Jake Parker Illustrator thinker guru

Jake Parker is an American illustrator who has worked in a broad variety of areas - video games, animation, comics, books, film and more.
He's also the originator of the inktober movement that comes around once a year (can you guess when?)


Jake's work is primarily in the fantasy / comic book genre but the scope of his philosophy and teaching goes much further.

The most impressive thing about Jake (beside his prolific output) is his attitude toward illustration, drawing and sharing his experiences and learning. He posts a multitude of videos on Youtube that are jam packed with great, hard-won insight, offering a fantastic helping hand to anyone interested in illustration - no matter what area they want to get into. It doesn't matter if you want to be just like Jake or if you want to get busy with a completely different thing; the insight is still priceless.

Here's a couple of Jake's videos that we enjoyed and there's plenty more here

Studio Randoms

There's nothing quite like a busy, vibrant studio to inspire creative minds. Grillust's open-plan space houses illustration and graphic design across all years, so there's always something to catch your eye.

Penguin Book Cover Awards

The Penguin Book Cover Design competition attracts thousands of entries from students worldwide. And, to be shortlisted is a real recognition of talent and skill. In the children's book section this year, students were asked to design a new cover for Emil and the Detectives to bring this classic to a new generation of readers.

Third year illustration student, Maddy Mould (21), duly obliged with the finely conceived and crafted cover design shown below. Today we are cock-a-hoop to learn that Maddy's entry has been shortlisted. The winners are unveiled on June 22nd and the Grillust digits are crossed that Maddy scoops the top prize. In the meantime, being shortlisted is no mean feat; well done Maddy! 

You can see more of Maddy' work here - http://maddymould.com

Size Does Matter!

Third year illustrator, Samm Barnes (21), has been doing some large scale cutting out. And, when you're slicing up the big stuff an A2 cutting mat just doesn't, well, cut it! Samm was resourceful enough to track down an outsize, A0 cutting mat, presumably a sales prop, but then, where's the 4 x larger than life scalpel?

Grillust™Senior Managers, Tony Peart (33) and David Robert (33) were clearly excited by this giant mat and raced about the studio like a pair of over stimulated baboons before being coaxed down from their 'play nest' in the ceiling joists.  

Rumpus time over and suitably calm, Tony (right) finds he is keen to field an expedition to look for previously undiscovered tribal groups, plant based miracle cures, un-extinct dinosaurs or lost artworks by Christopher Voysey. Meanwhile, David (left) 'marks-out' for a game of Subutteo.

Subutteo Leeds United hotshot Billy Bremner (above) remains, as usual, tight lipped! Probably because he's made of plastic.

Brown is the new Green

GREEN SCREEN is the largest international nature film festival in Germany. And, when GREEN SCREEN put out a call for poster designs to launch their 10th Nature Film Festival in 2016, 3rd year Graphic Design Student, Megan Brown (21), decided to pitch in with a proposal. 

This week we've learned that Megan's design has been shortlisted and we now await the news that her winning poster has been selected by a jury and the 1200 Euros prize money is on the way to Grillust™ Towers. 

Megan Brown's GREEN SCREEN film festival poster

See more of Megan's work HERE

Scenes From the Life Room - Now with Added Colour!!!

Hazel 'William Orpen' Mason (21)


Chris 'Egon Schiele' Martin (21)

Rebecca 'Paige Bodimeade' -Graham (21) 

Carl 'Carl' Barton (21) 

Emma 'Matisse' Russell (21) 

Chris 'Egon Schiele' Martin [again] (21)

Tabitha 'Tab' Walby (21) 

 Hazel 'William Orpen' Mason [again] (21)

Carl 'Carl' Barton [again] (21) 


Lüdia 'Goya' Stahlschmidt (21)

First Years, Eleventh Project - Typographic Posters

Our first year students have just spent a challenging and fruitful two weeks working alongside our 'national treasure', H.R.H The Typographer Royal, Dame Rhiannon Robinson OBT*.

As you probably know, Dame Rhiannon is a demanding taskmistress with a ruthless, critical eye that can spot the slightest typographic imperfection at more than twenty paces. 

Luckily for our novice students she took them through the fundamentals of good typography through a series of lectures and on-screen tutorial sessions.

This is but the start of a very long journey, but even after such a short time the students can all spot loose tracking, unfortunate apostrophes, orphans, widows and line lengths that are too long or too short.

The project was deceptively simple. Take some information about a typeface like this:


...and turn it into a beautiful piece of design like this:

Miss Sian Whitfield (21)

Like all our two week projects we put great emphasis on the journey (the ideas development work) not just the destination (the final poster).

Here's an example of what can be achieved during two weeks (again courtesy Miss Sian Whitfield):



So, without further ado, let's look at a range of development work alongside some final pieces.

Miss Rebecca Bodimeade-Graham (21)

Miss Lüdia Stahlschmidt (21)

Miss Sian Whitfield [again] (21)

Miss Lüdia Stahlschmidt [again] (21)

*Order of Blooming Good Typography

Shona Lett in the blogosphere. Again!

Listerine don't currently sell any sort of mouthwash tablets and 3rd year Graphic Design student, Shona Lett (21), thinks it's high time they did. The packaging solution she developed is inspired by the specific needs of travel - primarily convenience in use and a small pack size.

Packaging of the World seem to agree! See more about the project here

You say Aluminum. We say Aluminium.

(And of course, we're right)



As you'll have already read below, Prof. Andrew Byrom, worldwide premier constructed typography designer, is currently in residence with us here at The University of Cumbria.

This week Andrew has mostly been cutting and sharpening Aluminium (note the second 'i') and ringing Health & Safety alarm bells. To find out why you'll have to stay tuned here, or come to Prof. Byrom's forthcoming exhibition which will be held in our excellent Vallum Gallery in a few weeks time.

Professor Byrom: "Look, designers hands!", Tony 'Mr. Tony' Peart: "No Andrew, they're builders hands."

Professor Byrom Fast Fact #1.
Since returning to Cumbria, Andrew now wants to be a proper Grillust operative when he grows up. Or a train driver.

Shona's Coffee Addiction

3rd Year graphic designer, Shona Lett (21), has been generating some blog attention recently with her bold 'Bold' coffee packaging.

And it's no wonder she's getting attention, for as every Grillustasi knows, a damn fine cup of coffee is an essential adjunct to a designer's process. So, what better way to attract the attention of caffeine starved creatives than with packaging for their favourite beverage? She's smart, our Shona!

Her work has so far been featured on two industry blogs Packaging of the World and Favourite Design

Shona's currently developing some packaging for the eco-conscious consumer, more of which later. In the meantime, you can see more of Shona's work on her website here

Studio Random - Rhian and Megan's small, dancing Jesus!!!

As you know, all are equal in the eyes, hearts and minds of the Grillustasi. Other dancing deities are available. All major religeons catered for including specialist graven images for our devil worshipping brethren.  

Also available... The Pope. Billy Graham, Prince Philip. Trevor MacDonald. The plasticine dancing celebrity formerly know as Prince (or a packet of plasticine). Wham! Nobby Stiles. Elvis (several phases)

Scenes from the Life Room - This Week a 'Kinky' Boots Special!!!