GRAPHICS PATHWAY - 3 PROJECTS IN 2 WEEKS: 1) SUBVERSIVE DESIGN

I began the first project of the two week period, subversive design, looking at ways designers can be ironic and humerus with imagery and text. I looked at a number of different sources and gained inspiration through researching brand parodies and how intentionally misspelling or rearranging letters affect the brand identity.

I also researched into the history of some popular brands to see if there was a socio-cultural element that I could highlight in the brands or in their imagery. I looked closer to home and into my own likes and dislikes. I have always tried to avoid using the tube because I hate being cramped and squashed into tight spaces at rush hour. Another aspect I noticed was the frequency of delays, suspensions and cancellations of trains, tubes and public transport in general.





From this I began looking at the London Underground sign itself, maps and sign typically found at most stations. I then thought about re-naming the stops to the emotions and feelings of not only myself on the tube but also the average everyday commuter. Words like stress, frustration and irritation came to mind and I expanded on those. Using the traditional Gill Sans font, I created a mock platform and line guide where the names of the stops are different and instead of district line you have delayed line and so on. Later on in the project, I realised how eye contact in the tube is treated, I noticed that people often avoid eye contact at all times and if you make eye contact it feels as though you have broken the unwritten code of conduct. Of course this is purely for a comical purpose so I included it also in my final piece. 

In conclusion to this short project, I feel I have captured the essence of subversive design and using imagery and text to be ironic, as this project is quick and only a few days long in order to complete the other projects, my final piece is a representation of this time period. 

Final Piece for the subversion design project, using the emotions
of the everyday commuter to summarise a typical experience
on the tube. Original size A2

Images - Author's Own 25/01/14