Author Archive for Michael Dancer

information as illustration

Published by Michael Dancer on March 2, 2013 in Communication, Design, Inspiration, Talks and Typography. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

I went along to the Vaughan Oliver (4AD, 23V) talk organised by LongLunch last week in Edinburgh and reacquainted myself with his back catalogue. I have followed and collected his work since 1984 when I was lucky enough to meet him while studying at GSA. I remember him saying that “typography is just another form of mark making”. That statement was all I needed to open up a new world of experimentation and personal expression. The process of researching forgotten fonts, photocopying them, cutting them out with a scalpel knife, positioning with spray mount and tidying up with typex, became addictive. Now I use the ubiquitous Adobe Illustrator for most of my typographic work, but in my mind I am still crafting the letterforms as before. When asked about his use of technology, Vaughan gave a frank reply lamenting the loss of the community that was interwoven into his process – the model makers, the photographers, the repro houses and that guy at the printers who would run an additional spot colour and a double hit of black (at 6.00am). Although it was a thrill to hear his laconic repartee, something inside of me wanted him to say that he was now a master of layers in Photoshop, could handle a digital DSLR or just give us an After Effects tip for the day. I wanted to know that my hero was having to keep up with the advances in CS6 like me – alas, no. Is he worried? Not a bit. He is a graphic designer (not an artist) who wants to communicate a feeling or an atmosphere by using his own visual language. It is a language where information works as illustration.

4AD/23 Envelope 1984 documentary HERE

Yr1 ComDes London Study Trip 28-31 January 2013

Published by Michael Dancer on February 9, 2013 in Advertising, Aesthetics, Art, Books, Communication, Design, Education, Illustration, Inspiration, Magazines/Editorial, Printing and Typography. 0 Comments

29.1.13
DAY 1


VISIT / 10.00am
- NOBROW / Sam Arthur

http://www.nobrow.net/

- An informal insight into London’s leading independent book publisher for contemporary illustration. They started in 2008 and work with illustrators across Europe that inspire. Their publications use a striking palette of colours and are printed on carefully chosen paper stocks. We were all envious of their screen printing area tucked away in the basement underneath the shop. Sam was really enthusiastic and gave the students great advice on self promotion.


VISIT / 12noon
- PURPOSE / Amie Herriott

http://www.purpose.co.uk/

- Award winning design agency with slick presentation giving us an insight into the nature of branding. They organised a large selection of printed work on their board room table for us to browse. Interesting thoughts on how branding has to work across many platforms, their work hinted at “simplifying the complex”.


VISIT / 4.30pm
- GRAPHIC THOUGHT FACILITY / Andy Stevens

http://www.graphicthoughtfacility.com/

- Andy spent 90 minutes with us giving us a tour of his favourite projects. He studied in Leeds before going to the Royal College. It was there that he embraced collaboration across the design disciplines. The anti-aesthetic of GTF’s work still resonates. The importance of building relationships with clients opens up the idea generation, often delivering the process that drives the work. Andy remains a guru.

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30.1.13
DAY 2


VISIT / 10.00am
- SEA DESIGN / Danny McNeil

http://www.seadesign.co.uk/

- Compact studio on street level with elegant meeting area upstairs. Masterful design work presented with style and a quiet confidence. We were all reassured when Danny said that they start working on projects “without an idea”. He then showed us where they look for inspiration. Danny emailed us after the visit “It was a pleasure. A very nice group of students to present to. Let me know next time you are in town and I will do the same when I’m in Glasgow.”


VISIT / 12noon
- ITN WORKS / Alex Bec

http://www.intworks.com/

- IT’S NICE THAT

http://www.itsnicethat.com/

- Alex inspired us with an introduction to his team (lots of beards) and a journey through his favourite work. ITN Works have a idiosyncratic business model based on a simple premise – great ideas and making them happen. Six years out of college, and they are working for Nike. They are facilitators who use a network of talented thinkers and doers.


VISIT / 4.30pm
- KK OUTLET / Dave Bell

http://www.kkoutlet.com/

- Dave took us through the dynamics of a communications agency, gallery and bookshop. They host exhibitions and collaborations on a monthly basis. KK Outlet was set up by the Amsterdam based communications agency KesselsKramer. Well known work includes the famous low budget Hans Brinker Budget Hotel. Dave is originally from Edinburgh and followed a circuitous route to becoming a Managing Director. It is his writing skills and an ability to identify talent to collaborate with, that continues to motivated him.

Hall’s of Broxburn R.I.P.

Published by Michael Dancer on October 19, 2012 in Art, Communication, Design, Illustration, Media, News, Political, Society and Working Life. 1 Comment Tags: .

My vintage collection

Published by Michael Dancer on October 19, 2012 in Communication, Design, Fashion, Illustration and Working Life. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

I found this drawing recently, which got me thinking about the uniform I wear every day (and have done for 25 years). It consists of a tee shirt, a pair of jeans and trainers. My friend secretly recorded every tee shirt I wore for a month while working in a design agency. When he revealed the drawing, I had no idea that I wore a different tee every day – wearing two on Fridays as we played table tennis and I sweat profusely when stress busting. I realise that it is just another of my collections and the fact that I wear them on rotation adds a layer of obsessive–compulsive disorder. As I grow older, the need for a counter-culture statement has diminished – the tees are more monochromatic and generously tailored, the jeans are not so worn and the trainers are not falling apart. All the tees illustrated now form part of ‘my vintage collection’.

Another collection HERE

Yr1 portrait drawing

Published by Michael Dancer on September 26, 2012 in Animation, Communication, Design, Drawing, Illustration and Student Work. 1 Comment

term 1. day 1

One drawing repeatedly copied from one student to the next. Each student had 1 minute to observe and draw, resulting in a progression through 30 drawings.

GSA Project Archive: Dulux Paint Tin

Published by Michael Dancer on August 19, 2012 in Design. 1 Comment

Project briefs in the Graphic Design Department during Session 1985/86 were no longer than one side of A4 and around 100 words (no learning outcomes). This project was about “cardboard engineering” with the aim being to use a single sheet of card. You were asked to examine an everyday object from around the house and make an exact reproduction. My choice of a Dulux tin was a challenging one as I needed three sheets of card to add the lid and brush to the assemblage. I remembering thinking what the heck, just do it anyway. This is how my recently rediscovered outcome looked.

Department of First Year Studies. 83/84.

Published by Michael Dancer on July 3, 2012 in Alumni, Archives, Design and Education. 0 Comments Tags: .

I recently discovered the 1980/82 GSA Prospectus from in the Dancer archives. My First Year timetable fell out when flicking through the pages. It makes fascinating reading with interesting comparisons to the next academic session (2012/13) – 83/84 Term 1 = 13 wks (12/13  = 13 wks), 83/84 Term 2 = 11 wks (12/13 = 10 wks) and 83/84 Term 3 = 10 wks (12/13 = 9 wks).

New Gio Compario campaign features hand rendered type

Published by Michael Dancer on June 29, 2012 in Advertising, Communication, Design, Media and Typography. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

This advertisement really works for me. Spotted on the southside of Glasgow 29.06.2012.

Found Victorian Type

Published by Michael Dancer on June 18, 2012 in Cities and Typography. 0 Comments Tags: , .

I spotted more examples of late Victorian text appearing on Argyle Street today. A few gems are being revealed from underneath bland modern signage. I am particularly fond of the “A” between “ICES” and “SPECIALITY”.

Akzidenz Grotesk Bold?

Published by Michael Dancer on June 16, 2012 in Cities, Design, Environment and Typography. 0 Comments

When cycling home last week, I noticed the word “STOCKIST” had appeared on Eglinton Street. I liked the composition of the type sitting behind the verticals (apologies for the quality of the photos, a bus was rapidly approaching).

Year 1 Show

Published by Michael Dancer on May 29, 2012 in Design. 0 Comments

Your weary legs will be rewarded on the 5th floor at SkyPark with a showcase of Year 1 work. Student work from INTERIOR DESIGN, COMMUNICATION DESIGN, FASHION & TEXTILES and SILVERSMITHING & JEWELLERY is featured.

You’re Spotted!

Published by Michael Dancer on May 9, 2012 in Design. 1 Comment

The Apprentice – Series 8. Street Art (about 28 minutes into the programme)

From your knowledge of the street art scene, do you recognise these people?

Look out! Look out! Yr1 are about!

Published by Michael Dancer on March 26, 2012 in Advertising, Art, Communication, Creativity, Environment, Inspiration, Perception, Places, Society and Student Work. 2 Comments

Good weather, good humour and an ability to challenge assumptions, brought the Yr1 ComDes students out into the streets of Glasgow recently. Working in groups of five, the students took some risks to make places in Glasgow famous.

We had: commemorative plaques dedicated to singer songwriter Darius, sheltering walkers in Kelvingrove Park under a canopy made from a matrix of umbrellas, turning the Duke of Wellington statue into Dukearoo! (his equestrian pal had a unicorn horn) and a forgotten underpass near to SkyPark brought to life with an installation made from woolen thread (see below).

The group of Sarah Jones, Isaac Neviazsky, Chelsea Frew, Lois Langmead and Louisa Reyce gilded a crack in the pavement with Tunnock’s Tea Cake wrappers. The students approached our national institution and got permission to use the iconic design and make something beautiful. Enjoy…

Yr1 ComDes Study Trip to London

Published by Michael Dancer on February 11, 2012 in Art, Books, Communication, Creativity, Design, Drawing, Education, Illustration, Imagination, Magazines/Editorial, Photography, Publications, Talks and Typography. 0 Comments

Tuesday 24th January

11.00am
APFEL (A Practice for Everyday Life)
Contact / Emma Thomas  t 020 7739 9975

Former RCA students producing intelligent graphic design from a small but perfectly formed studio in Bethnal Green. Best quote of the week “We would never want to get too big that we wouldn’t be able to sit around one table”. Check out an article about them in Elephant Magazine Issue 9 (available from Analogue Books ).
APFEL can be found HERE
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1.00pm
GAIL ARMSTRONG Illustrator
Contact / Gail Armstrong  t 020 8291 9153

Busy former GSA student producing intricate paper illustrations for a varied London and American client base. A great example of how to maintain a thriving creative life, be a mother and a Photoshop guru.
Check out Gail’s work HERE
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4.30pm
BIG ORANGE ILLUSTRATION STUDIO
Contact / Ulla  t 020 7739 7765

Great to catch up with Dan Williams and a few old friends at this vibrant illustration studio. Great advice and insight from Paul Davis who let us see a sample of his published work. Former GSA student Emma Houlston was also generous with her advice for shaping a career after graduating.
See Emma’s work HERE
Check out Paul Davis HERE
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Wednesday 25th January

10.00am
OPX
Contact / David Bennett  t 020 7729 6295

Multi award winning design agency welcomed GSA for an hour of shared thoughts and ideas. Pleased to see that they fill a wall in their board room with inspiration (Post-it notes, ephemera, colour printouts, drawings and scribbles) to assist idea generation for each project. Their philosophy is to involve the client as early as possible in the design process – a blend of inspiring and interrogating them – asking who, what, why and when.
Check out some of their studio work HERE
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1.00pm
THE PARTNERS
Contact / Alex Woolley or Jess Harvey  t 020 7689 4625

Alex and Jess are younger designers at The Partners and took us on a creative journey through their favourite projects. Each team works with an ideas book or sketchbook before any refinement of a concept on the Mac. This approach means that the designers are less precious about the work and allows them to reflect on the qualities of communication and meaning.
Check out the award winning work HERE
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4.30pm
THE CHURCH OF LONDON
Little White Lies Magazine
Contact / Matt Bochenski  t 020 7729 3675

Thanks to Matt, Willo and Adam who gave us a unique insight into the ‘architecture’ of LWLies covering every aspect of its production. For students in the first year of a four year progression, this was invaluable. It was useful to see how they constructed their typefaces, the programmes used and where the inspiration comes from. Read some more HERE
GSA students might be interested in a LWLies creative brief HERE – great opportunity to work on a ‘real’ project.
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Toffee firm folds

Published by Michael Dancer on October 5, 2011 in Design. 1 Comment

but they’ll never take… OUR TOFFEE!

Published by Michael Dancer on September 29, 2011 in Design. 0 Comments

Just when you thought your fillings and bridge work were secure, McCowan’s Highland Toffee has been saved from closure. Further research has revealed the fizzy Wham bar and Pan Drops sweets have also been preserved.

LetterMpress

Published by Michael Dancer on September 7, 2011 in Digital, Education, Print and Typography. 0 Comments

For all of you missing the caseroom.

From App Store (here)

Dead Pixel Interlude

Published by Michael Dancer on August 25, 2011 in Design. 0 Comments

Dead pixel interlude is an image for blogs, meant as a moment of irritation.

A vocation

Published by Michael Dancer on July 4, 2011 in Communication, Design, Illustration, Inspiration, Print, Publications, Society and Travel. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Jill Calder cover illustration

Jill Calder drawings

I had the pleasure of working with illustrator Jill Calder (former graduate) recently. I was asked by Turning Point Scotland to design a publication that tells the story of a service user with Asperger’s Syndrome. Nigel (a pseudonym to protect anonymity) always wanted to travel on a Boeing 747 and was keen to visit a place where the main language was English. With the help of his support worker and a Turning Point Scotland team, he decided to go to New York.

I was nervous about presenting design work to Nigel as it was a first for me. Usually I present to executives in a formal environment but this was refreshingly different. I didn’t have to dress up my language or make great claims about the benefits of justified typesetting. Nigel was relaxed and full of anticipation about seeing his words come to life. I took him through each spread of the publication to make sure the design was complimenting his content. He was very happy with it and articulated his ideas on how to promote it by organising a book launch and giving seminars about his journey.

Jill’s work was perfect for this subject matter and she embraced the project with great enthusiasm. Her style is vibrant and yet sensitive, working best when complementing the text written by Nigel. Being able to work in an area incongruous to an unforgiving commercial world, and with a great talent, delivered a very rewarding process.

See the great work of Jill Calder here http://www.jillcalder.com/
http://jillustration.blogspot.com/

Turning Point Scotland is a charity providing person centred support to adults with a range of complex needs in our society.

See the work that they do here http://www.turningpointscotland.com/

207 East 32nd Street

Published by Michael Dancer on March 21, 2011 in Creativity, Design, Drawing, Illustration, Inspiration and Working Life. 3 Comments Tags: .

I was lucky enough to work with Milton Glaser on a project in 1988. He was eloquent and respectful to all staff including a wee person from Glasgow. In the days when hand skills elevated your working process, I was asked to make a model of an exhibition he had designed for Triennale di Milano. A space that comprised of a simple ‘open’ spiral that lifted gently from ground level, I made sure that my trusty scalpel did not let me down. While waiting for the elegant curves to glue in place, I got my caran d’ache pencils out —