How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing your Soul

I got this book this summer, its by a Designer called Adrian Shaughnessy. In it he talks about his experiences of how to cope with certain situations and basically outlines what traits a designer should have to be successful. I've taken in to account now that I should always please the client but also satisfy myself as a designer (i'm not sure you can always do bothe though!). There are interviews included for inspiration with designers such as Neville Brody, Andy Cruz, and John Warwicker to name a few.

Its a very inspirational read.

Audi Avant Ad

Apparently this Ad has been out for a while but I only recently saw it up on a billboard in Manchester, it really caught my eye-which obviously means this advert works (well 50% of it does, I'm not going to go and buy an Audi A4 Avant just yet). The typeface has been constructed from Traffic Signs, which is what catches your eye and is very relevant to the message being put across. The top picture shows the animated advert, the signs appear foggy as you read them they become clearer, again very relevant to driving etc. Typefaces can be so hard to choose so its worth considering making your own when you do an advert (as long as its relevant).

Campaign to Proterct Rural England

This campaign is aimed at "Fly Tippers" and I presume Youths that drop litter around "Rural England". At the moment we are really focussing on the Environment and Global Warming, and this just doesn't live up to the otehr campaigns. I like the essential idea of "Pretty...Awful" and I see that they've taken a photograph that shows a divide, but the divide isn't clear enough. I also think that the type could stand out so much more, especially the word "Awful", this just gets lost in the litter.

Know Your Limits: Drink Aware Campaign

When I saw the "Girls" advert for this I was truly shocked. I really got lead in to it and the bit where she rubs sick in to her hair is really horrible. The "Boys" version is worse with the earring being pulled out and smacking his face into the door. I thought this was a really clear message, it depicts the Binge Drinking Teenagers as quite pitiful.

Manutd.com

The Manchester United Football Clubs website starts off promisingly with this opening page. Sophisticated, and minimalistic which I really like but not sure who they're aiming this at, the Footy "Lads" or the Businessmen. When you click "Enter Website" you're taken to a much more stereotypical football club website.

This is more like it, more masculine, with a cut of sophistication in the opaque images backgrounded. Its a good website to navigate around, and is very informative. I'd love it if they'd made the design more like the traditional red, white, and black stripes.