In the Space of Open Water

“Graphic Design doesn't have to be boring and functional. It can be something more than that. I think that's really the difference between Ilam and other places”.

What is In the Space of Open Water? 

In the Space of Open Water is a supporting publication to an exhibition curated by Graphic Design Hons students Amelia Barrett, Miah Borlase and Katie Griffiths. The exhibition drew together works from the Graphic Design studio that have won the annual SELECT Award at Ilam School of Fine Arts. This selection of work documents a diverse range of speculative and poetic graphic design works and practices; spanning the fields of print, sound, video, and installation. In the Space of Open Water brings together works by Harriette Herlund, Stella Sales, Issy van der Leden, Luke Shaw, Lee Richardson, Emma Kevern, the Blue Monday Collective (Emma Kevern, Ryan Patrick & Luke Shaw), Barry/Holly (Thomas Barrar & Amy Hollands), and Lucy Mackie.

Following this exhibition we are producing a supporting publication that will include photo documentation of the works and the exhibition, alongside comprehensive interviews with each of the artists. This publication seeks to explore what it means for a ‘graphic design’ studio to operate within the context of an art school. Design studios and departments were pulled out of all other art schools around New Zealand in the 1990s and set up as stand-alone design degrees, all of which are now led by ‘industry advisory boards’. The Graphic Design studio at Ilam operates very differently to other institutions. Existing under the aegis of a ‘Bachelor of Fine Arts’, the design program here leans into more critical, speculative, and poetic approaches to graphic design practice. This cross-over between ‘art’ and ‘design’ seems rich with potential here at Ilam. This is an anomaly that we wish to consider, discuss and share.

Who is our team? 

This publication will be designed and published by current Graphic Design hons students; Amelia Barrett, Miah Borlase and Katie Griffiths. The three of us are now in our fourth year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honors, majoring in Graphic Design. We are grateful to have learnt a more critical and speculative approach to graphic design through our education at Ilam School of Fine Arts. This is something we want to unpack and share through the publication.

What are we raising funds for? 

By donating to our boosted campaign your support will help bring this publication to life. The money raised will go towards purchasing paper and printing the publication. We believe that the interviews and stories shared within this book will be fundamental to past, current and future students, allowing a deeper look into the Graphic Design course at Ilam School of Fine Arts.