Graphic Design in St.vincent and the Grenadines

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A LOOK AT A YOUNG GRAPHIC DESIGNER IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
BY KIZEANNE MATTHEWS
. .

Table of Content
Purpose of the study 2

Introduction

2

The Artist

3

Modern Designer

4-8

Analysis

8-9

Conclusion

9-10

Appendix

List of terms

10-12

Purpose of study
The purpose of this study is to find out more about what our Vincentian artists has to offer. Vincentian arts are truly amazing we as art student could say we‟ve learn a lot by interviewing, writing and presenting a study about an individual who has a passion for art. This person is a young man, he is a Graphic Designer and by looking at his work it motivates me in wanting to become an artist someday. While looking at his work it was interesting, especially all the wonderful colors in his designs.

Introduction
Very little is known about the process of creating a design on the computer or about what the design process is when creating commercial art. To answer this question, this project was conducted and information gathered after interviewing an artist; a graphic designer, then compiled as a study. There is enlightening information about what young designers and graphic designers in SVG have produced. Included are illustrative materials, biographical data, an evaluation of the designers work and a comprehensive discussion of his style of the work, and his contribution the visual arts community. In the last few pages is the list of art terms used in the study.

The Artist
Very few young graphic designers are allowed the opportunity to be in an environment where they are able to use their artistic ability. Young people with artistic talents in SVG are usually employed where no one knows nor appreciates their artistic ability and few are known. Some maybe involved in community activities where only in that small setting can their abilities be celebrated and appreciated. Fortunately Dwight Davis was given the opportunity to become a budding graphic designer in SVG while being employed at the Multi Graphics Services, located in the capital, Kingstown.

His talents were recognized at an early age when he was found drawing at young age. Born in 1985, he is now twenty four years of age and is presently living in Redemption Sharpes, in Central Kingstown. He was a past student of the Bethel High School, Campden Park and has been an artist since he was in Grade Four in Primary School, still practicing and developing his abilities. Most of what Davis creates are designs for commercial purposes, business cards, invitations to celebrations, logos and vehicle graphics as well as a few promotional, announcements and acknowledgement designs.

Davis stated that he loves to draw and that drawing is his first love. He also informed me that when he began seriously creating his designs was when he was not working and had a lot of free time. Since being employed at as a graphic designer, most of the designs he has created were for use on vehicles, informative signs on buildings and small contracts for entrepreneurs, who are young like himself. He notes that he enjoys his job because he is in an artistic field. Being a graphic designer allows him to explore all possibilities and put his stamp on the design community of SVG. Resources to create these designs are sourced from the internet, the computer, books and magazines, where he uses these as inspiration for his work. Not only does he use these resources but he also has the assistance of computer generated designs from programs such as Photoshot, Illustrator and Composer.

Sometimes clients may convey to him that they need a special request and may ask him to incorporate their personal items in designs. The materials that are used to complete his work are the materials used by graphic designers. At times wood, cloth, vinyl material are used to created banners, which brings extreme pleasure and joy when the designs have come to life. His future plans of owning a graphic design company will be realized in a few years. For the moment his attention is on raising his daughter while being as creative as he can, satisfying his clients.

He also stated that in S.V.G art has the potential to do well but the visual arts are not being given serious acknowledgement by locals and is therefore not being taken seriously enough. Davis also mentioned that he feels pleased about his work, he loves his job and the work he has created since working at the company and on his own for the past year. Davis advised students whose dreams of becoming an artist is that, „It‟s hard work,‟ but he still encourages them to stay focused and work even harder to accomplish their goals.

Modern designer
Graphic designers use different techniques available and invent other methods of getting their specific message across. Many times typography is all a design needs to communicate ideas effectively. Design and layout techniques are used in the creation of a design as graphics can support the type or vise Varese; type can support the graphics. However if a designer wants to deliver the message in a particular way, he/she needs to make sure the selected type is expressive enough, the design is unique enough and the composition is powerful. The end result is that sometimes the design might be viewed as being extreme, artsy, unusual but they are often a different way of imagining a concept from ways in which other artists may never imagine. It is evident that designers must explore new horizons and explore new ways of viewing and interpreting an ideas so that it can inspire us, inform us and make us question our perspectives of what graphic design is about. Modern graphic design has done that and especially with the use of the computer. Davis has created some examples of bold, questionable and new typography to create typographic posters, illustrations or other graphic design concepts. This idea of using typography and bold images is evident in this promotional advertisement (Figure 1) for a popular company in the Caribbean. Figure 1. Promotional advertisement. In this example for Lasco infant formula, the designer choose the colours of purple and pink, yellow and gold to highlight the important sections of the design. In the background the baby, his daughter, she looks like if she is sleeping, her head may have been resting on a pillow in the original, but instead of a pillow, here her head is resting on the Lasco logo. In the foreground is the formula bottle that has been superimposed on the front of the design. The message he is sending is that this type of baby formula is excellent for the

growth development of your child, since he has used his own daughter as part of the design.

Figure 2. Hair salon logo.

This use of typography is very feminine with the font in a whimsical and flirty design suggests us that this is for a female. Tammi B (Figure 2) is a design for a hair saloon in which a limited colour scheme has been used. Unlike the previous design, the prominent image is the name of the saloon with a simple flower above. This design seems quite simple but it is complex because Davis needed to use the elements of design in creating this logo. Children want to be able to be free and enjoy their childhood and the message here is that this preschool is happy, hence the name Happy Day Preschool. This is a promotional banner was created to celebrate the preschool‟s its thirteenth anniversary, he has used four styles of typography and colours that are associated with babies mainly, pink and blue. In the background he has the ribbons that are falling from above, he has popular cartoon figures from the Looney Tones, the Baby Loney Toons characters. I think that this is successful because the message is that this is a happy place and that at this party every child will have fun. Figure 3. Anniversary banner.

This athletic theme design has used the faces of popular athletes, Marian Jones and Usain Bolt, both international athletes. Bolt is from the Caribbean island of Jamaica and Marian is an American, both are known for their abilities on the track. King has placed these two athletes beside each other as if they are both running against each other, going after the same trophy. However instead of the athletes wearing the identification of the international race, they are wearing the colours and the name of Henry House. The colours are predominantly of yellow hues, with the trophy in gold, highlighted with the sunlight streaming from the top of it. The house‟s motto is also written in bold black colours at the bottom of the design.

Figure 4. Banner design for inter-house sports at a secondary school.

Women want to know that their hands and are soft and touchable and some even go to the salon to have them professionally manicured. An advertisement for a nail saloon (Figure 5) has monochromatic colours of red purples. A lady‟s face showing her hands he well manicured nails, with her pinkie finger being bitten on ever so slightly, is positioned in the top left hand corner. This design is very sexy, even sensual because of the placement of the lady‟s face and the fact that we only see a part of her face. It‟s as if Dwight is asking us to identify her and to associate her with every woman in the island. In the background he has used curved lines and a variety of shapes, some geometric and some organic, takes up the majority of the background. The opening hours of the saloon is written at the bottom along with the opening hours. Figure 5. Nail saloon design.

Discussing politics in SVG is the beginning of an argument among supporters of one or the other political parties. Brain “Peco” Jordon was running for the constituency of North Leeward in 2005, and therefore he needed some promotional banners and posters to encourage voters of North Leeward. His face is within a heart, with a contented slight

Figure 6. Political poster/banner. smile on his face, a smaller heart is above his head and there are trees in the background. On the right hand side is a map of SVG, with the encouragement to vote for him at the bottom. Next to the X marks the spot, are two hearts, this time in orange and red against a blue background. When I looked at this design I thought it was something about love and not politics. I think that this design is not successful; because the heart is connected with Valentine Day and this is not a politically charged poster. If I were in this community I would not be encouraged to vote for him because I think it looks tacky. This design was rather daring and bold however it is not very good or successful

Figure 7. Design for a passenger van.

Passenger vans travel in many areas throughout the country and they all love to outdo each other with their designs. The design for the passenger van, Big Smoke (Figure 7), is in the graffiti style popular in Europe, North and South America. The name is in a 3D style, with a dark blue background colour, the name is multicoloured with red, orange, brown, yellow and black accented by a white outline also trimmed in black lines. This design draws my eyes across the middle of it first because that is where the lighter colours are located then I noticed the other aspects of the design.

Analysis
Graphic design is part of the visual experience of art and Dwight has made some contribution in the short time that he has been employed as a graphic designer. His designs unfortunately have the same colour schemes, where his work is mostly monochromatic. This style of using one intensity of colour seems to be a trademark of his. Maybe it is because he has not had that much experience or it could be these are the colours requested by his clients. His chosen colours are mostly red and purple hues and that seems to be a big distraction for some of this designs.

Although he is very talented, I am sure that anyone with a decent design program and some artistic knowledge will be able to create imaginative designs. He understands and knows the importance of layout in graphic design as well as the use of the elements and principles of design. He has also demonstrated a good use of space, line and typography. This font styles chosen are suitable for the designs, particularly Figure 1, where the image of the sleeping baby captures your attention. However not all of his designs have been this successful as mentioned, tacky. His work is diverse showing that he is able to work with any request. Some of his designs have more than one type of font which can „make or break‟ the design.

The designs produced by the designer were found to be colorful, creative and attractive. Although his designs are commissioned he seems to give the clients what they want, most of his work is realistic which is determines by the request of his art. The designs reflect a modern style of graphic design where he does use some elements of modern art. In most designs he has combined typography and graphics to bring his message across. The graphical designs created are mainly used for adverting for business world the art work is not unique because other artist may have done similar work. After a closer evaluation of his work, I noticed that he does lack some something. His style will be developed once he gets more experience and then he will known for a specific style. Something else was evident in his designs. He used typography just like other designers but his designs are

similar in style and content as other graphic designers in the country. He there is evidence of a passion for the visual arts but he needs to have more exposure so that his name will be recognized.

Conclusion
Sometimes it is difficult for artist to get their work notice by the public. I know for some artists they usually complain that they are not getting enough support that they need from the government and people from St. Vincent. Dwight is putting all his effort into his work to be noticed by others, this is what he does for a living. Everyone has to have a talent or be good at something in order to make money. This man work has a gift from God and is doing extremely well. It‟s a great opportunity for others who have dreams of becoming artists to take and look at the art work our own Vincentians have to offer us. Look up to them as your own brothers and sisters and you will learn more from them and even more than you expect.

List of terminology
Background: the area of a picture that appears farthest away in a threedimensional illusion. Balance: a principle of art that is concerned with the sense of stability of the visual elements. There are three types of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. Collage: An artistic composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface, often with unifying lines and color. Colour: a visual element that refers to what the eyes see when light is reflected off an object. Hue, value and intensity are three properties of color. Commercial art - art used for commercial purposes (as in advertising) Composition: a arrangement of the visual elements in an artwork often used to refer to a work of art itself. Conceptual art: works of art in which the idea is equally if not more important than the finished product. Content: the message the work communicates. The content can relate to the subject matter or be an idea or emotion. Theme is another word for content. Context: the location, information, or time-frame that informs how a work of art is viewed and what it means. Contrast: a principle of art that uses the differences between the visual elements to create variety, emphasis or interest. Contrast in value is the difference between light and dark. Creativity: using imagination rather than imitating something else. Generation of ideas, images and/or solutions. Design: the overall conception of a work of art Dominance: effect created by making certain elements appear more important than others in a composition Elements of design: the basic components used by the artist to create works of art. Shape, value, texture, space, form, line and color are elements of design.

Emphasis: a principle of art that stresses one element of art, defines a center of interest or draws attention to certain areas with a work of art. Graphic design: The practice or profession of designing print or electronic forms of visual information, as for an advertisement, publication, or website. Graphic design is the process and art of combining text and graphics and communicating an effective message in the design of logos, graphics, brochures, newsletters, posters, signs, and any other type of visual communication. Monochromatic: a color scheme of one color plus black and white Movement: a principle of art used to guide a viewer’s eye throughout the work; a trend. Negative space: spaces surrounding shapes or forms in two- and three-dimensional art. Overlapping: placing one object in front of another, to create depth in a work of art. Principles of design: refers to the ways artists organize the visual elements of art: generally found to include balance, emphasis, contrast, unity, movement and rhythm. May also include: proportion, scale, repetition, pattern, and variety. Shapes are created when lines are combined to form a square, triangle, or circle. Shapes can be organic (irregular shapes found in nature) or geometric (shapes with strong lines and angles such as circles, triangles, and squares). Space is the area between and around objects. Increasing or decreasing the amount of space around an object affects the way we view that object. Unity: a principle of art that is concerned with the sense of wholeness or completeness. Value: the visual element that refers to lightness and darkness. Visual elements of design: the basic ingredients artists use to create works of art: line, shape, form, color, texture and space. Typeface: The surface of a block of type that makes the impression, it can also be the size or style of the letter or character on a block of type. Value is the degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white and all the tones in between. Value can be used with color as well as black and white. Contrast is the extreme changes between values.

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