A picture is worth a thousand words..

I decided to research designs that incorporated certain feelings, expressions and moods in the hope to familiarise myself with what is necessary in creating such a feeling within my design.

I began with irony and humour and went about finding art and designs that could carry such a emotion through such a small piece of art containing no words.

The work of Banksy was my immediate find. Through such simple use of stencils his work can carry such emotion, irony and social problems. Below are a few of his works that suited this criteria the best:

One of the most appropriate Banksy stencils I found in reference to this digital media course. Although it carries the humour and derogatory nature of the policeman, which lets be honest we all thoroughly enjoy, it also incorporates the 'yellow smiley face', one of the newest and most popular digital icon in the past decade. This piece of art carries the underlining message of the attractiveness and popularity that such a simple design can carry.

I felt this sketch just captured an ironic and rather cynical view of the police department in the last few years. As i said above, just a simple and quick stencil, that took Banksy no more than a few minutes carries a broad social view of how the police are too keen on smaller, petty crimes and asserting their power, Rather than being out there stopping the real crimes, which we hear called for continually through our society.



This is one of my favourite Banksy sketches as he captures such humour by such a simple trick of contrast. What strikes me is that the food in the animals hands, has barely any detail but when i asked my friends to look at it almost all referred to it as McDonald's. I feel this reference highlights the immediate popularity that can be created through such simple design and leads me to beg the question; that is less more??



Another humorous and ironic Banksy sketch that again manages to incorporate a social issue/ problem using such a simple device. I find Banksy's work amazing in how he has the creativity to think of something so simple but so effective that combines not only irony but also a strike at the social complications of our culture.

By reflecting upon Banksy work, I feel I have gained some valuable techniques and confidence for when I begin my design process. Through such simple but clever ideas Bankys work speaks volumes for society, with his ironic and humourous gestures that cause the audience to reflect and feel a part of his work, it is no doubt something that will be key for me to attempt to capture in my promotional package, in order to succeed in attracting the right attention.