Cian Brennan Portfolio 2012

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DesignPhotographyArt Direction

Cian Brennan

I

Finland 2011

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Canon F-1, 85mm ƒ1.2,Ilford XP2.

Image Now2011

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Leica M4,35mm ƒ1.4,Ilford Pan F.

N.C.A.D.2011

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Mamiya 645 AFD,80mm ƒ2.8,Ilford Pan F.

Hello, my name is Cian Brennan, I’m a Visual Communications student in 4th year in NCAD. Over the course of the three years that I’ve spent in the department I’ve learnt to foster a more multi-dimensional approach to my projects. Standard approaches to visual communication are breaking down with the onset of social media and increased digitisation. This suits me just fine because it allows me to explore various media while trying to communicate the message.

I really wanted to show the extent of my competence with different media in my portfolio, from photos in Qatar to iPhone apps, packaging & identity to promotional videos – all while trying to pay attention to my type and layout, I’d like to display a strong multi-disciplinary style.

Cian Brennan – Portfolio 2012

Contents

Tony Curtis – As I Lay My Hand

Fusco Foods Branding & Packaging

VII

IX

XVII

XIX

XXI

XI

XV

V

III

iPhone Application - iHome

ISTD

Image Now

Photography

Video

Type Design

Layout Design

Introduction

II

Cian Brennan

I

Finland 2011

-

Canon F-1, 85mm ƒ1.2,Ilford XP2.

Image Now2011

-

Leica M4,35mm ƒ1.4,Ilford Pan F.

N.C.A.D.2011

-

Mamiya 645 AFD,80mm ƒ2.8,Ilford Pan F.

Hello, my name is Cian Brennan, I’m a Visual Communications student in 4th year in NCAD. Over the course of the three years that I’ve spent in the department I’ve learnt to foster a more multi-dimensional approach to my projects. Standard approaches to visual communication are breaking down with the onset of social media and increased digitisation. This suits me just fine because it allows me to explore various media while trying to communicate the message.

I really wanted to show the extent of my competence with different media in my portfolio, from photos in Qatar to iPhone apps, packaging & identity to promotional videos – all while trying to pay attention to my type and layout, I’d like to display a strong multi-disciplinary style.

Cian Brennan – Portfolio 2012

Contents

Tony Curtis – As I Lay My Hand

Fusco Foods Branding & Packaging

VII

IX

XVII

XIX

XXI

XI

XV

V

III

iPhone Application - iHome

ISTD

Image Now

Photography

Video

Type Design

Layout Design

Introduction

II

Cian Brennan

III

Tony Curtis

IV

Tony Curtis – As I Lay My Hand

Our first project this year was to write our own brief of an interpretation of a poem by Tony Curtis. I picked the poem ‘As I Lay My Hand’. He talks a lot about the contact of his own skin on the different kinds of surfaces, water, earth, trees.

Living in an area of county Dublin that’s practically out in the country I decided to take advantage of my surroundings and use them as a setting for the poem. I then decided to base my work on a series of nude photographs in various locations near where I live.

It had been something I’d wanted to do for a long time and I was very happy with the results, I like to push myself when it comes to obtaining any kind of artistic result, if it’s ‘too easy’ I’m simply not satisfied. There is a video to accompany the book, I’ve included it on the CD.

In addition to the content displayed here, I’ve included additional video content to be found on the accompanying storage de-vice, feel free to explore the video content – I’d advocate that it adds to each project, giving a more ‘3-Dimensional’ feel.

Cian Brennan

III

Tony Curtis

IV

Tony Curtis – As I Lay My Hand

Our first project this year was to write our own brief of an interpretation of a poem by Tony Curtis. I picked the poem ‘As I Lay My Hand’. He talks a lot about the contact of his own skin on the different kinds of surfaces, water, earth, trees.

Living in an area of county Dublin that’s practically out in the country I decided to take advantage of my surroundings and use them as a setting for the poem. I then decided to base my work on a series of nude photographs in various locations near where I live.

It had been something I’d wanted to do for a long time and I was very happy with the results, I like to push myself when it comes to obtaining any kind of artistic result, if it’s ‘too easy’ I’m simply not satisfied. There is a video to accompany the book, I’ve included it on the CD.

In addition to the content displayed here, I’ve included additional video content to be found on the accompanying storage de-vice, feel free to explore the video content – I’d advocate that it adds to each project, giving a more ‘3-Dimensional’ feel.

Cian Brennan

PANTONEBLACK 5 C

V

I also decided to craft a style of food photography for them – their current photography does their products no justice whatsoever. By colour coding the photographs it helps to bring out the rich flavourous qualities of the cakes themselves.

In conjunction with Bórd Bía we had an opportunity to collaborate with Dublin based food companies. The company I was selected for is called Fusco Foods, they’re a small cake company based out in Sandyford. I decided I wanted to create a pragmatic solution for them, including a new identity considering that their existing one is very weak.

The logo I created for them (below) is based on the movements made when creating their cakes, as well as including 2 cursive ‘f’s. For the packaging I decided to take a stripped back, 1 colour approach, each design is designed in tints from 20 - 100%. One colour printing would significantly decrease their packaging costs.

Fusco Foods

VI

Fusco Foods – Identity & Packaging

Cian Brennan

PANTONEBLACK 5 C

V

I also decided to craft a style of food photography for them – their current photography does their products no justice whatsoever. By colour coding the photographs it helps to bring out the rich flavourous qualities of the cakes themselves.

In conjunction with Bórd Bía we had an opportunity to collaborate with Dublin based food companies. The company I was selected for is called Fusco Foods, they’re a small cake company based out in Sandyford. I decided I wanted to create a pragmatic solution for them, including a new identity considering that their existing one is very weak.

The logo I created for them (below) is based on the movements made when creating their cakes, as well as including 2 cursive ‘f’s. For the packaging I decided to take a stripped back, 1 colour approach, each design is designed in tints from 20 - 100%. One colour printing would significantly decrease their packaging costs.

Fusco Foods

VI

Fusco Foods – Identity & Packaging

Cian Brennan

VII

iHome

VIII

iPhone Application – iHome

One of my favourite college projects this year was to design the interface for an iPhone application. The brief was to come up with an idea for an app and then illustrate how it might function. I worked in a group with 2 other people and we had the idea to create an app that would help reduce your energy bills.

We thought it might be interesting for houses in the future if they were to produce a ‘data stream’ of information on household electricity usage. Our app would then act as an interface for that data stream, allowing people to monitor their electricity usage on the go.

Further to this, we would display a statistical analysis of the data, in a way that presents the energy usage in a gamified way, to help people try to beat their own targets.

We came up with the name ‘iHome’, aesthetically we tried to balance a utilitarian look with some hand-crafted elements. I art directed the illustrations, designed and animated for this project.

In addition to the content displayed here, I’ve included additional video content to be found on the accompanying storage de-vice, feel free to explore the video content – I’d advocate that it adds to each project, giving a more ‘3-Dimensional’ feel.

Cian Brennan

VII

iHome

VIII

iPhone Application – iHome

One of my favourite college projects this year was to design the interface for an iPhone application. The brief was to come up with an idea for an app and then illustrate how it might function. I worked in a group with 2 other people and we had the idea to create an app that would help reduce your energy bills.

We thought it might be interesting for houses in the future if they were to produce a ‘data stream’ of information on household electricity usage. Our app would then act as an interface for that data stream, allowing people to monitor their electricity usage on the go.

Further to this, we would display a statistical analysis of the data, in a way that presents the energy usage in a gamified way, to help people try to beat their own targets.

We came up with the name ‘iHome’, aesthetically we tried to balance a utilitarian look with some hand-crafted elements. I art directed the illustrations, designed and animated for this project.

In addition to the content displayed here, I’ve included additional video content to be found on the accompanying storage de-vice, feel free to explore the video content – I’d advocate that it adds to each project, giving a more ‘3-Dimensional’ feel.

Cian Brennan

IX

STEP 1

Find your location

ISTD

X

ISTD – Input, a social network for creative professionals

In conjunction with Bórd Bía we had an opportunity to collaborate with Dublin based food companies. The company I was selected for is called Fusco Foods, they’re a small cake company based out in Sandyford. I decided I wanted to create a pragmatic solution for them, including a new identity considering that their existing one is very weak.

The logo I created for them (below) is based on the movements made when creating their cakes, as well as including 2 cursive ‘f’s. For the packaging I decided to take a stripped back, 1 colour approach, each design is designed in tints from 20 - 100%. One colour printing would significantly decrease their packaging costs.

In addition to the content displayed here, I’ve included additional video content to be found on the accompanying storage de-vice, feel free to explore the video content – I’d advocate that it adds to each project, giving a more ‘3-Dimensional’ feel.

Cian Brennan

IX

STEP 1

Find your location

ISTD

X

ISTD – Input, a social network for creative professionals

In conjunction with Bórd Bía we had an opportunity to collaborate with Dublin based food companies. The company I was selected for is called Fusco Foods, they’re a small cake company based out in Sandyford. I decided I wanted to create a pragmatic solution for them, including a new identity considering that their existing one is very weak.

The logo I created for them (below) is based on the movements made when creating their cakes, as well as including 2 cursive ‘f’s. For the packaging I decided to take a stripped back, 1 colour approach, each design is designed in tints from 20 - 100%. One colour printing would significantly decrease their packaging costs.

In addition to the content displayed here, I’ve included additional video content to be found on the accompanying storage de-vice, feel free to explore the video content – I’d advocate that it adds to each project, giving a more ‘3-Dimensional’ feel.

Cian Brennan

XI

Type Design

XII

Typeface Design – Avion

For one of our projects we were asked to produce a customised typeface, I wanted to produce something really different for a magazine layout project that I was simultaneously working on.

My aim was to create a display font for a magazine that was concerned with the future, and the progress of technology. My font is influenced by an artist I researched called Christopher Gray, my font is called Avion.

http://christophergray.eu

I’m aware that it’s almost painful to read, but in my opinion this serves a double purpose - aesthetically it’s different and it involves the reader more, I think it’s ‘fun’. This work was completed in Finland while I was on erasmus.

Cian Brennan

XI

Type Design

XII

Typeface Design – Avion

For one of our projects we were asked to produce a customised typeface, I wanted to produce something really different for a magazine layout project that I was simultaneously working on.

My aim was to create a display font for a magazine that was concerned with the future, and the progress of technology. My font is influenced by an artist I researched called Christopher Gray, my font is called Avion.

http://christophergray.eu

I’m aware that it’s almost painful to read, but in my opinion this serves a double purpose - aesthetically it’s different and it involves the reader more, I think it’s ‘fun’. This work was completed in Finland while I was on erasmus.

Cian Brennan

XIII

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C&B

Type Design

XIV

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A&G

Cian Brennan

XIII

-

C&B

Type Design

XIV

-

A&G

2O11magazine

featuring

Focusing on the industry’s foremost designers & talent / €8,50

Cian Brennan

XV

3

2O11magazine // march 2011

FEATURE: Chris Luchiowiec speaks - Ken Ruthwright

Ergonomics & industry - Ken Ruthwright

Future materials - Ken Ruthwright

Future materials

Future materials

Future materials

p. 7

p. 13

p. 23

p. 27

p. 32

p. 35

ART & DESIGN

Layout Design

XVI

Layout Design - 2011 Magazine

This is the magazine for the typeface in question, I wanted to de-sign a layout that’s ‘of the moment’, for a magazine that feels contemporary. This work was completed in Finland while I was on erasmus.

I took the photos for the cover with a medium format film camera, I think it definitely offers a different ‘feel’ to the photos, a more hu-man character, slightly flawed but also more.

The magazine covers up and coming designers and students. In Lahti I’m surrounded by talented individuals, so I chose them as my subjects, allowing me to mock up realistic spreads with real work and real people.

2O11magazine

featuring

Focusing on the industry’s foremost designers & talent / €8,50

Cian Brennan

XV

3

2O11magazine // march 2011

FEATURE: Chris Luchiowiec speaks - Ken Ruthwright

Ergonomics & industry - Ken Ruthwright

Future materials - Ken Ruthwright

Future materials

Future materials

Future materials

p. 7

p. 13

p. 23

p. 27

p. 32

p. 35

ART & DESIGN

Layout Design

XVI

Layout Design - 2011 Magazine

This is the magazine for the typeface in question, I wanted to de-sign a layout that’s ‘of the moment’, for a magazine that feels contemporary. This work was completed in Finland while I was on erasmus.

I took the photos for the cover with a medium format film camera, I think it definitely offers a different ‘feel’ to the photos, a more hu-man character, slightly flawed but also more.

The magazine covers up and coming designers and students. In Lahti I’m surrounded by talented individuals, so I chose them as my subjects, allowing me to mock up realistic spreads with real work and real people.

この建物は、長く多様な歴史があります。

偏狭な学校として、19世紀初頭に建設された、それは土地の一部新しく形成された新新娘の街にキャベツの中庭*と呼ばれる近くに建てられました。

*噂はクロムウェルの軍隊がそれは彼らが1642年に到着した栄養の彼らの主なソース、キャベツを栽培するために使用されるので、それがキャベツの庭と呼ばれていたと言われています。

この建物は、長く多様な歴史があります。

偏狭な学校として、19世紀初頭に建設された、それは土地の一部新しく形成された新新娘の街にキャベツの中庭*と呼ばれる近くに建てられました。

*噂はクロムウェルの軍隊がそれは彼らが1642年に到着した栄養の彼らの主なソース、キャベツを栽培するために使用されるので、それがキャベツの庭と呼ばれていたと言われています。

この建物は、長く多様な歴史があります。

偏狭な学校として、19世紀初頭に建設された、それは土地の一部新しく形成された新新娘の街にキャベツの中庭*と呼ばれる近くに建てられました。

*噂はクロムウェルの軍隊がそれは彼らが1642年に到着した栄養の彼らの主なソース、キャベツを栽培するために使用されるので、それがキャベツの庭と呼ばれていたと言われています。

The internal spreads of a concept for a promotional booklet for the building of Image Now for the Open House programme in Dublin 2011, I built a 3d model of the house in Cinema 4D and then added extra detail to the crops in Illustrator.

Cian Brennan

XVII

Some more 3D work, conceptualising for a business environment for a large telecommunications client. Including a 3D map of the area and a rendering of a potential ‘customer wall’ where information would be posted.

Image Now

XVIII

この建物は、長く多様な歴史があります。

偏狭な学校として、19世紀初頭に建設された、それは土地の一部新しく形成された新新娘の街にキャベツの中庭*と呼ばれる近くに建てられました。

*噂はクロムウェルの軍隊がそれは彼らが1642年に到着した栄養の彼らの主なソース、キャベツを栽培するために使用されるので、それがキャベツの庭と呼ばれていたと言われています。

この建物は、長く多様な歴史があります。

偏狭な学校として、19世紀初頭に建設された、それは土地の一部新しく形成された新新娘の街にキャベツの中庭*と呼ばれる近くに建てられました。

*噂はクロムウェルの軍隊がそれは彼らが1642年に到着した栄養の彼らの主なソース、キャベツを栽培するために使用されるので、それがキャベツの庭と呼ばれていたと言われています。

この建物は、長く多様な歴史があります。

偏狭な学校として、19世紀初頭に建設された、それは土地の一部新しく形成された新新娘の街にキャベツの中庭*と呼ばれる近くに建てられました。

*噂はクロムウェルの軍隊がそれは彼らが1642年に到着した栄養の彼らの主なソース、キャベツを栽培するために使用されるので、それがキャベツの庭と呼ばれていたと言われています。

The internal spreads of a concept for a promotional booklet for the building of Image Now for the Open House programme in Dublin 2011, I built a 3d model of the house in Cinema 4D and then added extra detail to the crops in Illustrator.

Cian Brennan

XVII

Some more 3D work, conceptualising for a business environment for a large telecommunications client. Including a 3D map of the area and a rendering of a potential ‘customer wall’ where information would be posted.

Image Now

XVIII

One of the things I really like about being in an art college is that the opportunites frequently arise to do work that would not normally be available for you to do in the professional world.

At the start of 3rd year I struck up a relationship with the fashion students in NCAD after a successful project in 2nd year, I’ve been photographing some of the students work for the past 2 years now, it’s great practice, often yielding very exciting results. I try to use

the skills that I’ve learnt to produce the most appropriate way of displaying their work, it’s always a good excercise for me, because it’s good to respond to a brief. I work with the designer to generate ideas and then decide on the best way to carry them out.

Additional photos from this set can be found on my blog, cianb.tumblr.com.

Cian Brennan

XIX

During the summer, while working at Image Now, I had the unique opportunity to visit Qatar for three days. Naturally my first reaction was to grab my cameras and to head down to Gunnes cameras to buy some film.

I found Qatar to be extremely photogenic, definitely an interesting experience seeing as it was my first time in the middle east.

Additional photos from this set can be found on my blog, cianb.tumblr.com.

Photography

XX

One of the things I really like about being in an art college is that the opportunites frequently arise to do work that would not normally be available for you to do in the professional world.

At the start of 3rd year I struck up a relationship with the fashion students in NCAD after a successful project in 2nd year, I’ve been photographing some of the students work for the past 2 years now, it’s great practice, often yielding very exciting results. I try to use

the skills that I’ve learnt to produce the most appropriate way of displaying their work, it’s always a good excercise for me, because it’s good to respond to a brief. I work with the designer to generate ideas and then decide on the best way to carry them out.

Additional photos from this set can be found on my blog, cianb.tumblr.com.

Cian Brennan

XIX

During the summer, while working at Image Now, I had the unique opportunity to visit Qatar for three days. Naturally my first reaction was to grab my cameras and to head down to Gunnes cameras to buy some film.

I found Qatar to be extremely photogenic, definitely an interesting experience seeing as it was my first time in the middle east.

Additional photos from this set can be found on my blog, cianb.tumblr.com.

Photography

XX

Above – Video commissioned by NCAD for a visiting tutor, Paul Slater, featured on the CIA (Central Illustrator’s Agency) Blog, and the NCAD Visual Communications page.

Below – Video commissioned by photographer Matthew Thomp-son for his website, documenting an exhibition taking place in the streets of Temple Bar over the course of 6 weeks.

Cian Brennan

XXI

Above – Video commissioned Maxim Laroussi of Architecture Republic for the launch of one of his exhibitions in the Plastic House in Dublin.

Below – Personal project documenting one day in Finland, I spent my semester Erasmus there and I feel this video sums up most of the sentiment of my semester abroad.

Video

XXII

All of the content here is included on the storage media accompanying the portfolio, they’re best viewed full screen with high quality speakers/ headphones.

Above – Video commissioned by NCAD for a visiting tutor, Paul Slater, featured on the CIA (Central Illustrator’s Agency) Blog, and the NCAD Visual Communications page.

Below – Video commissioned by photographer Matthew Thomp-son for his website, documenting an exhibition taking place in the streets of Temple Bar over the course of 6 weeks.

Cian Brennan

XXI

Above – Video commissioned Maxim Laroussi of Architecture Republic for the launch of one of his exhibitions in the Plastic House in Dublin.

Below – Personal project documenting one day in Finland, I spent my semester Erasmus there and I feel this video sums up most of the sentiment of my semester abroad.

Video

XXII

All of the content here is included on the storage media accompanying the portfolio, they’re best viewed full screen with high quality speakers/ headphones.