Simplistic illustrations

For the same Design Theory we had to define and design 5 terms in an original way:

Completed Carnegie Stadium

Finally the complete set of 12 patterns I designed for my Design Theory module. The following designs are my favourites:

My final choice of pattern was the first one, as it does not repeat but still tiles the square seamlessly. 

FInal presentation:

Final use of design mock up:

Geometric shapes

As part of the module for which I am creating patterns, I decided to take a step back and look at mathematicians and philosophers work on this subject before going further with my design creations.
In our lecture we looked at 3 dimensional objects and solids, which is also what I am interested in for my tiling project. The brief is to create 12 patterns tiling a rectangle without gap, 6 of them using 4,6, etc. sided shapes and the other six using unevenly sided shapes. What I am looking to tile at the moment is the irregularly shaped Leeds Carnegie Stadium:

 

To properly be able to tile this complex shape however, I have to understand different shapes; especially when 3 dimensional objects. For this I am looking at polyhedra.

 These polyhedra are known as the 5 Platonic solids, carved stones were found in these shapes dating back around 4ooo years.

The further class of polyhedra consists of 13 solids, known as the Archimedean solids.

I find these shapes fascinating, as they allow to tile even irregular shapes gaplessly. Possibly going further even another step, we also find these shapes in nature. Different geometric shapes which are simple on their own, but through reflection, fractioning and repeating create amazing designs.

The illustrations below were done by the biologist Ernst Haeckel for his book Kunstformen der Natur. These shapes are "complex crystalizations of minerals and appear as the skeletal remains of several species of amoebic sea creatures in the Radiolarian phylum.", being only one example of the variety of geometric forms in nature.

Looking at these forms and drawing them myself I will hopefully get closer to understanding the structures of polyhedra and be able to apply this knowledge to my pattern designs- as a deep understanding of these is what makes a design systematic, structured and hence successful.

3-D

Looking at 3D tilings. Ideally (and scientifically) rounded surfaces should be tiled with pentagons. However this is extremely difficult as tiling them to fit a rectangle is impossible with equilateral pentagons only. I do find this subject fascinating though and am starting this exploration with 3D triangle tilings though.


Exploring the different shapes triangles can create:

pattern designs

As part of my course work im working on some patterns which have to tile a rectangle seamlessly, based on the concept of maximum modularity by minimum inventory. I'm currently looking at tiling a 3-D surface, starting off with the simpler shapes of triangles and rectangles.


The following three are the same pattern explorations but with different colourings.

A more complex design inspired by Mayan patterns:

Headingley tracks

Another landscape photo I took recently whilst walking through different areas of Headingley, Leeds. Since the weather, i.e. lighting was miserable the actual photo was very desaturated and had a low contrast I edited the saturation and contrast quite a lot and also made it much sharper. The final result has a very surreal finish, as it has a greenish and blue tinge, almost almost fairy-tale like. I am quite happy with the final result as it looks quite different, but in an engaging and interesting way.

Geometric tiling

The last lectures on one of my modules have been less about actual graphics and communication strategies, but about mathematical aspects of geometry in the area of tilings, e.g. Islamic tiling patterns in architecture.


Since it is part of an assignment for this module to create my own tiling pattern- which will seamlessly cover a plane without gap or overlap- I started researching and looking at some patterns and shapes I find interesting.


The first is an example similar to the ones we were shown in our lecture, exploring the variety and possibilities of what shapes can be created from just a few simple 3, 4, 5, and 6 sided shapes.

Below is a more complex Islamic pattern, which creates complex looking shapes by merely overlapping and intertwining larger shapes. 

Above and below are some patterns I personally prefer for the warm colour palette  and varied shapes. I find especially the 3D-implying cubes fascinating and inspiring for my assignment pattern.

Berlin Photography

Similar to the photos I posted the other day, I also have a selection of  more stylistic and less saturated ones. Originally I took them to represent contrast in Berlin, so effectively they are also quite representative of the city.


The first two are my favourites, as they have a German sense or firmness and determination about them.

GIN & JUICE

Early stage of a flyer design I am working on for a successful Hip-Hop night in Leeds and am proud to be doing!

Thank you Ziggy!

Adding some Photography

Throughout my school and especially at University I have been taking more and more photographs, increasing and schooling my visual awareness. Recently I rediscovered some old pictures I took in Berlin, which I find interesting for their linear values and shapes. So I am making this post a slightly architectural one:

                                     

...and this latter one being one of my favourites.

Berlin

A few photoshop explorations revolving around Germany. This one was inspired by a documentary about the Berlin wall, and a photograph of it I took several years ago.

A more modern approach to promoting Germany's capital: 
Not the big apple. But still tasty.

Website

Finally, after several days of shifting, shivelling and shoving around I can say that my website is complete and live!
http://www.wix.com/chipdesign/graphics-and-photography
Please do check it out, I hope you "like" it! 


I shall be a bit busy the next few several days with revision and stuff... but surely will get around to a few more graphics :)

or maybe not quite- heres comes another little post

To be honest, I thought creating a website once you already have the images and an idea of what the concept should be roughly, wouldnt take too long. But since I'm also working on my University module for self promotion, my website has only been a part of what I've been doing recently.


However anyway, here some of my old(er) and new stuff:


Firstly, to explain my brand "Sugar Diamonds", which I created for one of my University modules- in which we had to recreate and rebrand a generic product- the design of my luxury product:

Pattern design and view from all sides. 




Below: Use

That was part one of the brief- part two was to market and advertise our product.


Here the three final designs for the three different media I used:

  Billboard advert

Magazine Advert

And finally the public display of the product in a showcase in e.g. high- end shopping plazas, cafes.




After the submission, I decided to have another play around with the pattern, kind of extending my marketing campaign and ideas. Ergo the following doodles: 
(Photo of the model courtesy to Photostock, Photoshop Magazine)