Author: gwill

“The artwork is perfect… but can I see a sheep or two next to the kissing lovers?”

A collaborative journey between the Theatre Director and the Graphic Designer.

By Gary Will

Although the relationship between the graphic designer and the client should invariably be a collaborative experience, the opportunity occasionally arises for this creative interaction to connect at a different level. In this case, the client was a Theatre Director and the ongoing brief was to visually promote two seasons of productions.

There was no ‘one size fits all’ with these eleven plays and musicals. Some required a more direct approach to visually explain the clients unique interpretation for each script, while others could be more abstract, leaving the viewer, intrigued and wanting to know more.

What each promotional piece had in common was a creative journey shared by both the graphic designer and the theatre director. Each time, dialogue and creative thought process continually passed between the two as each poster gradually transitioned and metamorphosed into its final rendition.

This exhibit is an opportunity to view and enjoy the final versions of those playbill posters, presented collectively, rather than one at a time – the end of that collaborative journey.

 

After a pretty busy semester,  I wanted a conceptual brief to round off the ‘Designing for a Brand Experience’ course. In other words, more focus on taking a chance and pushing beyond the obvious.

In this case, it involved one of the food industries fastest growing options – the single serving meal. Not the fast food, unhealthy ‘grab-n-go’ but quality food combinations that could grace a restaurant table. The emphasis was on the package design itself (the 3D element if you like). Obviously, the surface graphics/branding was important too, but I was really pushing for my students to ‘play’ with the form. Did it protect, the contents? This had to be their choice of three food items that made up their particular single serving. Was it easy to carry away? And would it stand out visually from the rest of the competition on the shelves (unique shape, interesting graphics, strong brand presence etc.)?

Varying levels of success, but from my own point of view I would rather grade up for the more adventurous attempts.

Here is probably my favorite, followed by the best of the rest…

Continue reading “Final Project of the Semester”

24″ x 9″ one color linocut.

“Seen clearly, life without hope is hell,
but hell without fear is a fairground attraction“
(Matthijs Van Boxsel)

So after several weeks of cutting, gouging… and procrastinating, it’s finally time to print up my linocut piece (just as well, because I have to get the framed finished version to the gallery this week!). I’m really excited to see how it comes out as there’s quite a lot of detail in there.

The work is based on a quote by Matthijs Van Boxsel :

“Seen clearly, life without hope is hell,
but Hell without fear is a fairground attraction”

Watch this space for the finished piece!

So, this just happened…

Wonderful branding opportunity. A client in Southern Illinois was looking at developing a business venture that centered around a coffee house, but was more focused on a center for possible entrepreneurial ventures,  potential collaborations, co operatives, collectives, conversation… and coffee.

The client emphasized a keenness to pursue a Steampunk theme direction (or alternatively a 1960’s feel).

Here are the presentations from the three students who connected most closely to the clients vision, plus the one of the ‘best of the rest. But all the students did really well.

Continue reading “Rickee Rockets – A Steampunk Coffee Cooperative”

Always a fun project. Pick a company, organization or attraction in the area and create a series of four posters to highlight them and promote the region as a good place to relocate your business. The students pick their company out of a ‘hat’, and then also have to pick a designer out of the said hat too.

The catch to the brief is that while they have to promote their company – it has to be in the style of their designer!

Here are some of the results:

Continue reading “Pick a Company. Pick a Designer”

Nice return to campus of a very talented graphic design alum – Toby Grubb for our April 23rd Visual Voices guest talk. Formerly at Burton Snowboards and currently at Instrument in Portland. Should be a fun ‘catch up’ and entertaining lecture.

Continue reading “Toby Grubb – April 23rd”