Typographic Conference

Typewriting, a day long conference totally devoted to all things typographic, is coming to Birmingham on March 16th.

This symposium will explore 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. Tickets are available now from: http://www.typographichub.org/diary/entry/type-writing/

Why not take the opportunity to meet an array of people with a passion for type and come along to hear a fascinating array of talks from a variety of international speakers, including University of Wolverhampton, Visual Communication lecturer, Jessica Glaser

Countdown to D&AD competition

It's approaching the deadline to this years D&AD competition (good luck to those who are entering).

As part of the countdown there is a daily post from one of the judges, or someone of note connected with the competition. Today's comment comes from Michael Bierut, the graphic design jury chairman and discusses a resurgence in enthusiasm and interest in print.

His post is expressed in 140 words (the limit for descriptive text that should accompany all D&AD professional entry).

"Despite expectations to the contrary, print and publication seems to be far from dead, but in fact may be entering a new golden age. In reaction to the rise of the iPad, enabled by the accessibility of more varied (and digitally-enabled) print-on-demand technologies, magazines and newspapers and broadsides at every scale keep coming on strong. I noticed on "Downton Abbey" that the servants used to iron the newspapers upon delivery, lest their masters' fingers get smudged with ink. Is it wishful thinking that I am yearning for some smudging again?"

RotoVision Award for Wolverhampton Visual Communication Students

We are proud to announce that for the third year running, RotoVision Publishing are sponsoring an award for graduating Visual Communication students. During the forthcoming, September graduation ceremony, the prize, will be presented by the Dean of the School of Art and Design, Dr Bryony Conwy, to the winning student. Former recipients of ‘The RotoVision Award for Excellence in Editorial Graphic Communication’ have been Ineesa Iqbal and Matt Zarandi,  both of whom have gone on to highly successful employment as graphic designers. In previous years RotoVision have also generously supported Visual Communication students with an internship offered within their design studio in Hove.

Remember to look out for more information about this years award recipient, in the months to come.

Hello from Mauritius

Hi, my name is Ashvin Saneecharaun, I graduated from the Graphic Communication degree at the University of Wolverhampton in 2007. I now work for Air Mauritius as a Graphic Designer after previously working at Orange and at M&C Saatchi, in London. 

My current role gives me a good insight of an industry with lots of opportunities. I work on the airline's online advertising campaigns as well as design for print and web. Design and strategies here are methodical and result from research and analysis, we work with international consultants and coaches who guide us with the best industry practices.  

I enjoyed both multimedia and editorial design at university. I cannot believe it's nearly 4 years since my graduation. It was an enriching experience studying at Wolverhampton and I met many really talented people and made lots of friends. During my study, I enjoyed typography, design for print and design for screen and this has prepared me well for working as a graphic designer.

Ashvin 

SPEED programme success

Recent graduates David Healey and Keith Vickers have just been accepted on the SPEED 2011 scheme. "Competition has been tough" said David "there have been 60 applicants for just 20 places, so we are really thrilled to have been offered this wonderful opportunity" he continued.

SPEED 2011 offers students from and recent graduates any course, the opportunity to develop their business ideas whilst at University. Running since march 2009, the £5million project, partially funded by the European Regional Development Fund, aims to help students become the entrepreneurs of the future.

Students accepted on the SPEED WM programme will get financial and support assistance tailored to suit their particular need, as well as provision of training days and workshops.

The programme lasts for a period of 36 weeks and acts as an integral part of the University experience; it is designed to either offer an alternative to the traditional work-based placement or to run alongside a studies.

Successful students, such as Keith and David, will receive training and access to a variety of internal and external resources to give them the best chance of generating an income from their business and will be coached at each stage of their development.

The principle of the SPEED WM project is to give students the opportunity to improve their business skills through the development of a business idea in a supportive environment.

To find out more about speed, visit:

http://www.speedwm-wlv.org/

Congratulations Keith and David.

Open evening and creative fair

SAD is hosting a seasonal creative fair on 9th December from 10.00am - 5.30pm. Why not come along and enjoy the stalls selling Cards & Christmas Gifts, Handmade Felt Gifts, Hand Blown Glass Baubles, Decorated Ceramics, Sculptural Ceramics, Glass Gifts, Fine Photography Prints, Handmade Jewellery and Beads, Soaps, Candles and lots more.


At the same time there is also an open evening hosted by the school, giving visitors the opportunity to tour the facilities and find out more about the exciting range of courses on offer within the School of Art and design. The open evening runs from 4.00-7.00pm and all are welcome.

Happy Holidays!

Live online tutorials with Singapore students

Graphic Communication students have taken part in a live online tutorial with students from Lasalle College of the Arts Singapore.  Second year Graphic Communication students from both institutions have exchanged ideas and discussed their individual ways of approach to a magazine design brief. This successful, live online exchange  has enabled students to get to know each other whilst having the chance of showcasing creative solutions and swop design tips. 

This is the first of a number of live web based tutorials and collaborative projects planned by editorial design tutors Jeff Leak, Marc Austin and Jessica Glaser, working with Singapore based colleagues Joselyn Sim, Stanley Lim and Kathryn Shannon Sim.

 “This was a really great experience” said  second year graphics student Caroline Gibson “it has been so inspiring to have the chance to see the work of students from Singapore and to get to talk to them and ask questions” She continued.

Find out more about Lasalle College by visiting :
http://www.lasalle.edu.sg/

Ed Ruscha project

First year graphic communication and illustration students are working on an exciting, collaborative project with Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Students shown here with gallery Arts Interpreter Dean, have enjoyed a thought provoking tour behind the scenes, viewing aspects of the galleries collection including Pop Art, the Northern Ireland Collection and other works that have a relevance in the context of their new project. The students task involves designing a series of typographic posters that discuss the cultural and social issues to be found in the greater Wolverhampton area. Student solutions are to be produced in response to the work of renowned, US artist Ed Ruscha.

During the early part 2011 Wolverhampton Art Gallery will be hosting a major exhibition of the work of Ed Ruscha (pronounced Roo shay). The display forms part of a relatively new public collection called Artist Rooms. Its core is made up of 725 works once owned by the art dealer Anthony d'Offay. They are now jointly owned by Tate Modern and the National Gallery of Scotland. d'Offay wants the pieces to be seen by as many people as possible, especially the young; he has also asked that each artist's work be shown together, rather than scattered through thematic displays.

Ed Ruscha is a Los Angeles based artist and has been one of the most consistently inventive American artists of the last 50 years. Ruscha’s work explores his fascination with power and, appropriately for the context of this student project, the enigma of language and culture. Many of his pieces display strong typographic messages derived from common-place objects and his life on the west coast of America. His art has many similarities with certain exhibits within the pop art collection of Wolverhampton Art Gallery, making this Artist Room exhibition, extremely well placed. The Art Gallery will be showing many of his early drawings and also some key paintings, resulting in a major retrospective of his work from the 1960’s to 2005. It is also hoped that Student designs will also find a display space alongside Ruscha's work next year. There are plans in preparation for a live web chat with the artist, in order to discuss students solutions.

Within this project students will be designing their own typographic poster that uses a carefully chosen statement to also reflect the common-place, culture and society, but this time of Wolverhampton!

Guardian sponsorship for graphics student

Enterprising graphics student, Sangita Kumari, has written and designed her own magazine, called OCD. She is now  busy looking for financial backing for her new enterprise, after  securing a circulation deal with the Guardian newspaper, who have agreed to distribute her title as a free insert within their main paper.

“Obsessive Compulsive Design Mag is an underground, alternative magazine that features the newest, up-and-coming artists from across the world; from music, art, film, design, poetry, photography, fashion and everything in between!” says Sangita.

Recent issues of OCD can be seen at www.ocdmag.co.uk
Well done Sangita