One week project: Symbolism
/The penultimate project for the graphic design first year this semester is focused on symbolism. In particular vexillology: the design of flags. Each student was briefed to design a flag on behalf of any place, group or organisation of their choosing.
Like much of the world of design, flags are seemingly simple; but actually represent incredibly complex ideas. With this is mind, the brief required the students to remove all design representations of their chosen subject (and sometimes even more) to reveal an absolute purity of form and concept. The following five criteria outlined by the vexillology society were communicated by staff as a method of pressure-testing any design, and to also offer guidance on how to be self critical of a design.
Keep it simple
Use meaningful symbolism
Use two to three basic colours
No lettering or seals
Be distinctive
But beyond that, and quite simply…does it look like a flag? Can it be seen and understood visually from distance? And can it be made from cotton?
Below are a selection of the final designs and a brief description of their origins.
Dogs trust
a charity which specialises in the wellbeing of dogs
Football for Humanity
a charity which uses the power of FOOTBALL to educate, empower and protect children facing the threat of violence, exploitation and poverty
the society of vintners
an association of British wine experts
retro gamers society
a group of gamers dedicated to the original class video games
little princess trust
The Little Princess Trust provides free real hair wigs to children and young people, up to 24 years, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions
BLACKPOOL CHESS CLUB
the tower comes into play
BFI
The British Film Institute is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom
SKELMERSDALE
a young town built in the brutalist style
E3
a trade event for the games industry held annually in los angeles – the city of angels
uclan rams
an american football team based at the university of central lancashire
gainsborough
a town known for its agriculture, river and oil deposits
ondo, nigeria
an area known as ‘the sunshine state’, which predominantly grows cocoa (a yellow coloured fruit), and also palm fruit (which are red)
harris museum
a preston building with six columns to its facade
cumbria
a geographical area famed for its lakes, fells (hills) and natural scenery
bhutan
a buddhist kingdom known for its colourful prayer flags
uk downhill ski club
an organisation interested in descending whte covered slopes
lancashire archery club
lancashire’s red rose meets arrows and a target
Liverpool
a weathered city with scandinavian heritage which was originally designed with a ‘h’ formation built around seven main streets
cumberland cliff diving association
leap from the land to the sea
polish community in preston
the two p’s of two communities weave together in a slavic pattern
lytham
a town know for its welcoming vista of green grass, blue skies and a white windmill
trafford libraries
denoting nine libraries found in the southwest region of manchester
shrovetide football
an ancient game played each shrove tuesday by the up’ards and the down’ards along a three mile stretch of river
layton juniors football club
a junior football team who play on the site of a former windmill
