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Ken Garland

Graphic Designer Ken Garland has died at the age of 92 after a distinguished career as a leading designer and inspirational teacher.

Ken taught at the RCA in the 1960s, to mid 1980s. Jonathan Barnbrook (alumni) writing on Twitter remembers him as "a man who was true to his principles and believed in design’s capacity for positive social change."

Garland is probably best known for his redesign of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament logo and his 60s 'First Things First' manifesto. He will be remembered for his significant contribution to the development of graphic design since the mid-twentieth century

Two books by Ken Garland from the 60s and 80s that became 'must haves' for several generations of graphic designers.

Read more by Adrian Shaughnessy

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New street posters in London by Morag Myerscough (RCA, Graphic Design Alumni 1998)

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TAT* by Andy Altmann

A book of tat* - printed ephemera, graphic nonsense, typographic trash, collected over 30 years and stuck in a book!

Andy Altmann, co-founded why not associates with two fellow graduates when they left the Royal College of Art in 1987, previously he studied for his BA at St Martins (now Central Saint Martins).

Andy studied graphic design, and  His portfolio is astonishingly diverse, from the miniature (stamps) to the massive (Blackpool's Comedy Carpet with artist Gordon Young). But regardless of its scale, all of Andy's work has two consistent ingredients: some of the best typography around and a cheeky sense of humour!

*tat is published by Circa Press 

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RCA2020 .A Graphic Reflections

In this unprecedented year for Visual Communication graduates, the School of Communication hosted a unique webinar with some of its highly successful Alumni; Mark Bonner (Graphic Design 1993), Michele Jannuzzi (Graphic Design 1992), Chrissy Levett (Graphic Design 1989), Hazel Macmillan (Graphic Design 1993), Morag Myerscough (Graphic Design 1988), Amelia Noble (Graphic Design 1997), Tomi Vollauschek (Communication Art & Design 2001), Sophie Thomas (Graphic Design 1997).

Hosted by Richard Doust and Lol Sargent, Royal College of Art, Visual Communication in August 2020.

The initial focus of the discussion was about how they got started following their graduations (‘.A’ in their professional practice careers), followed by topics such as; significant changes they have witnessed in the communication design industry during their many successful years of practice, what they look for in a prospective employee, and any advice they can offer to new RCA graduates - now at their .A!

See a recording of the the .A webinar here: https://vimeo.com/530274866

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Anthony Burrill

A bit of extra ‘connected inspiration’ at this particularly busy time for everyone, spare just a few minutes reading and watching a heart warming short film about his truly fabulous graphic art mural made by Anthony Burrill 1991 RCA Graphic Design graduate. View the film here

Graphic statements such as this in the public environment have even greater communication and potency given how much we can now view from above with the advent of drone photography and Google Earth. Originally posted by Lol Sargent.

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The Archive & Digital Direction

An Archive session with first year Digital Direction students in support of their publishing project with Julia Mahrer. Richard Doust showed and discussed a wide range of graphic design and illustration material from the Visual Communication Archive.

The Archive is situated on the 1st floor at the end of the 1st year studio (Room 114) and students are welcome to visit for inspiration and research. Please contact richard.doust@rca.ac.uk for a visit time. This is still very much a ‘work in progress’

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Graphic Design, Illustration & Animation Alumni Event

Graduates of 1988,1989,1990 met in the Senior Common Room at the RCA Kensington Campus for their 30 years ‘out’ on 23rd January 2020.

Lawrence Zeegan addresses assembled Alumni, and below watch the ‘Generation RCA’ film. A great event with many memories and stories.

Many thanks to Lawrence and Jason for the idea, and the Alumni Office for organising the evening.

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Publishing as Creative Practice

An Archive morning held as part of the Publishing as Creative Practice first year elective. The session covered publications from the Graphic Design and Illustration Archive, by students, both as commissions within the RCA and initiatives by groups and individuals as part of their practice whilst at College. Examples ranged from ARK Magazine from the 1950s to publications by last year’s graduates.

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RCA Graduation 2019

The Graduation Ceremony took place on 3 July in the Royal Albert Hall. The tradition for Visual Communication graduates is to assemble as group on the steps of the Albert Memorial and jump to symbolise their individual independence as professional designers and artists, while also celebrating their past two years as a group of Masters students.

Staff also join in the celebratory jump!

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Class of 2019

Graduating students of MA Visual Communication 2019 at their Degree Show private view. Also their lecturing staff.

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Show 2019

 Visual Communication is on show in the Stevens Building, RCA South Kensington Campus (closed 3 July for Convocation)

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Open Archive

This evening session focused on printed examples from the Archive, Examples of print that challenge print techniques and publications that reveal publishing skills. We looked at publications that were commissioned from within the College. Also student project work, artists’ books and posters. The examples showed the many techniques employed over time and technological changes.

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Convocation 2018

Royal College of Art, Visual Communication Class of 2018 take a leap into the future on the steps of the Albert Memorial in London’s Kensington Gardens.

They had just graduated with Masters Degree (MA(RCA)) in the Royal Albert Hall just opposite and next to the RCA’s main Darwin Campus, having received their MA’s from the RCA Chancellor, Sir Jony Ive.

We them a wonderful future. 29 June 2018

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Typographic Singularity

Spanning material and media; across cultures and languages; The Typographic Singularity is a celebration of the eclectic, experimental exploration of typography taking place within the Visual Communication programme at the Royal College of Art.

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The Illustrator in the Archive

MA Visual Communication / Expanded Practice 2018

‘you find nothing in the Archive but stories caught half way through: the middle of things: discontinuities…’ Carolyn Steedman (2001)

Unpacking the Archive explores how our creative practices as illustrators can be used to interrogate and contribute to the collections held within the Graphic Design and Illustration Archive. We began this Expanded Practice in the archive with a special introduction by Richard Doust. Students were then invited to select one item from within the collections with which to form the basis of a creative study resulting in the development of a new body of work. Through practical ‘making’ based inquiry we explore how illustration as a research can be used within the archive and beyond. Here research will be considered a part of a holistic creative practice. Outcomes of this project will be considered for inclusion within the archive for future posterity, this will be supported by tutorial feedback and advice.

Tutors: Mirelle Fauchon, Martin McGrath and Richard Doust

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Alumni visit the Archive

Ian Vickers and Scott Doran (graduated in Graphic Design in 1992) visited the Visual Communication Archive and discovered the first job they collaborated over at College, a poster for Prince Albert’s Vision, itself a collaborative performance between the RCA, Royal College of Music and the National Ballet School. After graduating, Ian and Scott formed Eureka! a successful graphic design studio in London.

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Archive Hour; first at White City

Our first Archive Hour in White city Debbie Cook and Richard Doust held a round table discussion on illustration and graphic design publications from the archive.

The discussion covered individual self-promotional books, publications commissioned by other RCA courses, to exhibition and past Degree Show catalogues. Historically the examples shown ranged from the 70s to today, and helped tell the story of the changing design and production methods from letterpress to digital.

Thanks to Sara Jamshidi for support and the poster