Marian Bantjes

level of care given that the response she received was much higher than that of the previous years, when she sent the same design to everyone. Continuing her tradition of creating beautiful valentines, she has continued to create new and intricate designs each year for valentine’s day. These cards are one of her most popular art endeavors because people have become infatuated with the heart-felt designs she has come to be recognized for. Bantjes has many books written about her and has written a few herself. The one she put her heart and soul into is I Wonder, she says, “This book is my masterpiece. I spent 15 months between 2009–2010 writing, illustrating and designing it” (Bantjes, 2015). Filled with love, this book has the text surrounded by her ornate creations like a thick border. It is eclectic and every page is unmatched. Alissa Walker from Fast Company says, “It’s a readable collection of smart, visuallyintense short stories, and a design book that will likely never leave your coffee table” (Walker, 2018). I Wonder contains her history, a compilation of various ideas second font, Restraint. With this font, a series of curls and twist combinations create the letters within the text. The design for this font began as a thought experiment in connected lettering. It is beautifully constructed but takes time to understand. She has to include a guide on how to use her font with the purchase of it. attributes. This allows her to display her individuality, whilst setting the perfect design out for her client. Bantjes is a typographer, illustrator, graphic designer, and writer whose artworks and ideas will forever be filled and fill others with wonder. Her work is well known all over, prized, and

Marian Bantjes’ art goes way beyond the digital world. She enjoys finding things around her that spark imagination and using them creatively to make something entirely new. Bantjes travels often and collects sand or dirt from the places she has been in hopes to design something recognized by many art critics and will continue to be. As long as she continues to pursue herself and dive into her most wild conceptual ideas, she will be a success. Her inspiration, projects, books, fonts, sarcasm and Valentine’s day cards are iconic and have changed the way people see the world

BANTJES

and of course, her witty sense of humor, making this a project that is very personal to her. Bantjes has two fonts that she has created including Bernice and Restraint. Both of these fonts are intricate and completely out of the ordinary. With her Bernice font, it may take some prior knowledge to be able to understand what you are seeing, but it comes together to create beautiful patterning. This font is more of a patterned design creation than a readable text. Although she never enters for awards, she has still won awards for her with it in the future. She used the sand and dirt to carefully craft a poster on coexistence. The poster contained many components that made up the design. Bantjes said, “It works on two levels because it speaks to the international element of it, that all of the dirt and sand is from different regions from around the world but also our relationship with the planet and with nature” (Bantjes, 00:02:17-00:02:32). In this way Bantjes has used substances that represent the unity of the world and pulls together her own of typography. Marian Bantjes has been on a long and difficult journey leading her to become a legend whose endeavors in the art world will stand the test of time; authenticity and excellence will always be relevant.

Artists around teaching at a local high school, and the world have he began to work for Transworld expressed emotions Skateboarding Magazine on the through their works side. Because Carson had never for ages. Their use of taken any graphic design courses, creativity is limitless. But this job was a huge gateway into what exactly is creativity. “Cre- his designing career. He became ativity: the use of the imagination art director of the company and his or original ideas, especially in the work continued in the designs of the production of an artistic work”(Ox- magazine even after the three years ford). These works can be in the he spent there. Three years later, form of several different media. we see where David Carson started However, Graphic design is with little knowledge about perhaps one of the most up graphic design. However, he and coming artistic forms was able to turn that exof creativity known today. perience into creating his David Carson is a famous own, well known style. graphic designer well known for his emotional Carson’s style is unique. It and visual communication gives off a very grunge like through magazine design and his feel. In fact, it is so abstract than experimental use of typography most types and designs that David design and layout. Much like Carson had critiques against his most artists, Carson used his own work. At one of his seminars one life experiences in his work and critic asked, “Are you purposely Posters for Sa designs. His success shows other striving artists that creativity is from life experiences and not being afraid to show emotion through artwork, even if others judge the way it may look. n Sabastian Surf Fi l m Fes t ival, Spain. contributing to the illiteracy of youth in America?” (Warren, 1). Carson takes these critiques with ease. In his mind, he is confident with his art because it is his art. His confidence As a child, David Carson moved shows through around a lot. However, he spent a his design in decent amount of time during his magazines. teen years in Florida. He later One of the most moved to California and worked known magain a small surf shop. We will zines he contriblater see how the places he utes to is the Ray grew up will affect his styles in Gun Magazine. design. He attended San Diego Berger Warren State University, graduating describes in his with a bachelor of arts in So- periodical, “Ray ciology. Carson did not take an Gun is no easy interest in graphic design early read: it demands on in his life. Carson was 26 patience, before he even heard of graphic dedication and design” (Meggs, 1). It was not a fair amount until he entered a two week course of squinting. As at the University of Arizona, that he he designs the was ever exposed to graphic design. magazine on In such a short period of time, Car- his Macintosh son became very interested. Meggs computer, Mr. quotes Carson in her book, “At the Carson manipend of the workshop, he recalls, “It ulates text and images with willful really hit me: graphic design is what abandon, so that a reader’s eyes are I wanted to do. The not sure where they’re supposed to proverbial light go next on a page. He uses unorthbulb went off in odox typefaces, breaks up letters my head” (Meggs, in words unexpectedly, overlaps 1). He quit his job text and pictures and digitally