LINGWISTIK.

Artist Review.

http://shrapnelzzz.deviantart.com/gallery/

Shrapnelzzz.

Being the person who raised me in this world of design, i thought it could only be fair to review my main inspiration and role model as his level of skill in drawing alone is immense (no exaggeration). Calculated and precise, I've always been amazed by his straight lines without a ruler. Growing up I would always sit there and watch him draw and always aspire to be the same even though I doubt I probably could as my shading and preciseness do not match equally. However my Dad always pushed me and taught me the basics of drawing from a young age, from gridding, shading, and drawing to painting. He didn't leave any stone unturned and would always give me “drawing homework” to complete which I would always enjoy and be in a rush to finish.

He has produced countless amounts of work from the Arabic language calligraphy, fantasy paintings to children’s story books but he wishes to remain underground refusing to promote himself. Shrapnelzzz used to own his own T-shirt Company alongside Barrington Hencion which went very far. Unfortunately this came to an end. This was down to them both adhering to other important issues in life. Since then it has only been pieces of work placed into a portfolio and he continues on being a designer, decorator and builder. Now being self-employed he deals with issues of architecture alongside Luke Hutchinson working for contract companies all around the United Kingdom and once they did an exhibition in Leicester showcasing and selling his work which proved never the less profitable and an “experience for the family”. 

Exhibition Review.

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/lichtenstein

Tate Modern Art Gallery.

During my search in which gallery to visit and attend I wasn't really sure what to look for outside of Manchester so started to search for artists and exhibitions exhibiting their work which is how I came across the Tate. Around two years ago I visited the Tate in a trip to London where we stayed in a hostel for 3 days all for the purpose of visiting this gallery. Thankfully our stay proved worth our while.

Seeing the Tate exhibiting Roy Lichtenstein's work was more than I could of hoped for. The Tate itself is a gallery of high standard and it’s very rare to come across disappointment from it which made me even more eager to visit.

The Tate itself is a showcase so to speak of modern day art and design from some of the most well-known art inspirations of the world to upcoming students and graduates. Although this is the case the Tate pays special attention to quality and always has pieces of work from the highest standard which always leaves a big impression on me.

Exhibition Review.

http://issuu.com/whitworthartgallery/docs/whitworth_newsletter_v24_amended_web_version/7

Whitworth Art Gallery.

The Whitworth Art Gallery has always proven never to be a let down. Simple yet effective, small but yet large when it comes to quality, its easy to see why it still remains a big attraction in the city of Manchester. Its not always nowadays that galleries are always visited constantly throughout the day. In fact sadly today most galleries are empty unless a big event is happening which shows the true quality of this simple gallery. I have visited this many times since being involved in design. In college I became a monthly thing which was recommended by our tutor in order to gain some form of inspiration.

The Exhibition which caught my eye this weekend happened to be the Nancy Holt Exhibition. Nancy Holt is known for her beautiful landscape architectural skills dealing with her natural environment. This exhibition was mainly to do with her outdoor photography but gave a great insight as to what this architect/photographer is about and gave a few examples of her work. I believe her most famous piece would have to be the out door pipes in the middle of the desert which I find quite intriguing to say the least.

Graphic Design Book Review.

http://layersmagazine.com/magazine-downloads

Layers Magazine Review.

Layers magazine is one of the most influential and prominent design magazines of today! Run by the award winning Kelby Media Group, this magazine happens to be full to the brim with tips and tricks on the whole entire adobe package. Whether it be Photoshop, Illustrator, Light Room, After Effects etc. the Layers magazine has it all served on a plate, hot and ready. These artists are big known publishers in the world of design. Not only do they produce Layers but also magazines such as the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Photoshop User magazine, the Adobe Seminar Tour and Photoshop World. These people are adobe fanatics! Keeping up with the latest reviews on each program with the various techniques and know how’s, this is a magazine for those serious in the design industry.

This magazine is run by a group of writers, designers, art directors and releases 6 issues yearly with each page checked over by this team of adobe geeks. It’s easy to understand why this magazine is constantly sold out and promoted by some of the world’s biggest designers. Layers itself is run by some of the biggest designers that have won awards for many of the issues produced. Not just for Layers alone but for the others magazines produced by Kelby and his team.

Graphic Design Book Review.

http://www.cmykmag.com/magazine

CMYK Magazine Review.

The website itself is clear and professional. It has tutorials uploaded regularly which are explained via text, by the designer themselves or through step by step images which are clear and easy to follow. This is one of my favourite issues which I tend to look at regularly and has improved my work and ideas in big way. A magazine i would recommend to most designers as the adobe package is playing the major role in the design industry at the moment. The reason i chose to review this magazine is because it is a series mainly produced by students and graduates over in America so i found that it related a lot to me and the people around me. It is magazine produced by top designers who have handpicked these people in order to produce the freshest and most up to date designs in and outside of their local communities. CMYK is one of the bestselling magazines in America as a lot of effort is put into the promotion and advertisement of this magazine. The latest version of this series is issue 54 which deals with graphic design, illustration, art direction, photography etc. so as can be seen it appears to be a magazine which may appeal to each and every audience of the design industry.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Briefly by keeping in mind the achievements and failures I have come across this year, considering and contemplating upon whether or not I have attained the stature I had wished for, I shall address my progress through this year. Whether or not I have come across difficulties and managed to overcome them through hardships whilst remaining with a positive attitude towards my work.

During this year (level 5) I have realized I have a strong ability to complete a project quickly and on time with a wide range of ideas. Once i manage to get my head down inspiration springs up from every angle whether it be from the surrounding environment, artists, people, speech or any other form of influence. My interpersonal skills which are improving at a steady pace such as problem solving, decision making and personal stress management have come a long way since the start of level 5 and have taught me a lot about myself. One of the main qualities I have developed is my level of independent working as when a brief is at hand, once understood, dealing with the brief at hand independently isn't an issue. Something that I like to do is debate among people as I enjoy hearing other people’s ideas and sharing mine with them as I find it develops and strengthens my work after taking a critical look at it myself and once it has been looked at by others. throughout the year it has been a struggle but with each and every project the more I can differentiate between how much my skills have developed whether it be using software such as Photoshop, Illustrator etc. or what I lacked in and realizing what I could of done to improve this particular piece of work and how I could of done things better. 

Although this is the case and this year has had a great impact on me and my work, my weaknesses are still clear to me and are something I need to get a hold of in order to make improvements to myself. I would say the main problem I have is my time management skills as I can be extremely organised with things which ends up leading to a huge level of procrastination. Even though I have been through difficulties this year with regards to personal issues I tend to dismiss that aspect in order to be critical with myself and look deeply into the improvements which can be made. There are many things I could of hoped for but to be honest this being the case, my main hope is to organize myself for level 6 in order to achieve the best possible outcome I can get as there are people who are interested in the work I have produced in the past.

How long have you been in the design industry for?

I've been working in the field of design for about 10 years and it’s been excellent. I've not looked back since.

What do you enjoy most about design?

Well as an Architectural Technologist I work on some really big projects. I really enjoy making sure everything is designed in accordance with Building Regulations. This means making sure that above all aspects of the design are safe for people to use, energy efficient and accessible for people of all abilities.

When and where did you graduate?

I graduated from DeMontfort University in Leicester back in 2000.

Tell me about a difficulty you've experienced through your journey and had to overcome?

One of the difficulties I faced was choosing a career pathway within the umbrella of design. To earn some extra cash I did some decorating at an Architect’s office while at College and that was when everything clicked into place. I did some research of my own and so I chose Architectural Technology because it's about real functional design, designing things that matter, things that make a difference to how we live.

How do you prefer to work?

My job involves a lot of team work but I enjoy putting my head down and solving problems on my own too.

What first made you interested in the field of design?

I became interested in the field of design at an early age. I guess I just had a natural love for observing things and exploring concepts through pen and paper. Most of my early text books were used as drawing pads. I guessed this progressed in high school where I got distinctions in Technical Drawing. I had an Aeronautics class as well where we would design and build model aircraft.

What techniques do you favour?

In terms of technique, I enjoy using Auto-cad it’s fast and straight to the point. I' use more three dimensional software too, such as Revit and Archicad but they're used in the preliminary stages of a project, to sell a project really.

What do you think of designers in your local area?

From time to time I like to have a peep into Local Designers via the internet. I really enjoy some of the Interior Design of various architects. It's something that I don't have to much input in at my office so It's always refreshing to see what others are doing.

Who are your clients?

Our clients range from Audi to Nandos with a few residential projects. We've worked on the Hardrock Cafe and retail outlets too.

How has being involved in the design industry improved your skills and what have brought to the table?

Working in a team always brings new skills. Everyone had their unique ways of doing things and you overlap with Renderers. So at the moment I'm teaching myself 3D Viz.

What designers influence you and how?

LeCorbusier has probably been my greatest influence. His work ethics and aspirations are second to none. I admire his ability to design forms that are led by functionality.

What was your journey like in becoming a designer?

Becoming a designer was at times tiring but every design brings its rewards so I've not looked back since.

Is there anywhere you've worked beyond the U.K?