Hands off! He belongs with us!

'There will be bread' - Luke Rossiter

We interviewed Luke (a sparky Foundation student from Leeds College of Art) today for a place on our BA(Hons) Graphics course. We really liked this animation that he included in his folder of work and thought it worthy of inclusion on our blog.
Hopefully Luke will be joining us in September, because we're already looking forward to working with him and his toast soldiers.

Workspaces of the Staff and Students (I)

Name: Emma Slights (21)
Nickname: Slighty
Team Position: Centre Forward
Year: 3
Course: Graphic Design
Staff/Student: Student
Location: Northeast balcony
Further Details: South facing aspect with good communication links to staff offices and the refectory only 30 seconds away by foot.

Emma ‘nabbed’ this Mac at the commencement of her third year as she likes the tranquility and auspicious Feng Shui offered by a balcony position. It’s also suspiciously close to a well-used leather sofa and the workstations of her friends.

We’ve observed that the current third year graphic designers all seem to base themselves at balcony workstations. This may be due to the atmosphere of quiet, reflective study offered by this elevated position. It may also be a deeply subconscious, hierarchical thing or simply be because, as Leanne Swift (21) of Year 3 Graphic Design quipped, “You can throw yourself off if it all gets too much.”

Key to Photo

1. Apple Macintosh Computer
2. Lucozade Sport (“To keep my hair orange.”)
3. Orange Marker Pen (see above)
4. DANSK Magazine (for inspiration “I’m currently working on a self-initiated art direction project.”)
5. Note Pad (Shopping list including, tangerines, Kia-ora, Seville Marmalade)
6. Sofa
7. Long, dark night of the soul
8. Leanne Swift
9. 125 Magazine (see No.4 above)
10. 457mm cork-backed, metal ruler (“The only thing long enough to measure my kind of magazine!”)
11. 250GB External Hard Drive (full of work and photos of famous Finnish Rally Aces)

Just another day at the office

Second year illustration student Stephen Arthur (21) goes freestyle with his mark making. Don't try this at home or in public for that matter.

Degrees of separation

The degrees of separation, a recent illustration brief that asked for two editorial pieces featuring Admiral Lord Nelson, a Cactus, a porcupine, a wendy house, a rain cloud, an umbrella, a telephone, teapot, a picket fence and Mount Fuji (obviously).

Above examples by Elly Carthy, Loren Harrison and Tom Softley.

A Tender Love Song for Valentine's Day

Shaun Tan

Shaun Tan has to be one of the best figurative illustrators working today. His images show great technical skill and mastery of perspective but this never gets in the way of storytelling, atmosphere, humour, warmth and clever insights into the human condition.

A big thank you to Mike for bringing him to our attention.

CAFFEINEMAGAZINE

Salop Mafia
Following Gary Nicholson & James Bradley – we are to be joined from the West Midlands (in September) by Vickie Biggs. She is Editor supremo at CAFFEINEMAGAZINE. We like it. We like it a lot.

Turn Over Your Test Papers Now

You could here a pin drop as the first year students were given half an hour to demonstrate what they had learned about typography. Their challenging examination paper was lovingly compiled by our very own Queen of the kerning Rhiannon Robinson (33).

Class prize (a bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk) was awarded to Steph Stilwell with an outstanding 95%. Honorable mentions (though sadly no confectionery) go to:

• Josh Taylor 93%
• Danielle Loughlin 93%
• Claire Evison 88%
• Louise Mothersdale 76%
• Charly Westcott 74%
• Jade Wall 74%
• Lauren Griffin 73%
• Appie Carr 71%

Here's one side of the question sheet. How well would you have done?

A very short introduction to...

...this post.

Our second year students have just completed a very short project to redesign the 'Very Short Introduction' and here, in short, are some of the results.

Petra Blahova

Jennifer Bows

Stephen Arthur

Gary Nicholson

Finally, we think it's high time that e-books should have animated 'covers'. Here's what illustrator Louise Hubbard did with 4 seconds...

Cumbria Band Names™ (Edition II)

Friday 11 February - Typography Feedback + Assessment Groups
We saw some excellent work but unfortunately the band names were few and far between.
It was a dull, overcast day and this is probably why the names we created were at the darker end of the musical spectrum. There's nothing here for aspiring 'New Folk Revival' duos or aspiring 'Twee Pop' chancers, you'll have to try again next time...

The Worst Widow in the World
Nineteen piece comprising: vocalist (1), guitars (6), bass (6), drums (5), triangle (1).
You will be clad in black (of course) but to demonstrate originality your signature look will be based upon 'The Wicked Witch of the West', from out of the film 'The Wizard of Oz'.
In your 'mind' your live shows will have the pyrotechnical production values of Kiss or Rammstein. In reality they will resemble nothing more than a half-spent sparkler, waved by an over-excited toddler on a dank and dismal November 5th .
Further advice: Get in touch with Eddie Stobart if you ever consider touring.

Volatile Typeface
Only to be used by groups from Sheffield.
You think that Cabaret Voltaire and Einstürzende Neubauten have too many 'tunes' and with this in mind have dispensed with conventional instrumentation. Your 'aural statements' will be created using the following samples: angle-grinder, galvanised dustbin, toddler in a tantrum and angry wasp.
Further advice: 'Selling out' is letting others hear what you do.

Brutal Nuance
Grindcore's first romantic duo (him and her).
Your 300bpm ballads (lasting no longer than 15 seconds) will explore all aspects of romantic love. Every conceivable nuance will be examined, images of tenderness, yearning and loss will be evoked and all using metaphors and similes drawn only from the torture chamber and/or slaughterhouse!
Further advice: When performing live, sit side-by-side on tall bar stools, hold hands and scream romantically into each other's face.

Life Drawing - It's a Dirty Job But Someone Has to Do It

James

From time to time, durring a crit, an unknowing student might end up getting drawn by a lecturer. In this case James Howie of second year graphic design was the subject. He was a good enough sport to let us post his likeness up here so thanks James.

Where are they now? - David Bushell

David Bushell (33), graduated in 2008 and is now Senior Web Designer at Base Creative in London's trendy Islington quarter. Read David's tips on web design in 2011.

Hardcore Typography

The first year students have been working hard for the last four weeks, learning the fundamentals of good typography with Cumbria's very own 'Queen of Typography' Rhiannon Robinson (33).

We'll post examples of their work next week.

Shocking News!

It is with great regret and a heavy heart that we announce that Dylan and Dylan's hair have decided to split.

Insiders close to the iconic duo confirmed that tensions between them had been growing for months. It now seems clear that Dylan was aspiring for a more controlled Morrissey/James Dean thing (favouring a 45 degree bias) whereas his hair was striving for a more unbridled, perpendicular look (see the photograph below).


Dylan today with (inset) his hair in happier times.

An official spokesperson confirmed that 'tonsorial differences' lay behind the breakup.
Dylan has refused to be drawn on his future plans but his hair has responded provocatively by joining Earth Wind & Fire (below).