graphic graphic

GRAPHIC GRAPHIC

is a platform that aims to give insights, perspectives and thoughts within the Belgian graphic design scene.

GRAPHIC GRAPHIC

serves as a dedicated space for designers to showcase their work, exchange ideas and inspire one another through a series of curated festivals, exhibitions, talks and debates.

It also provides an overview for a wider audience to understand the work and process of graphic designers.

The genesis of GRAPHIC GRAPHIC was sparked by a shared sentiment among Belgian graphic designers: a desire to dissolve the veil of unfamiliarity that shrouds our practices, discipline and more generally our body of work. We questioned whether we, as graphic designers, could collectively define what makes Belgian graphic design particular. In response to this challenge, GRAPHIC GRAPHIC was founded with the intention of making the Belgian graphic design scene more accessible, comprehensible and appreciated.

Our initiative serves a dual purpose. On one hand, these events aim to build a sense of community within the Belgian graphic design scene. This extends beyond graphic designers themselves to encompass the ecosystem of professionals and amateurs that gravitates around them, including printers, developers, artists, publishers, schools, and more.

On the other hand, GRAPHIC GRAPHIC seeks to demystify the world of graphic design for those less familiar with it. These events act as bridges, connecting graphic designers with a broader public. They offer opportunities for the uninitiated to gain insights into the creative processes, concepts and aesthetics that underlie graphic design. By making the work of Belgian graphic designers accessible, GRAPHIC GRAPHIC hopes to spark curiosity, inspire creativity and promote a deeper understanding of the expertise that goes into their work.

GRAPHIC GRAPHIC, therefore, aspires to contribute to a more inclusive understanding of graphic designer’s role in shaping our visual culture and environment. By creating a space where the subtleties of the work of graphic designers are laid bare, we aim to build broader recognition of the value and quality inherent in graphic design.

concept

From the 19th to the 22nd October 2023 Graphic graphic presented the exhibition Fast Life during the Belgian Art & Design fair. This exhibition focused on posters.

Posters, a simple yet impactful medium, are an integral part of our daily lives, capturing our attention as we navigate through public spaces. designed to communicate messages swiftly and effectively, posters play a significant role in our contemporary visual culture.
With an often limited display time, posters possess a sense of urgency, demanding for an immediate engagement. These ubiquitous and versatile creations encompass a wide spectrum of purposes, from advertising campaigns to political statements or simply graphic experiments. For graphic designers, posters stand as one of the most prominent mediums of expression.

The theme Fast Life encapsulates the essence of posters as a medium. Posters, by their very nature, proclaim their messages with a sense of urgency. Similar to their digital counterparts, posters have a fleeting presence, quickly making their way out for newer visuals and fresher graphics. Rather than a limitation, this inherent ephemerality transforms poster creation into a race—a race against time, against competing messages and against ever-evolving visual cultures.
The metaphor of a car race also underscores the competitive nature of poster design. Posters are commonly displayed in urban settings, appearing on buildings, taped to private house windows or showcased in bus stops, depending on their framing and intended audience. In a world flooded with information and distractions, posters must compete to capture our attention. This competition extends beyond a race against time, as posters change almost daily; it’s a race to catch our focus and compel us to pause on our ways.

The twenty posters selected for this exhibition share a common thread: complexity. They challenge traditional notions of simplicity and embrace the subtlety of visual storytelling. In an era dominated by endless scrolling and an overload of information, these posters encourage viewers to pause, explore and wander through their graphical journey.
The selected posters are characterized by layers: overlapping images, text or a mix of typefaces. Some of them employ textures to create depth and dimension, while others might play with reading directions. In embracing complexity, they provide a striking counterpoint to a form of minimalism that has characterized contemporary design for years. These aesthetic choices are not only an artistic decision; they also reflect a broader trend within the Belgian graphic design scene and beyond its borders.
This selection showcases posters created over the last three years, offering a reflection of the current visual culture and trends. Away from the earlier dominance of minimalism and modernism, there is now a pronounced inclination toward embracing the apparent complexity of information. This approach embodies a daring shift towards a seemingly more maximalist vision, where design embraces excess, chaos and celebrates the use of bold colors, intricate patterns, and rich textures.

exhibitors