Alphabetical Industrial Typography

Beautiful typeface made from all kind of industrial items, the photography and presentation is lovely

By Kalle Hagman

CIDS Talk

On the 4th March, we were invited to give our first ever talk as the Thoughtful 6 along with James, Chris and Stuart at Stockport Art Gallery. The event was organised by CIDS and unfortunately it was to be their last, so we had to make sure that our talk went well (we wouldn’t have wanted them to go out on a low!).

We were all a bit nervous about the talk, but I think most people are okay with public speaking. One advantage we did have though, is that Thoughtful have been preparing us for these kind of things without us really knowing it, or appreciating it at the time. They gave a small brief to the whole class last November, and we had to present our ideas to Chris, James, Stuart, our tutor and the rest of the class, plus it was filmed. They try and get us speaking on film as much as we can, so we learn to think on the spot, relax more, and just get used to it really.

The problem with us giving the talk was that we’re only in month three of the project, so it wasn’t really possible to give the whole story, which would have made a much better presentation. Plus we didn’t have much time to prepare. Stuart had a good idea though – we’d give an overview of what the project is, and then people would ask us questions that we’d printed out beforehand and sneakily left on their desks. This would fill the awkward silence when we ask ‘Does anyone have any questions?’ and would also allow us to think of the answers in advance to stop us looking at each other saying ‘errrr...’ which would have been embarrassing.

As it happens, the talk was good. It wasn’t too formal and there was a lot of interaction with the audience, so it felt more like a chat. We thought we’d never fill our 20 minute slot but as it turned out, we could have talked for more than an hour. Half the questions we planted didn’t even get asked as we ran out of time.

There were sheets of paper on the tables where each guest could give a score to parts of the event. We just hope 'Guest Speakers’ did as well as ‘Food and Drink’...

We’d like to thank Chris from CIDS for inviting us to do our first talk and Mel for explaining the background to the project better than we ever could.

Profile Information about Myself

What inspired you to want to become a designer?

I’ve always had a love for design ever since I made my first Christmas card when I was in primary school.  Since then I have been drawing and doodling in my spare time. I used to love designing posters for school concerts and exhibitions and it just seemed like a natural procession for me to study graphic design at degree level. There is nothing else I wanted to do.

Who is your favourite designer/design agency?

At the moment I’m really interested in the work of Craig Ward, a London based graphic designer specialising in typography. He initiates work under the pseudonym ‘Words Are Pictures,’ which describes the way he works, using typography to produce images and to tell a story. His approach to typography encouraged me to start thinking about how typography can be used in exciting and unusual ways and how a simple message can be altered depending on the font used and how it is presented. I’m also a big fan of Saul Bass and love the way his work from the 50’s and 60’s still manages to looks contemporary today.

What influences you creatively other than graphic design?

I really enjoy looking at advertising, especially TV advertising. Wieden + Kennedy has done some fantastic advertising. I really like the advertising they have done for Honda. Also, WCRS have produced some really good advertising for Transport For London to promote road safety for cyclists and drivers.

 

What is your favourite piece of design?

I can’t say I have a favourite piece of design. There is so much fantastic design out there. One of my favourite pieces at the moment is a letter pressed image Craig Ward did for the Economist, the idea being ‘the world on a plate.’ It’s a very simple image with a simple concept, but that’s why I like it. It works well and does the job intended whilst being a really striking image.

Where do you see yourself in ten years time?

I see myself as successful graphic designer with lots of experience behind me. I’d like to be able to say that I work for a fantastic agency with great people, producing cutting-edge work.

What qualities do you think you will bring to the project?

I’m enthusiastic, hard working and enjoy a challenge. I’ll have a go at whatever is thrown at me and I’m eager to learn. I think I can work well as a team as well as an individual and I always try to fully understand what is being asked. I’m constantly documenting and looking out for new ideas and pieces of design that catch my eye and feel I can contribute well to the project by using my knowledge to think about problems in an exciting and creative way.

What do you hope to get out of the project?

I hope to gain an insight as to how designers work in the real world, experiencing both the highs and the lows and to get as much out of the experience as I possibly can. I want to broaden my knowledge of design and learn how to cope with the different situations that will arise whilst working in a design studio. I hope the experience and understanding I gain will help me to achieve my goals and put me at an advantage when it comes to finding a job.