We’re pleased to announce the launch of a new level two graphic design course for the BA (Hons) Visual Communications pathway. The relationship between client, brief and graphic designer is central to the practice of graphic design, and Graphic Design…
Author Archive for Christian
Study visit to Leeds International Contemporary Artist’s Book Fair
by Christian • • 8 Comments
On Saturday 9 March we will be running our first study visit to Leeds International Contemporary Artist’s Book Fair at Leeds University. Now in it’s sixteenth year, the fair showcases the work of artists, bookmakers, students, and publishers. Artist books…
Share and Enjoy
Reflecting on graphic design since the Millennium
by Christian • • 1 Comment
The exhibition Graphic Design: Now in Production features work produced by 250 different graphic designers, made since the millennium. It charts a number of contemporary strands from the cultures of design-led publishing, the renaissance of type design, the growth of…
Share and Enjoy
Blog of the Week: Dagne Zvinklyte
by Christian • • 9 Comments
Blogs slowly develop over time, post by post, so it takes a while to see them developing into an interconnected body of work, reflections, and links that narrate a student’s learning journey. So its great when you come across a…
Share and Enjoy
Meeting Brian Grimwood
by Christian • • 1 Comment
It’s always interesting, on study visits, to meet up with students you’ve corresponded with online but haven’t met face-to-face, as well as meeting new students from other courses. Rarely however, do you also get to meet the artist whose…
Share and Enjoy
Study Visit to Conways of Halifax: Bookbinders
by Christian • • 1 Comment
Coinciding with the launch of OCA’s new Book Design 1 course a study visit has been organised to Conways of Halifax bookbinding workshop on Saturday 10 November. The visit will be led by bookbinder and printmaker Roger Grech and will…
Share and Enjoy
Study Visit to see graphic designer Tony Arefin in Birmingham
by Christian • • 0 Comments
The next visual communications study visit looks at the work of graphic designer Tony Arefin (1962-2000) on Saturday 3 November. Arefin & Arefin: The graphic design of Tony Arefin (12 September – 4 November 2012) at The IKON gallery in Birmingham,…
Share and Enjoy
Designing books is no laughing matter
by Christian • • 12 Comments
Chip Kidd, the American graphic designer and author explores the role of the book cover to give form to stories and ideas. Reflecting on his first graphic design lesson, in which his tutor said you can either show the content,…
Share and Enjoy
ready, steady, design
by Christian • • 1 Comment
Every year students pit themselves against one another in a series of design and illustration competition briefs.
Share and Enjoy
Thought bubbles
by Christian • • 4 Comments
There was a time when comics were just for kids and artists made images for grown ups. I’m not sure if that many artists have been able to make the switch to working for a younger audience, but certainly illustrators…
Share and Enjoy
Royalty and mugs always go well together: Steve Bell
by Christian • • 2 Comments
Award winning cartoonist Steve Bell has a long relationship with the Guardian newspaper, not least with his regular IF cartoon strip that has featured in the newspaper since 1981. It’s a sharp and irreverent narrative of those in power, often…
Share and Enjoy
Art by offenders
by Christian • • 11 Comments
Art in prisons has a long and well-established tradition. It provides a way for inmates to express themselves, produce something of meaning or to simply help pass the long hours locked in a cell. As a open learning experience OCA…