Malteser Challenge - the latest results !

Holidays are coming...

Coca Cola cans lovely subtle use of hidden images

The annual Malteser Challenge is taking place with Current champions Graphics group B , captained by Lewis - the strong contender from 2016.  Aiming to smash the Fine art record of 18.5 ft, Lewis ably captained his team to beat the record with an astonishing 26.4 ft in under 3 minutes. 

See the video here : Malteser Challenge 2017

This is so satisfying to watch...

https://youtu.be/me5ifeBFaFo

Pesky Bypass tray.....

Doesn't it get annoying when the bypass tray stops your prints form coming through ? Or when you want to print on tracing paper or acetate & you can't figure it out ? 

Help is at hand with these tutorials for you ...print away !

https://asfcgraphics.blogspot.co.uk/p/tutorials.html

Link : A whole bucket of KFC designers ....
KFC has unveiled a series of six new limited edition bucket designs for Christmas, created by five collectives from across the country.
The chosen creatives were given a completely blank bucket design, aside from the KFC logo, and asked to interpret the fried chicken brand’s Christmas campaign line: “roll together, feast together” in their unique style.

Paul Catherall has designed a great new print as part of a crowd funder project - but the website shows some of his design work & sketches - have a look here.

https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/13-19-november-2017/paul-catherall-designs-print-english-heritages-iron-bridge-crowdfunder/

Vote for this year's best album art ....

Vote for this year's best album art : Killers , QOTSA or Bicep ? St Etienne, Circa or Bibio ?
The choice is yours....


http://www.artvinyl.com/best-record-cover-design-competition/

yup....

Work for Monday 13th Nov

A2 graphics students - please begin to conclude all work on 2nd investigation  so far- making sure that all technical work goes in A4 sketchbook and creative work in A3. Once complete please write and evaluation (structure on A2 page as before) to be mounted on A4 sheet.

AS students- ensure that all work is complete so far - use your checklist to help the structure and order. Annotate with bullet points to show your thinking.  Once all complete , begin research on David Carson and Peter Bankov (see Pinterest board : Grunge Typography) - find and choose 10 - 12 images of their work and write your opinion using the OREO analysis . 2 x A3 pages.

A2 Textiles: continue with practical work where possible- if textile work / machines not available; either continue with drawing from primary sources, take photos from primary sources; annotate all work so far ; write an evaluation of the work.so far.
Stephen and Izzy A ; please continue to work on the Photoshop costume designs.
Neil: can you begin to draw / sketch a plan for an initial installation ? Take photos of the space and draw on top of them? Document and annotate all the experiments so far .
Cherie ; work on repeat patterns applying these to interior designs?
Sophie ; complete annotation and repeat patterns on Photoshop so far with annotation
Izzy T : begin to research another artist who uses feathers or similar for 2nd investigation.
Mariam; complete a page of 'formal elements' on the 2nd artist - if done please begin to draw / paint detail of part of the pattern work on the garment- we can take this into repeat patterns. 
Amina; complete the pages on textiles flowers - produce some using card ? Scan / photograph flowers and Photoshop these to. manipulate colour / repeat pattern ?
Atlanta ; work on all annotation so far and incomplete pages: I will email you details of a 2nd artist to look at.
Zihao; annotate all work so far , scan in mushroom drawings and manipulate / layer on Photoshop. Add these to garment templates.

Here is a great new research tool to use - search on culture, artefact, art movement ...
GOOGLE ART RESEARCH tool

DON'T FORGET TO COME TO THE TALK BY HUDDERSFIELD UNI ART DEPT TOMORROW IN A1.1 at 10AM
All welcome.

See one of graphic design's greats !

Students- a great last minute opportunity to see the iconic work by Alphonse Mucha!
http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2017/10/last-chance-to-see-alphonse-muchas-iconic-poster-designs-at-the-walker/

Spidey senses ....

Are your spidey-senses tingling ?
Try a crawl through this spider's tunnel at MOSI this half term - see the full video here.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/spiders-web-manchester-science-festival-13781089

PIG and FIG

A huge thankyou to ex-student Rheanna Sorby, owner of Pig & Fig designs who cam to talk to textile & Design students about her journey from A'level to First class honours degree at Huddersfield & now to her own commercial brand !

She gave the students so many tips on being a design students as well as setting up & running your own design business. A few of the links Rheanna mentioned are here below as well as Rheanna's own company Pig & Fig with its gorgeous designs for kitchenware. (all British made & designed! )

https://www.contrado.co.uk/students
https://www.bagsoflove.co.uk/
https://www.wgsn.com/blogs/
https://www.banana-print.co.uk/product_list.html
http://www.newdesigners.com/
Pig & Fig Designs

VISITS FOR HALF TERM:

Plan ahead!
Half term is only a week away ...here's a round up of Manchester's finest - and beyond !

Visits to help with art courses & research :
 http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/whatson/the-football-crest-index  

(THE CREST INDEX EXHIBITION IS COMPULSORY FOR ANY A2s WITH FOOTBALL AS THEIR THEME )


http://manchesterartgallery.org/exhibitions-and-events/

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-liverpool/exhibition/portraying-nation-germany-1919-1933


http://aboutmanchester.co.uk/new-exhibition-captures-mancunian-identities-through-fashion/


https://www.msimanchester.org.uk/what-was-on/nikhil-chopra
Raqib Shaw
Barbara Brown

http://www.iwm.org.uk/exhibitions/iwm-north/wyndham-lewis-life-art-war

http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/savage-ink/

PIG AND FIG !

Ex student Rheann Sorby is visiting the textiles & graphic illustration students next monday (16th Oct) to talk about her work - if you'd like to hear her, please let Helen know .
Have a look at her lovely work on her website. https://pigandfig.co.uk/

Phew...what a month !

Its been a fast month - have a look at what we've packed in so far ! 

Cracking post Grommit.

A great link to an old website - featuring a soviet propaganda poster each day. A wealth of info.

http://sovietposter.blogspot.co.uk/

Annotation angst ?

Finding annotation a struggle ? Never sure what to write - the image below is a new page on the annotation section of this blog - use it to help prompt your thinking.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE Annotation help PAGE of the blog.

Logos to save the world ..

In this world of rising costs , did you know that printing ink costs more than Chanel no 5 perfume ? This article from demilked blog shows how eco conscious designers have rejigged logos to cost less ink & save the planet . Yay !
Have a look below ....


https://www.demilked.com/ecobranding-clever-logo-design/

ASHTON SIXTH FORM - BEST RESUTS EVER !

Students and staff were celebrating this August with the best results ever for AS, A2'level & BTEC students - for a full insight into the results - follow the link below.
ASHTON SIXTH FORM - BEST RESUTS EVER !

NEW STUDENTS !

Add your FOUND typography photo !

Welcome to the blog - on here you will find all sorts of resources and information for the A'level in Graphic Design .


At enrolment you should have been directed to an assignment to carry out before lessons begin in Sept - if you didn't receive it , it's here:


http://www.asfc.ac.uk/files/Initial_Assignments_2017/Graphic_Design_Initial_Assignment.pdf




Remember that this is not a test - it's a way for you to explore the subject a little before we start & to get your brains working again after summer !


If you have any problems. please email me on Helen.Stubbs@asfc.ac.uk


See you in September , Helen

CONGRATULATIONS !

Congratulations to all art students and especially Graphics students on a set of wonderful A'level and AS level results. So many of you will have achieved the results to gain your Uni places & will be prepping now for September. If you didn't gain the A2 grades you needed & it would help to have some advice, staff are in college to help -OR email me & we can talk your options through.There are many opportunities via clearing so don't give up !

Here are the exam grade boundaries that I have taken from the Eduqas website. It's very frustrating if you were only a few marks off the next grade but please remember that there are no resits / re-marks in the Art subjects.

Best of luck if you are off to Uni - can all A2 students please remember to collect sketchbooks by emailing Dan Riley on dpr@asfc.ac.uk AFTER the start of Sept. Best of luck too if you are looking for an apprenticeship - let us know if we can help. AS students - hope your summer work is coming along well - see you in Sept !

FREE Workshop for Art students

Yes,I know we've only just finished for summer but here is a date for Autumn - the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield (That's Yorkshire..) are offering FREE masterclass workshops for students run by the gallery artists and helped by Leeds College of Art students.
This would be hugely valuable to any art student - book a place now for the Oct or Feb half term event. Please bear in mind that if you book and then cancel, you will be charged.
The link is below :

Masterclasses for A2 students Portfolios FREE !!

 "Are you a student interested in developing your art and design skills outside of school? Sign up and take part in a practical workshop delivered by The Hepworth Wakefield aritsts in partnership with Leeds College of Art."

Tameside Radio visit

Have a look at the video here where our principal Anton McGrath is interviewed for Tameside Radio - some great artwork too !

Tameside Radio at ASFC video
See the post it note art at https://twitter.com/graphicsasfc

Mossley Hollins Taster Day

Year 10s from Mossley Hollins visited us today & produced some great work in under an hour ! Using the words of that great Graphic designer Saul Bass, they produced scaled up images of his face & quote - using half tones collages. Have a look at the film here ...


Mossley Hollins High School & Graphic design - a film !

Sorry not sorry for....

Have a look at this great campaign for the BBC which "aims to explore the personal identities and “uniqueness” of young people, and enable young viewers to feel comfortable in themselves"


https://www.designweek.co.uk/inspiration/sorry-not-sorry-campaign-bbc-creative-mother-design/

2017 ...where did that go ?!

Phew - that year went fast ! Thanks so much for all your hard work & brilliance this college year - you have been amazing , again. Just to remind you, here's a quick look back at the year ...

Art Exhibition 3rd July 5-7pm

Art dept exhibition coming soon - sneak preview here...
Monday 5-7pm - all welcome !  https://quik.gopro.com/v/CCd8okrhLE/

Ideas for Independent Visits this summer :

Ideas for Independent Visits this summer :


People's History Musuem This is a great museum - especially if you are looing at the protest & propaganda question. There are many interactive exhibits & its free !



Wyndham Lewis at the Imperial War Musuem North - the father of Vorticism , this is a huge retrospective of his work which would be relevant to graphics , textiles, fine art & 3D design.



True Faith at Manchester Gallery is an exhibition charting the Band New Order (Joy Division) & the wealth of visual art that their music inspired... featuring work by John Baldessari, Barbara Kruger, Lawrence Weiner, Jonathan Demme, Robert Longo, Raf Simons and Kathryn Bigelow.




Raqib Shaw at the Whitworth

Shaw’s opulent paintings of fantastical worlds are combined with historic textiles, furniture and drawings from the Whitworth collection. The exhibition takes the form of an installation, drawing on influences of renaissance and baroque imagery, combined with theatrical extravagance, nature and poetry, to echo the mythic space Shaw creates in his paintings.

A great inspiration for Textiles, graphic & fine art.

John Rylands Library  This has an exhibition which looks at ordinary objects (shoes, bags, a school tie from Westhill, scissors..) & looks at how they can become sentimental in our lives...

Art dept on tour ! Huddersfield ...

Many thanks to Huddersfield Uni Art & Design Department for the workshop on Thursday, loved it .

Follow the work of Huddersfield Graphic Design & Animation department on http://www.hudgda.co.uk/ 

MMU visit June 21st

Please follow this link to the MMU map & details.

Meet at 10am


MMU VISIT 21st June 2017 LINK HERE

Study leave task

Don't forget to bring your ideas & pieces to the lesson on Friday ...

Please see the page https://asfcgraphics.blogspot.co.uk/p/a2-summer-2017.html to find the Artists films. 


VISITS THIS WEEK : 

Please meet outside reception on Thurs at 9.45 for the UCLAN (Preston Trip) - you will need to bring a camera / phone with you & you may need a small notebook . You will need to bring money for lunch OR lunch & refreshments. Please bring your REPLY SLIP , 
Helen 

Hello !

Hello, it's almost time to welcome you back to college & to start lessons again ...please note that MONDAY's GRAPHICS LESSON will be in room 2.8 in the main building - all you will need is yourself & a pen .


There are lots of Trips & Visits over the next few weeks & we would like you to start signing up for these . Your subject teachers will explain more about the visits but please make sure that all graphics students sign up for :


1. Visit to UCLAN (Preston) on Thurs 15th June (yes that's next week !) .
The sign up sheet is outside A1.1. Limited places.


2. Visit to MMU Degree Shows & Whitworth Art Gallery on Weds 21st June .
THIS IS COMPULSORY


3. Visit to HUDDERSFIELD UNI on Thurs 22nd June .
The sign up sheet is outside A1.1. Limited places.


3D are also running a compulsory visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park on June 23rd . See James for details.


See you on Monday (Group G) & Tues (Group B) .

SAVE THE DATE !!

Year 12s - hope the exams are going well & you are able to enjoy the sunshine. Its very quiet here without you all but we're looking forward to seeing you again on June 12th.

Please note : June 12th lesson will be in a different room as the examiners are in Graphics that day . Look out for a notice on the classroom door.

VISITS COMING UP IN JUNE : 

June 15th : FREE ! Visit to the Art dept at UCLAN - we will be visiting the Graphics, Games Design , Fashion promotion & photography departments. The Coach will leave at 10am & be back by 4pm approx. There will be a sign up sheet in Art on June 12th but please save the date .

June 21st : Visit to MMU degree art shows & departments - this is a COMPULSORY visit & you will all be expected to attend - please note the date . 

Meanwhile, if you need to talk to anyone about anything big or small - or simply need a quiet space to be - pop in & see us any time. Stay safe, Helen x

A2s / Year 13s ? Looking for an Apprenticeship - try these !

Please check with college & staff for release dates - also ask for help with Portfolios ! Good luck !




Apprenticeship at Design Company - Admin assistant




Social Media Apprenticeship


Graphics & Webs design Apprenticeship

The first lot of A2 exams are over & there has been some amazing work produced already - Good Luck to those starting their Art exam on Monday - please try to start making notes on your evaluation before the end of the exam to save time on the Thurs. The link to the structure is on the A2 page. Have a lovely sunny weekend everyone !  

It's the last day of teaching for AS & the last day of prep for A2s before the Art exams begin on May 2nd. We wish you the very best of luck with your exams - it's been a privilege to teach you.
Please remember that the deadline for all A2 sketchbooks is 3.45 today (Friday 28th) & for evaluations for AS too.

Some great work produced in last week of term !  https://quik.gopro.com/v/8an5wEf4Tb/

Opportunity !

Student freelancer wanted - click the link here to find out more...must be Cheshire based.

http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/student-designer-for-art-map-for-public-art-exhibition/

EASTER WORKSHOPS :

AS Workshop for Graphics : April 4th TUESDAY 9.30 start 
A2 Workshop for Graphics : April 5th WEDNESDAY 9.30 start 

Please sign in at reception & bring money for / or lunch / refreshments. 

Sketchbook annotation

Remember to make sure that your annotation uses HIGHER ORDER statement & thinking - (use the sheet you were given or have a look on the blog ..) . Use the prompts above to help annotate your designs & images. 

Create your own typeface !

A quick & creative way to create your own design of font - from digital or hand rendered method - register free at the website below & download the template - digitally or print a hard copy.

Add your own character in your font to each box & upload - then "build" your font & upload for use on photoshop, Word etc.


https://www.calligraphr.com/

Library opening times during easter holidays

Take a look at @asfclibrary's Tweet: https://twitter.com/asfclibrary/status/846644821783724032?s=09

The difference between art & design ...?

IMPORTANT DATES

A2 dates :

By Monday 27th March : complete all Research work as well as ensuring that evaluations are done & the Learner statement is updated with Higher Order statements 

Monday 27th - 31st March : Design ideas developed ; primary sources identified 

EASTER : 
Workshop April 5th for invited students

During Easter , developments & sketchbook work 

Tues 18th April : 

5 hour mock in lessons & extra time 

April 24th : Final prep 

April 28th : Sketchbooks in 

May 2nd : exams start 


AS dates :

By Monday 27th March : complete all artists' research work as well as ensuring that evaluations are done & the Learner statement is updated with Higher Order statements 

Monday 27th - 31st March : Mock ups begun 

EASTER : 
Workshop April 4th for invited students

During Easter , developments & sketchbook work 

Tues 18th April : 

8 hour exam in lessons & extra time 

April 24th : contd 

April 26th : Final pieces & Sketchbooks in 

April 28th : Evaluations & Learner statements in : any final product shots 

Students in A2 have been feeling retro this week with Josh & Alex producing a series of film posters , looking back at Saul Bass & Pulp Fiction Book cover designs.  These are part of their development work towards their exam Unit.

GRAPHIC HACK winner !

GRAPHIC HACK WINNER :

To save time mounting work, add a black border to text / images before printing them out .

If you are running out of paper to mount on , cut out paper to the size you need for the image & then cut out the middle of the paper – use this section to mount something else on .

Thanks to Michelle Lyons 

When using a brush tool on Photoshop, clicking the Square Bracket will enlarge the brush size. Clicking the opposite bracket will toggle & reduce the size. Try it ! 
Thanks to Dan Bertenshaw for this tip. 

How typography failed at the Oscars ..

Why typography matters !

This great article explains why typography matters & how it failed at the Oscars ...

The Art Department staff in their splendour for World Book Day

(The Mad Hatter, Lewis Carol, THe Cheshire Cat#1, The Cheshire Cat #2, The Red Queen & The White Rabbit.

The Sketched world

"Even in this highly digitized world, the stereotype of an artist always carrying a sketchbook around is still very much alive. And then there are creatives who take the doodles in their journal to the next level, making their sketchbooks into handheld art exhibitions.

Most of the creative types would tell you that their journals are way more personal that the finished result one sees in the exhibitions. See, a sketchbook for an artist is like a visual diary of sorts, where they get to freely express themselves. Or simply document the things that inspire them throughout the day.
If you get to take a look at such a sketchbook, it can be like taking an afternoon trip to an art gallery and soaking in all that the art has to offer – creativity, roughness, inspiration and raw feeling – all within the parameters of a small journal. Take a look at some of the most impressive examples of an artist’s sketchbook in the link below."

https://www.demilked.com/artist-sketchboooks-mini-art-galleries/

Congratulations !

Congratulations to Michelle Lyons & Amy Winson who won a prestigious Graphic Design competition last week.

The competition was to redesign the logo & branding for the International Opticians' Association Michelle  won with her eye / globe design and Amy Winson was runner up with her quatrefoil design.

Both girls won a cash prize as well as a logo design book and are going on to study a Graphic Design degree at University.
Elaine from the organisation presented them with their prizes at college on Friday.

The definitive Football logo book is on its way ...

The Football Crest Index  Link here to full article

Some some bright spark realised that there isn't yet a definitive index & guide to all the creast & logos for our Footballing nation . Over to Kickstarter where a campaign has successfully funded the Football Crest Index . The book will feature a history & visual index to how all 47 clubs who have graced the Premiership have evolved & grown their identities over its years .
Watch this space !

The Poster arriving soon will be ....

So the sequel to Trainspotting is here along with great expectations to meet with the iconic poster from 1996. If you're not familiar with the poster - it's a classic. It shouldn't work - as it breaks all design rules (No one focal point, landscape format, no one star..)   

The link here has asome great insights into how the poster was designed & some of the "also-rans" in the design process. Have a read ..
How the Trainspotting Poster came about ...

United against dementia

Alzheimers society have revealed their new Logo & branding for the charity to stop the disease being viewed as an Older person's condition. Have a look at the re-brand here:


https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/23-29-january-2017/alzheimers-society-rebrands-stop-dementia-being-seen-older-persons-disease/

CONCLUSIONS A2

DEAR A2 students - please note the change to the conclusions format - please PRINT THESE OUT using DOUBLE WORD SPACE & hand in to Helen by WEDS. DO not email these as previously instructed. If you have already emailed, there is no need to re-print.

A2 s...Feeling exhausted ? Don't worry - nearly there !

Deadlines ? Revision for Mocks ? Stressed ? Try watching this - might make you smile !

Sketch with a star ..!

After Hours in the LOWRY Galleries Sat  7 January, 5pm-7.30pm - FREE Sketching with Phill Jupitus, 5pm-6pm - Phill will be sketching on his iPad in the Galleries, inspired by the LS Lowry collection and you're welcome to join him! Please bring your own tablet (you'll need to download the Paper by FiftyThree app).