*University project
During my research for the self promotion brief, I’ve come to several ideas. The first idea was to talk and do some tutorials about printing and paper. Make an easy tutorial to get a more understanding to how to prepare a file for printing, what type
During my research for the self promotion brief, I’ve come to several ideas. The first idea was to talk and do some tutorials about printing and paper. Make an easy tutorial to get a more understanding to how to prepare a file for printing, what type
of paper to use and shortcuts. I think that as a graphic designer its important to know basics such as printing and paper, specially as a free- lancer is good to have a broader knowledge.
Further I decided to work with minimalism as it is a design style I personally really like and want to get more knowledge of, and know how to work
more with it.
I thought it would be interesting to choose another design style and minimalise it as much as I can.
I thought it would be interesting to choose another design style and minimalise it as much as I can.
My family is originally from Chile, and I’ve always been surrounded by two cultures - Scandinavian and Latin American.
Both being worlds apart from each other, the contrast between the two has led me to question and investigate the minimalistic approach within the Latin American design.
I wanted to create something minimalistic but still keep the Latin American style.
To get a more understanding of what Latin American design is,
I did some research of the main key features they use, colours, shapes, techniques ect
I did some research of the main key features they use, colours, shapes, techniques ect
There is no question that the Latin American culture is loud and colourful. Like the fruits of Latin America, are the colours that are being used in their designs.
Design that knows their colours, they smell like letters of fertile earth and are observed in the heart. By this I mean that latinos are proud of their culture and appreciate design that reminds them of the local food, the smell of the markets or something that gives them a nostalgic feel from the village or town their from.
Patterns and playing around with typefaces is one of the key features, and they’re not shy to use them. It seems like the more the better.
Also depending how the economics and politics were, is that determined how the design was and is affected.
Part of the process
Looking into this, I found out that not only are the Scandinavians about the organic minimalistic style, but also the Japanese designer style as well. Minimalism has been around for a while, first seen in Japan B.E.C. Describing the Japanese style in few words: harmony of the man and nature, natural colours and functional.
It make us reflect what the design really is: a shape, a thought, a movement, and reminding us to focus on what’s really important.
I’m referring to Scandinavian design, because that is one
category of minimalism I know and experienced my self.
What is the main difference between minimalism and Scandinavian design? Something can be both minimalist and Scandinavian at the same time, but the main differences between the two are the materials used.
What is the main difference between minimalism and Scandinavian design? Something can be both minimalist and Scandinavian at the same time, but the main differences between the two are the materials used.
While minimalism design often incorporates stainless steel and lacquered plastics, Scandinavian design focuses on organic materials. Both styles ban clutter. Scandinavian design and minimalism is a good mix of modernism, functionalism and even a bit of postmodernism.
Further on to the experimentation the idea of having an exhibition for Latin American designer came into consideration. First off I started making some posters representing each designer. Showing off some of their work, using a minimalistic layout. I chose the name Minimalism+Latino- America because I knew I wanted to work minimalistic inspired by Latin America.
I started minimalising L.A designers work as a part for the exhibition. It didn’t make sense at the end because It didn’t really show who the exhibition was for. Me as the re-designer or the original designer. Which is a good point made and I further on decided to research some Latin American designers that had a minimalistic approach within their work, and also branding the exhibition minimalistic, and as initially thought; work minimalistic while being inspired by Latin America.
For my final approach I decided that I had to settle with one pattern through out the whole exhibition to create consistency and a whole viewer experience.
I ended up choosing the Inca inspired pattern, where each square represents each designer.
To keep having the pre-hispanic and crafted feel within the branding of the exhibition, I chose to include some Inca symbols on the posters as well as the pattern used on the catalogue. This is to have a variation of posters and as a reminder of the heritage. “Old school” combined with “New school"
The technique used is spray painting, letterpress and linocutting printed with ink. Afterwards I scanned them and worked with the finals on photoshop and illustrator.
Typeface wise I chose to keep it as simple and neutral as possible, and therefore I chose Helvetica. To get a contrast from the plain typeface I chose to have “Excellens” made by Federico Landini which is inspired by “Cholo Graffiti Calligraphy” used by Mexican gangs in Los Angeles as the typeface for the titles and names. With the colourpalette
I chose six colours I could have through out the catalogue and exhibition. Bright colours to give the latin flavour.
The cover is ment to be quite simple and colourless, and as soon as you open the catalogue its colourful and all latino.
I decided to go for an economic/ recyclable paper for my catalogue as I wanted to have an organic finish to the whole exhibition and think environmentally.
