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]