You should aim to subsequently develop a report that is engaging in terms of both its style and content. The completed report should be submitted as a digital Issuu publication posted to your PPP blog and needs to communicate your interview subject's route into industry and identify where their creative practice is currently situated.
Anthony Burrill is graphic artist, print-maker and designer best known for his typographic compositions using traditional image-making processes and materials, such as screen-printing and letterpress. As someone whos work I have admired for a long time and with aspirations to have a future career within the print industry, Burrill was interviewed to gain a more personal and specific insight into his creative practice and his opinions on analogue methods of design over digital.
I understand you studied at Leeds Polytechnic and the Royal College of Art. How would you describe yourself as a creative whilst you were studying? Burrill told of his art education starting at college, studying first at Leeds Polytechnic before moving to the Royal College of Art, however during this time he did not reach any firm conclusions as to who he felt he was as a young creative. At this point, his practice was more situated in experimenting with various different materials and processes, such as sculpture and printmaking, whilst beginning to learn the basics of typography which you can now see has helped inform his current practice. Through this, Burrill described the importance of 'planting seeds', by which he means experimenting with such different processes to develop your own unique approach. It took him years to understand who he was, what he was trying to say and how to communicate it, and this is something which particularly resonates with me since it also took me a while to figure out who I was as a creative.
How did you first get into printmaking? What drew you towards the process over more digital methods of producing design? As a young creative, Burrill did not have a computer, which meant first and for most he began to use analogue means out of necessity. With limited money this meant he had to work on a tight budget which made him resourceful as a creative, seeking out cheap production methods to express his ideas. As a result, this led him to work with the local corner shop photocopier for 4p per A4 copy, which was just about within his budget. Eventually he graduated to screen print and letterpress, mainly for the availability and affordability, working with small local businesses in South London.
Do you think more traditional, analogue techniques are becoming more popular in design today? If so, how do you feel this is affecting Graphic Design as a creative discipline? It was found through my own research that there seems to be a resurgence in more analogue means of production, a period known as 'the late age of print', therefore I thought it might be interesting to get Burrill's view on this. He stated quite clearly that there is more of everything now, including both analogue and digital, as well as more cross discipline work. The important fact being that it's all about producing your own unique approach, dependent on your own perspectives. Within this, therefore, it is important to gain a network of like minded people who you can potentially work with to help the development of your work, whilst finding the appropriate audience for your work. It's all a case of being continuously active.
Who are what were your influences which have brought you to where you are now in terms of your practice? Burrill described his influences as being broad, therefore finding it difficult to name specific artists or work which helped shape him as a designer. In Burrill's case, you can't separate the person from the designer, influences come from a broad range of experiences and things in both the real world and the design world.
Your bold typographic compositions are something which have become unique to you. How important do you feel it is for designers to put more of themselves and their own values into their work? 'I think it's vital', Burrill exclaimed. As a young creative he was taught that we are all 'servants of the message' however its impossible to separate your personal views and politics from work, even that commissioned by clients. This simply depends on what sort of designer you wish to be, for instance, socially aware or purely commercial.
Any advice you would give someone like myself about getting into the design / printmaking industry? In response to this, Burrill highlighted the importance of networking, something we're constantly pushed to do currently at university. Make contact with as many studios and practitioners as possible, build friendships, be part of the community and conversation, but most importantly, make work which is relevant. Make sure this has something to say whilst connecting deeply with yourself. 'As the phrase goes, work hard and be nice to people!'
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