Michelle Urban

LSAD / GDC Y2

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Human in Nature - Photographs made with a Nikon D7200 - Model: Anna Dwan

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My first photographs taken with a manual analogue camera (cosina ct1 super). The photos are taken by the Cliffs of Moher and Lahinch Beach.

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BUSINESS CARD DESIGN

I am currently creating drafts for a business card for my client. That’s one of a few designs I edited with a MockUp, so my client would get an idea how the card would look when it’s printed.

Mockup: https://mockups-design.com/free-business-cards-mockup/

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On the 1st of May 288 gastronomes from Lüneburg placed one empty chair each on the market place in the city centre. It was a protest as lots of gastronomes feel left alone as they don't get enough support from the government to be able to finance their localities during the pandemic. They want to prevent that shops, restaurants, bars and cafes will need to close because of financial reasons.

I actually think that the protest was really effective. The picture of the empty chairs is effective as well as the photograph.

I found the text and the image on the website our local newspaper.

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Poster in shops in Germany, informing about the current mask law

I walked through the city centre today, where I photographed some posters which are informing customers about the mask law. In Germany we have to wear masks in public transports and shops as the risk of spreading it would be much lower.

Those are my favourites. On some signs it's written that the owners are happy for us customers to be back and that we are all welcome, that we are able to manage that situation and that they hope we all stay healthy. I like those mindful messages as it reflects pretty well, how different we are dealing with each other right now and how different it will be in the future as well.

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FINAL #WWB

DAY 5

My first photograph shows me wearing my ask I've gotten from a family's friend who made lots of them herself. As we got lower measurements now and our shops reopened, we have to wear masks in all shops and in public transport. It's an actual law now what is why I got one myself. I edited the photograph in black and white to simplify the content and to keep focus on the mask and how different it is to see people everywhere wearing them. But I already got used to it quickly.

My second and last photograph of the project shows a post box close to my home, I am using on a regular basis as I am writing letters to a friend to Ireland and to a friend living in the south of Germany. On the post box is written "just love letters" since the whole situation got serious. I like the idea of spreading more love and happiness! I left the colours as they were as I love the bright yellow of the post boxes of the "Deutsche Post".

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FINAL #WWB

DAY 4

I took another photograph inspired by the fact that I am reading lots during the current situation. We have lots of book shelves at home, which look very aesthetic, bright and colourful all together. I took a close-up of one of the shelves, what creates a nice pattern too.

My second photograph is a close-up of my father's ukulele (as mine is still in Limerick). I practice playing and singing on a daily basis what keeps me busy and in a very good mood. I like the reflections on the shiny head of the instrument.

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FINAL #WWB

DAY 3

I took a photograph of my runners as during the current situation, I finally motivated myself to go for runs on a regular basis. I always wanted to start, but I just did now. We are living very close to a lake and a hill I am running a few rounds around. The ways are very sandy and my black runners are always quite dirty by the dust of the sand after a run. I like the contrast of the sand on the shoes, especially because it gives the viewer the impression that the shoes are used and the person who wore them been somewhere.

In addition I took a photograph of my bicycle I managed to fix after two years now. In Germany we are allowed to move further than 2km, so I am able to do occasional cycle trips myself. I kept the colours and contrasts much darker as I liked the effect, especially in contrast with the photograph of my runners. Running and cycling are two different ways of mobility, we are still able to use, although we are living in times with lots of restrictions. Especially restrictions in mobility and travelling.

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FINAL #WWB

DAY 2

During the lockdown my parents and me are spending lots of time with a family, living in the same house as us as it's difficult to keep distance to the children as they still sometimes don't understand that they need to keep distance to us as well. So we basically decided to isolate all together as we're just two families sharing the house.

They're two wee girls in the family I occasionally take care of and play with, while their mum is doing work for university as she is in her final year. It's a really big help for her when I look after the girls for a good few hours a week, so she can focus on her work. I especially liked the light reflections on the wings of the dart arrows!

I photographed the dartboard in our hallway, the girls and me are playing with lots. Their dad is quite good at the game and managed to do three pretty good shots around and within the bulls eye I needed to take a photograph of!

In addition, I took a photograph of my football (I own it since a long time) in our courtyard. The girls and me play lots of football together and I try to teach them new tricks. It was a quite cloudy and rainy day, what is good to see by the moody atmosphere and the raindrops on the leaves.

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FINAL #WWB

DAY 1

The second photograph of Day 1 shows a book I am currently reading. I haven't read so many books as right now since a long time. What is a positive effect of the lockdown as I am normally very into books, but barely find time to actually read a lot. Again, I experimented a lot with perspectives and angles (I'll share later on too). In the end, I liked that angle the most as the viewer is able to look between the pages.

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FINAL #WWB

DAY 1

For the first photograph I used a new paint brush I got a while ago, but haven't used yet. During the current lockdown I have enough time to stay creative and to paint or draw. I took the photograph of the brush, while I was painting and hold it in front of the area, I was currently working on as I like the details of the painting. Besides, I wanted to photograph a used brush as it looks pretty interesting with the paint on it.

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LOGO DESIGN COMMISSION FINAL

That’s the logo the client has chosen from the given collection of drafts. We already agreed on a font and how it will look in connection to the anchor design. I will share an example of the final design with the writing and on the business card as soon as I am done with the commission.

(I got the permission of the client to include the commission work and process in my portfolio as well as to share it on my Tumblr and art/design account on Instagram)

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LOGO DESIGN COMMISSION - COLOUR COMBINATIONS AND ANCHOR VARIATIONS

Here are a few examples of the colour combinations and the anchor variations, the client has chosen. I prefer the first draft, as the grey is dark enough to be seen well on the business card I am currently working on too. The lighter grey tones do not work well with the blue tones either.

(I got the permission of the client to include the commission work and process in my portfolio as well as to share it on my Tumblr and art/design account on Instagram)

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LOGO DESIGN COMMISSION

I am currently working on a logo design commission for a prospective psychotherapist for children and teenagers.

The client wanted to have two children playing on an anchor. So, I created several drafts with children playing with each other, to represent coherence. I also experimented with different anchor shapes, typography ( I cannot show yet) and created a suitable colour palette for the client to choose colours from.

I am currently working on the final drafts, as the client was happy with what I’ve got so far! Besides, I got asked to design the business card too.

I got the permission of my client to show my process in my portfolio, Tumblr and Instagram.

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TYPOGRAPHY RESEARCH 7

Designer: Alex Trochut

Source: https://alextrochut.com/project/megazero/

I found another interesting designer called Alex Trochut I knew before.

His typography work of old TV test screens is an interesting attempt of creating typography. I like the way how he developed his first alphabet into a second one, what has a “glitch” effect.

I am quite fascinated with what artists and designers come up with. There are endless sources to get inspired by!

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TYPOGRAPHY RESEARCH 6

Designer: Stefan Sagmeister

Source: https://sagmeister.com/work/having-guts-always-works-out-for-me/

During my research I came across the designer Stefan Sagmeister. I was looking through his portfolio and found his project “Having Guts Always Worked Out For Me”.

I like the way how he is connecting design and typography with sculpture and combined media in creating installations. Besides, its interesting how he is thinking outside the box and is creating new attempts of that subject matter.

He uses the effect of shadow and light of objects, to create words like in “FOR” he wrote with sausages and its shadows. Besides, the way how he is connecting all individual images and combines them into one is quite fascinating to see as they all look different from each other, but underline his subject matter well.

Going further with design is something I want to achieve and experiment in as well, as there are no borders or strict rules, as Stefan Sagmeister shows.

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TYPOGRAPHY RESEARCH 5

Designer: Tim Fishlock

Source: http://l-hine0811-dc.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html

Another examples of objects used from the everyday life to create an unique typeface. Here, the artist used train/ bus lines and the stops as a way to create the letters of an alphabet. It’s an interesting way in even using public matters instead of just the ones we find at home.

In the second one he created an alphabet out of different types of chairs in different positions, what is an interesting way of creating an attempt as well. Especially because chairs are used on a daily basis as well. Not just at home, also in public places and at work.