Correlations of The Research
Albums
The concept of interaction between fan and album seems to be the running theme of the three music based items on the list.
Hipgnosis used gatefolds that would allow for more artwork and/or lyrics to be included on the sleeve, and their photography would relate directly to the lyrics that were on the album. Their Wish you were here concept of having a cover that you were to tear off added a layer of interaction, in addition to a broader nod to the album; the multi layered textures of the music were perhaps in their minds.
Peter Saville and Ben Kelly's design for the 1st OMD sleeve chronologically came next, a similar idea, again something that immediately stands out from other album sleeves. This takes the idea of a cover for the album one step further from Hipgnosis's wish you were here sleeve; the cover was a die cast cut grid cover that would house the album itself.
Beck's The Information takes this idea of interaction further yet again; the idea of customising your own album sleeve with the included set of stickers means every fan's album will be different and unique, that is apart from graphic designers of course, who will all keep their copy pristine and unopened.
This idea of moulding an object to an individual's needs is carried forth into the Theory of the Derive.
Cultural Trends
The way in which I have interpreted the Theory of the Derive can be seen in my research section earlier; a fold out bed which moulds into a wall; the inside of a caravan which the user customises daily for different uses- a table and couches for lunch which can be put away and changed for sleeping; a 3 in 1 pool table which also has snooker and table tennis facilities. Essentially anything which the individual owns which is mass produced, but is individually customised.
In a similar way, the Oblique strategies cards are intended for universal use but can be interpreted on a very personal level.
The idea of the 'Exquisite Corpse' usually involves one user creating, then passing on for the next to continue the creation, without necessarily knowing the starting point, and so on. Eventually this leads to a mish mash of creations, that will either be nonsensical or charmingly successful.
Life Size interactivity
The idea of many people joining together for an uncertain purpose is how life started for Flash Mobbing. Now used for political and social benefits, the idea that technology can clandestinely unite strangers en masse is still a key part of what Flash Mobbing is all about.
Performance and interaction unite the two Biennial exhibitions; Shilpa Gupta's FACT video exhibition, and the Independents' Biennial exhibition; LIGNA:Transient Radio Laboratory.
The use of technology in both links neatly to the interactive games from both the modern era and the recent past.
Gaming: Web Based and Arcade
Pong was the mother of all video arcade games and it is its simplicity that makes it both enjoyable and addictive.
NoodleBox, designed in 1997, contains simple games and animations that can fill five minutes in a day. This is appears to be an homage based on the game play of games like pong and tetris.
Buro Destruct have a similar game on their website, that encourages users to fire a small ball from the header bar at the type above.
Their Buro Destruct Designer is perhaps the most benign of the interactive games described here, but the most visually arresting of all.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Noodlebox
The Noodlebox is designed to look like two (albeit graphical) houses which contain a certain number of rooms each. You are encouraged to double click on each of the rooms, which then takes you to a graphic, animation or game that is generally interactive and quite fun.
This was originally deigned in 1997, and has spawned a whole host of computer 3D games and animations that creator Daniel Browns has made.
These can be found here: http://www.play-create.com/
This was originally deigned in 1997, and has spawned a whole host of computer 3D games and animations that creator Daniel Browns has made.
These can be found here: http://www.play-create.com/
LIGNA: Transient Radio Laboratory
Decribed as an 'Intervention'
"Since 1995 the performances of German free radio group LIGNA (media theorists and artists Ole Frahm, Michael Hüners, and Torsten Michaelsen) have investigated radio’s capacity to create uncontrollable situations. This series of short choreographies will study the effects of dispersing deviant behaviour, suggesting gestures and activities that deviate from the everyday behaviour of the normalised city." (Liverpool Biennial Independants)
"Since 1995 the performances of German free radio group LIGNA (media theorists and artists Ole Frahm, Michael Hüners, and Torsten Michaelsen) have investigated radio’s capacity to create uncontrollable situations. This series of short choreographies will study the effects of dispersing deviant behaviour, suggesting gestures and activities that deviate from the everyday behaviour of the normalised city." (Liverpool Biennial Independants)
Flash/USB mobbing
Perhaps the most intriguing of the list.
Flash mobbing is a recent phenomenon involving large numbers of people suddenly arriving en masse at a specific location.
Originally started as nothing more than a prank exercise, Flash mobbing is now used as a weapon politically and socially.
Flash mobbers often arrive at one of four pre-arranged points, then await further instructions for their final destination, so as not to tip off the establishment or authorities.
Flash Mobs have become possible due to the proliferation of communicative technologies such as the internet, email and mobile phones.
Flash mobbing is a recent phenomenon involving large numbers of people suddenly arriving en masse at a specific location.
Originally started as nothing more than a prank exercise, Flash mobbing is now used as a weapon politically and socially.
Flash mobbers often arrive at one of four pre-arranged points, then await further instructions for their final destination, so as not to tip off the establishment or authorities.
Flash Mobs have become possible due to the proliferation of communicative technologies such as the internet, email and mobile phones.
If you like hipgnosis....
Hipgnosis' approach to album design was strongly photography-oriented, and they pioneered the use of many innovative visual and packaging techniques. In particular, Thorgerson & Powell's surreal, elaborately manipulated photos (utilizing darkroom tricks, airbrush retouching, and mechanical cut-and-paste techniques) were a film-based forerunner of what would, much later, be called photoshopping.
Another Hipgnosis trademark is that many of their cover photos told "stories" directly related to the album's lyrics. Since both Powell and Thorgerson were film students, they often used models as "actors" and staged the photos in a highly theatrical manner. Hipgnosis covers rarely featured artists' photos on the outside, and most were in a gatefold cover format to provide ample space for their slickly photographed tableaux.
Many of Hipgnosis' covers also featured distinctively "high tech" pen and ink logos and illustrations (often by graphic designer George Hardie), stickers, fancy inner sleeves, and other packaging goodies.
Wish you were here
Some info on the Wish you were here sleeve- early experimentation with album sleves:
"The packaging for the original vinyl release was intended to be an anonymous, completely black cover. Record companies didn't like the idea, so an additional image sticker featuring the band name with a robotic handshake (with one of the hands wearing a diamond ring) over a theme of the four elements was included. Tearing through this stickered, all-black wrapper would then reveal the proper artwork with its now-famous cover - the businessman-on-fire handshake"
Peter Saville & Ben Kelly
"OMD's debut album was packaged in a stunning die-cut grid sleeve - an idea inspired by a grille in a Covent Garden clothes shop.
Variations on the grid design also featured in press ads and in the design of OMD's stage set itself.
The initial sleeve design featured a die-cut grid that revealed the inner sleeve.The album title was simply a sticker on the sleeve front.
Ben Kelly had originally suggested the idea of using perforated sheet steel as a design idea to Peter Saville. Kelly had already used the same material as part of the design for Mr Howie - a boutique based in Covent Garden, London.
Peter Saville once commented that "Talking Heads' Fear Of Music cover is the first definitive high-tech sleeve. The OMD sleeve is the UK version of the same thing. It is a perforated sheet metal pattern cut out of cardboard. It is the moment at which fashion comes in to play on design. Very clever that cover".
The original sleeve design featured a blue outer sleeve combined with an orange inner with a 12 x 12 die-cut grid. When Peter Saville realised that the printers could change the colour combinations every 10,000 copies at no extra cost he opted for a black/pink variation. When DinDisc realised that OMD fans were buying the second version they asked for a third design. The complete sleeve variations were as follows:
12 x 12 die-cut grid. Blue outer and orange inner sleeve.
12 x 12 die-cut grid. Black outer and pink inner sleeve.
10 x 10 die-cut grid. Grey outer and orange inner sleeve.
10 x 10 die-cut grid. Blue outer and orange inner sleeve.
Saville also rectified an earlier mistake by reducing the 12 x 12 grid scheme to 10 x 10 to prevent the inner sleeve from falling out.
The design of the inner sleeve was also subtly altered for some releases. The first design featured the credits in a black 'L' shape on both the front and back of the inner sleeve. Some releases rotated the 'L' shape 90 degrees anti-clockwise but shrank the type for the credits so they appeared on one side only.
After the die-cut sleeves were exhausted they were replaced with a plain sleeve that used the design featured on the cassette release.
The inner sleeve also provided an address for an information service. People who wrote in received a letter plus free badges and stickers.
The run-out grooves on the record read "Easy on the white noise" on side one while side two reads "The words are on the ceiling". The run-outs also have another cryptic message: "A porky prime cut", but this actually refers to the person who pressed the record."
Source: tomato ketchup please mmmmm OMD discography on the official site
Fluxus
Fluxus – a name taken from a Latin word meaning "to flow" – is an international network of artists, composers and designers noted for blending different artistic media and disciplines. They have been active in visual art and music as well as literature, urban planning, architecture, and design. Fluxus is often described as intermedia, a term coined by Fluxus artist Dick Higgins in a famous 1966 essay. For example, poetry and visual art intersect in visual poetry, and concept, text, and performance intersect in Fluxus Event Scores.
Fluxus encouraged a do it yourself aesthetic, and valued simplicity over complexity. Like Dada before it, Fluxus included a strong current of anti-commercialism and an anti-art sensibility, disparaging the conventional market-driven art world in favor of an artist-centered creative practice. Fluxus artists preferred to work with whatever materials were at hand, and either created their own work or collaborated in the creation process with their colleagues. Outsourcing part of the creative process to commercial fabricators was not usually part of Fluxus practice. Maciunas personally hand-assembled many of the Fluxus multiples and editions.
Fluxus Boxes (sometimes called Fluxkits or Fluxboxes) originated with George Maciunas who would gather collections of his printed cards, games, and ideas, and put them into small plastic boxes.
Fluxus encouraged a do it yourself aesthetic, and valued simplicity over complexity. Like Dada before it, Fluxus included a strong current of anti-commercialism and an anti-art sensibility, disparaging the conventional market-driven art world in favor of an artist-centered creative practice. Fluxus artists preferred to work with whatever materials were at hand, and either created their own work or collaborated in the creation process with their colleagues. Outsourcing part of the creative process to commercial fabricators was not usually part of Fluxus practice. Maciunas personally hand-assembled many of the Fluxus multiples and editions.
Fluxus Boxes (sometimes called Fluxkits or Fluxboxes) originated with George Maciunas who would gather collections of his printed cards, games, and ideas, and put them into small plastic boxes.
Oblique Strategies, loads
Developed by Brian Eno and painter Peter Schmidt to help them at times of great stress. A series of bullet points which remind them of their best working practices to which they usually adhere when not under stress.
Ken Garland Toys
1961-1982
"Although Galt's were an old-established firm (founded in 1836) and well known as educational suppliers, they didn't get into the retail toy trade until late 1961 when they opened their first toyshop at the top of Carnaby Street, with Verity & Beverley as architects and ourselves as graphic design consultants. We were brought in by Edward Newmark, with whom we had worked when he managed Paul and Marjorie Abbatt's toyshop in Wimpole Street. We had to build an image for Galt's virtually from scratch, and decided to base it on linking the company name at all times with the word 'Toys' which proved so successful that soon everyone was calling them 'Galt Toys' and assuming that to be their real name."
James Galt
Shilpa Gupta
"In her new work Shilpa Gupta uses computer vision technology to integrate viewers into a narrative projected onto the gallery wall. Audience participation is central to all of Gupta's art, which encompasses installation, net art, video, performance and intervention in the public realm. Here, Gupta creates a vision of the globalised world characterised by shifting cultural contours, fluidity and change, but also frustration, confusion and loss. The full effect of the piece is achieved when the visitor steps into the projected 'picture book' and becomes a part of the story."
Source: 'Follow it' Liverpool Biennial guide leaflet.
Born 1976, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
"It’s possible these days to buy almost anything over the internet – but how about your own personalised religious blessing? That’s what web artist Shilpa Gupta made possible in her work blessed-bandwidth.net, characteristically using wit and irony to raise important questions about consumerism, spirituality and modern life. Gupta uses cutting-edge internet technology to explore fundamental human issues that affect all of us: the environment, globalisation, war, religion, human rights. Although she deals with serious issues, though, Gupta has a light touch; her work is always user-friendly and often humorous. For International 06, Gupta will look at the new possibilities opened up by media technology to two historical port cities: Liverpool and Mumbai."
Source: Liverpool Biennial website
Source: 'Follow it' Liverpool Biennial guide leaflet.
Born 1976, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
"It’s possible these days to buy almost anything over the internet – but how about your own personalised religious blessing? That’s what web artist Shilpa Gupta made possible in her work blessed-bandwidth.net, characteristically using wit and irony to raise important questions about consumerism, spirituality and modern life. Gupta uses cutting-edge internet technology to explore fundamental human issues that affect all of us: the environment, globalisation, war, religion, human rights. Although she deals with serious issues, though, Gupta has a light touch; her work is always user-friendly and often humorous. For International 06, Gupta will look at the new possibilities opened up by media technology to two historical port cities: Liverpool and Mumbai."
Source: Liverpool Biennial website
Buro Destruct Designer
Buro Destruct Designer
This program is designed completely as a tool for play, combining use of strong contrasting colours and pleasant shapes.
Additionally there is the option to save the product of your play with colour and shape.
Created as a tribute to sixties design, Buro Destruct claim that it's an easy and great way to create logos, colour combinations and patterns.
The affiliated downloadable screen saver is possibly a product of various attempts at the BDD.
Buro Destruct Website
The Buro Destruct website is almost entirely interactive.
Fonts and the arcade game...
On clicking on 'fonts' you are invited to play a flash game, much in the style of space invaders.
The arcade music and appearance make it obvious their reference points are from the 70s and 80s, instantly identifying the designers themselves as mid thirties men.
They link the game back to typography by having the blocks that you have to shoot spell out 'type', and the platform at the bottom from where you fire the small ball is called a header.
Type test
When you reach the type page, typedifferent.com, [after twenty glorious minutes of arcade fun], you are presented with the archive of years worth of fonts, as well as the latest fonts. On hovering the mouse over the font name, it scrolls the alphabet.
On clicking what's new, there's a font test box that pops up which allows you to type anything you want in that type, and has the ability to alter the size also.
The Info section
This is done really nicely, with an insight into the studio itself and various pictures of the team.
Fonts and the arcade game...
On clicking on 'fonts' you are invited to play a flash game, much in the style of space invaders.
The arcade music and appearance make it obvious their reference points are from the 70s and 80s, instantly identifying the designers themselves as mid thirties men.
They link the game back to typography by having the blocks that you have to shoot spell out 'type', and the platform at the bottom from where you fire the small ball is called a header.
Type test
When you reach the type page, typedifferent.com, [after twenty glorious minutes of arcade fun], you are presented with the archive of years worth of fonts, as well as the latest fonts. On hovering the mouse over the font name, it scrolls the alphabet.
On clicking what's new, there's a font test box that pops up which allows you to type anything you want in that type, and has the ability to alter the size also.
The Info section
This is done really nicely, with an insight into the studio itself and various pictures of the team.
Criticism
The site, though detailed and beautiful suffers from navigational issues. Once a destination has been reached, for example to their corporate logotype page, one can only return to the home page by clicking back on the web browser.
BAD!
Type Town
This is quite a surreal moment on the buro destruct site. Huge bocks made out of type form a town that you are invited to walk around by hovering your mouse in the four compass points. You can change the type by entering your own words in the box below the main screen.
http://www.burodestruct.net/bureaudestruct/typotown/index.html
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr Ian Wright Illustrations
It is nice to have begun blogging. Please enjoy my posts.
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):;0)
Also to look at for you and your eyes:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)