This week I embarked on an exciting new course at the London College of Communications (part of UAL). And suddenly it feels like the Guardian’s picture galleries are awash with articles on interesting examples of graphic design or illustration and how they engage with other types of design.
These compelling 50s and 60s magazine illustrations by Mac Conner depict domestic and social scenes in sharply contrasting colour (with more than a nod to Hopper and the Pop Artists), each neatly encapsulating a feeling or a notion.
Continuing the theme of mid-20th century American design, these posters from California show a wide range of types from the austere to the flowery, and the use of intense colour.
Italian-born, Barcelona-based Federico Babina says he is “sometimes an architect in love with graphic design and sometimes a graphic designer with a passion for architecture. I love it when they mix.“ He has demonstrated this by producing a set of postcards which feature a graphic A-Z inspired by famous architects.
Lastly, artist David Hepher has explored his obsession with tower blocks, taking pictures and painting these mundane and unloved buildings. He imbues their grids and structures with abstract power and beauty, enjoying the splashes of colour brought by the individuals living there. Although not strictly design, I’m interested in how Hepher challenges our current perception of something in the urban environment, now seen as ugly and undesirable – this challenging approach is perhaps something design should aim for.
hannahbailey.org 