watch

this advert will shock

An excellent example of shock tactics in television advertising. This is a hard hitting, well directed campaign, created for MTV to communicate a very serious message about the spread of HIV to females under thirty. The target audience is directly addressed, both through the characters shown and the position of the commercial (MTV directed at teenagers and young adults).It breaks down preconceptions of the virus only circulating in homosexual communities, which is a barrier that needed to be overcome to reach everyone who ould be affected. Hetrosexual couples have been used to get this message accross. The main concept is that unprotected sex is a risk that could kill you, possibly inspired by russian roulette - well this is what I thought of.

There has been much discussion and contraversy surounding his advert, due to making the victims seem oblivious and the carriers vicious psychopaths and blase about the violent deaths. The message being put accross suggests a sudden and definate death which is far from the ruth as it is a long suffering disease. It has been sen as insensitive to families of victims and victims themselves as many would have been ignorant or ill informed about the sprad of the disease, some say it is the lifestyle that needs to be challenged rather than the individual.

cubey











The first composition is how it all began, from an image I created with umbrellas, butterflys and 2 point rotational symmetry (proffesor Hann would be proud), it has somewhat evolved since then, into a variety of "organic" designs. Colour schemes inspired by shabby chic and Louis style decoration and wallpaper motifs. All created in photoshop through layering, cropping and sequencing. Quite a relaxing exercise, very theraputic!

I have entered a couple in the tiger print wrapping paper competition as I feel they are quite origional and in line with furniture and textile trends at the moment.

I have decided to create a sister blog just for my patterns, because I seem to have been much too over inspired and created hundreds. Its mainly for my own amusement, but if you want

take a look

cube

This cube would work a lot better if the patterns were exact squares, but unfortunatly, they're a bit lopsided - will try to rectify once photoshop decides its scratch disks are no longer full.

for anyone who did the old spice brief

if you are an anchor man fan you will love these new old spice commercials

ad 1

ad 2

behind the scenes

Mac or P.C Rap

Taking the contraversial Mac adds a little further, a rap has been produced mimiking the personfification of the two computers. Very funny.

mac or p.c?

the olive tree - signage by Daniel Watson

Dan is a very good friend from foundation and has just finished a signage project for a local european restaurant. The sign has been beautifully and carefully created by hand. Each letter cut with a jigsaw and individually painted. It suits the style of the restaurant and reflects the mediteranean atmosphere.

a visual adaption to word association

The great exhibition 2007

Every year the Royal college of art holds a summer show for their postgraduate students to display their work, gain contacts and attract possible employers. This is the first time I have been and I was amazed by the extremely high standard and range of work produced. Students work ranged from fine art paintings, to car design, animation, jewellery, textiles and products design.

I spoke to a man who had created a bench with a rotating back, which stopped with a motion sensor when people want to sit down (for advertising purposes, like rotating billboards), and he discussed the process of making some of his poster/light projects with me and that he had already fround someone to start producing them.

I watched a film reel of about 12 peoples animations which were all very unique - most had a political or moral standing, very arty films. However they were incredibly well made and have inspired me to try again at some animation. Perhaps a collaboration with someone else. Once I have mastered the software, the world is my Oyster.

If you are anywhere in the London area this is an absolute MUST SEE exhibition. I think its on for a couple of weeks. Every artist has their own free postcards and buisiness cards to remind you of their work and inspire you with your own.

also its free

exhibition

last night i decided...

that I have too many unused illustrations and nowhere to put them. So I spent the day creating a range of cards by manipulatig some of my illustrations, adding copy and making a few new ones, under the logo pericheri - we`ll see how they do. The basic concept I want to develop though which I think could have a market is, everyday cards for every day people, the shoe borrowing card would be an example, cards which could be sent for no particular occasion.

for example:
"thanks for helping me with my homework"
"I'm sorry I spilt coffee down your new designer top"
"I'm sorry I stole your boyfriend"
"I'm sorry I threw up in your car.... too many martinis!"
"I lied about being busy, I was really just watching big brother"
"I may have accidently set fire to your garden... please forgive me"
you get the idea. Simple things which would make people laugh or they could relate to. what do you think?

Books on graphics, illustration, photography, motion, type

Type

*Stop stealing sheep and find out how type works - Erik Spiekermann & E.M. Ginger

Packaging

*How to fold - the pepin press

Drawing

*Drawing portraits, faces and figures - Giovanni Civari

*Figure drawing for fashion design - the pepin press

My dissertation - Shock advertising

*Consumer behavior - Michael R Solomon

*Contraversies in contemorary advertising - Kim Sheehan

Miscillaneous

*Sign Wars, the cluttered landscape of advertising - Robert Goldman & Stephen Papson

*The power of paper in graphic design - Catherine Fishel

*More paperwork, exploring the potetial of paper in design and architecture - Nancy Williams

*Fresh ideas, limited budget design - Betsy Newberry & Kate York

*Design sence,graphic design on a limited budget - Anistatia R Miller & Jared M Brown

*Rant emigre No.64- various

recycled fashion reminded me of...

the clothes I used to make for dolls, I know its childish, but they were quite good. Made from denim and Nylon scraps from old clothes and hand sewn. Might try on a slightly bigger scale now that I have "Rambo" my mannequin. WATCH THIS SPACE!

Packaging design - make up

Fifties style has been very popular in the fashion world over the last few years and this is really shown in expensive makeup packaging as well as clothing, Benefit is the main offender, displaying 50s woman, makeup and hair styles. The look is very popular and really attracts attention and fllowers of fashion. Its much more exciting than packaging that just states what it is. It is asthetically pleasing and a keep sake.

anti child abuse campaigns

The use of Childlike illustration and handwriting make these adverts all the more disturbing and hard hitting.Imagining a child saying these things or having to deal with them at such a young age is frightening. Parents and families will be most affected as they will be able to identify.

The use of toy imagery represents innocence and the dark colour gradients suggest something more sinister being present.

with the ban coming up its gotta be fag ends...

It is largely the fault of advertising that cigarettes have become such a huge lifestyle choice. During the first and second world war smoking was promoted as healthy and attractive.It is only recently that we are seeing the true consequences of this dangerous habit. It is very difficult now that this has been established to break people away from their addiction.

Banksy

I have been looking at the graffiti/stencil art of banksy - a London based artist, whose work represents and attacks political issues, it reminds me of some work I did during my foundation year with converting photographs to stencils, which turned out very successfully. This could be something interesting to explore ith clothing - either using paint or bleach.

I also came accross this video which reminded me of him, contemporary graffiti combined with rap culture. They seem to go hand in hand as a lifestlye.

TZU - Dambusters

Mary Queen of shops

Mary an interior designer and marketer helps shops reinvent themselves and rebrand to get back into public favour. Recently launched design television, interesting theories on colour, decoration and attracting customers, links in well with graphic design and understanding consumer behaviour. Great show, inspired me to look into shop fitting and window displays and their effects on the brand and sales.

VWs project fox copenhagen

*art cars
*hotel fox

If I could go anywhere in the world, it would be here, it's a designers dream come true with all the frills

Brilliant very simple animation

simon Nonay - Huskworks

Paul Ross photography - recycled fashion

An inspirational look at combining ecological issues with fashion. Fashion designers were given the chance to design whatever they liked, as long as it was being reused or recycled. It would be interesting to see what people would come up with in areas other than fashion.