I completed another Graphic Commons walk this week, and I chose a location I’m not overly familiar with: Lowestoft—the Easternmost point in Britain. Like other Graphic Commons posts here, this serves as an immediate document of my drift, and the photos, (only crudely edited at this stage), will feed into a write-up of the walk I plan toContinue reading “Graphic commons: easternmost onshore drift”
Author Archives: Nigel Ball
Graphic commons: peripheral visions
Continuing my research into our Graphic Commons and how graphic design inserts itself into shared environments, this morning I set out on a traverse around Ipswich town centre, deliberately avoiding its main thoroughfares. I was very much keeping to its peripheries. The photos I took will feed into later writings for this ongoing project, but for now, I’mContinue reading “Graphic commons: peripheral visions”
Context is everything
There is a feature on It’s Nice That about a supposed trend of nostalgic rebranding in graphic design at the moment. Invited designers discuss the recent Co-op and Natwest make-overs, which both revive previous incarnations of their graphic identities. AceJet 170 picks up the story, declaring that in the case of the Co-op it isn’t about nostalgia, butContinue reading “Context is everything”
London 0, Hull 2017
It is an impressive feat for an item of graphic design to stop you in your tracks. This week, while flicking through The Guardian in my lunch break, a full-page advert for Hull, UK City of Culture 2017, did just that. There is more than a little New Rave and London 2012 Olympics about it. And the bold typography andContinue reading “London 0, Hull 2017”
Burn baby burn
I do like a good stunt, which is why I’m looking forward to Joe Corré burning all of his punk memorabilia in a protest about Punk London in November. Corré, the son of Malcolm McLaren and Vivian Westwood, has amounted a collection of punk atifacts he claims to be worth over 5 million pounds. Despite thatContinue reading “Burn baby burn”
Local social media
On recent wanderings I have become fascinated with village noticeboards. They may appear quaint, twee and from another age, but for some, I suspect they provide a lifeline. Whether that be a line to God, a window cleaner or a community bus service, this is how some people find out stuff that matters to themContinue reading “Local social media”
Bullying tactics
It is not too bold a statement to claim that advertising is designed to interrupt our vision and assert itself into our conscious and subconscious minds. If it didn’t, corporations would not devote huge budgets to it. But recently I have observed a growth online of adverts that actually disrupt host content, in what canContinue reading “Bullying tactics”
So long Shad Thames
Turn right down Bishopsgate, cross the road and go down Bevis Marks until you reach St Mary’s Axe. So started many walks with graphic design students from Liverpool Street Station to the Design Museum, always accompanied by a lecture on architecture. I initially learnt the route from a colleague, (thanks Lindsey), which I then honedContinue reading “So long Shad Thames”
Graphic interruptions
Graphic Interruptions is a photographic project that investigates graphic design in shared environments that has been interrupted in some way. These interruptions can come in many forms and be the result of a variety of sources. What interests me in these observations is how meaning may be changed from that intended by the hand of the originator.Continue reading “Graphic interruptions”
PhotoEast
PhotoEast, Suffolk’s first festival of photography was launched this week in Ipswich and can claim to be a major success, even within its first few days of existence. The half-mile walk along Ipswich’s waterfront from DanceEast to Cult Cafe brings dramatic images from around the world to this small Suffolk town. Local history and Ipswich life areContinue reading “PhotoEast”
Nigel Ball 