ali's doodles &ponderings
what i'm up to and what's inspired me // sheffield hallam university student // ali johnson 2012 // reflective graphic design blog //
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Quote reblogged from Music is the Strongest form of MagicIf you give me a piece of paper and a pencil, you only have so many options: You can stab someone with it. You can write a love letter. You can draw a picture. You can wipe your ass with it. You can make paper cuts. There are only so many options, but those limitations really create strength and from that comes creativity.Marilyn Manson - Vanity Fair Interview April 2012. (via godsofrock)
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Here is a collection of vintage posters on preserving food when it was a matter of life and death. These are very traditional in their sexist roles however they were powerful and really pushed the message. These are still revolutionary graphics however now I need to consider what approach and what method is appropriate for the brief in hand. Using a strong slogan and bold colours is a theme for these exceptional graphics, I particularly like the featured image which tackles the serious issue with a playful approach, sending the message to a wider audience with an easy tone of voice.
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As the brief is so open and wide I have decided to aim specifically at the British public on an average income, looking at the huge problem of Food Waste.
Here are some pretty shocking facts and figures I’ve discovered, the problem is alot bigger than I initially thought:
- 24-35% of school lunches end up in the bin!
- The bread and cereal products thrown away in UK households would have been enough to lift 30million of the worlds hungry people out of malnourishment.
- UK households waste 25% of the food that they buy
- It takes 50-100,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of meat but only 900ltrs to produce 1kg of wheat
- More money is wasted on food each year than any other category of goods or services, this tops gadgetts, entertainment, travel luxury items as well as hobbies and lifestyle costs.
- In the shopping list of shame we throw away lettuce, bread, fruit and milk the most (2004)
Interestingly, I have learnt that supermarkets now account for 80% of the nations fruit and vegetables sales whereas in the 1970s, 90% of fresh produce was sold via greengrocers and market stalls. Is this affecting how much we waste as a result?
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Competition brief sponsored by Waitrose.
Brief: Use design to eliminate waste, over-production or excessive consumption.
“get involved with the project at a personal level, feel some pain”
(i am going to try my hardest to keep up on blogging during this project! heres to hoping)
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Stumbled across my scrawlings on another blog, wicked to find! This has made me realise small actions can be noticed in a city so big. Positive vibes!
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mid-production shot of my fanzine covers. The silver text on the black parchment is looking wicked, screenprinting was the perfect process for this project. Layout of the inside leaves are still being assembled as the arrangement and composition have to be exciting and interesting.
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Spent the last two hours in the printing room at uni prep’ing my zine. I’m on the third layout version and really feeling this arrangement. Edited the cover illustrations by hitting up the levels so I can screen-print the imagery onto some thick quality paper. I have decided to colour print the inside pages as greyscale does not compliment my photography. This will cost more to print but I this approach will create a higher quality outcome. Images will come later (:
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Here are a few of the photographs which are going to be included in my zine. I know that the typography needs a lot of work but for a quick project I’m quite excited about how this is going to turn out.
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Went for a bit of a wander round Sheffield snapping up some decaying old buildings full of history and mysteries. I have a strange fascination with run-down spaces since discovering the website http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=5361 this gave me access into another world, the hidden beauty of neglected locations. My love with abandoned spaces began as a child with a military bunker in my back garden always wanting to uncover the secrets beneath but being held back by thick rusty padlocks. Here are some of the locations I found in Sheffield.
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I’m fascinated by abandoned old buildings. The combination of urban decay - smashed windows, caved in roofs, rubble, mechanical detritus, abandoned possessions and ugliness complimented by the beauty of nature, reclaiming her place. I see this as a metaphor for the human condition. Times get bad and ugly but nothing stays the same, theres hope for a happy ending for us all. I thought thus setting would be a good place for commentary that would take people away from their humdrum lives and make them consider the greater picture.
I am thinking of using hand-made text to highlight content in photographs - taken in run-down buildings. (old memorys, lost stories, hidden glory, forgotten triumphs and disasters)
These photographs will then be made into a publication such as a fanzine which will be handed out free of charge to get people thinking, life is very busy but my collection should take the reader away from their busy life temporarily and maybe fill them with a bit of hope and interest.
