Poster Project

It was last year when I discussed with Dan McCabe at University of Portsmouth about the idea of seeting a brief for the second year students on the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course. So in September, with some serious input from Dan, we set a brief to explore the relevance and role of the poster as a cultural artefact within the 21st Century.

Part of the brief runs as follows "The poster has a rich history within graphic design and has strong traditions in Europe. Its visual impact within the urban landscape is highly significant, and posters are considered by many as being visual barometers of social issues and attitudes. The purpose of the design was to celebrate and communicate the existence of the poster as a popular and prevalent cultural medium for the expression of ideas and beliefs. In other words, convince people of the power of the poster."

The design was stipulated to be an A2 size poster to reflect this brief and convey the power of the poster as a visual medium. After briefing the students, I received an email from Dan saying
"I briefed the project in yesterday, so we're up and running. They all looked a bit terrified"....so, an interesting start!

All the posters were to be A2 size and produced on our Redeem 100% Recycled 130gsm, ensuring a level playing field for the production of the finished pieces.

In November I went to see the results which were displayed in the Eldon gallery space:

The quality of entries was superb. The research and thought that had gone into the finished pieces was inspiring - truly a group of second year students with real talent. I was privileged to be asked to judge the entries together with the course teaching team; Dan McCabe, Mike Harkins, Estelle Taylor, Alex Tibus, Andrew Denham and course leader Sarah Houghton.

Following much deliberation, 18 posters were short-listed with 3 special commendations. For the week after the judging, the short-listed posters were put on display in the canteen gallery space.

There was an awards event in the canteen of the Eldon Building on the 8th December. Catherine Harper (Dean of the Cultural and Creative Industries faculty) presented the commended students with their awards on Fenner Paper's behalf.

The fantastic commendation award was designed and made as a collaboration between Senior Lecturer Dan McCabe and Principal Workshop Technician Michelle Littlewood and incorporates the Fenner Paper logo which has been laser cut out of 300gsm Redeem 100% Recycled!

Commendation awards being presented by Catherine Harper, Dean of the Cultural and Creative Industries faculty.

Dorsa Pedari

Kai Yik Chan & Wing Yung Wincy Kong

Another incentive for the students is that design of the overall winning poster is to be professionally litho printed as a poster and this distinction goes to Lucy Pittard for her 'Generation Poster'.

Lucy Pittard

Congratulations to all the shortlisted and commended students and thanks to all the staff for involving me in the project and making me so welcome.

The short-listed students are: Rhys Davies, Katie Hockley, Johannes Leismann, Gus Van Manen, Safiah Gheriani, Amie Lee Murphy, Dorsa Pedari, Simon Young, Shahad Milibari, Kai Yik Chan & Wing Yung Wincy Kong, Harry Lewis-Irlam, Zoe Fouracre, George Parry-Stoner, Ryan Robinson, Lucy Pittard, James Kelly, Yanne Moreira, Hannah Anderson and the three commended students are: Dorsa Pedari, Kai Yik Chan & Wing Yung Wincy Kong and Lucy Pittard.

www.port.ac.uk

 

Posted by Justin Hobson 15.01.2015