OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Leeds Public Spaces - Testing A2 poster as A3 two way image

As an experiment to see how the poster would look real scale I printed it A2 then folded it to the A3 size required for the brief. This allows more content to be allowed in the space limitations as well as being something a little different and hopefully not previously seen before. 

 

The images works by creating evenly spaced sections and splitting up the image. This allows for the double image effect once folded. The two images are as shown. The black poster is inspired by old silent films subtitles. This has then been printed A2 and folded as shown below. 

This show the three different images shown when looked at from different angles revealing the description of the image and the image itself. Overall the effect is exactly what I wanted. The amount the image is split and the way it is folded changes the overall final outcome this will need to be considered after the designs are printed. As well as this the brief requires the print to be traditionally printed so this will need to be realised. Screen printing, Letter press and hopefully wood block type will be effective print techniques. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution - CND Logo & Campaign

The CND logo is an example of the power of design for social change, designed for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament the logo has now become much more more than this and has become the universal symbol for peace/antiwar world wide, this is due to the simplistic yet brilliant nature of the design. Designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958 as a left wing anti war logo is considered one of the most recognisable logos in the world. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution -Barnbrook

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Jonathan Barnbrook is a very high esteemed designer and has clients from all around the world his practice has a really continuousness of what it does and design for 'good' is at the forefront of this. His work for the Occupy London movement is a great example of this, the movement is fairly politically and socially charged and Barnbrook took it among himself to design their logo. The design is really to the point and graphic much like the rest of Barnbrooks work, its great to see a really successful designer working for a project that may not have much funding but is a good cause. This work is another example that 'ethical' design doesn't have to be boring their is no use of green or a boring typeface, the work is impactful, current and talks directly to its target audience. Johathan Barnbrook is an interesting person to look at when it comes to ethics in design and may be useful to look further into his practice and principles as a designer. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution - Creative Concerns

Another studio with a focus of environmental and ethical design is 'Creative Concerns' based in Manchester. On their website they shown this list explaining what they do to stay eco-friendly and sustainable. 

There is an emphasis on sustainability not only in the work they produce and the kind of clients they work for but also in the way they live and practice, this shows a commitment to their ensuring the smallest environmental impact possible. 

This project above for the UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Toolkit shows that this continuousness not only is within their work but who they work for, mainly working for clients that also preach similar ideas in terms of ethics. It is great to see that a design company can be successful and keep to what they believe in.

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution - Cast Iron Design

Cast Iron Design. This studio based in Colorado specialises in eco-friendly and ethical practice. Though their work is really well informed and nice put together. 

Often with 'ethical' design there is a tendency for the work to appear boring or dry but this is really not the case, especially with a studio like Cast Iron Design.

They works always has a continuousness of the ethical, social and economic impacts, using recycled materials is just the start when it comes to Cast Iron Design. 

As explained in their 'Environmental Responsibility' section of the website they not only promote ethical design though their work but also try and tech others through 'written articles, lectures, and physical goods'.

The Eco Pocket sizes notebook is an example of a an environmental piece of design that really fits the purpose, looks great but has sustainability at the forefront. The design has been informed by the production and their is a clarity within the work about the materials used. 

Sustainability is a theme that is ever present within the work of Cast Iron Designs. Not only are the materials listed by why these are better for the environment gives the viewer/user a clarity about what they are buying. Each project they have undertaken features a sustainability section explaining the reasoning behind it. 

In this section they explain a project and the production in relation to sustainability, uncoated paper seems to be a ever present within their work, this is something to consider as before I didn't know it had less impact environmentally. They explain that the book is printed within 2 hours of the publishers headquarters- another way to cut down the environmental impact. With print and editorial design the publishers play a large part in how ethically continuous a design can be, a knowledge of the limitations of this is important. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution - Refugee Signage

A really interesting project that was shown at the Beazley designs of the year was this signage for refugees, the idea is that the signage has to be understood by many no english speakers so their is a real emphasis on clarity of the message. Use of the light green and black is an example of this clarity. 

The refugees so called 'crisis' is something that is really poignant in the media and they seem to be demonised. Possibly exploring this could be an interesting avenue to look at. 

The Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has be very active on the issue recently and could be a possible exploration.

The signage is also free to download online, another case of design being given away for free. 

The project is really well put together and is really sensitive about all the various issues that might be problematic in refugee signage. There is clearly a level of research that is vital with a project like this. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution - Just Seeds

The final political protest movement to highlight is the Justseeds website, showing a really comprehensive collection american graphic design in response to activism. The work on show is all really interesting and picks up on some relevant and important issues. 

This archive will be great for future reference to see what is out their in terms of politically charged design. 

This poster in particular caught my eye due to the clarity of the message and beautiful use of image and type. 

The recent issues in american politics is some of the most shocking for many years, this could be a possible subject to explore though there are many considerations needed to be made about the social, economic, cultural, technological problems and limitations that go with this. 

The 'Justseeds' website also gives information on some editorial work that looks at protest in art and design. 

As editorial design work is something that is becoming more and more central to my own creative practice it seems a good place to look for inspiration. 

As explained in the 'about' page the artists and designers are 'committed to social, environmental, political engagement.' - It is not that often that a collective or group of artist and designers will really explain their ethical beliefs in graphic design but the Justseeds group are really vocal about the issues they feel strongly about. 

The notion of 'downloadable graphics' is something previously explored by Grupa and is a great way of getting work out there and allowing anyone to be a part of group and push the ideas of Justseeds. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution - See Red

The 'See Red Women's Workshop' - a politically charged print movement centred around feminism. Their work looks at the sexualization of women and equal rights, their work again uses graphic imagery, a prolific use of red, hand drawn typography and an unapologetic tone of voice. 

The ideas behind the work is really clear within the delivery and it is clear the designers feel really strongly about the issues they are responding to. This is something to consider I need to find an issue I really do care about as the solutions will come more naturally. 

The 'See Red' movement has been translated into a book that had a launch at Village book store in Leeds that unfortunately I missed, but it is interesting to see that the work still has a place today and can be made into a book. This is another consideration to consider relating to the issue I select how does the response to this manifest. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution - Taring Padi

Another of the protest movements highlighted by Grupa in their manifesto is the Taring Padi movement from Indonesia. Their work again demonstrates this ultra graphic hand made approach that is so popular in protest art. The emphasis is always on making the most of the materials that the artist or designs have on offer. As well as their need to voice their opinions on an issue. Once again the uses of black and red are seen and become the bread and butter of protest art. 

OUGD505 - Design Practice 2 - Product Range Distribution - May 1968 - atelier populaire

The work of the Atelier Populaire from paris in May 1968 is all about political protest and the creation of posters and imagery associated with this. This creative Review article highlights an exhibition of the posters as well as their relevence today. A quote from the article about the posters reads - “weapons in the service of the struggle… an inseparable part of it. Their rightful place is in the centres of conflict, that is to say, in the streets and on the walls of the factories.”. 

In the interview with Johan Kugelberg they speak about the fact the artist have never been named and the works remain anonymous he explains - 'It’s not about “art” and the “artist”: it’s about ideas, self-starter activism and a do-it-yourself ethic. My hope is for this exhibition to inspire activism, especially amongst the youth. This do it yourself attitude is really interesting and is a large part of political works. The almost home made style is something that links many politicised works.

What importance do these posters played in the context of May 1968?

The media belonged to de Gaulle’s government – this was the means of communication that the students and the strikers had that they could rest assured was untainted and undoctored.

- This question from the interview is really interesting, as currently their is issues with the media and fake news these printed responses to the control of the media is a really inspiring way of doing things. Fake news and the media is another very current issue and could be interesting to explore. 

This poster translating to ' The struggle continues' is really impactful, all the works of the Atelier Populaire have a common link of being handmade and really impactful, as well as being printed in a singular colour these graphic responses seem to have really made the most of the technologies around them, this could be something to explore how technology relates to the outcomes. What technologies could be exploited today for political protest? Social Media? Does print have the same impact as it used to?