Monday 25 June 2012

St John Rigby Show

'Tis the season for art shows . . . and twice within a few weeks the editor has ventured to other institutions (hmmm, sounds a little "one flew over the cuckoo nest" like that) to cast a 'critical' eye over the work on display. The first was MediaCity with all it's posturing and on Monday evening it was the more humble setting of St John Rigby 6th form college - which has over the last couple of years provided quite a number of FD students.
There was a completely different feel between Salford Quay's and Orrell as you'd expect. The community that the college is built around was obvious, with tablecloth covered tables, a barbecue doing great business, a quartet of musicians playing and an ice-cream van on one of the few sunny evenings in June handing out cornets and 99's!
The atmosphere was friendly, bustling, and full of pride in the students exhibition. One lad took the microphone and presented a very witty-ditty on The World Cup to those gathered - very good.
The art and design work, which is why the editor was there and not for the 'burger-on-a-bap' was quite excellent. A varied display of great illustrations, digital graphics, photography and effective use of multi-media.
Congratulations to all the staff and the students exhibiting for a great show set within a 'family' environment.

Media City

For the first time the University of Salford art & design show was launched at their expensive facility over in Media City. For the graphics department this was a pre-curser to the 'secret' show in Manchester's Northern Quarter. An impressive building and layout it was with mezzanine floors and a staircase to 'heaven' it would appear.
The editor happened to catch a couple of guys from Love Creative who were 'tweaking' up the quite amazing digital video board where by scanning the QR code and then following that to a website and clicking on 'draw' you could create a pattern on your mobile phone and send it to the bigger digital screen on display. Wow.
As ever there was a good exhibition of work from graphics, advertising, design futures and MINT - only thing lacking was people . . . maybe it was the driving rain.

End of Year Designs

Quite possibly the first time the world gets a chance to see how the new intake of FD students are progressing is when they have to exhibit their End of Year Show branding. Their designs are shown in the foyer at college for the rest of the Art School to select the theme. It's all done very democratic with voting slips and counted under the watchful eye of an impartial editor.
The brief is to design a poster, that is sent out to schools and colleges, invites that are sent out to applicants and VIPs and board tags that go on each exhibitors board.
Initially mood boards on art and design themes are created and the reasoning behind explained to FD2. From there, the suggestions of second year colleagues and staff drive the design forward until they eventually appear on display. Here is this years selection - with the winner in the centre with the reflection of the editor doing the snapping. Well done Chris Wordley . . . "there is only thing is missing"

Garden of Eden

So . . . the serpent deceived Eve into eating fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and all hell (literally) broke out. Adam persuaded by the woman also took a bite and when God said "what you two up to?" they blamed each other, the serpent and God himself. Unhappy at providing such a wonderful environment and then getting flack for it, God condemned man to a life of toil and woman to the pain of childbirth and chucked them out of the Garden! So he loses a rib and his 'Des-Res'.
Transport yourself forward a century or ten to London at the end of May 2012. Not so much the Garden of Eden but Covent Garden and our latter day Adam & Eve.
The award winning advertising agency visited by FD in 2011 who welcomed the group with open arms are facing temptation once again.
For the purpose of our Biblical comparison and probably wrongly cast as the serpent by the editor DDB came-a-calling to offer the couple untold 'fruit' to sample. In fact it looks like the take over could be a way of supporting what is reported in the advertising press as a 'flagging' DDB. Two of the creative directors at A&E Ben and Emer - who the group unluckily ran out of time to meet back in March left DDB to join A&E.
The three founders of A&E, Murphy, Golding and Priest seem to have secured decent high-ranking positions within the new Adam&Eve/DDB. Good friend of FD Graphics Mat Goff chief account executive in email conversation confirmed everyone the group had met was safe.
He was looking forward to the 'pretty powerful combination' taking the market by storm. Only downside, a move from their home in Shorts Gardens to Paddington - the editor could try (tenuously and in a contrived way) to link the aforementioned district of London to the Bear of the same name from Peru and that South American country's ManĂº National Park's biosphere reserve to the Garden of Eden . . . but perhaps not!

Making Good

Although each year students who have come through HND in the past or latterly FD go straight into industry, there are those who want to complete their education to BA(Hons).
In the final Higher National Diploma year (2010) two lads who both came to WSA from St John Rigby made that choice.
Will Rawson who often arrived in the studio pink faced having 'legged-it' from Swinley to make the 9.15 lock-out went on to the University of Salford for a two year top-up, James Davies went on to ManMet to complete his BA(Hons) graphics course. Both have achieved success, would admit the two years at WSA were essential to get them ready for the stresses of university. Will has completed his BA - and although at the time of going to press the editor is aware of his grade, there is still a little time before the result becomes official, James has also reached the end of his course but wants to go into teaching (don't do it James) and has applied to go to Hallam University to study for his PGCE. James had the ability, and was approached at his final show at WSA by industry to go straight into the big world of design, but decided not to . . . and although he dodges around what should be his natural progression he couldn't avoid being mentioned in D&AD 'dispatches' for an excellent piece of work. Come on James, don't fight it, industry, not education needs you! http://www.dandad.org/awards/student/2012/categories/18/graphic-design/08346/james-davies

Creative Wigan

Friday 2nd March : As usual on the last minute the editor and his helper Bertie Blair arrived at the Leigh Sports Village to be at the launch of a new website championing the creative talent pool that is Wigan armed with a college pop-up banner and pens to give away.
Anywhere were there is a champagne reception coupled with various pies has to be worth attending. The event which is to promote the use of local creatives by commerce within the Wigan postcode area was opened by Dave Guest off the BBC - it's right what 'they' say about TV putting weight on you - he's a lot slimmer than appears on screen. He was followed by Andy Burnham MP who was as confident as you'd expect and very supportive in promoting the initiative.
Next up was an old 'mate' of the editor. Casting his mind back to 1975 and Wigan Technical College graphic design courses in Library Street the editor recalled a guy in year three who was a roadie for a local group called 'Kettle' and getting into bother with Walt Disney. A larger than life character Winston Higham now the Chief Executive of JJB Fitness was full of stories of Wigan girls and his adventures within the business had the room in fits of laughter. He had to disappear soon after as a certain Mr Whelan was expecting him back behind his desk.
Already featured in the pages of this blog was the next guest speaker. Brian Cannon in body if not mind mused about the desire to succeed and the belief designers must have to reach the top.
Then another television personality and someone the editor has seen in the Fat Olive talked about team work. Phil Clarke the Sky Sports rugby frontman leant his support.
Although the idea of Creative Wigan has been the child of many eminent voices it wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the next speaker and friend of FD Graphics Will Bentley. His company BD2 who have welcomed FD Graphic students into their agency have created the website and continue to host.
The final speaker was the deputy leader of Wigan Council Dave Molyneux who is a keen advocate of the Council’s buy local initiative.
Speeches over, time for pie and networking. A brief hello to Danny Parker of Parker Sandford, a catch up with former student Matt Owen from Nectar Creative and an unexpected chat - via Bertie with Ian Greenhalgh from Greenhalgh Kerr who discussed where qualified students who haven't secured employment meet. The Wigan & Leigh pens seemed very popular, especially with a local theatre company.
The site has gone from strength to strength and is supporting the Wigan Expo to be held at the DW Stadium in early October - bob on to have a look www.creativewigan.com and click the register link to join up and support the initiative.