Lady Gaga is a crazy lady!!

I've just watched the new Lady Gaga and Beyonce video ('telephone') and it is typical Gaga style!  The clothes are completely out there but they look fantastic.  There's a range of bizarre outfits, including a padlock draped swimsuit fabricated with lit cigarettes as sunglasses, and a  crime scene tape top (if you can call it that), which basically just covers her modesty.  I love the use of the diet coke cans as rollers, it just adds to her creative madness.

 The video was directed by Jonas Akerlund.  He is known for his stylish music videos that often mock forms of movie trailers and short films.  The telephone video reminds me of a similar style Quentin Tarantino uses in his films.  It's very raw and edgy.  This video seems to have a lot of pop culture allusions with the Captain America and Wonder Woman characters, reference to Andy Warhol and pop star icons Michael Jackson and Madonna.  Akerlund is known for a wide range of music videos, but one that stand out to me was the 'Smack My Bitch Up' by Prodigy in 1997.  The video was banned due to the explicit violence and sexual reference.  I'm not a big fan of the song, but I think the way the video has been created works really well with the song.  The video is edited as if we are looking through the eyes of the main actor and the overall effect is very gripping.

Alan Fletcher

I went to see the Alan Fletcher exhibition at the Manchester Cube Gallery, 'Fifty years of graphic work (and play).'  It was a very striking exhibition, which included original sketches, posters, objects and archive footage celebrating his work.  He has been described as one of Britain's best ever graphic designers.  His work is still a major influence in todays graphic design and it still looks fresh and exciting.  Until this exhibition I wasn't aware that Fletcher helped establish the Design & Art Director's Society (D&AD) and he was one of the founding partners of the Pentagram.  His use of typography was really exciting with the bold styles and the bright use of colour.

                                                      Fruit & Cream, 1968

                                                      Decorative poster

                                                      Crosby/ Fletcher/ Forbes

                                                       Cheese & Biscuits, 1968

                                                       Decorative poster

                                                       Lyon's Teashop

These are two examples from the series of posters used to liven the dreary interiors of the 'Lyon's' chain of teashops.  The Fruit and Cream poster is derived from Fletcher's handwriting.  The theme of food is used throughout and with the vibrant colour, it's aim is to stimulate appetite.  I think you either love or hate this kind of style.  I personally enjoy his daring use of type and colour.

                                                       Icograda, 1996

                                                       Seminar poster

                                                       International Council of Graphic Design Associations

The poster above really caught my eye at the exhibition.  The image is very striking and it is obviously about someone who has a lot to share with the wolrd.  There's a lot of passion shown in this image.

                                                       Pan Am

                                                       Pentagram

                                                       1972

In 1970s Pan Am reduced its transatlantic fares.  This move was accompanied by a campaign promoting the airline to ordinary passengers.  Posters and multiple information leaflets were designed.  The example above is of the leaflets that were designed.  Fletcher's designs are very clear and legible, but his bold colour and type keep it interesting.

 

Flirty Adverts

I am currently working on a brief for Bacardi, which is to advertise Bacardi falvoured rum to 18-24 year old males.  The brief specifies that the outcome should be fun and flirty but not too sexy.  I have been looking at adverts which I think will help give me some inspiration.  I really like the new Vauxhall Corsa Pop Art advert.  It's upbeat, fun and colourful.  It visualises the message perfectly, 'Put the fun back into driving.'  It has an element of that flirty vibe I need to inject into my ideas.  At points in the advert when you see a flash of the headlight it's as if the car is winking at the audience and the pop art imagery adds to this.  The link below is to this advert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af_tN42lTcE&feature=related

Another advert that I have looked at is the Paco Robanne '1 Million.'  Advertisements for fragrances are always very sexy and engaging.  I have looked at this as an example because it is aimed at a male audience, but it focuses more on the male rather than being overtly sexy using lots of shots of a female model.  The advert portrays the man being in control of everything by the click of his fingers, even the dress of the woman drops as he clicks.  The music used works extremely well with the sequence (Chemical Brothers 'Do It Again').  Men like power and this advert is offering it in a bottle.  Men will want to buy it, but also women will want to buy it for their men.  The link below will take you to this advert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFXV_ViibCo