Mathew Wood Updated Post: Subverted Stationary

With designers seemingly conditioned by traditions when it comes to formal stationary, I propose to challenge the traditional form and notions for such occasions as christenings, birthdays, weddings, divorce and death to reflect today’s urban values.

Should birthday cards for boys still be represented as blue with a football, when the increase in childhood obesity has meant a lack of interest in sports participation and when the modern day celebrity icons of young boys openly portray their metrosexuality? Why do wedding invitations have to be represented as pure and white when the ideal of holy matrimony itself is being challenged by more contemporary relationships such as cybersex, dogging and swinging?

I aim to subvert the meaning of a whole host of formal stationary, and create the ultimate collection to represent contemporary
socitey.

Key Points:

1. Graphics designers seemingly conditioned by traditions

2. Challenging the form, use and tradition of a whole range of
formal stationary

3. Looking at occassions: Christening, birthdays, weddings,divorce & death

4. Subvert the meaning of a greeting in order to test the boundaries of conventinonal imagery and introduce irony into the commercial domain.

Anna Rhodes

Bullet Points for Thursday:

• Begin by talking about my dissertation 'The Appropriation of 'Vintage' on Second Hand Clothes by The Fashion Industry'. Talk about the importance of Nostalgia in a post-modern world and the pros and cons of the current trend of it's use within design.
• Explain that I will manifest this concept in a fully working, scaled up, adult sized children's coin operated ride. It will take the form of a giraffe, (see below) and I will talk about the reasons for this.
• This project will bring together a whole manner of skills in terms of art direction, which I hope to pursue after leaving Chelsea.
  
• On the 21st Feb I spoke to Patrick Lamb of Severn Lamb UK manufacturers who have agreed to make the ride for me. I will be involved with every step of the manufacturing process, making every decision, but will employ a project manager.
• To accompany the ride I will keep and design a Log Book showing every step of the decision and manufacturing process.

Main aims for my project: "Getting famous in 12 weeks!"

My aim for this project is to

-Explore the potential of print and media to become famous without there being a particular reason why. This seems to be easy these days to be famous for nothing.

-I will use various methods to attempt to do this – I have not set boundaries.

To date
-Professional photographs being organised
-Harrods are interested in allowing me to use a shop window
-House of Fraser have agreed to give me a space in the store for promotion

This is my chance to
-Get an insight into ways of getting noticed within the industry
-test the media – see what companies are willing to help
-enter the world of PR
-push my own limits of creativity and test my own skills.

Events to be confirmed
- appearing on t.v
- poster campaign
-newspaper print / press

Main Points to Make - Joanne

I’m interested in the current gap in contemporary Fashion media. There is a lot of potential in using the technology available today to further the way the public interacts with Fashion and also the way that its media is produced.

Fashion media hasn’t progressed alongside other disciplines and is still very much dependent upon the traditional static photographic format. This project will endeavour to show that the way that Fashion is advertised can really benefit from the advantages a digital moving image and interactive platform has over print.

SHOWstudio has been my main focus/ motivation as they are one of the only collectives to really innovate and produce genuinely exciting work that pushes the boundaries of what fashion media is and how it is produced. Also, how this is a potential solution to their problem of not generating any profit. References shown: Thirty Men- Live Sittings and Synaesthesia Interactive.


That this project continues on from the research I’ve conducted for the Fashion in Film Festival and thesis that discusses the cultural production of Fashion- mainly Fashion’s adoption of the language of the Art world (both visually and literally). How this partnership generates artistic and intellectual capital that demands that Fashion be seen and discussed in the same way as Art and how this project seeks to provide a format for advertising that will build upon that.

That the boundaries will come from working with a client instead of measuring up to competitors, as there isn’t really anything similar at the moment.

Joanna Zhou - Gashapon Icons

Summary:

• Introduce ‘gashapon machines’ into UK vocabulary and culture.

• Highlight the increasing influence of Japanese culture in western countries and the novelty or alienation it entails.

• Outline the functionality of gashapon machines (collectable item sets for children and adults).

• Explore the notion of collecting objects in order to create a sense of purpose and belonging.

• Design and make sets of gashapon which reinforce personal identity within cultural (or graphic?) contexts.

My FMP is based upon the gashapon machine. These Japanese vending machines have suddenly emerged in many European cities within the past few years, creating a highly visible icon of global culture. In Japan, gashapon machines enjoy a cult status because they dispense collectable sets of toys or novelty items which are extremely popular with all age groups (not just children). My aim is to explore the human obsession for collecting things and how this creates a sense of purpose and identity.

The location, content and functionality of a gashapon machine make these urges particularly acute, thus I plan to place several in the degree show to tempt visitors into collecting a slice (or more) of Chelsea! The exact contents are yet to be decided though I'm leaning towards themes of culture and/or graphics. In Japan, gashapon machines always contain things relevant to their environment (machines in a red-light district will actually dispense vibrators and thongs), so it seems appropriate, albeit slightly obvious, to link one in a degree show with design.

Current progress: I'm working together with a UK based company Tokyotoys to get hold of gashapon machines, modified for pound coins. Tokyotoys import a lot of japanese merchandise (including gashapon) and can provide all the balls I need for free. They're also willing to buy the machines from me afterwards to use at trade shows. I'm also sourcing factories in China that may be able to produce the items needed inside the balls.

Kimberley Vousden

Bullet Points for Thursday

- Begin stating my passion for tactile print in evermore digitized environment

- Explain that I want to hold an exhibition posing the question of the relevance/richness of tactile print in contrast with our evermore digitized environment.

-This exhibition will be held at the St Bride Institute, it's own plight of renovation or closure suggesting a general feel that analogue print processes have little to offer contemporary design.

- Spoke with Nigel Roche on Tuesday 20Th Feb, eager for me to be fully involved with committee; interested in incorporating American Branch of the "Friends of St Bride's" to provoke interest.

- Designers/enthusiasts will be approached to submit work/statements that best portray this and why they think the library is a valuable resource; They will be asked to offer work (perhaps inspired or researched using the libraries resources) and editorial that reflect their passion for analogue print. People such as: Alan Kitching, Derek Birdsall etc

- Promotional Material to be designed and 'printed' by myself for the event. Proceeds given to the libraries £7 million pound renovation project. Further promotions i.e newspapers, radio stations etc will be needed to generate interest. Separate online website is a possibility. Special blog site set up posing the question, 'Is the St Bride Library and what it stand for still relevant today?'

St Bride Library (Pre-Renovation)
AIGA Walker Art Center Brochure (Below)

P*nk you! (Mary Bogatcheva)

As the direction of my portfolio and of my future pathway is print based, I would like to base my FMP on a topic that would allow me to do so. By winding up / ‘punking’ people (of all ages) whether it is on the phone, in person, by mail/email, etc people’s reactions may show the fundamental attitude of our modern day society.

14 weeks is a long time, and I think I will enjoy the challenge of going out and getting some funny/interesting/bizarre/cringing footage. The research that I will collect will play an important part in the final outcome(s) of perhaps partly illustrational/type/photography/image manipulation that I am interested in, want to work with and enjoy.

Aleister Kelman: Intimate Apparel

• My project will require that I engross myself in the psyche of the female consumer and that I engage totally with their considerations, wants and needs

• I will be designing, from scratch, the look and feel of a lingerie designer including identity, photography, look book and online interface

• Working closely with my client I am looking to create a new graphic that is mindful of obvious points of reference such as Agent Provocateur and avoids stereotypes, in terms of male gaze, domination et al.

• In terms of the intimate apparel market my client stands at the high/luxury end owing to the bespoke, limited edition nature of her work (and this exclusive hand made aspect in turn informs the price accordingly)

• To sum up the rationale behind her spring/summer 07 range, it is very much rich tones on tones, hourglass silhouettes emphasizing bust/hips, and absolute comfort for the wearer.

• Throughout I will be working and coordinating with photographers, venues, make-up artists, hair stylists and models as well as communicating with marketing and press professionals.
  

Anna Rhodes

I have always been interested in things from the past - things I can remember and things that came before me. I recently wrote my dissertation around the current trend for vintage and second hand clothes entitled, 'The Appropriation of 'Vintage' on Second Hand Clothes by the Fashion Industry'. It was about the way in which the media took the age old idea of wearing second hand and vintage clothes - be it for quality or individuality, and bastardised and democratised the concept as a trend, thus changing the meaning.

Nostalgia, in our post-modern society plays a huge role. We are seduced by the idea of a mythological age that seemed less complicated, more safe and more charming.

Unfortunately, designers have come to rely on images and styles of the past to make their designs seem more warming to the client. I have seen evidence of designers who dress modern design in old clothes, a warm layer of nostalgia, as a way to make things seem comforting, whether the product/magazine/design is suited to the style or not.

I have manifested this idea into a project which will result in an adult sized childrens coin operated ride. This scaled up, bizarre object will be fully working. Around 7ft in height it will give the rider the same experience an original ride gives small children, an experience i'm sure most people have had in their childhood. The ride will be in the shape of a giraffe. (below)

Accompanying it will be a log book documenting the decision making process, and recording every step of the way - e.g. why i made it a giraffe, why a ride etc. It will be a celebratory and obsurd object that i feel will look great as a 3D object in the show.

Graphics will be available to look at tomorrow.

Anna

Tara Hughes Schadenfreude/Guilty pleasures

Ok a clarified version of my extended blog;
Outcomes surrounding the theme of Schadenfreude (pleasure in the misfortunes of others) and it's analogy within the term 'guilty pleasure'.

1. A victorian styled zoetrope (early moving image device)
- To human scale - for a heightened sense of relation and to be positioned in locations across the city inviting public participation in spinning the piece to reveal a celeb scandal.
- Questions temptation and media influence in encouraging us to delight in the downfall of high-profiled figures. Also highlights the shift from the machine used as traditional, family entertainment to how we get our thrills in contemporary society i.e. trashy mags, and reality tv.
- One zoetrope would be constructed with several monochrome graphic strips of scandelous/salacious events to be inserted.
- Overall motive could be to bring the tabooed emotion into the light and create a public platform for people to celebrate an accepted, natural feeling rather than a guilty pleasure.

2. Same outcome of a zoetrope but instead playing on the idea of the emotion being perceived as private and guilty so the piece would be a detailed miniature.
- portable, perhaps collapsable device so one could sneekingly lift their spirits, boost an ego, or gain a laugh.
- Sized for hand-bag, pocket, office desk drawer etc
- collectable strips of humiliating events to be inserted into main piece.

3. Photographic collection of Schadenfreudian reactions
- Smirks, smugness, giggles, subtle physical manifestations we all feel daily.
- Capture everyday examples eg. bus driver's smugness when closing doors to someone out in rain etc.
- Printed large scale with annotated descriptions to evoke uncomfortable feelings.

4. 'Guilty pleasures amnesty'
- Advertise for people in the city to donate objects, collections etc that they are ashmed to admit to loving/owning.
- Archive or catalogue the objects, perhaps build profiles of owners.
-Photograph them in an effort to find attractiveness/usefullness

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

Tara Hughes

My ideas seem to have become lost in the sea of blogs, so just to refresh and gain some more feedback...

GUILTY PLEASURES
As Schadenfreude is often considered the ultimate guilty pleasure, below are possible outcomes to this theme.

1. Though everyday experiences of Schadenfreude (pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others) are interesting on an observational level, I'm thinking more about the current climate whereby the media actively encourage us to feel the tabooed emotion and increase a hunger to see humiliating photos of stars or hear about the scandelous lives of politicians. I've thought of producing an outcome that highlights this media influence and social comment in a non-preachy way.
Therefore, an alternative, sophisticated method of re-telling a glossy, overhyped celeb scandal would be to present it in monochrome within a zoetrope (reminiscent of the Victorian era). This would also comment on the shift from what was considered traditional family entertainment to how we gain our thrills today.

The zoetrope itself would have most effect and a heightned sense of relation to the viewer if it were to human scale. One piece would be constructed with many graphic strips of the embarrassing misfortunes available to slot in.

Considering the scale of the piece and the fact that it would be positioned in various locations in the city (particularly squares, as almost circus/freak show events) it would invite the ultimate opportunity for Schadenfreude as the public would be in control of it's movement. Without their participation, the scandals/misfortunes would not unfold and so again it plays with the idea of temptation.
Perhaps the whole motive could be to take the stigma out of an emotion we all feel but deny to exist. Making the experience so public could take it from being a guilty pleasure, to one of accepted celebration!

2. The opposite of a celebrated pleasure would be in considering Schadenfreude as a 'guilty pleasure'. Therefore, perhaps the above idea would work on the complete opposite scale of being a miniature zoetrope produced in beautiful detail, and designed as a portable device to sneekingly lift one's spirits, boost an ego or to gain a malicious laugh?

3. Simply, a photographic collection of hiddden Schadenfreudian smirks and giggles from all walks of daily life. For example a bus driver's self-satisfaction when closing the door to someone left standing in the rain, a student's subtle glee when a fellow competing peer has their work critised and so on. Small-scale subtle shows and physical manifestations of Schadenfreude rarely noticed but captured on film. The images could become large prints annotated to describe from where such smugness was retreived creating uncomfortable reactions amongst viewers.

3. In isolating this term of the 'guilty pleasure', I thought of finding out exactly what people in London are ashamed to admit to loving or owning. As a nosey person I'm always intrigued to know what people have hidden under their beds, in their bottom drawers and hide away when they are expecting visitors.
The idea would be to advertise for a 'Guilty Pleasures amnesty' where the public would hand in all their embarrassing and cringeworthy objects, clothes, ornaments and nerdy collections. The objects could be archived and photographed in an attempt to find some glimmer of attractiveness or purpose.

Ana Freitas - Brighter Journal 2 (update)

Brighter Journal > Issue 2

The second edition of the Brighter Journal: a very real way to explore my design skills and boundaries whilst pursuing my fascination for the world of publishing

I will be working as art director alongside a small editorial team of 3rd year GDC students who will contribute toward the journal, creating a broader and more relevant set of contents

Journal's design/aesthetics will be connected to the final degree show theme, interpreting 'bright as light', as opposed to heavy/darkness

I will combine new approaches to typography/print/material/size and distribution to give the journal a fresh feel

F.P. - Karina

Hey! I also was thinking about another idea, I know it might sound silly and not worth to spend 14 weeks on, but I was thinking, you know how we keep posting idea after idea all the time since this blog started, hoping to get it right and if it is not we just find another one and so on and so on. It would be interesting to just gather all ideas from this blog, the ones which weren’t successful and maybe produce something, like a ‘Portfolio of what not to do for Final Major Project’ or maybe try and use all unsuccessful project ideas and compare them to the final outcomes. This is just something to think about, any suggestions?
Thanks guys

70 Projects in 70 Days...Melissa Bavanandan

Key Points:

1)Project/ Structure
2)Motivation
3)Range
4)Clients to date
5)Outcome

Project/ Structure:
70 projects in 70 days – one project a day, for the 10 weeks until the Exhibition (14weeks- 2weeks assigned to secure information for work- 10 weeks worth of daily projects- 2 weeks to document, print and publish for Exhibition).

Motivation:
The ultimate challenge in terms of working in the world of Graphic Design.
This will also establish great contacts with various clients, and be a platform to exercise my love for working with people and organising.

Range:
The projects will range in time, scale, medium and genre.

Clients to date:
1) Music Band - Battle, signed to EMI/ Warner Brothers.
2) AAR- Law Practice.
3) Metographic, Jewelry Company.
4) Le Gun magazine- competition entry.
5) South-East London Welfare Assocation.
6) Solo artist, Paco Pais.
7) St George’s Charity shop.
8) Fashion model, signed to Premier Model Agency.
9) Graffiti Designer, Mark Bajade, shop based in Carnaby Street.
10) Fashion designer, Canada.
11) Communist Activist, Sofie Buckland.
12) DJ, Timi Adedeji.
13) Elim Church
14) Textile specialist, Trinidad.
15) Second year project- contemporary clip-art- to be published, June.
16) First year project
17) Private Electrician.
19) Cambridge Student Union.
20) Private buyer.
21) Private Business.
21-31) Awaiting response/ in negotiation.
70) Wonderland magazine- Final piece will be published in June edition.

Outcome:
A separate gallery space that houses-
- All of the 98 projects (to be displayed in a catalogue).
-Individual documentation from point of contact to delivery.
- Various timelines/ timetables and charts to document them as a set and how they relate to each other.
- Feedback from all clients.

Karina - another idea for F.P.

Landor Associates, the world's most accomplished and internationally recognized branding and design consultancy, has recently created a logo and slogan for a new Italia. it portal, which will be illustrated at the BIT international tourism trade fair in Milan. The new logo uses the 'it' abbreviation for Italy and the red, white and green colors of the Italian flag. The abbreviation is on a white background with a red dot over a classic black 'i' and a green letter 't'. This was done to promote the country as a brand in areas like tourism.
This gave me an idea, which can be good for Final Project. I was thinking about Italy, its great culture, history, traditions, food and fashion. And I realized I want to explore its graphic design ability. It is a known fact that Britain is famous for its design skills and its design history. So I would like to see how graphic design is developing in other countries, through other cultures. For example, graphic design in Russia, was very successful during soviet time, and stopped developing up until recent years, but now the difference is very noticeable. My ambition is to see how graphic design is developing in other countries and see how it is affected by cultural, political and social increase.

Michelle Griffiths: make me famous

This is some examples of the illustrator's work who is going to draw illustrations of me on the wall in House of Fraser.

My aim for this project is to

Explore the potential of print and media to become famous without there being a particular reason why. This seems to be easy these days to be famous for nothing.

I will use various methods to attempt to do this – I have not set boundaries.

To date
Professional photographs being organised
Harrods are interested in allowing me to use a shop window
House of Fraser have agreed to give me a space in the store for promotion

This is my chance to
Get an insight into ways of getting noticed within the industry
test the media – see what companies are willing to help
enter the world of PR
push my own limits of creativity and test my own skills.