40 years of design culture...

2020 has undoubtedly been the most memorable year in a long while ...and as a design student its crucial to know about design history , culture & society - but where to start ? 

Creative Review have pulled together the most important (in its view..) of the last 40 years including MTV, the "like a girl" campaign and Fleabag. See what you would have added in or left out . Twin Peaks would be out for me - several hours of my life I won't get back. And if you haven't seen Fleabag, do. 

https://www.creativereview.co.uk/40-creative-moments-that-changed-culture/

Can you judge a book by its cover ?

Now that you've maybe got a bit more time on your hands after exams & all that, you may want to read a little; especially if you're off on holiday - & want to choose a book at the airport. But is it true that you can't judge a book by its cover ?
Have a look at this article by the BBC that looks at the most cliched book cover genres & how we're taken in by them.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5XmjRsgywfr97t4VJ2tkDyh/judging-books-by-their-covers-five-publishing-design-cliches

Colour Thesaurus

By popular demand , here is a colour thesaurus - please see the original version on the link below - thanks to Ingrid Sundberg for this. 

http://ingridsundberg.com/2014/02/04/the-color-thesaurus/

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 !

Google-doodles

Jack Beech in A2 Graphics has produced 2 mini-animations as i-dents for Google as part of his A2 work on minimalism & logo design - have a look here , great work ! 

The Design process plus CHECKLISTS -updated versions!

This next week , the AS students are continuing with the design process. Having started initial ideas & layouts , we will be looking at further experiments & media - pushing & exploring skills. The design process (as shown in the image) is a cyclical one - one "round" of creativity & experimentation should propel you to the next.

The A2 students will be concluding the Research phase & moving swiftly on to the design & create stage by the end of this week.

Click the links below to find the updated checklists - update yours in your sketchbook please !

A2 Unit 4 checklist

AS Checklist

New worksheet on how to evaluate your practical work

The bit with all the drawing .....

AS Students - you should be reaching the end of the research phase now & the design phase is beginning. 

• Revisit your brief & the research , looking at which parts you feel are strongest. 
• You need to begin to sketch out your initial ideas - see the images here to help - & don't forget to allow ideas to develop, 
• Don't be tempted to rub out a sketch as soon as you draw it - let ideas DEVELOP. Sometimes the worst sketch & idea can turn on its head ,given time & work. 
• Click on the link below to see some examples of designers' sketching for Poster design, packaging, logos, book covers etc. The videos give an look at logo design - you can see how a designer refines & develops the idea over & over again ....no rubbing out !! The films also show how the ideas are then taken to photoshop - this is the next stage . 
• REMEMBER that the design process applies to all the graphic outcomes - whether a lable for a beer bottle, a book cover or a character design.
• Start with drawing ! ....in pencil ! 

LINK :
Examples of design sketching