Roses Awards 2015

It was great to see so many students attend the 2015 Roses Student Awards this year, hosted by Hyper Island in Manchester. After some very welcome hospitality, and a welcome comfy sit down at the game console, it was time to find out who had won what. Unfortunately this year Staffs didn't come out on top but fought a good fight in their creative and dynamic submissions. Better luck next year, but well done for the strong work you put forward. Some pics from the night in addition to the winning work.....

Keeping a keen Eye on Type

A great achievement for our 1^st year Graphic Design students. The booklet “Typographic Bestiary” produced by the Graphics team from the brief set to Level 1 students  has been picked up “Eye” – (Eye is the world’s most beautiful and collectable graphic design journal, published quarterly for professional designers, students and anyone interested in critical, informed writing about graphic design and visual culture)  and mentioned in their blog which was looking at the latest trends in typography.   The book features alongside a range of world class professional design work – not bad for students one semester into their time with us!

http://eyemagazine.com/blog/post/noted-66

New, New York

Even more on New York!...........

Our recent study trip to New York enabled staff and students to visit a diverse range of studios and professional practitioners including Red Peak, 3X3 Magazine, Hugo & Marie, Hello Monday and Madwell. I’ve drawn out highlights from some of the visits below.

Hugo & Marie: Mario Hugo and Jennifer Gonzalez

I contacted Hugo & Marie to arrange a studio visit having been inspired by their fluid, multi-dimensional approach to the creative industry through combining artist management, creative collaboration, and interactive direction. What a pleasure it was to meet the faces behind this operation! Hugo, Jennifer and Carmel made us all feel very much at home, talking us through their ethos and projects in an honest, inspirational manner. It was wonderful for students to see their working space, and hear the story of how Hugo & Marie has grown as a business over the past seven years.

Current second year graphic design student, Laura, wrote, “It was interesting to listen to Hugo & Marie’s point of view with regards to employability and young talent, along with learning about the successes, challenges and obstacles that their business faces. They shared their personal journey from starting their businesses to where they are now and gave really helpful tips and advice on how to get into the industry. The visit confirmed my believe that it requires a lot of hard work and persistence to get into the creative industry.”

All artists managed by Hugo & Marie are showcased on their website at http://hugoandmarie.com/artists. You can also keep up with their latest news and views on Twitter @hugoandmarie.

3x3 Magazine: Charles Hively

It was wonderful meet Charles and his small team who diligently edit and produce 3x3 Magazine from their homely studio in Brooklyn, New York. Charles’ many years of experience as an art director provided students with a valuable, honest insight into the role on an illustrator with the creative industries, inspiring them with his many stories and anecdotes.

3x3 is the first publication devoted entirely to the art of contemporary illustration. Published in the United States and distributed worldwide, their sole interest is in sharing what’s shaping international illustration. Charles’ enthusiasm for this mission was evident, inviting students to engage in all that they do, whether through responding to their call for entries, perusing back issues of the magazine, partaking in portfolio reviews, or reading their insightful publication, Nuts & Bolts: A Blueprint for a Successful Illustration Career.

Have a read of 3x3’s mission below, be inspired, and get involved in all that they do:

“Our Mission. To preserve, protect and promote illustration in all its forms. First we want to preserve today’s illustration by producing printed forms of communication to enable future generations to get a glance at what illustrators were doing during this time period. In this digital age it is too easy to lose track of an individual’s work, to search through past archives looking for information about an artist or specific project is time-consuming. With 3x3 the information is on your bookshelf or with our digital copies, desktop, letting you update your knowledge of a particular artist of interest. The two work hand-in-hand to provide a record of achievement.

Secondly we want to protect the legacy of the top illustrators in the field. Our interest is in helping the best illustrators advance their careers and to that end we offer conferences, podcasts, portfolio reviews, workshops and affordable magazines and books, in print and digital editions, to help the next generation of illustrators learn from the experiences of the current generation.

Lastly, we want to promote in every way possible the importance, viability and uniqueness of using illustration in advertising, publishing, corporate, institutional, books and animation. Our juried shows and subsequent printed publications— annuals and curated directory—help accomplish this goal.”

Further information on 3x3 can be found at http://3x3mag.com.

Current and back issues of 3x3, along with their other publications, can also be purchased in their online store:

http://shop.3x3mag.com

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Madwell: Chris Sojka

Having hosted Staffordshire students for the second time in as many years, Madwell kindly welcomed us back, showcasing a stellar range of ideas and clients. Madwell are, in their own captivating words, “a tight-knit group of hard-working, fast-footed, fearless upstarts with fantastic eyes for detail and highly evolved ideating glands. They have collectively pushed over 75,000,000 pixels, produced in excess of 120,000 sq ft of printscape, scribbled a quattuordecillion words, and sacrificed dozens of good ideas for a single great one.” Our students were so inspired by their hands-on, practical approach to the generation of imaginative ideas, executed with finesse every time. A tour of their studio bought their portfolio to life as students viewed original models down in the workshop, communicating the true value of making as a part of the creative process. Chris also showed students products from their additional venture Thingmade, further inspiring students to make, do and be more as they enter the creative industry. Alicja, one of our second year graphic design students wrote, “I was so impressed by Madwell’s extensive studio facilities. It set them apart from the rest and really inspired me.”

Madwell’s work is showcased on their website www.madwell.com

Their range of Thingmade products can also be seen and purchased online at http://www.madwell.com

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Thankyou again to all of the studios and practitioners who took time to meet with us this year! See you next time…

Thanks to Lucy Brown for the article.

Words of wisdom?

A couple of very interesting articles by Michael Johnson (Johnson Banks) on the relevance of mood boards and the application and involvement of Photoshop........worth a read

http://johnsonbanks.co.uk/thoughtfortheweek/mad-as-hell-about-moodboards/

http://johnsonbanks.co.uk/thoughtfortheweek/photoshop-the-verb/

Graphic Design does Exist!!!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK.......

Over 70 Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography and Photojournalism students ventured to New York on an amazing trip!

As temperatures plummeted (to around -10 degrees!) the students experienced the trip of a lifetime in the Big Apple. With thermals, hats, gloves and scarves, students embarked on visits to famous landmarks, exhibitions, studios, cafes,  restaurants and the occasional bar (strictly those over 21 of course).

Enormous thanks go to the following studios who gave their time and energy into offering the students an insight into the world of visual communication, state-side:-  Red Peak, 3X3 Magazine, Hugo & Marie, Hello Monday and Madwell - who hosted Staffordshire students for the second time in as many years.

Photography students enjoyed MOMA exhibitions and worked on a project to record 'non-tourist' images while they were away. In addition to these visits a host of iconic places were experienced including:- Empire State Building, Staten Island Ferry, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Centre, Ground Zero, Macy's, Broadway, Central Park, New York High Line, Chelsea Market and Greenwich Village.