#glamjail

A very important part of my creative process is to start with looking at the work of others.

When starting my development process for my MA project, the first campaign that really drew my attention was a photography campaign by Pol Kurucz. He focused on 11 eccentric inmates and transformed a prison visitors booth into a colourful fashion haven.

In my work, I want to showcase the background stories of powerful women. I want to do this in a bold way, using props and colour to bring each story to life.

Figure 1: POL KURUCZ. 2020. GLAM JAIL — POL KURUCZ. [online] Available at: <http://www.polkurucz.com/glam-jail/mca1wzs0i14nh3u1gxqw6e99nkbcku> [Accessed 10 December 2020].

The next body of work was done by a design studio called ZEKA Design, and I love the combination of black and white photography and colour.

Even though the photographs are mainly black and white, the designers have used colour in a way that highlights certain areas of the images, pulling focus to little details like patterns on the garments, or the way they fit the models.

Figure 2: ZEKA DESIGN. 2020. People VII Poster Design Series | ZEKA DESIGN. [online] Available at: <https://www.zekagraphic.com/portfolio/people-vii-poster-design-series/> [Accessed 10 December 2020].

The below campaign for Appy Fizz by Sagmeister and Walsh mainly uses 3 colours. The contrasts between red, black and white not only highlights the drink’s visual identity, but also makes the model pop.

The combination of vector based graphics and photography, also offers an opportunity for moving image to really push this campaign beyond just photography.

Figure 3: designboom | architecture & design magazine. 2020. Sagmeister & Walsh: Animated Appy Fizz Campaign. [online] Available at: <https://www.designboom.com/design/sagmeister-walsh-appy-fizz-campaign-06-02-2016/> [Accessed 10 December 2020].

Through my exploration, I have realised that the three things I really look for in a great design piece is strong photography, clever copywriting and deliberate use of colour to communicate the unspoken.

I will look into each of these components individually, and really understand how I can push the work that I create to the next level through this lens.

Sources:

designboom | architecture & design magazine. 2020. Sagmeister & Walsh: Animated Appy Fizz Campaign. [online] Available at: <https://www.designboom.com/design/sagmeister-walsh-appy-fizz-campaign-06-02-2016/> [Accessed 10 December 2020].

POL KURUCZ. 2020. GLAM JAIL — POL KURUCZ. [online] Available at: <http://www.polkurucz.com/glam-jail/mca1wzs0i14nh3u1gxqw6e99nkbcku> [Accessed 10 December 2020].