UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 23 DECEMBER 2019
School of Visual Communication students were given an insight into the inner workings of graphic design by typographer Andy Altmann at the latest Type Talk event.
Andy is the Co-founder of the Why Not Associates, a design group with multidisciplinary skills who are credited for their innovative and bold approaches to creative design. With over 32 years’ worth of industry experience, Andy has worked on both corporate and environmental projects with recognisable nationwide brands such as: Royal Mail, Tate Modern, Nike, BBC, V&A and Channel 4, and notably created a series of visage stamps for Queen Elizabeth II.
His workshop was delivered in Parkside Lecture Theatre where he recalled his journey within typography, covering the challenges he faced and the convenience of new technology and how it helps speed up his work. He noted that a lot of his original projects included hours of manual work instead of the usage of modern printing systems.
Although, in his own words, it was challenging to “cramp thirty-two years in to forty-five minutes”, Andy spoke intensely of the planning process of his work. Students were able to view behind the scene images and hear about the construction behind some of his joint projects with Gordon Young. One highlight was ‘Blackpool’s Comedy Carpet’, which contains over 160,000 granite letters embedded into concrete recreating funny quotes from Blackpool's comedy scene.
Andy’s talk was the third Type Talk of the academic year. Over the last few years the BCU Type Talks has built up a regular audience of students, staff, and public interest from many creative agencies and other educational institutions. Type Talks are a voluntary, student run, venture led by professional creatives and give students an understanding into their individual journey within the creative industry. Through visual presentations and thought-provoking discussion, students are immersed into the projects, behind-the-scenes images and journeys of those who have made their mark in the industry.
BA (Hons) Graphic Communication student Eugene Ekuban attended all three talks and commented on the benefits of the events and why he enjoys them:
Previous Type Talks this year have been led by Ian McClaren and Rod Judkins. Ian is known for his work on a variety of public sector and transport-related design projects, as well as designing the user interface for the first paperless national telephone directory, ‘Minitél, for French Post Office. In contrast, Rod Judkins is an artist whose work has been exhibited in Tate Britain, The National Portrait Gallery and The Royal Academy and is known for his bestselling book ‘The Art of Creative Thinking’, which explains the successful unconventional techniques of creative professionals.
BA (Hons) Graphic Lecturer Geraldine Marshall co-ordinates Type Talks and explained the usefulness of them for students:
Andy’s presentation concluded this year’s Type Talks, but they will be returning on Thursday 30 January 2020 with an exclusive talk from renowned Graphic Artist, Patrick Thomas. To find out more or book your place visit the Eventbrite page.