Graphic Design at UCK

Ewan chose to explore the 1940s and the 1980s for his decades assignment. In a minimum of 1,000 words for each final piece, Ewan had to investigate the historical events of the decade and write an analysis on how they influenced art and design movements. The final document was to represent the style of the decade.
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Here are Ewan’s final submissions, sent along with a folder of research (not pictured):
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The 1940s
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The 1980s
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Bibliography
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For his artist retrospective project, Ewan chose to showcase the work of film maker, M. Night Shyamalan, the brains behind The Sixth Sense, Signs and The Happening, among others.
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He chose Tate Modern as the gallery to hold his exhibition and designed a booklet set to mimic the aspect ration of a widescreen film.
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The booklet had to be a minimum of 1,000 words covering the historical context and era in which Shyamalan worked, his influences and biography.
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The following final submission was sent along with a folder of research (not shown):
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Michelle had to choose a designer or artist who has been a personal influence for this assignment. She chose to work with Charles Rennie Mackintosh, famous for his architecture and interior design work.

This settled, Michelle had to gather firsthand research on Machintosh and his work and write a 2,000 word illustrated critique. This includes reference to the creative, cultural, social, political and economic context in which he worked.
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Below is Michelle’s final submission, designed in the style of a mini-magazine.
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Like Rosie, whose assignment for this unit I posted a few days ago, Michelle had a good experience when it came to gathering firsthand research. She was able to score a phone interview with Pamela Robertson from the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. She is a professor of Machintosh Studies. Perfect. (There are other interesting emails as well that Michelle could write a quick entry about if she has the time! ;))
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Here’s Michelle’s interview with Pamela and a bit more research which is just a small part of the massive binder she submitted.
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For assignment 1 of this critical study unit, Michelle had to choose four very different pieces of art or design that influenced her personally. She then had to research the artist/designer and discover, firsthand if possible, how these objects evolved, how they relate to other arts and culture movements of the time, etc.
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The end result was four illustrated 500-word reports detailing Michelle’s findings on each. She chose to work with the following four pieces:
Concorde. Designed by Sir George Edwards and Sir Morian Morgan. Researched at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. 
Cheval Mirror. Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Researched at The Huntarian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow.
Kameez/Shalwar Outfit. Designed by Rizwan Beyg. Researched at the Dianna Celebration, Althorp.
Juan Munoz Sculpture. Designed by Juan Munoz. Researched at Tate Gallery, London.
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Below are Michelle’s final submissions and bibliography. She also submitted a large folder of internet research (not pictured).
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(not sure why that came out grey, but it did!)

I was reading Adbusters on my way to work this morning and came across an interesting competition. It grew from the idea that design is ”at war with itself”. It’s about the challenge to create a world that embraces the idea of ’global citizenship’, or this idea of one world united for peace and harmony. Hence the name of the competition: One Flag. 
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From the website:
The time has come for a radical shift in priorities. We are now faced with some of the most daunting global challenges in human history. These are real targets, worthy of our problem-solving skills, ripe for our intervention. Yet those who have the vision to rise above national and political boundaries still have no symbol to rally under. We invite you to create a flag – free from language and well-worn clichés – that embodies the idea of global citizenship. A symbol that triggers pride and cohesion, whether worn on a backpack, displayed on a door, or flown on a flagpole. A symbol for anyone to declare membership in a growing and vital human cooperative. We invite you to prove that design has a real role to play in the fate of our world.
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If you pick up a copy of the magazine, it’s in issue 78 Media Democracy. You can read more about it here. The deadline for submissions is December 1, 2008.

For the decade assignment in unit 2, Laura chose to explore the 1940s and 1970s. Using vibrant designs in her background Laura takes us through the ups and downs of the art and design world in both decades.
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Below you will see her mood boards, essays and bibliograhy for each decade. She also submitted binders full of internet research not shown.
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Laura’s assignment provides another example of the artist retrospective exhibition booklet. She chose to research and present the ever-influential designer Coco Chanel.
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Laura had to plan a retrospective exhibition and create a booklet containing a minimum of 1,000 words. The writing should cover examples of the work she has chosen to exhibit and outline the historical context and era in which Chanel worked. It should include include her influences and biography. Laura also inserted a transparent floorplan for the exhibition.
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Her fold-out booklet follows:
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Rosie had quite a unique experience with this assignment and I hope that maybe she will write a blog entry sharing her story and maybe some of the emails that were exchanged between her and book cover designer David Pearson.
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This assignment was quite straightforward asking Rosie for 2000 words on a designer that influenced her personally. Besides the fact that she needed to conduct some firsthand research, the content was more or less open to what she found interesting.
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She was able to interview David Pearson, who worked for Penguin and now works for a number of companies. Rosie’s final essay follows along with a transcript of her interview and a mindmap of her thought process. The information, research and emails she included filled an entire binder so I can’t show you all of it!
You may have to save and enlarge in order to read.
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Ashley’s work provides another example of the artist retrospective exhibition brochure for assignment 1 in this unit. His choice was revolutionary style icon Vivienne Westwood who is considered by many the Queen of British Fashion.
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Using her work as inspiration, Ashley had to research and plan a major retrospective exhibition, design and produce a booklet to accompany this event and write 1,000 words on her career.
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His final booklet (which he printed at 25%) and his essay follow:
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The main idea of this first assignment for unit 5 was to learn to collect first hand research. Rosie’s task was to choose four very different ’objects’ (pieces of art or design) that she found interesting and then research, research, research. This involved finding out about the artist/designer, how the object may have evolved and how it related to art movements and cultures of the time. From this information, Rosie had to write 500 word illustrated critiques on each. Each object’s critique was neatly presented along with the accompanying research.
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The first object Rosie chose was the Hanging Trees Sculpture by Andy Goldsworthy. For this research, she visited Yorkshire Sculpture Park to conduct her primary research. Rather than copying her booklet of research, I will post her bibliography.
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The second object Rosie investigated was The Mini, a design icon by BMW. To see this, Rosie visited Coventry Transport Museum.
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Next, we have the Boxed Sardines mixed media sculpture by an artist called Rosamonde Ingram. This was found at an exhibition in Coventry called Made in the Middle at the Herbert Museum & Art Gallery.
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And, last but not least, Rosie went to see Lady Diana’s wedding dress at the Althorp House in Northamptonshire. The exhibition was called Diana: A Celebration.
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