Our poster (above).
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Title - After Harry.
Thinking - I was rubbish at sport, generally picked last for teams, asthmatic etc., but I was good at technical drawing and OK at art. Graphic design for me is the one thing I'm good at, for some reason my brain works in that way. So for my poster I didn't feel I could celebrate a sport, it didn't feel right. So, I'm celebrating a uniquely London icon, and the person behind a design classic. The London Underground map, and the man behind that classic, Harry Beck.
For Londoners (and Northerners in exile like myself) the tube map is a part of every day life, it is as London as Big Ben. The Olympics is as much about achievement as it is about bring people together, I've used the connecting symbols from the tube map to represent that connection. The colour rings have been swapped out for the Victoria Line, Northern Line, Central Line, Circle Line & District Line, colours distinct to London, and Londoners.
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We have been invited by Vaughan Oliver & Jonathan Barnbrook to be part of an interesting graphic design exhibition (flyer above designed by Phil Baines). Fit - London 2012 Inspired Posters by Contemporary British-based Graphic Designers. It's a really impressive line-up and we are very proud to be a part of what should be a great show.
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This is part of the introductory mail we received from Vaughan & Jonathan—
"Problem - We feel that our hugely talented graphic design community is not being fully represented at our London Olympics and we are aware that this is a point of topical concern amongst our peers. We lead the world in terms of graphic creativity and innovation but we are unfortunately represented by the controversial logo and are not involved with the official Olympic posters. An opportunity to highlight our collective talents has been overlooked. A chance has also been missed to show the important role graphic design can play in visually crystallizing the spirit of such a globally observed event".
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"Solution - We would like to redress the balance by holding a poster exhibition to coincide with the Olympics. The location secured is the Window Gallery in the new Central Saint Martins building in Kings Cross. This area will be one of the busiest places in London during the Olympics and CSM will be at the heart of this activity".
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"Brief - We want a great poster that expresses the positive aspects of the Olympics. This is not a project to pass on to the intern or another member of staff. We are looking for work of the highest order. You will be amongst talented company and we hope this exhibition will come to be seen as one of the best examples of good design at the time of the London Olympics".
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We did a number of poster designs for the show, below is a selection that were rejected by Vaughan & Jonathan for being a bit too cynical. We agreed that it is a bit easy to have a pop at the event (following 2 posters below).
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(All are Olympic official sponsors. Top row from left: General Electric logo / BMW logo / Coca-Cola logo - Bottom row from left: McDonald's logo / BP logo).
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We produced two more that have a much more positive slant (one of the 2 below). We are really pleased with the poster we produced and feel it is much more in keeping with what the Olympics are all about.
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(Top row from left: Oyster card logo / Underground connector symbol / London Underground roundel - Bottom row from left: Selfridge's Yellow / Royal Parks logo).
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Dates/Info:
Lethaby Gallery, Kings Cross, 29th June—10th July, Window Galleries, Kings Cross, 9th July—9th September
Address:
Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts
London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square,Kings Cross, London, N1C 4AA
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