Nick Knight



Nick night is a photographer known for his photographs, 'Skinheads', published in 1982; He was then commissioned by I-D editor Terry Jones to create a series of 100 portraits for the magazine's fifth anniversary issue. After he had done his black-and-white portraits, his work was noticed and he got commissioned to shoot a 1986 catalogue with Japanese designer Yoshi with renowned graphic designer Peter Saville. Since this, he has shot for clients including Alexander McQueen, Audi, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Lancôme, Mercedes-Benz, Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House, Swarovski and Yves Saint Laurent. I choose to experiment in his style and i think it worked well and would give my illustration a nice 1980's feel to it, i also decided to incorperate the iconic tee shirt from Katherine hamnett. 

What I like about nick knights work is the vibrant and colourful approach he uses, also the style and depth of how he stages his photography. I think I may use his colourful photo of a model as inspiration.

Neville Brody



Neville Brody born April 23^rd 1957 is an English graphic designer, typographer and art director. He was one of the founding members of the front shop and designed a number of typefaces for them he was also recognised for his work with fuse magazine. This magazine showed his type and graphic design. In his early career punk rock was his main influence and worked on a lot of album art. He made his name known for his ground breaking work for face magazine first published in 1980. In 1988 the first volume of his work was released in a book and quickly became the world’s bestselling graphic design book.

Keith Haring



Keith Haring was born on May 4, 1958 in Reading, Pennsylvania, and was raised in nearby Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Keith did not want to be a commercial graphic designer and this led him leave his first course shortly after this he moved to New York, there he enrolled in the school of visual arts. In New York he found a underground community in the streets and subways where he could express his opinions and show his art. In 1980, Haring found a highly effective medium that allowed him to communicate with the wider audience he desired, when he noticed the unused advertising panels covered with matte black paper in a subway station. He began to create drawings in white chalk upon these blank paper panels throughout the subway system. Between 1980 and 1989, Haring achieved international recognition and participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions.

I decided to experiment with Haring’s style using bright colors and the abstract imagery he uses, I think this worked well and I could use this in my work as haring has put an iconic stamp on the art world of the 1980’s.

my Keith Harring work

Katherine Hamnett



Katherine Hamnett was a designer of the 1980’s, she was influenced by politics and became known for her oversized tops with big bold writing in 1983. These tops had slogans such as choose life this appeared in a wham! Video. She has designed for celebrities, film stars and musicians from Mick Jagger to Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, David Bowie, Bob Geldof and Minnie Driver.

Innovations include the need to use organic cotton, charitable contributions on products, stonewashing and space dying. Katharine also cleaned up the method of protest using a now universally adopted typeface to highlight world issues. Tee shirt slogans include:

Choose Life

50% don't want Pershing

World Peace Now

Clean Up or Die

No War

Say No to The Euro

Preserve the Rainforests

Education Not Missiles

Worldwide Nuclear Ban Now

Use A Condom

Save Africa

Blair Out

Club to catwalk exhibition



When we went to the club to exhibition, the ambiance was set by the bright lights, different fashion trends and different music from the time. I saw that the 1980’s was a time for big bold and bright clothes, it gave people a chance to break out and look how they like, unlike the generic looking office worker they were by day. The music matched the fashion, electric bold and made a statement. One of the artists that really inspired me was Katherine Hamnett who pioneered the vogue fashion and was heavily influenced by politics. As well as artists there was subcultures I liked the new romantics with people like Adam ant, Madonna and David Bowie.

Brief: Series of graphical advertising posters

We are required to design a series of London underground posters advertising the “club to catwalk” exhibition at the V&A museum. Focusing on the 1980’s using fashion movements, fashion designers and artists from this time to inspire us .