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MA
ILLUSTRATION
2016/2017
Contents Who we are and what we do? Marta Cubeddu Shuyuan Feng Chanida Areewatanasombat Maisie Noble Anna German Matt Hams Ilaria Antolini Xiao Cui Chih Che Yen Margherita Bertellini Alice Power Mercedes Sofia Herrera Velasco Bandi Lee Hsueh Jou HU Sirinda Chatchaichukiet Veronica Rowlands Chiao Huang Xiaohan Li Haruka Abe JI Yun Song Paul Bush Toodland (Thanthorn Leungtongkam) Rose Gerrard Peeticha Kongrit Tin Yan Lee Fan Wu Hyunji Lim Sergio Kano
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HELLO! Who we are and what we do? The MA Communication Design: Illustration course encourages the exploration and understanding of the methods and processes at work in contemporary visual communication. It aims to further develop the students personal practice and approach to the making of images. The course also provides a focus on individual research and inquiry and helps you to understand the significance of the wider cultural role of the visual designer and illustrator. In addition, it will introduce disciplinary and interdisciplinary models of thinking that will underpin your own focused study on the course.
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Marta Cubeddu Buluzu martacubeddu
Our world is mutating, and in the confusion that is surrounding us, it seems we have lost the direction. We are too busy moving around that we have forgotten where we are going. We should all stop a second and take a break to think where we are and where we want to go. Buluzu is a journey into the confusion of the modern society. It is the key to pause the chaos and find the way. Buluzu will not give you any answers but wants to leave you with questions.
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Shuyuan Feng What is Inside? shuyuan91f
Boxes exist everywhere in people’s lives. It is easy to see, but easy to ignore. One of Shuyuan’s friends told her a joke about a yellow box which was on the street in central London. He said this yellow box was used to arrange the dead bodies of homeless people. Through the joke, she developed her own ‘Box stories.’ She felt fiction served her in the safe and comfortable field, however, she figured out that humans cannot survive without connection to reality (including herself). Thus, trying to connect virtual and reality is the key to guide her when making this project.
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Chanida Areewatanasombat ...And me chubbynida www.behance.net/chubbynida3658
The relationships that we have with our family, friends and other people can have a massive impact on our emotions, influencing the way that we think and feel. Relationships can affect anybody, including Chanida. Her animation project is based on her own personal experiences and research into the psychology of relationship theory. By presenting her own perspective, we can learn about the emotions and feelings that occur in a relationship.
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Maisie Noble Beacons maisienoble www.maisienoble.co.uk
Maisie moved to London from Wales in 2010 to study BA Fashion Illustration. After graduating she worked on freelance projects and as an in-house illustrator at Made Visual Motion Graphics Studio. Maisie began an MA in Communication Design Illustration in 2016. Both courses have given her the opportunity to explore new and emerging platforms for illustration, including interactive illustration for app design and illustration/ animation for Virtual Reality. Maisie’s work grows from; her interest in nature & environment, and her desire to spread creativity and make it accessible, enjoyable and a platform for discovery. Maisie believes in the importance of conscience in creativity.
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Anna German So, when are you going to have kids? (a casual interrogation) frau_deutsch_ www.fraudeutsch.co.uk
Anna German’s projects are driven by her research processes. Historical and social contexts are explored to develop narrative compositions filled with metaphor. Though often digitally manipulated, her ink, pencil and watercolour drawings retain a sense of the hand-made. With the project, ‘So, when are you going to have kids? (a casual interrogation)’ Anna aims to shine a light on the taboo world of infertility. The combination of whimsical metaphor and brutal realism tell a painful narrative that belongs not just to the narrator, but to the millions of people worldwide who experience the struggles of fertility treatment.
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Matt Hams Following matthew_hams www.iamhams.com
‘Following’ is a film about what it means when we attempt to exist as an idealised version of who or what we are. Exploring contemporary concerns about the growing influence of technology and social media in our everyday lives, this project looks at how we can be defined by the ‘perfect’ images and ideals we see. What happens when we see something ‘different’ reflected in the mirror? Using the language of early silent-era film, ‘Following’ explores these issues by reimagining them as a bitesize Gothic horror tale in which the boundaries of the ‘ideal’ are challenged by supernatural forces from beyond.
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Ilaria Antolini Inside the Soul, the Soul Inside ilariantolini www.ilariaantolini.com
Ilaria Antolini is a London-based illustrator and interior designer, originally from Verona, Italy. In her studies, she has developed design-based thinking skills that help her to create projects with strong concepts that solve problems. Ilaria believes that exchanging ideas with people is fundamental and stimulating which lead her to create projects which free her creatively and let her thoughts and imagination fly.
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Her most recent work, ‘Inside the Soul, the Soul Inside’ is a project that has the aim to answer the questions ‘what is the soul? ’ and ‘How do we discover and take care of it? ’ It is a card-based game, that takes the player on a journey where they discover the soul. Moreover, it is an opportunity to take a rest from the frenzy of everyday life, contemplate and find oneself.
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Xiao Cui Cabinets of Curiosities mintdionysos trinitycuimingxi
Xiao Cui is crazy about collecting the fantastic items in this world. She created a collection dealer that uses marvelous ‘cabinets of curiosities’ to keep his customers information in his mind. There are two parts to the project: a handmade book containing details about the customers and a collection box which brings these details to life. The results are a reading experience which is funny and interesting.
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Chih Che Yen Wonder Of Solitude fingerfroger
Chih Che’s project ‘Wonder Of Solitude’ is an A to Z guide book for exploring positive solitude. Solitude can be easily related to loneliness, however, people can benefit from the advantages of solitude in daily lives. She wants to emphasize that in this busy modern society, the ability to enjoy and feel at ease in one’s own company is important. Chih Che uses 26 words and images with vivid colours printed by Risograph to present the joy of solitude. This book aims to encourage the audience to take part in activities which they haven’t tried to do alone before.
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Margherita Bertellini Ascention marghe.ber www.margheritabertellini.it
After getting a degree in interior design she moved to London to study an MA in Communication Design in Illustration where she is currently living and working. In her work, Margherita believes in the importance of incorporating traditional techniques with a digital approach. She is deeply interested in printmaking and bookbinding. Margherita’s work evolves from an evocative and surreal aesthetic.
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Alice Power Perception www.aliphylactic.com
How often do we judge people based on impressions that are outside of their control, like appearance, the situation or their outward persona? What makes someone look ‘good’ or ‘evil’? Who are we to label those around us when we might not know the true person behind the facade? Alice Power’s work focuses on shining a light and bringing awareness to how damaging it can be to judge someone based on assumptions. Using animation and careful use of lighting to communicate the different facets of personality, ‘Perception’ aims to make the audience aware that true colours often take time to become evident.
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Mercedes Sofia Herrera Velasco Personalities www.sofiahv.com
Sofia H.V. is an illustrator and character designer from Mexico. She draws inspiration from diverse sources such as animated films, visual artists, illustrators and personal experiences. Through her work, she seeks to communicate messages and explore ideas that may come from a commissioned brief or are inspired by personal interests. She would like her work to cause an emotional or thought-provoking experience that can lead to further reflection or provide a positive impact. Although she is interested in approaching different subjects, she tends to be drawn mostly to people: to recreate and interpret their gestures, emotions, thoughts and worlds.
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Bandi Lee My Transparent Friend This project is a children’s book story about a girl called Jamie. She is very self-conscious about her appearance. One day when she was sad after being scolded by her mother, she met a small friend who had a transparent body. They snuck out of the house in pursuit of freedom. Jamie was finally able to cast off her anxiety and learn how to understand other people’s feelings. Through this project, Bandi wanted to convey to children that they should find their beautiful inner stars and understand that appearance is not the most important thing by which to judge other people.
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Hsueh Jou HU The Memory of Memo the Cat heyjoujou42
What would we be like if we lost our memory? This is a story about a cat named Memo that puts lots of his memories in plastic balls. One day he came up with an idea of sharing these balls with people. However, he was not aware that these memory balls easily roll away. Using a ball as a container of memory, Hsueh Jou aims to develop a special format of book that lets readers experience Memo’s memory.
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Sirinda Chatchaichukiet Soul Far Soul Good fernsirinda
‘Gift giving’ and ‘Illustration’ both play the same role, allowing people to connect and express their feelings, emotions and messages with each other. Can we use the role of illustration to improve the value of ‘giving’? Sirinda’s project aims to do so by using the specific qualities of illustration to provide the best personalised gift service for long-distance lovers. No matter how far apart we are, these special gifts keep us connected.
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Veronica Rowlands A Universal Trigger for the ‘Inner Child’ in adults Veronica Rowlands is an East London based Illustrator and Surface Pattern Designer whose work is predominantly focused on evoking nostalgia to the viewer - with Vintage dolls being her main source of inspiration for many years. Veronica has a quirky and childlike style, which creates a nostalgic edge (reminiscent of childhood to many in her works). She comes from a textile background and use of pattern and inspiration from tactile/transitional objects is apparent in her work.
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Chiao Huang What do you see? www.chihchiao.com
This project includes a series of narratives about zoos, drawn from Chiao’s observations into the fields of education, scientific research, conservation, and recreation. Aiming to encourage the viewer the reflect on how humans see animals, Chiao’s work looks at different perspectives of modern zoos around the world. Although some of her ideas can be tough to digest, she manages to make this controversial issue more approachable via striking colour palettes and interesting composition. The illustrations are inked with cheerful blue, yellow and fluorescent pink, exaggerating the ridiculous pleasure of zoo animals.
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Xiaohan Li Keep My Cat xiaohanillo www.keepmycat.tk
Have you ever thought about what job you will be doing in 20 years’ time? Are robots replacing us all? One day in 2037 you find yourself needing a job in order to avoid the government taking away your life’s joy – your pet cat. You go on a job hunting mission. Play this web game and find out whether you succeed in keeping your cat.
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Haruka Abe Searching for Attractive House halunohaluka.tumblr.com
What makes a house attractive? When you look at a London street, sometimes the buildings can look very similar. However, when you take a closer look you’ll find that each and every house has small differences and details that come from the people that have lived there. Is it these details that make a house attractive? Through researching houses and museums this project aims to find out.
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JI Yun Song Otherness feature of East End London This project was inspired by Italo Calvino’s book Invisible Cities. In one city we can find all happiness and unhappiness, good and evil, order and chaos, co-existing. Jl Yun Song chose the East End of London because the area encompasses similarities with what Calvino writes about. Her experimental book shows the journey from the past to the future of the East End of London. The experimental book shows the journey from the dark and dusty past to a more hopeful future for the East End.
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Paul Bush Midnight artistformerlyknownasprints paul-bush.com
Inspired by writings of John Paul Sartre to Emily Dickinson, the Glass Animals studio album ‘Gooey’ to hip-hop influenced beat tapes; Midnight explores an idea of visual atmospheres,along a hazy narrative of self-discovery. The book is entirely risograph printed and features an accompanying soundtrack,inspired by both the projects imagery and conceptual content.
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Toodland (Thanthorn Leungtongkam) Toodland toodland
The goal of Toodland is to create designer toys, reflecting the imagination, memories, and experience of the illustrator. The characters and backgrounds are based on the beliefs and unrealistic circumstances that only happen in Toodland. The project aims to present the characters in a fun, and humorous way.
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Rose Gerrard Slomojo Rose Gerrard uses her background in psychology to influence her work. She considers open conversation about mental health as important and her most recent project reflects this. Slomojo is an app designed for children to learn to understand their mental health through games and mindful activities such as yoga and meditation. The purpose of the app is predominantly educational, but emphasis has been placed upon games and interactive elements, such as building your own avatar, to encourage children to want to use it.
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Peeticha Kongrit Eureka Box: The Emergency Kit for Creative Block faanpeeti www.faanpeeti.com
How can we become more creative? Peeticha found out that one of the best solutions is to exercise the brain to see the connection in different things. The more unexpected the connection, the more dramatic the breakthrough. Eureka Box is a game, which challenges you to create a story based on random things. There are 2 main sections in the box. First, a chocolate bar for you to relax and stop thinking. Secondly, the card game that asks you to create the unusual story from the random cards.
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Tin Yan Lee Foodie Prince www.tinyanlee.com
Foodie Prince is a webcomic about a prince that falls from the fantasy kingdom as a baby, and grows up on earth loving to eat and cook. When he eventually returns to his kingdom, he is not the typical prince that people expect and he struggles to adapt. However, he learns how to be himself despite the circumstances, and continues to do what he loves. People around him grow to appreciate and love him for who he is.
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Fan Wu Parallel World Whether in fictional books, movies, or our daily lives, we often mention a ‘parallel world’. In order to have an exciting life and express the imagination, Fan Wu created various stories about parallel universes, including an adventure in a giant’s nostril and a restaurant where human meat is the main ingredient.
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Hyunji Lim Look After Your Anxiety www.hyunji-lim.com
In a modern society, people tend to be vulnerable to mental health problems including anxiety disorders. However, due to conservative attitudes towards mental health issues, it is still difficult to talk openly about it in South Korea. Hyunji Lim aims to improve people’s perceptions of the common mental health problems. “Look After Your Anxiety” is her second project dealing with anxiety disorders following the first in 2013, “Look After Your Tears”. This project is composed of two long illustrations, “Falling into the abyss” and “Climbing up from the abyss”, representing the feeling of anxiety disorders and the process of recovery by various metaphors.
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Sergio Kano Late Blossom sergio.kano
Sergio Kano aims to inspire, delight and surprise through his work. While at first glance his work is energetic and vibrating with colour and form, viewers will also begin to awake to the dark undertones in the details engulfing the artwork. Amongst these details he plays on the parasitic idea of the society today. Late Blossom is a book of desire that tells sexual stories that lead to death. The book aims to illustrate different scenes with different techniques that represent real problems in our society, taboos or awkward situations.
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