Idioms

Had to put this on my blog just because it's so random and shows how crazy language is sometimes. So for the punctuation mark brief I've been looking at idioms, obviously these English sayings don't directly translate to other languages. However other languages have their own expressions that mean the same but are as completely random as ours. Apparantly idioms are one of the hardest things for a person to learn in the process of learning another language, mainly because we grow up using idioms as if their true meanings actually make sense!!

Idioms

to kick the bucket  = to die

The same expression in Polish is 'kopnąć w kalendarz' (to kick the calendar)

The same expression in Dutch is 'het loodje leggen'  (to lay the piece of lead)

Random, but now I really want to find some more examples!

Paul Farrington

http://www.mobyhotel.com/mobyhotel/

Eyestorm Gallery.

Paul Farrington is a designer based in Brighton. There he formed 'studio tonne' around ten years ago, which consists of Paul and two other people. The studio usually works with quite open briefs with clients varying from Plymouth Hospital to Moby.


Paul studied at Liverpool where his work became focused around interactive design, especially linked to designing software for music. This lead to work for big music labels and artists such as Moby. The 'Moby Hotel' came from a very open brief simply wanting something to promote the new Moby album over a three month period, Paul and the studio developed this into an online interactive webspace where people could learn more about Moby and his music.


He also creates his own digital and electronic based music, and then visualises it using computer software. The interactive element is created by the software, as it allows the viewer to play with making their own music using the graphics on the web page or CD, therefore the work becomes responsive to the person looking at it. For this he uses programs such as flash to create what he calls interactive 'toys'.

As well as the more digital based work studio tonne are also involved with design for print. One of the really successful pieces he showed was the logo design for eyestorm gallery. The design was really simple but did exactly what it needed to do with out any fuss or frills!


Their work ethic was to step away from the norm and look at more 'random elements' that could then be transferred to the design work. They tend not to use photography as they prefer to see what can be made from text and illustration. I think this is probably much more challenging but in the end produces some really strong interesting work. Again as with Matt Pyke I really like the idea of making the design work interactive and responsive to the viewer as it instantly forms a relationship between the two.

Designing Seeds Exhibition.

After the Matt Pyke talk we decided to go and see the exhibition Designing Seeds by Universal everything in Sheffield.

"Designing Seeds makes the case that through the mechanism of design, scientific advances of the last decade have opened the way to unexpected visual pleasures.  We have now entered an age in which designers and architects are drawing their inspiration from hidden patterns in nature rather than from pretty leaves or snowflakes.  The results reveal a new approach to design and a new kind of beauty."

The exhibition itself was smaller than I'd expected, and we didn't get chance to see the installations on the window as it was too bright outside, however the work itself was really interesting to look it. It was an extension of some of the things he had shown us in his lecture. In particular I liked the lovebytes work with the individual

 monster characters. The title 'Designing Seeds' is derived from the bespoke digital design systems that are used to design the seed, this then independently develops into a suprise result everytime! I think how the i

nteraction and relationship of the work with the viewer is really successful. The work only presents itself to you if you make the your own presence in the room known.

Matt Pyke

Matt Pyke is a 'creative' based in Sheffield. In 2004 he formed 'Universal Everything', a collective consisting of designers, programmers, musicians and artists. I loved this lecture! Again I really like seeing and hearing about work and people that are constantly trying to push the boundaries and change perceptions of design and its purpose. 

  

  He described his office literally as a 'shed' at the bottom of the garden, his 'electronic cottage'. The office simply consists of his mac and him, and then anyone else that is working with him at the time. The idea behind Universal Everything was to creative a 'collective' consisting of a diverse range of people with different skills. Matt explained it as a process that initially started with a strong idea. he would then find the people that could help him turn the 'idea' into a reality. By working with the relevant people the idea then turns into a final concept and 'product' for the client. 

 

 Matt chooses the people he works with depending on what he visualises for the idea, he then uses contacts he already has or simply gets in touch with people via the internet or even blogs. I think this is a really exciting way of working as not only does it mean the work is going to be constantly changing and developing as new people get involved, it also means his contact base is ever growing which will strengthen the final outcomes.

  

  The work itself was mainly digital based. It included a lot of installation work, and particularly interesting was the interactive pieces. Matt and his team work on computer programs that are reactive to sounds or movement, creating constantly changing work dependent on the environment.

  

  Matt also talked about his inspirations in work, what they were and where they came from. The everyone forever site is huge source of inspiration that ranges from new technologies to photography, music and even nature.

  Universal Everything have worked with huge clients such as Nokia, V&A museum and were also involved in designing the logo for London Olympics 2012.

Installation for the V&A Museum, London.

Nokia 'Beautiful Connections' Art film.

Patrick Young

The Patrick Young talk was particularly interesting as it gave a different perspective of working in industry compared to what we had seen before. Patrick showed how skills from being a 'designer' can be applied in many different ways to many different jobs. The work he showed us varied from skateboard designs to a promo video for Urban Splash. It was exciting to see how the role of a 'designer' can be so diverse, it is definitely something I want to learn more about, how our skills can be put to some many different uses, ones that at the moment I might not be aware of.

 

 Patrick graduated from Liverpool University in 1986. He initially worked as a freelance designer in both London and Liverpool. His background is primarily graphic design but he has used this in other disciplines, including architecture practices. He main base is now in Belfast.

  

 Patrick has worked for a variety of different companies and clients. His roles have included art director, senior creative and 'entrepreneur'. He sees how graphic

 design is changing, and many designers are becoming involved in their own projects moving more towards the name of 'graphic artists'. This was shown in his work for East skateboards, where he was involved with all aspects

from design to production and finance.

  

 The main things I learnt from this talk were how diverse a designer's 'talents' and 'skills' can be. There are many more options than just a 'graphic designer'. The title 'creative' in some ways seems more appropriate for a designer today. 

Cavern Walks (shopping centre, Liverpool)

Patrick was involved in the branding and promotion of the quirky centre.

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Jonny Hannah

Jonny Hannah is a freelance illustrator who gave a talk to us on his work, and experiences as an illustrator working pretty much for himself out in industry. His work was really nice to look at, and you could really appreciate the work and effort that had gone into each illustration. Although I don't really draw myself it really made me think more about illustration as a possible solution for briefs, especially as it instantly gives a handmade, personal quality to something which is very hard to achieve just on the computer. He was also very interested in typography, and I think some of his most interesting illustrations included his hand drawn type. The work he presented showed how versatile illustration can be. The work varied from book covers (more known for their use of illustration) to his own 'Rocket Man' creation simply influenced by popular culture.

Thomas Allen

We came across this work on the internet and found it particularly inspirational as Allen really creates intrigue and atmosphere with his pieces. They really become pieces of art.

Pop in, pop out!

The pop up idea came from thinking of ways we could tell the narratives of the objects in a more interesting and interactive way than is usually done. From research we did most of the museums and galleries in Manchester used very traditional style leaflets and flyers as promotion. Platt Hall isn't a typical traditional gallery, so we didn't want to go with that. It needed to be something that really helped show the Hall's personality through the look and feel of the promotional material as well as the narratives of the objects. We thought the narratives of the objects were an interesting angle to look at as it gives an 'identity' to items we wouldn't otherwise know about. Also as the stories are so interesting they can be used as an 'awareness' device or tool.

The red dress, experiment.

The Punk Jacket, experiment.

The Shoes, experiment.