats for submissions and advice on presenting work for the judges. If you have any questions at all please contact studentawards@dandad.org

NEW GRADUATE PLACEMENT SCHEME:

Many of this year's briefs have placement prizes attached - you can see the full list here: http://www.dandad.org/awards/student/2011/benefits-of-winning



There will be another prize to be announced on March 1st. All final year students who are awarded In Book or above in this year's Student Awards will automatically be part of the scheme. 



Everyone who qualifies will receive up to a week's intensive training at the end of August and enter a selection process to win one of 50 paid placements lasting up to three months. The training will be an invaluable experience that will build their skills as a potential employee and stretch their creative muscles in new ways.





MORE SPONSOR BRIEFINGS NOW ONLINE:

Almost all of the sponsors have now participated in video interviews about each of the briefs, including some extra video content provided by Arjowiggins Creative Papers. Check the selected brief page online to watch the video. It might just give you some extra insight to help tackle the brief before they finalise your ideas.

Also, the first videos from the Crafts 6 x 6 Sharp'ner are now online at: http://www.dandad.org/inspiration/past-events/sharpner



Saturday 12 February 2011

re: Shipping Forecast

Timetable - week Starting February 14th.

Monday FDA1 - 

Studio day, Working on Typography and Idents.

You must let me have all your finished Typo Projects by 6pm on Monday, I will mark the work and give you your grades and feedback on Wednesday, no excuses - complete PDF files by email please!

I will also give you some feedback forms to complete.

Tuesday FDA1

Studio day with Simon Cooper / Idents

Wednesday FDA1

Presentation all morning.

10 - 11am, I will have selected one Typo card from each person to talk through, and give you all your grades.

11.30 - 12.30am - presentation of all idents to me, I shall discuss the work with Simon in the afternoon and you will get your marks by email.

I will also give you your Half Term Task, and I will need your feedback forms returned by today.

As it's half term and the 2nd years are busy preparing for a presentation on Friday - you can start your holiday early and we shall finish at lunch time.

Wednesday FDA2 

Studio in the afternoon with me and Simon Cooper ( there will be a presentation in the morning with the projector - you can come in, but only if you are happy to work around us ). I will also give you a feedback form to complete.

Thursday  FDA2

Studio day with Richard

Friday FDA2

Studio access until 12.30 - then all your completed work to be laid out on the large table for me and Tim to review.

Presentation starts at 2pm exactly with myself and Tim Peplow. Afterwards I will give you your Half Term task and I need the feedback forms returned.

Half Term - I think that you will have studio access if you need it, I will be around for part of the week, but check first please.

Friday 11 February 2011

How your final grades are calculated ( FDA2)

The minimum pass mark for each FDA module is 40%

When we calculate the value of each module to award your final grade - this is how they impact on your final mark.

Professional Practice                                       - 16.66%
2D & 3D Graphic Communication                - 16.66%
Design for Print                                               - 8.33%
Interactive Design                                           - 16.66%
Packaging                                                        - 16.66%
Critical and Cultural                                      - 16.66%
FMP / Presentation project                            - 25%


This is a guide to the proportions of your final grade that each module delivers - obviously, you must score a minimum of in 40% each module simply to pass, but it gives you a guide where your general standards are at this time and what you need to do to make up the grades if you have a poorly received module.n

Art critic Alastair Sooke crossed the Atlantic to discover the story behind Milton Glaser’s iconic 'I love New York logo', for a programme that aired on BBC Radio 4 this morning. Sooke’s journey started at the city’s Museum of Modern Art, looking at a scrap of paper bearing a doodle - the first plan for Milton’s famous logo - which the museum claims has had greater influence on the rest of the world than anything else in the Moma collection.

The drawing itself was penned - rather aptly - in the back of a yellow New York taxi, in a bleak time in the city’s history. Ravaged by drugs and violent crime, the Big Apple in the 1970s was rotten to the core. The state turned to design consultancy Madison Avenue, which in turn went to the young Glaser, to create a symbol to rejuvenate the state’s tourist industry.


Milton’s design was immediately popular with the consultancy and client alike. He attributes its success to the brainwork involved, decoding the symbols to solve the puzzle and translate the sentence. He adds, ‘That sense of satisfaction is really a clue as to why people respond to some things and not to others.’


The project started as a small advertising campaign with a tiny budget - Milton only asked for expenses, creating the logo for free - and was not even copyrighted for the first 10 years of its life in attempt to spread it far and wide.


It worked, with the symbol soon popping up on the Wall of China, as well as on hoodies on market stalls the world over. Typesetters even started including the heart shape in their ranges, something the programme appropriates directly to Glaser.


Designer Patrick Argent, who first alerted us to the programme, explains his respect for Glaser, ‘Milton Glaser is one of a rare breed indeed. A highly articulate, intellectual designer-illustrator whose inventiveness and richness of visual language revolutionised American design.
‘His presence and impact internationally is formidable. In creating a range of uniquely personalised and varyingly diverse styles, his work often blurs the distinction between painting and graphic design, defying the rigid constraints of any categorisation. Glaser’s considerable output in type and identity design displays equal inventiveness in purer graphic forms.’


I Heart Milton Glaser is a fascinating programme, packed with insight, cracking interviews - including one with Glaser himself - and genuine enthusiasm for the logo and its story. You can listen to the programme here, but be quick it’ll only be on iPlayer for another seven days.

Thursday 10 February 2011

Andy Smith































I've been able to persuade Andy Smith to come in and show his work at some point over the next couple of weeks, really lucky to be able to do this - so make sure that you are in on the day!

Showcase: Darren Firth

Very nice designers personal site here. I like his work, and the way that he includes the sketches of his typo on the feed, showing how he develops branding and plays with lettershapes - just as you are working on your Typo brief ( FDA1 ). He also talks about using Wordpress - which is important for all of you to start thinking about.

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Today...

... went really well, thanks to everyone who attended the talk from GFSmith - I have plenty spare samples and a colourbook in the office. I'll also dig out a pantone book from my studio and bring it in - probably best to keep it in Jane's office.

Many thanks to FDA1 - Kay was really impressed by the work and effort that you had all put in, she thought the bags were really inventive and diverse and that you had all gone to a huge amount of effort. Good work.

She has agreed come back and talk to you again during PP when we do self promotion, and is already talking about commissioning some work for her brand, so that's really good news - WELL DONE!

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Look - no computers!

Making the early 80's HBO Ident film - here

Type Annual from Creative Review.

Pretty much required reading for everyone. Here

FDA1 Type / Image / Sea themes
































From the Hiscock Gallery, by Dave Thompson - more here - you could also try searching for retro seaside posters and see how they have tackled typographic treatmens for coastal resorts.

Big 'A'































I pointed out yesterday how much I liked the tall, sharp pointed 'A' on one of the submissions - and also how Mel had tried to make her 'Forties' look like an Art Deco building - both reminded me of this image.

FDA1 Bag project

Please remember to bring all your bags in on Wednesday for Kay to review - she will be in at about 2pm.

Monday 7 February 2011

Attendence issues.

I need to emphasise just how important it is to keep up your attendence records. I have explained repetedly that if you dip below 70% you are in real danger of scrutiny by the University - all registers are checked automatically and the numbers are an essential part of the course funing calculations.

You are only required to attend 3 days a week - but this is a full time course, you have a contractual comitment to attend.

The University offers accomodation in Hastings, and rental property here is cheap and plentiful - if you chose to outside the town then you have to take responsibility for getting into college.

I go to a lot of trouble to stretch the budget to give you as much staff time as possible, if you don't take advantage of this - you will suffer in the end. The quickest way to get yourself noticed is to not be around.

Sunday 6 February 2011

FDA2 and D&AD

We have been able to secure a stand at the 2011 D&AD Bloodbank show in London - shared with Top Up.

This is a really great showcase for you all and we need to start thinking about it carefully, David has called an initial meeting for 1pm on Monday Feb 14th, I know that it's not an FDA1 day - but please try to attend or deputise.

Timetable week starting Feb 7th.

Monday Feb 7th FDA1

Full studio day working on the typo brief and the Indents. I want everyone to print off two or three of their strongest typo cards at A3 or A4 for a group review at 2pm

Tuesday Feb 8th FDA1

Studio day with Simon Cooper working on the Indents Brief


Wednesday Feb 9th FDA1

Studio day with Richard working on Indents and Typo brief - Kay Avery Stallion s due to come in this afternoon to review the bag and tea towels, make sure you have everything with you.

Wednesday Feb 9th FDA2

Studio day, packaging brief. You also have Simon Cooper in the afternoon working with you to create renderings for your presentation next week. If anyone needs help creating rendered packaging using Illustrator - I'll run a workshop in the morning.

I have a draft of all of the mid module marks and predicted grades from last week - I'll probably send out an electronic copy too.

I have an appointment at the Ore Valley campus at 9am - but I probably won't be late - Jane is always in early to open the studio.

Thursday Feb 10th / Friday Feb 11th

Studio day - packaging brief. I have an appointment in the Town Hall as part of the Hastings Cultural regeneration group and I'm representing the department - I should be back in the studio by 11.30, if you want cover during that time - please let me know and I'll try and book a tutor.

Saturday 5 February 2011

The story of Penguin





















Nice, concise overview here.

For FDA2 - I didn't plan this, HONEST!

Dramatisation of the worlds first heart transplant, on C4 tonight - if you are on this brief - you really need to watch it.

click here

More strong typo for FDA1



Heart Charm concept for FDA2

Brand alphabet - good work.

Nice typo sample for FDA1 brief

Rendering packaging for FDA2

This is a fairly simple rendering of a piece of packaging that all of you should be able to achieve using Illustrator ( which has 3D tools ) - Photoshop and Cinema 4D ( with Simon Cooper ). There are plenty of online tutorials and vids at Adobe etc if you are working at home.

Keep it clean and simple - a straigtforward presentation of what your idea is all about - don't do anything fussy or worry about the background, white space is much better for your Folio. If you are making your work up - photographic presentation should be the same.