George Greaves, a young designer from Bristol created a series of graphic posters for Say hi to_ magazine. When asked to interpret and translate the work of a contemporary furniture designer, he chose Tom Dixon.
“George's work can be characterised by well-balanced color stories rarely using more than three bold complementary colors, gradients, cutouts and geometric shapes.” says Kristen Schultz from say hi to_
Once we discovered the project we instantly liked what we saw and we got in touch with George to understand a little more about him and the series.
Tom Dixon Studio: It's Thursday evening, what has your day entailed? And was a typical working day?
George Greaves: My day involved a rather slow start, I got into my studio around 10am, replied to a few emails and then got on with some design work. After that I went and visited a great local menswear shop to discuss doing a series of printed t-shirts with them. This resembles most of my days - on the whole relatively unstructured, but I feel a routine developing.
TDS: Give us a brief background in how you came to creating these simple yet striking pieces?
GG: Kristen of the excellent say hi to_ magazine, approached me after seeing my work through Instagram and asked me if I wanted to do a series of images interpreting a designer's work. It sounded like a great idea, so I decided to have a go.
TDS: Do you have a name for this specific series?
GG: I hadn't thought of one, but now you ask. I think 'Kind of Blue' fits - after one of my favourite albums.
TDS: What made you choose Tom Dixon as your inspiration this project?
GG: His work really stood out to me as well balanced. yet individual. Each piece possessing its own character, the strong, graphic nature of the silhouettes I think complemented my style, which made it a natural process to interpret into these still life pieces.
TDS: How do you go about creating a series of artworks like the ones made for Kind of Blue?
GG: For this series the process was wholly digital, using methods I have developed from messing around with Photoshop ever since I was quite young, it means I can play around with the composition until I am completely happy with it. I also paint and draw and this feeds into my process.
TDS: How does the process change and evolve?
GG: When I work on a project, I really find not thinking about it too much works best for me. Trying out different processes until I achieve a desired result has always informed my work, and will continue to do so, I don't want to be limited by a medium. I get bored with working in one way very quickly which in some ways is a blessing and a curse.
TDS: Would you say 1980s graphic design influenced you and your work?
GG: I think a comparison could be drawn, I like the boldness of 80's style, but I wouldn't say it's a major influence for me, though I try to absorb as much visual information as I can and it all feeds back into my work, so it's hard to say where it comes from.
TDS: We also see hints of Esher and surrealist Margaritte – have they influenced your work?
GG: Yes, I love both of those artists, I think they both capture that sense of strangeness or unreality in their work, something that I very much wish to achieve with mine.
TDS: And what other people and things have inspired you to create in your geometric style, with use of shapes and gradients?
GG: Big influences for me are Henri Mattise, Joan Miro, David Hockney, Alexander Calder and De Chirico. I appreciate a lot of different styles but for me bold and graphic seems the most comfortable, and the way I can most easily express myself.
TDS: What's exciting you at the moment?
GG: Working on my business, getting involved and collaborating on different projects from graphic design to fashion. And generally trying to create things.
TDS: What's next on the horizon?
GG: A design and print studio in Bristol called Printed Goods, that me and my brother are in the process of setting up. And continuing to experiment and develop my work.
TDS: Thanks George. Thank you for creating this great series of work and taking the time to answer our questions.
Follow George Greaves on Instagram and check out his Tumblr.
