Metro Advert

I have been noticing these adverts everywhere on my train line, some of which are quite amusing. They create a simple illustrative humoristic tint on a serious issue. Although they have grabbed my attention I don't feel they will make a great difference of the recycling issue. However the ad's show that the brand is aware of issue being created with there product. Is this to create a positive brand, or are they really trying to make a difference?

The Design Museum

I visited the design museum, the other day as I was looking for the 50 years of Helvetica exhibition. However this appeared to be a small exhibition in the Cafe area. I had a look but most of the images I had seen on the blanka website that I had recently discovered. I must admit I did like the way the work was positioned in the cafe area, it suggested that this place was serious and enthusiastic about design as it was filtered everywhere. I found the display obscure. It based its ideas

Therefore I led myself to the two other main exhibitions Zaha Hadid, Architecture and Design, as well as a graphic design exhibition names Friendly Fire by Johnathan Barmbrook. Both are rather influential and interesting.

I first saw Zaha Hadid's exhibition. The first room her later work was in a darker room with spot lights, that I felt created a good atmosphere for her Russian constructivist work. Hadid was born in Baghdad in 1950, and came to London in 1972. She has created 'Urban master pieces to domestic objects and furniture.'




Her work uses radical geometry, which is formed from the influential period Russian constructivism. I found her paintings rather abstract considering they where based on architecture. This may be due to the sheer amount of detail, the angles of the work, and how the architecture is stretched across the entire canvas. She manages to go beyond basic forms, which almost makes the work hard to look at. Work I particularly liked was ‘The Divers,’ as it showed the designs in use. It seems that the paintings are the basis of her architecture designs that are then drawn up using layers of acetate and then models are created.

Upstairs in the museum the exhibition is extended. It appears more contemporary than the selection down stairs. The curve seems to be embraced, where before Sharpe angles appeared to be the trend. I preferred these designs. They appear more fluid. The design bellow almost appears living.



The second exhibition was called Friendly Fire by Jonathan Barmbrook. His work made rather admirable bold statements about rather serious worldly issues. I felt inspired by the strength of this work, It makes you desire such graphic jobs to work on yourself, however such strong ideas need to be expressed well and loudly to be successful. 'And this designer doesn’t hesitate when offered the opportunity to dive into ideological waters and deliberately swim in political ponds.' http://www.fontshop.com/features/fontmag/002/02_barnbrook/. He espiers to 'graphic design having a vital role to play in influencing ideological landscapes of society.'

A particular piece of work I liked was his magazine ad busters 'a graphically-designed magazine devoted to numerous political and social causes, and run by an organisation aiming to 'advance the new social activist movement of the information age' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Barnbrook. One image I saw was a straight image comparison on a beer gut belly and a young Childs belly from Africa, the images were very hard hitting without any effort.



He suggests that 'designers should not separate their own beliefs to those that they express in their work.' He is very expressive with colour, he mentioned on a concept board of his for Damien Hirsts book design, that white is used within design a lot because there is a pretence to be tasteful. However as much as I can see his, point, it very hard to appear tasteful and not use white, it so commonly used and does appear fresh to the untrained eye.



He also is extremely experimental with his use of type. Which seems to express 'Visual Energy' http://www.fontshop.com/features/fontmag/002/02_barnbrook/. I would like to look further in to how he develops such fonts, and where he gains such influences.

Advertising is dead, Long Live Advertsing

I have recently read the book, Advertising is dead, Long Live Advertising By Tom Himpe and Will Colin.

The book is based upon the theory of 'non-conventional forms of advertising' that we so readily take up in today’s design society. I have to agree that grabbing people attention is harder now than ever before, purely for the immense amount of advertising about, and the more places it can be seen, mostly in a multimedia sense.’ Therefore advertisers can no longer rely on Consumers to behave like the passive receivers they once where.' 'Brands are compensating for the declining impact of traditional advertising. Here's is some alternatives traditional advertising that the author listed, Guerrilla, Ambient, Steath, Buzz, word of mouth, virals, stunts, advertising gaming, experimental, wild fire, ambush etc etc.

It is believed that there are 'Four drivers of alternative advertsing.' that are worth remembering.

Proximity. This means getting closer to the consumers on a face to face basis. Either the brand comes to the consumer or the consumer comes to the brand, without any other media involvement. One example of this is the use of promotional staff.

Exclusivity. 'Having alone time with the consumer.' The brand/ advertising agency finds a special environment away from other competition to promote their product. E.g. An elevator. Evian once used a swimming pool floor to promote their water. A very appropriate place, and is seen in the book.

Invisibility. I.e. to quietly advertise/ moving the brand to back ground. 'Advertising that does not look and feel like advertising.' 'Consumer do not like the smell of the sell.' For example, reducing brand Logo/ creating an event to help the lives of the consumers.

Unpredictability. Basically is involves catching the consumer off guard, and is something you don't see everyday. It has to come as a genuine surprise to the consumer.

http://www.dexigner.com/graphic/news-g11708.html

Some things I just like.

Serpentine Gallerie Pavillion 2007

Serpentine Gallery Pavillion 2007 byOlafur Eliasson and Kjetil Thorse August – November 2007.

I love the circular notion of the inside and out of this piece of architecture, which is still currently under construction. It reminds me of a spinning top, which in fact I just read…that is exactly what it is meaning to reflect. I realise that inspiration can be drawn from everywhere. A spinning top has a unique balance system, this can be clearly seen in the form of this architecture by the used of the white strips running down the side, (although it is sturdy.)

A bit of 'slightly' relevant philosophy...

There is a philosphical theorem, nothing can be just imagined/ designed etc without inspiration from/ seeing something else. The brain is not capable of creating something completely new, for example the magical creature a unicorn is made up from a horse, and perhaps a dinosaur, and a house was inspired maybe by a cave. Therefore we need to embrass these inprirations, such like the Serpentine has.

'The Pavilion will act as a ‘laboratory’ every Friday night with artists, architects, academics and scientists leading a series of public experiments.' 'A wide spiralling ramp makes two complete turns, ascending from the Gallery’s lawn to the seating area and continues upwards, culminating at the highest point in a view across Kensington Gardens and down into the chamber below.'

Stickmen Cards

I have recently seen these illustrated cards in regular card shops. They are created by Santora collections. Unfortunately I couldn't find many images of them online. However they have developed the well know stickmen styled drawings, with added humorous catchy captions. I like the idea of using something so simple in this case a style, which people can easily relate to. The simple style also makes it easy to make the cards aesthetically pleasing; with the theory less is more. There are endless possibilities for the idea, which is needed for card design.

In some specialist card shops, I find endless inspiration for illustrative ideas.

Guest

I found this on a random site http://boico.net/blog/archives/category/cake. I found it really amusing! Just a silly little joke that we have probably all seen before - but I feel things like this, most people can relate to - therefore could be used easily in a graphic design or advertising communicatory design.

http://www.nakedcomms.com/

I rather nice website, based upon a dolls house for a design company, you can navigate round it, which makes you want to view all the rooms. Nice touches with animated sheep in the hallway, the cinematic pull down screen and generally the interesting use of furnishing. It is enhanced by the 3d photographed visuals. An interesting way to display the companies’ ideas. Each heading takes you to an appropriate room, and a part of the company.

Blood Pillows

I found this blood pillow on the website http://www.fromkeetra.com/ amongst a nice selection of work. I found it strange how death/pain can be turned to become novelty or even amusing. I think the way its been photographed adds to the idea, the raw everyday snap shots, of people working in the office etc makes it more humorous. There is a contrast of being asleep peacefully rather than knocked out. Despite my thoughts its interesting to find that someone described it as poor taste on the following website http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/04/blood_puddle_pillows.html. I suppose it is a rather dark sense of humor.

Aerial View

This just tickled me, I love it when something is presented literal in image - kool idea, that could be extended further, there is plenty more shots! I also love the rawity of the shot.

- http://www.eatock.com

The Break Up

A quirky film, emphasising the importance of consumer research. Too many companies keep to their house ideas.

I like the idea of the advertiser and consumer simile of a relationship.

Tank Books

Within Design Week, volume 22, number 29, there was an article on the newly formed Tank Books, by Fiona Sibley. Books have been formed in to well known cigarette packing, and humorously copy lined as 'Tank Books, Tales to take your breath away.' and 'reading saves lives.'

'The idea was hatched by Masoud Golsorkhi,' 'who has long tried to entice people who generally don't read with seduction of the written word.' There is a suggestion that smoking is like reading, they both 'drift you to different territories' 'He always thought that books could be a dangerous as cigarettes.'

There is also a suggestion, of the celebration and appreciation of the design of cigarette packaging after the smoking ban, the way 'they are engineered, with the silver lining and cellophane wrapper.'

This metaphor is a bit odd yet certainly different. They create something iconic rather than practical. However I do seem to appreciate cigarette packaging a lot more.

Peter Calleson

Here is another great use of paper, this time plain white, to create patterns shaddows, buildings - all sorts. They could be used to be great illustrations. My particular favourite is 'traces in the snow' it uses the enviroment behind the paper to complete the scene- seen above. He has 'explored the relationship between two and three dimensionality.' http://www.petercallesen.com/index/index2.html.

People talk about 'the pencil' being a great tool what about paper? Theres more to be seen on the site http://www.petercallesen.com/index/index2.html.

Fantasy Architecture

Whilst watching 'Summer Exhibition' BBC2, I noticed C J Lim's work. He is an architect at the University of UCL who has won two awards from the Royal Academy this year for his fantasy architecture drawing work. His work is painstakingly delicate, and takes an unbelievable amount of time to produce however you certainly appreciate this whilst looking at his work


Based upon other constructions'His entry this year was inspired by the story of the three pigs, although the straw, stick and brick houses are now towers and instead of being set in woodland, they are to be found in Smithfield meat market.' http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0706/07061307.

I feel this fantasy approach is very unique and could open a far more avenues for architectural buildings, even though they may not be as far fetched. Please see images above. I feel they do not do justice to how much work has been put in to them.

Ariel's 30 Degree Adverts

Saatchi & Saatchi have formed adverts unlike the usual woman smelling her freshly cleaned whites in the kitchen. They have dwelled on the concept of using images from around the word such as ice fishing and monks washing their clothes in freezing conditions, to exaggerate the 30-degree concept. Changing your wash to 30 degree will help the environment; therefore it seems appropriate to have images of nature and far away cultures. A good advert with a clear message.

Please view this link http://www.saatchi.co.uk/local/theWorks.asp. - As I am currently unable to find a YouTube link.

In terms of Ariel's new branding... (Product and Concept). They are a producing a product that in the long term is more cost effective to the consumer and environmentally friendly.

Maybe an obvious issue to draw upon, however very valid, are we currently in design world taking enough notice of environmental factors that are now so vigorously drawn upon in our media? (Including TV programs concerning the environment, climate change, energy efficiency, ozone layer, cost effectiveness of energy consumption), Politically there are many major debates, on the importance of the Green Party, "Other parties are now falling over themselves to adopt the Green Party's Policies." ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2006/09/whats_the_point_of_the_green_party.html.)

I can agree that environmental factors are very important in today’s design, (including graphics design.) I hope to look further in to these issues and how they affect art, architecture, literature and design etc. What designs have been created to be 'Environmentally Friendly?'

Socially are we taking environmental factors a plus point when purchasing a product yet? Have we discovered this importance? Or does the initial extra cost still detain us? I am not too sure.

Typography

Just something I found, unsure who it is designed by...

Although it is not unusal to adapt type in such away. I really like the literal concept of the word 'cut' , and feel it works athetically well in respect to the other text. Which would have normally been a borring paragraph of words. I thinks sometimes we too readily get rid of the most obvious idea.

Atypyk

‘Atypyk’ is a company dealing with creating witty novelty objects. They take a regular product, which is then developed using stereotypes, and close associations. I believe these ideas are old and obvious for example for many years in our British society we have developed the image of someone singing in the shower. This classicism is what makes the product work. I believe sometime we can be so concerned with staying away form the stereotype when it’s the stereotype that is required. Stereotypes untrue or true are part of our society and in many cases can be used for humoristic value. We all know these random idea's and therefore if used a product can be applicable to the wider audience.
Here are a few of my favourites.

PUB ART

These coasters where originally blank, yet have been gradually drawn on in pub named Stumbling Monk. An original idea to express a creative process in a relaxed environment. I feel this idea lends itself well to the subconious and the exploration of human behaviour. It would be interesting to find out if people where given paper and pen in a different environment, or in a different type of pub, would the images change?

The rules for these coaters are as follows…

‘Take a blank, draw for a few minutes, and pass it on to the next person and see what happens. When you get a coaster with someone else’s work on it, add a line or two, make it interesting, and pass it on again.’ http://www.design-kompany.com/inspiration/660/.