Chapter 03

Type & Web

Typographic is the journal of the

ISTD

Typographic is the journal of the

ISTD

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This ISTD issue was the first step for me towards breaking formats and content within printed editorial. The magazine has been cleverly designed with a fold out which holds all the images for the publication and within the magazine there is a key which links written content back to the fold out. The print finishes and stock also give the publication a unique look, feel and smell. But more then just looking good the it has been designed well and has a unique concept behind it.

Typographic Writing

ISTD

Typographic writing is another book from ISTD, its filled with essays on typography and graphic design. From designers like Wim Crouwel and Wolfgang Tiessen. The content deals with issues of modernism, post-modernism and technology from various stand view points.

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Making or Breaking the Grid

My journey into type & layout starded with this book. It gives you a basic knowledge of what you need to know to start efficient and clear typographic layout. I still refer back when necessary. 1/1

Talk about the future

UWE

I picked this up at D&AD 2012 after speaking to a few students on their course. The design of the magazine fits its concept and A LOT of metallic ink. Great piece of print especially coming from students. Its format and print finishes and colour schemes influenced me going into my final year.

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Hypebeast

Issue 3

The designers on the Hypebeast editorial team are amazing, their content is great and they have a way with typography. Incredibly clean and well considered especially for a commercial printed fashion magazine.

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Foam

Various Issues

I went to Amsterdam and foam changed my design outlook completely. After attending the exhibition and spending most of my money on some back issues I carefully dissected the magazines and their layouts and formats have been designed specifically with the content in mind not just for aesthetic reasons. The Issue on the opposite page intruiged me as it duplicated the cover image twice on a fold. The first page has the title of the magazine and content set over the image and then when you fold it out it has the same cover image but uninterrupted by image, in its purest form. The issue also runs various stocks throughout of it depending on the image (some images are printed on silk, some on uncoated) this gives a different feel to the photographs and actually breaks up the content.

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Aperture

Aperture was one of the first magazines which really started off my process of looking at editorial in a different way. Their format is unique in that its almost square format but a couple of centimetres wider which allows 2 copies to be cut down from an A2 sheet of paper which saves money and its ideal for both landscape and portrait photography.

The layout and format is incredibly clear, loads of extra leading in the paragraphs and it generally puts a hierarchy where the imagery is the main focal point of the page spreads.

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TypoGraphic 67

ISTD

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Mark Architecture Magazine

Main Studio

Some of the earlier issues of Mark has been designed by Mainstudio in Amsterdam. The mix of clean photography, technical drawings accompanied by modernist type values make this one of my favourite magazines. I strive to find jobs like these in the future as a designer.

The cover of this particular issue is bright orange and stands out against any of the other issues in the shop the cyan buckram bind also suits the design and allows it to stand out against other magazines.

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Stills

Main Studio

This is my favourite book in my collection. It was given to me and friends by Edwin from mainstudio during our visit. Edwin continued to talk us through the books concept and how he deals with his project a truly inspiring conversation. The book is based on Wiel Arets (Architect) working life. It has been created to follow a time line of his work and success , this has been illustrated through the layout and the type. When you open the book it has a fragmented date which gets more and more clear and visible as you get to the end where it ends up being a completed date. The layout throughout constantly moves across the page as your paging through it, something which is not at first very noticeable but when you flick through its like going over a time line of his life. Great concept driven layout. The book is also printed in a metallic silver and printed black and white.

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Grafik

Various Issues

Grafik magazine was the first design magazine I encountered from a young age, my sister use to have a couple issues laying around the house while she studied Graphic Design and I use to be incredibly intruiged by them, never really understanding the print or layouts but I loved the overall look and feel to it. When I heard that they stopped making them I was truly upset and still keep the few copies I have enquired. The type and layouts in these are still some of my favourite from any magazine I have encountered to date.

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Design Assembly

The format of this magazine astounded me, I am not the biggest fan of the paper and materials used to make it but the fact that this book exists and the different formats used to make it gets me excited about the possibilities of editorial design.

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OK200

I visited OK200 last September (2012) and spoke to both Mattijs & Koen about their practise. I loved their outlook on design as well as their the fact that they were still very active screen printing whenever they had the time. Something I aspire to be able to do in a studio environment if I ever have the chance. As a studio they take on a variety of projects in a form of request basis not limiting themselves to a specific specialism. They have only been going for a few years and they are already producing some amazing work, its definetly a studio I will continue to be inspired by and follow. Besides their great work, both Mattijs and Koen are some of the most welcoming designers Ive met and always manage to find the time to reply to me, something which is often rare in the busy design world.

op de valreep

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Design Assembly

pop up shop

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black magic

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Interview
The interview took place over e-mail with Mattijs.

OK200 Amsterdam

1.

Q. A.

What prompted you to start your own studio? I knew quite early that working in an existing agency and thus working for a boss would not be the ideal fit for me. Before and during my Graphic Design study I did some freelance jobs, working alone on those projects was not the best way to go for me. I wanted to work together in order to come up with better solutions and have a studio context to produce my/our work.

2.

Q. A.

What inspired the name OK200? Finding a name can be difficult, but after weve both suggested about 100 names we decided that we both would like to go for a short name and also would like to have a number in it. The name OK200 is a server response code (same like the well known page not found 404 code) but then with a positive meaning. When all information is served correctly from a web server to a client this code is send with it to say: the request has succeeded.

3.

Q. A.

What other studios or designers influence you? I think a lot of other studios, designers, artists and musicians influence us in a lot of different ways. Heres a list of graphic designers I regularly check: Hort, Experimental Jetset, OnLab, Mevis en van Deursen, Our Polite Society, Moniker, Two Points, Metahaven, Catalogtree, Catalogue, Laurenz Brunner, Studio Makgill, Heydays, TSTO, OKRM, in any order and not definitive at all. The list is a lot longer but these names are at the top of my head at this moment.

4.

Q. A.

Could you tell me about your working processes? Processes differ a lot actually. The most interesting projects are those where we get an open briefing. Sometimes we work for advertising agencies which means the brief can be so clear theres not a lot of room left for creative interpretation. In that case the process is pretty straightforward, just make the thing they want. Other times the brief is to design promotional material for an event where only the content is given, these projects leave room to start a creative process. Our process normally is that one, or both of us start sketching, have a look at it, discuss it, and continue with the best idea(s) or start over if nothing seems useful. I must say that most part of our design process is digital so we dont have a lot of pen and paper sketches. Once we get to a good first design solution we invite the client or send over a presentation pdf. If the design is approved we start working towards a finished product. Otherwise we start over.

5.

Q. A.

Did you have a distinct idea about the kind of work you wanted to do? Im guessing you mean before starting a studio? We actually kind of started with the first client we got and from there on it developed to the clients and projects weve have at the moment and had for the past 3 years. Every once in a while we talk about what kind of projects we would still like to do and see if were happy with what were doing. We do like to have a fair bit of variation in our projects which means that we do like to design for different kind of media ranging from DIY silk screen projects to designing big corporate websites.

6.

Q. A.

Do you have a studio music policy at all? Since we both like different types of music weve searched for music with overlapping qualities. Since Im more into electronic music and Koen into Rock weve found common ground in bands as Moon Duo and Wooden Shjips. We do like to play music so most of the time we play it through the speakers but sometimes one of us gets his headphones to drown in beats or guitar riffs ;) Apart from that we play a fair bit of hip hop and grunge.

7.

Q. A.

What advice could you give to hopeful interns? The advise I want to give all interns is the make a plan in advance. A lot of times interns email more then one, or even more then ten studios at once. This might be high quality studios but their work might be mediocre. Its good to know what your qualities are and what studio fits with your work. Make a list of stuff you want to learn, think of the type of studio that fits your portfolio, character and goals and act upon it. Good students only need to send there work to 1 3 studios to get a good internship. Hopeful interns need to study more and become good! ;)

8.

Q. A.

If you had to pick one project from your studio what would be your favourite and why? That would be Max Snow Black Magic. Because its great to work with such graphic photos and a work for client whos not afraid to provoke with their promotional materials. When the content is great the overall design can become great, when the content is poor the design can only become nice or well done but never great.

9.

Q. A.

How would you define your studio? Our basic standpoint is that were open for any kind of graphic design related busyness. We see a challenge in doing well paid commercial projects as well as low, and no budget arts and cultural projects. We keep our work exciting by mixing up web-design jobs with silk screen printing days. Our aim is to come up with clear and strong, mostly typographical, solutions

10.

Q. A.

If you could pick a profession other than Graphic Design what would it be? I would pick to be a musician / producer / dj. Always wanted to make and perform (electronic) music but never really got to actually doing it. Since DJing can become boring after while I just name a few other professions Id probably be happy with: Architect, Front man of a Grunge band, Artist (painting), Organic Farmer, Fighter Jet Pilot, Pro Poker Player, Sailer, King and Traveller.

I would like to thank OK200 for taking out the time and helping me on various bits and pieces across my final year at Leeds College of Art. Your studio Visit influenced me as a designer and your feedback is always appreciated. Thank you.

OK200 Amsterdam