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OFFSET
10/12/09
A month or so ago 5 of us woke up very early on a Friday and jumped on a plane to Dublin to attend OFFSET 2009. This conference had an impressive line up of speakers including some all time design LEGENDS (cough* Massimo Vignelli) and also some very talented artists and illustrators.
Vignelli talked through the designs and objects he has created over the last 50 years with wife Lella. He talked of the continuous cross fertilizing of disciplines in his work and how much he loves to design things that stack. We were treated to images of beautiful furniture to classic graphic design (including the iconic New york Subway map) and it was clear that his designs were timeless. He talked through his method of subtraction - to keep taking things away until your left with the essence of something. You could tell that for this man design was not a career but a lifestyle...with his family motto being 'If you can't find what you want - design it yourself'.
Another highlight was David Shrigley who is as dry and funny as the drawings he creates. He confessed that he couldn't really draw but that he just does it anyway. It was very entertaining hearing the stories behind his work, particularly of the recent craze of people wanting him to create tattoos of them.
Also speaking was illustrator Anthony Burrill who's work has become famous for its simple slogans and bold typography. Burrill talked about how he finds it hard to use more than two colours and has to really justify it if he does. His work is littered with little positive philosophies and his iconic designs have resulted in him being approached by a whole range of clients, from a Parisian boutique to the Design Museum.
An exciting part of the conference for some of the sparks posse was an interview with the legendary artist Peter Blake. He spoke candidly about the classic Beatle's Sergeant Pepper album cover and also introduced his latest project, a series of prints illustrating songs from Brian Wilson's latest release 'That Lucky Old Son'.
All in all it was a very inspiring weekend, great laughs, great food, and good studio bonding. It was a bit of a shock to be back in the studio on Monday morning, but we all took something away from the weekend which has given us much to think on and discuss.
Mother Courage
18/10/09
On Friday evening we strolled down to the National Theatre to see Tony Kushner and Deborah Warner's modern translation of Bertolt Brecht's "Mother Courage and her children." At first thought we wondered how one might turn a play depicting the devastating effects of war into a musical featuring our good friend Duke Special. But musical would be the wrong word. For just over three hours (you read it right) we were hooked by a fantastically quirky, moving and often humorous performance of a life consumed by war and capitalism. Fiona Shaw, playing a Mother trying to make a living, gave an astonishingly powerful performance. We watched as the scenery and characters interchanged between scenes, and excerpts from the original text hung scrawled across huge white billowing banners. We really could see the nuts and bolts of the play, removing any gloss of production and encouraging us to engage with the ideas being portrayed. The contemporary twist was enhanced by Duke Special and his band, who appeared within the scenes, peppering the performance with a beguiling and haunting accompaniment.
Once the performance had reached its finale and the supply of minstrels had run dry we made our way into the main foyer for the matinee. Duke Special and his pals Foy Vance and Paul Pilot treated us to a musical extravaganza, featuring some of Duke's new recordings soon to be released. One might wonder where on earth they get their energy from. A brilliant end to a very enjoyable evening.
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New Business Developer
12/10/09
We're looking for a Business Developer with ideas and strategies to help reach new clients and win new projects.
Core skills
You will need to be able to work within a small and highly creative team, be a great communicator and have a confident telephone manner. You will be a recent graduate with at least one year experience in marketing and sales. You will be proficient with all MS Office packages. You should be personable, enthusiastic, self motivated, have initiative and be presentable.
Duties
In consultation with the Directors you will be expected to formulate a clear marketing strategy, establish a development plan for business growth, explore new routes to market, secure a series of new clients and assist with general administration. You will be expected to organise and front pitches to new clients. In addition you will work with the Directors to develop and sustain relationships with existing clients.
Contract details
6 month full time contract with a basic salary plus commission.
For more further information and to register your interest email your CV to audrey@sparks-studio.com
Typographica
01/10/09
London Design Festival rolled into town last week.
After scanning over this years programme of events, one in particular excited us all in the studio:
Typographica at the Kemistry Gallery. The first exhibition in the world of the legendary graphic design journal.
Typographica was founded by Herbert Spencer (who was just 25 at the time) and ran from 1949 to 1967.With contributions from graphic design heros; Paul Rand, Max Bill, Robert Brownjohn and Alan Fletcher the magazine was an outlet for experimentation, debate and unapologetic eye candy.
The exhibition consists of a selection of reproduced spreads running over three walls and a display case housing many of the 32 editions. Highlights include spreads from Robert Brownjohn's famous article "Sex and Typography" featured in Typographica 10.
With such a massive collection of material to cover the exhibition is just a drop in the ocean and really should be at a scale more deserving of the breadth of content. Having the fabled magazines stuck behind glass, untouchable was a little frustrating. Full reproductions of each magazine would have been ideal but Rick Poyner (curator) and all at Kemistry have made a good start.
Can't wait for Typographica 2.0 - bigger, longer and with a catalogue.
Kemistry Gallery.
Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton
14/09/09
If you some time on your hands take a trip to see Elizabeth Peyton's exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery.
For some 20 years Peyton has been painting "pictures of people"-friends, personal heroes, and iconic figures from popular culture and history. In their modest scale, tightly cropped composition and sense of intimacy, Peyton's works convey both the brightness and the brevity of youth, that give her paintings their depth and poignancy.
Amongst the collection of 70 works Peyton portrays artists and musicians of her own generation including Matthew Barney, Jake Chapman, and Angus Fairhurst, Jarvis Cocker and Liam Gallagher. She also pays tribute to iconic figures who have inspired her, including Georgia O' Keefe and Frida Kahlo. Its a collection of beautifully tender and personal works.
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