Aztec

I am a keen illustrator and graphic artist, I got into art because of graffiti. I use to do it for fun with my peers and then when I became older I realised that it wasn’t just about being a vandal or "tagging", it was also an art form. As I started to read a vast amount of graffiti magazines I came to the realization that a lot of these artists did this for a living. Their artwork were such good quality that they were been sold for a large amount of money. One influential graffiti artist who changed the way I viewed the art form was the UK artist Aztec. I was blown away and admired the bold bright colours that he used mixed with the complex graffiti fonts. He often used different characters in his work. He's work shows the creativity of a graffiti artist as well as the skills of an illustrator. Banksy is another artist who hit the graffiti world with a storm. But unlike Aztec I do not consider Banksy to be a fellow graffiti artist. Banksy's works are more about political and worldly issues, whilst other writers are much more expressive in the way they work. Banksy is known for he's stencil artwork, whilst the ethos and production of graffiti usually deal with free hand pieces.

RWD magazine

There are many iconic magazines in the world such as Eye, Hello and Cosmopolitan. But the one magazine I like to collect and read is called RWD. It’s a free monthly magazine which started early 2002. The topics raised in the magazine range from gadgets, gossip, music and general underground news. The reason I prefer this magazine then the rest, is because its UK underground sub ground culture orientated. They also support the UK Grime music scene as well as up and coming artists. The magazine also cover's art work and local exhibition's. In the early stages of RWD, the magazines were limited and hard to get, so they became a collector's item. The contents of RWD are very fresh, trendy and so up to date that the people who get interviewed inside the magazine become popular overnight. Now that RWD is easily accessible in shops like JD Sports, a lot of critics and followers are debating whether it has lost its underground edge. Even though speculations are now surrounding the ethos of RWD, there is still no doubt that the magazine has and still open's doors for new talent as well as being up to date with all different genres of entertainment.

Tattoos

This is ancient art form in which the body represents the canvas. Historically, tattoos were intended to signify the status of an individual, a sign of religious membership, a mark of punishment/protection as well as a brand for slaves. In modern times, people use tattoos as a form of self-expression and some use it as symbol of rebellion. In the United States many prisoners and criminal gangs use distinctive tattoos to indicate facts about their criminal behaviour, prison sentences, and organizational affiliation. Early tattoo inks were obtained directly from nature and were extremely limited in pigment variety. Today, an almost unlimited number of colours and shades of tattoo ink are mass-produced and sold to parlours worldwide. Tattoo artists commonly mix these inks to create their own unique pigments. Some tattoos are used to apply permanent make up and to disguise imperfections. Others however use tattoos in order to push body modification to extremes. People have been known to tattoo their tongues, eye balls and private parts. To me, all tattoos do not need to have a deep meaning or symbolic connotation; they just need to be unique, creative and visually appealing. I appreciate works of art that are inimitable or ones that show the artists skill, creative vision and most of all patience. I love to admire big, bright and complex tattoos and I am intrigued by people who will endure hours and hours of pain and pay hundreds of pounds to permanently etch art onto their skin.

Alexander McQueen

One designer who has made an imprint in the way I perceive fashion is Alexander McQueen. He was British designer and pioneer in the world of fashion. I admire the way McQueen worked his way up from nothing. He was the youngest of six children having left school at 16 with very few qualifications he gained an apprenticeship at the prestigious Saville Row tailors Anderson and Shepphard, then at Gieves and Hawkes. By the age of 20 McQueen was working and studying under very well-known designers in Milan. He then returned to England to complete a master’s degree at Central St Martins. Alexander McQueen burst onto the fashion scene in the mid-nineties, he transformed the way the rest of the world viewed British Fashion, not many people realise just how much he influenced high street fashion, effectively making catwalk designs widely available. This is just one of the many reasons Alexander McQueen has influenced me. It shows no matter what as long as you’ve got the drive and determination anything is possible. Now it that high fashion was no longer a thing just for the rich elite. In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. By 1996 he was appointed the chief designer of French label Givenchy where he worked until March 2001. Alexander McQueen sadly took his own life in February of this year however many of McQueen’s trademark items are still being replicated on the high street today, he took something as simple as a skull and created a trend that is being followed by celebrities as well as the everyday man. Alexander McQueen began right at the bottom and worked his way up in the fashion world without any prior training or formal education, his designs and creative genius will continue to influence my work and many designers to come.

80s fashion and music

I think ladies fashion is one of the most eclectic movements in the creativity world. It changes every season, bringing the most up to date colour schemes, ideologies and concept designs. Fashion design is a whirlwind of ideas which always repeats itself. One movement of fashion which I have seen returned is the 80s look. For some, the 80’s were a great time. The creation of MTV revolutionized fashion and the music industry, from M.C. Hammer, Madonna and Salt & Pepper. The clothes worn in the 80s depicted people who were trying to find themselves. They looked for ways to express their creativity and individuality. Men wore heavy makeup and grew long hair. Women wore short hair and layers of clothing. Both sexes were looking for an identity. They didn't accessorize - they "excessorized".

Most of the fashions worn in the 80s have found them self’s back on the store shelves and back being flaunted by individuals who dare to stand out. From the hair - Glittered, multi-coloured, Mohawks and curly and to the outfits- Hooped earrings, legwarmers, leggings and oversized jackets.

Whilst in Briton a new wave of fashion movement was occurring called "New Romantic". Most of the fashion of this new period were taken and modified right from punk fashion. The streaky eyeliner, the spiked hair, etc. This was worn and displayed by most early 80s synth New Romantic music groups. The early designer of the romantic look was Vivienne Westwood who designed clothing specifically for bands, such as Adam and the Ants and Boy George.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones also called a cell phone or a hand phone is an electronic device used for mobile telecommunications over a cellular network of base stations known as cell sites. They have come a long way since there primal beginnings. Their designs have also changed within the years, and now they have become much more of a trend to have one. Mobiles have now become the world's No.1 practical accessories. Everyone seems to want one, but not any normal one, the latest one out. They have increased our social talk and txt life, and now with the boom of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace mobile phones have adapted to suite the requirements. Over the years the gadgets and applications on a phone have vastly improved, so much so that it feels like they’ve been altered to become small computers. From video recording, blue-tooth, satellite navigation to internet access.

The leaders right now in the commercial phone industries are the BlackBerry and IPhone from Apple. These two phones have also come up with a way of texting which doesn’t cost a thing, this is called pinging.

I do not think this will be the end of high-tech mobile development, I still think that the designers and production companies have more in store to impress us with.

Two Biopics of Influences upon you, with a description... Who and what their influences included, and detailed descriptions of their practice

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B

Picture A. The Metamorphosis of Narcissus by Salvador Dali, 1937

Picture B. Cold heart, warm hand

The way I like to draw is abstract and surreal. My illustrations are sometimes expressive and loose, and leaves the viewer space for their own interpretation. As I tried to push my own technique even further I began to read and explore the different styles of surrealist art. I also started implementing graffiti in my work, which allowed me create my own style. Picture (B). The idea for my painting derived from the saying "Warm heart, cold hands". What I did was simply change the meaning around, and named it called Cold heart, warm hand. This is a metaphorical term which just means that, the most stubborn of people will always give in to your understanding as long as you treat, respect and love them the right way.

Salvador Dali was my favourite surrealist artists. He's surrealist theory is based on the theories of the psychologist Dr. Sigmund Freud. Recurring images of burning giraffes and melting watches became the artist's surrealist trademarks. His great craftsmanship allowed him to execute his paintings in a nearly photorealistic style. The images found in surrealist works are as confusing and startling as those of dreams. Surrealist works can have a realistic, though irrational style, precisely describing dreamlike fantasies as stated by Dr. Sigmund Freud. The Surrealist movement was characterized by meetings in cafes where the Surrealists played collaborative drawing games and discussed the theories of Surrealism. The Surrealists developed a variety of techniques such as automatic drawing. Soon more visual artists joined Surrealism including Giorgio de Chirico, Enrico Donati, and Breton.

The second choice I have chosen to talk about comes from the works of Marvel Studio's. I have been a keen follower of the Marvel comics for over 10 years. What started off as a little comic collection has now expanded into a comic library, for me and for a vast amount of people around the world. Marvel and DC comics have captured the imaginations of people all around the world grown and young. I first started to collect the Spider man issues, then X-Men and then limited editions of various comics. When I draw my character's you can greatly see the influences of Marvel artists Jack Kirby, Greg and Tim Hildebrandt.

I love the way that Marvel bring their characters to life by adding history and feelings to them. As well as their artwork I also admire the business setup of Marvel. They have managed to turn a humble business into a multibillion Dollar empire. As if having their own theme park wasn’t enough the Marvel Entertainment group have managed to merchandise and put Marvel characters on everything from toys, chocolate bars, clothes to films. Recently on December 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4.24 billion.

Clarity and Minimalism - modernism and good design

Modernisation, modernity and modernism are three concepts that revolve around the thought of the modern world and its culture.

Modernisation refers to a range of technological, economic and political processes associated with the Industrial revolution and its aftermath. Modernity refers to the social conditions and modes of

experience that are seen as the effects of these processes. Modernism in a general usage simply means the property or quality of being modern or up to date.

The great Bauhaus designs were heavily influenced by modernism. It was one of the first schools of design; it brought together a number of the most outstanding contemporary architects and artists and was not only an innovative training centre but also a place of production and a focus of international debate. The intention of Bauhaus was to develop creative minds for architecture and industry and thus influencing them so that they would be able to produce artistically, technically and practically balanced utensils. Masters of modern art Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee were teachers who taught at the Bauhaus school. The basic idea of the Bauhaus teaching concept for architecture and Bauhaus furniture was the unity of artistic and practical tuition. The forms in the Bauhaus furniture are frequently simple and light without decorative additive. Frequently used are: steel, glass, bent wood, leathers and plastic. The most attentive colours are: generally black, white, brown, grey and chromium. In architecture Bauhaus has a great style for those who prefer minimalism as well as function or style. The style isn’t just for those who prefer less in life. This style of architecture also holds true to the old saying that ‘less is more.’

Core values of good Communication

Communication is a process of transferring information from one entity to another. Communication processes are sign-mediated interactions between at least two agents which share a repertoire of signs and semiotic rules. Communication is commonly defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs". There are many graphic design disciplines and specialties, media and markets. Primarily, graphic design can be divided into two major areas: print and multimedia. Print includes desktop publishing, advertising, magazine design, publishing, corporate identity, logos, typography, package design, and print production. Multimedia includes television and film design, video production, computer games, interactive design, animation, TV graphics, film titles, and web design.

A good guide line to follow for great visual communication is clarity, readability, simplicity, one idea at a time and accuracy. Picture (A) is an Ad for Levi jeans. This advert will appeal to a lot of young males and a majority of females globally. As the saying goes sex sells. Levis are known for their double stitching and red tab/label, so in this picture it shows just that, the core elements of the jean design. From a feminist point of view there could be a problem that the picture may be too provocative, as they believe the notion of the body (and not the mind) being associated with women has served as a justification to deem women as property, objects, and exchangeable commodities (among men). For example, women’s bodies have been objectified throughout history through the changing ideologies of fashion, diets, exercise programs, cosmetic surgery, etc.

Philosophers and Theorists who have influenced creative practice in moving image and design

Philosophy provides students with the opportunity to read and understand some of the powerful ideas that have shaped our culture.

Paul Rand (born Peretz Rosenbaum, (August 15, 1914 – November 26, 1996) was an American graphic designer, best known for his corporate logo designs, including the logos for IBM, UPS, Westinghouse, ABC, and Steve Jobs’ NeXT. He was one of the originators of the Swiss Style of graphic design. Rand’s defining corporate identity was his IBM logo in 1956, which as Mark Favermann notes

“Was not just an identity but a basic design philosophy that permeated corporate consciousness and public awareness."[1]

The logo was modified by Rand in 1960.

Rand also designed packaging, marketing materials and assorted communications for IBM from the late 1950s until the late 1990s, including the well-known Eye-Bee-M poster. Ford appointed Rand in the 1960s to redesign their corporate logo, but afterwards chose not to use his modernized design.

Although his logos may be interpreted as simplistic, Rand was quick to point out in A Designer’s Art that “ideas do not need to be esoteric to be original or exciting."[2]

The core ideology that drove Rand’s career, and hence his lasting influence, was the modernist philosophy he so revered. He celebrated the works of artists from Paul Cézanne to Jan Tschichold, and constantly attempted to draw the connections between their creative output and significant applications in graphic design.

Among the ideas Rand pushed in Thoughts on Design he's book, was the practice of creating graphic works capable of retaining but face recognizable quality even after being blurred or mutilated, a test Rand routinely performed on his corporate identities.

A Designer’s Art Rand clearly demonstrates his appreciation for the underlying connections:

"From Impressionism to Pop Art, the commonplace and even the comic strip have become ingredients for the artist’s cauldron. What Cézanne did with apples, Picasso with guitars, Léger with machines, Schwitters with rubbish, and Duchamp with urinals makes it clear that revelation does not depend upon grandiose concepts. The problem of the artist is to de familiarize the ordinary". [3]

1)Favermann, Mark. “Two Twentieth-Century Icons.” Art New England Apr–May 1997: 15.

2) Rand, Paul. Thoughts on Design. New York: Wittenborn: 1947.

3) Rand, Paul. Paul Rand: A Designer’s Art. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1985

Authorship in a world of access to all texts, visual and music

Authorship is an explicit way of assigning responsibility and giving credit for intellectual work. Everyone who is listed as an author should have made a substantial, direct, intellectual contribution to the work. For example (in the case of a research report) they should have contributed to the conception, design, analysis and/or interpretation of data. Everyone who has made other substantial contribution should be listed in an acknowledgments section. Examples of those who might be acknowledged include a person who provided purely technical help, writing assistance, or a department chair that provided only general support.

Much collaboration happens informally. Your friends take one of your works and incorporate it in one of their works. You insert in your webpage a picture you found somewhere on the net. Someone else does the same with yours. Everything goes smoothly until someone suddenly disagrees. The audio file you sampled from your friend becomes a hit and he summons you to take it down from your webpage because he signed a contract. Someone didn't like the way you used his image on your blog and asks for removal. Whatever happens, if there is no formal agreement, the rule that will apply is the rule of copyright. There are many ways you might like to share your work. Many important licenses have been dedicated to specific areas of artistic/cultural production. You can find licenses dedicated to music, to documentation, etc. As these licenses are specific to a domain, they may contain very precise constraints that are absent to general-purpose licenses. Therefore they require careful attention because they may include particular clauses.