Semiotics

Semiotics or semiology is an investigation into how meaning is created and how meaning is communicated. It's basically the study of signs and sign processes, indication, designation, likeness, analogy, metaphor, symbolism, signification, and communication. It's origins lie in the academic study of how signs and symbols; visual and linguistic create meaning. It must be understood in the world of graphic design, visual communication design in particular. The word semiotics derived from Greek words: 'semeion' meaning 'sign' which is a lesson about the system of signs such as languages, codes, signals, and so forth. It's a way of seeing the world and broadening your understanding- for example it helps a designer to instill work with references which enable them to communicate several layers of information to another person whilst extracting meanings from words, sounds and pictures. Signs and symbols are physically recognizable representations of items, persons or ideas. Graphic designers would consider both the cognitive and denotative values that may be instilled into work due to the way the information is presented. Semiotics is used to develop a 'visual rhetoric' to help analyse design and ideas. Semiotics is in principle the discipline studying everything which can be used in order to lie. If something cannot be used to tell a lie, conversely it cannot be used to tell the truth: it cannot in fact be used "to tell" at all.” Umberto Eco

[Online] Available at: http://jayce-o.blogspot.com/2011/05/semiotics-in-graphic-design.html [Accessed: 30th April 2013]

Postmodernism

Postmodernism is said to have brought a new recognition of style itself over the course of two decades (from about 1970 – 1990). It's found to be perhaps the most controversial of all movements in the history of art and design. An unstable mix of the theatrical and theoretical, the era is said to defy definition, by fragmenting established ideas about style. Postmodernism is given the credit for liberating art and design through being a visually thrilling multifaceted style, ranging from colourful to the extravagant, the bizarre to the elaborate. It consists of gestures that are often amusing, sometimes provocative and occasionally peculiar. 1980’s saw the rise of postmodernism, contrasting with the utopian visions; simplicity and clarity. It became the ‘designer decade’ full of vivid colours, theatricality and exaggeration. Music and magazines were the most influential delivery systems. Italian designers –Studio Alchymia and Memphis – travelled round the world through publications like Domus. This was the moment of the new wave: a few thrilling years when image was everything. It’s said that Postmodernism tragically collapsed under the weight of its own success, alongside the world economies downfall. However, the effects of postmodernism are lingering and are still felt in the hyper-commodified situation of 21st-century design. “Hell hath no fury like a coolly received postmodernist.” David Foster Wallace

(1970–1990) 'V&A Postmodernism: Style & Subversion' [Online] Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/p/postmodernism/ [Accessed: 26th March 2013]

Identity/Cultural

First of all you ask yourself what identity really is? Arguably, it is what makes an individual. Where we are from impacts on how we humans behave. An example of identity affecting the way one views the world is religion. Religion plays a big role in a person life, its spiritual guidance and traditions date back centuries ago, giving people from different backgrounds a chance to follow something away from western society, however when someone is bought up in a British culture society they look at the world from different, more liberal, prospective. Essentially, our way of beliefs and lives mould our personalities.

An example for this can be found in Plan B’s- ‘Ill Manor’ song. The lyrics signifys that those that those who grow up in council flats and have been abandoned by their parents from a young age, are affected by their trauma, often making them tyrants to society. “Get away with murder in the schools use four letters swear words coz we're cool we’re all drinkers, drug takers every single one of us buns the herb”. From these lyrics you can tell how people that lack identities tend to get involved in these crimes, don’t take education seriously and don’t have any manners for others as they haven’t been brought up properly from a young age because of the lack of the identity they end up in this bad environment.

“Get away with murder in the schools use four letters swear words coz we're cool we’re all drinkers, drug takers every single one of us buns the herb” [Online] Available at: http://www.metrolyrics.com/ill-manors-lyrics-plan-b.html [Accessed: 27th April 2013]

Jonathan Ive

Jonathan Ive was born on the 27 February 1967 in Chingford, London. He’s a successful English designer and became the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple Inc in 1997, after the return of Steve Jobs. Since 1996, Ive has been responsible for leading a design team widely regarded as one of the world’s best designer. He’s the main designer of many Apple products, including the MacBook Pro, iMac, MacBook Air, iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad and iPad Mini. He provides leadership and direction for Human Interface software teams across the company. Ive has been interested in drawing and making stuff since he was about 14. However, after meeting with various design experts he was drawn to product design. His first design assignment was the iMac. Ive has his own laboratory with his appointed design team. However, the majority of Apple employees are not allowed in the laboratory. He was recently knighted by Princess Anne in Buckingham Palace in May 2012. ‘The Apple designer Sir Johnathan Ive has spoken of the "thrilling” moment when he was knighted by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace’ in ‘The Guardian’

Press Association (2012) ‘The Apple designer Sir Jonathan Ive has spoken of the "thrilling” moment when he was knighted by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace’ in ‘The Guardian’. Wednesday 23th May [Online] Available at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/may/23/apple-designer-jonathan-ive-knighthood
[Accessed: 3rd March 2013]

Otto Neurath

Otto Neurath born on the December 10, 1882 and died on December 22, 1945 was an Austrian philosopher of science, sociologist and political economist. Neurath was one of the leading figures of the Vienna Circle, before he fled his native country in 1934. He was the son of Wilhelm Neurath (1840–1901), a well-known political economist at the time. Otto Neurath studied mathematics in Vienna and gained his Ph.D in the department of Political Science and statistic at the University of Berlin. In 1917 or 1918, he became director of the Deutsches Kriegswirtschaftsmuseum (German Museum of War Economy, later the Deutsches Wirtschaftsmuseum) at Leipzig. To make the museum understandable for everybody, Neurath worked on graphic design and visual education. Neurath then created Isotope artwork with the assistance of illustrator Gerd Arntz and with Maria Reidemeister (whom he would marry in 1941). It was a symbolic way of representing quantitative information via easily interpretable icons. Neurath presented and promoted his communication tools at international conventions of city planners. In one of his later and most important works, Physicalism, Neurath completely transformed the nature of the logical positivist discussion of the program of unifying the sciences.

[Online] Available at: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/neurath/ [Accessed: 5th May 2013] 

Banksy

Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter. His ironic street art and rebellious rhymes combine dark humour with graffiti done in a characteristic stenciling technique. Artistic works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls and bridges of cities throughout the world. Banksy’s work was made up of the Bristo underground scene which involved collaborations with artists and musicians. Banksy displays his art on public surfaces such as walls, even going as far as to build physical prop pieces. He doesn't sell photos of street graffiti directly himself. However, art auctioneers have been known to attempt to sell photos on location and leave the problem of its removal in the hands of the winning bidder. Banksy's stencils feature outstanding and amusing images occasionally combined with slogans and “are filled with wit and metaphors that transcend language barriers”. The message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist or anti-establishment. Subjects often include rats, apes, policemen, soldiers, children, and the elderly. No one really knows who ‘Banksy’ is as he does his art work at night or randomly at any time. However, there have been numerous rumours and hypotheses as to Banksy's identity; names often suggested include Robert Banks and Robin Gunningham.

Fairey. (2010) ‘are filled with wit and metaphors that transcend language barriers’ in ‘The Time’. Thursday, 29th April [Online] Available at: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984940_1984945,00.html [Accessed 16th March 2013]

Logo Design

Logo design is all around us and is an important element of graphic design. A Logo is created in a simple way which is recognised by the company and consumers. Logo’s feature importantly in our lives and creating a logo designs is not just about creating attractive visual art but is about communicating a brand message.

Many design logos are professional and have increased in numbers over the years, since the rise of the Modernist movement in the United States in 1950s. There are three famous designers that are widely considered the creators of that movement of logo and corporate identity design: Firstly, Chermayeff & Geismar, which is the strong responsible for a large number of iconic logos yet, such as Chase Bank (1964), Mobil Oil (1965), National Geographic (2003) and others. Due to the simplicity and boldness of their designs, many of the earlier logos are still in use today. The second developer of corporate identity design is Saul Bass. Bass was responsible for several recognisable logos in North America, including both the Bell Telephone logo (1969) and successor AT&T Corporation globe (1983). Another example of developer of corporate identity design is Paul Rand, an American designer and “one of the originators of the Swiss Style of graphic design”. He designed many posters and corporate identities. He’s best known for his design of the IBM logo as well as including the logos for, UPS, and ABC.

(2011) ‘he was one of the originators of the Swiss Style of graphic design’ Saturday 13th August [Online] Available at: http://stocklogos.com/topic/paul-rands-logos [Accessed: 29th March 2013]

Typography

Typography is the art, or process, of setting and arranging types and printing. Typography appears in web pages, graffiti, architectural lettering, posters, advertising etc. It plays a major role in making any design successful, as without it, typography would seem unfinished. Also it plays a major role in the field of a graphic designer as it allows the designer to be a lot more imaginative in a way that other graphic designers cannot. Typography “It's not something which can be randomly tossed together - it has to be considered, structured and organised”. The main techniques include in the typography is the leading, kerning and tracking.

An example of the most popular, outstanding and intelligent graphic designer is Jan Tschichold. He was born in April 1902 in Leipzig Germany. He was a known publicist and practitioner of the 'new typography' that developed in Europe between the wars. The 'new typography' was strongly in favor of asymmetry. He produced sans-serif typeface and it’s always been hand drawn. Jan Tschichold was the first one to come up with the effectiveness of using different weights and sizes type to visually create a hierarchy on the page. “The man who perfected Penguin's classic paperback deserves to be remembered as one of the great designers of the 20th century”. ‘The Guardian’

‘It's not something which can be randomly tossed together - it has to be considered, structured and organised’. [Online] Available at: http://www.ph-creative.com/blog/posts/2012/december/importance-of-typography-in-web-design.aspx [Accessed: 10 February 2013]


‘Richard Hollis’ (2008) ‘the man who perfected Penguin's classic paperback deserves to be remembered as one of the great designers of the 20th century’ in ‘The Guardian’. Friday 5 December 14.52 [Online] Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/dec/05/jan-tschichold-typography [Accessed: 10 February 2013]

Posters

Posters are one of the graphic design elements which have a key purpose to attract the audience with a clear message. Before designing a poster you need to ensure that you first have a plan on where the information will go and that must express the message and represent that poster. Once you have planned the aspect of the text, now think about the main information and an image that could express your message visually and whether you will be using imagery on a large scale or a much smaller scale. In addition, think about the bright colours to see whether it will express the mood or emotion that you want. Once you have completed the poster, you need to think about how you’re going to display your poster and whether it will print on different paper successfully. Overall, you need to see the cost “pay careful attention to balance and proportion”

An iconic poster could be by the painter artist called Edward Munch. He was born on 12th December 1863 in Loton. Munch moved with his family to the city of Oslo (1864), that’s when his mother dies after four years of tuberculosis. His sister at the age of 15 died in 1877, his second sister spends most of her life for the reason of being a mental illness and his brother died at age 30. This was a disaster in Munch’s life he found it so difficult to live.

Munch stared to attend a technical college to study engineering in 1879 but he was interested in art and that’s why he left college just a year later. In 1878 he hired a studio including six other artists and from there he entered into the first show in industries Art Exhibition. 

Munch received a scholarship three years later and travel to Paris for three weeks. After returning Munch started working on his new paintings naming one ‘The Sick Child’. This work represented Munch’s break from the realist style, it symbolically depicted the emotions that surrounded the death of his sister.

[Online] Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/edvard-munch-9418033 [Acessed: 11th May 2013]

[Online] Avilable at: http://www.cis.rit.edu/htbooks/dtp/projects/poster/poster1.html  [Accessed: 11th May 2013]

Edward Fella

Edward Fell is an American graphic designer, he’s work is based on contemporary typography. Fella was born in 1939 in Detroit, Michigan and he worked as a commercial artist designing brochures and illustrations. His style involves of combining low and high-culture using automatically repetitive materials with typography. Over past 30 years he build up his career using only pencils, ballpoints pens, crayons and knives and he refused to use computer from the day he stared designing his artwork and he still does everything by hand. Most of the work is similar to each other as the used of same techniques and materials. “His work is a great example of postmodern design, taking the concept of deconstruction he mixed up existing trends with new ones.” Fella is clearly an artist highly knowledgeable in various design principles; he learnt the rules well, in order to break them successfully. Fella’s style contains combination of low and high-culture using automatically repetitive materials with typography. He joined reality with his impression of street culture and his work still made it to the walls of the Museum of Modern Art In New York and the National Design Museum.

(2009) ‘his work is a great example of postmodern design, taking the concept of deconstruction he mixed up existing trends with new ones’ 13^th May [Online] http://tashcarter.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/discourse-ed-fella/ [Accessed 25th March 2013] 

Henna design

The art of Henna can be found in many different cultures and societies for a number of purposes “Many used tattoos for medicinal reasons, such as the Ojibwa, who tattooed the cheeks and forehead of those suffering chronic toothache or headache”. The most common use across the globe is for body art and hair dying. Early examples of henna design being used as an art form and it can be drawn back to ancient Egypt as henna art alongside script and symbols was one of the earliest art forms in Egypt. The broadcasters of the spread of henna art towards the East were the Mughals. The Mughal Empire introduced henna to India when adorning the body during the 12th century, during this time the royals and the elite used henna to adorn their bodies, particularly on special occasions, mostly to celebrate weddings. The patterns were made by henna artists or beauticians. Henna tradition has been spreading throughout the world; one of the reasons for this is that nowadays many people use henna as a temporary tattoos.

Mughal architecture is a mixture of Islamic, Persian, Turkish and Indian architecture. Henna design holds a strong similarity to these architectural patterns which are used on buildings such as Mosques and Temples. Mughals designed the distinctive style in the 16th – 18th Century; the designs are now used within countries such as India, Pakistan Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Many building and henna designs influence each other as they all come from the Middle Eastern traditions.

(Sloss and Mirza, 2008: 8) 'The Tattoo Sourcebook' [Accessed: 3rd May 2013]

William Morris

William Morris was born on 24th March 1834 and died on 3rd October 1896. He is best known as a designer of many wallpapers and fabrics. As well as he was an English textile designer, writer and English Arts And Crafts Movement. He joined a partnership with Edward Burne-Jones and artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti who are strongly influenced within decoration of churches and the houses into the early 20th Century.

One of his “Beautiful Fruits fabric is as popular today as it was with the late Victorians”. He has decorated the table napkin and chair covers which relate to the natural forms and patterns are “suitable for an historic house as a modern one”. Whenever Morris created his work, it always had meaning behind the artwork. He decided to create designs which combined natural forms. Morris believed that “Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful” so whatever you have in your house, it has to be recognised to be useful or believed to be beautiful. This also means that he creates artwork which relates to something useful and which makes people feel that the ideas and designs are enjoyable. For example, Morris created designs on the walls of massive houses and churches to greet the customers and welcome them.

‘Suitable for an historic house as a modern one’ [Online] Available at: http://www.william-morris.com/ [Accessed: 9^th March 2013]

‘Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful’ [online] Available at: http://www.william-morris.com/ [Accessed: 9^th March 2013]