A PROUD FAMILY TRADITION CONTINUES






BACK IN THE DAY

John Vivian ~ circa 1965
1978. When I started my design career. My father ( boss, depending on the studio deadlines ) helped forge my career when metal/lino typesetting were still commonly available. Modern type companies started to 'code' galleys of photo-typesetting which were then assembled by hand with intricate scalpel work and adhesive on art-boards
If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you're not sure you can do it, say yes - learn how to do it later
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My mentor ~ John Vivian
Award winning and design industry pioneer.
Every element was created by hand.
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'Commercial Art' as it was called back then was exactly that. To make it in the industry you had to possess accomplished hand skills together with an artist's eye for composition and aesthetics. Hand-drawn typography was extremely popular.
Draw and draw some more.
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Although photography was commonplace, many agencies and clients still had a preference for illustration. Black & white artwork was reproduced by means of photographic bromides, while coloured pieces were captured on large drum scanners. This required 'stripping' the finished artwork from the base board so it could be wrapped around the drum. A very delicate procedure each and every time.

Instant type and technology.
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Believe it or not 'Letraset' was the latest and greatest asset for typography. Sheets of typestyles in varied point sizes were able to be burnished off the backing sheet onto art boards. High tech stuff, until the late 80's - early 90's unfolded with Apple Mac, QuarkXPress and PageMaker programs revolutionising the industry.