AGIdeas 2007 wrap-up
Monday, April 30, 2007
AGIdeas is the biggest international design event in Melbourne. I've been going since I was a Swinburne design student some ten years ago. It was this event that introduced me to many of the great designers of today. I still attend with excitement in anticipation of the great creative ideas I’m going to learn all about.
This year I was sitting in my chair way at the back of Hamer Hall. In front of me was a young thankless student listening to his iPod so loud I could practically sing along. I sat watching the last ten minutes of Paula Scher. This was one of the few opportunities I had to be able to get away from my work commitments and I'd been looking forward to seeing Paula speak for ages.
She must have spoken about her commercial work from Pentagram before I got there. I know her work fairly well, it is bold and intelligent - I could talk about it more but I won't. Instead I'd like to talk about her map paintings which she does in her country home three days a week.
In the example on the left, the postal codes differ from reality. Postcodes for affluent areas are placed over the slums and vice versa. In others, countries seem out of shape and names out of place. It's pretty clear that the importance is placed on the act of documenting the information rather than on the geographical accuracy.
These images seem so interesting to me as they intentionally invite ambiguity. The tension between the map as a tool to describe 'the truth' and the clear abstraction of the information is the very thing that makes these maps great. I like that Paula in an ‘Alla Prima’ style, can so comfortably (and proudly) document the 'greyness' of her own knowledge. I like it even more knowing that she could so easily edit herself and yet she chooses not to.
There were of course many other great speakers at AGIdeas. I managed to see Chip Kidd who was very entertaining. In true L.A. fashion his clients included a hot list of musicians, directors and authors.
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This year I was sitting in my chair way at the back of Hamer Hall. In front of me was a young thankless student listening to his iPod so loud I could practically sing along. I sat watching the last ten minutes of Paula Scher. This was one of the few opportunities I had to be able to get away from my work commitments and I'd been looking forward to seeing Paula speak for ages.
She must have spoken about her commercial work from Pentagram before I got there. I know her work fairly well, it is bold and intelligent - I could talk about it more but I won't. Instead I'd like to talk about her map paintings which she does in her country home three days a week.
I imagine that her maps are her reprieve. Mostly geographical, they give little credence to accuracy. They make some degree of sense but the information is jumbled.
In the example on the left, the postal codes differ from reality. Postcodes for affluent areas are placed over the slums and vice versa. In others, countries seem out of shape and names out of place. It's pretty clear that the importance is placed on the act of documenting the information rather than on the geographical accuracy.These images seem so interesting to me as they intentionally invite ambiguity. The tension between the map as a tool to describe 'the truth' and the clear abstraction of the information is the very thing that makes these maps great. I like that Paula in an ‘Alla Prima’ style, can so comfortably (and proudly) document the 'greyness' of her own knowledge. I like it even more knowing that she could so easily edit herself and yet she chooses not to.
There were of course many other great speakers at AGIdeas. I managed to see Chip Kidd who was very entertaining. In true L.A. fashion his clients included a hot list of musicians, directors and authors.
His work for Francis Coppola’s Zoetrope magazine pictured on the left is stunning. It incorporates a series of photographed 40’s pulp dioramas. He has also designed book covers for one of my favorite authors James Ellroy and the record cover for Paul Simons. It was reassuring to hear him say that even he gets it wrong sometimes as he relayed instances of presenting work that didn’t hit the mark until the second or third presentation.
Like all good things AGIdeas has come to an end. We’re all back at our desks working away but more interested than ever in design.
Like all good things AGIdeas has come to an end. We’re all back at our desks working away but more interested than ever in design.
Tim Kotsiakos, Creative Director
Labels: Design and Usability, Reactive
Semi-Permanent 2007 wrap-up
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
This was my second year at the Semi-Permanent conference, and the experience was no less novel or engaging the second time around.
The event is well organised, held at the Sydney Convention Centre, with an excellent A/V set-up. All speakers are filmed and projected onto a large screen, while their laptop presentations are projected next to it, on a second large screen.
With six speakers each day, they each had one hour to present. The approach is usually similar, as they talk through their work chronologically, starting from their experience of studying in the graphic arts through to their discoveries and successes in the art and/or commercial arena.
Day one highlights included the entertaining Dutch graphic design duo Michael and Eva from Toko. Their work is prolific, graphically strong and their presentation was very funny, as they joked about the many differences between their homeland, Holland, and temporary new home Australia. Plus I bought one of their cool t-shirts.
Tiffany Bozic displayed the ingenuity of a genius, as she took us on a journey into her rich and imaginative world of art.
The comic book illustration work of James Jean was also a real highlight. Well spoken and truly inspiring, he encouraged all artists in the house to look for the Roar of Thunder in their work.
Day two was equally as interesting, with Aussie Jonathan Zawada kicking off the day with an insightful presentation on the reality of creating commercial graphics, and how important is it is to appropriate ideas and make them your own. Reminds me of something amusing I read recently: 'originality is over-rated'!
Mike O'Meally, skate photographer, dished out some free skate products to the kids up front, before taking us on a journey of travel and photography. He was inspiring in the way he encouraged the audience to pursue their dreams and never be discouraged by anyone telling you any different. He also told us a great story about a ghostly photograph which spoke louder than words, taken on 12 September, skating around NYC.
Nash Edgerton, stunt man turned film director, showed us the only thing that really counts when it comes to directing is imagination, ingenuity and perseverance. His short film, Lucky, demonstrates that it really is possible to make something totally amazing on a shoe string budget.
The only criticism I have of the festival is the lack of cheap, good food in the Darling Harbour area.
I strongly recommend anyone who's studying or working in the graphic arts to take time out for Semi-Permanent, because you can't create great work unless you're inspired, and this conference certainly leaves you feeling pumped and inspired for months to come.
Carl Panczak, General Manager, Sydney
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The event is well organised, held at the Sydney Convention Centre, with an excellent A/V set-up. All speakers are filmed and projected onto a large screen, while their laptop presentations are projected next to it, on a second large screen.
With six speakers each day, they each had one hour to present. The approach is usually similar, as they talk through their work chronologically, starting from their experience of studying in the graphic arts through to their discoveries and successes in the art and/or commercial arena.
Day one highlights included the entertaining Dutch graphic design duo Michael and Eva from Toko. Their work is prolific, graphically strong and their presentation was very funny, as they joked about the many differences between their homeland, Holland, and temporary new home Australia. Plus I bought one of their cool t-shirts.
Tiffany Bozic displayed the ingenuity of a genius, as she took us on a journey into her rich and imaginative world of art.
The comic book illustration work of James Jean was also a real highlight. Well spoken and truly inspiring, he encouraged all artists in the house to look for the Roar of Thunder in their work.
Day two was equally as interesting, with Aussie Jonathan Zawada kicking off the day with an insightful presentation on the reality of creating commercial graphics, and how important is it is to appropriate ideas and make them your own. Reminds me of something amusing I read recently: 'originality is over-rated'!
Mike O'Meally, skate photographer, dished out some free skate products to the kids up front, before taking us on a journey of travel and photography. He was inspiring in the way he encouraged the audience to pursue their dreams and never be discouraged by anyone telling you any different. He also told us a great story about a ghostly photograph which spoke louder than words, taken on 12 September, skating around NYC.
Nash Edgerton, stunt man turned film director, showed us the only thing that really counts when it comes to directing is imagination, ingenuity and perseverance. His short film, Lucky, demonstrates that it really is possible to make something totally amazing on a shoe string budget.
The only criticism I have of the festival is the lack of cheap, good food in the Darling Harbour area.
I strongly recommend anyone who's studying or working in the graphic arts to take time out for Semi-Permanent, because you can't create great work unless you're inspired, and this conference certainly leaves you feeling pumped and inspired for months to come.
Carl Panczak, General Manager, Sydney
Labels: Design and Usability, Reactive
