Reflect & Inspire

Lessons from Vignelli

2011-05-20T13:29:00.001+01:00

Some really interesting programs designed for a Massimo Vignelli talk by Pentagram. They use his very modernist philosophies in striking red with white (of course) Helvetica, I agree with them all except perhaps 'one life is too short to do everything' I like to think the opposite, that life is never too short to do everything.

Fracture and Neptune

2011-05-06T09:35:00.001+01:00

CUSTOMTONE by Fracture & Neptune feat. Martin Fieber from Astrophonica on Vimeo.

Some lessons learned so far....

2011-05-04T12:40:00.012+01:00

Apologies for the lack of posts recently, I'm finding time for blogging particularly hard to come by and so shall use twitter more regularly to post interesting links of work i find etc. As I've been a 'professional' designer for nearly a year now, in this post i thought I would share some lessons i've learned about the industry since leaving uni which will hopefully be helpful students about to enter the big wide world. I'm sure you've heard some of these before, and if so, trust, its good advice!

1. Never be afraid to ask for help. But don't ask too much, a lot you can find out
for yourself.

2. Trust your intuition.

3. Meet as many different agencies as you can. They're not all the same or right
for you.

4. Learn as much software as possible.

5. Working life is fun, being paid for something you enjoy is incredible.

6. Take a limited number of projects to interviews. 5-6 strong projects is
about right.

7. Realise that the work really starts once you leave uni and start job hunting.
You will most likely need to tweak and tighten your folio after you've left.

8. Persevere and realise that it is not going to be easy to get a job, but if you really want it you'll get it.

9. Dont be afraid of web design.

10. Strive to always create good design, but understand not all professional design is good design, you sometimes have to swallow your pride if the client is awkward.

11 Treat your brain like a sponge. Never stop looking, collecting, photographing, reading, blogging , bookmarking or screen grabbing. Inspiration is one of the most important things to a designer.

12. Try and always put your twist on something, a lot of respect is gained
for originality.

13. Be a nice person.

THE patrickjamespearson BAND

2011-03-09T14:05:00.004Z

A music video for a change, Heres a new video from my cousin Patrick's band The patrickjamespearson Band for their latest single, American Lover.

Nelson Associates

2011-02-28T10:16:00.001Z

I have just discovered the work of Surrey based studio Nelson Associates. They have some beautifully considered print work. Click here to see more.

Lessons for young designers

2011-02-25T15:45:00.001Z

These are some insightful and thought-provoking lessons from Wieden+Kennedy’s Executive Creative Director, John C Jay.

Graphic design can change your life

2011-02-23T10:25:00.002Z

This is a fantastic interview with Erik Spiekermann that all designers and design students should watch. Also check out his company site, Eden Spiekermann which is very cool, particularly when you re-size it.

Learn Something Everyday

2011-01-27T11:43:00.001Z

This is a great little on-going project by manchester studio Young. Simply a fact a day and a copic illustration to go with it. Very enlightening and amusing. Check it out.

Sound Sculptures

2011-01-21T09:56:00.003Z

Creative studio Dentsu and photographer Linden Gledhill have created this fantastic series of paint sculptures using sound vibrations. The series was part of a campaign for canon’s pixma ink printer.

InHouse

2011-01-13T17:05:00.003Z

Auckland based studio InHouse have some fantastic Graphic Design in their portfolio, well worth checking out.

The Chase Film

2011-01-11T14:41:00.001Z

This is a very clever ad for the new Intel Processor. It doesn't need much explaining so just watch and enjoy!

Deep Green Sea

2011-01-10T12:11:00.001Z

DeepGreenSea - Showreel 2010 from Dimitris Ladopoulos on Vimeo.

Here's a fantastic show reel from Athens based motion graphics collective Deep Green Sea.

Looks Like Good Design

2011-01-10T10:43:00.005Z

Looks Like Good Design is a great blog, well worth following.

Buck

2010-12-20T11:30:00.002Z

I Just checked out out Buck's vimeo page and saw this fantastic ad for Smart. The animation in this is awesome.

Non Format

2010-12-20T11:20:00.002Z

I'm really liking the work of Norwegian design studio Non Format. They have a lot of music industry clients and some very nice work indeed.

Robert Ryan

2010-12-17T10:15:00.005Z

I came across the work of Robert Ryan as someone bought my director one of his mugs for a secret santa. His images are created from cut paper. A modern day Matisse. Anyway check him out.

Nespresso

2010-12-16T17:44:00.000Z

This website for Nespresso Coffee is absolutely mindblowing, the ammount of time and effort gone into it is staggering and the animation is beautiful. Click here, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Sagmeister

2010-12-14T11:40:00.001Z

I've just visited Stefan Sagmeister's site and been blown away by the new design. Incorporating a live web cam and the studio itself is such a neat concept, I haven't seen any employees in it yet as it's the middle of the night over there but I shall certainly be checking back later on. Click here to see it.

Best of the Digital Decade

2010-12-08T09:58:00.000Z

Check out One Community's top 10 digital campaigns of the decade. There's some excellent work so click here to see it.

Svpply

2010-12-08T09:52:00.002Z

I have just discovered Svpply. It's an awesome site, basically like ffffound but instead filled with novelty products you can buy. Having just bought a pair of Vans I'm starting to wish I bought these ones instead!

Philipp Zurmöhle

2010-11-29T17:16:00.003Z

I'm currently really liking the work of German Gaphic Designer and Illustrator Philipp Zurmöhle.

Ai Weiwei Documentary

2010-11-19T13:47:00.001Z

Last night I watched this fascinating documentary on the Chinese artist, architect and campaigner Ai Weiwei. His work is currently in the Tate Modern. It is well worth watching if you've got a spare hour. Click here to watch it.

Janine Rewell

2010-11-17T17:44:00.003Z

Helsinki based illustrator Janine Rewell has some lovley work. Click here to see more.

Qube Konstrukt

2010-11-17T15:48:00.001Z

I have just discovered this Melbourne Based studio Qube Konstrukt. They have some incredible work.

Skateistan

2010-11-17T13:08:00.000Z

A beautifully shot production by Diesel New Voices about the charity Skateistan and how skateboarding is helping to improve the lives of kids in Kabul, Afganistan. Well worth watching.

Sawdust

2010-11-17T12:58:00.001Z

I'm currently really liking the work of Sawdust, a design duo based in London. They also have a very cool logo.

Mr Doob

2010-11-17T12:39:00.000Z

This is a great little online drawing application from Mr Doob. Get drawing!

Method

2010-11-09T13:47:00.004Z

I have recently come across the design agency Method. They have offices in London, New York and San Francisco. Their work is simply beautiful and I would love work for them one day (though ideally in their San Francisco studio!).

Cat Vinton

2010-11-05T17:10:00.002Z

I love the minimalism and contrast in these photographs of Norway by Cat Vinton, they almost look like paintings.

Jean Claude Lois

2010-11-05T16:59:00.003Z

Some very dark but compelling B&W photography by french photographer Jean Claude Lois. I believe these shots are of Berlin.

David McCandless

2010-11-05T16:46:00.005Z

I was in Waterstones earlier and spotted this awesome book on the counter Information is Beautiful by David McCandless. Though I didn't buy it (as we all know amazon is much cheaper!), I certainly shall be. Infographics fascinates me, its kind of like a convergence point between maths and art. The time McCandless must have taken gathering the information and displaying it in truly beautiful visualizations must have been enormous and it must have taken a lot of patience.

Its very provocative information he displays and it ranges from figures on internet dating to natural disasters. I chuckled on the first page he'd dedicated the book to the internet. Because surely the publication and a lot infographics in general would be virtually impossible without the net. So god bless the world wide web!

Steve Jobs

2010-10-24T15:08:00.000+01:00

This is just a fantastic talk and great advice for any graduate from Steve Jobs.

John Wooden

2010-10-24T15:03:00.001+01:00

I recently saw a great TED talk from John Wooden, a very successful basketball coach i'd actually never heard of before. This is probably the last thing you'd expect to hear from someone in sport, but the more you think about it the more sense it makes. Anyway check it out, you really dont have to be interested in basketball to watch it.

Crossroads

2010-10-24T10:49:00.002+01:00

A lot has happened over the last 4 months and it feels like a year ago I left uni. I'm now finding myself at another set of crossroads and I feel its perhaps time for a bit of self reflection. The three and a bit months I spent on an internship at fst were fantastic, I made a lot of good friends and learned an awful lot about the design industry and the type of company I want to work for. It was sad to leave but I believe things happen for a reason and the experience will stand me in good stead for the future. It has made me more determined and confident in my ability to become a good designer and persue my ambitions to travel, work abroad and grow as a creative individual.

Im currently living in Reading and have spent the last week tightening up my portfolio and incorporating latest projects for interviews etc. I realise that I may now need patience to get to where I want to be, particularly in this economic climate and that I may have to take on jobs I don't really want to take on but the main thing is that i dont take my eye off the prize. I feel its about persistence and self belief and obviously a bit of luck. So here we go, the next chapter, fingers 'crossed'!

7D 1000 fps

2010-09-16T09:30:00.000+01:00

Apolgies for my poor blogging efforts of late I'm determined to get back to blogging more regularly. Things have been a bit manic lately what with a house move and busy work placement.

Anyway as once an obsessive skateboarder it feels a bit wrong to be posting pro BMX related content but visually this video ive stumbled across by Oton Bačar is incredible. Theres something hypnotic about super slow motion. Anyway enjoy.

Blinkart

2010-08-31T11:04:00.004+01:00

Incredible work from the Blinkart collective. Click here to see more.

What a Boat!

2010-08-24T10:10:00.004+01:00

Legendary typographer Marian Bantjes has come up with a very striking design for a novelty sailing boat commissioned by wallpaper magazine. Her intention was to dispel any reference to the natural or the organic and on the water the result is a bold, striking and extremely cool boat. There is a limited number for sale so if you've got a spare £10,000 go for one.

Artworklove

2010-08-24T09:48:00.002+01:00

Some very tasty graphic design from french studio Artworklove. Check them out if you haven't already.

Bert Simons

2010-08-13T17:26:00.002+01:00

Stunning and hauntingly real paper sculptures by New Zeland based artist Burt Simons.
The last image gives you an idea of how he achieves it.

Made in England

2010-08-13T14:54:00.001+01:00

Made in England is a fantastic and quirky blog run by designer and illustrator Cookie. He's also a bit of an adventurer traveller type. He has got a fantastic video of himself and his mate walking from Mexico to Canada. Something I would also love to do one day.

Jack Hudson

2010-08-13T13:06:00.004+01:00

Some really nice work from bristol based illustrator Jack Hudson Click here to see more.

Great packaging

2010-08-13T09:27:00.008+01:00

Some very nice packaging collated by Smashing Magazine. Click here to see more and find out who did it.

Kim Asendorf

2010-08-12T12:42:00.000+01:00

Flickr user Kim Asendorf has some great 'pixel sorting' imagery as well as some lovely other photography

Robert Wallace

2010-08-12T09:43:00.000+01:00

Reel '09 from Robert Michael Wallace on Vimeo.

I discovered the work of New Zeland based designer and animator Robert Wallace this morning and i think its fantastic. He also works for a company called Special Problems who have also done some very tasty stuff.

The fst experience

2010-07-27T09:38:00.005+01:00

Having finished university life a little over a month ago I'm currently on a 3 month internship with FST The Group in the town of Marlow just outside London. It is certainly massive jump from the 3 three years I spent in Cardiff and the biggest realisation for me is actually how fun work can be. During uni I felt rather reluctant to leave, feeling that life would somehow become instantly monotonous and mundane. But while there is a stronger element of routine, the rewards excitement and energy of working as a junior graphic designer make it worthwhile. I am currently finding the trickiest thing to come to terms with is the speed of the studio. I feel I am getting faster but its definately a learning curve and shall take a little time to become as fast and efficient as some of my work mates. I have also realised how little I actually knew before I came here, though what I did know was very valuble.

I feel extremely privileged to be here and that I'm in an excellent environment to learn, surrounded by talented people I really like and respect. I'm hopeful this role will turn into a full time position and am determined to do everything I can to make it so but if not I'm sure the experience will stand me in good stead for the future.

Stephen Doyle: Paper Sculptures

2010-07-26T13:56:00.001+01:00

I came across a beautiful booklet at lunch called monograph, showcasing the stunning work of Stephen Doyle. Sight Unseen have a great interview with him, well worth a read.

Big Bang Big Boom

2010-07-06T13:52:00.002+01:00

Not a totally original idea but lovely interaction between the 'real' and the 'represented'. Well worth a watch. Check out more of vimeo user Blu's work here

New Work!

2010-06-23T19:08:00.002+01:00

I have recently added some new projects to my online portfolio, head on over if you fancy a peek.

Harmonie-interieure

2010-06-22T09:48:00.003+01:00

Some very nice work from Harmonie-interieure, a french couple and interior/graphic design couple and duo who seem to have found a real niche.

Atliermartino&Jana

2010-06-22T09:38:00.003+01:00

This is a really clever idea for a website from Portuguesse design agency Atliermartino&Jana, they also have some great work with bundles of energy.

Lego World Cup

2010-06-22T09:26:00.000+01:00

A topical post and simply a great idea.

Army Jobs Advert

2010-05-23T21:31:00.003+01:00

I recently saw this advert on TV and really liked it. Simple idea but clever, engaging and well executed. I'm not sure who has made it but I'm guessing it's the first of a series. Click here to view.

Olga Shvartsur

2010-05-20T12:15:00.003+01:00

It's a while since Iv'e featured an artist/illustrator on this blog but I recently came across the work of Seattle based self taught artist Olga Shvartsur. Her work is simply stunning.

Cardiff Design Festival 2010

2010-05-20T11:59:00.000+01:00

Planning is already underway for the 2010 edition of Cardiff's Design Festival bravely created and fronted by my course tutor Olwen Moseley. It was fantastic to be involved in the planning of last years one and this Octobers event will be even better I'm sure. Watch out for updates!

Course Sheets, Handouts & Presentations

2010-05-19T21:38:00.007+01:00

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module.

Please click links for Professional Practice handouts and other course sheets and presentations.

Please Note: The following content is property of the Cardiff School of Art and Design. Any duplication without prior permission of the owner is strictly forbidden.

Perfectionism
Assertiveness
An Approach to Design Process
Portfolio Photography
Self Evaluation
CV Construction Kit
Creative Job Search
Creative CV's
Futerra: Greenwash Guide
Futerra Design: presentation
Thomas Matthews: Sustainability Booklet
Design Trust: Business Start Up Guide
Print Processes
Ink management
Print Finishing
Visiting Speaker: Lou Cameron
Lithography, print, Professional Practice
Interviews and Portfolios Presentation
Interview Techniques
Interview Feedback
Interviews and Portfolios Hand Out
Hourly Rates
Printing Processes: Gravure
Getting Paid

Colour Management Exercise

2010-05-19T19:06:00.003+01:00

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module.

Please click the link below to view my response to Neil Angove's Professional Practice colour management exercise. A4 Leaflet contains photography and graphics with correct colour output for print.

Colour Management Exercise

Covering Letters

2010-05-19T18:35:00.009+01:00

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module.

Please click the links below to see the covering letters. The first is for a job with Inventory Studio, a design agency in London. The second an email requesting a work placement with The Entente, a design agency in Brighton. Document includes The Entente's reply.

Covering letter - Inventory Studio
Placement request e-mail - The Entente

Portfolio Visuals and CV

2010-05-19T18:21:00.005+01:00

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module.

Please click the links below to see portfolio visuals and my CV.

Portfolio Visuals
Curriculum Vitae

Assessment Sheets & Module Reflection

2010-05-19T18:10:00.010+01:00

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module.

Please click the module links below to view their feedback.

Real World
Creative Meaning
Competitions
Student Set
Dissertation
Big Idea

The two modules I shall be reflecting upon are the Real world Module and the Student Set module.

Real World

The real World module was the first of the third year briefs. This was different from any other previous projects as it required us to work in teams of five, much like the studio of a small agency. Once placed in our groups we were briefed by Mike Smith of Elmwood via Skype. The deliverable was the visual identity, interior design and a ‘big idea’ for a Newcastle Youth Centre named 'The Link'.

The project required each group to choose a project leader and I was assigned that role for our group. As a group we approached the problem on a level playing field, all taking part in research, brainstorming, concept development and presentation visuals. The tone of voice set for the centre was fun, relaxed, mouldable, safe, warm and retro. The concept we settled upon was based around that of ‘Lava' from lava lamps. We thought this fitted the tone of voice descriptors well, It was youthful, flexible and could apply well to interior design as well as a visual identity.

At the end of the 4 weeks we then had to pitch the concept to Mike. Our Concept was unfortunately not the winning one. But we felt as a group we had worked well together and come up with some strong ideas and answered the brief with a strong response.

The feedback we received for the project was very good. It stated our concept of Lava was strong and fitting and that our ideas were creative and thoughtful. It also stated that it was presented to the client confidently. With regard to myself as group leader it stated that I had been dedicated, focused, organised and at times inspiring to work with. Something i was surprised but delighted to hear.

I found overall the project was demanding but rewarding at the same time. As group leader I tried to let the group run as smoothly as possible and this worked well with no disputes arguments occurring. I sometimes found that I would have liked others to work harder. But this is something I have since realised I cannot get too hung up about.

Student Set

The student set module was the second to last brief of my time at university. It was also five weeks long and a brief with the most creative freedom I’d encountered. It was entirely self-directed and this posed a lot of challenges and rewards. I initially decided I wanted my project to persuade young people to re-engage with politics. But as I researched further I began to find that providing a solution was perhaps outside the realm of graphic communication. With the looming May general election politicians were frantically trying to solve political apathy (and in large part failing) and I was becoming increasingly disillusioned myself.

I decided to change my focus, instead looking at the impacts of the Internet on society. From my research I discovered the term Citizen Journalism, a term I hadn’t come across before but one that was extremely relevant as most people these days are actually citizen journalists even if they don’t realise it. Particularly young people. 16-24 year olds became my target audience and my response was an animation that communicated the concept of citizen journalism in an accessible and easy to understand manner. The piece takes the form of an animation so that it can be uploaded onto Youtube and become a piece of citizen journalism in its own right.

The feed back i recieved for my outcome was very positive. I was told that the visual style was visually engaging and communicated my ideas clearly. As I only handed in a storyboard for the project I was told to create the animation for my exhibition and portfolio. This is something I’m currently working on and hope to finish soon.

Sustainability

2010-05-19T13:13:00.006+01:00

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module.

My Understanding of the term sustainability is that it is the ability to sustain the way things are at any given time. It is a term hot on the international agenda at present due to scientific discoveries on Global warming and Climate change and it is a term that at times is controversial and divides opinion. Sustainability has also come into the conscience of graphic designers and as a result has laid founding principles in some agencies, including London agencies Futerra and Thomas Matthews for example that pride themselves on creating thoughtfully ‘sustainable’ solutions for their clients.

One of the big issues within graphic design and in the wider field of advertising is the issue of green wash. This is the problematic concept of companies making unaccountable and false claims to be sustainable with the use (and abuse) of science to convince the consumer that their products and services are ‘sustainable’. This is because from research they think that most consumers will buy something they believe to be sustainable over something that its not. The danger of this is that if the term sustainability is used as a lie than people will go on believing sustainable solutions are being reached when they’re not, and so they never will be. Futerra have published an interesting and thorough account of greenwash and can be viewed here.

Reaching more sustainable solutions in graphic design may consist of using, recycled paper, using low VOC inks or opting for the digital solution as opposed to the printed.

Personally my position on sustainability is that it is a positive thing. I do understand however that sometimes sustainability can occasionally provide obstacles in which case common sense and priorities must be re-evaluated. I realise that technology sometimes takes issue with sustainability as holding it back, and while this is true in some cases I do not see why the world cannot continue advancing but with a more sustainable mindset.

Last year professor James Woudhuysen gave a very interesting talk on how he sees the future entitled ‘future proofing’. He made some very powerful and relevant points regarding sustainability, mostly opposing the term. He argued his discontent with sustainability with the example of people suffering from Malaria in Africa who are denied the right to certain medicines by western authorities as they are unsustainable, and are instead are given much less effective mosquito nets. In this case I feel priorities have to be re-considered and sustainability has to take a back seat over the wellbeing and immediate survival of large numbers of human beings. There was one statement he made however I disagreed with. Regarding sustainability he said ‘The more I think about my grand children the more I hate them’ I think this was quite an outlandish statement to make and one that I think was effectively a lazy and selfish excuse to not care about the physical health of the world that he comes from.

I recently saw the C4 series ‘Slumming it’ with Kevin McCloud, who lived with families in the slums Mumbai for two weeks. In these slums the people recycle 80% of waste, a figure that puts the west to shame. I do not see why if they can recycle so much, why we can’t. As a graphic designer and in large part large-scale user of resources I feel keeping sustainability in mind is an important thing. However as we move towards a more digital world, I feel sustainability may become less of issue.

Work Influences

2010-05-19T13:08:00.009+01:00

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module.

In terms of work experience while at university I have been lucky enough to undertake three placements, two in the 2009 summer break and one in Easter 2010.
The first placement was with ‘See What You Mean’ a digital creative communications agency based in Cardiff bay. I was given this opportunity by one of See What You mean’s designers Matt Joyce who spoke to me after viewing my animation in my second year show. It was fantastic to have some praise from a professional in the in the industry. A few days later I went down to their studio with my portfolio to show Matt the rest of my work and thankfully he fixed up a weeks work experience for a few weeks later.

See What You Mean are a small company of only five designers and their work has found a real niche, working exclusively in digital, they mainly create slick customisable corporate presentations which often contain a strong element of animation and motion graphics. My week was spent sketching concepts, working on rich pictures in flash and in the times when there was little to I worked on creating my own online portfolio. During the week I began to realise that the work see what you mean do though primarily requires an ability to come up with good ideas, a certain level of software knowledge were needed, and my knowledge was not up to that level, particularly in Flash and After Effects. So this sometimes limited my involvement. None the less the week was a great opportunity and one I learned a lot from.

My second work experience was with Brand Union in London, a placement I had also fortunately gained through my second year exhibition. This time it was for two weeks and also included the exciting prospect of living in London for a fortnight. Brand Union was a totally different experience to See What You Mean; instead of 5 employees there were 80. My first brief was with the packaging team on a project to totally re-brand the face wash Clearasil. Packaging was something I hadn’t tackled before but was a curious and exciting prospect. The concepts I produced I was really happy with and one of the designers Lauren said that while they not use them, the designs would make a good addition to my portfolio. Other projects I worked on included a research project for Vodafone, staff wall calendars, client PDF presentations, blog headers, an identity for an eastern European bank and inevitably lots of cups of tea. The experience was fantastic and one that taught me a lot about what it’s like to work in a large fast paced company. In the future I would like to work in a smaller studio as sometimes due to the size of the clients, creative freedom was hard to come by. The experience left me with a sense of professionalism including a faster pace of working and greater resourcefulness, which I believe I have carried through the third year.

My third placement was with Burning Red in April 2010, a design agency in Cardiff bay that covers a broad spectrum of design. From branding and print to web design and animation. It was something I thought I needed after being a student for the previous eight months as I knew it would give me a sense of what’s to come after graduation and what I’m on this path for. The week was very enjoyable and the five staff were very friendly. The initial thing that struck me as it had in the previous placements was the pace required. Suddenly your not working for your own portfolio in a sense but for a client who’s paying for an outcome, and time means money. Therefore a level cooperation and selflessness is required. I spent a large part of the week working on projects for CLIC, an organisation providing information for young people in Wales. This is an age group I had never designed for previously and this was at times a challenge, often conflicting with my preconceptions of what is aesthetically pleasing design. However this experience taught me to see more through the eyes of others and not just my own, and I think this is one of the most important skills a designer can have.

I have found that in all the placements I have undertaken there are times when there is little to do and a level of patience is required. You are not actually on their pay-roll, and that’s why it’s called ‘work experience’. However I feel it is invaluable to design students as it gives us glimpses into what the future could be like and essentially why you’re doing a Graphic Communication course. It has helped me realise the sort of company I want to work for, where I want to work and the type of work I want to do.

Reflection On My Development

2010-05-17T19:48:00.013+01:00

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module..

Since arriving in Cardiff for my first day on the BA Graphic Communication course I feel I have come a long way. Fresh faced from three months of traveling around Australia I felt extremely excited about the prospect of embarking on a creative course again. The three months of self dependence and travel had geared me up well for ‘uni life’ and I couldn’t wait to meet my course mates and start ’creating again’. Something I hadn’t done since finishing my foundation course in Plymouth.

I found the early projects fantastic as they introduced me to a subject I really had very little knowledge about beforehand. Previously I knew of the designers Neville Brody and David Carson, but that was the extent of my design knowledge. The introductory typography brief set by Ruth Dineen really helped to clarify what design was. Designing letterforms and learning about the fundamentals of layout, white space and ‘path for the eye’ were essential and eye opening. In hindsight without that first module my work since would certainly have suffered. It is knowledge that has always been called upon since and shall continue to be throughout my professional career I'm certain. During this first project I was told by my tutor Ruth I had a ‘natural flair for design’ This came as a real surprise but acted as huge impetus for me to kick on try to become a good graphic communicator.

Throughout other first year modules which included projects on animation, image making and typography I tried to continue working with the same passion and enthusiasm I had put into the first. I found I was really enjoying the breadth of design and creative freedom provided by the briefs. This was something I was used to from my foundation course and although constraints were tighter and had a need for communication element, I still found them open enough and enjoyable. I was finding the constraints more and more enjoyable throughout the year and I began to feel a real purpose to what I was doing. The first year ended with a nine-week ‘Narrative’ module. I decided to undertake an animation based on the concept of memory but unfortunately my time management was poor and I ended up rushing the outcome. In hindsight I think 9 weeks was too long for a first year module as focus was something that constantly wavered. However on the whole the first year was an extremely positive experience. I had found my path, and my work was only going to improve.

After working in catering all summer the second year couldn’t come fast enough, and relief and excitement were the main emotions on returning to Cardiff in September.
I found projects in the second year more professional in a sense, the Film4 Eight Greats brief and Splotlands web design project opened my eyes to the realities and sometimes banalities of commercial graphic design. Though I did not completely enjoy the restrictions placed by these briefs I knew that the knowledge I was gaining was useful and essential. Having to cost jobs and design for disabilities were things I had never had to consider before and the reality of design as a means to make a living really dawned on me. I had always thought that all that mattered to a designer was creativity but in fact there is a definite and essential business element to design too. Mid way through the year I had a slight dip in enthusiasm helped by the inconvenience of writing CCS essays but then came the ‘Portrait’ project. An open brief that allowed a lot of creative freedom.. I thoroughly enjoyed this project and created a successful animation for my portfolio.

Following this came the Easter holidays. Though this was no ordinary Easter holiday as this time myself and four course mates were heading to Kuala Lumpur for a month to study Graphic Design at the Malaysian institute of Art. An opportunity none of us could pass up.

This experience was beneficial so many ways. But perhaps most importantly it taught me how great curiosity can be greatly rewarded. Simply by having the interest and guts to place yourself in a positive and completely ‘other’ environment for a month is only going to improve you as an individual. Sitting lectures half way round the world, collaborating on design briefs and discussing design with Malaysian students over lunch were really rewarding experiences. Traveling Malaysia in our time away from the MIA Provided us with masses of new experiences and inspiration. The trip has really reiterated to me the importance of travel and that it is something I need to do in my life and career.

On returning to Wales the final project ‘Persuasion’ taught me a lot about the rewards of undertaking socially driven work. And I feel my response reflected the level of knowledge I gained about Homelessness from meetings with the manager of Huggard homeless centre Richard Edwards. A successful piece for my portfolio and a piece, which featured in my end of year show and incredibly won me a bursary placement with Brand Union in London.

After a summer of patchy research for my dissertation and two good work placements which really taught me about the design industry, The first project of the year provided a challenge in that it required us to work in teams of five. But it was a positive one that has taught me a lot about the importance of cooperation and teamwork. Completing a dissertation alongside studio work was occasionally problematic and stressful, though in large part beneficial and enlightening. The briefs following this have rolled by with increasing speed and degree of self-direction. I feel my outcomes have been largely successful, all of which can feature in a fairly high quality portfolio of work. In march I took the opportunity to present at Cardiff's first Pecha Kucha, a presentation of 20 slides with 20 seconds allotted per slide. In this I spoke about my experiences of Malaysia and fortunately it went down well with the audience. It was fantastic to talk alongside some brilliant professionals including the great Michael Johnson from Johnson Banks.

I feel my main strengths in relation to Graphic Communication lie within idea generation, versatility across design disciplines, and presentation skills. Areas I need to improve are still my time management and software knowledge. I feel I also need to address an occasional lack of assertiveness when it comes to decision making, which has sometimes slowed me down. Overall the three years have been hugely positive, They have helped me grow personally and professionally and I shall take much of what I’ve leaned in Cardiff with me throughout the entirety of my professional career.

Self Evaluation

2010-05-17T17:34:00.015+01:00

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module..

1. What have you enjoyed most about the course?

a) I have found that one of the most enjoyable aspects of the course is the creative freedom it allows. By being a Graphic 'Communication' course as opposed to Graphic 'Design', the emphasis is nearly always on the message or idea rather than solely the form. Therefore I have felt an ability to continue with the experimentation that I thoroughly enjoyed at foundation level.

b) I have also thoroughly enjoyed input from some fantastic tutors and fellow students. The range of tutors all with differing specialisms has been a huge plus. Over the three years the course has felt like a Graphic Communication family and one that I have felt lucky to be a part of.

c) Lastly I have enjoyed the wide range of talks and conferences the course has organised and arranged. I have found listening to professionals talking extremely inspiring. Also the strong links to industry the course has is fantastic, particularly in relation to work placements and opportunities.

In what ways do you think you've developed or changed during the last year?

a) I feel in the past year I have encountered experiences and scenarios that have helped me grow into a more confident and self assured designer and person.

b) I feel I have become more clear in the directions I wish to pursue in the future. This has been helped by undertaking a number of work placements.

c) I feel I have grown creatively. I feel I am able to approach briefs with a greater knowledge and imagination than in previous years and as a result the standard of my work has improved. My software skills have greatly improved and I'm generally a faster and more resourceful designer.

What do you think your strengths are in relation to Graphic Communication and becoming a designer or working/ training in a related area?

a) I feel I have particular strengths in idea generation and concept development. I also feel I have strengths in understanding and realising the requirements of a brief.

b) I feel I have developed into a versatile designer who is comfortable working across a wide range of design disciplines.

c) I think I also have strengths in presenting and communicating with people (or potential clients).

What has hampered your learning?

a) I feel the only thing that has really hampered me is my own perfectionism. I have sometimes spent far longer than needed on briefs when i needed to just let go and finish it, because there is no such thing as perfection, only close to.

If You work outside college (voluntary or paid) what skills do you think you have gained or developed through doing this?

a) I have worked part time in the catering industry for two years. This has taught me the value of customer service. From working in catering I have realised that designing is only half of the service, the other half is how you do it and maintaining good relationships is key. You must leave the client happy and satisfied with the care attention they've received or they will go elsewhere. I like to think catering has made me a more polite and considerate individual with greater people skills.

What plans do you have after you finish the course to continue your development as a designer or related profession and make further progress in your field?

a) My plan is to be a graphic communicator. I hope to work in agencies that cover a broad spectrum of design in a number of different countries . I wish to travel with my degree as it fills me with energy and inspiration. It also allows me to gather more perspectives. My immediate plan is to undertake a work placement opportunity in Perth, Australia.

b) I shall continue to build a strong portfolio of work over my career, both digital and print.

c) I shall continue to keep a reflective blog. To help fuel inspiration, reflect on my progress and experiences, and continue to be a part of the online design community.

BAGC2 Exhibition

2010-05-16T08:35:00.002+01:00

Friday saw the opening evening of the second year graphics exhibition. The show was put together nicely and above are some of the stand out pieces. The exhibit that provided most entertainment had to be Andy Nivens interactive 'Consequences' piece. We spent a good hour in front of it making fascinatingly horrible portraits. Nice one Andy. The shows on all next week and definately worth a look.

Lovely Package

2010-05-05T18:18:00.000+01:00

I have recently discovered the blog Lovely Package. I've never really paid a lot of attention to packaging before, often thinking of it as mundane and limiting. However I'm not sure why because the more good packaging I see the more I realise what a massively creative field it is . The constraints placed seem to produce a greater need for innovation and wit. These are a few of the stand out ones I've seen posted on there. head over and take a good look around.

Julia Guther

2010-05-05T10:39:00.003+01:00

Some really nice work from Berlin based designer and illustrator Julia Guther.

Frost

2010-05-05T10:05:00.001+01:00

I'm currently really enjoying looking at the work of Frost Design, a multi-disciplinary practice with two offices, one in London, one in Sydney.

I Love Dust

2010-05-05T09:25:00.001+01:00

I have recently come across UK based multi-disciplinary studio I Love Dust. They appear to have a great ethos and some truly fantastic work. Most of it carrying a kind of quirky optimistic charm. This is a lovely piece of self promotion they produced for their studio which moved into an old butchers. I would love to work with these guys one day.

Landscape Photography : The Brecon Beacons

2010-04-27T18:12:00.006+01:00

Last week I went on a two-day mini adventure to the Brecon Beacons for my current and last degree brief 'The Big Idea'. The brief requires us to take a word, interpret it and create a graphic response around it. My word is Freedom, a concept often central to many of my projects, and weirdly enough also the meaning of my name. The angle I have taken is the idea of nature being used by humanity as a momentary escape from society. A concept I investigated in my dissertation but feel has great potential in a creative communication context. The trip up to the beacons was a great little 'escape' if you like, and above are a few of the photos I took. More can be seen over on Flickr. I shall post updates on the current project as it progresses.

A week with Burning Red

2010-04-18T19:11:00.006+01:00

Last week I had the privilege of a week's work experience with Burning Red, A design agency in Cardiff Bay who tackle briefs ranging from identity and print to web and animation. It has been a while since my previous placement with Brand Union in London so to have some more 'real-world' industry experience was fantastic. This time the studio was 5 strong instead of 80, and I enjoyed making new friends with some great people. The difference between the projects in the real-world and university are noticeably different.

Most obvious is the team element. This changes the whole dynamic. Suddenly your not just working on your own and essentially for yourself but with colleagues for a real client. Therefore work must be completed more swiftly with a certain selflessness not required in constructing our student portfolios. This is hard to let go of at first, which I found when doing some work for CLIC, a government organisation providing information for 11-25 yr olds. Suddenly your not the sole creator and effectively your own client, but someone elses, and you're design must appeal to them and their audience, who often have very little design knowledge.

The week helped me to see more through the eyes of others and not just my own, and I think this is one of the most important skills a designer can have.

Vanishing Point

2010-04-13T21:53:00.001+01:00

Made in After Effects and Cinema4D by Japanesse motion graphics group Bosanjo, this is a fantastic piece of experimental animation for a music video. I find myself posting a lot of this type of animation on here. Purely because I find it so visually stimulating. You can pause it at any given stage and it's a beautiful image itself. Whether its print or digital becomes irrelevant, its just simply fantastic craft. I also admire the unconventional aspect ratio. I seriously need to learn After Effects and Cinema 4D, and i will, but for now i'll just keep gawping in mystified awe at these beautiful things.

Lautlos

2010-04-06T11:15:00.002+01:00

A fantastic piece of experimental animation created by an collaboration of 20 top directors for the annual 20/120.

Mike Crozier

2010-04-01T08:17:00.004+01:00

This is a great piece of stop motion intern Mike Crozier did while at Sweedish studio SNASK. I think I've finally realised what I find so compelling about stop motion. Its kind of like watching a magic trick. It appears real yet its not quite real, where things that shouldn't move on their own do, much like the toys in Toy Story.

Onesize

2010-03-31T22:22:00.004+01:00

A beautiful piece of motion graphics from Dutch studio Onesize.

Phew!

2010-03-29T15:18:00.008+01:00

Thursday nights Pecha Kucha was a real success and thankfully my presentation went down suprisingly well with the audience. It was a real nerve racker talking alongside such fantastic professionals but I was so glad I did it in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Michael Johnson, Gerry Whelan, Nick Clark, Neil Young and prof. David Crow to name a few and I found every presentation thought provoking and inspiring in its own way. The recording of my presentation can be watched here, and the other speakers talks here. Michael Johnson has posted a great analysis of the night over on his blog Thought for the week.

New Work!

2010-03-25T10:47:00.002Z

I have recently updated my website with my YCN student awards competition entry. Take a better look here.

I met the Walrus

2010-03-23T22:47:00.004Z

I first saw this about a year ago, but this was before i had a blog, and i'd forgotten how good it was.Here's the full description

In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced him to do an interview. 38 years later, Levitan, director Josh Raskin and illustrators James Braithwaite and Alex Kurina have collaborated to create an animated short film using the original interview recording as the soundtrack. A spellbinding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit and timeless message, I Met the Walrus was nominated for the 2008 Academy Award for Animated Short and won the 2009 Emmy for 'New Approaches' (making it the first film to win an Emmy on behalf of the internet).

Pecha Kucha

2010-03-16T19:17:00.007Z

I have volunteered myself (bravely or stupidly!) to talk at Pecha Kucha Cardiff. Hosted by Louisa Cameron, it's an evening of 13 speakers each giving a 20 slide presentation with 20 seconds per slide. I feel very privelaged to be speaking alongside such a brilliant group of professionals, In particular the fantastic Michael Johnson. It should be a fun and fascinating evening, full of excitng thoughts insights and ideas.

Project updates

2010-03-15T13:08:00.003Z

This is a storyboard I have been working on over the weekend for my current student set project on Citizen Journalism. It takes a positive stance towards the concept and uses Iran as a case study. In Iran citizen journalism has been an important voice for expressing the injustice that is going on amongst the election protests. I had a tutorial earlier and my tutor liked the visual style but said I have focused too much on Iran and not enough on the concept of citizen journalism itself, and that it should perhaps include some more examples of citizen journalism playing an important role elsewhere. I may now need to have a little re-think!

Studio Output

2010-03-13T09:56:00.001Z

Some great work and a novel 'mosaic' website navigation from London and Nottingham based agency Studio Output.

Flyer Design

2010-03-10T23:20:00.003Z

My mate Jack recently asked me to design a flyer for a night he's holding at Rhythm Factory in London. It was good fun as he gave me a really open brief with no specifics of how he wanted it to look, just as long as it contained the copy. The night is a mix of different music genres and this presented a challenge to design something non-specific or motif led. But I feel hopefully my fairly abstract response captures the essence of the evening. Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to be able to make it down there for it.

Ok Go music video

2010-03-03T11:31:00.000Z

Link from W210, this is a fantastic music video directed by James frost for OkGo. Wow.

Nicholas Feltron

2010-03-03T10:31:00.000Z

Nicholas Feltron is an infographic designer based in New York. His work documents and records his everyday experiences to the point of obsession. His work is filled with numbers, charts, graphs, and beautiful typography. He is also the co-founder of Daytum. I think this the sort of work Einstein would of produced had he been a graphic designer, well worth a look.

GOOD Magazine

2010-03-01T20:12:00.003Z

For my Student Set Project am planning on creating an animation aimed at 16-24 year olds on the the impacts of the web on society. Much of the content will rely on visual metaphor and an infographical approach. GOOD make some fantastic informative and engaging topical infographic animations that convey information in a simple and engaging manner. using a combination of live action and vector work that bring a greater depth and richness. Most of GOODs animations are made by Max Joseph and Erin Bosworth. this one is for world water day.

Student Set Project: Change in Direction

2010-03-01T15:36:00.006Z

From research into my initial proposal to ‘Encourage young British people to become more politically and socially aware individuals’ have found that encouraging young people to engage with British politics is not really a problem that needs to be solved as I first thought. Young people are more socially and politically aware then ever before, they may not be showing it statistically by voting in elections (and I don’t blame them, I’m just as disillusioned with party politics and feel it they don’t represent my views) but they are in another space; the World Wide Web.

Young people are expressing social and political beliefs and interests over the Internet constantly. Inspired by this new thought I then watched the documentary series the Virtual Revolution presented by Aleks Krotoski, This is an incredibly insightful and current series on the impacts of the web on society. This has helped to inspire my new proposal. I now plan to create an animation in response to my revised proposal.

‘Inform young people of the impacts of the World Wide Web on society.’

The explosion of the Internet has had a massive impact on human society, bringing about a huge number of changes to the way we live and affecting almost every aspect of our daily lives. I wish to highlight some of these changes and their implications, both positive and negative. My response shall be aimed at young people aged between 16-24; an age group who have grown up with the internet and are its most common users. I feel they therefore require a more critical understanding of its impacts particularly as they are likely to be using it for the rest of their lives.

Due to the vast nature of the topic my response shall concentrate on a number of themes. It shall concentrate on some of the current issues and discussion around it to provide a comprehensive but simple to understand piece of communication suitable for its target audience. My response shall look briefly look at the webs history, as well as its future capabilities; using case studies and key events to re-enforce messages.

Project Aims

My response shall attempt to provide an engaging and exciting observation and interpretation of the web, leaving the viewer aware that there are important impacts, concerns and issues embedded in it that need to be understood. My response shall aim to encourage the target audience to use and view the internet in a more informed manner.

Personal Aims

As a young person constantly using the Internet and someone naturally interested in anthropology and sociology I find the topic a fascinating one and one I wish to explore in a creative context. I hope to create a powerful piece of informative communication that is visually exciting and engaging. The subject matter lends itself well to a digital outcome, I have enjoyed producing digital outcomes in the past and the SSP is a good chance to complete one to a higher standard than before for my portfolio.

Updates shall be posted!

Paul Ashley Brown

2010-02-27T15:57:00.001Z

Fantastic work from illustrator Paul Ashley Brown. He bases a lot his work on random people he sees in public spaces.

TED Talk: Gordon Brown

2010-02-19T09:40:00.001Z

Interesting talk from Gordon Brown on the future need to continue to become a global society. He emphasises that the interests of individual nations are becoming increasingly tied up in the interests of the rest of the world. He argues this global community is enhanced by advancements in internet communications and that we must continue to embrace them to develop a shared global ethic to deal with the global issues we face.

'We're at a unique moment in history, says UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown: we can use today's interconnectedness to develop our shared global ethic -- and work together to confront the challenges of poverty, security, climate change and the economy.'

TED Talk: David Cameron

2010-02-18T18:24:00.004Z

An interesting TED talk from David Cameron on the changing nature of politics.

'The leader of Britain's Conservative Party says we're entering a new era; where governments themselves have less power (and less money) and people empowered by technology have more. Tapping into new ideas on behavioral economics, he explores how these trends could be turned into smarter policy.'

Erica Williams on Youth Politics

2010-02-18T10:13:00.006Z

Im currently researching into the reasons why young people are disillusioned with politics to find out how to re-engage them. This is a great talk by Erica Williams on the youth perception of politics in the US. She argues that the problem isnt with young people, it's with politcs itself. she argues it needs to be re-defined to become accessible. She believes 'politics', politicians and the older generations need to adopt a younger mentality, embrace new trends and technologies to break through.

Student Set project

2010-02-18T10:11:00.002Z

I'm currently in the first week of a 5 week student set project,. The brief I have set myself is to try and re-engage young Brittish people with politics through design. I feel that if more young people engage with politics we can better understand and act upon the issues of today and realise the potential of the future. I shall post my progress on this project regularly.

M/A/S/H

2010-02-17T21:14:00.004Z

And here's another brilliant Australian studio M/A/S/H.

Coop

2010-02-17T21:07:00.000Z

Fanstastic work from Melbourne based studio Coop. I would love to work for them in the future.

CSAD Jamborie 'Happy to be hybrid'

2010-02-17T14:25:00.005Z

This morning was the second CSAD Jamborie. Guest speakers included Elanor Glover, Owen Lloyd and Price James. All three were very insightful and entertaining.

Elanor was a former toy maker, graphic design student and now sculpture/fine artist. She concentrated on inspiration' where it comes from, how to capture/bottle/reserve and of course use it. She spoke of the brain as a compost heap; constantly being added to. She also spoke of the importance of talking to others, stepping 'outside your tribe' and into other peoples. Abstract but true. Owen Lloyd is a digital sound artist who spoke of the importance/benefits of working with others who showed some very interesting stuff.

Price James, music video director and former graphic design student from Central St. Martins put on a very entertaining show. His underlying ethos seems to be above all else reckless creativity. Someone who has built his career from being brave, talented and enthusiastic. His work is fantastic and you should take a look.

The lasting impression of the morning is that whatever field of art and design you're in, they all overlap and intersperse. Its just about being creative. Illustration tutor and compere Chris Glyn summed it up fittingly by saying... 'we're all happy to be hybrid'. The above is music video by Jame Price.

Street Type!

2010-02-11T17:57:00.003Z

I started a mini photography project for myself today called street type. It's basically as simple as it sounds. take pictures of interesting typography i find on the street..whether its a shop sign, house number, garage notice, or piece graffiti it doesn't matter, as long as its stimulating in some way. street type is something I constantly find myself looking at so why not start documenting it? Today I just concentrated on Cathays, Cardiff but over the next few years who knows which streets in the world may feature. You can see the flickr album here.

The Future?

2010-02-11T12:36:00.000Z

Very interesting piece by architecture student Keiichi Matsuda providing a possible insight into the future with the growth of augmented reality technology. Im guessing all it would take is some goggles that are linked to the net and away you go. I do think a world as intense as this would become sickly quite quickly and wouldnt need to be as extensive, but the technology itself will have endless interactive possibilities. He has some intriguing other projects too take a look.

British Red Cross Posters

2010-02-11T09:33:00.000Z

These are four lovely posters created by four artists/designers/illustrators in aid of the Haiti disaster. There are only a limited number of prints and they are o be auctioned off with the money raised going to those in Haiti. Nice idea and nice posters. If I had the dosh I would probably buy one.

American Express

2010-01-28T18:37:00.000Z

Amusing ad for American Express. I think we all find ourselves making faces out of strange things from time to time.

Stasys Eidrigevicius

2010-01-28T12:07:00.001Z

I was flicking through a book of Polish graphic art in the library earlier and this guys work really stood out. I find a lot of it haunting but absorbing at the same time. His portfolio is stunning, check it out.

Christian Borstlap

2010-01-25T21:08:00.003Z

Great piece by animator/illustrator/ designer Christian Borstlap. Philosophy and design wrapped up together beautifully, similarly to the previous post actually. Check out more of his work here.

Jim Balakshin

2010-01-23T11:45:00.001Z

Beautiful work and fantastic advice for creatives. I Agree with everything this says.