As conference week nine approaches...the storm clouds of creativity are brewing and we are all anticipating a deluge of advice & ideas, and a precipitation of inspiration...that will converge and culminate in a perfect storm in Preston this coming week.
The week after is expected to be dull in comparison.
Congratulations to Year 2 Graphics student Tom Culton who has just won an industry led competition set by Bulletproof Design - London. The brief was titled ‘Fresh Meat’ and students were asked to think outside the box and break away from the expected rules of branding.
There were 3 parts of a cow representing the brand name, product and format. The students were asked to pick one card for each from lists of options to create a brand identity and a piece of packaging.
Tom got brand name ‘Hustle’, the product being underwear, in a foil bag format.
The proposition was ‘a brand that doesn’t try too hard to be sexy and is instead fun, cheeky and loud - relating to the ‘hustle’ name, celebrating diversity in body image’.
There are 6 styles of underwear in the Hustle range. They have cheeky typographical personalities with a nod to the type of underwear (ie. The ‘H’ resembles boxer shorts) which spell out Hustle when displayed in the shop.
His winning entry has won him a 2-week placement at Bulletproof in London.
Last week, Year 1 Graphics student Max Greer headed to Amsterdam. Amongst the many pleasures the city has to offer, Max visited one of my favourite places in the world - the Stedelijk Museum - which houses vast collections of the world’s best art and design. He kindly took the time out to write us the following blog. Thanks Max!
A city of Tulips and Type
The Stedelijk Museum is an architectural spectacle located in the heart of the museum district in Amsterdam. It features modern artists and graphic designers of the highest level, both up-and-coming and giants of the industry. I was fortunate enough to visit it and see the art for myself and there was one exhibition that stood out. Wim Crouwel (1928-2019), was a Dutch graphic designer and typographer whose practice was that of a master level. There was a whole section dedicated to his work, which featured original posters, catalogues, designs and in-depth videos on all aspects of his career. In the images you can see the way he created his font ‘New Alphabet’ using grids and carefully measuring each piece of type to perfection. Though these images don’t justify the sheer wonder of his work. To all graphic designers, typographers and type designers this a must visit, you shall not be disappointed and will leave inspired!
If you’re in Amsterdam and you’d like to check the exhibition out, all the information is here.
This year is our 9th annual Conference Week and we have just secured the full line up for the week, so we thought it timely to give you all a little insight into all the speakers that we will be welcoming into our studios between Monday 10th & Friday 14th February . We have 24 professional designers, copywriters, advertisers, Illustrators, artist and all round creative doyens presenting to our undergraduate cohort and we all look forward to the creative high this will surely produce!
Please click on the links highlighted in red below each image for more information.
John Rushworth - Partner - Pentagram London
Jill Calder - Illustrator & calligrapher
Alex Creamer - Design Director - Interbrand Australia
Interbrand – Australia (talk via Skype)
Abi Meats - Co founder - Rude London
Garry Blackburn & Simon Elliott - Founders of Rose Design - London
Mark Denton - Creative Boss - Coy Communications - London
Coy Communications – London
Donna Payne - Creative Director - Faber & Faber
Sam Lachlan & Dan Bowstead - Design Director & Senior Designer - Pearlfisher - London
Sara Ogilvie - Illustrator & Educator
Gary Westlake & Steve Bewick - Founders of Purple Creative - London
Jessie Froggett & Matt Lurcock - Turner Duckworth - London
Turner Duckworth – London
Kate Pankhurst - Illustrator
Kate Pankhurst – Leeds
Simon Sinclair - Creative Director, Copy writer & Brand Strategist
Raving Adman – Cheshire
Mike Rigby - Global head of Brand - RGA NY
R/GA - New York and Mike Rigby via Zoom
Nick Richie & Hazel Willey - UX&D Designers - BBC
BBC UX&D – Salford
Simon Higby - Creative Partner NORD DDB - Sweden
NORD DDB – Sweden
Tom Granger - Author - Illustrator & Designer
Draw Breath – Manchester
The Rev Jackson Whitehead - Chaplin & Typographic illustrator
This years ticket designs - “cheap to those who can afford them..very expensive to those that can’t”
Welcome to Type & Grids. These three videos will make sure you are primed to begin the editorial project and design of typography magazine, Forefront.
The Traditional Group Photograph
A great showing this year at the 4th Annual Christmas Graphic grads get together at The Ferret, Preston! There was was much festive cheer in the room, a lot of old friends catching up, lashings of banter & gossip, and some giddiness thrown in.
Gareth enjoys an early Christmas dinner
Happy Christmas to one and all and we hope everyone has a good 2020!
Rescued from the library skip by Andy, this fantastic book demonstrates an incredible range of typography. Resetting the type digitally would be a joy, perhaps an idea for a workshop or two. Enjoy.
Knowledge and courage are required to achieve the best results in typography … Fine typography is the result of nothing more than an attitude. Its appeal comes from the understanding used in its planning; the designer must care.
Advice to be heeded:
Evaluate your elements. Eliminate everything that isn’t absolutely necessary. Simplify, simplify, simplify.
The graphic design first years have finished their semester and their final project was the packaging brief. The premise is a simple one: take a low value item and repackage it in order to be sold for a higher price. This can be achieved through three-dimensional design, surface graphics or a combination of both.
The tutors have never run this project so early before, but the final outcomes assuaged any initial fears. It was especially pleasing to see some students consider craft and materials (stocks and printing techniques), and also engage with the technicians thereby bringing another dimension to the brief with the addition of techniques such as laser-cutting and embossing.
Here we feature a great placement review by Holly McNicholas who has just finished here placement at Glorious Creative. You can read her full post here.
Here we feature a selection of lovely ornate door knockers that were all photographed in Robin Hood’s Bay back in 2013. Interesting to note that most follow a nautical theme reflecting the villages long history with the sea, also if you have new been it’s well worth a visit!
The Disciples Of Design are a global collective of design academics, practitioners, artists and students. We have one common thread – University of Lancashire in Preston, UK; and one common aim – the creation of an ever evolving visual hub for the sharing of ideas and thoughts.
