An Education
A project/experiment on handmade graphic design
A project/experiment on handmade graphic design
What is my project?
- A visual representation of 4 different styles, approaches or practices that I believe to be highly influential in the shaping of graphic design as an industry today, as well as towards myself as a graphic designer.
- This would, as a basis, be done on 4 blocks of wood, using mixed media in order to not restrict the designs in any way. Though it will represent the variety of mediums I have worked with and come to love over the last 3 years.
- The main point is to educate the general public on graphic design by exploring the building blocks of design through my eyes, as to effectively convey what I have learnt and to demonstrate how that has affected and shaped my view and principles of design, art and all visual representation.
- Styles / Approaches I have used in this particular case include The Swiss Style graphic design movement, Typography and Typographic Elements, Digital Photography in Design, as well as an abstract self portrait incorporating a little bit of all styles, however including much more of a personal influence.
- The emphasis in this project has also been on the use of texture in design and creating an impression in the viewer of wanting to feel the work.
- A visual representation of 4 different styles, approaches or practices that I believe to be highly influential in the shaping of graphic design as an industry today, as well as towards myself as a graphic designer.
- This would, as a basis, be done on 4 blocks of wood, using mixed media in order to not restrict the designs in any way. Though it will represent the variety of mediums I have worked with and come to love over the last 3 years.
- The main point is to educate the general public on graphic design by exploring the building blocks of design through my eyes, as to effectively convey what I have learnt and to demonstrate how that has affected and shaped my view and principles of design, art and all visual representation.
- Styles / Approaches I have used in this particular case include The Swiss Style graphic design movement, Typography and Typographic Elements, Digital Photography in Design, as well as an abstract self portrait incorporating a little bit of all styles, however including much more of a personal influence.
- The emphasis in this project has also been on the use of texture in design and creating an impression in the viewer of wanting to feel the work.
For the typographic panel, I chose to keep it simple and open, with enough breathing room/negative space. “Je Ne Regrette Rien” is French for ‘I have no regrets’ which I chose to do so that most people wouldn’t focus on what was being said first, but rather just the shapes and form of the letters themselves. The background texture was created using tissue paper which was “clumped” and built up with glue and podge and then painted white. I stuck with basic typographic elements, to put a focus on the fact that commas, punctuation, etc are all just shapes and when blown bigger than the text it is supposed to fit shows that there is no difference between type and shape.
What I decided on doing for this panel was a sort of “homage” to graphic designers I find influential and relevant in the history of design, under the heading ‘Appréciez’ (To Appreciate.)
I took the drips from my Blackbird logo, and turned them into simple geometric lines, focusing also on the typography in terms of sizing, spacing and placement.
The red background/main texture was created using newspaper and cardboard cut into strips, the half cross has a subtle texture built up with acrylic paint, the top black half (under the word Appréciez) was done by painting masking tape black. And both the black and white “drips” were done with painted gouache paper. The letters were laser cut and some painted black.
I took the drips from my Blackbird logo, and turned them into simple geometric lines, focusing also on the typography in terms of sizing, spacing and placement.
The red background/main texture was created using newspaper and cardboard cut into strips, the half cross has a subtle texture built up with acrylic paint, the top black half (under the word Appréciez) was done by painting masking tape black. And both the black and white “drips” were done with painted gouache paper. The letters were laser cut and some painted black.
With these manipulated photographs I have tried to capture the “feel” of cross-processed photos in a darkroom, using Photoshop to add a distressed look, create double exposures, light burning and dodging, etc
I want to demonstrate the process of from taking the photograph, right to the point where it is mounted and displayed. And in some cases, hopefully make the viewer look and say “What is that?” or “I want to know how to do that!”
The black background was done using strips of cardboard onto which I applied wood glue in a random and messy approach, in order to contrast with the order and organization of the photos.
I want to demonstrate the process of from taking the photograph, right to the point where it is mounted and displayed. And in some cases, hopefully make the viewer look and say “What is that?” or “I want to know how to do that!”
The black background was done using strips of cardboard onto which I applied wood glue in a random and messy approach, in order to contrast with the order and organization of the photos.
This abstract portrait was done to inject myself a little bit more into the work, hence the “messiness” perhaps “cluttered” feel of it, as to characterize what my thoughts are like. Armin Hofmann or Saul Bass I am not!
