Week 05 - The Collaborative Mix
Brief 02 - Reflecting on classic models for Graphic Design working
Weekly Learning Objectives
You will be working towards achieving the following learning outcomes detailed in Brief 2:
LO1: Research – select and deploy appropriate research methodologies to inform the needs within a project.
LO4: Distil – position a creative strategic insight that has been distilled and refined through an informed investigation.
LO5: Imagine – deliver appropriate and innovative ideas that embrace risk, have contemporary relevance and question the boundaries of the discipline.
LO8: Design – realise a final solution that evidences its strategic journey and clear relationship between form and function.
LO9: Communicate – communicate effectively in a range of contexts and situations to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
L10: Manage – demonstrate applied planning and organisational skills to support self-directed project work and inform ongoing professional development needs.
Lecture Introduction by Susanna Edwards
This weeks introduction by Susanna Edwards reflects on the classic models and relationships graphic designers use in their project outcome and delivery. This is primarily determined by the particular requirements of a project, emphasizing the importance of employing efficient procedures and selecting suitable media and visual communication methods to effectively convey the narrative of your concept.
Examples discussed
A newspaper, design and its connection to photojournalism, for example
A children’s book that utilises a certain style and sensitivity of illustration
A website that uses specific functionality relevant to the user’s profile and interests
Examples of specific working relationships between designers and artists include:
Peter Saville, and photographer Trevor Key, for their work on New Order album covers;
Derek Birdsall, with photographer Harry Peccinotti’s Pirelli calendars
Nova magazine; in children's books classically with Roald Dahl working with Quentin Blake
Susanna also highlights the potential problems that may occur when undertaking a project. The need for diplomacy on all sides and a clear plan to create a thorough design proposal and address early from the offset who should be responsible for creating what (and when).
All these points need to be considered or the project can be compromised or challenged but ultimately the right collaborative project can have an amazing outcome - I just need to find the right person/company and the right medium!
Lecture material - Collaboration case studies
Part 1 is a live recording of ‘Design to Change the World’ at the global design Forum, London Design Festival 2018
These live recordings discuss two case studies of different collaborative work.
1. Christoph Miller, Director of Offshore Studio discusses his work for Migrant Magazine
2. Morag Myerscough, DesignDirector, Myerscough Studio
Case Study One -
Christoph Miller on his Migrant Journal project
Migrant Magazine is a six-issue publication called Migrant Journal, that looks at migration in all its forms. Not only about human migration aspect, but also about the migration of goods, information, money, animals, plants, and whole landscapes, and how all of these work together. The wide team who collaborated on this project were from all areas of Europe including Bergen, Lisbon, Moscow and London.
The point of the project was to reflect and record a visual moment of time, through migration and globalisation Something that can be referenced and reflected upon for generations to come.
Case study - Morag Myerscough
The second live recording introduces Morag Myerscough who transforms public spaces by creating engaging experiences for everyone. Work includes The Temple of a Gate, built for the Festival of Love on London’s South Bank.
Morag has worked in the hospital environment for a number of years and discusses how changing environment spaces can reduce stress, and have a positive effect on general wellbeing and mental health.
Her projects are absolutely amazing, vibrant, eye-catching and zingy and you can help but smile when you see her artwork.
The final process was digitally printed to get the bright colours, set against a warm wood grain and the natural light helps show the vibrant colours. The final effect looks brilliant and despite their earlier worries about the colours being too bright, the nurses and clinical staff love it. It creates a real feel-good factor!
“Morag creates specific local responses to each distinct audience that will see and experience the work, using it to create community and build identity. She often works with community groups to develop ideas that reflect the identity of the users, drawing on shared cultural history and heritage of the local area. ”
Lecture Part 2 -
Graphics that Engage Chaired by Susanna Edwards
More live recordings discuss two case studies of different collaborative work.
1. Ken Kirton, Director, Hato Studio
2. Sebastian White and Eva Kellenberger, Directors, Kellenberger White
Hato Studio
Ken continues the theme of collaborative work and discusses how through the development of digital tools and co-creative frameworks he is able to empower people through co-creation to see things differently and inform communities.
One of the important factors he stresses is how his projects are ‘community engaged’ and the project itself is community driven. All the profits that are generated (through the risograph printing press) are then put back into building new equipment or tools and/or distribution of publications, all with in mind to help and support our design audience.
Their ethos is that they believe that “through play, we’re able to create this notion of co-creation and develop an innovative sense”.
Ken discusses a project with Hato and Liverpool Biennial which involved schoolchildren. He noticed how as children their imagination and artistic skills were allowed to run wild and were essential to the creative lead and learning through play.
They also discuss their 2018 work with D&AD where they created a platform that invited people to make their own mark as a creative space. People would be able to just come in, draw an illustration or make a very abstract mark, or a gif that they could share on their social media platform and they could express their ideas individually whilst also creating a collaborative identity.
Sebastian White and Eva Kellenberger - Kellenberger White
Graphics that engage - The thinking ethos and getting people involved (Learn through play)
As part of their research, to reintegrate the processes of thinking and making, they thought it was very important in the workshop to not just sit around but also to make something altogether. Each person was given a linomat, to document our conversations and at the end of the day they printed all of these designs, and along the way the group was thought about printmaking. Then back at our studio they created a full linocut typeface that was later digitised.
Lecture part 3 - Havana Club 3 and Pearlfisher
Part 3 is a download presentation of Havana Club 3 and Jamieson Ltd Edition: collaborative projects by Pearl Fisher London.
Pearlfisher London has created a vibrant and energetic visual identity system for the iconic rum brand, Havana Club 3 Años. It has re-envisioned the visual identity system for Havana Club 3 Años to better align it with the brand’s vision, strategy and uniquely Cuban heritage.
This is the second stage of their portfolio redesign to launch following the reveal of the new identity and bottle structure for Havana Club 7, earlier this year.
What I loved about this project is that the Pearlfisher team travelled to Havana to collaborate with local artists and illustrators and were inspired by the eclectic tiles found depicting icons of Cuban culture - from coco-taxis and dancing couples to mint leaves and mojitos and this was captured at every stage of the design and the imput and collaboration from the local artists was addressed and consulted with at every stage.
The final design is a “vibrantly clashing collection of graphic assets that convey the expressive culture of Cuba”.
Further Research - Baker Borowski
I have mentioned these artists before as this one of their pieces of artwork is in Crawley Town Centre, not far from where I live and it is truly awe-inspiring up close. I love how they are turning grey mundane spaces into works of art.
Lee and Catherine co-founded Graphic Rewilding in order to create vast, flower-inspired, maximalist, attention-grabbing, positivity-inducing artworks and immersive environments in often-overlooked urban spaces. There aim was to collaborate with the neighbourhood and shoppers to provide some of the same environmental and psychological benefits as real nature, and to connect people a little more with the natural world, hopefully mitigating some of the negative effects of a lack of exposure to green space.
I love their vibrant artwork. I wonder if it is possible to create some large-scale art in an unexpected place in my neighbourhood?
Read | Watch | Listen
Penny Stamps Lecture Series, Morag Myerscough (2018) Belonging, [online video]
Morag Myerscough is a London-based designer. I absolutely loved this video, her passion and thought process and how she works with vibrant colours and patterns to turn grey urban environments into engaging experiences. I wondered if I could incorporate this into an urban space near me.
Morag Myerscough has always lived in the city and has been fascinated by how colour, pattern, and words can change urban environments
“Rooted in creating a sense of joy and belonging for all who encounter a space, Myerscough creates specific local responses to each distinct audience that will see and experience her work, using it to create community and build identity”.
We see fantastic examples of her various projects and commissions from Hospital interior environments to outdoor public spaces at large scale. Her visual vocabulary is inclusive by nature and resonates both visually and emotionally with audiences well beyond geographical and cultural boundaries. I think she has really inspired me to look at changing at outdoor space in my local community.
Notes:
One of the most important points I took on board was her quote of “Remember to Play”. She states that collaborating with people is so important and make sure you make things people want but essentially to play and have fun and her work definitely does this.
References:
Baker and Borowski - Graphic Rewilding
www.graphicrewilding.com
https://www.baker-borowski.com/
Morag Myerscough: Belonging
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoDUsBAfcwk