Jonathan Barnbrook at Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Graphics students have attended a thought provoking talk by Jonathan Barnbrook concerning his political designs. Barnbrook, who’s most current work responds to the politics of Northern Ireland, was in Wolverhampton to visit the specialist Northern Ireland collection at the Art Gallery. He later went on to the Lighthouse for a graphics and music night.

Barnbrook began by setting the scene “The definition of graphics has been very narrow” he said “as a means of commercial cash generation. However, good design can be a unifying force. As a graphic designer, I felt I should be responding to what is happening in the world politically”.

Some of the first designs show, were his responses to the first gulf war, using juxtaposed visual cliché to express his thoughts

Barnbrooks slightly later projects have included work that deals with the situation in North Korea. He described his intrigue of how the regime uses classic Stalinist slogans at every opportunity. His work he describes as “showing an outsiders perspective on the absurdity of the situation”.

“The point of my work, is to hold a mirror up to our own society, When the Soviet Union existed, there was an alternative, but now there is no such contrast”

Barnbrook talked of “The book of Laughter and Forgetting” by Milan Kundera, as being particularly influential to him.

“There are no longer any political ideologies, only commercial strategies” he said. “I still question my work, I’m still insecure about what I’m doing”

Barnbrook went on to show his designs Olympukes, that present an alternative set of pictograms released at the time of the Athens Olymics. These designs can seen or downloaded from:

http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/virusfonts/olympukes/

Barnbrook talked about his memories of 911 and showed designs that responded to this event.

Finally, his Northern Ireland work, still in development, was showcased. Images of hand lettering from political murals, was discussed as forming the basis for future typographic expression.

Lisa Barratt wins IIE Innovation Award 2011

When presented with the chance to work on a real company brief, Graphic Communication student Lisa Barratt grasped the opportunity and is now the designer of the Bradleys visual identity.

Bradleys roots are in leather work wear, but in recent years they have diversified into the lifestyle market. Working with both leather and textiles their goods, including, gardening, household, handbags and accessories, are wholesaled to small independent retailers, and retailed through web sites and high profile shows such as the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court.

Lisa's design work, featured previously in this blog has just received this years IIE Innovation Award  - Well done Lisa.

http://visualcommunicationwolverhampton.blogspot.com/2011/03/lisa-barrett-has-bags-of-style.html

D&AD Trail membership – FREE

A message from D&AD
Old guard? Or new grad? Or somewhere in between? 

Join us for six weeks, for free. 

Information, inspiration and invites, connections and community will be yours. We won't commit you to anything, but beware, things may never be the same again.
Sign up on www.dandad.org from next week.

D&AD – The best new talent

D&AD, with the support of HP and TAG, have launched The Graduate Academy. A five-day 'creative bootcamp' that will help the brightest talent to shine. 100 attendees will be trained and tested to the limit by inspiring creative practitioners. The top 50 will be matched to 50 of the UK's leading creative organisations for a paid placement of up to three months. They'll also have the chance to win an HP Workstation featuring all the latest software.

Sign-up now to stake your claim for one of the creative superstars of the future.

Find out more at:http://www.dandad.org/talent/graduate-academy/the-brief 

Call for entries - 786432PX

Graphics MA student Fred Munnelly is staging an exhibition entitled 786432PX. Fred is asking student to submit designs in response to his brief.


"The true secret of happiness lies in taking genuine interest in all details of daily life." William Morris.


'A designers world is based on pixels." says Fred; whether we work digitally or on paper, all of our work is still ultimately produced in pixels. Pixels have become a portal to the world around us - think of blogs, websites and even items of print. Surely design goes beyond pixels? In order to create something extraordinary, does there not need to be a concept, a theory? Without emotion, does a design have meaning? 786432PX will be an exhibition reflecting designers’ personality, an exhibition, that expresses the exhibitors differing views on life.

"I want to inspire people to break away from the shackles of convention to become designers of the future."

Find out more about exhibiting by visiting Fred's site:
www.Floor3.co.uk

‘Type Writing’ conference at Birmingham City University

Jessica Glaser has recently participated in the ‘Type Writing’ conference at Birmingham City University. Her paper explored the connection between the visual and verbal language of typography.

The overall event focused on the link between the typographer and the writer of words, be their texts literary, commercial, instructional or inspirational; whether they have been produced by a professional writer, graphic auteur or the casual passer-by who has simply given form to his thoughts.

As well as Jessica, other speakers included:
Gregg Bernstein, Georgia State University, USA; Henrik Birkvig, Danish School of Media & Journalism, Denmark; UK; Borja Goyarrola, Graphic Design Associate, Will Alsop at RMJM, London, UK; Juliette Kristensen, Kingston University, London, UK; Alex Lazarou, Designer, Editor, London UK; Mathieu Lommen, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Rachel Marsden, Artist, curator, Stafford, UK; Sarah Maxey, Artist, Wellington, New Zealand; Steven McCarthy, University of Minnesota, USA; Kathryn Moore, Birmingham City University, UK; John Neilson, Letter cutter, Wales; Ben Waddington, Historian, Birmingham UK

Jessica’s paper will soon be published on the Typographic Hub web site: http://www.typographichub.org/

Jonathan Barnbrook talk at the Light House -14th April

Jonathan Barnbrook is a renowned graphic designer and typographer and runs one of the most well-known creative studios in Britain. The studio’s team of designers specialise in producing innovative books, corporate identities, CD covers, custom fonts, websites and magazines. Clients range from international museums to charitable organisations. They have worked and won many awards in the area of motion graphics working for clients such as the BBC and Grey Advertising alongside producing self-initiated projects. Barnbrook also releases original fonts through VirusFonts that are used extensively worldwide. Barnbrook’s contribution to graphic design was recognised by a major exhibition at the Design Museum, London in 2007 and most recently the inclusion of his typeface Mason in New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s acquisition of 23 digital typefaces for its collection. http://www.barnbrook.net/

Light House presents an evening with cutting edge design studios Barnbrook and We Make Art who will showcase some of their latest audio/visual work and discuss current trends and developments in the world of graphic design. Followed by a music/VJ set from Manchester electronic artist Swansong.

Join us for an informal talk about the changing roles of graphic design at 8pm followed by VJ sets by Jonathan Barnbrook and We Make Art, and a set by Swansong at 10pm.

Out of hours is a regular socialising and networking event for people who are based in the West Midlands and are in interested in the creative industries. It’s a place where you can make new contacts and keep up to date with what’s happening in the region.

Cost: £1.50 on the door or reserve a place by emailing lindsay@light-house.co.uk

Sponsorship for graphics year book

International paper company Arjo Wiggins have kindly agreed to sponsor the final year graphic communication graduation book. Paperpoint, Arjo Wiggins sample and advisory service are contributing Popset cover paper to help enhance the student book design.
"I am are delighted to support final year students in this graduation project, and wish them the very best for their final show" 

says Richard Whatley of Arjo Wiggins 

"This is exactly the kind of innovative, quality project that suits our papers well"

Work experience not to be sneezed at...

Graphic Communication student Deepak Garcha has recently completed work for Walsall based business, Allergy Protect UK. The company used council grants to employ Deepak who came up with the company name: Allergy Protect UK, designed a brand identity and applied it to a full colour leaflet.

Allergy Protect UK aims to provide a chemical free dust mite removing solution to domestic customers who wish to be assured that it is safe for their familes, children and the elderly. Allergy Protect promote a device that uses ultraviolet light to kill the mites and therefore there are no harsh chemicals.

Deepak’s work is pivotal to launching the business to potential customers; residential homes, old peoples homes and small hotel chains.

Deepak said, “The client was pleased with the work that I had done, and asked me to continue on being the designer for her company - she would like to keep in contact with me after graduation.”

Prestigious Starpack Award for Graphic Communication Student

Graphic Communication student Lisa Barretts work has been Highly Commended in this years Starpack Awards. The Award Scheme, aimed at potential professional designers is one of the UK’S most longstanding and prestigious organised by IOM Communications Ltd and endorsed by The Packaging Society .

The brief chosen by Lisa and sponsored by the Benson Group asked for the innovative use of cartonboard as a primary material in a creative packaging solution for an oriental takeaway meal for two. Lisa a final year student outlines her approach to the brief;

“My final concept focuses on the consumer experience, turning the standard supermarket takeaway into something more enjoyable, and functional, whilst promoting the cultural heritage of the food. I tried to challenge existing packaging by providing a solution which allowed the consumer to present and serve food in an unconventional way. The design and brand of "Taste East" was designed to have high shelf impact intended to attract a wide variety of customers. Environmental sustainability has been considered with the pack made out of entirely recycled and recyclable materials.” 

“I am extremely pleased to have won a Highly Commended award at this years Starpack Student Awards. In my final year of study I feel this has given me a positive platform on which to launch my graduate career. The support and expertise of staff on the BA (Hons) Graphic Communication course has enabled me to develop my skills and passion for design; their encouragement to engage with live and competition briefs means that we can experience working to a professional standard which is vital for building a successful portfolio.”  

Responding to Lisa’s success Ian Madeley & Julia Chidley Senior Lecturer’s in Graphic Communication go on to say:

“We are delighted with Lisa’s achievement and particularly so as it marks the third consecutive year that Graphic Communication students have been successful in these prestigious awards.”

All winners are invited to an Awards Presentations at The Boilerhouse, Springfield Business Park, Grantham, on Wednesday 4 May. With all sponsoring companies present this should be an excellent networking platform. Students will have the opportunity to hear a presentation from Mercury Search and Selection specialist recruiters to the print and packaging industry on CV writing and interview techniques.