Take A Break From The Sun

The Australian Ad Take A Break From the Sun was designed by CHE, Melbourne as part of a skin cancer awareness campaign in Australia. The ambient advertisement is simple but effective, it is a good example of how advertising can be used in relation to the cause it is promoting. Although the shadow technique has been used before in some advertising campaigns in this one it is more effective as the shadow created is not only saying a message it is also in relation to what it is saying. The message is serious and would probably be dismissed or overlooked if advertised in a different way, the designer has really thought about how they can gain interest and ensure people actually read the message they are trying to say.

Studio 7

Studio 7 are based in British Columbia and specialise in creating strong branding for social and environmentally conscious companies.

They differ from many other design agencies as they have a strong ethos in which their business is based on, rather than having these values but incorporating them into the design practice. 

They have many environmental values, they donate a percentage of the profits to myclimate.org and rarely use paper, if they do it is recycled.

The agency has created a unique selling point for itself but could also isolate some clients, but if they believe in what they promote and with everyone trying to become more environmentally conscious, other agencies may be inclined to create a strong environmental ethos.

I was quite surprised by their own website design as it doesn't immediately appear very organic, there are environmental characters such as the earth and the trees but it is a bit strong, in colour and image to seem organic, perhaps they are trying to modernise the traditional characteristics of environmental companies to create a unique branding. The website is good to gain an insight into the things you can do to be more socially aware as a designer and has some good examples of design which has been produced in an environmentally conscious manner.

Peacock

Peacock design are a London based design agency, they work mainly within the music industry and have redesigned literature for many iconic musicians such as The Beatles and Elvis Presley.

They also design for film and TV, including the soundtrack video for Slumdog Millionaire.

I especially like their website, it is really unique and has you navigate it in a playful, interactive way. The images are of an illustrative nature and the moving image can be viewed via a drawn TV, the background scenery subtly changes as you choose different areas to look at. A great idea of how to make a website stand out and be different.

ReGeneration - 50 Photographers of Tomorrow. 2005-2025

This photography book differs from any other photography book I have read as it is attempting to achieve two objectives - one, to investigate the new generation of emerging photographers and to discover their mediums and inspirations and two, to predict the new generation of substantial photographers whom will have the talent and ideas to be established and recognised as professional photographers in 25 years time.

The book intrigued me as to how the editors could predict the future of photography, why 25 years and how the judges came to their decisions on choosing the photographers.

The preface wrote by William A Ewing, Director of The Musee de l'Elysee in Lausanne states he was inspired to produce the book by the title of a famous painting by Paul Gauguin - Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? these questions inspired questions of his own about what the new century would bring in the world of photography.

"What are young photographers up to these days? Whose influence are they heeding, consciously or unconsciously? Are they conformist or contentious? Idealist or realist? Escapist or engaged? Are we on the cusp of a new movement, a revolt, a new dawn, or still at the tail-end of a chapter, wallowing in the so-called decadent phase? Are emerging photographers leaning towards classical approaches to photography or inclined towards those of contemporary art? Are they remaining loyal to film and chemistry or abandoning camp in droves for pixels and photoshop?

Regeneration: 50 Photographers of Tomorrow, 2005-2025 was conceived as a kind of time-and-space probe, it sets out to discover answers to these intriguing questions".

William A Ewing, P8

Submissions were made from sixty schools worldwide which were chosen by the Musee de l'Elysee's educational staff, they were then shortlisted by a judging panel. Th finalists were chosen from the quality of their work and the intelligence behind their work, resulting in an unique collection of varied styles, subject matter and medium.

The time frame 2005-2025 was chosen as William A Ewing believes that a professional photographer needs 20 - 25 years to develop and mature into an established photographer with a strong portfolio. It will be interesting to see whether his predictions will actually transpire into professional photographers and whether it will actually take 20 years to do so.

 Mauren Brodbeck

Mauren Brodbeck was born in Switzerland and attended the Art Centre College of Design, she photographs buildings that are ordinary parts of the urban landscape then transforms them within there environment by using blocks of colour.

I especially like the way the blocks of colour against the urban backgrounds create a totally new image, although quite a simple technique the choice of which parts of the image to change into colour have been really thought about by the photographer to gain the best impact.

Marcello Mariana

Italian photographer, Marcello Mariana has taken these extraordinary pictures of an ordinary elevate to attempt to gain an element of space and sky in a confined restricted environment. I like the perspective of these photographs, although they are obviously lifts, the angle and details creates a totally different image.

Johann Ryno De Wet

These landscape photographs taken by South African photographer Johann Ryno De Wet have an almost surrealist look about them, he uses analogue photography techniques with digital manipulation to create landscape images which are from his imagination rather than the landscape which is actually shot.

Bangkok

In 2003, I was lucky enough to travel in the far East for 3 weeks, I began the journey in Bangkok, totally by accident as I was supposed to be visiting the Phi Phi islands but had to wait in Bangkok for 3 days for an Indian visa and I'm so glad I did, it is one of the most fantastic places I have visited. The contrast between rich and poor is evident as you travel through the city, in places the hotels and buildings are extravagant and glamorous then 5 minutes down the road people are living in shanty style houses and begging for loose change.

The vibrant atmosphere is by far the best part of Bangkok, the sights, smells and constant noise is exiting and interesting, the streets are filled with markets selling unique products, the smell is a mix of exotic spices and unusual foods. The chaos is unreal, it reminds me of a photograph where if you stood still everything around you would just blur into one. You feel alive in Bangkok, not for someone who prefers peace and quiet but is a place where you could visit again and again and encounter a new experience each time.

For such a chaotic city, the locals are by far the most friendly I have ever met and strangely enough are quietly spoken and polite which is odd providing they live in such a fast paced, loud environment, the traffic is mayhem and crossing the road is no easy feat and the most popular mode of transport is a motorbike or a Tuk Tuk which results in various vehicles flying around with no apparent road system. The heat is intense and the dust is incredible so a lot of locals wear face masks, which is quite bizarre to see, the city is almost surreal and never sleeps, in fact it becomes more alive as dusk falls, no one seems to get tired and they continue about their business with a friendly word and a big smile in the 'city of angels'.

A Laypersons Guide To Graphic Design

The transcript 'A Laypersons Guide to Graphic Design' posted on DesignObserver.com is taken from a radio broadcast by Adrian Shaugnessy where he had 30 minutes to introduce Graphic Design to a non professional audience.

The post caught my interest as I often struggle explaining what Graphic Design actually is and the first question always asked when I say what I am studying is "What is Graphic Design?" and I find myself almost justifying what design is and why I have chosen the subject usually making the person even more confused which I find really frustrating.

I hoped reading a brief explanation about graphic design from a professional would give me some ideas about how to explain the career I have chosen but the transcript shows that even a professional designer faces difficulties when trying to describe a subject which is blatantly obvious to a designer but proves to be such a difficult subject to actually explain, Why is this?

Adrian Shaughnessy makes a good statement "considering graphic designs ubiquity in modern life, I'm not sure that many people (non-designers that is) understand much about it. It's something people encounter every day - perhaps every minute of their waking lives - yet they hardly bother to consider the impact, either good or bad, that it has on their lives. It means a lot to the people who do it for a living, but rarely means much to the people it's aimed at".

Perhaps the public is just so saturated with various forms of design they have just become oblivious to what it is actually for - to communicate some form of message or perhaps non designers just don't feel that they have to understand the role of a designer, they just view the finished product and probably have no real interest in the process. But should designers have to justify their profession just because of a lack of understanding amongst the general public? Adrian Shaugnessy makes an interesting point that if Graphic Design was taken away, no logos, no street names, symbols or road markings - perhaps people would recognise the importance of design, he also states some important historical and professional facts - he differentiates design and art, which appears to create confusion amongst non designers, he justifies the need for design education and explains the various roles of a designer in a concise and interesting way, making the transcript an enlightening read for designers and non designers.

Sunday Drive - Volkswagen

The advert Anyone For a Sunday Drive? was created by Red Urban in Toronto in collaboration with PALM + HAVIS communications in Montreal for Volkswagen Canada. The advert is promoting a nostalgic and romantic notion of the Sunday Drive, a pass time which years ago was seen as a fun thing to do, they are cleverly trying to re ignite the emotional connection with the Volkswagen brand.
I think it is a really clever ad as it is connected to a website where you can go online to virtually experience a leisurely 'Sunday drive' with an added feature of mixing a vintage record using an online mixer.
The ad uses a mix of old and new combining nostalgic and traditional values and lifestyle with modern technology and expectations.


The adverts build an atmosphere of nostalgia and relaxation by the choice of scenery and music, the website also builds the story by beginning with a series of statements and questions leading to the final question "Anyone for a sunday drive?'
http://http//vwsundaydrive.ca/

D&AD

The D&AD website is a fantastic professional website which gives links to interesting happenings in the field of graphic design and also has information on upcoming exhibitions, competitions and lectures.

When I visited Helen Bee from the Together Trust she advised me to look at the D&AD website regularly to keep involved in current trends and issues and also to use their competition briefs to keep creativity flowing and to gain portfolio pieces in areas which may not be covered in college.

It is easy to register and you will receive updates via email about any new content added to the site and of any upcoming lectures or competitions.

www.allgraphicdesign.com

The website http://allgraphicdesign.com  has loads of resources, tips and tutorials about graphic design. Usually I don't tend to like the general design websites as they are inundated with advertisements but this one appears to be ok. There is that much content that it is quite easy to become waylaid but it has some good links to other sites which are also useful. It has a good forum which is kept updated and a lot of the content seems relevant and recent.

5000+ Days

5000+ Days is a visual collection of Press Photography from 1989 - 2006, the book is split into sections, Hard News, Inside Pages, In the Public Eye, Daily Life, Arts and Entertainment and Sport.

Introduced by Tim Bishop whom is the secretary of the British Press Photographers Association (BPPA), he raises some valid points about the advances of technology, mainly to digital photography and how photo manipulation can change more than just the image but also alter interpretations of the captured moment in history.

The foreword is wrote by Harold Evans who was editor of the Sunday Times from 1967 - 1981 and has published various journalism and press photography books. He was knighted in 2004 for services to journalism. In his foreword he too comments about the advancement of digital photography and questions whether it is always used positively but does agree that digital has many benefits. He talks about Press Photography as a profession and how the images become iconic in their own right rather than the printed story which they were initially taken for.

He encourages the reader to view the photographs and to attempt to interpret them before reading the caption, which really surprised me as to how an image can be interpreted in a variety of ways by the viewer, which adds interest but made me think about graphic design and how the balance between image and written information has to be carefully considered to ensure that the design is creating the message intended to the viewer.

5000+ days also made me more aware of how reader interpretations are majorly based on their personal knowledge and experiences.

The chapters I found most interesting were Hard News, Inside Pages and Daily Life because I find real or social situation photographs most interesting. Although some of the images in these categories were harrowing and dramatic some also have a humorous element, especially those in Daily Life which are of similar style of the photographer Martin Parr whose work I also find interesting.

This image taken by Philip Coburn is horrific but also interesting, he has decided to take this photograph in black and white which he thought would be more appropriate for the seriousness of the subject. 

It shows the mass burial of Rwandan refugees at Kubama camp, Gama in Zaire, believed to be a place of safety, disease spread throughout the camp resulting in an estimated 30,000 deaths in just 3 weeks. The detail and the personal nature of the image is in contrast with the harsh, unbelievable image of the digger literally pushing the body's into piles.

This one photograph captures the horrific situation in one shot, although without reading the text you are unsure of the cause of death the image still tells a story.

This image taken by Abbie Traylor-Smith captures the woman's anguish and pain in an almost physical sense, the viewer immediately knows that the subject is suffering an incredible amount of pain, the cause unclear until you read the caption but the sheer emotion captured by the photographer is outstanding. The way the woman is dressed informs the viewer that the photograph is probably taken in a foreign country and is actually taken in Indonesia where the women in the shot has lost her daughter to the Tsunami, in 2005.

Interestingly I found that female photographers throughout the book tended to capture the subjects emotion of the situation rather than the actual situation.

This photograph taken by John Angerson is intriguing as you don't actually know what the people are watching or where in the world they are, it is obviously something important and shocking and at first I assumed it was something happening inside the shop. It was in fact in Leeds, England and the point of interest is a television showing the horrific scenes of September 11 2001.

This image also taken by John Angerson just reminds me of Martin Parr photography, the image is very stereotypically 'English', an elderly couple sat under a caravan awning in the rain. I found it amusing how in the drabbest of situations they are enjoying breakfast with their best china and even a flower for decoration.

This photo is taken in Hastings in 1997 but could be anywhere in the country as the image would be perceived in the same way, the photographer is capturing a 'lifestyle'. Although the photograph may be perceived very differently if the viewer was from a different culture or age group.

Duffy - The Man Who Shot The '60s

The documentary about Brian Duffy (1933-2010) portrayed a history of his work and also an insight into a person who has remained an enigma, never giving interviews or hosting exhibitions. The programme was initiated by his son Chris Duffy after Brian was diagnosed with a degenerative illness. Chris wanted to host an exhibition of his Fathers work and began to film the journey of his Father and what led him to drastically burn all his work at the height of his career.

Duffy began his career as a Fashion Designer after studying Painting and Fashion Design at College, after a few years working as a Fashion Designer he got a job as an Illustrator leading to an interest in Photography, where his career blossomed resulting in him getting a job with the prestigious Vogue.

He became famous for bringing a sense of reality to photographs, changing the perception from the staid and formalised photography of previous decades. Working with David Bailey and Terence Donovan they set to capture the vibrant fashion and celebrity culture of the '60s but Duffy was defiant and liked to work in his own way which although made him an interesting character but also led to altercations with his employer and clients.

After 6 years he began to shoot advertising and promotional photography which led him to question his own values and became bitter towards the clients he was working for, so he decided to go solo. Shooting celebrities worldwide he gained an interest in film, leading him to set up a production company with screenwriter Len Dayton. After making a series of self initiated low budget films he veered back into photography in the 1970s.

In 1973, Duffy was asked to make a calendar with the artist Allen Jones which left Duffy frustrated and dissatisfied, he wanted more control over the final outcome of his work so he set up a company with a young graphic designer, Celia Philo.

He worked on major projects such as commercial campaigns for Benson and Hedges and Smirnoff and many celebrity promotions, although he loved problem solving and working to a brief he again became dissatisfied by the commercial advertising clients he was commissioned by so drastically decided to sack all his staff and set fire to all his work. When later questioned as to why he took such dramatic measures he states "I had nothing else to say in Photography".

What is packaging design?

I read The Design Handbook, What is Packaging Design by Giles Calver as packaging design is something which interests me but is a subject I don't really know a lot about. The book begins with packaging design issues including market positioning, sector behaviour, legislation and environmental considerations, then goes on to discuss packaging practicalities including materials, types of packaging, colour and imagery. Each section is briefly described within a few pages with examples and images making the book easy to follow allowing the reader to understand the basics without getting into too much confusing detail.

The book concludes with a section titled Portfolio's which features packaging design from 11 companies, some high profile design agencies but also some in-house designers. Each Portfolio introduces the agency or designer then describes the chosen packaging and investigates how the design works within the market it is intended for.

Although not the most thought provoking or visually interesting book it does offer practical advice about packaging design and includes some good examples.

An example of page layout



I quite like this bread packaging, by using photographs the packaging of a simple product becomes a character and creates an atmosphere, creating and emotional connection with the consumer.



This packaging design for an aftershave is a good example of designing for a market, the designer has combines a game into the packaging which not only adds a sense of play but immediatly makes the consumer assume that the product is a fun gadget aimed at men.

Lego

The Lego Ad designed by FCB Johannesburg took top honors at the Cannes Lions International Press category at the International Advertising festival in 2006.

The tag line 'Imagine' suits the ad perfectly, the simplicity is intended to fuel the imagination of the viewer, which essentially the core value of Lego. The primary colours remind you of lego but not in a childish way, they make the image more striking.

David Airey

I have heard other students talking about David Airey so decided to investigate his website and it is a wealth of information to any graphic design student, it has numerous useful links and some great posts about various graphic design issues and inspiration.

David Airey is an author and a brand identity designer, his website (http://www.davidairey.com) has general information about David Airey and a portfolio of his work but it also has regular blog posts and archives of interviews, links and issues offering invaluable information about the real working environment of Graphic Design as well as tips and useful links for design inspirations in various formats.

You can even download a chapter from his book Logo Design Love, which I cant wait to buy, he shares his personal experiences and combines them with an extensive Graphic Design community to offer advice and to share information.

I find myself checking back to this website every couple of days and am attempting to work my way through the archives and interviews, every time I enter the website I find something new and interesting and has made me think about my own blog and how David has managed to create a personality online as well as sharing some great advice and information.