On the 6th December, I went to see the Postgraduate Shows: Show 2 held at London College of Communication, UAL. There were several thematic strands on display including Graphic Media Design and Graphic Branding and Identity.
Fig.1
After scrutinizing the work, it appeared that this postgraduate student exhibition’s final outcome was based on issue-based and aesthetic questions and again I recognised the importance of such probing in the design making process. There were many themes that became the basis of their different studies, but the overarching interrogation of social relations was on prominent display: for example, SNS and digital culture to urban poverty as well as sexuality, politics and mental conditions rounded out the show. Many of the students gave unique visual solutions and I was interested in their outcomes in various devices – many kinds of paper, original book making, plastic, knit, stamp and so on were used to express and articulate these social conditions.
Fig.2
What was of particular interest to me was the piece ‘Blackletter as a touchpoint of the European Medieval state brands.’ This work was made by the postgraduate student Iñigo Angulo (www.inigoangulo.com). It was a hand-bound book related to the study of blackletter from the branding aspect. Starting from history, the usage of the blackletter in politics and religion until modern age was captured from the viewpoint of branding. Looking at old-style typography from today’s aspect gave me a suggestion of the way in which we are continuing to treat retro style today.
Fig.3