Who couldn’t love a design studio named after Homer Simpson’s workplace area at the Springfield Nuclear Plant? Sector7g is run by principal Nicholas Eldridge who is fortunately somewhat more adept at his work responsibilities than above mentioned cartoon icon. The work up on the Sector7g site is excellent and inspiring, makes me wonder why you don’t see his name mentioned in a few more design competitions. The website has an interesting interface as well, allowing you to detatch the portfolio pics and move them anywhere in the space. You’ll need to ’shuffle’ the folio a few times to view all of the work on offer, well worth it to see some more excellent Adelaide design pieces.
Filed under: Adelaide Designers
January 15, 2009 • 6:52 am
I graduated from the University of South Australia’s Bachelor of Visual Communication Degree course way back in those halcyon days of 1991, so I’ve been a ‘professional’ designer for going on 15 years now, in theory anyway. When you finish your study, you’re thrust out into the working world and justly expected by any prospective employer to be ready to undertake the duties of a professional designer.
That’s rarely the case though, and wasn’t in my particular experience. I left University at a difficult time. Australia was in the midst of a recession, the days when you would see a design firms logo emblazoned on their company BMW were over and work was hard to come by for even the most experienced of designers. The course I did was excellent in regards to the theory of good visual communication, but was very light when it came to the business of an everyday design practice. Times were changing and the course was failing to (or at the very least was lacking in funds to) keep up with the important role computers were obviously beginning to play in the graphic design field, we all know it was inevitable as we scrambled to learn as much as we could from the few Mac SE machines available, trying to wring design gold under the very rudimentary tools set of programs such as ‘Ready Set Go’.
I’m currently in the process of a big clean-out in preparation for moving house. I’ve tended to be a bit of a pack-rat over the years, and I’ve dragged out my graduate portfolio into the daylight for the first time in probably over 10 years or so. It’s an interesting ‘artifact’ to say the least – full of all those past influences of Design heroes, letraset, bromides and cut paper. University is a time for experimentation, to find your direction as a designer, free to create without the burden of client input or budget constraints.
So how does the 21 year old graduate designer scrub up to the 35 year old ‘professional designer’? Over the next couple of weeks or so I’m going to examine each of my graduate projects and review where my design sensibilities where then compared to now – the good, the bad and probably the very ugly of what I offered towards potential employers back those many years ago.
Filed under: Adelaide Designers
January 13, 2009 • 7:41 am
A look through the web-o-sphere at some local and not so local designers who have inspired me, made me think, made me jealous, made me mad or are just infuriatingly better than me.
First off the block is local Adelaide firm Black Squid. Established by Director Derek Butler, they’ve been producing some excellent work for quite a few years now. Derek is obviously pretty passionate about design, he’s served a few terms on the local Australian Graphic Design Association local committee, producing some nice event calendars and promotional materials as well. The quality of Black Squid’s design output has been complimented in recent years with the inclusion of designer/illustrator/artist Melanie Terrett to the team. Melanie studied a year behind me at high school and university, though I’ve only spoken to her on a couple of occasions, I tried to get my old employers to hire her at one point, but it wasn’t to be, their loss is Black Squid’s gain I guess. She brings a beautiful illustrative aesthetic to whatever she designs, as seen in Black Squid’s website folio. I think Derek’s own modern clean style is a nice counterpoint. I particularly like the whimsy of the identity they worked on for TV program ‘My Restaurant Rules’ winners ‘The Greedy Goose. The restaurant interior is also decorated with some of Melanie’s paintings.
Black Squid’s website is nothing splashy, it Abley demonstrates their capabilities in a professional, easygoing manner and is written in a fun style. They all seem like they’re nice enough people, working in a fun and invigorating environment. Check out the site for some graphic goodness (make sure you look in the ‘experimental’ section as well).
Filed under: Adelaide Designers
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