PERSONAL RECORD Pheli m Webb - Critica l Studies - Gr a phic Design Hn d Ye a r 2
FEEL THE SQUEEZE! Introduced in 1940, Fanta is not just the second oldest brand of The Co-
no real integration between bottle and new logo or label; it’s like the two
ca-Cola Company but also its second largest brand outside the U.S.. (The
things were brought together by parallel forces. (As a counter example of
number one in both instances, obvs, is Coke itself.) While its main flavor
this done right, I’m thinking of the recent Rivella bottle-label-logo combo
is orange, Fanta is available in over 100 flavors around the world where
that all comes together in harmony.)
its available in 180 different markets. Earlier this year, Fanta introduced a new bottle designed by Drinkworks that is available in Poland, Italy, Romania, Serbia, and Malta. There is no indication this will (or will not) extend to the U.S. market.
As a bonus, Fanta is speaking a new visual language of what look like paper-cut letters and shapes that are meant to attract youngsters. This could potentially be good and while perusing their Instagram accounts it almost is but it falls apart at the details: the font NEEDED to be OpenType
The last time we talked about Fanta was in 2008, when Office in San Fran-
so that it would replace repeating characters with stylistic alternates so
cisco did a great redesign and introduced a groovy and vibrant illustrative
that all those “S”s and “E”s don’t look so repetitive. The square images also
visual language. The logo still holds well after 8 years and in most markets
add fruits with funny looks that, again, could be very fun but the execu-
it will continue so there is no need to mourn it yet or, if you dislike the
tions aren’t quite well resolved. While the paper-cut letters have some
logo, there is no need to celebrate yet. The new logo answers the same
semblance to the letters in the logo, there is still a disconnect in style and
challenge of “soda!”, “fun!”, “pay attention to me!” as well as the old logo in
approach that make the two elements clash.
the polar opposite end of the spectrum: instead of curvy and plump letters it uses hard-angled, straight letters. Both are appropriate, both have its pros and cons. I actually like the new lettering in the logo a lot; it has a bold energy, a nice dimensional effect with some shadows (that are perhaps too subtle), and the smirk in the second “A” is cute enough. The leaf is terrible, unfortunately, and far too distracting as are the orange slices. If those two elements were better resolved this could be a really great soda logo. It feels like beverage makers are trying way too hard with their bottle shapes, trying to nail the next best thing to Coca-Cola’s curvy bottle. The goal with this one was to make it look like squeezing an orange I suppose but, to me, it looks like wringing a wet rag. It’s not bad but maybe the effect is too exaggerated for its own good. It’s also like they just flipped the old bottle upside down and thought, “Huh, how about this?”. There is
To stay inconsistent, there is also the look in the print ads above that rely heavily on Omnes but used very poorly and then whatever it is that the TV spot is doing which brings in none of the other elements. Overall, there is a lack of direction and consistency across elements and applications that maybe with time will settle into a better groove as there is some potential somewhere in all of this. Having different looks is to be expected from global brands but this might be pushing it in terms of creating unnecessary confusion and a sense of lack in quality control
http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_packaging_for_fanta.php
This article talks about the redesign of Fanta’s logo and packaging (bottle) I really liked this article as it is shows that sometimes all brands no matter how big they are sometimes may need a redesign. I found the redesign really interesting also, especially the packaging. Normally when company’s make a redesign they make minimum changes but Fanta decided to take a risk and make huge changes all at once.
ALDI REBRANDS TO APPEAR MORE “CONTEMPORARY” The new branding has been designed by German consultancy Il-
Albrecht in German town Essen. Her sons Karl and Theo Albrecht later
lion Markensocietaet, and features a brighter colour palette and more
took over the store, and set up two separate businesses – Aldi Nord (North)
three-dimensional look.
and Aldi Süd (South) – which operated in different areas of Germany.
Supermarket Aldi has rebranded, with the aim of creating a more “con-
In 1962, it changed its name to Aldi to combine the words “Albrecht”
temporary” image for the brand.
and “Discount”, then expanded internationally in the 1970s, with the two
The new logo has been designed by Germany-based consultancy Illion Markensocietaet and features a refined border, new logotype, brighter
companies operating in different countries. Aldi Süd currently operates in the UK.
colour palette and new icon. Aldi is a German brand.
Original version of current logo introduced in 1982
A shorter, bolder, sans-serif logotype has been incorporated, alongside a
The first “Aldi” logo was introduced in 1975, as a white sans-serif logotype
new “A” icon.
set against a dark blue background in a rectangular frame. The “A”-sym-
More three-dimensional look A gradient has been added to the logo’s dark blue background and “A” symbol, and the three-lined frame now features brighter colours with a more consistent width for the three lines. There is a brighter colour palette with a lighter blue, darker background blue and more distinctive border colours. The overall effect is a more three-dimensional take on the previous branding. Aldi says it has refined the old logo while keep its colours and the “A” symbol to retain “strong recognition value” for the brand. A more “modern appearance” for Aldi The rebrand aims to give the supermarket a “modern appearance” to sit alongside new “major developments”, says Aldi, such as refreshed product ranges, store redesigns and an upcoming pop-up store in Germany. Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd Aldi was founded by Anna Albrecht in 1914, as a small food store called
bol logo with a three-lined frame was originally introduced in 1982, and last refreshed in 2006. The new branding has rolled out in China, using characters from the Chinese alphabet. It will begin to roll out worldwide from June this year. Illion Markensocietaet was not available for interview at the time of publishing.
https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/13-19-march-2017/aldi-rebrands-appear-contemporary/
I’m not fully sure what I think about this redesign. At times I feel like it is modern and then other times I feel it’s out dated. This article describes how this redesign is contemporary. It also talks about how the brand wanted to create a more modern feel for there upcoming “major developments.” Although i’m not entirely sure about the redesign, i can understand the reasons the wanted to update their logo.
WHEN TO SAY YES TO WORKING FOR FREE Designer, illustrator and art director Gordon Reid – aka Middle Boop – ex-
Playing Arts has a huge online presence and a great reputation. I’ve spo-
plains when it’s ok to work for free, and when you should tell those brands
ken to a number of artists who have worked with them who really felt the
and ‘clients’ to go to hell.
benefit of being featured in their decks of cards.At the time – as I had just
As a professional in the creative industry, there are all sorts of opportunities that could come your way – with varied timeframes, budgets and promises. Whether it’s creating an above-the-line ad campaign with a couple of years usage and a buyout, or banging out a ‘Your TV License Is Overdue’ letter template – which was certainly the pinnacle of my career – it’s often very tempting to try and take them all on. This is especially true in the current climate and no matter how experienced and established you are, you will always get stung at some point with a troublesome or non-paying client. Or a project that falls flat on its arse, leaving you out of pocket and not even with the ‘portfolio piece’ that was promised.
got out of a particularly long and un-website-worthy project – I needed something to get me back on track with creating exciting work. A project that I felt I’d done a good job on would create a buzz – and it certainly did. I think I got about 1,000 extra Behance followers because of that (If that means anything really). When to say ‘no’ If you’re being asked to work for free on the basis that “you do this one for free and there will be lots more work down the line that might pay” – or to do it for “the exposure” then run a mile.Don’t do any work for free for any bigger brands or agencies, unless you can quantify a defined benefit.
That’s unfortunately just the nature of the beast in our industry and I have
In general, the big boys have the money to reimburse you for your time,
found through my career, it’s really important to learn when to say no to
and therefore should do.The amount of projects where huge brands try
offers – to suss out the genuinely solid projects from the ones that are
to get away with not paying for creative time is disgusting. The big one re-
just a waste of your time. Of course, I have learned this the hard way – but
cently was for Virgin Trains. The premise was, Virgin Trains wanted a new
here’s my approach to separating the wheat from the chaff.
beer label for their Virgin branded beer and asked designers to send in
I’m certainly not against free work. In fact, I believe it’s imperative that you do free work, but it has to be for the right reasons – and on your terms (as much as you can). There’s no point taking on a piece of that won’t allow your own style or your own voice to shine through the work.My rule of thumb for free work is to only go for it if there’s a well-thought-through
their ideas and finished artwork for free.Someone somewhere was then to choose their favourite and the winner would win the ‘great prize’ of two train tickets. There is something fundamentally wrong here. A brand as big as Virgin blatantly wasting aspiring creative time with something like this is really not on.
brief behind the project which will allow you to create a piece that might
This is by no means an isolated case. I have been asked to create work for
potentially be award-winning or allow you to experiment and develop
nothing more than exposure for some of the largest advertising agencies
your style. You’ll enjoy the work and it will be a talking point for bigger
in the world, huge high-street chains and even one of London’s largest
projects that will pay.
football teams. All of these clients have the money to pay properly for
Here’s an example.
work.
http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/features/creative-business/when-say-yes-working-for-free/
These cases belittle our industry – and the more people that say yes to working for free, the more of them that will crop up. It’s a huge struggle for many people in the creative industries to make ends meet and unfortunately, offering exposure or ‘tickets’ really isn’t enough for good intelligent thought and strong application. When to say ‘yes’ So is it ever ok to say yes to working for free for big brands? Occasionally yes, as I did here for Coke.Being a part of the creation of artwork someone like Coca Cola is always going to be beneficial. I would usually hit them with a good-sized estimate if it was a commercial job, with usage and a buyout included on top. But this piece was for the Coke 100 show and exhibition – so it was more about having a bit of fun and creating some-
In this article from “Digital Arts Online” Gordon Reid from Middle Boop, talks about when its right time to work for free and when its not. for me this article was a very interesting read as a few time i have been offered to work for free, and this decision can be hard to make.
thing that I knew would get a good amount of press, which is sometimes worth more than the fee.
4 years ago I got asked to do a quick poster for a drag competition (of course free of charge), 4 years later, I’m still here creating posters and advertisements for this annual event and getting paid for it! I’ve also been creating other advertisement for other events this person holds. The reason I went ahead with this project was because I was given total creative freedom, like this article states if your working for free, you should be given creative freedom to express your creativity as a designer, so it can benefit you, and show people your voice as a designer, and maybe even potentially create an award winning design. This article has really helped me establish I when its a good time to work for free and when its not.
MILITARY HOSPITALS ADOPT 3D PRINTERS TO CREATE CUSTOM PROSTHETIC HANDS, ARMS AND LEGS Five US hospitals for military veterans have been given 3D desktop print-
Stratasys 3D Printers are being installed at VA hospitals in Puget Sound,
ers, materials and training by Stratasys to enable the development of cus-
San Antonio, Albuquerque, Orlando and Boston. Stratasys said it is also
tom orthotics, prostheses and anatomical models.
providing 3D printing materials and training along with support.
The five “core” hospitals received the Stratasys Mojo 3D printers, (below)
“This 3D printing network is a significant step forward in how we ap-
which were then integrated into a collaborative network that allows doc-
proach patient treatments. The technology not only enables 3D models
tors and researchers to leverage 3D prints for medical training and pa-
of a patient’s unique anatomy for diagnosis and treatment, but can also
tient care.
be used to engineer personalized health solutions for veterans,” VA radiologist Beth Ripley, who is leading the initiative, stated in a news release.
If a VA doctor comes up with a new design for a medical training model or prosthetic device for a patient, it can be shared across hospitals where the CAD files can also be customized. “Even those sites within the VA network that don’t have the printers can leverage them,” a Stratasys spokesman stated. “They send the 3D file to one of the core sites and a prosthetic, medical training device, etc., can be built.”
A military veteran is fitted for his 3D-printed prosthesis The Mojo Professional desktop 3D printers use fused deposition modeling, a method that melts and then extrudes polymer filament in layer after successive layer to create an object from a digital file. The printer, which uses only acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABS, a common plastic polymer), can create objects as large as 5-in. x 5-in. x 5-in. in size. Multiple printed parts can be assembled into larger prostheses or models.
http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/printing/military-hospitals-adopt-3d-printers-create-custom-prosthetic-hands-arms-legs/
This article has been of real interest to me, as for a long time before realising my passion for art could become an actual career, I was determined to become a doctor. It is amazing to think now my passion for art, design and technology could potentially be used for medical use. I’ve had a ,little bit of experience in 3D, not enough to create something this complex, but it is intriguing to know I could possibly use my design skills to create something so important to change peoples lives.
LEGO CHANGES BULK BUY POLICY AFTER AI WEIWEI BACKLASH Lego has said it is reversing its policy on bulk purchases and will no longer
China is Lego’s fastest growing market and the company wouldn’t want
ask customers what they want to use the bricks for.
to irritate Beijing. However, as Lego might attest, few would want to bat-
The U-turn follows a recent controversy involving Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. In October last year, Ai accused Lego of censorship when it refused to sell its bricks directly to him. The company said its policy was to reject requests if it believed the bricks would be used to make a political statement. Ai is known for his criticism of the Chinese government as well as for being one of the world’s leading contemporary artists. He wanted the bricks for an artwork on political dissidents. The artist ended up using “fake” bricks donated to him by the public for an exhibition in Melbourne, Australia.Ai appeared to react to Lego’s decision on Wednesday by posting a picture on Instagram of a young boy sticking bricks onto his face, accompanied by a grinning emoji caption. How Lego got political in China - Celia Hatton, BBC News When Lego first refused to sell a bulk order of plastic bricks to Ai Weiwei in September, he’s thought to have kept the news to himself. But a few weeks later, the announcement that a new Legoland theme park would open in Shanghai led the artist to reveal Lego’s decision to stay away from projects that had a “political agenda”. It was a surprising decision by Lego. After all, Ai Weiwei had used Lego before. He created a series of portraits of political dissidents that appeared at an exhibition in Alcatraz prison in 2014. Back in October, the artist tied Lego’s financial interests in China with its decision to refuse his order. His accusation has some merit: KIRKBI, the private Danish company that owns the Lego brand also owns a significant amount of shares in Merlin Entertainment, the British company that operates Legolands around the world.
tle the feisty Ai Weiwei.In a statement posted on its website on Tuesday, Lego said it used to ask customers ordering bulk purchases for the “thematic purpose” of their project, as it did not want to “actively support or endorse specific agendas”.“However, those guidelines could result in misunderstandings or be perceived as inconsistent, and the Lego Group has therefore adjusted the guidelines for sales of Lego bricks in very large quantities,” it said. As of 1 January the company will instead ask that customers make clear the group does not support or endorse their projects, if exhibited in public.Lego’s earlier decision to refuse Ai’s request angered the artist, who accused the company of censorship and discrimination, and of attempting to define political art. The artist told the BBC he welcomed Lego’s change of heart.“I think Lego made a good move, I think this would be a small victory for freedom of speech.”The artist also linked Lego’s stance with business interests in China.The controversy sparked a public backlash resulting in supporters around the world offering to donate toy bricks. Ai set up “Lego collection points” in different cities, and ended up making a new series of artworks based on the incident as a commentary on freedom of speech and political art. Correction: This article was changed to make it clear that Ai Weiwei’s Melbourne exhibition used non-Lego bricks.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-35299069
I found this article very interesting, because as an artist restrictions can be very disheartening especially when you have a big project in mind. This article talks about how lego is now allowing people to purchase their bricks in bulk, but want artists to state that lego does not endorse these projects. Before this Artist Ai Weiwei was creating a political statement with lego bricks but could not purchase them in bulk due to their restrictions and fear of creating controversy. This has been not only been a big step forward for artists, but a big step forward for freedom of speech.
PANTONE NAMES GREENERY AS 2017 COLOUR OF THE YEAR The yellow-green shade has been chosen to represent “restoration, re-
lifestyle, as well as socio-economic conditions.
newal and hope” in light of a politically turbulent past year. Pantone has unveiled its colour of the year for 2017, naming Pantone 150343 Greenery as the shade of choice.
Greenery adds “freshness” in graphic design Pantone says it has partnered with tech company Airbnb this year to bring the colour of the year “to life” through “an experience” in early 2017.
To represent “hope”
It is yet to confirm what this will be.
The yellow-green hue has been chosen to represent “restoration” and “re-
Pantone Colour of the Year has been going since 2000, and the company
newal”, and provide “hope” says Pantone.
says the chosen colour goes on to play a “key influence” in product devel-
“Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the hope we collectively yearn for amid a complex social and political landscape,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at the Pantone Colour Institute. The colour has also been chosen to represent the trend of introducing more green and natural elements into urban planning and architectural spaces in recent years. For instance, green walls have become a popular contemporary feature for headquarters and consumer shops for brands such as Apple.
Pantone goes back to choosing just one colour The yellow-green shade takes over from Serenity and Rose Quartz, the two colours of the year for 2016, a light blue and light pink shade respectively. Pantone Colour of the Year has been running for 17 years, and 2016 was the first year that two shades were chosen rather than one. Pantone decides its colour of the year based on its “colour experts” looking at the year’s trends in entertainment, film, fashion, design, travel and
opment and purchasing decisions for industries including fashion, home furnishings, industrial, packaging and graphic design. The company says that green shades add “freshness” to graphic design applications, and convey wellbeing and health, while their application to interiors provide “respite” and create an illusion of “nature indoors”.
https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/5-11-december-2016/pantone-names-greenery-2017-colour-year/
For the year 2017 Pantone have named Pantone 15-0343 as the colour of the year. I found this very interesting as its unusual to see the colour green especially this type of vibrant green. From reading the article Pantone chose this colour to represent, “Restoration, renewal and hope�. Although we are nearly half way through the 2017 year, I have not seen this colour used majorly in design, so it makes me wonder does the Pantone colour of the year have influence on the design industry.
AMAZON’S NEW STORE CONCEPT LETS CUSTOMERS “JUST WALK OUT” Customers will be charged automatically for the items they pick up when leaving the store, using the same technologies found in self-driving cars. Amazon has revealed plans for a convenience store where customers don’t have to check-out and are charged automatically via an app instead.
Amazon Go’s “just walk out” technology – similar to that seen in self-driving cars – uses computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning algorithms in order to automatically detect when products are taken from or returned to the shelves.
Virtual shopping basket The app user’s items are then kept track of in a virtual basket, and after leaving the store they are charged automatically to their Amazon account. The first Amazon Go store is expected to open in Seattle in the US in early 2017.
Fresh food and branded items The 167m2 space will sell fresh food, made on site by chefs or local kitchens, alongside branded food and cupboard essentials. Amazon has not yet confirmed if the store concept will roll out further.
https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/5-11-december-2016/amazon-unveils-check-free-store-concept/
I was truly amazed by this concept. With our lives getting busier and busier we are relying more and more on technology to help us out i every single way. Our phones are an important part of ou lives now and to develop something that has this much impact on how we do things would be amazing. Although I’m not sure how the security measures would work for this concept i still think it would be something to consider worth developing.
APPLE UNVEILS “EASY-TO-USE” VIDEO APP TO RIVAL SNAPCHAT AND INSTAGRAM Clips allows users to combine video clips, photos and music in one video,
A live titles function allows the user to add animated captions and titles
which can then be shared on social media.
which are generated automatically as they speak, appearing on-screen in sync with their voice.
Apple has announced the launch of its new video editing app Clips, which is set to rival Snapchat and Instagram’s stories function.
Product(Red) iPhone and updated iPad
The “easy-to-use” app – which can be used on both iPhone and iPad – lets
Several dozen music soundtracks are also available to add to clips, which
users create multi-clip videos “without timelines, tracks or complicated
automatically adjust to the length of the video.
editing tools”, says Apple. Videos created on Clips can be shared via iMessage, as well as on InstaClips adopts several user interface (UI) features which are similar to both
gram, Facebook and other social media platforms.
Snapchat and Instagram’s stories. These include a download button which allows you to save a version of the video to your photo and video library, and a “hold to record” button which appears at the bottom of the screen but is more prominent in both size and colour than in the other two apps.
Snapchat-style filters
Apple has also announced a special edition of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus handsets in a red aluminium finish, to mark the tech company’s more than decade-long relationship with AIDS charity (Red), and an updated version of the iPad with a brighter 25cm retina display.
Clips will launch on the App Store from April and will be free to download, while the the updated iPad is available now and the Product(Red)
Users are able to touch this single button to shoot live video and take photos, or add them directly from their photo library.
They can then add Snapchat-style filters such as a comic book effect, emojis, shapes and full-screen posters with animated backgrounds.
special edition iPhone will be available online and in-store from 24 March.
https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/20-26-march-2017/apple-unveils-easy-use-video-app-rival-snapchat-instagram/
Social media is the centre of everyones world right now. The development of social media has connected everyone around the world, and is available at our finger tips, quite literally. Both Snapchat and Instagram are one of the worlds leading social medias which people use. From reading this article i feel that Apple feel like they need to develop something to compete against these, and I’m quite disappointed. It seems a total copy of some of the basic features from other social media. Also with these built into social media why would i complicate the process by throwing an extra app into the mix, when i can just do it all in the one app.
HOW 3D PRINTING IS SHAKING UP HIGH END DINING Paco Perez is experimenting. The chef has won several Michelin stars for his restaurants. At one of them, La Enoteca at the Hotel Arts in Barcelona, he is busy creating a new dish. He places a plate inside a strange-looking machine that looks a bit like a large microwave oven. He touches the controls, and a few minutes later, removes the plate, which is now decorated with a delicate, flower-like design. Next he adds more ingredients: caviar, sea-urchins, hollandaise sauce, egg, and a “foam” of carrot. He calls his creation “Sea Coral”. “It’s as if we were on the sea floor,” he explains. “We see a coral with sea urchins on it - then when we eat, we discover all the profundity of the sea and its iodine flavours”. The centrepiece of the dish, the “coral,” is made of a seafood puree in an intricate design that would have been extremely difficult to produce by hand. But it has been piped on to the plate by a new kind of 3D printer. Mr Perez is delighted with the results and the capabilities of the machine. “It’s very interesting what today’s technology is contributing to gastronomy” he says. “Creativity is shaped by what technology can do”.
Elaborate designs Unlike some other food-capable 3D printers, the Foodini device has been designed from the start to be a specialised food-printing machine. It can print with a very wide range of foods, from mashed potato to chocolate. Ingredients are placed in stainless steel capsules, which are reusable. With suitable ingredients the machine is capable of printing structures several centimetres high, making possible some quite elaborate 3D designs. It is also a so-called “internet of things” appliance - which means that it can be connected to the internet, and recipes and designs can be uploaded from anywhere. Natural Machines co-founder Lynette Kucsma says they have had a lot of interest from top chefs for two main reasons. One is customisation, enabling the creation of dishes that are just not possible to make by hand. “The other reason is automation”, she says. “Imagine you need to print breadsticks in the shape of tree branches for a hundred people sitting that evening. Rather than food piping it or doing that by hand, you can
The machine he is using is called Foodini, and is made by Natural Ma-
automate it with a 3D food printer”.
chines, a new company based only a few miles away from La Enoteca.
Growing market
Barcelona is certainly a fitting place for a business trying to bring fine
Other chefs apart from Mr Perez are experimenting with this new tech-
dining and technology together. It’s located in Catalonia, a part of Spain
nique. Mateo Blanch from La Boscana in Lleida in Spain has been work-
renowned for culinary excellence. Celebrated chefs from the region, such
ing with a 3D printer made by a Dutch firm, By Flow. He told the Interna-
as Ferran Adria (who Paco Perez trained and worked with), are famous for
tional Business Times last year that “it has changed the way I work with
pushing the boundaries of gastronomy ever further.
food…. I am capable of a level of precision that would never have been
http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_packaging_for_fanta.php
possible before”. And in the USA, 3D printer maker 3D Systems has been collaborating with the Culinary Institute of America on some ambitious projects. Suppliers of 3D food printers are optimistic that the devices will soon become common in top professional kitchens. But for Ms Kucsma the world of haute cuisine is only the start. She foresees a growing consumer market for 3D printers: “as people see it coming into restaurants and … start becoming familiar with eating 3D printed food and knowing that it’s made with fresh, real ingredients, that’s when the mind change starts to happen” she says.
CONTD.............
3D Printing seems to be make a huge appearance in all industry across the world not just the design world. Who knew that the food industry would be using 3D printers to create artisan foods. Although it is amazing to see the capabilities of 3D printing i feel that this use is taking advantage of the process and wasting valuable time and money that could be used for the medical world.
MCDONALD’S CHRISTMAS COFFEE CUP’S NAUGHTY MAKEOVER GOES VIRAL Starbucks’ festive cups have seen their fair share of controversy but this season Twitter turned its attention to McDonald’s.
leased earlier this month, had nothing to do with human anatomy. “To be clear, our festive McCafé cups are of mittens not hands,” a spokesperson for McDonald’s told Business Insider.
The fast food giant became the latest company to cause uproar after releasing their version of the red Christmas cup for their McCafe. The cup reads “Warmest Greetings” over two white mittens, gold stars and snowflakes.
However, Twitter user Sam Sykes had some fun with the design by pointing out that with some slight modifications McDonald’s holiday cups appear to show hands exposing a person’s backside. Other users were quick to react to it.
One tweeted: “That is an extremely unfortunate design. Don’t any companies keep a 12-year-old on hand for this?” Another one said: “When someone draws fingers on McDonald’s mittens and ‘spreading holiday cheer’ takes on entirely new meaning. Good God.” The altered cup came to the internet’s attention after it was shared on Reddit, but it was actually uploaded to the REBRN website before that, according to Buzzfeed.
As of Tuesday morning, the new design had been retweeted more than 14,000 times and liked nearly 23,000 times,
Of course, McDonald’s was quick to reply that the original version, re-
“The altered image circulating on social media is the result of someone getting a little cheeky and adding some hand-drawing to a cup.”
In November, coffee drinkers have slammed Starbucks for “politicising coffee” with the chain’s new green “community cups”. Created by artist Shogo Ota, the artwork on the green cups was meant to symbolise shared human connection.
Starbucks later explained the green cup has not actually been launched for Christmas.
Howard Schultz, chairman and chief executive of Starbucks, said: “During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mcdonalds-christmas-coffee-cup-nsfw-tweet-naughty-cheeks-bottom-a7471261.html?cmpid=facebook-post
When i saw this article i could do nothing but laugh, and hs made me become a lot more aware of my designs just incase someone interprets it the wrong way. However i don’t think its a bad thing either as McDonalds has now got loads of free advertising from all different big companies around the world. Who doesn’t like a bit of controversy anyways. Like they say, its better to be talked about then not talked about at all.
SISTINE CHAPEL GETS FULL DIGITAL TREATMENT FOR FUTURE RESTORATIONS The last time the entire Sistine Chapel was photographed for posterity,
Post production computer techniques included “stitching” of frames that
digital photography was in its infancy and words like pixels were bandied
photographers took while working out of sight for 65 nights from 7pm to
about mostly by computer nerds and NASA scientists.
2 am, when the chapel where popes areelected is closed. The project was known to only to a few people until it was unveiled in the
Now, after decades of technological advances in art photography, digital
chapel on Friday night.
darkrooms and printing techniques, a five-year project that will aid future
The set includes the entire chapel, including the mosaic floor and 15th
restorations has left the Vatican Museums with 270,000 digital frames
century frescoes by artists who have long languished in Michelangelo’s
that show frescoes by Michelangelo and other masters in fresh, stunning
giant shadow.
detail. “In the future, this will allow us to know the state of every centimetre of the chapel as it is today, in 2017,” said Antonio Paolucci, former head of the museums and a world-renowned expert on the Sistine.
Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes include one of the most famous scenes in art - the arm of a gentle, bearded God reaching out to give life to Adam.
More than 220 pages are printed in 1:1 scale, including ‘The Creation of Adam’ and Jesus’ face from the Last Judgement.
Each volume weighs about 9kg and fold-out pages measure 60 by 130cm.The old photos taken during the last restoration were done with film.“We used special post-production software to get the depth, intensi-
The Renaissance master finished the ceiling in 1512 and painted the mas-
ty, warmth and nuance of colours to an accuracy of 99.9%,” said Giorgio
sive “Last Judgement” panel behind the altar between 1535 and 1541.
Armaroli, head of Scripta Maneant.
The last time all Sistine frescoes were photographed was between 1980
“Future restorers will use these as their standards,” he said, adding that
and 1994, during a landmark restoration project that cleaned them for
each page was printed six times.
the first time in centuries.
Brush strokes are clearly visible as are the “borders” delineating sections,
The new photos were taken for inclusion in a new three-volume, 870-
known as “giornate,” or days.Since frescoes are painted on wet plaster,
page set that is limited to 1,999 copies and marketed to libraries and
artists prepare just enough for what they can complete in each session.
collectors.
The photographers used a ten-metre-high portable scaffold and special telescopic lens.
The set, which costs about €12,000, was a joint production of the Vatican Museums and Italy’s Scripta Maneant high-end art publishers.
The results are now stored in a Vatican server holding 30 terabytes of information.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0227/855819-sistine-chapel-digital/
This was a very interesting development for the art world. This not only guarantees successful future restorations, but know one can tell what can happen in the physical world such as fires, earthquakes or other damages. However with good preparation, the digital world can keep a realistic high quality copy of all these amazing works. I feel it is important to do this to art as is priceless and no one can guarantee its safe keeping.
POPULAR FILMS GET BROKEN DOWN INTO COLOR PALETTES Creating the perfect color palette is a great way to establish harmony for any piece you’re working on. It’s something that artists and designers consider when putting together any type of artwork or design. The perfect use of color is also present in almost every movie you’ve ever watched, and if you ever awed by a film’s cinematography and use of color, then you’ll enjoy Movies In Color. From blockbuster hits to anime and indie films, graphic designer Roxy Radulescu breaks down each movie’s color schemes into the perfect palettes.
Radulescu first got the idea to break movies down into color palettes while watching Skyfall, but instead of stopping there, she decided to to do it to all films and created Movies In Color. “[T]he blog has not only been an aesthetic pursuit but also an educational pursuit that showcases the relationship between color, cinematography, set design, and production design,” Radulescu says. “Overall, it is a study of color in films, but has other uses and applications. One of the goals is to give artists color palettes they can use in paintings, films, video, graphic design, and other pursuits.”
In order to deconstruct each of the movies, she begins by researching the film and searching for stills that are structurally interesting with a full array of colors. With the help of a color generator, she gets the basic swatches then continues to piece together the palette.
Here is the list of all the films she’s done so far. If you don’t see a movie on there that you’re interested in, she also takes requests.
https://www.visualnews.com/2017/01/13/popular-films-color-palettes/
Creating colour palettes is one of my favourite things to do in my free time. I love playing around with colours matching a few together to see what will work and creating palettes for use in future projects. This artist painstakingly went through films to create colour palettes from them. From looking at the colour palettes alone with out the movie image, I would be able to tell the tone / feel of the movie. I found this very interesting.
THE STORY BEHIND THE CULT HIT LA CROIX LABEL Nobody liked it–except for all those people who’d actually be drinking it. In a world of boring, big brand foods that increase revenue all of 3% per year, the fruit-infused sparkling water maker La Croix quadrupled its sales between 2010 and 2015, pulling in $226 million in revenue annually as of last count. But it’s not just another sugar-free alternative to Coke products. La Croix has become something of a pop culture icon, a seemingly homegrown Instagram star, complete with its own, fan-made custom meme generator. And that’s as much thanks to its quirky, ’90s-kid splash packaging as anything else–like a Dixie Cup crossed with Zubaz pants–a bit of branding that La Croix producer National Beverage didn’t want to talk about when we spoke in 2016.
Now, Bon Appetit has tracked down the story behind the carbonated legend. The packaging traces back to 2002, when National Beverage hired Lyle Zimmerman, who had created packages for Coca-Cola and General Mills, to create a new brand. And while we don’t want to spoil the whole story (which you can read in full here), it’s a fascinating little tale. Zimmerman generated about 20 options for La Croix packaging, which included long lean letters and hyper-minimal modernist designs. National Beverage preferred the minimalist, which would make La Croix at home next to premium competitors like Perrier. But consumers preferred a different brand in testing, the vibrant, liquid color explosion that is the La Croix we know so well today.
What’s remarkable is that, if you think about it, the rebrand took almost a decade to explode. It wasn’t until around 2010, with health-conscious
millennials hitting their mid-twenties and early thirties, potentially looking to sip on a bit of nostalgia for the jazzy graphic design of their youth, that Zimmerman’s brilliant play panned out. And it prompts the question, even in the snap judgment age of social media, should we really judge a brand for what it represents today, or what it can mean to a company 10 years from now?
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3067745/the-story-behind-the-cult-hit-la-croix-label
I was immediately attracted to this just from the images. As soon as i seen this articles images i had to read it as i have a huge interest in packaging design. But the main reason I found this article interesting was that found out this packaging design took a decade to become popular, even tho it seems like it is something of this time. This really made me think about my design and how maybe in the future if its not popular now, it maybe be popular in the future.
THESE DELIGHTFUL ADS REVISIT THE HISTORY OF THE HELMET Nobody would really consider a bike helmet to be a fashionable item, but the helmet is an essential piece of safety gear if you plan to go out riding. That’s why helmet brand Nutcase is making the helmet more fun and, hopefully, more desirable in a series of adorable ads.
The series of print ads features helmets throughout history as they protect the brain from all sorts of attacks from nefarious creatures. The images depict heroes being attacked by their foes while the helmets keep them safe. They ads feature a knight being protected from a dragon, a Samurai being shielded from a ninja, a Roman gladiator with a lion attempting to gnaw on his head, and a deep-sea diver with an octopus attached to his head. Each image includes a tagline that reads, “Helmets. Protecting us since ever.”
The ads were created by agency The Community and will be launched in the United States, Argentina, and Brazil in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
https://www.visualnews.com/2017/01/20/nutcase-helmet-ads/
This article was of huge interest to me, not just because of the style of the work but because of the way the ad agency is trying to communicate a message. I feel that more designers should use ideas like these to promote health and safety warnings as they will grab peoples attention.
MAKING ART FOR A DESERT LANDSCAPE The inaugural Desert X art exhibition brings the work of 17 artists to the
looked. Looking up at the billboards our attention is drawn back to the
heat of the Coachella Valley in the US. Here, we present four of our favou-
landscape itself, pictured here as a stuttering kineasthetic of real and
rite large-scale pieces from the show
artificial horizons.”
Until April 30, visitors can experience a trail of 17 site-specific artworks in various locations throughout the desert valley. The idea is that the landscape itself acts as the canvas for a curated exhibition featuring projects that will, say the organisers, “amplify and articulate both local and global issues”. Under the artistic directorship of curator and critic Neville Wakefield, Desert X has commissioned some really interesting work. We’ve picked out four of our favourite projects – by Jennifer Bolande, Doug Aitkin, Philip K Smith III, and Claudia Comte – which give an idea of the sheer scale of the undertaking and the way the desert surroundings are integral to these new and exciting commissions.
Doug Aitkin, MIRAGE “In the tradition of land art as a reflection of the dreams and aspirations projected onto the American West, Mirage presents a continually changing encounter in which subject and object, inside and outside are in constant flux. The ranch-style structure suggests a latter-day architectural version of manifest destiny, a primary structure rendered by the artist without function service or texture. With every available surface clad in mirror, it both absorbs and reflects the landscape around in such ways that the exterior will seemingly disappear just as the interior draws the viewer into a never-ending kaleidoscope of light and reflection. As Mirage pulls the landscape in and reflects it back out, this classic one-story
Jennifer Bolande, Visible Distance / Second Sight “In a cinematic experience animated by driving along Gene Autry Trail, viewers will encounter a series of billboards featuring photographs of
suburban house becomes a framing device, a perceptual echo-chamber endlessly bouncing between the dream of nature as pure uninhabited state and the pursuit of its conquest.”
the very mountains towards which they are heading. Each photograph is unique to its position along this route, and at a certain point as one approaches each billboard, perfect alignment with the horizon will occur thus reconnecting the space that the rectangle of the billboard has interrupted. In the language of billboard advertising, this kind of reading is referred to as a Burma-Shave after the shaving cream company of the same name who used sequential placement to create messaging that could be read only from a moving vehicle. Within the desert empire of roadside signs, Bolande chooses to advertise the very thing so often over-
Philip K Smith III, The Circle of Land and Sky “The Circle of Land and Sky defines a reflective space within the desert, composed entirely of the environment’s two most prominent physical characteristics — land and sky. Formed by 300 geometric reflectors angled at 10 degrees, the artwork directly engages with the Sonoran surrounding and the endless heavens. As the light shifts and the viewer moves through the installation, land and sky are separated, merged, and displaced....... CONTD
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/making-art-desert-landscape/
Its not often we see art in the wilderness, especially the dessert. I love art that is created witting landscapes, as it really makes me stop and think about the area I am in. I was also fascinated that all these sculptures were created by different artist as they all are very similar. Collaboration on a project this big is something I have always wanted to try, but have always felt it wouldn’t work well. But by seeing these artists create something so tied together has given me hope.
A NEW LIFE FOR OLD TYPE: PENTAGRAM’S IDENTITY FOR PINK FLOYD RECORDS Pentagram partner Harry Pearce talks us through designing an identity
“The stencil somehow feels evocative of the stencilling on all their equip-
for Pink Floyd Records and a lavish 27-disc box set for the band
ment and their boxes…. It’s such a wonderful, idiosyncratic bit of type that we just felt it deserved a bigger life than it had already,” he told CR. “[The
Aubrey Powell and Storm Thorgerson’s record sleeves for Pink Floyd are some of the most memorable of all time. Working under the name Hip-
band and Powell] loved the idea and it’s right in the middle of the canon of all of their work.”
gnosis, the pair’s surreal imagery inspired generations of designers and have become enduring symbols of the band’s music. Think of Pink Floyd,
Creating a complete alphabet based on the design was quite a challenge.
and it’s near impossible not to imagine the prism on the cover of Dark
“It was originally made to be on a 12″ LP … when you take that typeface
Side of the Moon or the bright pink pig on the sleeve of Animals.
and make it very small, which it often had to be, all of the inter-character work, the huge contrast between the stencil cuts through the lettering
Pink Floyd’s music and visual output is the subject of a major retrospective opening at London’s V&A Museum in May. In November last year, the band released a 27-disc box set of early singles and recordings on their record label Pink Floyd Records.
The identity for Pink Floyd Records was designed by Pentagram partner Harry Pearce and his creative team and is based on the stencil lettering from the cover of Animals. Designer Johannes Grimmond worked with
was so narrow that you reduce it down and it just sort of closes up,” says Pearce. “That was one challenge and the fact was that we just didn’t have that many letters, so we did an analysis of the forms of letters that were there and built a system on that.”
Pearce and his team also designed The Early Years 1965 – 72, which features early singles and previously unreleased recordings from Pink Floyd’s archives.
Pearce to create a complete alphabet based on the original letterforms, giving the label a distinctive logotype. The alphabet can also be used as a
The black-and-white outer casing takes inspiration from the Bedford van
headline font on new releases and merchandise.
that the band once drove around in (see gallery above). Discs are packaged in seven volumes – one for each year between 1965 and 72 – and
Pearce says he initially experimented with creating something new for the label but decided that the lettering “just had a wonderful quality to
each one features a painting by artist John Whiteley (an old friend of Powell’s) on its cover.
it.” CONTD..............
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/pink-floyd-records-early-years-box-set-hipgnosis/
I was truly inspired by this article to go back on my old work that i have created and reinvent it. This article also shows that when a design is so distinct and recognised it is important not to change it. It has also influenced me not to be afraid to get inspiration from the past as this is something I try to avoid.
WHY PEPSI’S KENDALL JENNER AD GETS IT SO WRONG Pepsi gets political in its latest ad campaign, which stars Kendall Jenner.
has covered them all, with zest. Many viewers have pointed out how the
And judging by the reaction from the public, it’s a move the brand may
ad belittles the Black Lives Matter movement and the offensive compar-
well regret.
ison between Jenner’s stance at the end of the ad with the iconic photograph from last year of Leshia Evans standing in front of riot police in
Pepsi has released a new, blockbuster ad, starring Kendall Jenner. The decision to feature a young supermodel in its advertising is nothing new
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Others balk at the general notion that a sugary soft drink can play a part in complex societal problems.
– Pepsi has been tapping pop culture talent to market its wares since the 80s – but what is different here is the scene that Jenner is asked to act
Advertising is reductive by nature – it attempts to take big concepts and
out.
ideas and then apply them in a simple fashion to selling products. Success in this is all about tone. It is worth pointing out that Pepsi is not the
The ad, which is by PepsiCo’s in-house content creation arm, Creators League Studio, opens with the model engaged in a photo shoot, though she quickly becomes distracted by a civil rights protest march that is taking place nearby. Unlike many protest marches though, this is a largely cheery, and highly fashionable event, with young people smiling and
first soft drinks brand to co-opt politics in its advertising: in the 1970s Coke created Hilltop, an ad that at its core implied that all the world’s problems could be solved by people getting together and sharing a Coke. Popular at the time, this spot still regularly tops the charts as one of the best ads of all time.
dancing while carrying signs featuring Pepsi’s brand colours and messages such as ‘love’ and ‘join the conversation’.
So what makes the Pepsi ad feel so tone deaf in comparison? Perhaps it is the specificity of it. In February CR published a piece reporting on the
Unable to resist joining in, Jenner removes her wig and make up (read: becomes her truly authentic self), and marches alongside the others. By the end of the spot, she has made her way to the front of the protest, and we see her confronted by police. But she immediately diffuses any
current trend for brands to bring politics into ads, and debated the pros and cons of this. One of the major cons is the risk that by bringing contemporary political issues into advertising, the urgency of the real problems at hand will be diminished.
potential tension by handing a nearby cop a Pepsi, which he cheerily sips, while the crowd cheers.
There are many things to get upset about here, and Twitter – of course –
CONTD............
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/pepsi-gets-political-new-ad/
Advertising and politics always clash when they are combined. Although it can cause controversy I feel that when politics are brought into advertising are created right that they can get a message across. However it does depend on the message they are trying to portray.
SELFRIDGES POP-UP CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF BEANZ MEANZ HEINZ Fifty years ago, Maurice Drake came up with one of the most memorable
to the Ideas Foundation, the creative education charity set up by WCRS
brand slogans of all time in a London pub. Asked to create a campaign
President Robin Wight.
that would position Heinz baked beans as the original and best (i.e. better than supermarket own brand alternatives) he invented the brilliant Beanz Meanz Heinz.
The phrase took the top spot in our Top 20 slogans issue back in 2012 (you can read our interview with Drake about its invention here) and has featured in various campaigns since the 1960s. In 2004, the brand even redesigned its packaging to read ‘Heinz Beanz’.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the slogan, Heinz has launched a pop-up cafe at Selfridges in London and taken over one of the store’s windows. It is also selling commemorative tins of its much-loved beans.
Creative for the campaign was designed by JKR. The agency designed menus and posters for the cafe – which sells beans-based dishes such as Beanz with crispy bacon and Beanz with scrambled egg for £3 each – and created a window display based around the theme of ‘home’.
The agency came up with 50 iterations of the slogan for a limited edition range of commemorative tins. Lines include Beanz Meanz Nanz, Beanz Meanz Spudz and Beanz Meanz Eggz.
It also created packaging for a limited edition set of 50 tins signed by Drake. Tins will be sold for £10 each on April 5 and all proceeds will go
It’s an inventive way to celebrate the anniversary and a slogan that has stood the test of time.
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/work/jkr-selfridges-beanz-meanz-heinz-slogan/
I found this article very interning as I have a huge interest in branding. Although it is a small article, this article shows that when a brand is created strongly, it will stand the test of time. I also find it interesting the way the brand can develop and feel ever brand should be like this.
BEYOND CARAVAGGIO REVIEW: A MASTERPIECE OF SURPRISE The shadowed eyes of Caravaggio’s Saint John the Baptist (painted 1603–
been another side to him – generous, loving, patient. A man who could
4) won’t leave me alone. They stare at me in the night. Ever since I saw
share his genius.
this lifesize, nearly nude painting of a brooding youth in the National Gallery’s powerful and compulsive exhibition about Caravaggio and his followers – the “Caravaggisti” – it has been seeping into my unconscious like a bloodstain.
For there are two excellent paintings here by an artist nicknamed Cecco del Caravaggio. Both portray young men playing music, surrounded by the stuff of real life: bottles, fruit, musical instruments and food. Cecco was Caravaggio’s pupil and his favourite model (and his lover, according
The black shadow of the cross – or is it a broadsword? – cuts across the
to a 17th-century English traveller who was shown Caravaggio’s painting
bright white flesh of John. Another deep dark void slices through his
Victorious Cupid in a Roman palace and told it showed the artist’s assis-
neck, separating his head from his body, foreshadowing the way he will
tant Cecco “that laid with him”).
die when Salome demands his head on a plate. Caravaggio portrayed Cecco, slept with him – and lovingly taught him to It is easy to see from this deathly, sexy, unforgettable masterpiece, lent
paint. It’s a touching new perspective on this artist famous for his bad
by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, why Caravaggio in-
behaviour that he took such care to make an artist of Cecco.
spired so many followers. Like a savage Christ he accumulated wild disciples. This explosively brilliant and uniquely dangerous artist hit Rome like a thunderbolt at the end of the Renaissance, blowing away the saintly scenes of his soppy milquetoast contemporaries with hard-hitting visions of raw, dirty life. In the first two paintings in this exhibition we see him at the very start of his career, portraying male prostitutes with filthy fingernails tasting forbidden fruit and getting bitten. Then in the very same room we encounter his imitators and friends. Caravaggio lived a short, violent life, yet this exhibition reveals something highly unexpected about him. He was a great teacher. Notoriously, he had to flee Rome in 1606 after killing a man in a fight, and even before that he was known to the courts for sudden acts of violence – like the time he threw a plate of hot food in a waiter’s face. Yet there must have
Then again, even Caravaggio’s worst enemies couldn’t resist copying his radical technique. There is a painting here of the Ecstasy of Saint Francis by Giovanni Baglione: done in 1602 when Caravaggio was the latest art fashion to hit Rome, it imitates his homoerotic boldness with barefleshed good-looking angels attending a post-coital seeming saint. Baglione would soon fall out with Caravaggio and portray him as the devil, with Cupid as his catamite, in a painting that was a direct accusation of sodomy. CONTD.......
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/oct/09/beyond-caravaggio-review-a-masterpiece-of-surprise
I found this article very interning as i myself have seen these pieces of work by Caravagio, in person when i attended an exhibition. Just like this writer i was amazed by his work, but also the work of the other artist who he thought and influenced.
NIVEA PULLS ‘WHITE IS PURITY’ ADVERT AFTER ONLINE UPROAR The advert was posted on the brand’s Facebook page for two days
ers to be aware of offensive content because brands are wanting more distance between their marketing material and derogatory messaging or
The skin care brand Nivea set off a controversy this week with an ad fea-
terrorist propaganda.
turing the phrase “White is purity,” again finding itself accused of racial insensitivity over a campaign that seemed to be embraced by white su-
The advertisement, which was on Nivea’s Middle East Facebook page,
premacists.
was being discussed on 4Chan with racist comments on Monday. The ad was posted on Twitter next to a picture of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon tied
The latest ad, which showed a woman with dark hair cascading down her back and wearing white in a brightly lit room, promoted its Invisible For
to anti-Semitism and racism that has become a mascot for the alt-right. The user wrote that “Nivea has chosen our side.”
Black & White deodorant. Beiersdorf, the German company that owns Nivea and other brands like La Prairie, has since deleted the ad, which
One Facebook user paired the ad with a screenshot from a 2011 Nivea
appeared with “Keep it clean, keep bright. Don’t let anything ruin it, #In-
campaign, featuring a well-dressed black male clutching the Afro of a
visible,” as part of its post.
mannequin’s head. The tagline, “Re-civilize yourself.” Nivea apologised for the campaign, calling it “inappropriate and offensive”.
“We are deeply sorry to anyone who may take offence to this specific post,” the company said in a statement. “Diversity and equal opportunity
Even after Nivea apologised Tuesday, consumers were dissatisfied. “It’s
are crucial values of Nivea.”
cool for the ‘Middle East’ Facebook page? Really? As if colourism isn’t a problem in those cultures?” Laila Parmoon posted on Facebook, where
Nivea’s decision to remove the ad on Tuesday, which was posted on its
she identified herself as Iranian.
Facebook page for two days, and stop the entire campaign is another sign of how sensitive companies have become to negative reactions on
A Beiersdorf representative said the ad was part of a broader campaign
social media.
for the deodorant in the Middle East that linked the colour black with strength and white with purity. “We never intended to hurt anybody or to
At a time when online conversations can snowball, companies have
raise any wrong interpretation,” the representative said.
learned to respond quickly to opinions on social media. This has created an environment where Google has had to train its ad placement comput-
Nivea is among several brands in recent years that have faced fierce criti-
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/pink-floyd-records-early-years-box-set-hipgnosis/
cism online for insensitive marketing or products. Urban Outfitters stoked
that showed an Asian woman shoving a detergent pod into the mouth
outrage with a T-shirt with a Star of David on the pocket and a Kent
of a black worker and pushing him into a washing machine. The man
State sweatshirt with a pattern that seemed like blood stains and evoked
emerges as a pale Asian man.
memories of the National Guard’s opening fire on student protesters at the university in Ohio in 1970.
And this week Pepsi was mocked on Twitter after an advertisement compared Kendall Jenner to a Black Lives Matter protester who became a
In 2014, after criticism online, Zara, a clothing retailer from Spain, stopped
national symbol after facing down police officers in riot gear.
selling children’s shirts with stripes and a star that bore a striking resemblance to uniforms given at Nazi concentration camps. It also withdrew handbags featuring green swastikas.
Nivea did a review after the 2011 campaign to try to avoid similar missteps. It said in a statement that after this time, “Current development and approval processes will be immediately reviewed in order to avoid
Last year, a Chinese laundry detergent upset people with a campaign
any kind of future misleading interpretations.”
These type of stories really make me question the true intentions of brands. Although it can be very easy to get into one of these messes, I sometimes wonder do they do it intentionally in order to gain some publicity. At the same time I fear of doing something similar in the future. It has encouraged me to double check my work for any sort of negativity.
TWO NEIGHBORS: PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI SEAMSTRESSES BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FASHION BRAND IN BID FOR PEACE The clothing brand is trying to unite Palestinians and Israelis against the odds
people involved.” Two Neighbors was established at the Global Village Square. These week-
In a nation as fraught with political tensions as Israel, something as basic
end meetings held by the Centre for Emerging Futures non-profit aim to
as a thread tied to a needle can make a difference to a person’s life. At
bring Palestinians and Israelis together and encourage both communi-
least that is theory of Adeem Amro and Segal Kirsch: the co-founders of
ties to establish partnerships and joint projects. Two Neighbors was just a
the Two Neighbors fashion initiative.
kernel of an idea eight years ago, and was established as a fashion brand in 2013 when the two women launched their first Kickstarter-funded col-
Two Neighbors specialises in modern, minimalist clothing embellished
lection.
with embroidery. The womenswear pieces are stitched by Israeli seamstresses who learned their trade in the former Soviet Union and have
Their tagline - peace through the eye of a needle - is more hard-hitting
been sewing since the age of 13. And each garment features embroidery
than your average clothing brand’s, and a reflection of the rawness of the
by the members of a Palestinian women’s collective in the south Hebron
conflict.
Hills. Almost 50 women are currently working with the brand. Yet, the biggest hurdle for the women isn’t animosity between seamTwo Neighbors is the brainchild of a suitably eclectic pair. Amro, the Pal-
stresses and embroiderers, but rather the logistical issues presented by
estinian Manager lives in East Jerusalem and grew up in Jordan and He-
the complex living situation. Meeting in a mutual place where everyone
bron, while the Israeli Manager, Kirsch, lives in Modiin, was born in Jerusa-
feels comfortable and deciding on patterns that fit each garment - wheth-
lem and spent her childhood in southern Israel.
er a matt blue jacket or a cream clutch bag - are the toughest aspects of the design process. Kirsch and Amro meet fortnightly, while the group
“We believe creativity and fashion are an international language,” says Kirch. “They can be a bridge between cultures and a means to spread a vision of common human values and peace.”
“The women in Two Neighbors have grown to respect and love each other” she adds. “We feel that we have more in common than things that differ. We hope, with selling our products, we can widen the circle of
of seamstresses and embroiderers meet bi-annually. Those meeting can be harder to set up, as the Palestinian women must secure permits and Israeli women face road closures and delays at checkpoints.
CONTD...........
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/two-neigbors-palestinian-israel-seamstresses-fashion-brand-peace-embroiderers-a7658676.html
This article put a smile on my face. the women are two strong individuals that have taken a stand for peace through creativity. Something I have also wanted to do was try influence the world through my art. It is amazing to see that art can change the world.
A SPRING STYLE REFRESH Do you ever stand in front of your wardrobe and think you have nothing
are practical as well as super stylish.
to wear? Then the Marks & Spencer Everywear capsule range is your new wardrobe saviour
When the weather starts to get warmer there is always that moment when everything in your wardrobe suddenly feels drab and tired, like it’s not ready for the longer days and lighter evenings.
Marks & Spencer have come up with a solution to this with a capsule clothing range that is designed to fit in with everyday life, for everybody.
The Everywear Jacket A spring jacket is one of the most useful things in any wardrobe. The Everywear jacket is made from fabric with weatherproof technology and a concealed hood for that ever changeable British weather.
The Everywear Mule Mules are going to be one of this summer’s hottest shoes, so get in early with the Everywear mule. The block-heeled style comes in three different colours and is made with Insolia, which is endorsed by the UK College of
The Everywear range from Marks & Spencer consists of four hero items that will fit in with your style but still give your wardrobe a much needed boost.
The Everywear Shirt A cotton shirt can take you from the boardroom to brunch or a weekend stroll. This Everywear shirt has a natural stretch that means the fabric moves with you. Easy to iron with covered buttons, this is minimum effort for maximum style.
The Everywear Jean The super skinny jean is not disappearing anytime soon and the Everywear jean comes in a range of colours so you can wear them whatever your mood. Machine washable and with flexi-fit stretch technology, these
Podiatry, for 24-hour comfort.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/a-spring-style-refresh-a7640781.html
Fashion has always been a big influence on me. Although some people may question why I feel that it is important to look at fashion as an influence for or graphic design work this article tells us exactly why. This article shows how people are changing, their are looking for a more versatile lifestyle that can be easily changed and I feel this is what people will also soon in the design industry.
A NEW LIFE FOR OLD TYPE: PENTAGRAM’S IDENTITY FOR PINK FLOYD RECORDS Which one will you add to your new season beauty wish-list? As we wave goodbye to the cooler months, it’s time to pack away last
If it’s an eyeshadow palette you’re after then you’re in luck because there are plenty of launches that run the gamut of neutral nudes to bold hues.
season’s shades in favour of new bouquets of colour. For a subtle ‘no make-up’ make-up look, By Terry’s Techno Aura Palette Luckily, the beauty industry is equipped with a steady flow of new launch-
should be your go-to.
es and this season, it’s all about make-up palettes. But for something a little brighter try Too Faced’s Sweet Peach offering Spring’s fresh crop of compacts include lip, cheek, eye and all-in-one
which includes 18 summer-fresh, sweet peach fragranced shades.
multitaskers ready to add to your new season beauty wish-list. Alternatively, Clarins’ 4-Colour Eyeshadow Palette, launching 9 April, ofRight now, we’re all about youthful, flushed cheeks and there are two
fers similar sunkissed shades in a more travel-friendly compact.
palettes that we can’t wait to get our hands on. When it comes to colouring your pout, lip palettes are on the up and our You’ll be glad to hear that Benefit has collated its iconic collection of bronzers and blushers into one limited edition cheek palette that includes old favourites such as Hoola and Dandelion as well as the new Hoola Lite and Galifornia golden pink blush. Nars is also serving up its own take with a set that includes six shades to sculpt, shape and glow including Conquest, Fame, Hot Sand and Power Play.
If you’re a highlighter fan though, keep hold of your cash until the middle of the month because Huda Beauty is releasing its lauded 3D Highlighter Palette that includes four super-pigmented cream formulas that promise to take your glow to the next level.
favourite is Pixi’s It’s Lip Time. A collection of 12 super-flattering crèmes from rosy nudes to claret red, it has every colour you need to create the perfect spring look.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/makeup-palette-eyeshadow-cheek-lip-blusher-bronzer-best-buy-beauty-a7659126.html
Makeup is also something I love to look at for new trends and what influences people. Makeup has become so popular recently that it has taken on a whole new meaning. It is letting everyone be creative and unique in their own way. I love looking at makeup for trends in colour to see what people are buying at these colours and complimentary colours to these are seen everywhere in design.
SALES OF ART SUPPLIES ARE UP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MAKING SO MANY ANTI-DONALD TRUMP POSTERS Poster boards, markers, glue and scissors are all going through a sales
While the data only covers January, many other protest marches have
bump
taken place around the world sine then, with art supplies having likely felt a nice bump ever since.
For many, Donald Trump’s Presidency isn’t something to be celebrated. For democrats, though, there is finally a morsel of good news: arts and crafts materials sales are up across the US thanks to people making their own anti-Trump posters.
According to sales by NPD Group figures (picked up by Huffington Post), the Women’s Marches led to poster boards, markers, glue and scissors going through a sales bump.
In the week running up to the Women’s Marches sales of poster boards were up 33 percent and foam boards by 42 percent compared to the same weeks in 2016.
Other tools used to make posters that saw increases on the year before, including paint markers (+35 percent), glue (+27 percent), adhesives (+12 percent), and paper punches (+4 percent).
Along with signs, people were also making custom clothing to defy The Donald: fabric paint sales going up as a result.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/art-supply-sales-anti-donald-trump-sign-a7652661.html
Sometimes we always look at the negative things about certain situations and forget to look at the positive. Although many of us may be concerned with the recent presidential election in America, there is always a silver lining for something or someone even if its small. This has made me think about turning any negative situations in to something positive and use every minute to change something for the better.
AI WEIWEI TO BUILD FENCES THROUGHOUT NEW YORK FOR AN EXHIBIT ON IMMIGRATION The project is titled Good Fences Make Good Neighbours
than others, but with that privilege comes a responsibility to do more.”
With Donald Trump’s vowing to build walls and shut down borders, artists
The project’s title references Robert Frost’s poem ‘Mending Wall,’ which
have continued to make powerful political statements, defiant against
included the line ‘Good fences make good neighbours’.
the President. Speaking to the NYT, he said: “When the Berlin Wall fell, there were 11 In timely fashion, famed Chinese artists and activist Ai Weiwei will build
countries with border fences and walls. By 2016, that number had in-
over 100 fences around New York City, inspired by the international mi-
creased to 70.
gration crisis and political turmoil facing the US. “We are witnessing a rise in nationalism, an increase in the closure of According to the New York Times, Good Fences Make Good Neighbours
borders, and an exclusionary attitude towards migrants and refugees, the
- which was commissioned by the Public Art Fund - will be his largest
victims of war and the casualties of globalisation.”
public art project to date, compromising of 10 major installations and scatterings of minor works across various boroughs.
Last year, Ai announced revealed he spent time shooting a documentary while volunteering at refugee camps on the Greek-Macedonian border.
“I was an immigrant in New York in the 1980s for ten years and the issue with the migration crisis has been a longtime focus of my practice,” Ai said in a statement.
“It’s a documentary film, we have been shooting for over 600 hours, I did hundreds of interviews,” Ai told reporters at the time. “The film is going to come out next year. Now we are still doing last [shoots] since the refugee
“The fence has always been a tool in the vocabulary of political landscaping and evokes associations with words like ‘border,’ ‘security,’ and ‘neighbour,’ which are connected to the current global political environment.
“But what’s important to remember is that while barriers have been used to divide us, as humans we are all the same. Some are more privileged
situation is continuous, it doesn’t seem it is going to stop.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/ai-weiwei-new-york-good-fences-make-good-neighbours-immigration-a7653506.html
Like the previous article, this artist has turned something negative into something positive for his career. This article has influenced me to look at the world around us more and take inspiration from everything not just art related things.
THE GRAPHIC ART OF FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM House of MinaLima hosts an exhibition of forty graphic art props created
sure the copy on the posters used phrases and words people at the time
for J.K.Rowling’s new film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. We
would use. Even getting the names right on the posters was important, so
spoke to Eduardo Lima about designing for the magical world.
we browsed through the New York birth registry from those years, to pick names that would have been popular at the time.”
Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima have spent the better half of a decade designing the details that bring to life the magical world of Harry Potter
These sort of details weren’t articulated in the Potter novels or in the Fan-
– the books that line the shelves of Dumbledore’s office, the labels on the
tastic Beasts screenplay, which meant the designers were tasked with
treats at Honeydukes and the wanted posters that blacklist Sirius Black,
filling the gaps.
all featured in the film series.
One of the most striking examples of how nuanced the process of designing for film can be is the look The Daily Prophet, the newspaper for Wiz-
In fact, they even designed the prop for the book entitled Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them, which was on Harry’s curriculum at Hogwarts. The ‘author’ of this book, Newton Artemis Fido ‘Newt’ Scamander, is the
ards that exists in both Newt and Harry’s worlds. Mina and Lima had to construct the masthead, the graphic identity, the layout, even headlines for the newspaper – apart from the ones that come up in the plot.
central character in a spin-off story which will play out in a highly anticipated series of five films, the first of which hits cinemas this Friday. It seemed only fitting that the duo continue designing for the world of wizardry in this new series, too.
While the Newt and Harry’s worlds are related and have some commonalities, the two stories are set in different time periods; Newt being the older of the two wizards, his story takes place in the 1920s, while Harry wasn’t born until 1980. This meant that the worlds had to look distinctly different from one another – and the graphic art would play a significant part in tying the story to its time.The posters that line the streets of 1920s
As Lima sees it, “It was like being the editor of The Daily Prophet for the last five years or so. And now I’m ‘editing’ the New York Ghost – a daily for American wizards of Newt’s time.”
The designers allow themselves a little playfulness when designing newspapers, posters and books for the films, sometimes working their own logo or names of their friends and family members into the artwork. Although of course spotting little details like this while watching the finished film is almost impossible.
New York, for instance, had to reflect the times in more than just the choice of typography, colours and layouts. “We actually spent an entire week in New York researching language!” Lima recalls. “We had to make
CONTD....
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/fantastic-beasts-at-house-of-minalima/
I was truly inspired and encouraged by this article for my future. Sometimes I think is there for for me in the industry at this time, however this article just shows that this is so many more jobs about there for my line of work then we think. Our skills can be used in so many industries that there is endless possibilities.
TRENDS IN MODERN FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY Food photographers are no longer taking a documentary approach to
was diverted away from the actual recipe or dish.
their work but are creating exciting new trends and styles that are sought out by magazines around the world
Alongside the development of this graphic style, photography was also moving towards a vibrant, bright, light-flooded style, in strong contrast
In recent years, the documentary approach of the early days of food pho-
to the earlier, rather dark, sharp, documentary style. Blur became an im-
tography has given way to a variety of trends and styles, all now with equal
portant design element: a restricted area of the image is in focus, while
status. In addition to the mainly documentary style, new trends and tech-
the fore- and/or background are blurred. It took a few years for this trend
niques have emerged. These became known as ‘Gorgeous grey’, ‘Perfectly
to become established and to be requested on a broad front, but today
imperfect’, ‘Mystic light’, ‘Granny chic’ and ‘Back to country’. These trends
this bright, unfocused, highly-styled type of photography is considered
have emerged from English-speaking and Scandinavian regions where
modern and very much in demand worldwide by a range of customers.
many of the top food photographers originate. StockFood, the leading food image agency, has brought together the work of more than 1,000 international food photographers under one roof.
Recently, in parallel with the trend for light, styled, blurred food photography, a counter-trend has begun to emerge – trendsetting photographers are increasingly adopting purist styles of image design, props being used
Until about 30 years ago, food photography tended to be largely repeti-
with more restraint and the focus returning to the aesthetics of the dish
tive documentary. The main style of recipe photography was a clear pic-
being photographed.
ture of the dish, intended as a ‘cooking guide’. The only design element was the arrangement of the ingredients around the dish.
The latest trends to emerge, as shown by three of the favourite new themes seen in leading magazines, are ‘Granny chic’, ‘Back to country’, ‘Mystic
New trends began to develop at the beginning of the ‘90s when, starting
light’, ‘Perfectly imperfect’ and ‘Gorgeous grey’. ‘Granny chic’ denotes tra-
in Australia and Britain, food photography was reinvented. A more graph-
ditional cooking from all countries worldwide, best presented using old
ic style developed and pictures became crafted and composed. Interest
props that remind us of our grandmothers – enamel pans, earthenware
shifted towards styling, decoration, atmosphere and colour combinations.
plates, everyday cutlery, lace doilies and old silver plates. Backgrounds
Props became important design elements, adding weight to the state-
are kept natural or earth-coloured or contain the palette of berry colours
ment made by the dishes illustrated. For a long time, food shots without
made popular in the ‘80s: a dark suffusion of purple, violet, fuchsia, mauve
stylish tableware, designer cutlery and glasses were almost unthinkable.
or burgundy.
The downside of such a strong emphasis on styling was that attention
CONTD.......
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/trends-modern-food-photography/
Something that i don’t think about is the style and trends of images used within the graphic design industry. However this article has given me the push to notice these ever changing trends. It has also influenced me to go to social media more and recognise what people are doing in their day to day likes that will become a brand in the future.
THIS IS THE BEST SCAVENGER HUNT IF YOU ARE A TYPE NERD You’ve seen it on movie posters and on store fronts, but you’ll only notice
Check out their website here and be sure to be on the lookout for the
it if you’re looking for it. The Futura typeface is pretty much everywhere,
Futura type out in the wild.
a phenomenon Christian Weber and Sarah Schmitt call the “Futura type trap,” which also happens to be the name of their website.
The website first launched on September 15 in 2016 as part of a typeface exhibition at the Gutenberg-Museum in Germany. Since its conception, over 691 images have been documented featuring the Futura typeface in countries such as Austria, Portugal, and Ukraine. When an image is uploaded, Weber and Schmitt review the submission, then mark the location on an interactive map with a drop pin.
Based in Germany, Weber and Schmitt began working on the site in 2014 as part of a student project for the intermedia design masters program at the University of Applied Sciences Mainz. The team, which originally consisted of Weber, Schmitt, and fellow students Jan Lorenz, Franziska Mamitzsch, and Daniel Webberuß, developed the project as part of an exhibition, FUTURA. THE TYPEFACE, curated by the professors of the program for the Gutenberg-Museum. Now, the site continues to grow and is constantly receiving submissions from Futura hunters.
“There’s a challenge between the German cities Hamburg, Kiel, and Aachen,” the designers told Co.Design in an email. “They would like to become the city with the most Futura finds, but Kiel currently holds the first place.”
https://www.visualnews.com/2017/01/27/best-scavenger-hunt-type-nerd/
This article has made me stop and look at the world around me. Everywhere we go we see typography, but do we really pay attention to it? Not only has this influenced me to look more at typography but has made me really think about what is going on around me.