my name is ruth, hello.

I came across this book that I just had to order ‘Fingerprint - The Art of using Handmade Elements in Graphic Design,’ by Chen Design Associates and after reading the introduction it sounds completely perfect for me. Here is the an extract from a paragraph that I have been focusing my work around…

“Fingerprint is a reminder that in this day and age of e-gadgets and i-things and all things high tech and electronic, there remain some very reliable, non high tech tools that can help design reconnect with its audience. Even the hint of a hand-created element can activate a surface, instill passion and energy into a medium and reassure the recipient that human understand and insight are the foundations of the message.”

I could not agree with this statement any more. My project Map Your City© had hand drawn illustrations in it, and I felt they added that personal interaction towards the user as well as allowing me to involve my interest of drawing into my project. I feel a lot of graphic design taken straight from the computer can feel quite generic. But don’t get me wrong, graphic design on the computer is elegant and beautiful and near enough perfect, and I love using the computer to create designs, but I like imperfection, and seeing hand drawn lines not exactly straight or squint. It portrays a personal touch to design, and I like it.

I think there is a worry we could lose this as technology advances even more, saying goodbye to the paper and pencil. I will never ever give up, along with I think a good number of others, as that imperfection will never be caught with a computer.

So here I am blogging from London at my friends sisters flat. (check out her lovely lovely blog here) in Walthamstow, East London. I like staying here as we plan on getting a flat in East London so get to see what it out there.

The main reason we are in London is for New Designers 2011. An exhibition for graduate designers to showcase our work to potential employers. The last two days, Monday and Tuesday have been spent setting up our very small space ( 4 metres by 3, but we made it work!) 

Our space

There are seven of us exhibiting ranging from apps, to maps to products. We’re mixed in with Visual Communication and Graphic Design which doesn’t best describe what we do (although it is what I would like to do) so we do stand out a bit. The other stands have prints and illustrations up all over the walls. I have had a nosy at some of the work and it is incredibly impressive. It inspires me for when New Designers is finished and I can start on my own work.

Tomorrow begins with the judging, with a lot of prizes from best stand, to the best designer of the year award. Some internships are up for grabs which is pretty exciting, but I don’t think I am in with a chance of winning any of them.

I’m looking to get out of this experience, not prizes, but advice on my unusual niche I think I am slipping into. I always say, ‘I don’t like interaction design’ but that’s not the case. I just want to involve more of my artistic talent into my work, and use my interaction design knowledge as a skill set to work with, but not necessarily be an interaction designer. I hope that makes sense! I know what I am talking about. I want to go into graphic design but without an qualifications in it, I think it will be difficult to get into straight away. That is why I want to work on building up my portfolio once uni is completely over rather than delve into a design job straight away. I need some of my own time to create my work to show the industry what I want to produce.

Map Your City© at New Designers 2011, Islington.

For New Designers, I decided to make new business cards that sort of showed my interest to be more crafty then digital. I made my own stamp with my personal details to stamp on the back of my business cards I got from Moo. I pre stamped some (to experiment) but my feeling would be when I spoke to someone interested in my project I could stamp the back of my cards and hand it over, creating a personal feeling towards the card in some ways, rather than it being a generic business card with the one size fits all method.

Ruth Tullis Business Cards front and stamped on back 

Duncan of Jordanstone Degree Show May 2011. Ruth Tullis. Map Your City.

My project Map Your City displayed at the Duncan of Jordanstone Degree Show, Dundee. May 2011.

Presentation done, Degree Show done, uni completed! Just a few loose ends to clear up and then it will be graduation and the student life will be over. I have loved being a student, but cannot wait to begin a new life. That new life will be in London. Looking forward to a different adventure and I plan on working a normal job. I don’t feel ready to get myself out in the design world yet. I want to work on my skills first, which I plan on doing in my spare time.

I also want to continue with my project I have just completed at uni. I got some really good feedback at the Degree Show. People saying they loved the design, they would use this map, they wanted one! I want to explore other cities and develop my idea. Who knows if it could become something, but I feel I have hit on something, and really want to push it forward. The next city that would make sense is London, so my plan is to begin researching and drawing London and I can explore more when I move there in August.

Photos from my Degree Show will be posted up soon! 

My final assesment for my project Map Your City is on either Tuesday or Wednesday, so in four or five days I will be finished uni forever. I cannot wait.

I have been practising my presentation for a couple of days now and I feel ready for it. I just want it to come now!

I recently updated my website wwwruthtullis.com 

Check it out. It features my recent projects as well as past projects, and shows off my other interests outside of uni.

So nearly finished!

Map Your City. My honours project video explaining the project.