Design, What's Up
August 6, 2012
By David Foster
A self-described jack-of-all-trades, artist Sanghon Kim moves seamlessly between media and often mixes them up in mysterious ways. Watercolor, drawing, or computer graphics, the viewer can never really be sure. With such a strong visual language, it’s not a surprise that Kim has attracted the attention of clients like Nike, Hermès, and most recently Herman Miller. One of ten collaborators to Then X Ten, Sanghon Kim has applied his considerable skill to create a new poster for the upcoming exhibition.
Herman Miller’s Asia Pacific blog recently spoke with Kim:
You choose the Eames Walnut Stool, can you tell a little about how you will incorporate it into your poster design?
It’s about the content and the container. I wanted to take the stool and use it to create architecture. There are columns which can be seen as trunks of a fantastic forest. I also referred to the material. Walnut Boy, a character was inspired by one of my daughter’s drawings, lightens the scene and symbolizes the joyful spirit of the Eames. He is smaller than a man so that the columns can look bigger.
How did your style come about? When did you know it was right?
My style was influenced by all the artists that I admired. I guess you know it’s right when you feel free enough to have your own ideas and do your own thing.
How has your approach design evolved? Do you have any rituals or routines?
I take more time to think and take notes before even sketching.
Read more
Design, What's Up
August 2, 2012
By David Foster
Old family photos, 1950s fashion catalogs, and other paper ephemera are the building blocks from which illustrator Eda Akaltun constructs her detailed collages. Invoking a sense of nostalgia, her unique style has graced the pages of The Telegraph, Harvard Business Review, and, most recently, the BAFTA awards and invitations. Herman Miller has commissioned Akaltun to create a new poster to be unveiled at Then X Ten, an upcoming exhibition celebrating the power of the poster. Akaltun has been kind enough to give a sneak peek at her early concept.
Can you tell us a little about the poster you’re creating for Then X Ten?
I am working with the Eames Molded Plywood Chair and was inspired by its creators Charles and Ray Eames and their famous house. The Eameses were playful in their approach to design and created pieces that were meant to work in any environment: home, school, or in the office.
In my poster I’m illustrating four rooms, each depicting a different contexts for the chairs. Charles and Ray will be characters interacting in the spaces. I want the image to be as playful as they were.
You have a unique style, how did it come about?
When I was at Central Saint Martins, the pace of projects was so fast that I began using collage to express myself quickly. While there I also became interested in all forms of printmaking. I ended up merging these techniques and over time the style I work in today began to develop.
What are some of the tools you use?
I have a large collection of old photos, magazines, fabrics, catalogs, and general ephemera, mostly from the 1950s. I also kept prints I made during university and use them as textures in my collages. All of these help me build layers, textures, and colors in my digital work
Read more