THE MUSEUM OF EVERYTHING

Last Friday we had the opportunity to visit a little museum tucked away behind Primrose Hill called THE MUSEUM OF EVERYTHING, housed in what used to be a recording studio and founded by British film-maker James Brett, this art space features what he calls "Unintentional Art", in his own words, art created for passion and personal exploration rather than professional pursuit. 

I may be mistaken but I thought that what we call Art (intentional or not) , at least since the Impressionist movement, implies already a passion and a personal exploration by the artist. Which makes me think that, maybe, the important characteristic of the pieces shown in this space is the absence of professional pursuit. After the experience of walking around Exhibition 3 I believe that this museum is about exhibit works of unintentional Artists, works by people functioning mostly outside society, that probably never thought that as a result of feeding their personal obsessions were making something that was gonna be labeled as "unintentional Art". And yes, is true , the absence of professional pursuit is there, at least until Mr. Brett decided to share it with us which can seem a bit paradoxical.

It is visually interesting? Yes. As interesting as your grandma eighteen century iron collection or your uncle Star Wars merchandising cabinet. But I didn't feel anything else (because it was free which makes the visit kind of worth it). Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with the idea of unintentional art but the museum is a really good opportunity to get inspired by really bizarre stuff. 

So, probably, this is THE MUSEUM OF EVERYTHING THAT NEVER IS GONNA BE IN ANY OTHER MUSEUM but is fun and, from the point of view of Graphic Design, exhibits a really good branding that deserves to be look at because is the right identity and because (after reading a big number of good reviews on the media about the museum) is definitely working.

Ole!

One Skull a Day

Trying to learn more about the design process and ideas generation I bumped into Noah Scalin skulls. One day in June 2007 Scalin decided to make a skull (or the representation of one) every day for a year. He commit himself to a year of creative work away of the boundaries of the client brief. He created a simple and structured brief to be meet every day, for and by himself. 

The most interesting thing is that you can tell that once he had used up regular responses, he was pushed to experiment and develop his creativity to an other level (you can see the evolution in his techniques and results day after day). 

The project didn't just help Scalin with his creativity, improved as well his photography skills and the ability to create good work in short deadlines.

I found Scalin sculls really inspiring and his method a clever way to exercise your skills. You can find his skulls (and the skulls of the people by him inspired) in his blog Skull-A-Day.

Ole!

NARRATIVE WORKSHOP

With the aim of understanding how narrative is influenced by the choice of images and text (and by the decision of how we edit them) we have been all day under a pile of newspapers, with the scissors in one hand and the glue stick in the other, looking, most of the time, for something to narrate.

The most inspiring activity (or the activity I think is gonna be more useful to get some ideas out when I feel stuck) is to cut out newspaper images and apply to them random headings. You can get funny results. 

I show you a few here, I apologise for the quality of the pictures but is part of the workshop to post this now and there is not much that I can do about them right now.


Have a good weekend.

Ole!

THERE'RE EYES EVERYWHERE

This is the result of the first activity that I did on the FdA In Graphic Design for Graphic Communication  a couple of weeks ago. Conclusion: to stick eyes in things can lead to, visually, turn objects into a kind of beings. As well as make us more aware of the eyes that observe without being seen.

There are not amazing photos but they may arise a little smile on your face.

Ole? (the question mark stands as my doubt about how professional actually is to applaud yourself when still there is so many things to learn)

COME AND PLAY WITH US

Every year since 1999, in Indio, California is held The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The video I'm posting today,by Sam O'Hare, was shot in this year last edition. He wanted to portray, in his own words, a unique view of the incomparable Coachella experience by filming the people arriving to the festival, setting up their camping, exploring the surroundings and enjoying the headliners.

The result is a short film that, I think, captivates your attention for most of its 4 minutes. Filmed in a way, that makes you feel like playing with the little miniatures, that the visitors of the festival become under O'Hare lens.

But what I really, really like is how he has integrated the closing credits on the film, a really witty idea, suitable and inspiring. I hope you can find 4 minutes to be transported to the Coachella Festival converted in a giant. 

Ole!

For more information about how the film has been done you can click here.

THE KISS PRINCIPLE

Two years ago, when I decided to fulfill my dream to become a graphic designer, in one of my first lessons at a short course called Applied Graphic Skills at LCC, my teacher Ian Barraclough mentioned KISS as one of the principles of good design.

At the time I had little knowledge about Visual Communication and I didn't quite understand how good the acronym applies, if not every time, quite often, to the discipline. Since then I had learned a bit and now I tend to get hooked up when I come across examples of the principle "Keep it Simple Stupid" that works.

Here is a campaign called Regala Memoria (Give Memory away) by The Alzehimer's Family Association, is in Spanish but with the English subtitles you would be fine. 

I think is pretty impressive how such a simple idea can communicate so well, how it can make you feel exactly the emotion that they were looking for: EMPATHY.

Ole!