Visual Genius

Claudia Griffin

A collection of inspiring Graphic Design ideas

Visual Genius

Claudia Griffin

A collection of inspiring Graphic Design ideas

Visual Genius Claudia Griffin 2013 www.claudiagriffin.com hello@claudiagriffin.com Typeface: Geosans Light Written and designed by Claudia Griffin All material is credited to the original owner. No part of this publication may be reproduced.

Contents
Introduction About the author Branding Illustration Packaging Paper Print Publication Type as Image Web Design Image Credits Acknowledgements 04 05 08 12 22 28 34 46 52 62 70 73

Visual Genius

Introduction
Visual Genius - A collection of inspiring Graphic Design ideas explores work across a variety of areas, for both print and screen. Clever concepts that solve problems are as important as exciting visuals which capture the audiences attention. Containing interviews and information from talks and events, Visual Genius offers influential advice and creative enthusiasm. Displayed in this book are examples of both print that makes you have to pick it up, feel the texture and smell the paper, as well as design for screen that you want to share and re-visit. This book contains a range of designs, organised in to categories. Graphic Design is everywhere, and is often unappreciated or not understood, but this book shows the many things it can be, from Graphic Design has the ability to persuade, to teach, to encourage, to sell, to make you think or feel a certain way. Designs can not only look amazing, but fulfil their purpose. image to typography, from print to screen, with different purposes and target audiences.

Visual Genius

About the author

I am a print lover, specialising in working with image, including hand drawn or digital illustration and pattern design. The work I create has a strong focus on branding, product and packaging. I am driven by problem solving and creating interesting, innovative concepts to make my work stand out. My work is predominately produced for print and so the Design is always changing and evolving, and while print will remain an important aspect of design despite the advancement of technology, website design is also an interest. The internet has become such a useful part of daily life, so it is important to appreciate design for screen. Things I look for in designs include: colour; clever concepts; detail; print finishes; crafting; tactile pieces you want to pick up; handcrafted; good stock; interesting or unusual shapes and folds. final presentation of a piece, including the use of print finishes, is an important aspect of my design. This book contains examples of designers that I admire and work that has been influential on my journey to develop as a designer.

Visual Genius

Visual Genius

Claudia Griffin

www.claudiagriffin.com hello@claudiagriffin.com

Visual Genius

Branding

Pentagram
Philbrook Museum of Art Its really clever how the shape used in the logo is also used with images in it for other pieces of design for the museum, such as the maps, linking all the pieces of design together to work as a set.
www.pentagram.com

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Hat-Trick Design
Natural History Museum branding
The logo is extremely versatile, because it can work with any image behind it, and can be applied to so many different items. The design is so simple but one of my favourite museum logo designs because of all the different examples of the N and how it can be used. www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk The brand identity is fun and playful, appealing to both adults and children alike, just as these interactive prints info@hat-trickdesign.co.uk Hat-Trick have worked on many other branding projects, focusing on clever concepts. show. The clever positioning of finger holes allow the children to bring the prints to life, creating a memorable advert for the museum.

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Illustration

Print & Pattern

The Print & Pattern blog and books have been a daily source of inspiration to me, featuring many talented illustrators, graphic designers, and surface pattern designers. These are a few diverse examples of the content that is featured, with designs covering a number of products and target audiences.
www.printpattern.blogspot.co.uk
www.lemonribbon.com www.thamesandhudson.com www.leahbartholomew.com www.alexhedleystudio.blogspot.co.uk

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Designer Spotlight - Lisa Martin

What is your favourite piece of your own work and why?
For my final degree show I designed and screen printed some colouring in wallpaper, this is definitely one of my favourite pieces of work due to its interactive nature. Which designers inspire you? I love Helen Dardiks style, shes got a really strong hand writing and everything she designs is always so bright and fun. I also love hand collection of print, pattern and illustration books on my bookshelf. career I think. I think it is good to have a style that is recognisable, especially for your final show and if you are wanting to start up your own business. But its equally as important to be as diverse as possible, especially if you are wanting to work for a design studio or a big company.

Where do you find inspiration?

I look on blogs, (not just design ones) lifestyle and wedding blogs are great for inspiration and of course pinterest. Ive also got a hefty

lettering artist Mary-Kate Mcdevitt, her hand lettering is beautiful!

Is it best to have a fixed design style? Depends what you are wanting for a

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Which is the most fun stage of designing? I really enjoy the research and getting inspired, but I also love finalising a piece of artwork, when it all starts to come together at the end.

Do you prefer type or image? Hmmm... thats a hard one, Ive been doing a lot of hand lettering recently and I really enjoy it, but I definitely prefer illustrating.

gives you great commercial experience and will definitely help if later on you want to set up your own studio or work freelance.

www.lisamartin-illustration.com Any words of advice that have helped you? hello@lisamartin-illustration.com

How important is it that a design has a purpose, or can design be just for fun? I think design should be fun, and it doesnt hurt if it has a purpose too!

It doesnt matter if you havent got a concrete style when you leave Uni, you have plenty of time to develop it! Also getting a job with a large company is a great place to start, it

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Lisa Martin

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Ecojot
Ecojot create a wide range of ecofriendly stationery designs featuring fun and colourful imagery and hand drawn type. Their love of papers and materials is clear throughout their designs, which usually feature on a textured background, a style loved by many. www.ecojot.com The imagery includes whimsical characters, detailed florals and other decorative ornaments. The purposes of the applied designs are just to The products created, such as gift wrap ranges and notebooks, are available in ranges for children and adults. make people smile, showing that design can be just for fun.

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Belly Button Design

Belly Button Design create a range of gorgeous greetings cards, which catch the viewers attention with their use of print finishes and final touches, such as foiling, 3d elements and glitter. www.bellybuttonblog.com The ranges are handmade and hand-finished, capturing a contemporary feel with a romantic edge.

The ornate designs often contain a mix of typography and imagery. They achieve the look of both sophistication and fun, standing out in a busy industry full of competitors.

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Packaging

Packaging
Packaging, especially for the beauty industry has always attracted me. These are tactile items that make you want to pick them up to get a closer look, items that make you want to keep them, or maybe even persuade you to buy the product more than the actual contents. These are examples of 17 & Benefit perfume and make-up packaging.

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Benefit Packaging
Benefit Cosmetics are known for their packaging. These are just a few examples created by creative director, Hannah Marlott. and the fact that every product is different keeps the viewers interest. This is the type of packaging people would love to collect, even after the product ran out. Some packaging Products with exciting, colourful packaging are more eye-catching and memorable, helping to convince the shopper to buy the product. www.beautylish.com/a/vcswv/ Clever copy, containing humour and fun, mixed with vintage style designs make these packaging examples fun, www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk hannah-malott-benefit-cosmetics even contains a subtle print finish, such as the perfume boxes, which open in an unusual way.

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Pearlfisher
These packaging examples from Pearlfisher include a consistent but differentiated contemporary identity for Crabtree & Evelyn. The packaging expresses the unique and beautifully enriching experiences of each range. Pearlfisher have lots of other packaging examples, which aim to capture the essence of the brand. These mainly include food, drink and Also included is a beauty range for luxury hotel Cowley Mano, featuring type and coloured bird imagery. www.pearlfisher.com chloe@pearlfisher.com These ranges look sophisticated beauty packaging. and exciting, with the different styles keeping the packaging interesting for the shopper.

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Paper

The First Cut: Paper at the cutting edge I visited this exhibition at Manchester gallery, and was amazed by the delicate paper sculptures made with intricate cuts and folds. Paper plays a huge part in Graphic Design for print and so it is interesting to explore the possibilities of paper.

www.manchestergalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/index.php?itemID=92

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Rob Ryan
The hugely successful paper cutting designer visited Leeds College of Art in February 201 1, where I attended the hugely anticipated talk. I admire how influential he has been for bringing about an interest in paper cutting for designers. www.misterrob.co.uk info@misterrob.co.uk As well as characters, and detailed decorations, such as flowers, birds, and trees, Robs work often contains quotes, or longer paragraphs. The designs have been used to accompany stories in books, as well as across a variety of other products - pretty much every product imaginable, leading Rob to worldwide recognition.

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GF Smith
GF Smith have a range of papers available, which are: colorplans, smooth, texture, specials (paper that looks like leather, woods etc) Advice - Consider the paper you will use before you start designing. These examples of GF Smith - How can you be different and and shape can make an impact.

publications include a range of these design without ink? Try die cutting papers, interesting shapes, folds, cut outs and print finishes. and overlapping, or thread colours to work with paper.

These publications show how there is more to a design than type and image, as the use of stock and colour

www.gfsmith.com info@gfsmith.com

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Print

Print for Fashion

Design for print is especially important in the fashion industry, with luxury deliverables helping to make a brand stand out. An example of this is the design of invitations for fashion shows, which often follow trends, as reported on WGSN. The invites include print finishes, unusual shapes and folds and different stocks. They look sophisticated, expensive, and of course, fashionable.

www.wgsn.com

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Designer Spotlight - Nick Loaring {The Print Project}

What is your work process?
I have worked in design and print, I have a need to make and a need to print. I have had different experiences but am now very specialised. I dont use a computer too much as I get fed up with them, as they open up a Pandoras box with never ending choices. I work by hand, and so dont have the option to make many changes. It is good to get better at what you do and understand it better just by doing it. What is the most fun stage of designing? The best bit is getting paid! It is good to like what you do. Have pride in your work. Are you team type or team image? Type is image. I like both, and am also quite interested in photography. Why did you choose letterpress? It has a sense of history, improves type skills, and has a high quality. What inspires you? Life, people, politics, type, photography, fun, music, letterpress, fanzines. I like receiving nice post.

Should design have a purpose or can it be just for fun?

Some design has to have a purpose. I like design that can help, such as signage, or design that gives information. I am anti advertising, as this type of brand is trying to deceive. But who decides which type

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of design is more valid? You can design for designs sake, becoming a graphic artist rather than a designer.

fame game have a fixed style. Some will change their style as they need the work. Just do it and find out, you will learn what is best.

hand you are forced to do something else. It is a leap of faith.

All Sorts contains faces made out of type. Play around to make an image

Should designers have a fixed design style?

You dont need to have a fixed style, yet some pieces of your work will look similar due to the processes. You should push the boundaries and see what happens. Dont limit yourself. Some designers who are in it for the

Advice?
Do what you want to do. Push new ideas. Dont follow trends.

out of type. Experiment with designs.

I have tried new things to find out what would happen such as printing

Talking through work

Leeds Print Festival invite is created with dingbats and type, and contains ornate details. When designing by

with paper. Never stop learning.

www.theprintproject.co.uk info@theprintproject.co.uk

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The Print Project

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Event Spotlight - White Lies {Fedrigoni}

This event, which I attended in January 2013, showcased the print ability of the Arcoprint paper range. The concept, by Design Project, behind the event, was all about white lies designers have told to their clients. www.fedrigoni.co.uk The products created for this event were a range of different gold posters, featuring these quotes, as well as a promotional book, printed by Team Impression. info@fedrigoni.co.uk The White Lies Promo Book is really memorable as not only is it well designed, with the use of gold foil on luxurious paper to give it a high quality keepsake finish, but it contains a humorous and clever concept.

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Visit Spotlight - Team Impression

Team Impression specialise in high end print, having done work for clients include London Fashion Week. Sometimes physical design is better than digital, such as for galleries, fashion, arts, as high end demands high quality. Team Impression visited Leeds College of Art in March 2013, As well as printing the work, Team Impression take care of other aspects, including cutting, folding, and adding print finishes. www.team-impression.com info@team-impression.com showcasing publications they had printed. These photographs show behind the scenes at Team Impression, and examples of work printed and finished by Team. {Photographs taken during a visit in October 201 1}

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Benwells
Benwells are specialists in print finishes as you can see from these beautiful examples. designs means that they still look sophisticated. The stocks are luxurious and great quality.

These examples are from a print sample pack, with the box even containing foiling, capturing my attention from the start. The examples include embossing, textured surfaces, flocking and foiling, spot varnish, duplexing and die cutting. Often a few of these finishes are combined, but the simplicity of the

The prints include business stationery, invitations as well as packaging for clients including high end fashion brands.

www.benwells.co.uk info@benwells.co.uk

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Publication

Publication
The next few pages of publication designs are all quite different, showcasing a variety of interests, for different purposes and target audiences.

The examples on this page are printed by Team Impression, with an example considering the packaging of a publication, and a newspaper design with a difference.

www.team-impression.com

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Fashion Catalogues
www.whitestuff.com

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Design for Children

Childrens books can appeal to both childrens and adults alike, engaging with the viewer through a mix of fun imagery and playful typography.
www.anorakmagazine.com www.pure-sugar.com

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Joe Gilmore
Joe Gilmore (Qubik) visited Leeds College of Art in November 2012, inspiring an interest in publication design. Joe designs both for print and for web, creating a range of work for different clients. The publications often interact with the viewer, such as with fold out pages, or by containing a selection of stocks, making the viewer enjoy The final presentation of his work, including use of stock, choice of binding and print finishes, really makes these publication designs stand out. Designs can be simple and effective, when the finishing touches www.qubik.com studio@qubik.com both the design and feel of the publication. are considered, to create high quality publications.

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Type as Image

Type as Image

www.emmabridgewater.co.uk

www.stephsayshello.co.uk

www.reallyfabcards.com/brightside.php

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Emily McDowell
Emilys illustrative typography quotes often contain humorous copy written by Emily, an ex-advertising creative, or inspirational, famous quotes. These are uplifting and memorable quotes that make the viewer feel happy. The designs feature type, decorative elements, and sometimes illustration. www.emilymcdowell.com www.emilymcdowell.com/contact Emily is inspired by letters, nature, folk art, geometry, psychology, cultural quirks, and the crazy urban landscape of Southern California.

Emilys designs feature on greetings cards, stationery products, as well as fashion scarves.

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Si Scott
Si Scott gave a talk at Leeds College of Art in April 2013, inspiring me with his detailed and neat drawings. Si has an extensive portfolio, having worked for some really interesting clients, and featuring on well-known advertisements. www.siscottstudio.com Si draws by hand, creating beautiful type, so delicate and intricate that it amazes the viewer. As well as type, Si creates imagery including beautiful animals. si@siscottstudio.com Sis designs have been used for a variety of purposes, including logo design and branding, advertisements, CD covers, decorative products and design for charitable causes.

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Steph Baxter
Steph Baxters playful designs feature both type and imagery. She works both digitally and by hand, using pen, paper and ink, even sometimes creating designs with more unusual choices such as food. These designs are certainly memorable. Her distinct style of imagery has been applied to products such as stationery and greetings cards, as Her use of type becomes the image in these examples, but Steph also has a collection of character designs and surface pattern designs in her www.stephsayshello.co.uk mail@stephsayshello.co.uk well as being displayed on screen. portfolio. Some designs are for fun, and some have a purpose, such as to advertise, to persuade, or to help describe a situation, when working alongside an editorial piece.

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Niamh Smith
In Niamh Smiths detailed type drawings, the patterns feature around the letterforms instead of inside them, an idea which is so simple, but looks so good and really stands out. As well as creating type, Niamh uses her distinct style to create patterns The designs, appealing to a wide range of audiences, and applied to a variety of products, make you want to look closer at them, and admire the detail that has gone in to their creation. www.littleredtreacle.com www.littleredtreacle.com/contact which are applied to homeware products. The typography is legible, with the use of colour against a contrasting background helping the letters to stand out.

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Website Design

www.facesofnyfw.com

Awwwards
The website design awards website, Awwwards, contains many examples of interesting and unique websites. These websites are more memorable than a standard template website, because of the way they interact with the viewer. These are just two examples I have looked at, showing adaptability and easy to use navigation alongside well positioned imagery.

www.awwwards.com
www.the-studio.co.il Visual Genius 63

www.cottonlove.co.uk

Design for Online Retail

As much as it is important that a website is engaging and interesting, it is vital that it is easy to use, to keep the interest of the viewer. The internet is such a fast paced place that trends in design all continually changing, with websites needing to be updated regularly. This is both the beauty of the web, and its curse. These are examples that have caught my attention.
www.newlook.com Visual Genius 64

www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

www.missguided.co.uk

www.liberty.co.uk Visual Genius 65

Studio Spotlight - Holden & Sons

Adaptive Web
After completing a placement with Holden & Sons, I learnt more about design for screen, and watched the new website for the studio come to life. This website works on any size screen, from a large desktop to a small smartphone, because of the adaptive web design. A carefully considered design means that the website is still fully functional, and remains easy to use, even on a small screen. www.holdenandsons.com hello@holdenandsons.com Included is an interview with creative director, Peter Holden, and a selection of projects, including branding, publication, web and app design, and film design. Holden & Sons are a full service creative communications agency, working both for print and screen.

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Studio Spotlight - Holden & Sons

What is your favourite piece of your own work and why? Our recent project for a sportswear company SWi because it brought together the skills and talents of the full team. Which designers inspire you? The ones that demonstrate an inventive approach to their work. Designers who wont just accept the average but are prepared to work tirelessly to produce great work. Do you prefer type or image? Where do you find inspiration? From all over the place. From Architecture, music, art and most of all meeting and talking to the marvellous people I meet. Which is the most fun stage of designing? For me, it is putting an idea to my team and then seeing it develop and improve with every stage. Any words of advice that have helped you? Be true to yourself in all that you take on. It all depends on the idea. What is more important for you, the hand drawn or digital side of design? I love both and like it when the craft side of our industry work together.

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24:7 Theatre

Sportswear International

Ratio Law

NHS North West Visual Genius 69

Image Credits A-Z

Anorak Magazine {Page 49}
www.anorakmagazine.com

Benwells {Pages 44-45}

www.benwells.co.uk

Fedrigoni {Pages 40-41}

www.fedrigoni.co.uk

Alex Hedley {Page 13}

www.alexhedleystudio.blogspot.co.uk

Cotton Love {Page 64}

www.cottonlove.co.uk

GF Smith {Pages 32-33}

www.gfsmith.com

Alison Oliver {Page 49}

www.pure-sugar.com

Ecojot {Pages 18-19}

www.ecojot.com

Hat-Trick {Pages 10-1 1}

www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk

Belly Button Design {Pages 20-12}

www.bellybuttonblog.com

Emily McDowell {Pages 54-55}

www.emilymcdowell.com

Holden & Sons {Pages 66-69}

www.holdenandsons.com

Benefit {Pages 23-25, 65}

www.beautylish.com/a/vcswv/ hannah-malott-benefit-cosmetics www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

Emma Bridgewater {Page 53}

www.emmabridgewater.co.uk

Joe Gilmore {Pages 50-51}

www.qubik.com

Faces of NY {Page 63}

www.facesofnyfw.com

Leah Bartholomew {Page 13}

www.leahbartholomew.com

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Image Credits A-Z

Lemon Ribbon {Page 13}
www.lemonribbon.com

Nick Loaring {Pages 36-39}

www.theprintproject.co.uk

Steph Baxter {Pages 53,58-59}

www.stephsayshello.co.uk

Liberty {Page 65}

www.liberty.co.uk

Pearlfisher {Pages 26-27}

www.pearlfisher.com

Team Impression {Pages 42-43,47}

www.team-impression.com

Lisa Martin {Pages 14-17}

www.lisamartin-illustration.com

Pentagram {Page 9}
www.pentagram.com

Thames & Hudson {Page 13}

www.thamesandhudson.com

Missguided {Pages 65}

www.missguided.co.uk

Really Fab Cards {Page 53}

www.reallyfabcards.com

The First Cut {Page 29}

www.manchestergalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/index.php?itemID=92

New Look {Page 64}

www.newlook.com

Rob Ryan {Pages 29-31}

www.misterrob.co.uk

The Studio {Page 63}

www.the-studio.co.il

Niamh Smith {Pages 60-6 1}

www.littleredtreacle.com

Si Scott {Pages 56-57}

www.siscottstudio.com

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Urban Outfitters {Page 65}

www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

WGSN {Page 35}

www.wgsn.com

White Stuff {Page 48}

www.whitestuff.com

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Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the designers who have work featured in this book - for inspiring me and many others to continue to develop as a designer. Thank you in particular to the designers who have visited BAGD at Leeds College of Art, showing their work and sharing advice, as well as the designers I have interviewed for this book.