Cover Art Case Study

A nice little case study on the progression of a videogame box design from concept to final artwork.

http://www.l4d.com/blog/post.php?id=2353

Promotional Items

Looking for exciting self-promo stuff? Try http://uk.moo.com/en/ for business cards, mini business cards, and STICKERS, available on standard or recycled stock. Prices are good, and you can have a different image on each and every card.

There's also http://www.shineboxprint.com which does cool little business card booklets, but is more expensive than moo.com

Mike

Beautiful, disposable paperware. 3D/product design .

http://www.shift.jp.org/en/archives/2009/04/wasara.html

Intestinal album artwork.

Some inspiration for becoming Edgar ;)

http://www.jonasval.com/projects/future/index.html

Now Showing

Just flicking through some of the old Monograph's from Creative Review and was reminded how good the 'Now Showing' posters are. Wonderful retro redesigns from leading designers.

www.flickr.com/photos/keepsmesane/sets/72157601618281265

Zip Up Tangles

www.yankodesign.com/2009/04/22/zip-up-tangles

Yanko Design

Yanko Design is a web magazine dedicated to introducing the best modern international design - from industrial design, concepts, technology, interior design, architecture, exhibition and fashion. It’s about the cutting edge and the classic, the new and the rediscovered. It’s all about the best. www.yankodesign.com

If you recall the Letterpress cover of Janurary's Creative Review at a letterpress workshop in São Paulo - Coolhunting has made a very nice film at the same workshop, interviewing the guys who printed the original cover artwork

www.creativereview.co.uk/crblog/grafica-fidalga-on-film

Jarvis does Nike

Illustrator James Jarvis and Shynola director Richard Kenworthy have collaborated on a lovely new film for Nike. Oh, and you can see Jarvis talk at our Portfolios event.

www.creativereview.co.uk/crblog/jarvis-and-kenworthy-go-onwards-for-nike

Ten Graphic Design Paradoxes

06: Ideas usually fail not because they're bad ideas, but because they're badly presented. The ability to present an idea is as important as the idea itself. The single most important thing we need to remember when presenting work to clients is that they are terrified at the prospect of what we are going to show them. For clients, commissioning design is like going into a furniture showroom to buy a sofa and being told by the salesperson, “Sure, I can sell you a sofa. But I can’t show it to you.” Who ever spent money on something they couldn’t see? Yet this is precisely what we ask our clients to do when they commission us.

For the rest of the article, head on over to -

www.designobserver.com/archives/entry.html?id=39207#more

Create your own books!

Blurb.com is a great lil resource for all who'd like to create professional books/portfolios. They have a wide range of book templates and pricing is based on page count/quality. Download their easy to use software, populate it with your work (you have creative freedom) and submit. They'll print and post to your door! Perfect for 2nd yr student portfolios or any other projects you'd like to compile into a book :)

http://www.blurb.com/

Brian Dettmer

Just discovered this artist while assessing Kat James' work. Absolutely stunning! http://centripetalnotion.com/2007/09/13/13:26:26

Alexandra Lange: Standard Operating Procedure

Interesting Architecture article about the High Rise buildings wover at Design Observer. www.designobserver.com/archives/entry.html?id=39047#more

I Can Read Movies

Check out these beauties in the latest Creative Review.

http://spacesick.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-can-read-movies-series.html

Terminator Salvation - Animated Poster

Some may have seen this one doing the rounds at cinemas. If you can manage to link to the animated version - great example of both strong art direction and marketing. Expect to see more of these animated posters for most marketing campaigns from now on.

www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/terminator-salvation-gets-a-fiery-new-animated-poster.php

Tim Burton's Alice

Okay, so the link is in French - but some first glimpses of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland have appeared online to wet your appetite.

www.badtaste.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7064&Itemid=91

Iron Fists

I'm currently writing an essay about how the public relations industry and mass consumerism is used to influence propaganda and public opinion through advertising and design.

My source material dates back to the early 1920's when Freud's nephew, Edward Bernays coined the term 'public relations' and created techniques for business that would subconsciously influence public desire.

I am reading Steven Heller's 'Iron Fists : branding of the 20th century totalitarian state' as Bernays's methods somewhat resemble powers of suggestion used by Hitler, government officials such as Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan; not to mention the more recent political campaign of President Obama.

If anyone has any source information (books, articles, documentaries, blogs) they think would be benficial then please let me know, especially in the area of Barack Obamas campaign strategies.

I have a quote from Hellers book that I would like people to pass comment on. Do you agree or disagree and why?

"Modern totalitarian states market themselves both to reinforce their power over a captive populace obliged to consume the dominant ideology and to extend the reach of that ideology to the hold-outs, the not yet captive, and the next generation. Corporate branding, on the other hand, is ostensibly a benign practice, intended to convince consumers to make informed choices."

Please visit my blog to leave comments...
http://jenniebennett.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Local Networking

I may or may not have mentioned this before but there's a couple of Nottingham based collectives for those who make things and have lots of work to sell, or for those who just want to meet people within industry...


The Nottingham Craft Mafia, founded by a friend of mine, is a membership based scheme that puts on exhibitions and events to showcase members work. They also have their own shop next to the Malt Cross.
http://www.nottinghamcraftmafia.com

Glug is a networking evening held at Brownes.
http://www.glugnottingham.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=32757050241&ref=ts for those that use MyFace and such things.

Contakt

For those of you into music and visuals you need to check this out...

The Contakt Tour from Richie Hawtin's minimal/techno label M_nus is the perfect example of music visuals! He and his VJ use iChat throughout the gig to keep in constant communication... The result is one awesome show!!! (If you're into this sort of thing).

The video has a really long intro but just watch how the M_nus logo gradually forms on the screen before Hawtin drops the base... Slick!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzldwkC88tc

Emma Hanquist

Beautiful mixed media illustration from Swedish designer Emma Hanquist - 

Browse her portfolio at  HTTP://WWW.emmahan.com/ - a really nice site too. Great work.

JS3D

Superb animation for the web over at http://www.js3d.co.uk

The Rainbow Monkey

Whitty use of 3D models. http://www.therainbowmonkey.com

Latest Images

http://www.flickr.com/photos/depressionpress/2568879256/in/photostream
Some fantastic images over at this Flickr page, courtesy of http://www.designobserver.com

Art vs. Design. Your opinion counts!

This is for 1st years, 2nd years, lecturers and anyone else who has an opinion.

I would like to ask you all to take a few minutes to leave your opinions on how closely linked you believe Fine Art (2D) and Graphic Design are. This could include your own personal definition of the two disiplines, how artists and designers differ and relate, and any examples you've found of design that you would consider art and vice versus.

Through my research I have found that the communication aspects play a huge part in defining the differences between art and design but in todays world is there a clear line between the two? As you think about it more you will probably feel alot stronger about this subject than you expected.

Thank you for your time and a strong reponse should really strengthen my essay.

Natalie, year 2, HND Graphics

Kerry Saretsky: The Curious Case of the Better Adaptation

Some background on the origins of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The use of image and typography on the current movie's poster is a beautiful use of symmetry. Note the use of the word 'Life' reflected to create what is initially seen as an elaborate swirl that holds the title. Genius.

Read the article here - www.designobserver.com/archives/entry.html?id=38890