Having found a few more work samples stashed away in various cobweb-infested nooks and crannies, I've now knocked-up a very amateur website at http://imagineer.yolasite.com
As a student I was fortunate to be taught by the great Bob Gill. In one of his projects we had to phone in our design solutions - clearly illustrated the superiority of ideas over style. It was a lesson that stayed with me throughout my time spent slaving away in various design and ad agencies. And it leads to a creative showcase using words, not pictures (well, maybe a couple).
Monday, April 22, 2013
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Ellora
Background
My nephew recently asked me if I'd do some design work for his lady partner (Elly) and her chum (Lora). Being talented classical musicians, they'd had the bright idea of forming a duo named Ellora and then hustling for work at local pubs, clubs, conferences, weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc.
Brief
Design a logo/symbol for a business card for Ellora.
My nephew recently asked me if I'd do some design work for his lady partner (Elly) and her chum (Lora). Being talented classical musicians, they'd had the bright idea of forming a duo named Ellora and then hustling for work at local pubs, clubs, conferences, weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc.
Brief
Design a logo/symbol for a business card for Ellora.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
No smoking
Background
Way back in the '70s the government implemented a plan to discourage people from smoking. They began by introducing restrictions on tobacco advertising. Then came the compulsory placing of health warnings on packaging. Then, in the '90s, they made their first move in creating no-smoking areas in pubs and restaurants etc. At first it was optional...
Brief
Produce an A4 presenter from the Health Education Authority, primarily aimed at pub landlords and restaurateurs, outlining the business benefits of creating no-smoking areas on their premises.
Solution
Hard-hitting, no-nonsense cover design featuring a stubbed-out fag in an ashtray beneath the headline 'A no-smoking area can improve your business. No ifs, no butts.'
Result
Possibly the single most effective communication in convincing the food and beverage sector to change its attitude towards smoking. Or possibly not.
Way back in the '70s the government implemented a plan to discourage people from smoking. They began by introducing restrictions on tobacco advertising. Then came the compulsory placing of health warnings on packaging. Then, in the '90s, they made their first move in creating no-smoking areas in pubs and restaurants etc. At first it was optional...
Brief
Produce an A4 presenter from the Health Education Authority, primarily aimed at pub landlords and restaurateurs, outlining the business benefits of creating no-smoking areas on their premises.
Solution
Hard-hitting, no-nonsense cover design featuring a stubbed-out fag in an ashtray beneath the headline 'A no-smoking area can improve your business. No ifs, no butts.'
Result
Possibly the single most effective communication in convincing the food and beverage sector to change its attitude towards smoking. Or possibly not.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Paper clip
Background
Designers are expected to design their own Christmas cards. Every year it gets harder and harder to think of new ideas, especially when clients ask you to think of ideas for them too. Consequently it's usually a last minute panic. Or you just cop out and buy a bunch from some card shop.
Brief
Design yourself yet another Christmas card.
Solution
Whilst fiddling with a metal paper clip, I noticed that in the process of straightening it into a three inch long piece of wire (this is how I often spend my time when I should be doing something better) there was a stage at which it resembled the shape of a Christmas tree. So I drew a green paper clip and printed it actual size, bang in the middle of the A5 white cover. For the inside, I drew a partially unfolded 'tree-shaped' version, positioned it centrally on the right-hand page, then added the brilliant copyline 'Happy Christmas' underneath.
Result
I liked it and that's all that counts. Thought about trying to sell the idea to a company such as Rymans... but still haven't got around to it.
Designers are expected to design their own Christmas cards. Every year it gets harder and harder to think of new ideas, especially when clients ask you to think of ideas for them too. Consequently it's usually a last minute panic. Or you just cop out and buy a bunch from some card shop.
Brief
Design yourself yet another Christmas card.
Solution
Whilst fiddling with a metal paper clip, I noticed that in the process of straightening it into a three inch long piece of wire (this is how I often spend my time when I should be doing something better) there was a stage at which it resembled the shape of a Christmas tree. So I drew a green paper clip and printed it actual size, bang in the middle of the A5 white cover. For the inside, I drew a partially unfolded 'tree-shaped' version, positioned it centrally on the right-hand page, then added the brilliant copyline 'Happy Christmas' underneath.
Result
I liked it and that's all that counts. Thought about trying to sell the idea to a company such as Rymans... but still haven't got around to it.
Spotter
Background
Hospitals are soft targets for thieves. With so many people coming and going, it's easy to just walk in, put on a white coat and walk out with stolen wallets, televisions, computers or even hugely expensive hi-tech items such as x-ray machines. Hospital car parks are prime targets too. Because staff are busy and finances tight, it's virtually impossible to impose appropriate levels of security. University Hospital Birmingham decided to tackle the problem by launching an 'in-house' campaign.
Brief
Create a campaign identity and a few posters to get staff to wear their identity badges at all times when on duty and to get everyone (staff, patients and visitors) to look out for anything 'shifty'. If you spot anything suspicious, alert a member of staff or call the security hotline. Oh, and make it cheap because we have a very limited budget.
Solution
'The Spotter Campaign'. Positioning strapline: 'Spot-on hospital security'. Invented a central cartoon character named 'Spotter' who wore glasses and was obviously suffering from measles. Used just two colours throughout: red and black. Produced three posters. The first had the headline 'Spot the difference' with the sub-head 'Spot the badge' and featured a couple of white-coated doctors, one with his badge and the other without. The second, 'Spot the suspect' showing a shifty character in a white coat clutching a pile of loot. The third, 'Spot the invitation to car thieves' showing a car in a car park with loads of goodies on the back seat. All very obvious and simple but got the message across. Subsidiary body copy was put at the bottom of the posters inside a 'Spotter' speech bubble. Drew everything myself and, as most of the type was hand-drawn in Spotter's speech bubbles, costs were kept to a minimum.
Result
Apparently it was a huge success and crime figures dropped. Hardly made any money (so what's new?!) but gained much personal satisfaction.
Hospitals are soft targets for thieves. With so many people coming and going, it's easy to just walk in, put on a white coat and walk out with stolen wallets, televisions, computers or even hugely expensive hi-tech items such as x-ray machines. Hospital car parks are prime targets too. Because staff are busy and finances tight, it's virtually impossible to impose appropriate levels of security. University Hospital Birmingham decided to tackle the problem by launching an 'in-house' campaign.
Brief
Create a campaign identity and a few posters to get staff to wear their identity badges at all times when on duty and to get everyone (staff, patients and visitors) to look out for anything 'shifty'. If you spot anything suspicious, alert a member of staff or call the security hotline. Oh, and make it cheap because we have a very limited budget.
Solution
'The Spotter Campaign'. Positioning strapline: 'Spot-on hospital security'. Invented a central cartoon character named 'Spotter' who wore glasses and was obviously suffering from measles. Used just two colours throughout: red and black. Produced three posters. The first had the headline 'Spot the difference' with the sub-head 'Spot the badge' and featured a couple of white-coated doctors, one with his badge and the other without. The second, 'Spot the suspect' showing a shifty character in a white coat clutching a pile of loot. The third, 'Spot the invitation to car thieves' showing a car in a car park with loads of goodies on the back seat. All very obvious and simple but got the message across. Subsidiary body copy was put at the bottom of the posters inside a 'Spotter' speech bubble. Drew everything myself and, as most of the type was hand-drawn in Spotter's speech bubbles, costs were kept to a minimum.
Result
Apparently it was a huge success and crime figures dropped. Hardly made any money (so what's new?!) but gained much personal satisfaction.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Nipper
Background
There was a time, now sadly long gone, when bookjacket art directors would bravely commission designers without having the foggiest idea of what they'd produce. As mentioned earlier, Penguin's David Pelham was one such risk-taker. He'd simply give you an open brief and hope for the best. And, most of the time, the best duly arrived. In this respect, the '70s and '80s was a golden period for bookjacket design, especially as far as ideas are concerned. Then came the computers and the Philistine stylists...
Brief
Design a bookjacket for 'The Penguin Guide to Stereo Records' - a massive tome that listed trillions of records from pop to classical.
Solution
Couldn't think of a damned idea. Was getting a bit worried as deadline day rapidly approached. I kept thinking about records. And penguins. A penguin conductor in a penguin suit? Nah. Such was my concentration in this area that I almost missed the key word 'stereo'. At the eleventh hour (plus a bit) I had one of those 'eureka!' moments: take HMV's iconic dog 'Nipper' and...
(Looks a bit dog-eared but I suppose it would do after three decades of bouncing around in my beat-up folder.)
Result
Idea accepted and, as yet, haven't been sued by HMV.
There was a time, now sadly long gone, when bookjacket art directors would bravely commission designers without having the foggiest idea of what they'd produce. As mentioned earlier, Penguin's David Pelham was one such risk-taker. He'd simply give you an open brief and hope for the best. And, most of the time, the best duly arrived. In this respect, the '70s and '80s was a golden period for bookjacket design, especially as far as ideas are concerned. Then came the computers and the Philistine stylists...
Brief
Design a bookjacket for 'The Penguin Guide to Stereo Records' - a massive tome that listed trillions of records from pop to classical.
Solution
Couldn't think of a damned idea. Was getting a bit worried as deadline day rapidly approached. I kept thinking about records. And penguins. A penguin conductor in a penguin suit? Nah. Such was my concentration in this area that I almost missed the key word 'stereo'. At the eleventh hour (plus a bit) I had one of those 'eureka!' moments: take HMV's iconic dog 'Nipper' and...
(Looks a bit dog-eared but I suppose it would do after three decades of bouncing around in my beat-up folder.)
Result
Idea accepted and, as yet, haven't been sued by HMV.
Quitting
Background
Having just got used to the sobering fact that I, of all people, was creative director of the Drinkwise campaign, I was then appointed creative head of the 'Quitting is Winning' anti-smoking campaign. Coughed and spluttered straight into my ashtray, sending clouds of ash all over my desk when I heard the news. To help launch the campaign, we needed to attract some media attention. One of our many ideas in this direction was to get some high profile TV stars on board who would support the campaign by very publicly announcing their intent to quit smoking.
Brief
Produce a poster to appear in TV studios to encourage celebrities to sign up to the campaign.
Solution
Mainly typographic with the headline 'Roll up, roll up.'
Result
Quite a few soap stars signed up, which was good. Can't remember if any were successful at giving up fags though. Somehow I doubt it.
Having just got used to the sobering fact that I, of all people, was creative director of the Drinkwise campaign, I was then appointed creative head of the 'Quitting is Winning' anti-smoking campaign. Coughed and spluttered straight into my ashtray, sending clouds of ash all over my desk when I heard the news. To help launch the campaign, we needed to attract some media attention. One of our many ideas in this direction was to get some high profile TV stars on board who would support the campaign by very publicly announcing their intent to quit smoking.
Brief
Produce a poster to appear in TV studios to encourage celebrities to sign up to the campaign.
Solution
Mainly typographic with the headline 'Roll up, roll up.'
Result
Quite a few soap stars signed up, which was good. Can't remember if any were successful at giving up fags though. Somehow I doubt it.
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