In the visual arts, the path that allows an idea to be converted into a final prototype is usually hidden from view. What is hidden beyond the design of a poster, a stop-motion animation or a visual brand identity? Through the student projects of three IED Barcelona students, we reveal the key elements required to transform a project into a visual communication reality.
Although every day our gaze captures countless visual elements (we are surrounded by magazines, posters, flyers, merchandising objects, applications or video projections), discerning how these have gone from the initial stage of ideation to their final prototyping remains something little known. The complexity that hides every creative process is not always evident to the non-expert eye, since we generally do not have access to see how ideas are produced and elaborated; We only see its final result.
Behind an image, however, there is enormous design work that begins with the research, conceptualization and visualization phase of the project; continues with defining the tone of the proposal, providing visual references and establishing a naming to give it an identity; It is enriched with a description of its visual imagery (textures, typography, color palette); continues with laboratory tests to experiment with different materials (paper, vinyl, textile…) and formats; runs aground with renders that they don’t come out to grow through trial and error; and, finally, it is consolidated in the final mockups, the last step before being fully developed below in the form of its own entity. in view of all.
The three works carried out by IED Barcelona students that we will see below are an example of this complex network through which every visual arts project passes until the final result is formed. These are proposals made during his years of studies in the fields of graphic design and motion graphics and video. The works allow us to express both our own creative universe and personal concerns as well as the transformative capacity and social impact of design.
Chaosk by Varvara Godovikova
The “Chaosk” project by Varvara Godovikova, awarded the Laus Plata in 2023 and created at IED Barcelona, transforms the visual identity of a kiosk into a refuge from chaos. Inspired by Yekaterinburg’s rich heritage and a childhood marked by military austerity and family warmth, Chaosk offers tools and knowledge for survival in the everyday tumult. Material selection and communication design reflect a philosophy of active concern and critical reflection. With a corporate identity that ranges from a distinctive logo to informative publications, the project invites social awareness and personal empowerment in the face of global turbulence.
Godovikova’s graphic design with Chaosk is more than aesthetic; It is an intersection of art, design and activism. With a voice that does not scream, but resonates with wit and poetry, she urges viewers to face the surrounding reality. The proposal is not only a display of technical skill and conceptualization, but also an expression of her personal narrative and social commitment. With Chaosk, creativity and functionality come together, showing how design can be a vital tool for interpreting and managing the world we live in.
If you want to know more about Chaosk: Chaosk
“Unwoven Memories” by Thinh Truong, a talented graduate of IED Barcelona with a degree in Graphic Design and Motion Graphics and Video, is a tactile exploration of urban memories transformed into textile language. This project, which has resonated at the Blanc Festival and will be highlighted at Sónar+D Project Area, deciphers the soul of Colonia Güell through everyday objects, represented in a binary narrative and converted into unique textile patterns.
Through a meticulous process, Thinh assigns each object 15 binary properties that encompass physical and emotional aspects, translating these characteristics into a binary code that gives life to 26 different tissues. These tapestries are not just a visual representation, but a conglomerate of personal stories and shared spaces, projected in an audiovisual experience that illuminates the hidden aspects of our reality.
Extending his innovative technique to the field of typography, Thinh employs the same binary code to create letters with an embedded narrative. Through its “Digital Warehouse,” this project demonstrates the power of objects to tell stories and the potential of graphic design to immortalize the collective flow of memory in a tapestry that is both history and visual art.
More info about Unwoven Memories
The “Todas Musas” project, designed by Lia Ferreiro, Graphic Design student, Motion Graphics and Video itinerary, from IED Barcelona, is a confluence of art, design and social commitment that will be presented at the OFFF Festival. This artistic and design collective stands as a banner to empower Latin American women, celebrating their rich cultural, social and economic diversity within the dynamic world of the creative industry. The initiative is materialized through an inclusive directory, which not only highlights the voices of women artists by location and discipline, but also creates a community of reference and support.
Web design, art direction, editorial, motion graphics and 3D are the pillars that give life to this project, each adding a layer of depth and connection. Inspired by an element of everyday life-the “Yellow Pages” telephone directory—“All Muses” exudes nostalgia and unity, embodying legitimacy and audacity.
This project is a platform that not only provides visibility to female artists, but also gives them the voice and power to tell their stories, challenge conventions and actively participate in redefining their role in the creative industry. With “Todas Musas”, Lia Ferreiro not only offers a directory but creates a movement, symbolizing a starting point towards a more inclusive and equitable future in art and design.
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If you want more information about the project, visit the project website.
