White Teeth

I was initially attracted to reading this book because it was written about life in the area I grew up in (although in a different decade).

The book follows the life of two war veterans whose lives and eventual families are intertwined. The book explores issues associated with multiculturalism and the identity problems experienced by second-generation people.

I think this book is very relevant in 21^st century Britain. It provides a great insight into the social issues experienced across race, sex, culture and religion. The book is somewhat autobiographical of Zadie Smith’s life in Willesden, North-West London.

Looking at the book critically, it may be said that the issues raised by the book were more prevalent in the 1970s (when the story was set), however I think the issues in the book have more prevalence in 21^st century Britain where multiculturalism versus unity are being questioned.

Although not a design book, I think it is relevant for designers because we come across a similar range of sensitive issues that we must be aware of.

The Tube Map

There is no doubt that the tube map is a design classic. This week it was redesigned (partly) and the river Thames was omitted from the design to huge public and political outcry. The river-less map can be found here.

When the map was initially designed, Harry Beck removed all superfluous information including geography. The 1908 map (at the bottom of the post) was the first tube map and took geography into consideration. Beck designed the first diagrammatic map in 1931, it was said to be inspired by electric circuit diagrams.

Despite lacking nearly all geographical features, the tube map has always maintained London's river. So when TfL (Transport for London) decided to omit the river there was a backlash. Note the following articles:

-BBC- Mayor orders Thames back on maps.

-The London Paper.

-The Guardian- Where has my beloved Thames gone?

This reminds us that people appreciate clarity and information laid out clearly, however they also have sentimental connections, which is an important thing to note in design.

The 1908 London Underground map. The first tube map that took geography into consideration.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a recent black comedy with an unexpected plot.

The film follows a group of orphaned children who are sent to live with their evil relative Count Olaf. The plot of the film is continually unexpected, but not nonsensical.

I chose to feature this film on this blog not because of its plot, but because of its cinematography. I was impressed with a number of elements in the film.

One thing that has been ignored by many filmmakers is the DVD selection menu. In this film it is not overlooked. It becomes part of the film and has a slight essence of the style of Saul Bass.

The visual effects and the set design are also unique. The locations have a surreal feel to them. Time period and location have been deemed irrelevant giving the film a universal appeal.

The style of cinematography in this film has inspired me and made me consider the background elements in design. Everything from the way someone speaks to the architectural style of a building can have an effect on the essence of a design piece. This is something I will continually put consideration into.

Driver safety web banner

'Distracted Drivers are Dangerous’ was an online campaign put together by an interactive online agency in New Zealand highlighting the dangers of texting and driving simultaneously.

The campaign was made from a simple online banner. It became so widespread that it gained national attention and made the government re-think existing road safety laws. This is an inspirational piece and a perfect example of how online virals and clever web campaigns can have a large impact on their audiences.

Try the banner for yourself here.

Watch the making of the campaign here.

A book with a difference

This is the first book I have featured on this blog that contains little or no words. Despite this, this is one of the most fantastic book promotions I have seen. The Tate recently commissioned a short viral film promoting Peter Blake’s ABC and 600 Black Spots. The only difference is, it was made into a pop-up book by David Carter (see the video below).

This is a clever piece of marketing by Tate and displays the creativity that can be achieved with craft.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man – James Joyce

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel written by the Irish author James Joyce. The book is partially autobiographical with the main character in the novel having similarities with the author.

The novel tells the story of the life of a character named Stephen Dedalus. Stephen grew up in a large Irish Catholic family that was affected by poverty. His family saves up enough money to send him to boarding school where he excels with religious study. As Stephen gets older he begins to question Irish society and Catholicism and all the social expectations associated with it.

In regards to the brief for this project, I think this book is very relevant in broadening understanding of cultural and social issues. It explores the dynamics of religion and the conflicts it may have in a person’s life. James Joyce moved to Paris to develop his artistic writing skills but he kept his connections with his family in Ireland. I have found his work inspirational in the way it questions morality, culture and society.

Rabbit

Rabbit is a short film by Run Wrake. It is an art-house animation that explores issues of greed and its consequences. What is striking about the film is its use of imagery. It uses stickers from 1950s educational books. This theme is kept consistent in the animation with each object being labeled.

The combination of childhood imagery with dark themes is thought provoking and something that may be relevant to other area of design.

The film can be watched here.