This week’s poster design idea is inspired by a book cover design for Øl og Snaps by Danish Artist Paul Høyrup in 1948. I’m Dane-by-Marriage and have come to be familiar with Snaps. I think it’s one reason that Denmark is regarded as the happiest place on Earth. What I really like is that this cover illustration has a real A. M. Cassandre feel. Cassandre is one of my design heroes. So I wanted to try to emulate the grainy stipple techniques that are one characteristic that Høyrup’s illustration shared with Cassandre’s work. I borrowed the color palette and subject matter from Høyrup’s cover.  The intent wasn’t to copy, rather to recreate the essence. The goal is to draw on the knowledge gained when I find my new found skills appropriate for a given design solution. Here is the result of my design exercise:

I didn’t know it was called Tangrams. I just remember it as the puzzle game in Grandma’s closet. The box called it Pythagoras – 179 Puzzle Games. It was a favorite and I inherted the game years latter. It is perhaps one of my earliest explorations into the world of design. Tangram is an Ancient Chinese moving piece puzzle, consisting of 7 geometric shapes. Move them around and create picture. Abstract, and very simple. Try it online at http://tangram-patterns.appspot.com/tangram . There is even a website dedicated to Tangrams.

Well, the other day I was doing my design study, an online search to expand my knowledge of my chosen profession. I stumbles on a designer named Designer Barney Bubbles. That’s right, Bubbles. His actual name was Colin Fulcher. Don’t even remember how or where I stumbled onto a site that mentioned his work. While exploring his work, I was drawn to a couple of his pieces. The Damned: Music For Pleasure (1977). Artist John Coulthart describes the art as follows,”The Damned sleeve is a Kandinsky-esque portrait of the band with the group’s name spelled out using abstract shapes, an approach to album lettering he was to use for other artists as the decade progressed.” Kandinsky-esque, that’s the ticket. When I was in college I liked studying the Russian Constructivist movement.  Then I can across, Ian Dury & the Blockheads: Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (1978) 45 sleeve. Wow! It is a beautiful mix of Tangram elements and early New Wave. Right down to the pink and green. This piece touched me on so many levels. You know, when you look at a design and smile to yourself. That little voice says, “NICE”.

There is so much design in the world–good and bad. I’m always looking to find great graphic design in history. It is inspiring to see work from the 30s-40-50s and beyond. I recently came across the work of Jim Flora. What a treasure! Lots of album covers from the 50s that are described as mischievous and diabolic. I haven’t decided what my favorite piece is. Jim Flora seemed to have been very prolific. Each design is as captivating as the next. So far I like “Mambo For Cats ” RCA Victor release in 1955. All I can say is “cool man”. Check out other cover designs from that era. Many thanks to jimflora.com for preserving his legacy for all to enjoy.

Just found out that Chico State’s Design Departments is celebrating it’s 40th year. Well, it was 26 years ago that I left the campus life to return to San Jose and launch my career in design– That was 1984. I’m also excited to here that they have invited alumni to visit, and upload samples of their work to an online gallery (Chico State Graphic Design – Designer Submissions). It’s a blast to see some familiar names.I’m Looking forward to mingling with old classmates.

I submitted some of my work and even did my homework assignment – A 40 year poster. Here is my design: