ongoing, the book

Written by Roos Giethoorn for the publication Ongoing, an interpretation of Bruce Mau's Incomplete Manifesto for Growth.

Break Make the mold

In the past, manifestos were often the arising of new art movements. Manifestos were passionate, flamboyant pronouncements that were written with the desire to destroy and change. With courage, boldness and rebellion they would express their yearning to create something new.

on going

Written by Roos Giethoorn / Graphic Design Festival 2010 publication #2

1. Allow events to change you, 2. Forget about good, 3. Process is more important than outcome, 4. Love your experiments. These are the first four of forty-three statements of Bruce Mau’s Incomplete Manifesto for growth written in 1998.

Bruce Mau (1959) is a Canadian designer who gained international recognition for innovative multidisciplinary work. He is a designer known for his intentions to provoke debate and discussion about graphic design in the contemporary world.

greytones was here

Written by Roos Giethoorn / Graphic Design Festival 2010 publication #2

For the first time since 2004, Greytones was hanging out on foreign territory. This Eindhoven based initiative driven by Marcel Sloots from design studio Volle Kracht, dared to challenge 10 cities in Holland to take part in the city battle of the year and represent themselves in during the GDFB. 10 design studios were asked to set up a team that would best represent the design ethics of their hometown.

a small step for mankind, a giant leap for designer toys

Written by Roos Giethoorn / Graphic Design Festival 2010 publication #2

On a Friday night a group of white designer toys, with body types alike, gathered in the Valkenbergpark, waiting patiently for the morning to come. These characters, from a far away planet of bookshelves and showcases, were send on a blind date by they’re creators Loulou & Tummie to meet up with some artists that would change their personalities forever. 

bring paperback // papercut

Written by Roos Giethoorn / Graphic Design Festival 2010 publication #2

We live in a time, where the digital revolution has caused people to turn away from one of the most important and versatile materials in the world, where book publishers have to redefine their relation to paper books, where the postal service will deliver the mail only 3 days a week and where kids have shitty handwriting because they no longer have to write to their grandparents. It is in times like these that artists turn around and do the opposite by redefining the possibilities of this powerful material called Paper. 

you are human. // aram bartholl

Written by Roos Giethoorn / Graphic Design Festival 2010 publication #2

Congrats, if you can read this you are human! Today you proved that you are not a computer just by reading this book. Nowadays people need to be tested by computers to check if they are not one of them. It is this new relationship between humans and the computer that fascinates Aram Bartoll.

process = product // roel wouters

Written by Roos Giethoorn / Graphic Design Festival 2010 publication #1

Roel Wouters and Luna Maurer will be part of the seminar where various designers will discuss how they bring their profession up to another level. When asked about their contribution to the seminar Roel keeps us in suspense. The only thing he wants to share is that it’ll be a performance and that it will be an experiment which is exciting for them but they have no idea if it will be as exciting for the world. But this is what is needed when you want to determine the efficiency of something previously untried.

typographic art stuff // lowman

Written by Roos Giethoorn / Graphic Design Festival 2010 publication #1

 Jonathan Looman defines his work as typographic art stuff. His work has a strong typographic base. He uses investigative methods to tackle typography and tries to find the border where design, art, typography and image meet. He brings in ‘stuff’ to lighten the term.

funfunfun of the autobahn // autobahn

Written by Roos Giethoorn / Graphic Design Festival 2010 publication #1

Autobahn is named after the fictitious band in the movie ‘The Big Lebowski’. During their study Jeroen Breen, Maarten Dullemeijer and Rob Stolte started a band, but soon decided that they’d better stick to designing.

oxymoron / pretty ugly // axel peemoeller and paul fuog

Written by Roos Giethoorn / Graphic Design Festival 2010 publication #1

When I met Axel Peemoeller (GER) and Paul Fuog (AUS) they were sitting side-by-side. This image soon appeared to be fairly rare. Axel and Paul met about 6 years ago in Melbourne since then they have been working together collectively from different parts of the world. These global designers have both worked for diverse clients over a big part of the globe: Australia, Indonesia and Northern America and pretty much everywhere in Europe. Currently they are working together on a new identity for the Victorian College of Arts and Music in Melbourne. Working with clients through the internet is great, but concepting and designing side-by-side works way better. After the VCAM project they will be working in Europe, Barcelona on self-initiated projects.