Patrick Burgoyne: Creative Review

Creative Networks had a very cool talk this month by Patrick Burgoyne, the Editor for Creative Review. Patrick's talk entitled 'Labels: and Where to Stick Them,' covered a range of projects including the creation of the cover for the January Issue by a letterpress studio called Gráfica Fidalga in São Paulo. This workshop keeps the tradition of letterpress alive by producing books and prints.

Image © Creative Review Magazine

Image © Creative Review Magazine

Check out this video which documents the project:



Another issue's cover was produced in Mumbai by photographing a taxi which was covered in specially made stickers all produced by hand:



Here's a cool quote taken from Patrick's blog post Everything and Nothing. It's something all graphic designers need to keep in mind when they work:

“To design is to create images which communicate specific ideas in purely visual terms and utter statements whose form graphically embodies or enhances the essential nature of the notions to be communicated.” This definition of graphic design comes from John Commander, the first chairman of D&AD and a noted art director.

There were some really great videos during the presentation including this one called 'Obsessions Make My Life Worse and My Work Better' which shows an installation led by Stefan Sagmeister:



Read more about this collaborative project here.

This one had us giggling. Would you trade in your FaceBook friends for a burger? I think I'm tempted:



A very cool 'Kinetic' (that means moving kiddies ;)) sculpture. Oooh! Pretty:



The emphasis on the hand-crafts was evident throughout Patrick's talk and was a real delight. There is a definite trend emerging in the return to the hand-made (which I absolutely LOVE!) and many skilled designers and artworkers are looking to traditional methods to produce their work. This can not only be seen in typography, but in type-setting, sign-writing, hand-lettering and many other trades. The perfect balance of the traditional and digital crafts is what's needed.

Patrick also gave his opinion on what the future may hold for the magazine itself (in the ongoing battle of the Hand Crafts versus New Media). Eventually the magazine may be accessible through digital means rather than mass distributed as hard-copies (the huge use of paper isn't exactly eco-friendly) - although this form of publication may be preferred as people tend to enjoy having something to read in their hands, so only time will tell.