THE GRAPHIC STUDENT is a resource for design students. Whether you're studying graphics, fashion, architecture, or any other creative visual field, this is the place for you. A place to share work, speak your mind, and learn from one another.
He’s been mentioned in passing once before on TGS, but I can’t stress enough how important it is you visit Uhrgalo’s blog. A graphic design student studying in Ontario who’s designing and printing some incredibly interesting work - very refreshing from all the high-production, contrived design work out there right now.
Last night two of my classmates and I jumped in a car and drove down to Toronto to experience Nuit Blanche 2008. The all-night art festival brought thousands of people into Toronto to see what’s happening in contemporary art. The one stop I was very excited to see was the Ontario College of Art & Design student exhibition. Up in the crayon building on the 2nd floor, the school featured a few student pieces amidst the international artists’ work at the festival. A number of fibre pieces were on display, along with works by previously mentioned Liam Crockard, Nathan Enkel, and James Gauvreau.
I wish more student work was on display - there was literally maybe 10 pieces all together. Nevertheless, it was a great opportunity to walk down the halls of such an interesting building. And the student work they did show was incredible. The piece above is a collaboration I believe between the three artists.
One really great thing I found in the school though was a collection of old photographs showing classrooms. The work done in the photo below is gorgeous:
The video above was done by D&AD Student of the Year winners Reinald Chee Weng Pin and Jason Feng Jiesheng from Temasek School of Design in Singapore. Their video was a solution to MTV’s brief to promote the brand as if it were a virus. I personally don’t think MTV has the most clever design direction out there (actually I think they just have the easiest audience to caputre), but this video definitely fits. It’s interesting and very MTV.
The video above is a little tour of the 2008 De Montfort University Graphic Design Degree show. It’s a very impressive show and I wouldn’t have wished for a more entertaining tour guide either. The show itself looks like a bomb went off and showered the room with great student work - there’s just so much! One of the highlights for me was at about 3:10 (the multi coloured cow) and at 4:18 - “how the hell is that drinking responsibly??” The whole video is worth your time as there is really great work shown throughout (and an entertaining host).
Sidenote: While doing a little research into De Montfort University, I found this neat ad for their school. A nice surprise.
that my current project revolves around this…
…would you be jealous?
Tell us about some of your favourite school projects you’re working on or have worked on in the past. I’m currently redesigning the packaging for the KONG dog toy - which in my opinion is the most iconic dog toy next to the bone. I’ve really only just begun research, but I’m excited about where this could go. What projects have gotten you excited?
Where’s the line for students that separates spec work from a legitimate opportunity? Do real world clients really benefit students? I finished a school project today for a large motorcycle/streetbike company. They had us design graphics to help market two specific bikes. The “winner”, or chosen designer, will receive $500, and the two runners up will receive something of lesser value. As for the 24 other students? I’m sure there will be a big thank you for the hard work.
This sounds like I think the assignment was spec work. And by definition, it is… I think. But I actually see this as more of an opportunity to get our work out there. Whether there was a real client or not, we would still be doing the work because we are in school… having a big company give a few of us some money is just a nice perk. If it makes you more comfortable, call it a contest.
However, I do believe this is a dangerous situation for all parties involved (students, school, and client). What happens when a big company hears about willing schools, decides to cut their design budget in half, and approaches the innocent students with promises of great prizes? Nobody is getting a fair cut through this. Students will be used for their talent, and companies will receive either trendy or mediocre work; not because the students aren’t talented, but because it is impossible to have the designer-client relationship necessary to produce outstanding quality design work. Nobody can expect a company to sit down with each and every student individually, pitch their project, and answer questions (sure they can do it in front of the whole class, but that’s not the same). After that, update meetings consist of 30 second check-ins at the work station. Professors will work hard to be a good bridge between the student and client, which can be effective - but it’s not the same as having that stressful discussion with the real client, hoping he/she will smile when you’re finished rambling about the symbolism in your work.
The motorcycle company who approached us with this current project is not receiving the best possible results in my opinion. If they sat down with a design team, laid out exactly what needs to be done, and worked through the process together, they would no doubt have a winning collection of graphics. Instead, they will be receiving some very attractive, but very scattered options - similar to the idea of throwing s*** at a wall and seeing what sticks.
Earlier in September we mentioned Keenan Cummings’ thesis project - the redesign of his school’s newspaper. All I had seen then was one image launching the project. Since then, he has posted many photos of the project on flickr - and it is beautiful. It doesn’t cross the line of too designy. I think both designers and non-designers can appreciate the design equally. The graphics are interesting and clean, and the information, from what I can see, reads very nicely.
Haik (pronounced like Mike but with an H) Avanian, a graphic design student from Bowling Green State University, sent us his portfolio - and boy are we glad! Look at that CD cover! Brilliant! Beautiful! Smart! His entire portfolio is full of work just as interesting. I loved his photo tutorial on creating a hardcover book, and how he shows the screen printing process along with his prints. It’s a fantastic portfolio, go check it out.
The Academy of Art University in San Francisco is putting out frighteningly great work from their students. Beautiful work in print, packaging, industrial, and many more genres. Not only is the work smart, attractive, and well executed - the production level is incredible. I would love to see the facilities they have to make such great work. You can find student work from all majors on their website - just click on the major. The piece above was created by student Sharlene Chia-Lin Tai in the Visual Communication course taught by Brody Hartman.
Sam Brenner, a New Media and Design student at the Rochester Institute of Technology, has one impressive portfolio. Featuring motion, interactive, and 3D work, his site is filled with genuinely smart eye candy. I’m especially impressed by his “new media nodemaker”, an interface designed to organize a large group of people, and his t.v. intro for “Take the Z Train” (shown above). Look around his site, you’ll like it. Oh, and he has a blog too.