Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’
A lively conversation with John Waricker.
Chris Butcher | 24.06.2010
‘So any questions,’ were the words John opened AGDA’s ‘A lively conversation with John Waricker’ with last Thursday night.
And lively it was.
John shared his stories, insights and opinions to a back drop of imagery from the recently published ‘The Floating World’ and the Tomato portfolio captivating the small audience for well over 2 hours.
Tomato like Barnbrook (see my post from his talk here) inspired me to question the role of a graphic designer within culture throughout my uni degree. Their work inspired me and challenged me to engage with it. It beckoned me to scratch beneath its surface and draw me into its message. Most importantly it lead me to see the opportunity and importance of storytelling in design. This shaped my design career immensly.
It is difficult to capture the energy of the discussion, but I have put together a list of random points that resonated with me on the night and one question I also continually ask myself as a designer.
Enjoy.
On The Floating World
– White cliffs of Dover. The edge of the land and the sea. Life cycle.
– It began to develop whilst writing code for basic interactive programs during his Masters Degree in Interactivity in the late 70’s. They were waiting for something like an Apple.
– It is a compendium of John. It continues the conversation. It was done for himself, his children and friends.
On Tomato
– They enjoy it, everyone is generous with their own ideas, and they all need their own space to do their own things.
– Their personal work pushes their commercial work in very unexpected directions.
– It comes down to Trainspotting. 15 minutes playing with a photocopier.
– Their work is a conversation with their client.
On being a designer
– Its all about what questions you ask. Ask the RIGHT question, define your point of view and look through that lens to create your work.
– Its about storytelling.
– He does not think about the audience when designing. Instead he trusts his intuitive process. Focusing on the work.
– Market research is an assumption. It assumes you know me.
– He is likes work that is romantic not mechanical. Work that has an ebb and flow.
– Good work sings.
– Its not a job, its a way of life.
On life
– Most people are dull.
– We should aim to make our lives interesting. The human project. If you sit back expecting life to give things to you. You are dull. You have to make it for yourself.
A question that was raised through the conversation
– What is Graphic Design?
AGDA Victoria just posted a short video of ‘highlights’ from the night you can check it out here.
Many thanks to John and all at AGDA for putting on another inspiring and insightful event.
If you have any thoughts on ‘What Graphic Design is to you’ please comment below.
CB
Tags | advice, agda, book, graphicdesign, inspiration, Inspirational, tomato
Categories | Graphic design, Inspirational
Some of the books, mags and websites that keep us inspired
chrisevans | 20.05.2010
BOOKS:
How To Be a Graphic Designer, Without Losing Your Soul Adrian Shaughnessy
No Logo Naomi Klein
It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be Paul Arden
On Brand Wally Olins
Profile Pentagram
Life Style Bruce Mau
Soak, Wash, Rinse, Spin Tolesson Design
Ogilvy on Advertising David Ogilvy
MAGS:
IdN International designers’ Network
Australian Creative
Creative Review
Desktop
Grafik The Magazine for Graphic Design
Eye The International Review of Graphic Design
Monocle
Inside
SITES:
Tags | Advertising, blog, Branding, creative, design, Graphic design, graphicdesign, inspiration, Inspirational, reading, website
Categories | Advertising, Branding, Digital, Found, Graphic design, Illustration, Inspirational, Video
Jonathan Barnbrook Talk
Chris Butcher | 6.05.2010
On his way to take part in the upcoming Sydney Biennale British typographer Jonathan Barnbrook graciously stopped by to share a few candid stories and pieces of advice with Melbourne designers young and not so young.
I was first introduced to Jonathan’s work during University, where his typefaces like Manson and Exocet were used by many students in a ‘devilish’ manner*. His video work for Radio Scotland lead me to appreciate the value of storytelling in graphic design. Its hard to capture the passion, eloquence and humble nature in which he spoke about topics from typedesign, to Starbucks, Adbusters to Japanese Funeral Directors in a few words. But I have endeavoured to do so by gathering a few points that resonated with me on the night. I hope they inspire you.
Ten points of wisdom and quirky facts:
1. Typedesign is the poetry of language.
2. Virus (Jonathan’s typefoundry) was named after a William Burroughs quote… “language is a virus from outer space”.
3. Typefaces speak in the spirit of the age.
4. Have bravery in your work, have passion in your folio.
5. Only when technology is invisible is it of any use.
6. Exocet, has become shorthand for Gothic, this was not his intention.
7. Designers don’t talk enough about how to make the world a more beautiful place.
8. Language is the ammunition we use to change society. Typography is the weapon.
9. David Bowie is a good guy.
10. I put my whole world into my typefaces.
Inspirational stuff to reflect upon. Many thanks to Jonathan for sharing his experiences with us.
*I indeed am also guilty of using Exocet and Mason to support a homage to Buffy the Vampire Slayer on a friends 21st birthday card.
Tags | agda, barnbrook, inspiration, Typography
Categories | Advertising, Graphic design, Inspirational, Video
A reading list for creativity
Jim Antonopoulos | 12.12.2008
Throughout this year I mentored a number of undergraduate students all whom had the same question for me at our last meeting – what books shall I read for inspiration?
I’ve also had conversations with clients and shared our learnings from the different books that have shaped our thinking and have forged our belief that our ability to think laterally, strategise with logic and solve problems creativley is our greatest strength as a creative services firm.
Before I go into the list, I’d like to add that I find inspiration from everywhere – some books below may not be directly related to brand strategy or design, but have formed my thinking in these areas. This list is by no means complete. I will update it again soon, but it should be enough to keep you going until then.
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No Logo - Naomi Klein
This book changed the way I look at design and branding – intelligent and with substance.
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Cosmos - Carl Sagan
About life. I never knew science would have such a profound effect on me, until I read Carl Sagan.
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It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be - Paul Arden
It’s all common sense and learnings by someone who has lived and worked the advertising world. Inspiring. It is as relevant to a graduate entering the industry as it is to a marketing director of a multi-national.
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How to be a graphic designer, without losing your soul - Adrian Shaughnessy
A great book that covers everything a designer needs to know to set out into the big wide world of graphic design. from folio preparation to winning new business.
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On Brand - Wally Olins
The guru on branding. Probably the best branding book around.
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Building Strong Brands and Brand Leadership - David Aaker
Heavy, text-book about strategy and branding concepts, which managers need to deal with.
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Brand Innovation Manifesto - John Grant
A new way at looking at marketing and branding. Helpful stuff for coming up with brand ideas, strategic planning and cracking a brief.
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Profile - Pentagram
A look into how multi-disciplinary design studio Pentagram, works.
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Life Style - Bruce Mau
Designer Bruce Mau on design, his studio, life and process.
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Soak, Wash, Rinse, Spin - Tolesson Design
One of the best studio monographs around.
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Ogilvy on Advertising - David Ogilvy
Anyone involved in advertising, marketing or graphic design should read this book. Mad Men fans will rejoice.
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Problem Solved - Michael Johnson
Case studies on solving business problems.
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The Business Side of Creativity - Cameron Foote
The business side of creativitiy. Starting a studio, invoicing, job planning etc. etc.
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The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell
Clever and insightful, this book focuses on how ideas become widespread movements.
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The Craft of Copywriting - Alastair Crompton
Insight into how an agency works and thinks, as well as some finer details on ‘crafting’ the written word.
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I hope you enjoy the above – I’ll add more in the new year!
Tags | book, inspiration, list, reading
Categories | Tank
TED – Carl Honoré
Jim Antonopoulos | 1.12.2008
Years ago I read an article about ’slow food’ and I fell for the concept in a big way simply because it was a backlash against fast food. The idea that a small population of people can come together to protest in such a positive way, was awe inspiring to me.
Enjoy journalist Carl Honore’s TED speech on ’slow’ (above).
The ’slow food’ movement has a list of objectives at it’s core which appear below: [from Wikipedia]
- forming and sustaining seed banks to preserve heirloom varieties in cooperation with local food systems
- developing an “Ark of Taste” for each ecoregion, where local culinary traditions and foods are celebrated
- preserving and promoting local and traditional food products, along with their lore and preparation
- organizing small-scale processing (including facilities for slaughtering and short run products)
- organizing celebrations of local cuisine within regions (for example, the Feast of Fields held in some cities in Canada)
- promoting “taste education“
- educating consumers about the risks of fast food
- educating citizens about the drawbacks of commercial agribusiness and factory farms
- educating citizens about the risks of monoculture and reliance on too few genomes or varieties
- developing various political programs to preserve family farms
- lobbying for the inclusion of organic farming concerns within agricultural policy
- lobbying against government funding of genetic engineering
- lobbying against the use of pesticides
- teaching gardening skills to students and prisoners
- encouraging ethical buying in local marketplaces
Tags | carlhonore, inspiration, sustainability, ted, Video
Categories | Found, Inspirational, Video