Listening to the lecture I can clearly relate some of this, particularly the technology side, to my own experience with making globes. The original method of intaglio printing left little room for error in the sphere size, so any miss shape of the ball would have been rectified by the stretch and overlapping of paper. I have experience of making globe with 18c gores and there being no room for error, it was quite nerve wracking as there was only one set of gores, I made the globe with my employer, and i’m glad to say it wasn’t me who tore a gore.
Modern technology allows me to adjust maps in photoshop, and print as many times as needed to fit the ball perfectly, so the globes are hand crafted in the traditional way of applying gores to a ball, but the gores are manipulated for a perfect fit. The large balls are still made with layers of plaster and hessian in two halves and then joined, so they are not a ‘prefect’ sphere.
Another recent personal experience of the change of technology was working in a t-shirt printing factory, I shouldn’t have been surprised that it was all done with ink-jet printers, but I was, fumeless and clean. I was expecting screenprinting or heat transfer. When I completed my BA in 2001 the print room was very well equipped but there was nothing like this the technology really amaised me
Two Hovercraft posters from 1972, when there was more than one Hover across the the Island. I like the limited colour palates and simple yet clear design of the 1972 posters. Commissioned by British rail, it is proving difficult to find the designer.
Interestingly when I was at secondary school in the late 1980s graphic design came under the banner of design technology, technical drawing, combining drawing out a perfect something and then either using as a poster or trying to recreate in 3D. The changes happening with technology and style hadn’t filtered into education yet, I really disliked the constraints of the subject- it felt too stifling, tight and not particularly creative (which in hindsight could well have been the delivery). Art and textiles won the day for me when choosing subjects, as we still had to follow certain rules but the freedom worked for me, again I had a great teacher for this which can really make a lot of difference.
Workshop Challenge
List four key evolutionary design steps that contributed to the identity of the modern-day design culture of your city / country.
For this I am looking at the Carnival culture of the Isle of Wight
Carnival is a huge cultural part of the Island, with most towns and villages have some kind of parade throughout the summer. Ryde hosts the oldest carnival in the UK, dating back to Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1887.
1 1887 First parade in Ryde to mark the Jubilee of Queen Victoria
This was so successful and popular that an annual parade started the following year. This went on until 1906, and were replaced by regattas for a few years
2 1934 Carnival in Ryde reinstated, Carnival King and Queen flown in from Portsmouth, watched by over 5000, the following year Ryde Carnival association took control of the carnival.
3 by the late 1980’s interest was waning. At about this time Shademakers was founded, they create large moveable puppets and costumes for performances. Regeneration in Ryde in 2000 saw Carnival projects managed by the IOW council Arts Unit. An international vibe was introduced to some of of the sections costumes and music and Ryde’s samba band, Raw Samba was formed in 2001. Council funding was withdrawn after ten years and in 2011 the New Carnival Company was formed, funded by the arts council and concentrating on community engagement and learning, it is still operating and growing to include events other than Carnival.
4 Shademakers performed with ‘The Queens Beasts’ at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in London, as well as joining music festivals and parades at home on the Island. Many people are involved in volunteering to create or perform across the carnival associations/Shademakers/New Carnival.
Three studios in my locality. I have chosen the whole of the Isle of Wight, rather than just Ryde, due to the rural location with small towns and villages and small island population size of 141000, much less than one of our nearest cities, Southampton at 249000. I don’t want to focus on the two places I have worked, but will mention them briefly.
Both the New Carnival Company and Greaves and Thomas globemakers are located on one of the most deprived streets in Ryde, they are opposite each other on a back road from the main shopping/eating out street. I think this location was chosen by the carnival company because it is in the heart of Ryde, and they want to reach out and work with the local community, giving creative opportunity and outlet to people who would not otherwise have access, they also travel island wide and to the mainland to deliver workshops. The globemakers is here because the owner bought the building very cheaply when he moved the business from London to Ryde in the 1990s, moving a start up to a far cheaper location. Nearby on Nelson St is the Depozitory, an artist run, not for profit organization. There is also Monkton Arts a community based arts centre. These workshops and studios are all within about five minute walk in central Ryde. I also considered tagging Into The Blue, as one of my tags, based in Cowes it is an independent creative design agency, with it’s roots based in sport.
There are many independent designers, makers and artists across the island, I’m told higher proportion than areas of the mainland, by friends who have recently moved here. I think this is down to the way of life, people move across, as I did for, for the pace and relaxed vibes.
New Carnival – The Isle of Wight Community Arts
Greaves & Thomas – The Globemakers
The Depozitory – An old chapel restored for the local community
Welcome! – IW Creative Network
Having just had the Challenge Unpacked talk with Joe I have decide to change my selection, I was looking at three quite similar graphic design studios, I am now mixing it up a bit. The three design practice studios I have chosen to look at are Brightbulb and peekaboo because it is the direction I would like to go in and Shademakers, because their work is stunning.
1 Brightbulb
Company Statement
Behind all the innovative ideas, the clever campaigns and well-built websites are a team that really cares. We are proud to be really nice people doing really nice business. Our clients are like family to us and like family we work together to a common goal, creating something magical together.
Link
Isle of Wight Web Design, Graphic Design & Branding | Brightbulb Design
Summary
Founded in 2014 by Matt Jeffery
Many of the graphics seen locally are produced by Brightbulb, they also have a national presence.
Not clear from the website how many are employed here, I emailed to ask but as of yet they have not responded, I will see if I can find out through companies house
Web Design & Development
Graphic Design
App Development
Video Production
Branding
Social Media Management
3D Design
Unassuming building on a rural industrial estate, the front page of the website actually gives me a bit of a headache as my brain struggles to process the speed of the slideshow, although the images themselves are interesting, I loke to take a longer look at s=things, to see them properly
2 Shademakers
Company Statement
Shademakers are renowned for their work with kinetic structures we term “Dancing Sculptures”. A benchmark of our work is the high quality of design and execution. We have an extensive storage facility containing materials of every description and an extensive suppliers list to suit every costume build imaginable. Over 30 years of experience is available to deal with any conundrum, confusion and complication in the execution of your costume. Our costumes are designed to perform in all weather conditions, whether night time illuminated or day time reflective. Modern technological developments with LED reflective material, hydraulic and kinetic engineered movement are employed in our work.
Link
Summary
Founded 1988 by Sharon George
Employs 6 makers plus uses volunteers and freelancers, and 9 board members, some of which are also makers, total of 10
3 Peekaboo
Company Statement
Don’t be fooled by the size of our agency. It’s by design.
Born in 2005, Peekaboo has grown over the past 16 years by employing the best talent, creating the best work possible and simply being passionate about what we do. We’re motivated by our client’s success, not money, but it’s not all work, we also have a lot of fun!
Link
Peekaboo – Hampshire & Isle of Wight based digital branding agency
Summary
Founded 2005 by Brett White
Again many of the graphics seen locally are designed by Peekaboo
Employs 7
Branding + Identity
UX Design
Printed Comms
Brand Assets
Packaging
Digital
Websites
eCommerce
Website Care
WordPress
Apps
Strategy
SEO
Facebook Ads
Social PR
Google Ads
Email Marketing
UX Audit
I have chosen three different types of design production. The places I have chosen to look at are;
1 Teemill, where I had my experience of working in t-shirt printing.
Sustainable T-shirt printers
2 Diametric
Diametric – Precision Industrial Badging
Precision industrial badging manufacture
3 People Media UK
We produce great content for TV and the web People Media UK (peoplemediaproductions.com)
Film production
I have managed to interview Tony from People Media UK, and whilst is is not graphic design directly there are some similarities in in his answers to the questions posed to the studios in week 1. Mostly regarding technology, and how it has changed the job, and having to have a wide skill base. I am aiming to have a link to the recording on my Studio PDF. He also iriterated the importance of soft skills
References & extra creative websites
Isle of Wight Carnivals – VisitIsleOfWight.co.uk
About Us – The New Carnival CompanyThe New Carnival Company
Isle of Wight Carnivals – Explore the Isle of Wight
Unknown Person – Queen Victorias visit to Ryde, Isle of Wight (rct.uk)
Raw Samba | Samba band based on the Isle of Wight
A Brief History of the Poster | International Poster Gallery
The North’s Most Prolific Graphic Designers: Derek Birdsall (orchard.co.uk)
Graphic Journey Blog: Derek Birdsall: Between the covers (typepad.com)
Pentagram — The world’s largest independent design consultancy
Scans of notes from lecture and reading
Familiarising myself with designers mentioned in the lecture, doing this has put some names to many of the images and designs I have seen throughout life (I probably won’t remember their names so I will keep this page for my own reference)
Derek Birdsall
Born Yorkshire 1934
Recommended to join art school by a teacher due to his hand writing
Age 15 took the equilivent of foundation course in lettering
Wakefield authuorites insisted he continue in education for further 3 years, and he was able to use the time to experiment.
Won scolarship to Central School of art and Design
First real design job age 23, in 1957 designing leaflets for printer Balding & Mansell. Then offered job at Crawfords advertising agency designing typography.
Taight at London school of printing
1953 Designed cover for Rohld Dahl book, Someone Like you
Had an influential and successful career designing book covers penguin books, released his own book ‘notes on book design’2004, Designed Pirelli Calenders, books for Yale Centre of British Art, Tate, V&A British Council redesigned Book of Common Prayer (2000)
Calls his company Omnific Design, passion in the detail
Richard Hollis
Born London 1934
Trained Chelsea School of Art, Wimbledon school of Art, Central School of Arts & craft
Taught in the above plus quite a few other Art Schools
Designed publicity posters for Whitechappel Art Gallery1968-73 1798-
1970s onwards mainly books and art gallery publications
Fletcher Forbes Gill
Flethcer/Forbes/Gill founded by Alan Fletcher, Colin Forbes, and Bob gill in 1962
Clients included; Pirelli, Cunard, Penguin Books, Olivetti
Pentagram
Multi-disciplinary independently owned design studio founded in 1972 by Alan Fletcher, Colin Forbes & Kenneth Grange
‘great design cannot happen without passion, intelligence and-above all- personal commitment’
Pentagram have over 50 years of design experience
Sister Corita
1918-1986 Artist, Educator & advocate for social justice
Work quite political on the 1960’s, became sparcer in the 1970’s
Lovely film of Sister Corita printing on her website, no photo/emulsion exposing but the stencils were made with paining glue on the screen and tearing paper
Barny Bubbles
Born Colin Fulcher 30/07/1942-14/11/1983
Teenburger designs founded in 1969- Graphics for music album sleeves and promo films, worked for NME redisgned logo and forward looking graphic format to the magazine
Jamie Reid
16/01/1947-7/12/2019 London Artist and anarchist
‘Collages, with letters or whole sentences cut out and juxtaposed provocatively with other graphic elements or drawing’
A few doodle notes
