Modern Concepts

Today we're going to look into certain concepts that pertain to todays Graphic Industry

Visual Culture

Visual Culture deals with visual events in which, information, meaning or pleasure is sought by a consumer in an interface with visual technology.It is any aparatus that is designed to be looked at

Global Village

Global village refers to a world where evrybody is closely connected by modern telecommunication and is interdependant economically, socially and politically. This idea was by a man named Marshall McLuhan . Due to the industrial error, global trade grew rapidly,

McLuhan described how the globe has been contracted into a village by the rise of technology and the instantaneous movement of information to any point at the same time. In bringing all social and political functions together in a sudden implosion, electric speed heightened human awareness of responsibility to an intense degree.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism is a reaction to the assumed certainty of scientific, or objective, efforts to explain reality. In essence, it stems from a fact that reality is not simply mirrored in human understanding of it, but rather, is constructed as the mind tries to understand its own particular and personal reality (http://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/gengloss/postm-body.html).

Culture Industry

Industries which use creativity, cultural knowledge and intellectual property to produce products and service which have a potential for wealth and income generation thourgh the exploitation of cultural assets and production of knowledge based goods and services.

“The cultural industries include: advertising; architecture; crafts; designer furniture; fashion clothing; film, video and other audiovisual production; graphic design; educational and leisure software; live and recorded music; performing arts and entertainment; television, radio and internet broadcasting; visual arts and antiques; and writing and publishing. “(http://culturalentrepreneur.org/blog/what-are-cultural-industries/)

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is a digitally stimulated enviroment that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world or imagined worlds. This normally refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, graphics, animation, video, audio, games, etc.

Konik, I

“Thematising the ugly side of sublime technology development in Sonzero’s Pulse (2006) as an inadvertent critique of the ‘technocentricism’ of postmodernity” Konik, I. 2007

Inge Konik is referring to Jean-Francois Lyotard and Julia Kriseva's "Sonzero Pulse (2006) " movie.  He tells of  how the self-governing, capitalist nature of postmodern Techno-centrism is dehumanizing the world to a state where people find it difficult to live without technology. What he is describing is what is happening to people today. Their social means are reduced to Cyber space.  There are some people find their social means through the facebooks and the twitters of the world. Infact it has gone so bad that there's also a new phenomenon called "cyber bullying" were people are victimized  via social applications 

United Colours of Beneton campaigns

United Colours of Beneton

This Brand is known for its controversial advertisements. Here are some of their campagns from the 1980s - 2000s

1982 "Ebony& Ivory"

1989 "Handcuffs"

1991 "This ones for the fridge"

1992"Kissing Nun"

1996 "horses"

1997 "WFP"

2011"Unhate"

Other

Modernism vs Postmodernism

South African Conceptual Design

Save the Rhino Campaign

South Africa is face with a disturbing increase in the number of Rhino poaching.Since the start of the poaching epidemic in 2008 South Africa has lost over 2000 rhinos - a figure that, despite so much effort, increases daily. Save the Rhino campaign launched a campaign to make the citizen of South Africa as well as the neighboring countries aware of the injustice posed to the rhinoceros species... The words " Nothing we do will ever bring them back" in the poster emphasizes the seriousness of the situation facing the rhinos in South Africa.

Another initiative South Africa has taken to spread awareness on the issue is the red rhino horns that are put on the front grill of a car. I think the choice for the colour red is to symbolise the critical state in which the rhinos are endangered.

Breast Cancer Awareness

http://elccareers.co.za/index.php/community/breast_cancer_awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed in October every year. According to the South African National Cancer Registry, one in 29 women in South Africa will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer, like other types of cancers, can be treatable when detected early.

This breast cancer poster entitled "Courage" recognizes the fear women experience  when having to deal with breast cancer. The poster promotes the awareness of breast cancer and also make the viewer aware of how sensitive the cancer victim's situation is.

Youth Day 

South African has a Globally recognized history. That history would be forgotten if it wasn't for the youth of South Africa. The impact of that dreadful day if history has had tremendous effect nationwide. This poster serves as a reminder of June 16, when the youth changed fate of the generations to come...

First Things First Manifesto

First Things First Manifesto 2000

http://www.designishistory.com/1960/first-things-first/

This manifesto produced in 1964 by Ken Garland and published by Adbuster Magazine in 1999, describes the world of advertising and how it is consantly evolving as the years go by. It describes the increasing demand for designers as a vehicle of  communication to the everyday consumer.

Inc0mplete Manifesto for Growth

Incomplete Manifesto for Growth by Bruce Mau

This Canadian remains a pioneer in reshaping how modern designer ought to think when facing a blank canvas. I have found that his manifesto speak to me as a designer.

"Process is more important than outcome.

When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we’ve already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there.

“

This quote, taken from Bruce Mau’s “Incomplete Manifesto for Growth” conveys the notion that designer have to go through a series of trials in order to reach what I call a “creative high”. This is were  the designer taps into a design trance( so to speak) where he/she is able to achieve unexpected results that result in the element of surprise. I often find that the process of creating is more rewarding than the final product. This is because I get to learn more about how far I can stretch myself during that period of creation.

In this manifesto Mau produces a 43 point program that attempts to help designers and creative folks think about their design process.

http://www.brucemaudesign.com/4817/112450/work/incomplete-manifesto-for-growth

Samsung: Taking over the world

Samsung Boom!

Samsung  has recently taken the spotlight as one of the most innovative brands of our era.In the last year it enjoyed 40% rise in brand value and a growth of 21.5%  market share in smartphones alone. 

Unlike most electronic companies, Samsung's beginings were not technologically driven.
Samsung in it's inception dealt with in other business ventures rather then technology.

In 1938 the Samsung's founder Byung-Chull Lee set up a trade export company in Korea, selling fish, vegetables, and fruit to China. Within a decade Samsung had flour mills and confectionary machines and became a co-operation in 1951. Humble beginnings. 

From 1958 onwards Samsung began to expand into other industries such as financial, media, chemicals and ship building throughout the 1970's. In 1969, Samsung Electronics was established producing what Samsung is most famous for, Televisions, Mobile Phones (throughout 90's), Radio's, Computer components and other electronics devices.

Kun-Hee Lee took over as chairman the multi-million dollar comapany in 1987 after Byung-Chull Lee had passed on ealier that year.  In the 1990's . Samsung began to expand globally, building factories in the USA, Britain, China, Germany,Thailand,Spain and  china until 1997.

In 1997 nearly all Korean businesses shrunk in size and Samsung was no exception. They sold businesses to relieve debt and cut employees down lowering personnel by 50,000. But due to thriving electronic industry they managed to manage this and continue to grow.

The history of Samsung and mobile phones goes back to 20 years. In 1993 Samsung developed the 'lightest' mobile phone of its era. The SCH-800 and it was available on CDMA networks.

Then they developed smart phones and a phone combined mp3 player towards the end of the 20th century. To this date Samsung are dedicated to the 3G industry. Making video,camera phones at a speed to keep up with consumer demand. Samsung taken in the mobile industry and are currently second but competitor Apple is ahead with A about than 52.2% increase in shares.

I admire the simplistic style they have applied to their branding. What I really like about the brand is their ability to identify with their consumers, how they mold their products to meet the consumers needs. Which in turn solidifies their philosophy  which is "to devote our talent and technology to creating superior products and services that contribute to a better global society". I especially enjoy the fact that they have totally revolutionized user-technology interactivity.

One Small Seed... The Designer's Arsenal

One Small Seed is a magazine that exhibits South Africa's design on all  platforms- from graphic design,  architecture,photography, fine-art, international styles as well as lifestyle- it is the designer's arsenal. It is a magazine where designers of all platforms are given a freedom to flex their creative nerves, thus enabling South African designer to influence one another, mixing into a blended cocktail that will be a Proudly South African trend.

 But that is one day....

The magazines layout  is excellent in relation to international design standards. Each section of the of the magazine introduces a new layout style pertaining to the content at hand. the designers are given creative freedom to experiment with different layout styles.The genre is of a "proudly African feel" . 

The images above and below display the magazine's flexibility in layout design.This makes One Small Seed a creative haven for designers. 

  In terms of the niche market, One Small Seed  is targeted at the ever-growing market of designers as well as youngsters in general. It displays content in a dynamic manner that appeals to the young market of youngsters and designers. The advertisements are especially targeted to younger audience.As you can see in the image below.

International Typographic Style

International Typographic Style (ITS) logos

The International Typographic Style (ITS) is a graphic movement that began in the early 1900s and  continues to impact the graphic design society to this day. This movement was characterized by scientific and mathematical conventions being included  to design.  The visual aspects of this international “style include a unity of design  achieved by asymmetrical organization of design elements on a mathematically constructed grid;  objectivephotography and copy that present visual  and verbal information in a clear and factual manner”(Meggs Purvis, p356). The sans-serif became increasing prominent in this era, the pioneers of this movement believed that the sans-serif typography expressed an age of innovation and progess’ and that mathematical grids are the “most legible and harmonious means for structuring information”(Megg’s Purvis 356).The pioneers of this movement were highly educated in the Arts, and most of them received their foundation from the Bauhaus.

Today we’ll be discussing 5 logos that reflect the International Typographic Style’s principles and style, but before we begin, I feel it is fitting to look into a brief history about logo designs.

The word “logo” is derived from the Greek logos, which means both “word” and “rational thought”. Looking at this, it is therefore fitting that the word “logo” is generally accepted in English and many other languages as a “pictorial sign”, usually referring to a brand.

The earliest logo (also called marques, trademarks and brands) were applied by hand to crated, pitcher, and bttles so that merchants, innkeepers stage coach drivers and dock handlers could tell to whom the contents belonged. Consumers at that point weren’t the target audience.

(www.denzomag.com/2012/09/60-awesome-logo-designs)

The “HAPPY QUOTE”  to the, conveys elements of ITS due to the choice of font that is used and the way in which it is structured. The use of  the slab-serif used in the logoderiving from Herman Zapf is displayed in a playful manner, just as Herman played with his typefaces.

 

(www.denzomag.com/2012/09/60-awesome-logo-designs)

“Safety” the logo says it all. This logo proves Emil Ruder principle in which  “type loses it’s purpose when it loses it’s communicative meaning; therefore legibility and readablilty are dominant concerns.”

“Renault” the automotivecompany implemented asymmetric organistion of design elements to achieve it’s iconic logo. The type used is a sans-serif, which was prominently used during the 1930’s.

Paul Rand’s IBM logo was definitely ahead of it’s time when it was first created. This logo was directly influenced by the International Typographic Style era. This timeless logo still thrives amoungst modern brands.

Sourced Images

• www.denzomag.com/2012/09/60-awesome-logo-designs
• http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/logo-evolution/ 
• www.smashingmagazine.com
• www.abduzeedu.com