Titbits*

Click here for Titbits* Facebook Community page

Our class exhibition has now been taken down from is hosting bar The Athenaeum. Items are still available to buy from the Facebook page above.

The exhibition was a success, everyone who submitted work received positive feedback - some even selling pieces. Congrats! 

The branding for Titbits, mostly done by Karla and Siobhan, was also a success. The idea of Titbits* coming from the idea that although we are all Graphic Designers on the same course we all produce pieces of different work from a variety of materials. Coming together to create a collection of Titbits. We exaggerated this by using a mix of different frames. The branding was lighthearted but also didnt give much away about the exhibition which encouraged curiosity. The opening night showed that the advertising and word of mouth had been a success as The Athenaeum was full to the brim.

The Foyer

I have always considered my part time work in Aberdeen very separate to my Uni work. I have been working at The Foyer Restaurant and Gallery for several months now, seen many exhibitions go by and never realised that it is completely relevant to my studies! Maybe the previous exhibitions, although always very good, were not my cup of tea. However, the current exhibition and the one previous to it I have enjoyed working along side so I thought I had better start making a note of them.

Currently running is an exhibition by Donna Briggs.

I was so excited when I walked into the restaurant for my shift and saw this exhibition. It is so different from the previous shows. The work displayed is like lots of old scrap books that are almost 3D but also very delicate and fragile. Most of which are encased in an open wooden box. Some are quite graphic and like something out of an old medicinal book. But others are dainty and antique looking. I am a little worried that I will go around the back of a table to clear some plates and completely knock one of the pieces off the wall - my wage for the year would be going into someone else's hands if that happened!


The exhibition that was on the walls over the Christmas period was 'Altitude' by Anne Moore.

This image does not give the paintings justice. Although they were relatively small squares of canvas they were beautiful paintings. If I could have afforded one I would have real difficulty choosing one because they were all so good! Each one seemed simple yet detailed. And being Christmas, surrounded in snow whilst working on a snowy project in the uni studio, the paintings just completed the story.

Peep Board

 

For our Interim Show I produced a Peep Board which I hoped students would get their photos taken in. They could upload their photos onto a dedicated Facebook page to show their support for Save the Snow.

Unfortunately no students outside of the class uploaded their pictures which was disappointing. Although I was very happy with the effort made by my classmates - Thanks guys! I was also happy with the final outcome of the Peep Board.

Refillable Oil

Another company taking the sustainable route by supplying refills products instead of new glass bottles that will need recycled or will be thrown into a landfill site.

The pouch was well designed as it felt string enough to hold all the oil. My worry with pouches is that under pressure when being transported they may explode.

Glasgow and GSA Interim Show

Recently the class went to Glasgow to attend the lectures by D&AD at Glasgow School of Art. The lectures were very interesting, and also a little daunting. It is drilled into me that my work for the D&AD must be 100% brilliant and 100% original, otherwise they will be going nowhere. The lecture by Matt Jones from Berg was quite inspiring. I like to hear about other designers view of the industry and society. His little rant on sustainable design was also quite interesting. It seemed it is more of a niggling at the back of his mind when he is working. I completely agreed with all that he said on the subject, but perhaps with more of an optimist approach.

Whilst in Glasgow a few of us went to The Lighthouse to see the GSA Communications Interim Show. The show was completely different to ours. I think mainly because most of the students are more Fine Art natured, more illustration based. And their projects are for very different purposes to ours at Grays. All the work is of a very high standard though and was a little intimidating. It was very good to see what others in our area are doing. 

The image on the left is a students project that is not dissimilar to mine. They too are focusing what is happening to snow, but instead of a more commercial area such as snow sports like my project, the student is focusing on the effect melting snow has on those who rely on snow to live from. It was nice to see that someone else is tackling the subject of snow, but not in the same area as myself. I am slightly jealous of their illustrations though!

Eco Soap

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One of the reasons the brief for the Body Shop is so difficult is because it is very hard to be innovative, original, think outside of the box when practicality and affordability is key. Also, The Body Shop has done many different things with their packaging - branding, and rebranding and refillable packaging. They have a lot of core values that need to be mirrored in the design, all these points make the brief challenging.

I have been researching to help fuel my design process but all that I have found has been done and done again. It was very refreshing when I came across eco-soap. They have a packaging that targets the sustainable brief with a new direction. An original design. Hopefully this will spark some creativity.

Reduce impact by design

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Advice for designers on creating environmentally friendly packaging.

Beaver Wax

Another snow surf and skate company commited to being sustainable without hindering performance.

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Arbor Boards and Apparel

"It is clear that many of us who snowboard, skateboard, and surf are changing the face of environmentalism. Today, all types, even the hardest kid you know, can be conscious of the planet at their core. But you don’t have to broadcast it to live it; it’s not about identity, rather it’s about choice and personal values. We see this as a critical change if saving the environment is to remain important to future generations."


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I especially like the comment about not broadcasting it. It is a personal choice, the outcome of my project will be available to those who want it. Not to try and convert people, its not a religion but just a lifestyle choice and a want to change effects.

Young people paying attention

Article on the efforts being made by youths in Scotland.

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Mash Creative

Mash Creative have an impressive portfolio. This book they produced is of a style that I think would suit the climate change book/guide/zine that I am going to produce.

The illustration and slight anarchy of the design, I think, would appeal to the snow sports community.

Also the formatting of the text allows for emphasis of information and space for images. Infographics sit easily in the design because of the grid structure and flow of colours.

FibreForm

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FibreForm packaging by Billerud could provide an interesting material for packaging/protection for many products. The material is adaptable due to its stretchiness and branding designs can be made original with the availability of embossing, light or deep, this along with any printing, film or other coatings.

FibreForm also claims to be highly sustainable because it is FSC certified and comes from managed suppliers.