Projector

With the latest round of Graduate shows taking place I wanted to ask the age old question… do graphic design graduates possess the vital technical skills to succeed when they progress into the creative industry? Or is it still a case of Technical Skills 0  Creative Flair 1?

From my first-hand experience, the answer would have to be unfortunately no. Although these highly-creative junior designers have learned the skills to create logos, brochures, packaging and campaigns, they often don’t have the knowledge to output their work. This has proven to be a huge barrier for graduates, now that they are working for paying clients.

The majority of graphic design graduates boast a creative and diverse portfolio when they head off into industry, but with the current state of global finances, they are now, more than ever, required to possess a portfolio of technical skills to match their creative flare. These technical skills range from being efficient in the major design applications to be able to artwork jobs and to understand print techniques so that the their jobs can be set up correctly for print.

These may not seem like the most fun and attractive components of being a creative, but before any of the ‘good stuff’ can be produced, these fundamental technical skills must be mastered to avoid costly mistakes, there is no ‘cmd + z’ in print.

When I speak to most graduates they often look at me with a blank expression, when I refer to words like CMYK, RGB, spot colour, lithography, Pantone, bleed, diecut, pagination, stock, kerning, leading and perfect bound to name a few.

The solution to this problem, needs to be addressed at a college / university level, so graduates are more prepared. I’m not saying they should be experts by the time they leave education, but they should have the minimum knowledge to undertake simple tasks. Other disciplines such as life-drawing are encouraged, sometimes mandatory, in some institutions, which although I agree is an important area to study, it’s no more important than the essential technical skills needed to start a successful career in graphic design.

Here’s a quick sneak peek at some work we’ve been doing for one of our client’s new brands Young Mercantile, an online store for high end menswear. The brand is designed to be clean and punchy and uncomplicated, with a typographic nod to supply crates as hinted at in the “Mercantile” name. Mercantile being synonymous with the merchant navy and their delivery and transport of overseas goods. The first piece of print has arrived, here are the business cards, from our good friends and suppliers Glasgow Press! Lovely letterpessed ink on 540 Pristine White Colourplan.

Projector are currently: Gearing up for the 2nd 5 a side of the week. Knackered.

What draws people to certain clothing brands? The style and quality of the garment? Celebrity’s wardrobes influencing how you wish to look? There are a multitude of factors. A large part of the decision you make is based on the brand. Fashion brands make a statement about the kind of person that wears the clothes.

We’ve recently been working on a project for a client launching a High Quality Menswear online store and while it’s different to what we’d normally tackle it’s a project which we’ve greatly enjoyed and we came across great brands and their logos during research.

1. Albam

Based in London, Albam design menswear with hints towards workwear. A very simple and clean brand, very much in sync with their fashion design.

2. Our Legacy

A lovely clean brand from Swedish brand Our Legacy, contemporary menswear, with a look back to traditional wear.

3. Baracuta

A distinctive logo and brand work from British menswear brand Baracuta, with nods to traditional British imagery and also British Pop Culture of the 70s and 80s in the overall brand, using celebrity endorsements such as Steve McQueen and Frank Sinatra.

4. Filson

Seattle, Washington based Filson base their brand on pioneering American settlers, delving into a deep and rich history. The marque evokes a nice feeling of the classic American outdoors environment.

5. Heritage Research

Heritage Research base their collections on certain periods in recent history, and it’s mimicked in their logo, which evokes a certain feeling of nostalgia with a characterful illustration. The brands itself draws on the particular period of history they are covering with each collection.

6. Penfield

Penfield have a background in producing outerwear for the outdoors and their logo. Fashion and function dictates their garments. The logo and brand is completely in sync with this offering, a mountainous range and bear hidden in a contemporary typeface, and brand imagery of outdoors situations mixed with high fashion.

7. Brooks

Brooks’ marque and brand hark back to their founder’s age the 1860s. John Boultbee Brooks developed a comfortable leather saddle to help cycling comfort. The brand is now synonymous with the recent trend of fashionable cycling. They manage to tread a fine line of being contemporary, but also evoking a vintage classy feel.

8. Edwin

Japanese brand Edwin endeavour to create the feel and rigour of well worn vintage (they invented stone-washing) denim but in newly produced jeans. The brand marque definitely exudes a sense of classic denim and has an ageless quality, despite obviously being of a period.

9. Nigel Cabourn

Newcastle’s own Nigel Cabourn’s designs are created from a love of all things vintage. The logo and brand fit the collections perfectly. Just perfect.

10. Gitman Bros

Gitman Bros Vintage brand is entrenched in Americana as shown in their classic typographic logo. Washed Oxfords, muted madras, bright plaids.

11. Sperry

Sperry Topsider’s take their brand from a passion for the sea, everything to do with sailing. Their marque gives nudges toward the painted style of boat names, which gives an enduring style.

12. Universal Works

Universal Works is based on the concept of good quality honest British workwear and outdoors wear. The typewriter style typeface automatically conjures up a vintage feel.

13. Dockers

Dockers fashion is based around the preppy high status university fashion. A very much business casual style of clothing, for the kind of man that likes to spend his summertime aboard his yacht, as denoted by the anchor marque.

14. Engineered Garments

New York’s Engineered Garments create their collections from their obsession with American Sportswear. Creator Daiki Suzuki aims to create clothes people love, that they repair when damaged. Again, with the stamped type, it creates a real feeling of nostalgia and heritage.

15. Belstaff

The original creator of the waxed waterproof and motorcycle fashion specialist, Belstaff, are a highly sought fashion brand. The abstract symbol of the Phoenix shows Belstaff will continue through good and bad times, an enduring label of quality. Belstaff are often seen in the films, as they use features such as Iron Man, The Expendables and The Dark Knight.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this showcase, we’re going to unveil our final logo for our client’s brand very soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Projector are currently: Waiting for the curtain call for the week. Busy times!