ilovedust

I found these works and was reminded of a post I did a while back. I think they are very similar to Anthony Burril's work in style and composition. These are slightly less minimal and have greater detail but all in all they're pretty similar. Out of the two I would have to say I prefer these, probably because of the more sullen tones, they're not vibrant and brash but subtle and calming. I also like the way the three cities are depicted, with their cultures being intertwined with the design. The inclusion of the type at the moment adds a nice touch, but I honestly think it's not needed. What with the depiction of famous landmarks in the illustration, it's pretty obvious what is being shown.

Astra Sodarsono

'Here you see some example of a graduate design class that focusses on creating all of the design systems for an imagined film festival. Each student picks a director and then spends the entire semester creating everything from posters to dvd packaging to tickets and books and maps and packaging and so on. Astra Sodarsono picked Sergio Leone and went an interesting way with it. I think he was able to capture the design of the time and update it with some quirky character.'

I think this artists approach to this brief is incredible. However I can understand because if you ever receive a brief and you already love the subject area, it's easy to sink your teeth into it. For example I love film and if I were given the opportunity to do something like this, I like to think I would give it my all and be incredibly proud of the end results. There is something above the design style that has been used that I really like, the combination of type and image works really well and I especially like how he has continued his approach into so many different products. The poster at the top of the page is very reminiscent of Saul Bass and therefore I love it!

Music Philosophy

Music Philosophy is a weekly graphic/typographic interpretation of philosophical song quotes. Created by the designer called simply 'Mico' it combines his love of typography and music. I think its a nifty little idea would consider trying to design some myself, based on some of my favourite lyrics. I think this is a great example of how type can be so expressive, there is simply no need for image. The examples below are a few of my preferred ones because I think they best represent the message that is being conveyed. I also like the minimal use of colour, and how the background can completely change the mood of the entire thing.

Blind Melon - No Rain

Alanis Morissette - Ironic

The Smiths - There is a Light that Never Goes Out

Stationery of Horror

The pieces below are examples of really creative, imaginative designs of a really simple prospect. Most people see stationery and just totally zone out, in fact most graphic designers won't attempt something creative, they'll just stick their created logo onto a range of items. But this company saw the opportunity to go all out, and they did. The subject matter might be a little macabre, but once you can look past that and take it for what it is you realise the genius behind it. The use of simple bits like a staple or a whole punch is very clever, so much so it has won many accolades in design awards across the world. There is no need for text within this design and I'm sure if anyone where to receive a letter from the company they would instantly recognise who it was from.

Cardboard Faces

I found these on the behance network and loved them straight away. I think they work so well because of the continuation of the medium. With them all being crafted out of cardboard the designs just flow into one another, even though the illustrations themselves are completely different from one to the next. At first I thought they were all just fictional, designer created characters, but the more I looked the more I realised they are recognisable as existing creations. For example in the pictures below I can identify: miss piggy, tutankhamun, a playmobil head and what looks like Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise. I think it's a really novel idea that broadcasts the artists talent in the best light, without any need for type.

Influential Websites

Below are a few examples of web design that I have found interesting and influential. They are all pretty different but I think it is that variation in research that means I can create a design that is well thought out and not rushed. 

Beyond Awards

Below is another example of creating an identity which can then be carried over into several different media. For example here you see a logo than may seem simple, but it is in fact created using a custom typeface and therefore is incredibly unique in its own right. Below you then see the typeface being used on flyers, stickers and tickets. All paper based media. But then there is yet another step, a website design.  I really like the web design as its simple and uses just black and white, with an injection of red. I want to create a website for my Speaking From Experience brief and will therefore take influence from this example.

Tyler Stout

I've featured Tyler Stout on my blog before very briefly when mentioning the variations of film posters for one of my favourite films: 'The Warriors'. However recently I have found myself gravitating back to his work and some of his twists on traditional movie posters are personally the most exciting sort of illustration I have seen in a long time. I think what I like is that he manages to bring an approach similar to the one found on hundreds of b-list horror movies in the fifties and sixties. Personally I feel it is all in the composition and colour schemes. The titles are always placed at the bottom with illustrations, often of people, placed above. Below is a prime example of what I am trying to explain. This is his twist on the 2009 Tarantino feature 'Inglourious Basterds'. 

From the off-white tone seen behind the imagery right up to the combination of deep red and black for the lettering. Almost everything about this poster screams nostalgia and I, for one, absolutely love it. His website is full of all his other creations with some even available for purchase, if they haven't completely sold out that is. My other favourites of his include: The Big Lebowski, Blade Runner and Robo Cop.

Creative Calender

The Brief:
'The idea was to create as unique a calendar so that the process of its presenting would become an outstanding event. Alongside with this, it was important to expose the idea of "energy", as it is predetermined by the name and logo of the company. Each page is a month and it looks like a comb made of matches that correspond to the days. The matches are real and the construction of the calendar is absolutely safe.'

I really like this design because it demonstrates exactly how creative you can be with such a simple idea. I know if I were given a brief to create a calender I would most probably try to make it as visually engaging as possible with my designs. It would not occur to me straight away to come up with a unique twist on the traditional design such as the one above. However, what with carrying out plenty of design context this year, I feel my concept building skills have increased and therefore the next two years I can come up with really creative ideas like the 'matchstick calender'.

Camparitivo

I found this on the behance network and although the actual design is well thought out and I do like it, it is not that I am really looking at. I am fascinated by the range of products created using the one brand identity. It shows you the possibilities are endless and as long as you have a strong enough design it can be carried over into lots of different products. For example here you see: flyers, leaflets, business cards, lanyards, bags, napkins, badges, stickers and even food packaging. I hope this inspires me to create as many items for my 'Speaking from Experience' brief as I can possibly think of.

Iain MacArthur

This illustrator specifies in portraiture, and even though I do not plan on creating illustrations as wacky as this for my brief I just thought it was too good not to put up. I think the contrast between the bold tribal pints around the neck and head, compared to the intricate shading seen on the face works very well. Its like a hand drawn collage, something you would find done by a graphic designer but instead of a hand rendered face, it could be a photograph with the patterns drawn over the top.

Andreas Preis

I found this illustrator and thought it was weird how close his style is to what I hope to do with my illustrations for my 'Speaking from Experience' brief. The way he uses solid black lines and then splashes colour into the background is exactly what I want to do. Of course there are some differences as well, for example he has used softer lines to create a shaded effect, this is something I have tried in the past and just cannot do therefore I will stick to just the outlines. Also Andreas uses quite straight lines in some pieces to create a jagged effect, very similar to Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlitt, whereas I will be using solely smooth flowing lines to make it as pleasing to the eye as possible.

Still the similarities are clearly evident, so much so the effect he has used behind the female illustration at the top is the 'burst' effect I was going for. Also the colours are pretty much dead on as to what I had in mind, minus the pink at the bottom.

Below are a few more examples of Andreas' work.

Kate Moross

I was also told to research this artist as it would be relevant to my own work. Her website was quite overwhelming, and I found quite a lot of pieces that I liked and will use as references in the future, however the pieces below are probably the most closely linked to the work I am carrying out at the moment. I absolutely love the bright colours used and and the intricate, yet simple, illustrations. Also the use of so many different typefaces in one small piece is so interesting and something I will consider from now on. However this is something that could be taken a step too far and therefore I will have to be careful not to overdo it.

Anthony Burrill

I was told to look at the work of Anthony Burrill and was very pleased to have found a graphic designer whose work I can respect and relate to. His use of bold colours and image combined with minimal type is definitely an approach to graphic design that I am a fan of and would hope to produce myself. I like the pieces shown above as they are all very similar, with only a few differences in the depictions of New York. I really like the 'silhouette' feel you get from using solid blocks of colour, most probably in illustrator and how he has differentiated between the use of pink, red, blue, green and yellow. 

I also like the examples I found above. The images would not work on their own, however when you pair them with the type seen they are brought to life and work incredibly well. I see a distinct similarity with Saul Bass' ground breaking designs, especially with the hand in the third poster from the right. I also like the 'antique' feel to these designs, most probably done using simple effects on certain software. The only thing I don't love about this set is the colours used. Yes they work very well, but I find them a little dull and uninspiring, but then again maybe these pieces aren't meant to be inspiring and therefore they communicate the message greatly.

Hexagonall

Artist “Hexagonall” has designed minimalist posters for all of Tim Burton’s movies, plus his short films Vincent, Frankenweenie, and The Adventures of Stainboy (although The Nightmare Before Christmas was actually directed by Henry Selick). Obviously, it's become evident that I like to find people's interpretations of classic film posters and analyse them. What I like about these is the continuity seen throughout the entire collection. For example only four colours have been used; red, purple, blue and green, as well as different shades of these to create depth. I also like the variety of illustrations and just how minimal they are, yet the message is communicated so clearly. I also like the textures used and the obviously computer rendered font.

Milk Carton

I found this on www.behance.net and thought it related very closely to our latest brief. The way it is described by the designer:
'Packaging solution for the course prospectus. The aim was to represent the Graphic Design degree in a more creative way to new students. The reason for using a milk carton to package the course information was due to the idea of calcium being good for growth, so in relation to design, the course would be good for growth in creatives. The course information is displayed on a poster that comes packaged inside the milk carton.'

This is a very unique way of answering the set problem, and therefore must have obviously taken a lot of concept building and brain storming to settle on. It is more of this that I need to do, to come up with an idea as unique as this one.