In 1972, graphic designers Wim Crouwel and Jan van Toorn debated their ideas and beliefs before an audience at Amsterdam’s Museum Fodor. On 2 November, in commemoration of that now-historic night, the pair will converse before an audience once more.
Jan van Toorn, according to the Design Critic Rick Poynor, prioritizes more on the essence of a subject matter, with a touch of informality, confrontational with its content and form and with a cultural and political influence. Crouwel disagrees with van Toorn’s approach. Quoting Crouwel, “You must not try… to get the message across better than the one who is emitting the message,”.
These rejection and approval of subjective interference will be debated once again, and still remains an important discussion among graphic designers today. As what we observed today especially in Europe, works are created in a purist pattern of thought where typography alone represents the imagery, as images are considered overused and to a certain extent, mundane. The purist followers are in fact the now ‘trendy’ and ‘neo-modernist’. [Link to Poynor's article]
Both Dutch gurus’ debate will at the end contribute to a publication of a book, Crouwel–Van Toorn. For more information on the proceedings, check Premsela.org!
via manystuff.org
While looking for potential posts, we stumbled upon one of Desi’s fashion gem — Anuj Sharma. His cutting edge garment has won attention and admiration at last year’s India Fashion Week, releasing the Season 2008 Collection at the catwalk. Traditionally, Anuj’s garment kept in mind of the most ubiquitous sari and salwar kameez, where uncut fabric floats around the body and then tied and folded into cowls, curves, rolls which cascaded down figure from the front or back. However, Anuj felt that cut garments possesses its beauty in simplicity in form, design and fabric. Such garment with geometric forms will bring an attention at ease especially when it is matched with a solitary earrings, armlets, head band and sandals on the feet.
In his Autumn/Winter ‘08 collection titled eyelet it be, the pieces have been hammered together, exploring the concept of the eyelet. The pieces can be worn both backwards and front , for two contrasting looks.
In his Spring/Summer ‘08 collection, each garment has been designed using a rectangular fabric of the same size which has contrast piping all around it. The collection is completely made without putting any darts or cut on the fabric. For more , click here & here.
In the spirit of her origins, Meera Sethi is incessant in creating beautiful geometric patterns with a taste of India. Combining typography and overlapping stripes in her works, Sethi posts on her blog as well as runs misc., a multidisciplinary design studio in Toronto. Her core clients are mainly non-profit organisation, social justice, and art and cultural organization.
Very beautiful Typographic tree columns recently created by Why Not Associates in collaboration with artist Gordon Young at Crawley Library in West Sussex County. The library is due to be opened in January 2009.
They reminded me of the floors at The Seattle Public Library designed by Ann Hamilton (second image). According to the library’s website: “The floor mimics the appearance of a raised bed of wooden type and is intended to immerse library visitors in the artwork much as readers are immersed in the material they read…The floor includes 556 lines of text, in reverse, in 11 languages and alphabets, and consists of the first sentences of books found in the collection.”
— Article by Evey Kwong
It seems that the bell is ringing out loud to our fellow design agencies around the world. Our role as designers have raised a serious need for ethical consideration on the word ’sustainability’. Many of us feel that the ‘going green’ idea is either unpractical or costly to be achieved. Yet who would think that there is now a big market out there for such a notion? Here’s *Chris Hacker’s 11 questions to ask before you design, specify or buy anything:
1. Do we need it? Can we live without it?
2. Is the project designed to minimize waste?
3. Can it be smaller, lighter or made from fewer materials?
4. Is it designed to be durable or multi-functional?
5. Does it use renewable resources?
6. Is reuse practical and encouraged?
7. Are the product and packaging refillable, recyclable or repairable?
8. Is it made with post-consumer recycled or reclaimed materials and how much?
9. Are the materials available in a less toxic form? Can it be made with less toxic materials?
10. Is it available from a socially and environmentally responsible company?
11. Is it made locally?
AIGA has actively started this year with its new division, AIGA Center For Sustainability, with its recent two-day conference focusing on the greening of mainstream products. Big companies like Wal-Mart, Clorox, Nike, GE, and Procter & Gamble share their expertise here at “Greener by Design: Strategies, Tools and Markets for Product Innovation”.
Apropos to a successful example would be — Frost Design which is largely run with the green theme advocating its design solutions. The focus to go into digital media is contributing to lessen the waste that results from printing plus they have adopted the stance that the physical interaction from digital media is able to capture a wider audience as compared to print.
“You shouldn’t think of the web as a piece of print, but as a different experience. It’s a screen-based experience and so you have the massive advantage of making it tactile — it’s as tactile in terms of pushing buttons and interacting as a piece of print. Celebrate the potential of moving footage. Digital media such as television can actually become life, as opposed to print, which is always passive. It’s no longer down to the big networks and broadcasters. The whole world is interacting and creating their own content.”
— **Vince Frost
On the other side, Brand Integration Group at Ogilvy & Mather has designed a Green Garage project with BP — the Helios House. Although not seemingly stylish, conceptually the idea of transforming the gas station from all-recyclable materials is indeed a technological advancement. We’re sure this is one of the first big step attempted through design, and will soon be followed by businesses and governments.
* Chris Hacker is the Senior Vice President for Johnson & Johnson in Global Design and Design Strategy.
** Vince Frost is the founder of Frost Design and was a speaker at Kyoorius Designyatra 2006.
— Article by Evey Kwong
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On a related note, Frost has entered the world of fashion with its debut line of men and women’s tees. ‘Dad Rode a Tiger’, ‘Typerider’ and ‘Cinderella’s Lucky Shoe’ are the first range to hit stores nationally in April. In line with Frost’s green commitment, the T-shirts are made from 100% Bamboo, a fibre that’s as soft as silk, as durable as cotton and far more environmentally friendly. The next collection is due out later this year.