Pictorial staging of urban spaces is the theme of the workshop. The project consists of explorations in the city of Berlin and their translation into digital graphic images using the printing technique of risography. We will explore different possibilities of image creating through experimental design tools. How can manual and technical methods (drawing, photography) be used to develop an individual, contemporary visual language? What are their relationships to urban reality?
Berlin as a public stage will be the trigger for our design process. Intangible moments shared during the field research will be visually expressed with risograph printing – certain techniques influence the aesthetics of the product in a way that printing becomes a creative tool rather than a mere means to reproduce information. Our observations will then find their way back into the public space as postcards. This small-format exemplifies the use of colour as a medium and shows how a complex streetscape can be condensed into an image to concisely express a subjective moment.
SCHEDULE
The course will mainly be structured in two phases: explorations in the city and translations of these observations into graphic images. Therefore a series of precise experiments will provoque the participant’s personal views and image topics. Individual mentorings will be the main teaching format. Inputs and a guest lecture bring in concrete related examples from professional perspectives. Midterm and final presentation serve as supportive formats to share the personal work with the other participants.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
Beyond basics in digital design tools no specific knowledge is required.
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Sketchbook and writing tools
Mobile phone
Mobile phone camera (optionally DSLR camera)
Laptop with image editing and layout software
Colour tools (pencils, acryl,…)
Judith Holly is a graphic designer with a special interest in experimental design methods. In her practice, the public space („Pashkevilim in Mea Shearim“) as well as aspects of staging („Talking to Talking Images“) play central roles. She studied Visual Communication at the Berlin University of the Arts (BA of Arts, 2018) and the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem, before graduating in Iconic Research at the Basel School of Design (MA of Arts, 2021). Her design-ethnographic BA thesis has been published and presented several times (Tÿpo St. Gallen 2019, DGTF Annual Conference 2018, SGD Lecture 2020). Currently Judith Holly lives and works in Vienna.
Thomas Lehner is a graphic artist, author and lecturer. His focus lies on the poetry of graphic expression thus inventing new roles to challenge the discipline’s definition. While dedicating 10 years to applied communication design for art and culture (Thomas Lehner Studio, Berlin), he was teaching visual communication at the University of the Arts Berlin (basics-blog.de). Holding a MA of Arts in Iconic Research (HGK Basel FHNW, 2021), he now lives and works in CH-Fribourg and Berlin. Instagram: @maler.mueller