Open Agency

'The world's most exciting car', 'The Journey Shrinker' and Kenneth Grange

 
I finally made it to the Kenneth Grange’s ‘Making Britain Modern’ exhibition at the Design Museum and even ended up seeing him (not that we talked - I chickened out).

I did however end up seeing ‘The Journey Shrinker’, which was probably the most unusual poster i’ve seen in a while. It appears to be in the style of a 70’s horror poster - I’m guessing not on purpose. If Kenneth was looking to scare people into buying train tickets, It answered the brief perfectly.

Generally there was some really interesting objects on display, including a Kenwood mixer that I’m pretty sure my mum’s had since it came out (1970) and still uses to this day to bake cakes.

 

After Kenneth Grange’s exhibition, I had a quick look at the upstairs, which takes a look at some quintessential design such as Britain’s transport signs and a guide on the ‘Austin Se7en’, which apparently is ‘the world’s most exciting car’. I’m not sure about that, but it had a lovely 50’s style.

If you get a chance, it’s definitely worth catching (it ends on the 30th of October). Although it seems to be getting more and more expensive to go (£10 for an adult ticket - no £7 student ticket for me anymore!)

By far my favourite of all the Steve Jobs illustrations so far. 

By far my favourite of all the Steve Jobs illustrations so far. 

Pick Me Up We all went down to Somerset House on Friday for the...

Pick Me Up

We all went down to Somerset House on Friday for the 2nd showing of the annual graphic art fair Pick Me Up! It’s was a great opportunity to see new works from some of our favorite illustrators and also discover new artists amongst the established names.

The highlight for me was the black and white ink work of McBess and the beautifully detailed work of Victo Ngai whos, which recalls the fine detailing of woodblocks combined with a whimsical touch of humour.

In the upper galleries the show was stolen (in my opinion) by the debuting JaguarShoes Collective. Their space was transformed into a North American hunters cabin and the artwork was themed accordingly.

Overall the show was fantastic and we’d all enjoy a second visit if our bank managers allowed it.

I don’t know where I’m going but I’m on my way
  Alan Fletcher...

I don’t know where I’m going but I’m on my way
 

Alan Fletcher was a hero and sadly a mentor I never had 

I first met Alan Fletcher at the offices of Pentagram, when I was a student at the Royal College of Art. 
Their studio was all white walls and red brick, with tasteful design by the partners adorning the walls. I say I met Alan Fletcher but I was one of a group, and at the time I knew of Pentagram as a design business but not much about Alan Fletcher as an individual. 

Over the years I learned more, and grew to really admire his work. He had great ideas and wit but he was also a real craftsman. I remember at a D&AD lecture where Fletcher, Forbes & Gill (the inspiration for Pentagram) were interviewed. Illustrating the different qualities of the partners, Bob Gill said “The difference between us was this – Alan would spend 3 days marking up a piece of type and half an hour pasting it up. I’d spend half an hour marking it up and then have to spend 3 days making it fit!” 

I’ve few regrets in my life, but one is that I wish I’d worked for a designer, the calibre of Alan Fletcher. I set up my own studio within five years of leaving the RCA and I’ve been very much self-taught. 
I often thought about approaching Alan to ask him to be my mentor. But I never dared, he was so God-like to me.

One lunchtime in the cafe at the Design Museum I was having a coffee with my wife. At the next table was Alan Fletcher and a younger woman ( I think it may have been his daughter, Raffaella). I remember he was wearing a grey collarless shirt with pockets. I think he probably designed it himself. I wanted to go and say hello, and tell him how much I admired his work, and how he’d influenced me, but I didn’t. After he’d left I told my wife who it was – who had been sitting next to us. She immediately gave me an earful for not speaking to him. 

Shortly after Alan died of cancer. 
He died wearing a hand-lettered shirt with a phrase from one of the many posters he produced: ‘I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.’

I own a copy of that poster and it hangs proudly next to my books on design. I often look at it and think, “One day I’ll know”.

I think I’m getting there. 
Yesterday I’d heard I’d been accepted on a week-long course in New York with Milton Glaser, another of my design heroes. 

I’m on my way.

Gary Cooke

How important is it, with so much technology at our disposal...

How important is it, with so much technology at our disposal that designers should be able to draw?

When I started out on my journey in art and design, you had to be able to draw. All designers could draw. There were no Apple Macs or Adobe software programs to help out. And being part of a small studio, there was no Art Department. Designers were expected to come up with great ideas, visualise them, art direct photographers, mark up type, etc., etc., etc.

But drawing wasn’t just a mechanical process. It was a process where ideas were explored, designs developed. Having to hand draw and trace type gave me an extensive knowledge of letterforms and typefaces. Crafting the way something was going to look was a great discipline. 

Technology is a great tool but I believe a lot of the skills that are so important in creating great work are rapidly disappearing. Online Photo Libraries provide ready-made images – photographs and illustrations. Many young designers have become technicians, assembling components from various online resources and making an idea or concept ‘fit’ whatever they can find or afford.

I recently posted a comment on a Linkedin Group – Creative Design Pros

Call me old-fashioned but I think it’s a shame so many designers can’t draw anymore. Ideas and problem solving are massively important but the best designers are those that have all the skills.

The response I got back was very enlightening. Those who don’t or can’t draw were very vociferous and defensive. On the other side of the fence were those that used to draw a lot but had become a bit lazy, perhaps because technology had made things too easy.

I used to draw all the time. I was a good drawer, my first degree was in illustration, but I too have become lazy. My drawings now are very rough scribbles and not things of beauty! Even writing by hand is difficult. I’m thinking so fast my hand can’t keep up, and whatever I write is illegible.

After my post on Linkedin I received many responses from designers who were keen to start drawing again, to dig out their Caran d’Ache crayons and get back to basics. 

In response I’ve now started a Group – Designers Who Draw.  It may be the start of a drawing revolution.

One of my inspirations as a young designer was Milton Glaser – a great designer and illustrator, and in August this year I’m going to study with him on his summer workshop at the School of Communication Arts in New York. I’d better take plenty of pads and pencils. Designers who have been on the course say it’s a life-changing experience. 

Gary Cooke

Bass Notes: The film posters of Saul Bass On Thursday evening...

Bass Notes: The film posters of Saul Bass 

On Thursday evening Open ventured out for some after hours culture cruising in the cool streets of Shoreditch. Martyn, Andy, Tom, Annabel, Rebecca and Milan found their way over to the Kemistry Gallery - on Charlotte Road.

Their latest offering showcases the fantastic and iconic work of the master of the film poster - Saul Bass. For some of the younger designers in the crowd it was a chance to see beautiful work from a time when a ‘mac’ was just something that kept the rain off.

The exhibition is a small snippet of his works but mirrors the sentiment that less is more. The work Bass reminds us that a strong idea is always at the heart of a great design. which is as refreshing today as ever.

Also sampled on Thursday night: The overground tube carriages Stella Black

Have you seen the Facebook movie “The Social...

Have you seen the Facebook movie “The Social Network” yet? If you have this video will surely make you laught. A great little video put together by the guys over at “How It Should Have Ended”. 

Thanks to a little brainstorming of ideas for dates in the Open...

Thanks to a little brainstorming of ideas for dates in the Open Studio on Friday, I went along to the very kitch and cool Drink, Shop & Do pop-up bar in Kings Cross.

It’s a sweet shop by day that transforms into a cocktail bar by night. If that’s not enough for us creatives, they also sell designer goodies, run an art club and also use their space to showcase new works by local artists.

Although their cliental is predominantly female - it’s a cracking place to go for a drink with someone who is more than a little difficult to impress! You’ll probably catch me down there most sundays for they’re famous ‘Scrabble Sundays’.

Ever visited your favourite social networking website and you...

Ever visited your favourite social networking website and you end up being presented with the message “Website currently under going maintenance” Well Tumblr spent a good few hours recently having ups and downs. One user decided to send in a small illustration pleading with them to use it “please oh please”

Artist Matthew Inman decided to create a special image (above) for the “Tumblr is down page”, It features three green monsters eating Tumblr’s servers. “We may have forgotten to feed the TumblrBeasts who live in our server closet, which often results in unexpected downtime due to gnawing and/or mutiny,”

“The Souls” by Damien HirstA beautiful collection of...

“The Souls” by Damien Hirst

A beautiful collection of prints limited to editions of 15 by Damien Hirst. The collection features a very large selection of butterflies created in 3 colour foil blocks and aimed at illustrating the importance of religious faith around the theme of mortality.

Following the success of last years book ‘Creature’,...

Following the success of last years book ‘Creature’, The Bird book by Andrew Zuckerman features breathtaking photography. Traveling across four countries over a year, he photographed 74 birds capturing incredible detail in his mobile studio.

There is nothing like a little funny street art. Since Banksy...

There is nothing like a little funny street art. Since Banksy first began spray painting his signature art pieces around the world. People have now taken it upon themselves to go out and give it ago. 

A 6min preview of the digital master piece coming this...

A 6min preview of the digital master piece coming this christmas.

The score for “TRON: Legacy” was composed and produced by the iconic and critically acclaimed Grammy® Award-winning, French electronic-music duo Daft Punk.

Having grown up with admiration for Disney’s groundbreaking original 1982 film “TRON,” Daft Punk took on the scoring of the next chapter of the story with extraordinary thought and precision. The duo assembled a symphony of eighty-five world-class musicians in London and recorded the orchestra at AIR Lyndhurst Studios, Britain’s premier scoring facility.

Bubble Chandeliers by Jean Pelle Amazing sculpture glass...

Bubble Chandeliers by Jean Pelle

Amazing sculpture glass bulbbles? “Bubble Chandeliers are comprised of delicate clusters of glass globes and clear globe bulbs held together by cables wrapped in cord. Available in 5 shapes and sizes, chandeliers can be customized as hanging lamps or ceiling fixtures. Each light is individually assembled by Jean Pelle in her Brooklyn studio.”

A pair of old lady needlepoint masterpieces. The picture on the...

A pair of old lady needlepoint masterpieces. The picture on the left reminds me of a sailor / garden gnome. All credit to the creator. 

“The Arctic Circle” is an amazing animation shortfilm directed...

“The Arctic Circle” is an amazing animation shortfilm directed by the talented Kevin Parry. An Arctic inhabitant is fascinated by the sudden appearance of a mysterious box.

Real cool fun mini ceral boxes. People attending Celebration V...

Real cool fun mini ceral boxes. People attending Celebration V Collecting Panels will receive Star Wars themed cereal box! 

Burger Grease Art Phil Hansen paints the Mona Greasa with burger...

Burger Grease Art

Phil Hansen paints the Mona Greasa with burger grease, yes really!

From the Lake District to the Premier League At the end of...

From the Lake District to the Premier League

At the end of November, 14 years after it first opened its turnstiles on the rain soaked streets of Ambleside the brilliant ‘Homes of Football’ museum is closing and moving, next year, to new premises fit for the premier league.

Although following in long line of ‘arty types’ that set up home in the town, such as Wordsworth and Kurt Schwitters, the stunning photography of Stuart Clarke always seemed somewhat at odds with the anorak shops and tea rooms of the English Lake District. Every time I popped in to gawp at the images on display it always felt like an unexpected treat, a little secret that I wanted to keep to myself. And now, after all these years the talent has been spotted and is set for a transfer that will mean the museum will get the bigger audiences it deserves. 

The way Clarke has documented the changing face of football has always been with the wit, hope and despair of a true fan, and it connects naturally with its audience. His more recent work exploring the surrounding countryside and, at a different angle, music festivals has the same insight that more often than not brings a knowing smile to your face.

Ambleside’s loss is Manchester’s gain, and in late 2011 the Homes of Football is to be housed alongside new National Football Museum in the city centre. So if you’re not passing through The Lakes in the next couple of weeks you’ll have to wait for quite a while to see the work. Until then, you can always make do with the digital version…

http://www.homesoffootball.co.uk/

Cloud Interesting Cloud shape chair which is suitable for short...

Cloud

Interesting Cloud shape chair which is suitable for short and tall people. The chair was designed and Lisa Widen. Lisa says “Imagine being able to rest on a cloud! My goal was to create an upholstered chair that would be comfortable for everyone, a reclining chair that adapts to the user’s body, not the other way round.” Very fun!