Filed under: Degree
A designer must exercise practical and technical skill, an aesthetic sensibility and a knowledge of the consumer. Designers must also be skilled in the use of language – they must be able to write clear specifications, discuss ideas coherently and argue their points persuasively. These abilities are often underestimated. Artists need only express themselves on their own terms. They do not need to be technically proficient. A designer must be able to understand the needs of their audience. To do so, they must exercise a degree of detachment towards their work, weighing up the task at hand in a more dispassionate way than that of an artist.
I don’t think I write enough on here. The quote is from an essay I wrote during the first year of my degree. It’s called “Art vs Design” and you can read it in full after the cut.
Filed under: Degree
The ceremony was yesterday and I earned a 2:1. Rather pleased with that. I am going to enjoy my freedom for a little while – old friends back in town, a backload of books to catch up on – then I must start applying for placements/internships whilst temping so I can afford to work for free. Joy.
The show was a success – so much so that two major pieces of work were stolen, as was the very last business card I made. I got sick of topping the thing up as they were all handmade so I decided to stick the card at the back of the stack to the box and the wall, using four extra strong double sided blobs of glue so that my details were always there. I don’t know what sort of person would peel it off when it was obviously not for taking but thank you and well done. I have saved a few cards and have backup versions of the magazine but it was a huge blow to what should have been a happy end.
I made 3 versions of the business card. Each is a crop of an [avLOG] banner.
If you want to work with me or you’re in a position to offer a placement then please do get in touch! I’m particularly interested in editorial design and publishing, fashion and trend forecasting but I am keeping my options open. I’m working on a PDF portfolio and will have that up for download soon.
Filed under: Degree
Last night was the private view of the Manchester School of Art degree show. I managed to take some photos before crowds came to swarm. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see any work from other courses. I’ll come in on a weekday to have a proper look around with my camera so stay tuned.
Filed under: Degree
Here is a discarded mood board poster that was due to go in Éclat.
Filed under: Degree
I finished my work for the 30th May and now it’s a case of waiting, both for my results and for the degree show to come around. It opens to the public on Monday 16th June and runs for 10 days.
I wont spoil it, so here’s a picture of the magazine contents as the project was nearing completion.
School might be out, but there’s still work to be done. I’m putting a portfolio together – both tangible and PDF, updating my CV and making business cards for the show.
I need to get some more work experience. I’ve got my eye on a few placements at the BBC but I’m keeping my options open! As well as editorial design and art direction, I’m looking at media, broadcasting, research, branding and even marketing.
Updates have been slack because I’ve been working on my final project. It’s been full of ups and downs as I haven’t been enjoying designing lately. Concept and images behind the cut.
Filed under: Degree
Muse is a fictitious modelling agency I created for a degree project to help me flex my layout muscles. I designed a brand identity and a show package for the Spring/Summer season. Show packages are promotional books sent out by modelling agencies to introduce and promote their most lucrative faces. They are sent out before the start of each runway season as agencies compete with one another to be the most memorable.
Filed under: Degree
I have been intensively working on my dissertation for the last 2 months so this is first entry in a while, for which I apologise. I have been working on a few projects this last week though nothing is anywhere near completion. However, I think it is time to share with you what I’ve been working on.
Last month I was approached by some MMU business students to design a magazine for their Young Enterprise module. It’s called ‘platform’ and it is a free publication that showcases the work of talented Manchester based artists, designers and photographers. I have been given a fair amount of creative freedom – only A4 landscape format, spiral binding and ’sophisticated’ were mentioned. Each Young Enterprise team is given a colour – in this case it is crimson and the group were keen to reference this somehow in the magazine. I experimented with red tints, stickers and gradients, trying to think of something that could be done to each cover image that puts the magazines’ stamp on the work.
The images on 1 and 5 are by Joshua Kimnell. Number 2 is of Sasha Pivovarova, shot by Miles Aldridge for Numero. Unfortunately I have no recollection of where I got the picture in 3 and 4 from.
With every change I saved a new version.. the following 5 images are the best examples of the directions I went in. They’re in chronological order which explains why information is missing from some.
Filed under: Degree
Even the most photogenic models require a little tweaking. I decided to have a go at smoothing down our española’s frown. The images needed to be edited anyway – there was lighting and colour to sort out. I’m new to both studio photography and image editing.
Yesterday saw my first foray in to art direction when I shot my own fashion photography in a proper studio. I was part of a team of three. We shared responsibilities across the board but my focus was on styling, art direction and later, image editing. The model is fellow student Solmaz; she could dance flamenco and she even bought her own music with her which was brilliant. We did not want her look to be total cliché of Spanish tradition and culture so we dressed her in contemporary clothing that is Spanish in essence. There is a line separating Spanish and Mexican fashion and I think we did cross it a little but it is not hugely important at this point.
The biggest obstacle we faced was lighting. Setting it up took longer than I wanted it to and I would have liked to have tried more combinations of both lighting and clothing before running out of time. Solmaz was confident, trusting and a good mover. When I studied the images afterwards I realised she was pulling the same expression in most of the shots – one that looks more disgusted rather than fierce or intense and I wish now that I had asked her to convey a greater variety of emotions.
There is a lot of work involved in organising a studio shoot and it certainly raised my stress levels, but when it’s not trying it is incredibly exhilarating and rewarding so I’m definitely keen to do it again in the near future. Perhaps next time it’ll be on location.
Here are the shots that I deem best. All have been edited with Photoshop. Click for full size versions.
Filed under: Degree
At the end of the second year I produced a project on Pulp, the university magazine.
This was my cover:
And here is the latest Pulp:
Consider that the logo used to look like this:
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? I’m not flattered. I don’t want people to think I had anything to do with this cover.
