Maybe it wasn’t official but it was hard not to have this past weekend consumed with events relating to graphic design here in New York City.
First, Helvetica the recent documentary buy Brooklynite Gary Hustwit started a short term run at the IFC Center. Several designers featured in the film attended screenings and held Q&A sessions afterwards. PSFK attended the 2:40 show on Saturday were we hoped to see David Carson but alas he missed a connection from Brussels and instead director Gary Hustwit answered questions. The documentary is well done and manages to provide a larger look at the cleanliness of modernism vs. the break it apart and stick it back together approach to post-modernism.
Running concurrently to the film is the Helvetica gallery show at the Espeis Gallery in Williamsburg. Commissioned by Blanka to celebrate the 50th birthday of the font, 50 designers were each given a random year from 1957-present. The posters they created reference historical events from the year they were given and tie in Helvetica’s influence on our visual culture. The poster series was produced with a limited run of 50 prints each and is available through the Blanka website. The show runs through September 30th. Thanks to Zoe for giving PSFK a tour of the space.
Espeis Gallery
90 Wythe Ave (at N. 11 St.)
Open Thurs-Sunday 12-6
Lastly, Saturday night was the third annual Cut&Paste event here in NYC. Cut&Paste is a battle style competition pitting designers against each. It’s part design demo part rave. The designers are given a theme and must create an image on the spot in 15 minutes using digital design tools. After three rounds, Mate Steinforth (mate) emerged as the winner. The event took place at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. Cu&Paste continues it’s fall eleven city world tour stopping next in Portland this Friday. Core77 reports more on the event here.
One wrap up note, Gary Hustwit was asked what he though the next trend in graphic design would be. He responded with the observation that the tools to create graphic design are much more common and affordable now. So while in the past it was the iconic designers and design firms that set the direction, Gary thought it would shift to a broader personalized approach and that we may see the continued disintegration of styles. Certainly events like Cut&Paste seem to support that.
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