#londongraphics

After making some initial ideas and observations of the people in the Tate modern. I became more aware of people’s relationship with pop in everyday life. So for my piece in response to I wanted to do a merge of an icon art piece revamped to a ‘modern pop’ for this I looked at brands people where representing and wearing around the Tate; Coca Cola, Champion, Addis, Calvin Kelvin and Vans. I recreated the Virgin Mary by Sassoferrato, 17th century. People wear brands like it’s there religion. A way of life.

Piece 2 was a pop art comic sketch that I also created on pro-create on iPad Pro of a simple monty python phase that was on someone’s shirt which sums up the words ‘individual’ which I contstantly relate to and try to portray in most of my work. These where conversations I heard when people where commenting on a Gorillaz Girl piece that was pure text on canvas. It inspired me to create this pieces in a pop art way.

It’s coming up to that time where panic may be setting in for a lot of final year students, who will be graduating and concentrating on their degree show spaces for the next couple of months. If you’re currently one of these students, we’re running our degree show campaign online to help and guide you to the best brands and products, so you can display your final pieces of work.

LGC sponsored the best in show for Central St Martin’s in 2014 and we caught up with the winner Brian Lo, who shared his tips and tricks to help inspire and hopefully put your nerves aside, to create a first class show and display.

Hey Brian, Please do tell me a bit more about yourself. 

 Hey there, I'm a Canadian born, Hong Kong raised creative currently working in London. My family is originally from Hong Kong but I have had the opportunity to study in various international environments that have brought me to where I am today.

How did your time at Central St Martin’s shape your artistic practice?

 The BA Graphic Design degree at Central Saint Martin’s in my personal experience, was an incredibly open course, that allowed students to thoroughly dictate themselves in their interests, studies, research and execution. I never considered myself a traditional illustrator in the way you might think a person draws with a pen or brush (even though I do, just not as the final outcome) but I do have a passion for image making. So, I decided to pursue the illustration pathway at Central Saint Martin’s. I was fond of briefs introduced here, in the way that they had an idea led framework rather a project dictated firstly by a set medium, which I felt was often the case for other graphic design pathways. Of course, once I settled on an idea I went through experimentation of typography, editorial design, bookmaking, and screen-printing when appropriate to help realize my work. More importantly, the self-dictated studies shaped a body of work that was congruent in theme throughout my second and third year of university which really contributed to a successful final year.

Since graduating what have you been up to?

 I took upon an internship right after graduating from Central Saint Martins with an open eye to see what was in store for me beyond those walls. Happy to say that I have since become a full time member of the design team at Winkreative, a creative agency in London, for the past three years, working on some fantastic projects for clients worldwide.

What is your biggest achievement to date? 

Creating a career out of something you enjoy in life isn't always easy but I am very happy to say that I have proved it somewhat! Second to that, defining the new graphic language for Air Canada's route maps, an airlines number one priority, amongst other brand elements is certainly at the top of my list. To work on the rebrand of an airline is such a rare opportunity, and to add, a country's flag carrier that I have a personal connection with!

What are your plans for the future?

There's plenty for me to learn still from the creative industry, even with a few years already strapped to my belt. In the short term I hope to prove to myself that I have a unique quality and approach to work that can be transferable from one country to another.

What advice would you give to creating a first class graduate show space?

Put hard work in, and believe in what you're trying to convey both in terms of the work on display and the exhibition space itself. Squeeze every creative opportunity out of your degree and get to know yourself as you mature throughout your degree. I also think soon to be graduates should aim to be as eloquent as they can be in describing their practice that they've worked tirelessly on, this will help with give the work definition and story.

What important advice would you give to a graduating artist?

I believe some of the best and most thoughtful work to come out of any kind of craft, really requires time, effort, and hardship. I don't think you can be lucky every time, there will be moments where you're creatively challenged but thats all part of the game for anyone. Find that energy to pursue something you feel great about!

You can see more of Brian Lo’s work online