Saturday 9 July 2011

Sunday July 10th: Behind the Scenes on set of "The Bay" by Metronomy - Directed by David Wilson
















Leading on from the last post reviewing the latest crop of University of Brighton Graduates, to a case study in its alumni. I recently met director David Wilson through our mutual friends Alex and Will of Its Nice That .......... all four of us having studied at the college .......... however, I haunted the hallways a few moons before the boys......... back in the same vintage as Bat For Lashes, The Maccabees and Metronomy.......... for which David has just directed their latest splendid video for "The Bay". The ex Brighton contingent traveled down to Torquay to work on the project, for which I contacted David to find how the whole concept came about .........

"The idea started with the brief from the band. They gave an open brief, but they said it'd be nice to do something in Torquay. Over the weekend when I wrote my treatment The Guardian Weekend did a feature on the band, and Joe (Mount - the frontman) was saying how the English Riviera Tourism Company had got a huge amount of Google hits due to the band's title of their new album.

I elaborated on that quote and suggested that we built on that relationship and that it'd be fun to create a promo that celebrated Torquay as a place of glamour and sophistication. It just so happened that the band had been thinking exactly the same thing, and it was one of those coincidences where it was a meeting of minds and the idea developed from there.

From visiting Torquay twice over the period over the three week prep time for the shoot the promo's structure developed.
I didn't want to develop ideas too far before visiting the town and talking to Joe. That part of the world's so personal to him that it really had to portray what's truly there instead of completely inventing it.

One of the biggest influences on my thought process was discovering the English Riviera tourism posters from back in the 80s (see attached). The glamorous woman in swimwear, the great design, the sexually provocative. yet playful imagery. That was a massive catalyst to my thought process.

What was extra special about this project for me was that Metronomy's music was one of the first soundtracks I tried to accompany as a student. I studied Illustration in Brighton and used their track "How Say" to accompany my exam piece after getting in touch with Joe via a mutual friend. From that piece of work I got my first music ever video commission from Stephen Bass; Metronomy's manager, and head of Moshi Moshi Records for DNTEL's 'Breakfast In Bed'.
It's been 4 years since then, but it's been nice to have our paths cross again."


If you would like to hear more about David's inspiring career path, he is part of an evening of presentations tomorrow (Monday 11th July) 6pm – 9pm at the BGD&I2011 show at The Rochelle School. David will be talking through his portfolio, influences and working methods alongside other designers George Hardie, A Practice For Everyday Life, Holly Wales and Lucia Massari.

To see more of David's work (inc. one of my personal faves for "We Have Band") head over to his site and blog.

"The Bay" Directed by David Wilson
Produced by Patrick Craig and Tamsin Glasson
Production Company - Colonel Blimp
Director of Photography - Richard Stewart
Styling by Cynthia Lawrence John
Art Direction by Tim Gibson

Sat 9th July: Brighton Graphic Design & Illustration Graduate Show - Thomas Bird








Two years ago Thomas came to intern for me whilst in his 1st year of the degree at Brighton ........ having previously helped out Kate Moross.......... and more recently Jiggery Pokery. Here are his 3D illustration works including a couple of rad headpieces ..........

Sat 9th July: Brighton Graphic Design & Illustration Graduate Show Overview














(Top to Bottom: Dan Woodger, George Sharp, Bryn Mackenzie, Megan Turner-Jones, Charlie Sheppard, Vanessa Choi, Pat Bradbury, Louise Richardson

Brighton Graphic Design & Illustration Graduate Show

Rochelle School, Arnold Circus, London E2 7ES
8th – 12th July, 9am – 7.30pm

Friday 8 July 2011

Friday 8th July: Cooperative Designs Sample Sale
















Last Friday I blogged about the Peter Jensen Sample Sale and a week later I am covering the Cooperative Designs event ......... a duo who once earned their (knitted) stripes interning for Peter. Its no secret that I am a big fan of the bold graphic knitwear carefully created and crocheted by Dorothee Hagemann and Annalisa Dunn. Every collection is a timeless capsule of covetable classics so any opportunity to snap up an archive original is an opportunity not to be missed. Its also a nice chance to catch up with the girls and have a gander at their beautiful studio jam-packed with ingenious goodies like a knitwear innovation goldmine.

The team have dug out show samples from past seasons and offering some recent stock at super low prices "because we have finally run out of space in our studio!". The doors are open to the public tomorrow so check the Facebook page for details.........


Cooperative Designs and Corri Williamson Sample Sale

Studio 18, Unit 1b Darnley Road, London, E9 6QH
Saturday 9th July from 12pm - 5pm.

Friday 8th July: LEATHER BITCH - A solo exhibition of new work by Danny Sangra







Danny Sangra's latest solo exhibition of new work including spanning film, drawing, photography and painting opened last evening at Aubin & Wills. "Leather Bitch" is Danny's first exhibition for 2 years and its a massive showcase of work with large canvases, small detailed collages and hand painted patterned leather jackets. Danny is constantly working on different projects - directing music videos, short films, designing knitwear, illustrating ........... so I have no idea when he actually had time to make all of this art!!!!
Here is his latest personal project "The Cereal Box Kid"....

The Cereal Box Kid from danny sangra on Vimeo.



"Leather Bitch" at Aubin Gallery, 64 – 66 Redchurch St, from 7th July – 11th August