Contributed by Dominic Ayre RGD
Christmas has come twice!!! Well, not really, but here is part two of my Top 5 Projects by DesignThinkers Speakers.
Being able to share this series highlights the variety and depth of the presenters this year. I am truly vibrating, knowing that some of the most interesting people working in design today will all be in one location. Get ready for full inspiration saturation.
Christopher Doyle & Co.: Tie: Visual Identities for Natasha Cantwell & Garigarra
Christopher Doyle has always made me smile. During the pandemic, I think we all found solace in Youtube. I saw Christopher speak about the visual identity for his friend photographer Natasha Cantwell. Graphic designers often look for the joy in words, and when something like this presents itself, you can’t help but jump on it. By splitting Natasha’s last name, Cant and Well, Christopher played with everything that Natasha can’t do well. Then, there’s the identity for Garigarra, which means truth in Wiradjuri. This development company works closely with Australia’s Aboriginal community, recognizing them as the custodians of the land. The austerity of the photography coupled with the 70s puzzle-like letterforms really grabbed me.
Mr. Bingo: This will be a fucker to frame + EVERYTHING ELSE
I put this Mr. Bingo piece after Christopher Doyle’s work above because I think it also reflects that same beautiful balance of words and humour. This one is really simple. The title says it all. The hardest part about this project was trying to narrow down what I would pick for Mr Bingo. He reminds me, with everything that he releases, of the work of Pentagram’s founding partnerAlan Fletcher. Again just a joy to see such fun in all of his work.
Johanna Roca: Tie: My Big Moments
As the Creative Venture Partner at Accept & Proceed, Johanna’s work is recognized as one of the most interesting designs being done today. For her, I picked her project, My Big Moments. These books look amazing. Johanna’s work as a creative director is so fun, beautiful and sophisticated. These customized books appeal to both the adults who are snapping them up and the children whose eyes widen when they see their names on the pages of these beautiful publications.
Mindy Seu: Cyberfeminism Index
One talk I will not miss is Mindy’s On Gathering in Five Chapters. She is known for her Cyberfeminism Index,a website first and book second. I came to it in the opposite order. The intensity of the cover of her book was what grabbed me first. (Always how I judge a book!). The book includes 703 entries from the site’s larger archive of over three decades of work by marginalized communities. Once opened, I was immediately drawn into some of the most intense, surprising and challenging work that then propelled me down the rabbit hole of the online version with project topics from sexuality and technology to trauma, identity, grief and relationships.
Mirek Nisenbaum: Studio Museum in Harlem Website
I mean, come on, it’s Base Design. I admit I’m a fanboy. The work that this international studio creates is, in my mind, some of the smartest creative thinking out there. I often return to this project for the Studio Museum in Harlem, led by Mirek. The museum wanted to create a digital experience that would be a place where black art came alive, ensuring this important work was seen by a broader community. This project’s audience needs, user experience and design all work seamlessly.