Degree Show 2008 Review

This year’s degree show was contained into one airy room, presenting different works of Graphic Design, Illustration, Interactive Design and Animation. I presumed that the layout and presentation of each work was vastly thought about. Such as how each may balance next to one another and the journey the viewer may take whilst travelling around the room I am not entirely sure I found this easy or inspiring upon my first look.

I particularly favoured how some aspects of the show were concentrated together, boxed units with carefully placed collections, the book shelf, and the designated walls for one students set of work that added a personal touch and thought to how the work was to be presented.

The Degree show illustrated to me how I could be enthused by not only a student’s final work or one major piece, but also the journey some have gone through with vast amounts of sketchbook work and sheets of preparatory discoveries. I was glad that this was presented in the show and considered as important as any final pieces, a great inspiration to how I wish to work and explore my own behaviours as I progress.

This particular wall featured below stood out to me as a great collection that works well within its environment. It is an example of how gathering experiments and ideas can then be placed together as one piece of work that for me is pleasing to the eye and a great understanding of how this student worked.

The wooden boxed work was a nice feature in comparison to the white boards and the work enclosed within balanced perfectly well not only in its shell but alongside one another too. One of the works inside featured a cover by Emily Hayes; her work was one of a few that was memorable and of inspiration to me.

Elizabeth Dunning’s print trapped my attention; I found myself fixated with it for quite some time and was one of my favourites from the show. Shown below is the piece that fitted so well against the harsh bare walls and captured all your thoughts and visions to this one central and decorative piece. It had great tactile qualities to its stock and detailed print and I think it was a piece that had a clear encouragement.

Below a work that was featured as the centrepiece in the Degree Show’s spread, was another great example of some of the individual work that had character, composition and a distinctive technique. An eye opener that overpowered some of the work that did little to grasp my attention or create any sense of representation as one particular students’ work.