2024 Graphic Communication

I'm not designing since I'm a fulltime teacher (except if like one of my instructors you think we are kind of teachnig designers...) but from time to time I'm still doing a little bit of it. Specially for associations.

Oftenly that could start with a bad attempt by an amateur and I offer to do better!

This is a poster for a street bands fest. Using the picture this amateur (part of the board) drew.

This poster won't be in any book about graphic design neither an inspiration for students: there a compromissions, dictated choices, preferences which give less visual impact but members feel conforting, in resume: I designed a poster.

Of course I also designed the flyer and the Facebook bann:

If I Were A Designer #26: Souvenir

My challenge to introduce a design project per week during one year has seen a second idea coming to life (but still without me...): a "poor piece of a souvenir" (2cv bolt, rock...) but presented on a rich support:

I recently went to visit the Image Mine Museum which is a museum about mining (you can tell by the name) anthracite and you exit by a shop where you can buy anthracite under different forms including... a wooden written support:

 

Can we agree that my proposal was nicer, less "DIY small work"?

If I Were A Designer - 21bis: Wooden Bic pen

More than ten years ago I challenged myself with a trend: making one design project per week during one year.

One of those ideas was a 4 colours Bic pen (a every day tool for my design job) with a body in a bit more precious materials (and maybe more comfortable) like leather and wood:

2 years ago I've seen that the brand made it (without crediting me for the initial idea) with a leather 4 colour pen!

Do you feel it's expensive as hell? Be quiet as here comes the idea in its afordable version: the 4 colour Bic pen in wood:

Well that's still not really comfortable and it still costs more than twice the plastic one when it seems to be a fine wooden on a plastic body (and you can feel that the pens have a rough surface to ride on or asmaller one to compensate the wood eight) but this was my idea!

Of course I bought one (actually its sold by 2).

If I Were A Designer #25: branding

I wrote about the graphic identity I made when I was a student 20 years ago which lasted 10 years before evolving.

I recently received a news from a firm I was working for telling me (well not only me you can imagien they sent it to every person in their contact list) it was changing its brand to conserve only the most famous of its portfolio.

That's how I discovered that brands I created in 2006 were still alive until 2023 and believe me I wouldn't thought about that at the time!

An emotion came and took the time to mature to these 2 posts!

 

With the brands I also created the very first logos. They rapidly have been re-worked by a communication agency  when the brands had received a positive feddback from potentiel buyers (so we can tell that some of my brands failed these first tests and some others passed but did not survive as long).

 

If I Were A Designer #24: graphic identity for orchestra

More or less 20 years ago when I was a student I entered the Musicampus association conducting an universitarian orchestra. For the first concert I had to put a poster in my school and I still remember I made it at midnight because I didn't wanted to be seen with such an atrocity in my design school!

So I proposed to the association board: " I'm not a grapic designer but I can do better!

_ Nice! Could you make the logo for the association too?

_ Why not!"

I'm the one who answered that last question: Musicampus was the official name but everyone was naming directly the orchestra so I made a graphic identity for the orchestra: 

The logo is directly inspired by a poster by Muller-Brockmann:

My logo was less geometrical, circle arcs represent the sections of the orchestra, the name is at the conductor place, there is a strict square around because it's calssical music but it's ripped by the yougness (and the amateurism) of the members.

Blue and yellow were the association's colours (well actually those were the colour of the university and I'm pretty sure they changed the year after).

At the time this graphic design was intended to implant the identity of the orchestra and I though it would need to be changed 5 years later by a more serious one.

It lasted more than 10 years.

The new graphic identity is nice. It's not mine but the circle arcs are still here!

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If I Were A Designer #23-2: Future 2CV

In 2006 I've been asked by the magazine L'Action Auto-Moto to imagine the interior for the Citroën 2HP of the Future.

The main concept was to use 3 ranks of 2 seats in a thin but long vehicule.

I wrote here before how proud I have been to see I was right about a few ideas after that seing those used by international car makers.

 

Then I've posted here my own vision for a 90's 2CV and how it was close to what Citroën designers were thinking around by preparing the C3 ->

 

Let's get back on the 2006 project.

At the time I've met several people in this car design environment and every one was liking my part but disagreeing about the exterior design (done by the intern illsutrator and I'm very sorry I didn't found his name).

Recently I've seen the Renault Triber: small SUV crossover MVP for the indian market since 2019.

The mainlines lookalike what we published 15 years ago: shorted rounded sloping hood, narrow and high line, reduced overhangs...

Let's say the mainlines as I agree style isn't the same (and time alters memories so I didn't remembered our "futur 2cv" was so rounded and gross).

Okay, this time isn't about MY own work as I was in charge of the interior design but still I've worked on this project (and I even done a few ideas for the exterior as I had to work without their images so I had to draw it by myslef based on the phonecall explanations just to know where I was going).

If I Were A Designer #23: the Citroën 2HP for the future

I previously introduced the future 2HP by the press magazine L'Action Auto-Moto I've been part of when I had a small fame in my career.

In fact I've thought about this subject a long time before, even before knowing I'ld become a designer, rethinking the 2HP with the 90's standards:

Let's zoom on the very first sketch:

A few years later (2002) Citroën will introduce the C3 which form seems to evoque its ancestor but without the exact mood. Exactly as I did with my draw:

It had a "without roof" version to feel a bit like in a very modern Méhari: the Pluriel.

What I didn't knew, what I've discovered a few weeks ago in another magazine (L'Argus) is the way the C3 project thought to reinvent the 2HP before simplify its aesthetic!

 

I've seen a video and I've been schocked: I felt like I was watching at an 1:1 scale model of my own contemporary draw! Okay, not really but a bit.

Once again here is only one thing: the pride that I've been right, even if I never went far away.

Now I should ask if the new C3 designed by Tata for India isn't the real grand-daughter of the 2HP?

It doesn't look like the 2HP but it's the same concept:

If I Were A Designer #22: Sock-shoes

10 years ago I've shown for my Project52 an idea I've have had a few years before: street sockets! Or sock-shoes:

I know this is a godd idea but I never developped this because I don't know how to do. If I had tried I would have failed to sell it therefore it would have cost me a lot of money without rentability.

So here I am happy to see my ideas made by someone else even if I don't gain anything in this at least there is an ego: I. was. right.

And that's all I'll get.
 

Some Americans made it in production.

This looks like gardening gloves material (so here comes a new idea: security socks!).

There are only a few colors available but let's say this is for the launch and there will be more choice if it sells well.

They made it socket when I was considering socks (high and decorated son more classy).

The big difference is their principle to sell (in a $200 pack with 2 pairs + accessories, quite expensive isn't it?) socks to put inside:

Probably to avoid odors by washing the socks everyday while shoes would quickly disintegrate if washed too often?

 

Anyway it's too expensive for me to buy just to try...

If I Were A Designer #21: Czech this out!

Another truck design: Tatra 810!

In the 2000s the czech brand used a Renault Midliner to renew a small military Praga truck.

 

They just posted the red circles logo on the french cab as it once a one shot project so it has to bee cheap. But I did wanted to imagine it being sold publicly so to be integrated to the range I designed an all-range visual identity for all the trucks by this manufacturer.

 

I even took this base to make a road truck, a market where Tatra was no more for a long time:

BUT I did thought of a contemporary interior as it was kind of my speciality at that time.
 

 

 

 

#ifiwereadesigner #trucks #renault #tatra #810 #praga

If I Were A Designer #20: Urban Truck

I have to much work to take time for anything else so I'm drowing into old personal projects.

The first comes from my truck design period and was intitled Urbana!

 

 

That's an urban truck bigger than a delivery van but smaller than a heavy loader. You can choose the lentgh or even have an extensible one.

 

The cab is easy to custom.

 

 

 

 

Renault Trucks introduced the Radiance concept 2 years before, was part of Volvo Trucks, was owner of Mack and partner with Sisu (and I forgot Nissan) so you could imagine one variant for each brand and even some personalizable for some local authorities (like it was the case with the tramways).
 

 

That was another time...
 

 

 

 

 

#ifiwereadesigner #trucks #renault #volvo #sisu #mack #urbana #dubai #lyon

If I Were A Designer #19: ice jewelry

A recent post took my eye:

Okay I agree that ice jewelry is just a joke, nothing serious, you are totally right and I know...

Here is the version from a fashion creator: Christina Poulton from Interrobang.
She assumes that was a joke but I'm sure if she didn't had to answer for people asking where to buy?

That seems pretty annoying, right? But is there anyone who thought about this before?

I'm not sure. Except for myself!

 

I made a kind of prevention poster for the Design21 organization from UNESCO (and I explained that by resharing on this blog 10 years ago:

I'm afraid this is still accurate and it may become more and more...

If I Were A Designer #18: special Alpine cars

 I've yet published here my idea of a new Alpine car more than 10 years ago and I had some sportier versions called after evocating names (as was doing the Renault Twingo Gordini of this period):

 

Stronger than the normal version was a everyday sportcar named Gordini. More powerfull was the Mignotet (named after the motorist preparing the engines in the great times of the brand history). And then was the rallye evocation called Dudot (the engineer who made the turbo engines winning the WRC).

Every version was decorated after the 70's racing A110.

And now Renault introduces a limited version on its 2017 A110 entitled Tour de Corse:

The yellow body with the black hood, even the 20 brench white wheels, this one really looks like they have seen my ideas!

[of course not, I know, I've been looking after their testymony so did they and that's how you end with similar ideas]

This one is not for competition but costs 80k€ (when the base model starts at 60k€ but the Rédélé is even more expensive at 83k€!).

The cabrio seems to have been cancelled so they should not try the Barchette version I made without windshield for the Europa Cup...

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2024 Dodge Challenger?

Last dance with the american brands of Stellantis Group but not least: here comes the Challenger muscle-car!

 

The next generation has been yet announced to be the first all-electric muscle-car and I don't feel it should be like an electric car fine and aerodynamic. No, I do think it should affirm its own muscle (even if it's an electrical muscle)!

 

Once more I've took pleasure (well this time it has been longer than usual so I let some details unfinished) around the new Batmobile to civilize it while keeping its bestial aspect.

The new "Dukes of Hazzard" car?

#dodge #challenger #musclecar #chrysler #stellantis #alfaromeo #giulia

Dodge-Chrysler 2022?

Here are some new ideas about Stellantis!

That's easy for me to introduce these ideas without any industrial nor rentability goals! Of course they have been debated by the boards so either they have been cancelled or somewhere in progress. This is just an intelectual game for my mental health!

So here is a new range about Chrysler against Toyota with the renewed sedan based on the Alfa Romeo Giulia, plus a smart coach and a premium SUV:

Under this big SUV we could imagine a family minivan based on the Peugeot 5008 and as an entry it's a chinese Citroën (a C3-L sedan which also exists with a SUV version C3-XR that would have its place in here).

Same problem with Dodge as the italian sedan gives its (elongated) base to the Jeep Grand Cherokee it will give it to the Durango the Charger and the Challenger. Here is my vision for the next Charger (that would probably be all-electric).

Under this we could use the original Giulia to enlarge the range with the same trio: sedan (well a rebadged Giulia) SUV (that's a rebadged Maserati Levante) and a sport coach? Here are the Caliber sedan and its coupé version Barracuda to dream a little more.

Even without reality in mind I can't imagine those brands to offer a range for each market in a short time so the idea is more about giving more dynamism to their image as I'm sure they gain good money on their actual markets (and not enough on the others... otherwise they would have invested them already).

2021 MG Midget

Since the british sport brand MG was purchased by the chinese NAC in 2005 (and mostly as they had launched new ranges in Europe and all over the world) you imagine how I could not stop myself to draw some potential future sedans su-compacts and... roadsters which have always been the image of this brand!

I wanted a small roadster but I understand how this kind of cars can be hard to reach rentability so I allowed myself to imagine a partnership with Toyota to rebadge the Daihatsu Copen (and I've made it on Sunday lunchtime so I went to economize my effects too by changing only lights face and hood):

That was great to have a dream!

Now is time to go to work!

 

#sijetaisdesigner #ifiwereadesigner #design #designautomobile #automotivedesign #cardesign #automobile #ihaveadream #sketch #croquis #souvenirs #imagination #mgcars #mgmotors #nac #saic #ihaveadream #roadster #midget #daihatsucopen #toyotacopen

 

If I Were A Designer #21: Smart Bic pen

Do you remember my leather Bic?

The idea was part of my Project52 challenge (a design project per week): covering Bic pens with leather, wood or precious metal and any other precious material so valorize the owner.

 

That was a time when a wedsite was organizing the Designboom Marts: a marketplace moved on every big design event where creators were able to sell their home made productions. If I had the tools to do it I would definitively have ask to sell this in there!

I did knewpublished the idea on networks, without any come back.

Since then the brand launched the exact same idea: leather covered Bic pen

even with golden cover!

If you think this is too expensive for what it is let me introduce you nice ranges costing less:

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If I Were A Designer: Water Ice-stick

Summer is back

We need some hack

To fight his heat back

Before our lives lack.

 

Yes it's refreshing to use butter

But I really think than drinking water

Is way ealthier and better

But it has to come to use whenever

 

So here is my dream

To eat an ice-cream

Gluten free as you mean

Nor vegan will scream.

 

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Panhard range

A few years ago I was still playing by thinking about cars and bikes ranges for obscur manufacturers.

I don't play anymore, which is sad, and which I certainly miss as I'm thinking about this now! Mostly after my Renault Captivating I remembered this playing range for Panhard "oldest french manufacturer"!

That was less than 10 years ago and my vision is really different now.

My idea was a CKD offer when malaisian Proton was searching after a new partner to develop its future models, while having a CKD contract with the chinese Youngman and a similar attempt in Egypt. The same offer could have been sold in Russia with Graz (which is still the second individual cars seller in the country with only old militarian jeep-likes) and the indian Maruti.

 

 Some of these brands are now closed forever, starting with Panhard fused into Arquus 2 years ago!

I thought it could have a north-american carrier with a middle class coach also racing in NASCAR.

Nothing less.

This is my dream I do what I want!

You can't tell me there is not something to do with this name: "pan hard" could sound like "badass"!

 

Stay serious, let's talk about the compact range I would think totally different now.

There is a sedan (hatchback or not? I don't know) with a 3 doors being the sporty one. I knew that the 3 doors were loosing market parts, so that was a good way to differenciate from the competitors.

Actually a sporty version would have to be more different, like a "pony car" on this base (and why not a "muscle car" based on the middle coach) and mostly you would need a "SUV-crossovers" series like I told about the Renault Clio: a cross-sedan + a compact SUV + a "4-doors-SUV-coupé".

Well, it's nice to dream sometimes!

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Renault Captivating

I'm still sketching from times to times, like yesterday night instead of going to sleep, when I thought that an Audi Q2 was nothing more than an A3 with angular arches, big wheels and new faces:

These sickle-cut fenders remind me of those of the new Peugeot 2008 while the Renault get bogged down in soft curves.

Yes, I'm right giving my opinion about the work of people who have the job I 've never been able to do!

Renault Clio range has no more break as the Captur is 15cm longer (the Duster event more and at the top there will be soon the Arkana a 4-doors-hatchback-SUV -they do know how to invent new body concepts but not the how to name these-) and I was wondering how there could still be a place for a more dynamical Captur, using more of the body parts from the Clio like the Q2 went from the A3:

First I tried Captur's fenders and lights on the Clio... and it's way to close from a Captur so I went to a body-builded aim but this seems to be a silly Clio Cross (that has no reason to exist)

So I came with some Morphoz inspirations, the last in time Renault's concept-car. With roof bars and a deeper trunk (like the Citroën Saxo on the Peugeot 106) so it's kind of a station wagon maybe with a Captur-like colored roof:

This will not revolutionize the Renault's design, at least i gave me fun at almost midnight!

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