Megan Park (she/her)
I am an illustrator-designer with an interest in the relationship between text and image. The aim of my work is to democratise information visually; the role of communication design is to convey a message whilst deconstructing abstract meaning. The course has located my illustration practice within a graphic context; poster design is my favoured format as it can harmoniously fuse illustration and type. My portfolio subject matter is diverse: from socialism to dance music history, fashion and food. Whilst at GSA, I have pursued projects revolving around nightlife venues and their cultural significance and most recently, I have explored Italy’s culinary culture. Studying at postgraduate level enabled the development of my application of design through typography, theory and graphic experimentation. I use a combination of analogue and digital processes; creative ideation always begins with a humble sketch, which is then refined using software and finally reprocessed for print or screen. I have a myriad of historical and contemporary influences. My visual language has been shaped by movements and styles of the early and mid-20th century. I have been especially impacted by illustrator-designers from the 1970’s which includes Milton Glaser, Seymour Chwast and John Alcorn. I enjoy merging retro processes and aesthetics within my work.
Four on the Floor
Four on the Floor is a poster-series inspired by major dance music genres and their origins. I formatted the series by paralleling them to travel posters of the 1930’s. The metropolitan scenes give a glimpse into nightlife cultures of the late 20th century in North America. Originally existing underground, they were a product of the political and socio-economic conditions of the time; I communicated the music’s zeitgeist through architecture, fashion and typography. Each work attempts to divulge a piece of dance music history and its continuing impact.
May Day 2023
This year, I had the privilege of designing the 2023 May Day poster for the Glasgow Trades Union Council. As a cause that resonates with me deeply, it was an opportunity to design for a valued purpose. The main themes centred around Glasgow’s recent waves of industrial action and its opposition to the UK government’s Anti-Strike (‘Minimum Service Levels’) Bill. I sought to create a bold impression of solidarity, unity, and resistance through a limited colour palette, striking imagery and typography. I printed the posters using several processes but was drawn to screen printing and Risograph’s tactile vibrancy.
Get Cooking! Italia
Get Cooking! Italia is a collaborative project with the content creator, Stefano Gilotti. The cooking channel demonstrates how to cook Italian cuisine in easy-to-follow steps. The objective was to create a selection of animations and promotional printed materials in response to a variety of food-themed phrases. Along with resulting cartoon mascots, the sayings were printed onto t-shirts, tote bags and pizza boxes. The visual language was inspired by Rubber hose animation from the 1920’s and humble takeaway packaging. The characters celebrate the Italy’s rich food culture and reflect the channel’s playful tone. They range from pizza-loving grim reapers to a pasta-aficionado alarm clock.
