Innehållsförteckning för April 2016 från Computer Arts

It’s easy to neglect your portfolio. Whether it’s work deadlines, freelance or family, there’s always something more pressing. But for designers and illustrators, a fresh online presence is essential if you want to progress – and for students graduating this summer, it’s even more important to have a portfolio site ready for prospective clients and employers. That’s why we’re issuing a call to arms to busy creatives at all levels: give your portfolio some love this month. To help, on page 42 you’ll find a handy guide to revamping your online portfolio in just 12 hours. From golden rules to making sure your site is mobile-ready, we’ve got you covered. Meanwhile, our special report this issue investigates the rising popularity of illustration. Find out why it’s back in such a…

Lorna and Daniel Freytag Lorna is a published children’s book illustrator and fashion photographer. Daniel is a co-founder of studio Freytag Anderson, which he runs alongside creative director Greig Anderson. Lorna and Daniel Freytag are hoping it’ll be second time lucky for HeyWow! on Kickstarter. Having got halfway towards their funding goal last Christmas, the husband-and-wife duo have once again turned to the crowdfunding platform to help launch their personalised kids’ books venture, which enables parents to customise a title by uploading their child’s name and picture. After tweaking the illustrations to appeal to a wider age group and introducing a German edition in response to the feedback they received first time around, the pair launched their month-long campaign (www.bit.ly/CA251-Kickstarter) on 18 February. We asked the pair what they’ve learned…

Graphika Manila is the leading conference for creatives in the Philippines, drawing speakers from around the world. This year’s event was a truly special experience, with 12 speakers from a wealth of disciplines and backgrounds sharing their experience and expertise. Vault49 lead designer Luke Choice and I joined a panel of creatives who had the privilege of presenting to the incredibly passionate and engaged audience gathered for the event’s 10th anniversary. I feel I speak on behalf of all the speakers when I describe the pulsating, youthful energy that rang through the event. From the dedication of the organisers to the sheer enthusiasm shown by the attending audience, there was an overwhelming – and at times emotional – sense of mutual admiration and determination to collectively push ideas further, turning…

ABOUT THE WRITER Lee Coomber is a senior partner based in brand consultancy Lippincott’s London office, where he leads the design team. Originally trained in both theatre and graphic design, Lee has over 25 years of industry experience and has been involved in creating some of the world’s most outstanding brands. www.lippincott.com Simplicity in design is nothing new, yet in a world that is increasingly difficult to navigate, it’s more important than ever. Consumers are in a state of sensory overload, fighting to escape the barrage of information. To connect with audiences, brand design needs to do more than cut through this clamour. It needs to find a way to say, ‘You want me.’ This isn’t just about attention; it’s about attraction. How will this brand help me, and how…

NATASHA TOMAL IN ART DIRECTOR, SHORTLIST MEDIA Natasha is the art director of popular British women’s magazine Stylist. She’s a graduate of Middlesex University, where she earned a first in graphic design. www.stylist.co.uk CORINA NIKA FREELANCE DESIGNER AND LETTERER Corina works and blogs under the pseudonym Cocorrina. Her recent clients have included Nicole Scherzinger, Elie Saab, Virgin and a range of fashion collaborations. www.cocorrina.com MICHAL SYCZ CREATIVE DIRECTOR, NOEEKO Michal is the founder of Noeeko, a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Warsaw, Poland. Its impressive client roster includes Ikea, Nike, Mercedes, Canal+ and Björk. www.noeeko.com DIRK SCHUSTER ILLUSTRATOR AND ART DIRECTOR, FOREAL Dirk met Benjamin Simon while they were both design students. They worked for a range of European studios before founding creative agency FOREAL in Trier, Germany. www.weareforeal.com…

“If you just have a portfolio then you’re in a bad position,” says Dirk Schuster of FOREAL. “If you want attention, you need a community. You need to be searchable. If you just put up a single website somewhere with your own name, how will people get there?” Social media plays a crucial role here, says Schuster, which is why it’s so important to add follow links to your website. “Instagram is a key tool for promotion – it certainly gets artwork out there in an interesting way,” agrees Stephen Jenkins, who art directs special projects at the Guardian. “Illustrators would be more successful if they communicated directly with art directors.” Coverage on blogs is helpful too, both your own – Corina Nika finds hers helps drive traffic to her…

Singapore is a tiny market and has limited resources. We’ve learned to work within limitations and make use of what is available. However, Singapore is also the centre of traffic in Southeast Asia – other Southeast Asian countries look to it as a source of inspiration. This gives us the opportunity to be ‘discovered’ outside Singapore and do work in the region as well. For anyone thinking of starting a studio here, it boils down to getting to know the landscape and learning how things work here. Culturally Singapore is not dissimilar to any other Asian country: as a former British colony, we have a very Western influence, but that doesn’t mean we are totally Westernised. Being a Westernised Asian city is as paradoxical as it sounds. We really are…

WATCH THE VIDEOS AT bit.ly/ca251-music OR IN OUR iPAD EDITION See page 40 30 MUSIC Founded in 2007 by Manchester design scene veterans David Simpson, Matthew Beardsell and Anthony Smith, branding and communication agency Music (www.music.agency) has built up a list of local and national clients that ranges from Manchester City FC to the British Fashion Council, taking 30th place in our 2015 UK Studio Rankings. Since its foundation in 2007 by local industry veterans David Simpson, Matthew Beardsell and Anthony Smith, Manchester-based branding and communications agency Music has gone from strength to strength. As well its long-established relationship with Premier League stars Manchester City FC, the studio’s client list now ranges from local institutions such as renowned cancer treatment centre The Christie to national brands including the BRIT Awards,…

1 Say ‘yes’ “The main thing for me was just saying ‘yes’ to any job, no matter how small,” says Brzozowksi. “Even just making tea gives you a chance to talk to people, and proves that you want to help out.” 2 Don’t complain “Don’t complain about the work you’re given,” says Brzozowski. “You’ve got to approach everything with a certain spirit. Once prove you can handle small jobs, you’ll be allocated bigger things.” 3 Ask questions “If you’re stuck, the worst thing to do is sit there in a panic,” says Brzozowksi. “Don’t worry that you don’t know how to do something: just ask someone. Everyone wants to help.” 4 Be social As well as building a portfolio, internships are about networking. “Just chatting over lunch helps,” says Brzozowski.…

To make sure the Barcode identity was implemented correctly, we needed a design manual, so we came up with the idea of creating the world’s first Instagram design manual, using the natural lines between the Instagram squares as the lines in the logo. It wasn’t easy; Instagram isn’t very flexible, and we had to upload and delete images so many times we started to go nuts. When we wanted to add something new to the style guide, everything needed to be uploaded all over again – and we did that a couple of times. It took us approximately a week to set it up. The obvious advantage is that it’s easy and accessible, and overall it was an interesting exercise to create a design manual in this way. We have…

BRAINSTORMING We brainstormed with the agency over Skype before kicking off the sketch and research phase. I talked about my love of travel and shared my vision for the project. I wanted to explore different treatments and styles first, as I wanted to think of the illustrations as a series rather than individual pieces of work. CORE TREATMENT Compositions and colours were going to be key, but we had to agree on a core treatment for all the illustrations first. I picked one cover and one section and started sketching concepts along two different routes. The first was very cinematic, using interesting angles and unusual points of view to create depth. OVERARCHING APPROACH The second route was a more abstract isometric approach, turning landscapes into graphic patterns. I sent PDFs…

Michael Bierut Pentagram Michael has been a partner in Pentagram’s New York office since 1990 and is a founder of Design Observer. He is also a senior critic in graphic design at the Yale School of Art. www.pentagram.com In the second part of our new series exploring leading designers’ creative passions, Pentagram partner Michael Bierut shares a theatre poster that has haunted his imagination for a decade For the last 10 years I’ve suffered from a low-grade but continuous obsession with a single 27-year-old poster. Our Town, written by Thornton Wilder in 1938, is perhaps the quintessential American play. Performed on a nearly bare stage, it consists of three acts: a day in the life of a small New England town around the turn of the last century; the wedding…

MICHAEL DRIVER This month’s cover illustrator Michael Driver is based in London, and specialises in graphic and editorial narratives. He graduated from Kingston University last summer and has already made a name for himself with clients including Wired, The Washington Post and AnOther Magazine. www.michaeldriver.co.uk MICHAEL BIERUT Michael has been a partner in Pentagram’s New York office since 1990 and is a founder of Design Observer. He is also a senior critic in graphic design at the Yale School of Art. On page 98, he explains his fascination with a vintage poster that he calls the most concise visual metaphor he’s ever seen. www.pentagram.com NATASHA TOMALIN Natasha is the art director of popular British women’s magazine Stylist. She’s a graduate of Middlesex University, where she earned a first in graphic…

Monotone by viction:ary www.victionary.com $39.95 Monotone is the latest in viction:ary’s colour- themed PALETTE series, showcasing visual design that makes clever use of a limited range of colours (previous editions have included Transparent, Neon, Gold & Silver, Black & White, Pastel and Multicolour). By stripping down the influence of colour, each book enables readers to compare skill sets and explore how designers play with details to construct and communicate a message. The work featured in Monotone has been carefully curated by viction:ary’s editorial team. “Naturally, the colours used in these projects will have to match the theme of each PALETTE edition,” explains editorial assistant Caroline Kong. “Then we’ll look into each project’s visual impact, as well as the execution of the respective design concept, which is really the essence of…

1 REJANE DAL BELLO GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND ILLUSTRATOR www.rejanedalbello.com Lance Wyman definitely impresses me (www.lancewyman.com). I’m a long-time admirer of his work and have studied his website a lot, going ‘down the spiral’ with it. What impresses me is that, although he has a remarkably strong visual point of view and style, it doesn’t overshadow the content he needs to represent, and it’s always surprising and clear without being simplistic and boring. There’s a lot of depth. He isn’t bigger than the project, and this tells you a lot about the man behind the work. Long live Lance Wyman. 2 LAURA HUDSON DIRECTOR AND DESIGNER, HASHTAG HOUSE www.hashtaghouse.co.uk Just after I graduated, I came across surface designer Dan Heath’s work (www.danielheath.co.uk) and was instantly drawn to his use of natural…

HOUR 1: WRITE A PLAN Condense your core skills and wider capabilities into one compelling sentence that sums you up as a designer. Next, define the purpose of your portfolio (to get hired, for example). Set out your goals and the skills you want to promote. HOUR 2: CHOOSE YOUR PLATFORM Adobe Portfolio syncs automatically with your Behance profile, while Cargo, Carbonmade and Squarespace remain popular platforms for creatives. Make sure your visuals are the focal point, and navigation is simple and intuitive. HOUR 2.5: CUSTOMISE YOUR SITE Pick your template, add your name, logo, email address, the sentence summarising your skills and any other details you want on your homepage – look to others for inspiration. Delete unnecessary template sections. Pick a font and colour palette. HOURS 3-4: CURATE…

1. CLEAR TYPE Make sure you use a font size that’s legible on all devices, so your text can be easily read without zooming in. 2. TAPPABLE LINKS Your layout needs to be touch-friendly. Leave adequate space between links so mobile users can easily tap the correct one. 3. NO PLUGINS Avoid using software and browser plug-ins that aren’t commonly available on a wide range of mobile devices. Flash is a prime example that you should avoid. 4. RESPONSIVE DESIGN Use an adaptive or responsive layout so your content fits the screen rather than forcing users to scroll horizontally or zoom in. 5. CHECK THE FIT Chosen a responsive theme? Don’t assume it’s definitely working as it should. Make sure you test it out on multiple devices. 6. MOBILE TESTS…

HP DESIGNJET T520 www.hp.com £1,440 (RRP ) HP has always been a leader in large-format printing. The 24-inch HP DesignJet T520 can output A1 prints at resolutions of up to 2,400 dpi using four CM YK inks. It comes with a stack of connectivity options, and its space-saving design is a big plus point for smaller studios. Other models in the DesignJet range support more ink colours or larger-format output, with recommended retail prices ranging from £948 to well over £10,000. CANON IMAGEPROGRAF IPF6400 www.canon.co.uk From £1,800 (via third-party resellers) Canon has a strong track record in graphics work, and puts a good chunk of its profits back into R&D. The imagePRO GRA F series boldly promises “perfect proofs”, with sizes ranging from 17 to 44 inches and street prices…

1 There’s a right way to nail a brief “The one lesson I’ve learned about nailing a brief is that there’s no right way to nail a brief,” says Rix. “Other agencies trademark branding processes, and that allows clients to buy into a certain way of thinking, but we try to open up our minds a bit. One of our own brand values is chaos.” Part of this spirit of chaos is the idea that anyone can contribute. “Sometimes a great idea can come from someone on client services, or the receptionist,” says Rix. Another is getting out of the studio regularly. “Good ideas can come at any time,” says Rix. “But the least likely place for them to happen is when you’re sat in front of your computer or…

LET IT HAPPEN BY TAME IMPALA From Currents, probably my favourite album of the year, this song still reminds me of working on the Barcode Project, particularly the pressure of concept development in the early days. STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON BY NWA Listening to songs like this brings you right back to the days of late 80s hip-hop. With timeless nostalgic beats that never die, the song mostly got played just before lunchtime during the project. LUCKY BY RADIOH EAD From OK Computer, probably Radiohead’s best album, Lucky is one of their most expressive, yet quiet and harmonic songs. A great way to calm down during late nights before the big deadlines.…

I normally start a project by challenging the initial brief and having a discussion with the client or agency to really try to understand what they’re after. Once that’s agreed, I often begin by doing photographic research. I always start on Google and often end up on Flickr or Tumblr. This part of the process can take a long time, but it’s crucial to me in finding the right idea. I’m aiming to create a visual collage of elements I find interesting and that I can integrate later in the piece. I never know what I am looking for until I find it so I’m mainly relying on instinct which can feel scary at times. Once I feel that I have gathered enough material, I start sketching out rough compositions…

1 ASSET CONSISTENCY Using the Kinect’s 3D data meant we were able to shoot video and capture CGI assets for the project at the same time. This helped maintain overall consistency between the large-scale shoot, 360-degree content on Facebook and emerging virtual reality experiences such as Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR. 2 SAVING MONEY Our experimental approach, which innovated by using existing technology in new ways, proves that Kinect can be used to generate dynamic and vibrant 3D VR-ready content and environments in a more cost-effective manner than conventional multi-camera setups. 3 CREATIVE FULFILMENT Pioneering a unique new combination of existing technologies in a project like this is an immensely rewarding experience. Being able to innovate in this dynamic space and being open to new techniques is hugely liberating…

JULIA SAGAR AC TING CO-EDITOR DI Y queen Julia has demolished a massive wall inside her house (presumably intentionally). Fortunately it seems it wasn’t particularly structural. She’s now learning how to make a stud wall. JIM THACKER ACTING CO-EDITOR Magazine editing plus client work has left Jim little time to do anything that looks good on a biography, although he did make it to Manchester, where he had an enjoyable day interviewing branding agency Music. JO GULLIVER ART EDITOR Jo has been putting in the miles in preparation for the Bath Half Marathon. Her training plan also includes a healthy intake of cheese (delivered to the office, to the dismay of the postroom staff) and banana bread. CAT ELLIS OPERATIONS EDITOR Cat is also preparing for the Bath Half, but…

Joseph Alessio is a typographic illustrator who once shot a marauding raccoon out of a tree with a .38 revolver. www.josephalessio.com VINTAGE JOHNSTON AND MURPHY BOOTS I have a deep appreciation for anything that’s stood the test of time. I found these boots used years ago, well broken-in. They’re a classic foundation to any autumn outfit. J.CREW LUDLOW CHAMBRAY BLAZER I like wearing a blazer as a light jacket on cool days. Chambray avoids feeling too dressy, but a pocket square can add a dash of colour. FRANK & OAK FLORAL PRINT SHIRT This shirt fits my style perfectly – restrained and a muted palette but subtly interesting, with a burgundy and white pattern bringing a fresh aspect to a classic navy shirt.…

MUSÉE MÉCANIQUE Pier 45, San Francisco, CA 94133 www.museemecaniquesf.com It doesn’t look like much on the outside, but inside is an amazing museum full of antique arcade game machines, fortune-telling machines, player pianos and more. It’s like a step back through arcade game history, and some of these games predate our politically correct sensibilities, which can be hilarious. RADIO HABANA SOCIAL CLUB 1109 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110 www.bit.ly/ca251-radiohabana A super-quirky bar with random stuff hung all over the ceiling and walls. You know that weird broken baby doll with spider legs in Toy Story? Yup, that sort of stuff. Every time I go there, I find something new. It’s a great place for a few drinks and live music. THE BAY LIGHTS Oakland Bay Bridge, San Francisco www.baybridgeinfo.org…

BOSTON DESIGN WEEK 30 MARCH – 10 APRIL BOSTON, USA www.bostondesignweek.com Each year, Boston hosts a celebration of design, seeking to increase recognition of its role in society. Despite its name, the 2016 event spans 12 days, covering graphic design, interior design, fashion and decorative arts. OFFSET 08-10 APRIL Dublin, Ireland www.iloveoffset.com Offset welcomes over 2,500 attendees each year, and past guest have included Massimo Vignelli, Milton Glaser and Stefan Sagmeister. Its organisers take a multidisciplinary approach, inviting practitioners from graphic design, photography, animation, illustration, fashion, film, industrial design and art. This year’s speakers include Vince Frost, Morag Myserscough, Ruth Ansel and Turner Prize-winners Assemble. LETTER EXCHANGE LECTURE – TOM PERKINS, LETTER CARVER 13 APRIL London, UK www.letterexchange.org Perkins has 40 years’ experience as a designer and maker of carved…

Put your hand up if you haven’t updated your portfolio website for months. Maybe years? When you’re working flat-out on final-year projects, freelance commissions or a consuming day job, sprucing up your portfolio can quickly drop down the to-do list. But it doesn’t have to. For a few brief, bright moments in May and June, the industry spotlight will fall on the next wave of new graduates. If you’re a student, you can’t afford to put your portfolio off; you need to be ready to leverage crucial opportunities. And if you’re an established designer, it’s just as important to maintain a fresh online presence. We know you’re busy, so we’ve put together a handy step-by-step guide for creating – or revamping – your portfolio site in 12 hours. Follow it…

3D ILLUSTRATION It’s illustration, sure, but not quite as we know it, and creatives like Sarah Illenberger and Kyle Bean have long led the way when it comes to tangible illustrative treatments. Nissan’s recent campaign – for which artist Owen Gildersleeve made a life-sized papercraft car – was fun and memorable. ILLUSTRATION-PHOTOGRAPHY COMBO Kate Moross is among those predicting that the next 12 months will be big for new types of illustration and photography cross-overs. Hattie Stewart will remain at the forefront, but watch out for the excellent Joe Cruz too. MOVING IMAGE As Hugo & Marie’s Jennifer Gonzalez says, “I feel movement and sound can arrest a lot of attention, and it can sometimes capture more emotion than a still image.” Nicolas Ménard and Jack Sachs both bridge the…

TRADEPRINT www.tradeprint.co.uk Tradeprint – as the name suggests – is one of the UK’s leading trade printers, and has been operating for almost two decades. Being one of the bigger operators, its technology tends to be cutting-edge and its prices are reasonable. It also offers same-day printing for those who like to gamble on deadline day. ONLINEPRINTERS www.onlineprinters.co.uk Another safe pair of hands with 30 years’ experience, Onlineprinters also offers same-day printing: impressively, all files uploaded to the site by 9pm enter production before midnight. If you’re really pushed, express delivery means the prints will be at your studio before your client has finished their first flat white. ROUTE1PRINT www.route1print.co.uk Route1Print boasts that you can pay, upload your files and choose which proof you’d like to send to print within…

1 Projects that match the agency Don’t send the same portfolio to every studio: pick work that matches that of the agency you’re applying to. “It’s really important to understand what the agency does,” says Lancaster. “Some are all about the design, whereas Music is all about the idea.” 2 A format the suits the work “It’s easy just to put a PDF together, but think if there’s a more emotive way to show your work,” advises Lancaster. “We accept work in any format, so if it’s print, bring in the print. If it’s digital, think about how you can show it in motion.” 3 No more than 10 individual projects Don’t include sub-standard work to pad out your portfolio: you don’t have long to make your mark, and bad…

1 Creating a flow The aim of the identity was to convey the fact that you can see and pass between the buildings, and to fill those spaces with experiences. We called this concept ‘breaking the code’. One early, abandoned idea was to use the ‘O’ in ‘Barcode’ in patterns that could be filled with words and guidance. 2 Building on architecture The main principle of our design was based on the gaps between the structures – the protected lines of sight – which were purposely included by the architects to give people a view from inside the city towards the sea. It was this idea that led to our use of vertical lines to break up the words in the logo. 3 Flexible spaces We wanted our identity for…

PROJECT FACTFILE BRIEF Travel operator Kuoni wanted to move away from photography for its 2016 brochure, so it commissioned a series of illustrations to depict some of the world’s most desirable locations in an attention-grabbing way. The brief was to create a hero cover and a series of four complementary illustrations for the different sections of the brochure. CREATIVES Malika Favre www.malikafavre.com Altavia www.altavia-group.com DURATION Six weeks LIVE DATE December 2015 MALIKA FAVRE GRAPHIC ARTIST Malika is a French artist based in London. With a bold, minimal style, her work always springs from a strong narrative core and is intended to provoke the imagination, with a bit of humour, a touch of sexiness and a re-imagination of the ordinary. THE DESIGN BRIEF Malika Favre I was approached by the French…