For this section of my 'personal and professional practice' we are to gather a varied collection of resources in response to 5 set questions which are all related back to the main focal point 'What is Graphic Design?'. I will explore different ways in which Graphic Design can appear in the world around us. Whilst at an Arts lecture in Manchester, the guest speaker highlighted that ‘Design is everywhere. It’s in advertising, on packaging, and within our surrounding environment', I first realised how design captures the entire world, without us even realising, in this lecture. So here, I have documented 5 ways in which I feel Graphic Design appears, and works really well within its context.
// Graphic Design in different context //
1. Smart phone software.
With the modern world becoming revolved around smart phones, and technology, Graphic Design had been enabled a chance to branch out beyond print media and classic design formats. This new world of design technology allows graphics to expand into motion graphics, and media. I feel the iPhone is a perfect example of how Graphic Design can appear in everyday scenarios.
2. Book Cover design.
The book covers I have chosen to present here are actually taken from a final major project by Millie Haughnaess, a former student on BA(hons) Graphic Design, here at Leeds College of Art. I find her work really inspiring and appreciate the ways in which she had used typography to create imagery, giving the classic 'Roald Dahl' children's books a re-vamped and modern feel.
3. T-shirt design.
My third chosen context is T-shirt design. I feel this is really effective, and the images I have chosen below have ben collected from personal research. I found a Graphic Designer on 'Blogger' who is really passionate about their practice and I feel this comes across in their designs. I think that the use of black silhouettes against pastel tones gives the piece a calming feel. Link to Blog >> Panhojda.
4. Wrapping Paper
Another context is which Graphic Design is presented is through Wrapping Paper. I love patterns, take a lot of inspiration from current 'Paperchase' designs. Their use of colours always compliment their use of repetition which works well as a design. I like good strong wrapping paper and so always take note of what has been used, and the quality of the design. I think that the composition of using bright owls, against a calmer background works really well with this design.
5. Motion Graphics
Although I'm not really as confident nor am I as fond of motion graphics as I am with print, it is still a key factor to Graphic Design. With the earlier mention of a new age of technology linking design with smart phones, design is also linked with motion graphics and web design, which predominantly focuses on designing on screen, rather than designing on paper.
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// Graphic Design performing different functions //
1. Promotional Pieces
Graphic Design is often used to promote charities and other various events. One of it's main functions is to communicate and so through promotional packs and various other items, companies and charities communicate to their prospective audiences through promotion and flyers etc.
2. Road Signs
Road signs are used to communicate information to road users. The simplicity of a design is there for its purpose, they are simple yet easy to read and understand as well as communicating the correct message, quickly to their audience.
3. Brand Identity (Wagamama)
Wagamama is one of my favourite restaurants, and I love their clean crisp appearance portrayed through their brand imaging and identity. This is a key element of Graphic Design, as one of the purposes of design is to communicate identity. I've also been fortunate enough to gain contact with Wagamama's photographer, who uses strong lighting to emphasise their clean and crisp image, giving many photographs a high contrast appearance.
4. TV Adverts (channel4/E4)
TV adverts have an essential function in promoting various shows and series'. I chose to use the 'Channel 4 ident', as I personally find it really interesting how they use everyday scene and object etc, to create typography. This clever technique looks really effective, and successfully promotes Channel 4 to their viewers.
5. Information leaflets
Information leaflets are one of the most common uses of promotion, however despite their basic function and appearance they successfully communicate a topic to the target audience. Information leaflets can take many different forms, some are humerous, and colourful and others are more serious with easily legible fonts and basic imagery. However, no matter what the outcome leaflets are always successful in demonstrating their purpose and function.
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// Graphic Design delivering different types of messages //
1. Inform and Educate
Graphic Design can deliver different messages in many different ways. One way to convey a message to your audience is to inform and educate. This is commonly used for fire and safety posters or warnings.
2. Factual and formal
Factual and formal is a popular way to present information. Usually used to display information in leaflets or on flyers. 'NHS' campaigns and flyers are a good example of information being displaying formally and is a factual manner.
3. Factual and Informal
Factual and informal is commonly portrayed in comic magazines, or comic strips. A very childish or cartoon-like appearance which represents important information. This is also often used to display sexual advice, etc to young adults or teenagers. I really like this style as i feel you can play about with it much more and experiment.
4. Professional and Presented
Professional and presented is my preferred style. Obviously depending upon your audience it may not always be applicable, however I feel is it neat and organised which is very similar to my personality and represents me. Letterheads and other formal written work is often presented in the format. This conveys a message much different to how factual and informal would portray the same point.
5. Informal and fiction
Informal and fiction is the final type of delivery I have chosen. I really like this style as it is often used for Children's books etc and I feel it has more creative opportunities. It usually has a 'fun' and 'informal' appearance, which suits the target audience for this genre.
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// Graphic Design produced using different media //
1. Print
Print media is very commonly sued within the Graphic Design discipline and I personally love to work with print, however over the coming months and years I hope to expand my knowledge and skills using various other techniques and skills.
2. Letterpress
Letterpress is a very specialist and unique technique. Letterpress printing is the relief printing, using a press, of image and type. It uses reversed imagery, which is the printed and press to reveal the positive right-reading image. I really like the rustic and 'vintage-style' appearance.
3. Photography
Despite being a discipline in it's own right, photography is very closely linked with Graphic Design. Photography can be used as image alone or also combined with type to create image and type. I completed my photography A-level this past year and so I have grown to love film photography and the process behind the camera, linking it closely with darkroom processes.
4. Paper
Paper is a really intricate and delicate material. It can be used to create image in it's own right which I think is really creative and looks very effective. The outcomes that can be created with paper look very unusual and professional. I have used imagery by Helen Musselwhite, an artist I have previously researched on earlier projects. I find her work really inspiring, and hope to experiment in this field on future briefs.
5. Motion / Film
Motion or film graphics is becoming increasingly popular as technologies advance, as well as the introduction of smart phones too. I hope to learn more about motion graphics, as I have never personally experienced it, however I think the outcomes look really creative when produced to a high standard.
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// Graphic Design produced at different scales //
1. Leeds College of art - End of Year show (Large Scale)
I love the promotional work for the Leeds College of Art end of year show last year, it is eye catching and bold, and the large format looks really effective. This has been positioned well to catch the attention of passersby on a busy Leeds junction outside of the College of Art.
2. Promotional items (Small Scale)
I love these small promotional items that have been used here. I have taken these from a previous Leeds College of Art Student, Millie Haugnaess. Her work is really inspiring and I like many of her final outcomes across her final major project. These small scale items, despite being scaled down, look really effective and suit the brief perfectly.
3. Stretch of promenade - Hotel Minneapolis (Large Scale)
I love the bright colours and vibrant appearance of the 'promenade' design. The photograph shows the scale of the image in comparison to a full grown adult, which emphasises my focus on 'Large Scale' designs. This looks really effective, and catches the attention of the target audience successfully.
4. Apple Branding - December 2010 (Large Scale)
Last December I visited the Apple store in Manchester and was really intrigued by the full size 'Father Christmas', this fascinating designs was really effective, and the large scale iPhone 4 (although not clear in the image here) was set us in a motion graphics format to work as a fully functioning iPhone. This design worked really well as a promotional piece for the company right before the Christmas shopping season, therefore targeting the right audience at the right time.
5. Business Card Designs (Small Scale)
These business cards show a more smaller scale design. I think the layout and appearance of the cards, although classic, is very effective for the purpose of the piece. It works well for the brief, and the small business cards in comparison to the larger scale graphics above, shows how Graphic Design varies in size and shape everytime depending on the specific brief in mind.
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