Barbera Kruger
Barbara Kruger is an American conceptual/pop artist that was born in 1945, Newark, New Jersey. During her years of design, she has ‘perfected’ in her own style by using black and white photographs juxtaposed with direct and ironic statements in which portrays the meaning of each design thats set in white on red Futura Bold Oblique font. Having studied photography and graphics, she stopped using original photos in which she moved on by using secondary images from mainstream magazines to recontextualize, if not appropriate a certain theme in which she conveys. 


Here Kruger uses her prominent style with a minimalistic design, consisting of just bold colours and text that strongly gives out a message. This is clearly having connections with the audience, with the use of prounouns such as ’i’ll, ‘your’ and ‘me’. More or less to me, as i read this design, it has a sense of a serious tone in which it captivates the audience into buyiong certain products. Composition wise, everything is simple and is complex at the same time as the text used is the source of making this piece giving out more impact than it visually does, concept is important within this.
This is featured in many advertisements and promotions, especially in Selfridges. This installation is cleverly used in order to capture the audience in purchasing items, in which both sides will be satisfied, the buyer and the seller. 



This second piece of Barbara Krugers work is still covering her style of simplicity and the use of her signature colour combination of red and wite, alongside the secondary image of a person in the process of piercing her finger with a pin. As an audience, i have an uncomfortable feeling towards this piece and i tihnk thats exactly what Krugers wants the audience to feel. This piece is more focused on the concept of keeping it open for the audience to interpret their thoughts and opinions towards this piece. Also, with the positiong of the text that is layered on the foreground of the photo, this really emphasizes the image as well as the meaning behind it. This could also have conventions of love and relationship behind this photo, expressing a more in depth meaning. Simple design yet orbitting a powerful concept behind it.


Here is a collage made by Kruger consisting of a big proportioned photo of a hand weilding a needle that is ambushed by the layerings of her text of red background under white text. ‘the meaning of life is that it stops’ shows an engaging relationship with her audience as it makes you question on what her actual intentions of having this within her design is about. This is probably supported with the texts around the needles giving possibly hints of what she is trying to portray. In addition, the photo is recontextualised into her own use and the text surrounding the needle is being emphasized with the bold red background that could be a representation of blood. Very opened to interpretation for the audience and very simple in terms of design.

Project Link
I want to explore Krugers style in the use of bold colours and text to try and interpret meaning within my designs, i like her design style in which i really favour within minimalism as i would say my type of style in terms of design is based on minimalism and the composition. Experimentations of layering within the colours used and the images, as well as text.



Response Pieces 
 
Here are my response pieces of reflecting my knowledge of barbara Krugers style of work. Using her prominent colours, red, white and black, i have featured this with a photo that i have taken of a computer mouse that is a part of my theme, household items. Keeping the composition minimalistic, i have added play on words, ‘oh cheese’ which have reference to the photo that is there. I want to continue working with her design style and elements within my study.

Saul Bass
Saul Bass is considered one of the most recognised and versatile graphic designer as well as film- maker in the 20th century. An award winning director for his short film, ‘why man creates’ (1969). He was born in New York and studied Graphic Art under Brooklyn College. He favourites minimalism which is prominent in all of his film poster designs showing symbolic images.


Here is the ‘anatomy of a murder’ film poster design by saul bass himself which predominates his minimalistic style of bold colours and shapes. The design is fairly straight forward yet it still influences contemporary artist now in society. I believe during Saul Bass’ time, his contemporary approach differentiates him between other designers by keeping to his style that is considered iconic. I really like the use of shapes that Saul Bass’ uses as it give out an edgy feel towards it which i find interesting in terms of experimentl designs im going to do. The use of layering each design over each other to keep the simplicity at its max is very attractive and the positioning of the silhouette character in middle is the main attraction to us viewers as it uses the colour black which contrasts to the background colour, showing emphasis.

    
‘The man with the golden arm’ is one of bass’ known creation with his signature design of the ‘jagged’ arm which represents a drug addict. Here the design is very edgy, very contemporary-like, having simple angular geometric shapes which makes up the design. Bass’ is fairly conceptual as well in terms of creating the jagged arm in which is his signature design. The composition here is design in which enhances the centre of the design. Having a dark purple colour used to attract the audiences eyes to be set on that first can signify the link which connects to the jagged arm, which is surrounded by typography which of course, gives out the purpose of the piece, film poster. I like the way Saul Bass thinks in terms of what he wants to portray, or try to portray through the simple shapes and colours used.    
  
Another prominent and distinctive design created by saul bass which is more detailed than the other pieces. Although, it is more detailed, the design is detailed because of its straight forward design of the shapes used and the placement of it. Using shapes to create his typographic name, if not layering of the font over the shape used. Having features of his silhouette designs and his birth and death date within this piece pretty much i guess ‘sums’ up his life and what he has achieved. different sizes and proportions of the shapes used gives out a feeling of being contemporary designs with slick edges. 

Project Link
In terms of linking saul bass to my project, i want to explore the uses of shapes within my designs to give out that gritty and edgy effect. I want to use its simplicity in order to create more of a attractive approach when looking at my designs. Bold colours will also be experimented within this project. Also, in relation to my theme household items, i want to see if its possible to relate to saul bass’ style with my style as development process.



Response Pieces
 
My response pieces, i have really focused on the simplicity of Saul Bass’ designs and using simple shapes such as retangles and squares as a foundation of my designs, which at times get developments in having a more contemporary and edgy feel towards it. Taking into account of Bass’ use of his known designs such as the jagged arm, i have placed in a knife and a fork that i have taken, which was thresh-holded into having that style of bass’. I do plan on using bass’ design elements within my designs that i will produce later on for this personal study and hopefully progressing on into my own style.