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Wednesday 24 May 2017

Summer Show Update (just over a week still to go)

It's been a week of moving furniture, painting walls and creating random areas of diagonals.


James Musson (21) and his 'Homage to Kandinsky'.

 Wassily Kandinsky (33) 'Homage to James Musson' (1923)


On the count of three, LIFT!

 'Circusy' Lettering

 The Chuckle Brothers (both 21) - 'To me, to you...'

A behind the scenes glimpse of how to paint razor-sharp stripes. 

 Peep-oh!

Continuing the diagonal theme... 

Masking tape removal time. 

Carmen Miranda tribute time...

 Carmen Miranda yesterday...

Becky (21) at work on a big Donald Trump dressed as a clown (insert your own witty comment here) 

Still some way to go, please check in again next week to see how we're getting on.

Friday 12 May 2017

End of Year Summer Exhibitions don't just organise themselves

The year 3 students have been working on their exhibition for a number of weeks. Let's see what's been happening...

There's been a small earthquake (0.00000001 on the 'Tiny' Richter scale) centred on Ross's's's's's scale model of our studio:

3D welcome lettering is in progress:

Chloe's (chief exhibition strategist) to-do list in the form of post-it-notes:

The Graphic Design and Illustration exhibition is to be called 'Fun House' - here are some of the posters (by a variety of year 3 students):

Here's a sneak preview of the exhibition catalogue:

Finally, here's the poster and invite for all The University of Cumbria Institute of the Arts courses designed by our very own Emma Wrigley (21) of year 3 Illustration:



It would be lovely to see you at the Private View at 6 pm on Friday 2 June (you don't need an invitation to get in).

What does a Year 3 with only five hours to their 'FINAL' Final Hand-In Look Like?

This...




Thursday 11 May 2017

How many people does it take to make a promotional video?

The answer of course is six - plus one. 



The 'one' is the poor person being filmed, caught in the cold hard gaze of the camera (much like a rabbit is caught in the glare of oncoming headlights).

Today we had a film crew in, tasked with making a promotional video explaining why you should study Graphic Design or Illustration at The University of Cumbria.

That sounds deceptively easy doesn't it? After all we offer our students  an in-depth, highly personal education (with a mass of tutor contact and access to kit) allowing them to graduate as confident, highly employable practitioners. We are also enjoy an exceptional quality of life, living as we do in an area of outstanding loveliness (see below).



However, once in front of a camera and microphone (with a crowd looking on) even the most eloquent can become self-conscious and tongue-tied as a few of us found out today.

Here's charismatic year 3 Graphic Design student Sarah wishing she hadn't said yes so quickly...



...although she quickly warmed to the camera.


Hopefully the crew got enough footage to make a double-snazzy, standout video with appropriately rocking soundtrack.

Thanks to all involved and we hope it will surpass the pinnacle reached many years ago by our legendary 'Erm' promotional video (see below) showcasing a generation of successful Grillust design students.




Friday 5 May 2017

Grillust Graduate Rick Banks wins design 'Oscar'.

Grillust graduate Rick Banks is now an award winning, London-based designer, otherwise known as Face37. He has created brand identities, bespoke typefaces and logo designs for some of the world’s biggest companies, including Triumph, Douwe Egberts, Nike and Adidas. He is also the design genius behind the typefaces F37 Bella and Ginger, and the typographic card game Type Trumps. 


We are delighted to announce that Rick has just won a D&AD Yellow Pencil, the highest professional award in the British graphic design industry, the equivalent of an Oscar. The project that won the award can be viewed here. Congratulations from all of us at Grillust Towers. Here's the moment when he received his award – and yes, it really is a big, fat, yellow pencil!



Assessment...'nuff said


Tuesday 2 May 2017

The Importance of Sketchbooks

Here's Year 1 Illustration student Emily (21) showing a wonderful commitment to faces and clearly demonstrating that the more you do, the better you get.

Go for it Emily!