ipod

The ipod has become the essential item, along with the mobile phone, to have for the 21st century it wasn't the first mp3 player but it was the best and it transformed the way we listen to music on the move. It enabled us to have access to thousands of songs all at one time which was revolutionary. I think the way it was designed was key to its success it looked so much cooler than everything else when it was launched back in 2001, not an immediate success but to this date 220,000,000 have been sold. Apple are constantly reinventing the ipod so it gets better and better another reason for its massive success. The ipod has become an essential like a kettle or toaster people feel like they need one which i find fascinating how it goes from a want to need.

London 2012 logo

Still a topic of controversy to this day, the London 2012 logo has been widely talked about in the media since it was revealed mostly with negative reviews. The main issue I think people had with it was the monumental cost involved and the disappointing result in many people's eyes. I myself find the design quite awkward and unclear and not really indicative of London as it is quite a classic city. The design is quite garish and although the vibrant colours do suggest youth and modernity i think combined with the sharp structure of the numbers it looks tacky. I find the topic of the logo interesting to see all the different views however in my opinion it doesn't do london justice.

Minako Abe

This artist was brought to my attention on everyone.com, which in itself is an inspirational website for the sheer amount of exciting work available to view on there. The work is almost painting by numbers and is very clean and fresh with lots of very vibrant colour, the images are generated on a computer then put on canvas which i think works well and is quite innovative and different. The main reason I like her paintings are because of the way they play with your perceptions one way you look the painting looks like its extending away from you then the other is zooming straight into you. The images almost look like they're moving and its hard to focus on the overall paintings without being drawn into a certain section which I really like as its something i haven't seen before. If i could change them at all I Would make them slightly looser and not so constrained as they look like they could burst off the canvas.

BMW Tech skins

Cars are my passion and are an area i would really like to get involved in in the future, if something new and innovative is being created I became engaged with it. BMW is creating a new kind of malleable skin for their cars so that every part of the body and interior is adjustable not only is this fantastic for what the car is now capable of from a design perspective it looks unbelievable. There is no more welding or gaps in the bodywork everything is totally smooth and completely malleable which means the body can change shape but also adjust to different speeds and weather conditions. If this tech skins technology becomes uniform cars will become works of art rather than functioning machines, the original shape they've created in the advert is stunning.

Art on the underground

I noticed these interesting designs when I was in London last week and thought I'd blog about them i noticed that one of my fellow bloggers also found it interesting so i guess we have similar tastes. I think Art on the underground as an idea is fantastic it brightens up a fairly dark miserable underground environment with creative and aesthetically pleasing designs. The artwork is wide ranging and spreading through the tube so no matter what route you take to work you will see something that makes your commute more bearable. The artwork has also been introduced to the pamphlets and maps which most tourists will use which I think gives an impression of a creative London. I really like the way the underground is almost becoming it's own gallery showcasing different artists, my favourite is the tube map that Richard Long created using ancient philosophical Chinese meaning of the word 'earth' its really simplistic but very interesting.

Superlambanana

The superlambanana is become integrated into Liverpool society and people associate Liverpool with it which i think is fantastic that a sculpture so different and odd has had such a big impact. Originally created by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo the superlambanana was revealed in conjunction with the Tate Liverpool and has historical foundations with the city in that both sheep and bananas were very common cargo's into the maritime city. I think the way they have been combined is clever as individually you can still tell that it is a sheep and a banana but they still work together. I like how different,random and cool it seems to combine a sheep and a banana as a sculpture and on such a big scale. People starting to make their own individual mark now by customising their own superlambananas with different patterns and colours which I think is a sign of how engaged the local community is with the sculpture.

Color Graphics : The power of color in Graphic design

I came across this book a few months ago when writing a topic review and thought concept of colour manipulating people's perceptions was really interesting and thought it would be a good topic for dissertation. The book explains how the different colours effect the mind and which colours evoke which emotions, in a way the topic is quite psychological however it has a definite and important relationship to Graphic Design. The graphic designer himself has a large amount of power and can change the way people feel through his work which I find really interesting and hopefully other people will too.

300

This is a film that I find really inspiring and is one of
my favourites of all time, it is all action film
about heroism and the violent battle of thermopylae in 400bc. The film
is shot almost entirely on green screen and is really creatively filmed depicting Greece almost as a fantasy land. The effects are stunning throughout and is a fantastic adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel. 300 has slight fantasy element to
it which is natural considering it is adapted from a cartoon, this is amplified through the main character,Leonidas, who has god like fighting skills. Overall a really stunning and entertaining film that is a great adaptation of the graphic novel.

Tyson

I found this film inspiring not because of it's dialogue or cinematography but because it caught me totally by surprise in that it is completely different to what i expected in a really good way. I thought this would be an all action blowout but its appeal is subtle in Tyson's brutal honesty about the very highs and very lows of his troubled life, I always thought that Mike Tyson was a savage fighter both in and out of the ring but this documentary style film tells his real, sad and difficult life from his first person perspective which i found really intriguing and captivating. This film is about emotion and how he felt at certain times during his life and he really doesn't hold back which i thought was fantastic as you get an insight into the life of a troubled person under intense pressure. Overall this film caught me off guard and I'm really glad that the directors made it about the man not the fighting as I found it really interesting.

Crash

Last night was film night and having watched crash previously I thought I would give it another try and found it compelling and really different to a lot of films I've watched. Crash is set in LA and has a very complex plot about how how people's lives intertwine and cause each other's lives to change. The film focuses on the massive changes that come about in the two lives when they collide, it has very clever racial undertones which tend to cause the most explosive collisions in the very large casts lives. Crash is an extremely intelligently directed film as it could have easily been a sequence of unrelated events but it is so well filmed that everything connects and you feel engaged with every character even though there are so many of them. I think Paul Haggis (director) made this film fantastically well as it could have gone horribly wrong but I found really entertaining and thought provoking.

Walker Art gallery - Liverpool Museums

Situated opposite St George's hall in culturally rich area of Liverpool the Walker Art gallery is as impressive on the outside as the work is on the inside, the style is classic similar to that of St Georges hall and very impressive. The reason I went to the Walker is because of its of collection of modern British art. I have previously studied Walter Sickert and saw that his work was on display in the 20th century exhibition so thought I would go and see it. Inside the gallery the building is very grand similar to the outside and has an old fashioned classic style. The gallery is well worth visiting with arguably the largest collection of fine Art in the North as it is part of the national museums Liverpool trust with a diverse and exciting display of Art on show.

St George's hall

St George's hall in the centre of Liverpool is a historic and treasured site. In terms of scale it is of huge proportion and in style it is classic and visually imposing. It is a multi purpose building and always has been since it was built in the 1850's which i find quite interesting as it was used for trials as well as social events. Standing in front of the building the huge pillars make a big impression on the viewer added to by the fantastic statues dotted around the outskirts of the building, I have always liked the classic 19th century architectural style of this building which really is a gem.

Liquid solutions

I came across this really cool website when I was looking for work experience in my local area and found Liquid Solutions, a creative communications agency based in Liverpool. This website is really creatively designed using all sorts of different templates and themes, such as blackboards and satellite navigation, to find your way around the site. It could said that because the website has so many different features that it is slightly confusing as to what's what however I think overall it is a really fun and different site that impresses the viewer.

http://www.liquidsolution.co.uk/

http://www.liquidsolution.co.uk/

Edward Hopper

I became reacquainted with the work of Edward Hopper recently when I came across his 'Nighthawks' piece in a magazine and it reminded me how much I liked his work. He is well known for his oil paintings of which I am a big fan of, I particularly like the realism and realistic situations that he creates in his paintings you really get the feeling that the scene could have been real not something created in the artists head. Another aspect I really like about Hopper's work is the subtlety of emotion he uses which I find really interesting to see.

Liver building

I chose to blog about the Liver building to show the contrasting architecture in my local city of Liverpool, I have posted about the modern looking daily post building and now the famous liver building. The first thing that strikes you is the size of the building, it simply dominates the waterfront. I think its style is similar to buildings on New York avenues with lots of slim arched windows, I also find the shape slightly reminiscent of a grand cathedral with the tall front tower with an oblong shape behind it. Overall it is a very interesting piece of historical architecture with a rich culture.

Liverpool daily post building

This building is right on my doorstep in the nearest city of Liverpool, it has most definitely stood the test of time as it still looks incredibly modern to this day even though it was built many years ago. The half moon shape really compliments the use of mirrored glass which reflects the river Mersey in front, I think this really interesting and innovative building that will continue to remain modern for many years to come.

Book cover design

I recently came across this book cover designed by the well known Faber and Faber and found it really interesting to look at. I like its negative black and white style, it's really in keeping with the dark detective theme of the book. I especially like the serif typography with its slightly distressed loose liquid style, I think the typography also combines well with the outlined skyline underneath.

Henry Moore

I was first introduced to Henry Moore at the yorkshire sculpture park and found his use of materials really interesting. I find his work has a continuous theme running through it yet all his sculptures are very different, the scale of his work is also very large which I think gives his work more impact and purpose. I have always been interested in sculpture due to its 3D element and i think Henry Moore uses this to its best degree.

swatch advert

I saw this swatch advert on television yesterday and found it really entertaining and vibrant, it really caught my attention and is very much in keeping with the funky swatch brand. The execution is very colourful and fresh and is reminiscent of the new MTV stings, the short sharp music fits very well also. Although there is a lot going on in the 30 second advert I didn't find it hard to focus and I felt that the ad worked extremely well.

Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy is one of my favourite and most inspirational artists I find his work so engaging because it is completely unique. He creates pieces of natural art using anything from his surroundings to create different shapes with fantastic effects. His work has no other parallels, that I have seen, which I find amazing also his use of brightly coloured natural objects is visually stunning.

Yorkshire sculpture park

I found the Yorkshire sculpture park particularly inspiring because of it's contrast between expansive landscapes, highly modern buildings combined with interesting sculptures. The work i found most stimulating was that of Henry Moore the famous sculptor who created huge pieces predominantly out of bronze. The park itself is enormous with incredible modern buildings at various intervals containing many different exhibits. My favourite part about the park was how different the work was to any other gallery I had been to, the work there was completely unique seeing aspects of Art, Architecture and light exhibitions was definitely inspiring.

Banksy

A highly unusual and mysterious artist who wishes to conceal his identity which i find all the more interesting. What is not concealed is the quality and placement of his work, spray painted onto public property! I find his work thoroughly modern, highly engaging and immensely popular amongst young artists. I think this is slightly because it is against the law and appeals to the young an rebellious but I think the greater reason is because it is so clever and witty addressing a wide range of day to day issues with humor and common views of the real public.

Franz Marc

I was first introduced to Franz Marc during Art lessons at school and have been fascinated in his style of work ever since. He isn't exactly contemporary but in my opinion his style is timeless and his work really inspires me, I have seen his work previously at the Tate Britain and think the slightly blurred effect he uses could work fantastically in a more modern piece of my work.

East side gallery

The east side gallery Berlin is definitely my favourite gallery that i've been to, open air right in the centre of Berlin it contains over 100 works of art on a stretch of the infamous Berlin. The aspect i liked most about the gallery and the wall itself was the sense of freedom employed by artists and people alike. The work far from clean cut and framed which makes it all the more appealing in my eyes as it feels far more real. Definitely worth a visit if you want to see something historic but interesting.

Graduate work

Having seen the cover of creative review this month about graduate employment it really got me thinking about where I will be in a years time, looking through the work i found it really interesting. The back cover designed by Eilin Bergum especially caught my eye and i found the copy witty and very of the moment.

Thorntons Re-brand

Chocolate brand Thorntons is refreshing its image using a number of design companies working in tandem. The reason this caught my eye is because of last years adding value brief with chewing gum, toilet paper and tea bags. Thorntons new packaging really gives the impression of being a very expensive high end product aswell as creating a more youthful and vivid image. The small 'chocolate menu' could have been more sensitively placed in my opinion but in general I think the packaging looks great.

Olympic Stamps

This design was brought to my attention in design week and although small the simple line and bold colour really caught my eye. This Design was created by Royal mail's in house team working with artist Julian Opie, Overall i really like the design as it is simple and creates an interesting shape and isn't too ' busy ' for a small space.

Universal everything

This website was suggested to me by fellow blogger Ben Peers and had some really fascinating work on it and i could have blogged about many of them. The work i found most appealing was the short film for the 'onedreamrush' film festival in China. I thought for a short film it was incredibly captivating and i really liked the style in which it was done. The progression and build up of the film was again fantastic and something i really enjoyed watching.

http://www.universaleverything.com/290

http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5405849

http://vimeo.com/5405849

Tate Liverpool

I decided to visit the Tate liverpool on an off the cuff visit whilst in the Local area as the exhibition on at the time was all to do with colour which is something i am interested in looking at in more depth for my dissertation. The exhibition explored the change in colour and the impact of mass produced colour on Art, the change between a colour created uniquely by the artsist and mass produced colour. The exhibiton may have looked like colour swatches from the outside but it was highly interesting and interactive with work from lesser known and celebrity artists alike such as Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol. The interactive colour lab was also very interesting.  

Film - Waltz with Bashir

This Animated film is easily one of the best films i have seen, it depicts director Ari Folman's journey back through his time in the Israeli army during the lebanon war. The animation and production is really stunning and is a fantastic achievement it's no wonder it has won so many awards. This film is not only animation it is a documentary, historical and also fiction which makes very unique and definitely one i won't forget.  

Books - how to be a graphic designer without losing your soul

How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul by Adrian Shaughnessy is an honest, practical and very useful source of information for any young designer. I found it very informative on such topics as setting up your own studio, client relationships and self promotion. Shaughnessy talks about the design ladder and different paths you can choose as well as interviews with other designers to gain different perspectives. This book is definitely worth a read and is very useful for the young designer.

80 years of book cover design

This book by Joseph Connelly is an index of nearly 300 pages of book covers taking you through the development of book cover design from as far back as the 1930's. It is really interesting to see how the covers change with current events and over time from the colourful hippy covers of the 60's to the more sedate 50's. The book celebrates Faber and Faber's 80th anniversary and contains a great wealth of work  as well as being a great tribute, however it contains so many covers that a real focus is needed to absorb all the covers and really take them in. 

Jumeirah towers

I came across this photograph in the telegraph and it really caught my eye and i found it very intriguing. It is a really surreal image of the Jumeirah tower in Dubai but the combination of the light and reflection makes it really interesting and a fantastic photo.

Inspirational Architecture - The pyramids of Giza

Seeing the great pyramids of Giza first hand was an incredibly inspiring architectural sight. The great pyramid, one of the 7 ancient wonders of the world, certainly lived up to expectation not only in scale but the sheer feat of building them nearly 5000 years ago. Information is so scarce on the how the pyramids were actually built it makes it all the more interesting to me and that they are so well preserved and intact is fascinating.

 Visiting the pyramids of Giza made me realise that pushing architectural and design boundaries is crucial for development into bigger and better things. The innovation and forward thinking that occured for these massive pieces of engineering to be constructed nearly 5000 years ago really inspired me and the ideals that the impossible is possible.

 A short walk from the pyramids is the sphinx which had the same effect of fascination, it has so much detail and is in such good condition. These historical architectural sites made me want to create things entirely different and interesting just as they did all those years ago. I have had a problem with the photos and they will be posted shortly.