Tal Rosner

Tal Rosner biography quotes him as BAFTA award winning for the work he did for the popular television series Skins. Tal Rosner took a BA Hons in Graphic Design, which took him three years. Tal was interested and explored into movement and took a moving image degree in London. Although he had degrees he feels he was self taught in using the software he needed to create his work digitally.

Tal stated in the lecture that he prefers working smaller to a lower budget, he created a piece for two french pianists who wanted a CD/DVD that would attract a younger generation. Tal showed us a piece that was split into two screens but he had tried to link them manually together although it was a strain on the eye and slightly hard to follow the imagery was really good and effective, the whole piece was unique and very abstract.

I found Tal Rosner's work very different to the other lectures i had attended, his work was unique and intriguing.

Lynsey Buckley-Ratcliff

Lynsey Buckley-Ratcliff is a freelance designer based in Manchester and specialises in Web Design. I contacted Lynsey via phone and spoke to her direct, Lynsey was extremely helpful and agreed to see my portfolio on a day that suited me.
After arranging with Lynsey a time and place we finally met up, she spoke a little about herself explaining how she enjoys freelance work and working from home mainly, she also explained how she does mainly Web Design and is trained in XHTML and CSS. Lynsey has worked for many big design agencies but feels she is progressing more as a freelance designer.

When going through my portfolio she seemed very impressed with my Futura work, She explained how she thought it was nice clean and tidy, which is a perfect mix of white space and text, which helps emphasise the font. She felt by displaying the font in a larger text and showing how the font changes when italicised or emboldened gives more of an insight into the font. Lynsey was confused as to why i felt the need to use "st" an "op" she felt there was no connection with the article. One thing she said she really liked was the use of hands to represent the work on each page she felt it emphases the creativity shown in each piece.
The second piece she looked at was the Observer page i explained the purpose of the brief to her, she felt i had shown good understanding and said that the front cover really grabs your attention and makes you want to know why there faces are blanked out all kinds of thoughts go through your mind.
The third piece was Hemisphere in which we had to create a logo she felt the logo was very modern and traditional and felt the text was striking and bold. Lynsey felt i show a clear understanding and ability to satisfy a project brief and show a wide range of skills.

On meeting Lynsey i got a more clearer understanding of how the industry really works although its a scary thought speaking with Lynsey gave me some much needed confidence.

Lynsey Buckley-Ratcliff Contact - www.lynseybuckley.me.uk

Out Of The Box Creative

When researching into design company's i came across Out Of The Box Creative, which is a small based Manchester agency run by Martyn Hammond.
I contacted Martyn threw email and he agreed to view my portfolio, Martyn was very friendly and professional and even suggested if it was easier for me that he would do a home visit.
Martyn's clients include-

• Aga
• Leisure
• Diadora
• Sandersons
• Bailey Dyson Architects
• Studio Catalogues

When Martyn arrived he firstly viewed my university portfolio, he was rather surprised as to the style of it he said he expected it to be in a black folder case but liked the idea of the brochure style. Martyn had a look through at the work, the first thing he picked up on was hyphenating he explained that all text should be hyphenated with no widows he explained how important this was when in the work place as it looks more professional. When looking through the individual pieces in the book he picked up on the Futura piece he explained how lucky i was to have Futura as my font to research as its a interesting font and you can use it in many different ways as it has a huge family, he explained how interesting the pieces were he preferred the "St" page because of the contrast he explained that the other page needed more attention to detail.

The second piece he looked at was Memory work, he really liked this piece but was slightly confused he explained that in book i did i have spread the work over three double page spreads and he didn't realise that all the pieces were connected because i hadn't explained myself very clearly but overall he liked the pieces he explained how i had used the white space really well .

The third piece he looked at was the Bolton Branding he was rather excited by this as he has done some work for Manchester City Council himself. When looking at the logo he said how interesting the logo was he said it worked a lot better than the current one. In my portfolio i have set four logos out in different colours, Martyn suggested that the four colours could represent the different branches for example, social services, benefits office etc and for the community he liked the idea of having a city scape background for the city and a countryside background for the county and so on. Although he was impressed with the initial ideas he felt i hadn't shown enough in the portfolio and hadn't explained myself enough, he felt i had a really good piece but needed an extra push with it.

When talking with Martyn he wanted to know more about how i had arrived at University, i explained to him that i had been to college and studied Btec Graphic Design he was really interested in this and wondered if i had my portfolio that i used for my interview to university, which luckily i did he explained that the reason he likes doing home visits for students and interviews is because sometimes you leave the best bits behind without realising and by then its to late.

Martyn went through my college work and really liked some of my old work in there he said if i developed some of my old work to suit the skills i have learnt through University i could combine this with my new work and i would have a really strong portfolio, which was a real confidence boost. I sat through some of the old work and listened and made notes on some of the tips and advice he had, Martyn said " key to good design is simplicity".

After looking through my portfolios Martyn had brought one of his portfolios that he keeps updated with him as a chance for me to see exactly what it is he does and how effective it can look. After seeing his portfolio it really gave me inspiration to take his advice and combine the two portfolios to create a stronger one keeping in mind simplicity.

Martyn's visit was a real eye opener and has boosted my confidence with design i feel i just need to push myself that little harder to achieve my goals.

Contact - www.outoftheboxcreative.co.uk

Email Martyn.hammond1@ntlworld.com

Truth, Lies and Typography

A member of Truth Design called Darren gave a lecture on the Manchester based company, which is two and half years old now he explained how the company likes to keep things simple there belief is less is more, they prefer one on one with clients to help get a better understanding and can sit and explain things through with the clients.

The company have produced many fonts including-

• DST
• Sodium
• Bad Angel
• Rub On
• Nitrogen
• Amplifier

Darren explained how he created a full alphabet in a day, which was extremely stressful he told us the alphabet was 10% design and 90% production. Truth Design mainly use computers to create there designs but Darren couldn't stress how important it was to show your working out, how you got to that final stage.

One thing i felt could be a major advantage was when Darren said he likes to experiment in different areas, he thinks everyone should learn all the skills as it gives you a broader range and can make it easier for briefs as you can introduce different aspects.

I enjoyed listening to some of the briefs they have done including Christies Charity, which they re-created a branding for them free of charge to help the charity and the Amir Khan Reebok work in which they created a branding for Amir Khan which he liked so much he looked into getting it embroidered onto his car seats.

Gill Blease

Gill Blease took a MMU foundation course then went on to do a fine art degree in Newcastle and was always encouraged by her fellow students and teachers at school this for her was the beginning. It took Gill 10-15 years to get to where she is now, which is a well established Illustrator and fine arts women. Gill also went to London after she completed her Newcastle course but found it a struggle and finally admitted defeat, where she then went to Japan she said she felt this helped her with design because the culture was a big influence.

Gill's main influences are-

• Japan
• Goya
• Paul Rand
• Graphic Design

Gill Blease explained to us how she collects images of everything and then collages them to create something new and spectacular, she explained that collecting things as simple as colour samples, cartoons, drawings, wrapping paper etc can help your imagination.

Gill felt that her learning really began when she got a job and actually started producing pieces, She has produced many pieces for Whitworth Gallery, Elle Magazine, Guardian and many more. She was very disappointed with Waitrose as they decided not to use her piece that she felt she had really captured what they were looking for but Waitrose felt that people would get it.

One thing about Gill is that she loves white space, which absolutely terrifies me she couldn't stress enough how happy it makes her as she feels her work sits better with white space and helps viewers. Gill prefers freelance to working for design companies and works from home. She has a website, which she says is crucial for self promotion although she feels she doesn't have to promote a great deal due to all the work she has already.

http://gillianblease.co.uk/

1000 Word Reference

www.truth-design.co.uk
www.gloriouscreative.co.uk
I also took alot of my information from the notes i made during the lectures i attended.

1,000 word response

"Compare and contrast the processes and practices of your two chosen practitioners. Upon this analysis what lessons could be applied to your own practice?

My two chosen practitioners that i feel i can relate my own practices to are Truth Design and Glorious, these two design agencies are completely different in style but both relate to me in individual ways.
Truth design presented a lecture that i attended, during the lecture i learnt alot about the company and there values. Truth design started with a partnership between two very down to earth people based in Manchester who enjoy the design industry and enjoy producing work for clients. The name Truth design came from there own values of wanting a company that only tell the truth they quoted " At the end of the day, we believe that if a brand is to succeed you must first be honest about it's weaknesses and turn them into strengths".(http://www.truth-design.co.uk/) I have noticed with Truth design that they focus alot on typography and experimenting with it, One font that stood out to me was Bad Angel, which has a Gothic style to it but is easy readable. The fonts they have created are DST, Sodium,Rub on and Nitrogen, which they use in there own work for clients. I feel Truth can relate to me through there font designs, i really enjoy experimenting with fonts and making new shapes from letters, to be able to create a full alphabet would be amazing and looking at some of Truth's examples really inspires me to pursue my developments.
Briefs that i felt i could relate to are Reebok, DST font, Bad Angel font, Great Northern Aid Trust, Christies and Ram.
Reebok brief was to create a brand identity for Amir Khan to support Reebok Boxing Range endorsed by him. Truth design solution was to develop a brand for Amir Khan, they took inspiration from the youth scenes for example music and fashion to create a visual language that could resonate with the target audience of 15-21 year old boys. The brand needed to be able to work with various media. Amir Khan was so pleased with the final product that he even looked into getting the logo embroidered onto the seats in his car, I found the final pieces very bold and well developed, which caught my eye. I feel i can relate my work to Truth through this brief as they have used very strong photography in there posters to help with the advertisements, I feel i use mainly strong imagery when designing promotional pieces because it helps to get the message across to the target audience and imagery is a very strong source if used correctly. I really like the contrast between the red font and the smokey dark imagery, which is something i have used and played around with on some of my previous pieces, i enjoy colour and what effects it can have for example the different moods and meanings it can create and then what clashes and looks hideous.
Another brief i found interesting was the Christies charity re-branding. Truth design created this piece free of charge as they felt they were helping a good cause with the charity to help them get noticed and promote their hard work. The reason i liked this brief was the fact that Truth had already recognised that Christies was a well known charity with the heart shape that everyone recognised them for, so they played around with the heart shape to create something even better but that people could still recognise as Christies. In my opinion if something already works don't destroy it just improve it and work with what you have, some of the best designs i have created have been developed from previous pieces that have needed updated.

My second design company is Glorious who are a multi award winning company based in Manchester and have been together for three and half years, there main focus is craft and production and base alot of their work on typography. Glorious are a identity specialist who are renowned for creative thinking and craft skills and we enjoy the challenge of problem solving.

I really liked the Red Dog Communication brief a marketing communications company, which required a piece of direct mail to launch the company, above all it had to be impactful and provoke a reaction from the recipient. Glorious solution was " in an age when political correctness seems to have gone barking mad, we designed a launch poster which, at first glance, carried a controversial line that really got people's hackles up, those who dug a little deeper appreciated the humour". (http://www.gloriouscreative.co.uk/) I loved this project and found the red dog identity really modern and fresh. Its fascinating how the designer can create something so big from there own everyday life as the designer had just got a new puppy and used the puppy as an idea but cartoonized it, its remarkable how are personal lives can effect the decisions and the designs we create in work. when i look at some of my past designs i see certain elements that had been effecting me in my designs and development and yet these pieces are some of my best.

Another brief is Roses Symposium aim is Every year, the Liverpool and Manchester design initiative hosts a design symposium before the Roses Design Awards. The theory is to create debate around current issues. Glorious has handled the design material for the past five years. The solutions was although the symposium was aimed at creative, it was a corporate event. They created a loose style - in contrast to the corporate nature of the event, it appealed to the target market. The poster is very hand rendered, which gives a more personal touch to the poster. I always think that the hand rough style works really well and gives a completely different approach it sometimes can look child like depending on the brief. I think that some designers can think to technical and try to give a polished finish to each piece and sometimes its to over done, i look at my work and try to take different approaches and try not to over do everything.

Both companies are very different and approach each brief in a different style. Truth Design is completely truthful in all there designs there process is very strict and they use alot of the existing work for example they use the fonts they created in all there designs where as Glorious don't have a pre-planned agenda and just start a fresh. Although the two companies have typography in common they attack it in different ways, Truth use computers and lecture sets to create there fonts, where as Glorious use everyday objects like masking tape. From my research and lectures i realise that Glorious are very experimental and loose with there designs, which is a fascinating quality, which can create some unique pieces, where as Truth are more strict and polished with there designs, which again is a brilliant quality as it shows professionalism to the clients. Both company's are unique in different ways but i feel i can relate myself to both of them through there different styles.

Reply- Out Of The Box Creative

From:
Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)
Sent:
30 April 2009 13:41:55
To:
martyn hammond (martyn.hammond1@ntlworld.com)

Hi Martyn,

Thank You that's a great help. Any time is good for me are you available Monday morning? If not when is best for you?.

Regards

Vicky

Response- Out Of The Box Creative

From:
Martyn Hammond (martyn.hammond1@ntlworld.com)
Sent:
30 April 2009 09:31:42
To:
Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)

Hi Vicky,

I would be glad to help you and view your portfolio.
When would be a good time and date for you?

Regards

Martyn

The Chase

From:
Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)
Sent:
22 April 2009 22:22:34
To:
bev.hutchinson@thechase.co.uk

Dear Bev,

Im doing a brief at university based on Graphic Design agencies that i inspire to and i have reviewed your companys website and found it enjoyable and unique and would find it really helpful to learn more about the Chase.
I have put a few questions together to help me with my studies, if you could co-operate with any of these questions that would be extremely helpful.

1. In this economic climate how do you feel the Graphic Design industry is being effected?

2. What packages do you use to help create your design and ideas?

3. what is your inspiration?

4. What are your companies strength and weaknesses?

5. How did you start your own company or come to be a member of the team?

6. How do you advertise your company?

7. How do you begin a brief from scratch for example- research, mind maps, photography etc?

8. Do you have a company slogan that inspires everyone, if yes how did you come to choose it and why?

9. Whats the hardest brief your company has had to face and how did you get through it as a company?

Thank you for your time

Yoursincerely

Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)

Dinosaur second attempt

From:
Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)
Sent:
22 April 2009 22:10:34
To:
emily dinosaur (emily@dinosaur.co.uk)

Dear Emily, Im doing a brief at university based on Graphic Design agencies that i inspire to and i have reviewed your companys website and found it enjoyable and unique and would find it really helpful to learn more about Dinosaur. I have put a few questions together to help me with my studies, if you could co-operate with any of these questions that would be extremely helpful.

1. In this economic climate how do you feel the Graphic Design industry is being effected?

2. What packages do you use to help create your design and ideas?

3. what is your inspiration?

4. What are your companies strength and weaknesses?

5. How did you start your own company or come to be a member of the team?

6. How do you advertise your company?

7. How do you begin a brief from scratch for example- research, mind maps, photography etc?

8. Do you have a company slogan that inspires everyone, if yes how did you come to choose it and why?

9. Whats the hardest brief your company has had to face and how did you get through it as a company? Thank you for your time

Yoursincerely

Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)

Out Of The Box Creative

From:
Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)
Sent:
28 April 2009 21:59:49
To:
martyn.hammond1@ntlworld.com

Im a student at Stockport College studying BA Hons Graphic Design. We have been issued a brief to encourage us to interview, meet and ask opinions of Graphic Designers to help us understand the industry to help prepare us for real live briefs in everyday life. If you could offer any time to view my portfolio or just offer some advice and guidance i would really appreciate that. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank You Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)

Whitworth Gallery Manchester

On my visit to the Whitworth Gallery i came across a small exhibition called Attitude, which stood out and also reminded me of my childhood days when fly posting was legal, everywhere you looked there was fascinating posters advertising gigs and upcoming events or music bands it was things like this that gave me inspiration when i was younger.

The description board read "There is more to Manchester than shopping, bars and clubs. Manchester is the city of radical thinkers, mavericks and trendsetters. Its the people that give this city its edge. They have always fought for their rights: challenging, resisting, contesting, insisting peterloo did not crush this spirit and the suffragette struggles were fuelled by it.

Manchester attitude, the swagger on the street, colours the cultural landscape. It inspires the designers, artists, musicians, writers to harness and express the tangible pulse that surges through the city"

Museum Visits

On my visit to Urbis i came across an exhibition called State Of The Art: New York, i found some of the pieces fascinating. The exhibition was about exploring some of the most dynamic and creative cities in the world. The exhibition was put together by sixteen young artists from New York itself, its a celebration of the rich and diverse talent from the big apple.

This piece is called True Yank 2009, by Leon Reid and is exhibited in Urbis and Lincoln Square, Manchester. It is in response to the City Centre of Manchester and an invention on the statue of Abraham Lincoln.

The statue commemorates the thanks offered by Lincoln to the people of Manchester for their support during the Lancashire cotton famine that resulted from American Civil War support, which was born out of the desire to end slavery.

Reid worked with local designers to create a new, updated outfit for Lincoln- one that reflects contemporary Urban fashion and includes the hip hop accessories of baseball caps, medallions and rings.

This piece was by Gandalf Gavan, named untitled 2009. Gandalf creates sculptural installations that combine uniform modules associated with minimalism. In the last three years he has gradually taken his outdoor installations into indoor spaces and become increasingly invested in site specificity.

This piece is by Carolyn Salas and Adam Parker Smith called Holy ghost, 2008. Salas and Smith constructed the piece with everyday materials mined from hardware stores and inherited collections of fabrics.

Around the head of Jesus Christ swarm foam and fabric planks, felt skulls and bones and surgical tubing, all rising in an impossible tower towards the heavens.

Urbis

Museum visit to Urbis - Underground Manchester
New York Project

Museum Visits

On my visit to Manchester Urbis i viewed an exhibition by Andrew Brooks called Hidden Manchester. Andrew Brooks is a photographer, digital artist and film maker. His work is based on analogue reality and contemporary urban surroundings, he builds his work by taking hundreds of images and carefully copy and pasteing them to mould a completely new scene. I was really impressed with his work i found it very imaginative and extraordinary i could sit and try to analyze his work all day.

Andrew Brooks stated "walking around any city it is not uncommon to catch glimpses of the world that exists beneath the polished surfaces of glass and steal, snatched glances into an open grate, through a broken hoarding, behind a door ajar, reveal, if only for a moment, a hidden world that serves to support our contemporary imaginings of our urban environments". When i first read this statement it made me think about the things we take for granted and the things we could use as inspiration that we by pass and don't even acknowledge in our everyday busy lives.

These are some of my favourite pieces unfortunately you cant take photos of this exhibition but i picked up information, which had Andrew Brooks website details on it http://www.andrewbrooksphotography.com/

This pieces is called Great Abel, named after Abel Heywood, Manchester's radical mayor who championed the building of the Town Hall, Great Abel rings out the Town Hall clocks hour chimes.

This was inside the Refuge Assurance Building and supports the main grand chandelier. I liked this photo because he took a simple boring looking scene and turned it into something interesting especially with the curves and angles in the photo itself.

This piece is called Quiet Refuge and was taken from behind the Palace Theatre sign i was drawn to this piece because it was so difficult to see what it was about and doesn't give anything away it initially caught my eye in the museum because of the colour been so mysterious and vibrant.

This piece is Angelic View, which i feel lives up to its name i think Andrew Brooks has captured the detail and really done the piece justice and has managed to show people just how fantastic it is.

reform

(No Subject)‏
From: Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)
Sent:08 April 2009 17:14:58
To: hello@reformcreative.co.uk


Dear Reform Team,

Im currently a student at Stockport College studying BA Hons Graphic Design and advertising. To be able to finish my brief i need the help of you by simply answering a few questions.

1. In this economic climate how do you feel the Graphic Design industry is being effected?

2. What packages do you use to help create your design and ideas?

3. what is your inspiration?

4. What are your companies strength and weaknesses?

5. How did you start your own company or come to be a member of the team?

6. How do you advertise your company?

7. How do you begin a brief from scratch for example- research, mind maps, photography etc?

8. Do you have a company slogan that inspires everyone, if yes how did you come to choose it and why?

If you can answer any of the above questions that would be a great help thank you.

Also as part of the brief i have put together a small booklet portfolio as i wanted to get experience for job interviews if you could offer me any advice or feedback from my portfolio that would also be fantastic and a huge help

Thank You for your time

Vicky Smith

(vicki999@hotmail.com)

hemisphere

(No Subject)‏
From: Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)
Sent:08 April 2009 16:48:51
To: sue@hemispheredmc.com


Dear Sue,

Im currently a student at Stockport College studying BA Hons Graphic Design and was hoping i could borrow 5 minutes of your time by answering a few questions to help me with my course.

1. In this economic climate how do you feel the Graphic Design industry is being effected?

2. What are your companies strengths and weaknesses?

3. What are the packages your company use to help create design and ideas?

4. Do you have a company slogan, if yes how did you come to choose it and why?

5. Whats the hardest brief your company has had to face and how did you get through it as a company?

6. What is your inspiration?

7. I was very interested in the Metrolink project on your website could you tell me more about this brief?

If you can answer any of the above questions that would be a great help thank you.

Also for my course i want to get experience of putting together small booklet portfolio's if you could offer me some feedback on my work that would also be fantastic and a great help

Thank You for your time

Vicky Smith

(vicki999@hotmail.com)

truth design

(No Subject)‏
From: Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)
Sent:08 April 2009 16:36:49
To: jane@truth-design.co.uk


Dear Jane,

Im currently a student at Stockport College studying B A Hons Graphic Design and was wondering if you could answer these few questions as it would be a great help for my course.

1. In this economic climate how do you feel the Graphic Design industry is being effected?

2. What do you feel are your companies strengths and weaknesses?

3. What is the hardest project you have had to face?

4. What packages do you use to create your ideas and designs?

5. What is your inspiration?

6. Do you have a company slogan that inspires the team, if so how did you come to choose this and why?

7. How did you find working with Reebok and what do you think of the final pieces?

If you could answer any of the above questions that would be a huge help thank you.

Also for my course i have created a book of my work and i would find it helpful if i could have some feedback on it as i feel this would help for future interviews.

Thank You for your time

Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)

Adverts

One of my biggest inspirations is adverts that you see in magazines or papers or even billboards. Without adverts how would we know what the latest fashions are or the newest perfumes. Adverts are used to promote a company and product, there designed to be dreamy and tasteful or eyecatching an inspiring.

i collected this advert promoting Secret Obsession perfume, which is cleverly done it is designed to catch both men an women target audience. The women are inspired by the fact that they could too feel like that woman alive an vibrant and the men are attracted by the fact that there girlfriends could too look like that woman confident and alive. I like the advert because of the contrast in colour, they have used a soft black and white photo against a strong brown colour but in my opinion works well and makes the promotional product stand out how it should.

This is a simular advert, which is also promoting perfume the difference this time is that this company has used a famous star to help in there promotions. The bonus in using stars in promotions is that audiences that are big fans of Liv Tyler will automatically go out and buy the product just because Liv Tyler featured using it they feel that if the star uses the product then it must be good and maybe they too can be like her.

This advert is promoting Warburtons bread. Warburtons has been a well known company for years and there logo is easiely recognised so the company has felt like they dont have to show a huge loaf of bread to get there point across instead they have focused on promoting how the bread is made and the processes. In this advert they have concentrated on Photosynthesis and have tried to show how natural there bread is made. Warburtons have been very clever about this promotion because recently in the media there has been alot reported on weight issues in the UK and how we need to be more aware of what were eating and whats in are food.

I like this advert because it can be very sensitive as the company is Macmillan Cancer Support. In my opinion this advert asks a really strong question "Tired of putting on a brave face?" which can be a big weight off peoples shoulders that someone has acknoledged their feelings. I like the fact that some adverts can really effect peoples feelings and isnt just used to advertise.

This advert caught my eye because of the layout, i especially like the fact that the whole advert is on an angle and hasnt been created to a pacific neat and tidy brief. I also like the layout of the text its different and probably brakes alot of rules but i think it works well.

This advert is really clever i love how they have taken a model photograph and placed it on a illustration, the contrast looks amazing its like a whole new world.

This is the littlewoods advert. Its a women modelling a outfit with a stream of beautiful colours around her, this caught my eye simply because of the colours and the detail. The colourful stream behind her has nothing to do with the advert but makes it eyecatching which will help to sell the outfit it gives you a sense of fun in your life.

love creative

student seeking advice‏
From: Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)
Sent:17 March 2009 22:02:02
To: s.murray@lovecreative.com


Hello Sarah,

Im currently a student at Stockport College studying BA Hons Design and Advertising and i have recently been given a brief to create a blog demonstrating a knowledge of the Design industry, which includes communicating with design companys and getting feedback.

I came across your design agency and enjoyed looking at the work you an your team have designed, i especially liked the Playstation brief and the idea behind it, the designs are eyecatching and interesting and i found them very fresh. I have been left very inspired by your website and some of the clients you have dealt with including Microsoft, SilverCross, Nando's and many more, which i can only imagine working with at this stage.

I look forward to hearing from you either by communication through email or if you could spare some time to meet that would be fantastic. ( vicki999@hotmail.com )

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely

vicky smith

contact 999 design

Sent:
01 March 2009 19:43:10
To:
manchester@999design.com


Hello Andy Helme,

i have recently viewed your companys website, which i was really impressed and influenced by especially with the design work you have produced for many big name clients. I especially liked the freeview project and the CBI project i found them both very eye catching and inspiring.

I am currently a student at Stockport College studying B A Hons Graphic Design and im currently doing a module on design companys and our aims is to contact companys through emails and physical contact to get a better understanding of the industry.

I would really like to get a better understanding of the industry through your company as i was really impressed and left in awe by the work you have produced.I look forward to hearing from you, thank you for your time

vicky smith

Stefan Sagmeister and DED Associates

Graphic Design for the 21st century, 2002, pages 56-57 and 156-157

Stefan Sagmeister

One designer that i find fascinating is Stefan Sagmeister and that's because of the piece he produced called Style = Fart. This particular piece was created on his body and was scratched into his skin.

Stefan Sagmeister states that he wants to create pieces that touch the viewers heart and that we see so many pieces that are professionally done and well executed and although these pieces are beautiful he states that the viewers are not being moved by the images and are not using there own imaginations.

Sagmeister wants us to remember a good piece of work an feel moved by it. His piece Style =Fart is defiantly a famous memorable piece that sets your imagination into over time making you ask yourself questions about it like i wonder if it hurt? what made him design a graphic piece in this way?.

DED Associates

Whilst researching i came across a company called DED Associates who's work i really enjoyed looking at. When researching into them further i found an interesting statement made by the the company "the evolution of Graphic Design is intrinsically linked to the evolution of tools by which we deliver those designs"(Graphic Design 21st century, 2002, page 56). This statement makes you realise how much the design industry has developed itself and how much designers rely on photographers and illustrators and multimedia as tools its also developed through computer based programmes such as photoshop and Indesign.


80's image




Todays image


When you look at the two designed pieces its very clear just how far we have come through developement since the 80's.

Buro Fur Form

Graphic Design for the 21st century, Charlotte and Peter Fiell, 2002, pages 44-47

Buro Fur Form

"Good graphic design is the result of the endless search for beauty in things" (buro fur form ,graphic design for the 21st century, page 44)

I find this statement inspiring because as a good graphic designer you are always on the look out for bits of inspiring junk that you feel you can turn into something worth looking at. I have found that every designer i talk to or every lecture i attend they have scrap books with bits and pieces that they use for ideas or books that they find relate to them.

This particular designer Buro Fur Form bases alot of his work on small cut outs and scrap books to create his pieces. When i look at the work im amazed that he can create such mesmerizing pieces simply from scrap books that hes collected through the years it certainly inspires you to start your own collection.

Title- Demented Forever Series

Year- 2001

Dinosaur first contact email

Windows Live Hotmail: "Student seeking advice‏
From: Vicky Smith (vicki999@hotmail.com)
Sent:22 February 2009 22:20:52
To: emily@dinosaur.co.uk


Hello Emily,

Im currently a student at Stockport College studying BA Hons Graphic Design and Advertising. My most recent brief is to contact Design Agencies to get a better understanding of the industry.

I came across Dinosaur's website and found it inspiring straight away due to the fun and eyecatching layout, The style that your company has is what i feel relates to my own style of work.
Whilst looking through your client list i noticed you have worked with Alton Towers, Key 103, Manchester United Football Club and many more, which are huge companys which i could only dream of working with at this stage. The piece that stood out from the others was the Cow Parade campaign i found it elegant and very detailed, the whole idea is very fresh and eyecatching.

I would really enjoy getting to know your company and finding out more on the industry through you. I have also looked at your placements page and i understand that your full till 2009 and i fully appreciate that your a very busy company but if you could offer me some advice either by appointment or emails this would be extremely helpful in my plight.

Many Thanks

Vicky Smith"

Mark Studio work

While researching into Graphic Design companies i found a piece of work based on a group called Mines Advisory Group that a company called http://www.markstudio.co.uk/ designed a piece for. I felt i needed to mention this piece as i found it genius and clever and its something that nobody else has ever thought about.

The group Mines Advisory Group save lives by clearing mines and other explosive weapons and devices and their new campaign is "mind where you put your feet" where their trying to make people aware of whats happening in the world and to think more.

There idea was to put bright red signs up with big bold white writting at bus stops using key words that you find lying around on the pavement like dog poo and chewing gum etc. i just found the whole design facinating and thoughtful.

To view this piece of work click this link http://www.markstudio.co.uk/content/frameset.html then click work and then click on the first icon.

tattoo

www.google.com

http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/miami-ink/slideshow/user_gallery/gallery3/gallery/dirtydiva.jpg

www.BMEZINE.com

tattoo

Although i don't own or have never experienced a tattoo i cant help but love the designs an concepts behind them. Each tattoo has meaning an life and can be a memory that is carried with you for a lifetime.

I have always liked tattoo's but i mainly became interested in them after watching a programme called Miami Ink which fascinated me. Some of the ideas were amazing and the tattoo artists were brilliant the way they could relate to every client and how talented there designs really were.

This was a tattoo created on the programme Miami Ink which is a mermaid. The woman who had the mermaid created wanted it to show strength and power but yet choose a mermaid to keep her girly status intact. When i saw this tattoo finished on the programme i was so amazed i couldnt believe the fine detail and how good it looked.

This was another tattoo created on the programme also. i liked it because it was just like an explosion on her back of happiness which is what the lady wanted she had a playful side to her character an wanted to express that some way and show others she had a dareing side to her aswel. The angel wings in the middle of the tattoo represent her caring and calmer side she quoted "every girl needs a guardian angel on her back".