D&AD Degree Show

The end has come...

we finally had our D&AD degree show hosted at The Manchester School of Art. The work included hand-made publications and books, screen-prints, vinyl work, branding, packaging design, posters, info-graphics and even laser cut sculptured pieces. To showcase exactly what the Design & Art Direction BA Hons course was about.

Our preview evening flew past, and so did the remaining days of the exhibition - here's a little sample of some of the work...





The show's site displays more of the students work HERE

The identity for the School's Degree show was designed by D&AD Graduate Jenny Davies.

The identity for 'Design &' By D&AD graduate Adam Brandon

The Enchanted Palace

The Enchanted (Kensington) Palace has been transformed by the Cornwall based Theatre company Wildworks into a fantastical, visual adventure which is exciting, engaging and I believe pushing the boundaries of exhibition design with a new contemporary direction in an attempt to re-engage with visitors - particularity children. If I had children I'd take them, If I had grandparents I'd probably suggest they sit this one out - I saw quite a few 'elderly' visitors wandering round, looking somewhat confused and nervous.
I'd read a few reviews and was impressed by the creative handling of the project, lead by Bill Mitchell. The theme of the exhibition was discovery, as the palace went through its renovations new secrets were uncovered and the rituals and lives of its princesses are told in a unique way.



There were some introductions to the exhibition on the way in (as can be seen in the pictures.) An iron gate in the gardens hung with different keys, and a tree encased in a decorative mirrored vine that ran upwards, which I really liked. Cabinets in the entrance hall held an amalgamation of items which were left up to the visitor to interpret. My only criticism of the exhibition would be about the historical paintings on the walls of the rooms, their significance and relevance I think had been overlooked.

The rooms were transformed with ambient lighting, dancing shadows, children's whispers, tree's, footprints, filled fireplaces, and mirrors. There was one room of suspended headwear, a stairwell with a dress designed by Vivienne Westwood titled 'A dress for a rebellious princess' and a room with a dress displayed mid-flight by William Tempest. It is hung above a doorway and is formed buy hundreds of paper cranes.

The leaflet guide was aptly designed in a hand-drawn style with a scribbled buried treasure looking map on the reverse. Pages were left for children to collect information and respond to the exhibition.

I suppose it was letting your imagination run wild within the history - allowing yourself the opportunity to enter the worlds of the Princesses or more likely entering their dreams?

Inspiring nonetheless its a visual feast of inspiration, with a pinch of escapism. I think its exactly what I needed.

Doctors orders

An Apple a Day

DR.ME's opening of the 'An Apple a Day' exhibition at Common, in the Northern Quarter. "a visual exploration and dissection of the medical profession overlaid with the collectives personal theme's served in their signature satiric style." Half exhibition half interior installation, including window vinyl wraps - on until September 2010.

RE:VIEW

A second year Manchester School of Art photography exhibition at Beehive Mill, Manchester. The exhibition explored the theme of revisiting. It was interesting to see the different themes which each individual chose to 're-visit' a memory, a place, a journey - some of the themes were personal and some students had chosen to interpret another persons memory or experience. I began thinking about how the passing of time can effect a memory or experience?

D&AD Autumn Term Showcase

OK, so I know it was a while ago, but as these Jpegs overflow my screen I thought it time for a little clear-out!
It was quite daunting and exciting sumbitting work and 'putting it out there' but I'm glad I did. I submitted a four minute short film and an A2 poster for the Don't Panic 'Resistance brief'. (Yes I may have desaturated the img a little so you can see it, and it was pretty bright in dayglow pink but I was happy with it.)
I enjoyed seeing the other work around and I think The Holden Cafe is a great little venue. I hope other people related to my little short film, the audio really made the movie make sense and seeing it on those big old tellies was great!

The Erasure of Memory

The Jewish Galacia Museum

When in Poland we visited the Jewish Galacia Museum. There was an exhibition called 'Traces of Memory' which featured photographs by Chris Schwarz. I loved how this exhibition was curated, the layout the presentation and display and importantly the content. This photograph really stood out for me. The photography exhibition attempted to piece together the remains of an entire culture and religion almost wiped out. How time has passed and significant buildings, traditions and Jewish memories are slowly erased. The photograph below is a Lion of Judah it appears at the entrance of an abandoned synagogue in Poland. The painting of a lion was a symbol of the ideal that Jews should be as strong as lions. Full of meaning, irony and memory the photograph really communicated this erasure of Jewish culture. There are hundreds of disused and abandoned synagogues across Poland.

I have nothing to say and I'm saying it - Alan Fletcher preview

The Alan Fletcher exhibition preview was opened by his friend Peter Saville last Thursday, It was my first time at The Cube Gallery and I thought it was a really good exhibition space, the exhibition was nicely curated and the work was arranged well. Some of my favorite pieces I snapped below. There was such a variety of work on show and all of it was equally impressive from his letterhead and identity designs (of which Fire&Burn stood out.) to his posters and his books. I really like the V&A logo design which was developed by Fletcher.









Maria and I managed to have a little chat with Mr. Saville, it was strange that we couldn't really think of much we just wanted to see what he was like. We chatted about his work and how he moved from Music to Fashion, and how he feels really relaxed coming up to Manchester. I guess like Johhny Hardstaff he's never really had to 'apply for any jobs or prove himself, so when asking him if he had any advice for current design students he basically replied - find what you love and do it.... damm if only life was that simple.

SHOWstudio

SHOWstudio - Fashion Revolution @ Somerset House

I'd been looking forward to the SHOWstudio exhibition at Somerset house for weeks - a good friend recommended it to me. It was one of the most engaging and interactive exhibitions i'd visited. I thought that the way in which the exhibition had been curated was perfect for the type of work which was being shown. The first room you enter is Nick Knights 'Mirror Room' introducing us to the fashion world and forcing each visitor to confront their reflection. The second room really went for impact. A giant triple figure sculpture of Naomi Campbell stands from floor to ceiling - its huge. The visitor is then allowed to paint onto her body using a small screen at the bottom and a projector transforms this creation (in real time) onto the sculpture. Mine is shown here before/after.Upstairs we can see many of Knights fashion videos the first is a film of designer Alexander McQueen. 'The Bridegroom Stripped Bare' 2002 records McQueens transformation of a bride - his concentration and absorption of the act is incredible his actions of stripping, ripping, cutting and painting are filled with such certainty. It was interesting to read that this was the first ever photo-shoot to be streamed live via webcam.

The next piece which really caught my eye was the 'Picture/Message:Poser' series. Photographer David Weightman disguised hidden cameras within concave mirrors and placed these all in the front rows of the 2004 Paris fashion week. These high-profile victims caught in the act of their vanity.
'Banquet' 2004 was another experimental film project I really loved. A 23-course banquet was cooked by molecular gastronomer Heston Blumenthal. Webcams were positioned above each place-setting and the banquet (all 23 courses) was filmed.

'More Beautiful Women' 2000 was a very confronting piece. A screen about (2x3m) shows a range of beautiful models stand in front of the camera. They are asked to stand and face the camera for two-minutes. It sounds easy but after about twenty seconds the time seems to place very slowly. The models forced to face silence - with no direction, music, styling or backgrounds. Just them in their stripped-down selves.

I thought Gareth Pugh's 'Fash-off' 2006 was daring and exciting. With just a few props (mainly glitter and paint) the designer transformed his own face into many different guises from painting his face black and gilding it with gold foil to becoming a sparkling clown. The piece aimed to 'capture his perspective on sensationalism, glamour and spectacle.''Freedom of Love' 2004 featuring Brad Pitt was a beautifully thought out idea. I remember buying this edition of Vanity Fair back in 2004 because I saw Pitt on the cover and I just loved the Art Direction of the shoot. I hardly ever buy Vanity Fair and I was surprised in the exhibition when this film came on as I'd realised I already had a connection with the final images. The film is of Brad Pitt reciting Andre Bretons poem 'Freedom of Love' the film forces Pitt to face some special scenarios. Pitt was asked to copy his photograph from his passport (this was then enlarged to 3x4m) he was then asked to write over the image and throw paint onto it whilst reciting the poem. The final images are beautifully ironic. They play on the ideas of celebrity and image ad this shoot pushed Pitt to imagine how others see him.
The exhibition was fit-to-burst with so many inspiring projects that brought human nature, personality, poetry, fashion, creativity together. Nick Knight is an innovative and forward thinking fashion specialist he is so much more than just a photographer.

You're my favorite waste of time

On Saturday I ventured down to the Holden Gallery to check out the Righton Press Artists Book Fair, I've been a few times and I am always inspired by a visit. I bought this little book by artist Celia Jackson its tiny! but very cute. Sadly I couldn't afford many of the very beautiful paper sculptures which were some of my favorite types of work. Some artists that stood out were Sarah Morpeth and Phiona Richards....



http://www.sarahmorpeth.com/

http://rarenotions.co.uk/

THE MOST MISERBALE DAY EVER..yet productive

So battling all possible elements wind, rain, cold AND getting lost I finally made it to the TATE in Liverpool. I went over for the D&AD Presidents Lecture - a conversation between Creative Reviews editor Patrick Burgoyne and Michael Wolff.



After a while of wandering I found the Tate - I was much more impressed with the building opposite The Museum of Liverpool! Beautiful even in the rain. I wasn't really impressed by 'Mark Rothko's Seagram murals.' I understood the mood they imposed it was sombre and dark the canvases were the perfect size. However I didn't believe they had any particular quality to them in terms of painting.



Upstairs in the 'DLA Piper series: This is Sculpture' it was much more interesting. A vast variety of works were displayed and I will mention the ones that stood out for me. Jeff Koon's 'Three ball total equilibrium' The Tate had some videos of school children debating the pieces, this being one of them.


Is it really art? I enjoyed Dali's Autumnal cannibalism. It took me a few seconds to take in the image but I was right in there investigating the brush skills the texture of the paint on the canvas, it was compelling.

On the way down I came across this amazing building changing colour, pretty spectacular although no idea what the building was.



As part of the Liverpool Design Festival D&AD had one put on a Presidents Lecture. This conversation between Patrick and Michael was fascinating and totally inspiring. Michael began by telling us "This is not a lecture" "Don't expect answers from me, Don't expect me to be right" Because as soon as you admit you are right and believe you are right - you loose any curiosity and inquisitiveness (attributes all creative thinkers should have.)


Michael's talk was refreshing his thinking simple and radical, rational and risky. When looking for a colour he old us not to head for the pantone book - but to head to the park.

He discussed our cultures structured agreement systems. How awards constrict the Design world. Because we only end up seeing or knowing a great deal about very little. We are told what is good design and shown what that is supposed to look like. Michael quickly explained that boldness can easily transform into arrogance.

When asked how he deals with suits. The example of the policeman was used. In the case of a policeman you shouldn't deal to the uniform you should deal with the human being. As with the Marketing Director you deal with the human and not the job title. Appeal to the human when you are presenting or pitching. Explain the idea don't show it. If you cannot explain the idea using no visuals then you have a good pitch.
"You don't hire the portfolio - you hire the human" a common misconception for graduates when showing their portfolios. Michael backed this up by illustrating Graphic Design as the handle on a suitcase - It must be able to carry the message and its weight.

Angels of Anarchy

I went to go see the Angels of Anarchy exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery. I've seen an exhibition of Frida Kahlo at the Tate in London a few years ago and it was brilliant, so I'd had some previous knowledge of female surrealists. There were only one or two pieces of hers in this exhibition. The exhibition was interesting but I feel I didn't learn very much. I did like the areas the exhibition covered such as the female surrealists view of the interior. There were a few pieces I liked such as the whip made of two plaits of her own blonde hair by Mimi Parent Maîtresse. One piece really shocked me and that was Lee Millers photograph of a severed woman's breast. What shocked me most was the story about it. Lee Miller was invited to witness a mastectomy, once the operation had finished Miller asked if she could take the breast. Next, she sneaked into the Vogue house in Paris. She got into a photography studio where she quickly set up a dinner table and place setting, she snapped this before being thrown out of Vogue onto the streets....with the breast being thrown after her. I thought this was an incredible story. The photograph had only recently been recovered after the story had been told and retold someone came across the photograph and knew exactly what it was.

Exposed!

These are some interesting posters featured in the 'Exposed' Swimwear Exhibition that I visited in Sydney - just found them on my computer. Quite amazing vintage poster designs - and how swim and sports took off over in Oz, pretty good exhibition for a boat museum really.

KesselKramer EXPORTS

KK (Amsterdam and London) were flown over to Sydney to put on a poster exhibition of their adverts. 'KesselKramer Exports' was on at the Carriage works - an amazing venue, a transformed rail works warehouse which is now a listed building. There was a lecture given by two guys from KK one from the London branch and one from Amsterdam. I don't know if you've tried Googling them but they have a network of 'false' websites built to filter their clientele. If you click on the right link you will be shown some of their work....it really is like trying to find a needle in a haystack!

Their work is incredible and it was fascinating to see the work environment. Their offices have such a playful feel it really comes through in their work.

Their big clients are Diesel, Bavaria, Absolut Vodka. Their not so well-known clients include the infamous Hans Brinker budget hotel in Amsterdam and working for the City Council to produce the I AMsterdam identity.



If you look at anything look at the work they've done for Hans Brinker. The were approached because all the guests were complaining....So KK decided to lower their expectations so much through advertising that no-one complains! Genius!!