Print, Print, Print, Print!

The creative brief from the AGDA website :

The theme for the 2011 AGDA Poster Annual is “Inspired by Music”. Entrants are invited to be inspired and interpret this theme however they wish. Music is perhaps the oldest of humanity’s creative endeavours. It is both an art form as well as a type of communication. The world over music is a source of entertainment, celebration, worship and expression. The diversity of music reflects the soul of the world and binds us all. We all experience music at emotional and cultural levels. It offers us our finest moments and records our trials and our joys. This is the power that we hope you can capture.

We ask you, the entrants, to create posters about whatever you like. You can discuss whatever you wish as long as your subject matter stems from music in some way. Your approach may be as broad or as narrow as you wish. Your poster could be a portrait of your favourite composer or a social protest inspired by a song lyric – it is up to you.

Ask yourself questions. What is personal to you? How does music affect you? What do you love? Who inspires you? How do we use music to make social and political statements? How do we socially connect? How has music affected humanity? What historical moments are punctuated by music? Who are our heroes? What is the significance of our composers, our poets, our dancers? What are our stories? Where have we been? Where are we going?

Our response :

Open creative briefs often require a process of execution rather than spending hours and hours thinking about it.

We are often lost in music and we took the opportunity to make a poster while being in one of these moments. On our morning walk a month or so ago, we tasked ourselves to find five similar objects within a set time frame of five minutes and use these objects to make a poster.

In our five minutes we found five Slurpie drinking straws littering our path, while listening to Handshake Drugs by Wilco, off the album – Ghost is Born. We took them back to the studio, cleaned them up, but not too much, scanned, retouched and developed compositions which are adaptions of the five line music stave, these compositions are devised and inspired from the visualisation of soundwaves. The results trips into the visual scape often explored by Swiss designer Niklaus Troxler.

Best of luck to the 593 entrants and cheers to Mark and all his efforts, results will be announced in September.

visit the AGDA poster annual here

Several months ago we called Brendan McKnight – the new editor of desktop magazine, with the idea of the studio guest editing an issue of desktop magazine. Two days later Brendan called us back and offered the 25th Anniversary issue.

In contemporary times print publishing is under increasing pressure to fund publication production as readership and advertising dollars fragments and spread thin across print, digital and sponsorship media. The budget for bringing such a specialised category together every month is a case of working with shoe strings, sows ear, making, improvising, being in tune with and utilising opportunity as it happens.

In mid March the project started with a three hour meeting where we explored ideas and mapped of what could be end up being editorial pieces. We were convinced that this issue would be better served the reader by creating a snap shot of 2011 rather dipping into the past. The content plan we developed explored aspects of contemporary design and creativity today, illustrated through the stories and ideas of a range a designers in all stages, places and moments of the their careers – genders, ages, arty practices to commercial studios, educators to students. We wanted to explore the bigger stories of design practice, rather than showcase the latest hot looking job or designer.

During the months that passed some narratives remained the same, while others were realised on the run – which is typical of the process of the how our studio produces work; some projects are worked out in the briefing meeting and some ideas are in the processor for weeks, months.

The idea of the issue being a time capsule of ink and paper came to Andrew on the train ride home on the day of the half day workshop. A late night message left on Brendan’s voice mail raving – time capsules and the shifting notion of the physical capsule object, eventually ended up with an idea that was present yet absent.

In terms of people mix we did our best to present a diverse group of people. We contrasted the world famous with the emerging, art based designers with highly successful commercial operators, designers who make images compared with designers who make forms, designers born in Australia and abroad, designers who are work in studios, in education, business owners, working abroad, employees to being in between jobs, women and men who across a range of age groups from as many corners of Australia as we could muster – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney to Hobart.

Launch article by Ray Edgar – The Age, 27 August 2011

The project brought with it many great side projects, an extraordinary piece of student research, an exhibition of printed matter, an investigation of love projects, a company that works with time, an essay asking if the brand is dead? A snap shot of six designers and their head spaces circa 2011, a 20 years pursuit of alternative type design and insights from designers explore a favourite project to an object devised to create a instant and lasting impression, and impressions on Australian design.

The cover was shot by Lynton Crabb in Andrew’s front yard on a crisp winter’s morning. Out of the hole floats a plume or cluster of idea bubbles leaking for our freshly buried capsule – which was illustrated by Andrew. The streaking type on cover is in silver anniversary grey, we chose the font Chicago because of it being one of the first system fonts used by early Macintosh computers. Chicago is also an awkward, ugly font that needs a regular airing. The bubbles creeping into the masthead breaks the style rules of Desktop’s masthead and Lou from Desktop add a special spot uv layer of the mast head type and bubble to give the cover extra zing. The text on the cover Andrew wrote as holding text. The guys at Desktop liked it enough to leave it word for word. The work Frenemy is a real word and is a recent addition to the Oxford English Dictionary.

The lift out poster was pulled together over a weekend. The 180 images featured are mostly taken by Andrew on his iPhone over the last few years. The captions were written late into a Saturday night, while watching ABC TV’s music programme called Rage – the guest programmer was French producer and DJ Martin Solveig – highlight clips were PRINCE – Purple Rain and SUPERGRASS – Pumping On Your Stereo. We wanted to make a poster that may offer some insights, rather than show off our creative prowess. The poster is a stream of top of mind thoughts in relation to ideas, observations, creative practice and life grabs – it’s a chart of inspirations and shout outs. Flat copies of the poster are available from the studio.

The edition has already enjoyed reviews in Broadsheet, The Design Files and a range of blogs and forums however the best feedback of this effort came from an internal email by Niche media’s MD – Paul Lidgerwood:

From: Paul Lidgerwood
Date: 24 August 2011 9:49:36 AM AEST
To: all niche
Subject: I finally get it!

One extraordinary issue, being the September Anniversary Issue, has finally got my incredibly slow mind around what Desktop is all about. I can now see how it inspires, how it teaches, how it improves and nourishes, how it flows and why if I was designer I would pour over it cover to cover. I can also finally see why if I was a business trying to connect with designers Desktop would be top of my schedule.

The epiphany was this issue and my hat is well and truly doffed to the collective brilliance of all involved-Brenden, Ali, Lou, Danielle and Studio Pip and Co. Well done guys you have made sense of the muddle – keep it up!

Paul Lidgerwood
Managing Director

As mentioned in the printed object it was a privilege to work with a Brendan and Louise at Desktop on this issue, numerous hours are devoted every month when plans, editors, writers, photographers and production teams meet and are shaped by detailed editing, review and art direction.

We dedicate this project to everyone that contributed to the project : Lynton, Holly, Lisa, Warren, Garry, Jason, Anita, Amanda, Graeme, Sam, Melanie, Dan, Anthony, David P, David L, Mimmo, Kate, Brita, Alex, Sarah, Sam, Pip, Will, Henry and Toward – who’s generosity and time makes this publication a priceless hunk of ink on paper.

If you want to understand the potential for a graphic designer to take their works to new places this issue propositions the designer as writers, inventors, researchers, analysts, event organisers, crafts people, curators, entrepreneurs, travelers, networkers, publishers, image makers to editors. We hope that you enjoy this edition, we hope that the bigger stories of design practise come to the fore and inspire readers to explore ideas, vision and thinking outside of the normal pursuits of being a creative designer.

This edition is a standard run, so get in quick as their will be no reprints.

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Production images follow

The first meeting in April 2011 with Lou and Brendan

Brendan’s content map

Lou's content map

Andrew’s initial Time Capsule cover sketch

Desktop space at Niche

Diamonds in the Rough test image

Pre Diamonds in the Rough photo set up

Diamonds in the Rough photo set up

Riding Lou on the computer during the final edit stage

The cover in the flat book

Text page in the flat book

– – –

Sample spreads, be it poor images apologies for the array of grey backgrounds (v annoying), from the final printed publication

The Burger Monster brand change over has begun – brand, look and feel, image making, stationery, packaging, interior and signing. The process is a gradual one and elements are coming together staged and considered.

Stencils and painter’s mark up

Booked in stencil

Two colour directional sign, floor colour down, rooms numbers next

Painter cleaning up finished room number

Spent stencils ready for storage

The studio collaborated with MeMe design to create a way finding system for a new secondary school opening this year. The concept and design process began in September, leaving very little time to scenario systems, develop an orientation and site identification system, research and cost manufacturing and roll out the system.

A very modest budget to work with allowed us to de-shackle our selves from developing custom manufactured systems and investigate simpler means of materials, manufacture and roll out. We turned our gaze to unconventional atypical methods of sign marking and display – street signing, road marking, and graffiti art – and formed a production palette of stencils, vinyl graphics, road marking, and building paints.

Stage 01 of the project required the base system of floor or level identification, directional markers, class room numbers, meeting and staff room markets. It was a process of constant reduction, until three colours derived existing brand palette identified each level – found on the columns, stair wells and directional markers. A simple number system identified the rooms, also on the floor. Then coloured dots accompanied room numbers and then marked with corresponding staff and meeting room doors.

Stage 01, as depicted took under ten working days to manufacturer and roll out. Stencils are in storage and are used again to touch up the system.

Main entry

Painted columns identify levels

Level markers in stair/lift well

Directional markers signing level and rooms

Sweeping walk ways reveal room numbers

Room numbers relate directly with corresponding rooms

Some rooms doubled up, which reflected in the floor numbers

Numbers with a red / blue dot, marked staff / meeting rooms in the area

A custom stencil font was developed by the studio, adapted from an exiting type face.

Thanks to Steve and John at Albert Park College for your guidance and MeMe for an interesting and challenging project.

Read Me First / Australia wide
Studio design publication / content strategy, image making, layout and artwork
Full colour / developed 2008 / 4 week project
* * * 2008 AGDA Distinction Award Winner

The studio developed a student publication with designer David Pidgeon on behalf of the Australian Graphic Design Association. The piece features an article written by design writer Adrian Shaughnessy – how to get a job, along with a voyeuristic question and answer forum with over 45 studios from Berlin, Sydney, London, New York, Auckland to Melbourne – exploring colour, typeface, beverages, influences to simply documenting studio web addresses. Read Me First is a 40 page publication was a mad rush of late nights, collation and instinct.

The publication is AU$10 plus postage, email us for your copy – ideas (at) peoplethings (dot) com

Visit Adrian Shaughnessy, Design by Pidgeon, AGDA here

Is the poster redundant? Is the poster a space that makes scense of the sponsors logos placement and hierarchy? One looks to poster design in Europe and dreams of medium that is larger than life. A communication space where the image is the message and the audience is visually enhanced — A mythical cast of thousands hungry for well craft messages and images that tap on the door of the art world and call out — is if there is a room in the inn for the night?

On the other hand the majority of Australian poster design is a canvas for a big picture; sometimes art directed, a headline, text unsuitable for reading in the poster format and let’s not forget a stable logos.

A good campaign is usually capped off with a poster. We design our posters to communicate and to be stolen. A good poster is a stolen poster. A poster that compels someone to break the law to decorate their homes and work spaces.

We love a good poster, we love making innovative and mimicked campaigns too.

2007 Fifth Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition poster

2008 Melbourne Fringe Festival posters

2007 Melbourne Fringe Festival posters

2007 Moonlight Cinema Poster

1998 Suits poster for Tomasetti Paper House

1999 Tune Out Poster by Australian Poster

2001 Hub poster for Saxton by Australian Paper

2001 Saxton Scholars Poster

2002 Saxton Scholars Poster

2005 Saxton Scholars Poster

2006 Saxton Scholars Poster

2006 National Institute for Design Research poster

2004 State of Design Exhibition poster

2004 State of Design Exhibition poster

2009 This Is Not a Design Market poster

10 Commandments of Copyright poster

2010 Planet Cup awareness poster

2009 Jardan Furniture poster

2009 Pearl Café take-a-way poster

2010 Optix Modern Manifesto posters

2009 Gunn & Taylor Guys and Toys poster

2010 AIA Extra/ordinary conference posters

Produced 2005 / Recycled newsprint / 48 pages
Theme content direction, photography, image making, design and layout
Publication, signing, posters, invitation

The end of year publication for undergrad at Swinburne University’s Design Faculty serves many purposes – to document students, their work, communicating this output to family, the industry sectors as well as other design institutions.

In 2005 the Studio was asked to put together a publication that communicated the Faculty and its achievements, using a united editorial and writing team, cohesive image making, along with a curated collection of graduate work all within a modest budget. Inspired to illustrate the transformation process of tertiary eduction the theme “transform me” followed up “people, place and work” theme established the year before.

This publication was recognised at the 2006 Australian Graphic Design Association Award for editorial design.

The studio has been involved in volunteering, developing projects and producing communication work for design industry. On the odd occasion we are given the chance to make a poster, typically with next to no budget and wanted yesterday.

1998 AGDA NSW Events Calendar / Australian Graphic Design Association
Jan 1998 / Concept, publication design, writing, image making
Photography by Karl Schwerdtfeger
***  1998 AGDA Pinnacle  award

2002 AGDA National Awards Call for Entries poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / Febraury 2001
Concept, publication design, writing, image making
***  1998 AGDA Distinction  award

2005 AGDA National Conference poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / March 2005
Concept, publication design, writing, image making

2008 AGDA forty-eight poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / March 2008
Concept, publication design, writing, image making

2009 AGDA forty-eight poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / March 2009
Concept, publication design, writing, image making

2009 AGDA Beer O’clock poster / Australian Graphic Design Association / March 2009
Concept, publication design, writing, image making

2009 AGDA Optimism Conference poster / Australian Graphic Design Association
September 2009 / Concept, publication design, writing, image making

A poster is a space to give pleasure, call for action, evoke change. Given the right brief and more importantly a sensitive and exciting response, a good poster can change a whole lot of things. We often make posters for the sheer pleasure of making posters and sometimes we are invited to make posters for causes, ideas and occasions. We can’t help to see what happens.

1999 Studio Christmas card celebrating a change millenia

2005 Australian Poster Annual finalist

2006 AIGA NY, NY – Urban Tree Project submission

2009 Australian Poster Annual entries

2010 Australia Project entry

Outside of Australia, Australia is perceived to be one big tourist park filled with strange animals, poisons bugs, big skies, big rocks, sandy beaches, the pub, the boomerang, sporting heroes, the bush people, and long haul flights.

Tourists the world over love a bargain, love to barter, love the challenge of finding a good purchase. As a tourist culture it seems at times that everything in Australia is for sale, everything has a special price, everything is reduced to clear – be it Australia’s natural resources, local products and brands, ideas and innovations. Much of what Australia has to offer leaves its shores to be converted, profited from and or prosper – be it Australia’s coal, iron and timber; the sale of Australian brands – Vegemite to Orbital Engine; or the departure of great minds and talents of Germaine Greer, Barry Kosky, Robert Hughes, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Elizabeth Blackburn.

The legend of colonial anti hero Ned Kelly is called upon in this poster. Kelly stoically peers out of a crude and barren world of “the sale” and invites to the viewer to discover and materialise Australian culture and identity.

Visit the Australia Project here

2009 IMEPO (migration) posters – Greece

Migration is a major influencing factor that has shaped, developed and formed Australian culture. Many people from the far corners of the Earth have migrated to Australia and called it home and with them they brought their tastes, smells, textures, sights and sounds. It is an exciting place to be, and the opportunity in such a space is enormous. Layer on layer of cultures have graced our shores and this drove us to think that migration, particularly in Australia is not a Baby Boomer, or a Gen X’er, or a Gen Y’er, moreover it is a new generation people – Gen Now.

The poster project had a life of its own, we embarked on photographing range of local people in Melbourne – Japanese, Anglo Celt, Philippines, New Zealanders, Welsh and Nepalese and layered them on a vale constructed from all of the borders of the world. The Gen Now brand was developed during the poster printing process for the Melbourne Museum of Printing fund raising project.

2009 Eyesaw Invitational, Sydney

Established in 2006 Eye Saw invites designers to respond to a theme in the poster format. Eye Saw is overseen by Mark Gowing Design – it is an invitational poster exhibition held in Omnibus Lane, Ultimo, Sydney.

This year the studio was honored to be invited to produce a poster for Eye Saw. The brief invited participants to consider the theme humanity/equity.

Posters design is an individual process and it is difficult to develop a poster image that speaks of the idea, means something to its designer and connects with an audience. We thought of humanity/equity in terms of grooming compassion, nurturing our hearts. Everyone knows that to care for a plant you have to think to water it regularly for it to grow, so we twisted this metaphor and invited viewers to nurture their hearts.

The poster was cost effectively produced as four A0 black and white plan prints with fine streams of fine silver light plastic streamers flowing from the watering can’s spout.

2010 Australian Poster Annual finalist

We were troubled by the latest Australia Poster Annual brief, the first paragraph in particular, as it seems to be again – too design sector focused – and not aligned with big picture issues such as:

• discovering Australian identity,
• the idea that everyone is now a designer,
• addressing public perception of design and their designers
• bringing about a discovery of the ways in which Australian designers solve design problems,
• helping clients tune into a locally developed product rather going overseas for creative outcome,
• the proliferation of the designer idea
• developing an Australian creativity position.

It is no secret that we feel that designers moan about on about how clients should understand design more, etc. We, as a practice, strive to find the balance between making work that works for clients, along developing a product that excites, inspires audiences and looks good.

It is concerning that our industry feels the need to write such briefs, and we believe that to bring about a positive change might be found by taking a lead from fine artists, fashion designers, chefs, coffee, wine makers, writers and musicians – who create, lure, attract, clarify, excite and challenge people with the an exciting product. Allowing then, the key drivers such as business innovation, thought leadership and cultural change will make sense to people who use it.

This situation reminds one of that old adage – quality relationships come about from inspiring respect rather than commanding respect.

Birthday posters are the perfect touch to any home spun celebration…

Stephen Recipe Publication / Spicers Paper / January 2008
Concept, publication design, writing, image making
*** one 2008 AGDA Distinction award

The studio has developed another promotion for a paper by Spicers Paper called Stephen. Stephen is new improved and new new new. A new range of colours — whites specifically, now has 50% recycled content, FSC certified and it is the prefect ingredient for any print communications.

The studio developed a recipe book of sorts, developing writing, image making and collaborating. Ten print colours, five different paper grades of Stephen later and printing by Gunn & Taylor a 40 page book is coming to a Studio near you soon.

Visit Spicers Paper for details