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I had the opportunity to work with a poetry collective where they held monthly events on at The GreenHouse Café located at The Custard Factory. As part of the team I produced their identity which was used across social media and on print; flyers were produced, zines were sold at the event which included work from various poets and illustrators.

My job was to keep all of this under the identity, I also produced this short video as a teaser. Working with people who were years older than me was very insightful, they were all inspiring in their own way. Working with a myriad of like-minded individuals helped me (and others apart of the team) move forward as a young professional as well as being able to produce work that was liked by everyone that was apart of it.

The people involved have been speaking to me since asking for work for other projects of theirs, after university is over it is something I am highly considering to take on, as a small freelancing project.

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Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige: I must first apologise – Home Manchester

The work takes different forms of medium, one room has tvs at every angle replaying interviews of people who have come into contact with online scamming, the room is dark so it draws your attention further to the individuals on the screens. The second room has sculptures hanging centre room under spotlights, perhaps representing a connection of interconnections. Lastly a room with large scrolls of emails that can be pulled as if you were scrolling down the messages on a computer, turning the emails into a tangible experience.

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The Lowry announces 'Right Here, Right Now' a major new exhibition providing a snapshot of contemporary digital art. 

http://www.thelowry.com/news/2015/09/15/the-lowry-announces-right-here-right-now-a-major-new-exhibition-providing-a-snapshot-of-contemporary-digital-art

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Richard Forster – Whitworth Gallery

Using nothing other than a pencil Richard Forster creates ultra realistic drawings from mainly imagery found on the internet or his own photographs rather than first hand experiences. The drawings vary in location and meanings although an underlying theme draws them all together, the theme is his own experience with the world. How he interrupts those experiences and displays them in a completely different way to what was originally experienced. 

http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/upcomingexhibitions/richardforster/

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Show Me the Money: The Image of Finance 1700 to the Present

Located in The People’s History Museum this exhibition brings attention to how finance, debt, business and politics have been portrayed within the art world. Satirical illustrations jump out from the walls while other pieces of work are less barefaced. The exhibition questions money in various forms from photography and 60s advertisements to computer generated visuals being projected.

The questions raised include; Who money and finance is for? What does the economy or market look like? Where do we all stand in the world of debt and finance? How is money affecting the world?

http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/show-me-the-money-the-image-of-finance-1700-to-the-present/

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Pavel Büchler – (Honest) Work – Ikon Gallery

The exhibition consisted of various mediums, from installations, photographs and found objects to print. His work is very in-depth highlighting society and mental issues through literary and philosophical referencing. Large speakers are placed in one room blasting out Kafka quotes from his book ‘the castle’ which brings to light the humans ever wanting need for connection and longing for companionship. In an interview by the Ikon gallery he tells them that,

“letterpress is the only language technology that does not enable you to say  everything you may want”

Then goes on to say how the print work is a projection of the limits of the piece of equipment. Limiting your creative expression to letterpress may constrict your ability to communicate what you want, however in my opinion it entirely depends on what you are wanting to express. Different communication needs require different visual needs.

https://ikon-gallery.org/event/pavel-buchler/

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Sal’s Takeaway – The event went down a lot smoother than I thought, I met some really great people and managed to get some useful feedback about my work as well as my views on graphic design in general. I spoke to several people about my work and ethics,

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After printing of some copies of potential logos and colour schemes as well as brand guidelines, we sat down and discussed how they could be used and the pros and cons of each of the logos and colour palettes. I put my ideas forward saying that the logo thats on the bottom left part of the image would not work as a smaller size (because it was to be placed onto stickers 2cmx2cm) also once that small the logo could be misread as ‘Sal’s Fakeaway’ due to the T seeming to have an extra crossbar. So we combined the top part of that logo with the one above it to create and cleaner more balanced logo. 

Originally people put the idea forward to have red as the main colour, I was strongly against this because I didn’t want Sal’s takeaway to be linked to Salford University that blatantly, having said this other people put out their opinions and I was more convinced but still not fully. More time passed and more and more people agreed that red was not the way to go.

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I had another great opportunity to have my photography work published as part of Provides grand opening. They were to produce a publication consisting of photography, literature, illustration and design. I submitted six photographs all tied into the publications theme which was ‘Digbeth’ (the area where provide is located at The Custard Factory, although now it was else where) 

I was proud of my double page spread that was printed on an A3 landscape newspaper, it was not apart of any education practices, I did this on my own.

Having meetings with a fresh young professional straight out of art/fashion school inspired me greatly, and now we are more than just people that have worked together I pay him visits when I am around Birmingham to check in on how his clothing company is coming a long and just to have a general chat.

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CV talk with Fiona Christie – Today we listened and partook in cv talk where we considered how we should write about ourselves to gain the most effective outcome. As Graphic Designers our visual appeal is vital, as well as how we speak about ourselves because few people will hire someone who says ‘like’ at the end of their sentences. Proper wording goes a long way with other designers, to be laconic and precise with our words is important. 

We then split off into groups to talk about our individual strengths and weaknesses, highlighting key points for ourselves to further develop such as; teamwork, dependency, individuality and problem solving. It helped me understand the parts of myself that could do with improving. 

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Self promotion talk – We discussed the various ways in which we could get our name out there and make the industry notice us as creative individuals. One quite radical student stood out for me, she broke into a design agency and left an apple on each one of the desks with a little flag placed in the apple with her contact details and portfolio site. This kind of not giving a fuck attitude can go a long way with the design industry, some may look at it as a step too far but others will see it as an incredible movement of confidence from that person. I have been considering the different ways in which I myself could get my name out there, at the moment few of my ideas have been what I really want to achieve, it is something that I will continue to work on throughout the course as well as after.

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Freelancing talk with Andy Golpys, it helped me gain a better understanding and what it will be like to freelance as a creative individual. It is not something I have look into intensely but having him stand in front of us and talk about how he got where he is today was very helpful. 

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Further meetings and discussions followed with us in the design team, we’ve decided to go with the colours CMYK as part of the brand – whilst the brand is based around takeaways we wanted elements of graphic design still present, so this is where CMYK came into play. 

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Sals Takeaway Design Team Meeting – There are several of us as part of the design team all working together to create designs and to short list our ideas until we all come to a joint decision on the work. We were speaking via social media prior to the first meeting, sending each other colour schemes and logo developments; all of us had an input into the final guidelines. I find it very easy to work as part of a team especially when we are all like minded people. There was about six different logo ideas put forward to the group, now it was a matter of figuring out which one will work best for Sals Takeaway as well as working across the different mediums where the brand will be viewed. 

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Addiction – Research

Inspiration :

Bart de Baets – Graphic Designer

https://www.behance.net/gallery/1637601/DADA-book 

Comic on ‘Rat Park’ – http://imgur.com/a/pI8Nm?gallery

https://www.flickr.com/photos/arnade/sets/72157627894114489/

http://www.coolhunting.com/culture/art-design-in-miami-ocd

https://vimeo.com/channels/staffpicks/150635087

World Health Organisation definition of addiction;

1.Substance is often taken in lager amounts or over longer period than intended

2. Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use

3. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance (e.g. visiting multiple doctors or driving long distances), use of the substance (e.g. chain smoking) or recover from its effects

4. Important social, occupational or recreational activities given up or reduced because of substance abuse

5. Continued substance use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent psychological or physical problem that is caused or exacerbated by the use of the substance

6. Tolerance as defined by either: need for greater amounts of the substance in order to achieve intoxication or desired effect; or markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount

7. Withdrawal, as manifested by either: characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance or the same (pr closely related) substance is taken to release or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Books

A History of Psychology in Western Civilisation by Bruce K. Alexander and Curtis P. Shelton

Heroin Century by Tom Carnwath and Ian Smith

Theory of Addiction by Robert West, Jamie Brow

Addiction is a Choice By Jeffrey A. Schaler

NOTES ON BOOKS

A history of psychology in western civilisation – Bruce K. Alexander and Curtis P. Shelton: Freud on Cocaines psychological effect 

“Exhilaration and lasting euphoria, which does not differ in any way from the normal euphoria of a healthy person. The feeling of excitement which accompanies stimulus by alcohol is completely lacking; the characteristic urge for immediate activity which alcohol produces is also absent. One sense an increase of self-control and feels more vigorous and capable of work… One is simply normal and soon finds it difficult to believe that one is under the influence of any drug at all. This gives the impression the mood induced by coca… is due not so much to direct stimulation as to the disappearance of elements in one’s general state of well-being which cause depression (Freud, 1884)

Cocaine was being used in the 1880s as a cure for morphine addiction (Freuds influence, once it became more apparent Frued was labelled a public menace), alcohol addiction, hay fever, head colds, stomach irritability, depression, and inflammations of the mucous membranes; as a tonic for the nervous system; as a stimulant for athletic performance; and to prevent masturbation in women when applied topically to numb the vagina.

JUXTAPOSE FREUDS OLD METHODS WITH BLACK THE BLACK CAT MAG

Theory of Addiction by Robert West

“There is no laboratory tester scan that can be used to say that an individual is suffering from addiction”

“two ‘addicts’ could have non-overlapping sets of symptoms.”

Interviews & Articles 

Interview with Dr. Gabor Mate on Addiction

The Agenda with Steve Paikin (Notes – Talks about childhood drama, not due to a father being an alcoholic more so the father abusing the child in some way. Genes turn on and off by the environment. Social exclusions make the addictive personalities worse)

“There is no war on drugs, there is a war on addicts” – Gabor (Paikin Interview)

“Sooth their sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction” – Gabor (Paikin Interview)

“Whether it’s a sex addiction or internet or a relationship or shopping or work addiction, these are all attempts to get away from distress” – Gabor (Paikin Interview)

Gabor Mate Q&A with TJ Dawe

“It is a matter of, at some point finding a way of being with your pain so that you can actually get to know what it’s really all about” – Gabor Mate Q&A

http://reallove.com/about-addiction/?gclid=CIGxscSixcoCFWnlwgod6zkLlw

http://www.lifeline.org.uk/work-for-lifeline/

http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/nta_getting_help_with_a_drug_problem.pdf

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Rachel Denti – ‘Everyday Thoughts On Everyday Things’ is the title of a project of hers, which consists of similarly styled illustrations. This one in particular is claiming cigarettes as her ‘Bff’ (or Best friend forever), the illustration is clean with clever use of textures. It brings to mind the theory of addiction I researched earlier by Robert West (which suggests some addiction is a rational decision). Claiming her cigarettes as her ‘Bff’ submits the idea that she happy with her smoking, due to the relaxation. Or perhaps it could be sort of sarcastic.