TAKU is a brand new typeface from Thinkdust. This mechanical structure has been produced in full with 255 characters, manual kerning, leading, line spacing, tracking and pairs. It can be used either digitally or for print and is compact typeface with very recognisable characters. Taku is part of the up and coming HypeForType digital type foundry which will be launching in 2009. You can expect limited edition designer volumes every 3 months, with typefaces from some of the design industries most recognisable names. Volume one which is confirmed will include Si Scott, Alex Trochut, Luke Lukas, Jon Burgerman, Suprb, and HelloHikimori. For more information on HypeForType and TAKU please visit www.hypefortype.com

Great work Alex, keep it up!

David Arias has kindly featured my work on their website, which you can check out here:

www.ariasblog.ca

So a big thank you to them but also definitely worth checking out their work, a great studio based in Vancouver, Canada!

Happy New Year to all, and as a special treat I recommend you checkout DA’s work in creating ‘Hunni’s Bucks’

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Print

ROLE

Art Director, Founder & Contributor

CLIENT

Tibet Relief Fund and DAHRA

ABOUT

Designers Against Tibetan Abuse (on sale Feb 2nd 2009) is the first project by Designers Against Human Rights Abuse. Founded by myself in the summer of 2009, a non-profit organisation, DAHRA exists to promote and raise awareness amongst those involved in the creative industry of their social, political and ethical responsibilities as well raise awareness of different instances of Human Rights Abuse.

As such the first project focuses on Tibetan Rights and is a combination of a book (on Sale February 2nd 2009), a limited edition Si Scott silk screen poster (only 50 going on sale also on February 2nd 2009) and an exhibition in London in the Summer of 2009.

52 creatives from around the world all contributed pieces focussing on different aspects of Tibetan Rights forming this inspiring book avilable for £15 + postage early next year. All proceeds go to the Tibet Relief Fund, who are also distributing the book, and all the money goes directly to them with DAHRA not handling it at any time

Here is a list of all contributors to the book:

Nik Ainely (Shinybinary), Anna Badar, Jonathan Barnbrook, Adhemas Batista, Bek 03, Luisa Bernardes, Diana Bodea, Bartek Bojarczuk, Jon Burgerman, Jonathan Calugi, Giovanni Capriotti, Christopher Cox (ChangetheThought), Nicholas Creevy, Sebastien Cuypers, Adam Dedman, Neil Duerden, Andy Ellison, Nima Falatoori (NMO design), Theo Gennitsakis, Alex Haigh (thinkdust), Christine Hale, Nick Hard (Research Studios), David Harris, Sean Canty, Mike Harrison, Peter Harrison, Nessim Higson (IamAlwaysHungry), Piotr Holub, Eli Horn, Eric Jordan (2advanced.com), Evgeny Kiselev, Niklas Lundberg (diftype), Justin Maller (Depthcore), Chow Martin, Kevin Megens (Karma.tv), Shane Mielke (2advanced), Nathaniel Milburn, Saad Moosajee, Jared Nickerson (J3concepts), Joao Oliveira, Snehal Sanghani, Loic Sattler, Si Scott, Rishi Sodha, This is Pacifica, Bram Timmer, Tokyo Plastic, Alex Trochut, Ana Ventura, Ari Weinkle, Oliver Wiegner (Ice Cream For Free)

Please note that this is not an attack on the Chinese or a slur against any other people as this is strictly prohibited by DAHRA

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Branding

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Ravensbourne College of Communication and Design

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This was a Branding Project set by Ravensbourne College of Communication and Design

The brief was to take the values of a person in our class and to turn them into a brand. The ethos I got was caring, honest, outspoken, sensitive and funny which led me to create Charlie as a non-profit organisation which mediates politics by providing the subtitles to British politics, thus negating all jargon

The black and white colour scheme reflects the brand values of honest and outspoken, whilst the use of DIN black (all caps) also hints at these. In order to appeal to the target audience of first time voters and disillusioned voters a variety of mediums were used. These ranged from traidtional print to web and motion. The videos would be a weekly feature on the website (the central hub of the brand with all surplus collateral redirecting back to it) with 10 second shorts derived from these for tv adverts (for a wider audience). The website would feature articles which disected various topics and stripped them back to their core foundations thus presenting the information in a digestible manner

This is reflected in the mail out which has to be decoded by putting the clear film on top which bears the Charlie logo. I.e. Charlie provides the means to decode the confusing

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Wayfinding

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RSA 2008 Awards - Design Against Bicycle Theft Brief

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This project was undertaken with a fellow Graphic Designer Ana Carolina Gomes and Product Design Anton Webb. Anton designed the actual storage solution whilst Ana and I researched into how to use wayfinding as a deterent against theft (details below). We then split up the design tasks equally and I was left to design a 110 page hardcover sketchbook and the boards

This solution is a multi faceted system with the aims of reducing bike theft and promoting cycling in London. The core of this system is centred around a bike shelter which we designed to inhibit theft. The premise is that the bicycles are lifted up above people’s heads with the base wheel being 8 feet off the ground ensuring that any bike theft could not be done inconspicuously. The structure is made from brushed stainless steel, which incorporates the new TFL aesthetic, and is electronically powered and activated by an oyster card. At night when a bicycle is placed it is bathed in a green light, which by lowering heart rate and having a calming effect, creates an adverse environment for theft. Furthermore if a bicycle is then stolen it is easily noticeable that there should be one there as the light is still on.

The system is aligned with Transport For London because in order to install these shelters government funding would be needed and by adopting systems that are already in place costs will be kept to a minimum. TFL is a trusted brand and therefore an air of familiarity and trustworthiness is projected upon the shelters, ensuring that users will feel comfortable using this new system. Furthermore, in terms of wayfinding, by uniting various contemporary systems visual clutter is subsequently reduced in London thus making the process of storing a bike as streamlined as possible.

In order to get government funding this solution will be tested during the London Olympics in 2012. This provides an ideal opportunity for the government to see how the system helps with their aims of seeming green and regeneration. The latter will be promoted by booklets and online information being published about recommended cycling routes and sites. In conjunction shelters will be strategically in these areas to ensure that people stop and spend their money in local shops. During this time the system will go through a rigorous test a there will be a large number of foreign users. Furthermore any success of Team Britain in cycling events can be capitalised upon to help promote cycling as a method of transport as well.

From research conducted it can be seen that people will often not bother using cycling parking facilities if they are not easy to get to. Therefore in order to ensure users can locate these shelters the wayfinding with Legible London. Funded by Mayor of London and already being tested, Legible London incorporates all outlets of the TFL brand into its wayfinding and as a system is near flawless. It also uses multimedia effectively, such as audio and iPhone, to make navigation easy and accessible for able bodied and disabled alike. Therefore by adopting the system into this wayfinding solution no extra cost is incurred. The Legible London aesthetic has been adopted for maps found online as a microsite at tfl.gov.uk to aid people in finding these new shelters

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Print

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Self Initiated

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For Christmas in 2008 I wanted to make all presents and wanted to push the mediums I have worked with. These are just two examples of how I went about tackling the festive season problem of buying gifts

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Draught Associates

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Spreads and packaging made for “Visual Aid.” Completed whilst working at Draught Associates and available from Amazon

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Never Without You Fashion Labe

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Entry for Never Without You’s Valentine’s Day T-shirt competition, where there was a call for designs to go on a limited edition red t-shirt to be sold during the Valentine’s Day period

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Print

CLIENT

Dissident Warwick

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Prototype of issue 4 of Dissident Warwick

Dissident Warwick is a magazine and group of political students from Warwick University (UK) who are trying to break the stereotypes which are attached to activism by providing thoughtful and coherent analysis of various socioal, economical and political topics

This was an interesting rebrand as it was one which involved taking away rather than adding. There old design was one which harked back to fanzines of the punk era and, if anything, perpetuated the stereotypes and stigmas attached to activism. In order to bring out the most unique selling point of the magazine, the content, I proposed using a strong typographic feel (as seen on the cover) to show the importance of the body copy itself. In order to do this successfully everything had to be stripped back and organised to show that the content was worth taking seriously.

This minimalism reflected Dissident’s we-are-what-we-are attitude by providing just the content and the views of the magazine, nothing more, nothing less.

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Web

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Designers Against Human Rights Abuse (DAHRA)

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Website for Designers Against Human Rights Abuse (DAHRA) which has a membership of hundreds of creatives from around the world

Designers Against Human Rights Abuse (DAHRA) was founded in the summer of 2008 by Rishi Sodha. A non-profit organisation, DAHRA exists to promote and raise awareness amongst those involved in the creative industry of their social, political and ethical responsibilities

In order to achieve this goal DAHRA focuses on a variety of issues that designers are passionate about and creates an environment where these voices can be united and heard. Through various mediums our members are encouraged to express their opinions in order to raise awareness, not only about these various causes, but also amongst other creatives and the responsibilities they have

It is important to note that DAHRA believes and supports equality for all people, animals and organisms and as such does not tolerate or promote discrimination of anyone or their values or beliefs. DAHRA exists as an aid to all creatives and not as a means to attack others

The topic of human rights is extremely broad and as such DAHRA aims to focus on both human rights violations by others as well as creatives. Therefore DAHRA also aims to promote knowledge of accessibility and correct design practice as well as raising awareness of other human rights violations worldwide