Ben Keenan
Graphic Designer
Leeds, UK
PART ONE. TRANSCRIPT.
This is more than an industry map. It's a map of who inspires me creatively, informs me creatively, guides me creatively. Until one day I can build my own map of my creativity, my own map that informs others, my own map that guides others in this industry. When starting this project I was asked, How do you fit into this industry? How do you work? What do you love to make? Where would you love to work?...and Why?
????
At this stage, I don't know all the answers to these questions. But. What I do know is who's influenced me to take the next steps ahead before I fall head first into the industry. Where I know I'll soon land on my feet. Graphic design, or just creativity in general, has evolved my desire to experiment, play, learn, develop, re-learn and explore through my work. This industry map showcases my research into projects, creatives and studios that coincidentally all overlap and weave together. And my visual rendition of that. I hope you enjoy reading who inspires, informs and guides me. Maybe a few can help you land on your feet in this industry.
_BEN
OTL AICHER.
I fell in love with Aicher's work when I saw his Munich 1972 Olympic Games designs. Aicher's simplistic and structured designs stand the test of time. Metro Bilbao signage system and Museum Ulm designs are also top of my favourite works so including him on this map was a must. His work has inspired lots of my projects through geometric forms, vivid colours, balanced structure and visual warmth that leaves a lasting influence on viewers.
MARK O'NEILL.
O'Neill is a British designer known mostly for working with the renowned Accept & Proceed on projects for Nike and Cannondale. I found O'Neill through his work for Nike Fit-ADV, attracted by the geometric forms and incorporation of meteorological systems. His style is simple with functionality and sustainability at the forefront for user-friendly solutions. Getting to work with him and Accept & Proceed would be an honour.
JACQUELINE CASEY.
Casey was a highly influential American graphic designer best known for her poster, exhibition and visual communications for MIT. Casey's style was very bold, modernist and Swiss. I like quite a few of Casey's poster designs but my all-time favourites have to be, American Women in Science and Engineering, The Moon Show and Generations, due to how effective they communicate through visual metaphors and minimalism.
AA NEWSPAPER.
AA Newspaper is an experimental publication series by Jin Dallae and Park Woohyuk that explores cultural narratives, multimedia, graphic identities, architectural discourse, performances and the role of printed media within art and society. Jin&Park is the name they go by when collaborating on various projects. Archive Annyeong (AA) Newspaper 2011-2021, features 21 volumes in total, which pulled me in through the striking artistic expression and attention to space, narrative and materiality. I admire the daring decisions made that allow you to reimagine the typical newspaper format and Jin&Park's immersive cross-over of print and digital.
RAPHAËL JÉRÔME SCHMITT.
SchmItt is a versatile artsiest and designer based in Switzerland with work spanning disciplines. However, he's best known for combining traditional and modern techniques to showcase his deep interest in Swiss typography and digital innovation.
Schmitt has collaborated with Maison Pierre Frey, where designs were transformed into textiles, and his artistic freedom bridged the gap between historical artistry and modern aesthetics. My favourite Schmitt project is his design and labelling system for VASR garments, where the tags are printed onto cotton fabric and deliberately designed to curl up with wear and wash.
BATE.
A unique publication project by artist Daniel David Freeman, consisting of 32 A2 back-to-back posters bound by an orange elastic loop that allows it to fold into a 64-page A3 booklet. Limited to 250 signed and numbered copies. The posters are littered with bold graphic elements and text, with an accompanying "Existential Crisis" carpenter's pencil, a Mona Lisa postcard, and humorous stickers, all housed in a bright orange Mona Lisa screen-printed glassine bag. I discovered this publication in a graphics and photography shop; I was intrigued by the material experimentation and the merging of graphics ardl art. I bought no.20.
COMMUNITY MEMORY.
Inspired by the historical Community Memory Project. The first public computer-based bulletin board system created in the 1970s. Mike Tully's Community Memory explores archives, memory and collective experiences with themes of cultural memory and digital interfaces and a focus on sound and visual artistry. Tully involves a blend of storytelling and interactive art to evoke emotional and sensory responses to history and identity, which has inspired many of my design projects to be user-focused and enriched with purpose and stories.
MOUTHWASH STUDIO.
Mouthwash Studios is an LA-based studio that focuses on creating innovative and relevant work through challenging industry norms, incorporating emerging technologies, collaboration, narrative-driven design, and a holistic and experimental approach to making. Founded by a young team, they work across industries to provide services in creative direction, graphic identity, digital design, motion design and strategy. Mouthwash's goal is to continuously learn and grow together, foster collaboration and inclusivity, and embody a "breath of fresh air" to commit to new, impactful ideas. This is the kind of studio I want to work in. Always evolving. Always growing. Always adapting. Always producing dynamic work.
STUDIO GESTALT.
Gastalt is a multidisciplinary architecture and design studio dedicated to creating spatial concepts that foster human interaction and promote dialogue and immersive experiences. I learned about this studio through their exhibition design for Ukurant Unwrapped 2024 during the 3daysofdesign festival. I'm intrigued by Gastalt's deep belief that thoughtful design can transform spaces into environments that encourage engagement and curiosity. If I ever have my own stand-alone exhibition, I'd love to work with Studio Gestalt to turn the space into an environment.
PAULA SCHER.
Paula Scher is a renowned American graphic designer best known for her bold, typographic approach to design. Scher shaped some of the most iconic visual identities and branding campaigns in the industry through her work as a partner to the design studio Pentagram. Scher became popular through her use of oversized, energetic typography and visual identity projects for Citibank, Microsoft and The Public Theatre in New York. I became a fan of Scher when I was introduced to her work on The Public Theatre. The expressive edge yet balanced typeset creates a unique impact that can be seen across all her work.
GAA DESIGN STUDIO.
GAA Design Studio, founded by Jaime Garmendia in 2020, is a design agency specialising in visual identities and brand strategies. Simplicity and functionality from
Swiss design principles is the philosophy GAA emphasises through the repeated use of grid systems, modern typography and distinctive colours. I found GAA through their Agora Market brand crafting and design. I seem to naturally gravitate towards Swiss design.
PAVEL RIPLEY.
Ripley is a multidisciplinary artist and designer with vast experience in illustration, graphic, web, app and motion design and has collaborated with brands like COCO Chocolatier, creating designs that are typographic, abstract and nature-inspired. Ripley's work blends abstract geometric and minimalist graphics with custom typography. His collage pieces are where I draw my inspiration. He experiments with random textures and materials, combines them, plays with them, and draws on them. His multi-layered pieces perfectly combine materials, drawings and type to create unique and stunning work.
MTA SUBWAY MAP.
I was introduced to this project a while ago but was recently reintroduced and reminded of how stunning this Massimo Vignelli design and Michael Hertz geographical crossbreed is. This interactive digital map was developed by Work&Co to give back to the people of New York, creating enhanced navigation across the transit system. Working with these creatives would be an amazing opportunity.
FLY BACK TO THE MOON.
This experimental and evoking project is by designer Hairun Li that delves into the significance of leaving Earth on a journey to the Moon, comprising of two experimental publications, 'Moon Book' and 'Earth Book', a short film made of archival photographs and audio from space missions and an accompanying research book. The 'Earth Book' narrates astronaut Edward White's awe during America's first spacewalk through black and white imagery, minimalistic layouts, monochromatic colour pallet and clean typography to reflect the vastness of space and convey motion and weightlessness.
The 'Moon Book' narrates Jim Lovell's experience orbiting the moon, with visual contrast and muted colours to reflect the moon's surface and the solitude of space and layouts simulating trajectory and movement. This project is beyond astonishing. Fueling me with the want to create something with such depth and emotion.
MARGARET CALVERT.
British Designer Margaret Calvert is the pioneer in modern transport signage in the UK. She collaborated with Jock Kinneir in the 1960s to create a clear, clean and user-friendly typeface and pictograms still used today on British road signs. Other public transport projects include the Tyne and Wear Metro, the Transport font and the Rail Alphabet font, not to mention brand identities, hospital signage and the UK government's font of choice. Calvert's approach to designing for clarity, functionality, simplicity, timelessness and safety is a prime example of how design can be used to improve everyday life. I admire Calvert and her work every time I see it.
JULIAN HESPENHEIDE.
Hespenheide has been an inspiration for all of my creative coding based projects. The German designer specialises in interactive design and generative systems, often using ASCII, creative coding and physical computing to explore intersections of analogue and digital creation, future technologies and to indulge in his rich interest in fundamental digital media. Hespenheide's work has allowed m2e to develop my creative coding skills by acting as a guide and example of what I can create if I hone my coding skills.
ZÜRICH MUSEUM
JAPANESE EXHBITION DESIGN.
The Japanese graphic design exhibition designed by Skala Design Studio showcases contemporary Japanese graphic design from designers born between 1973 and 1993. design choices by Skala communicate the collective aesthetic of Japanese contemporary through cohesive spatial arrangement, neutral colour schemes, sans-serif typefaces and a minimalist approach. I found this exhibition
design randomly one day and can't get it out of my head.
SOUL PRESSURE - MIND DIRECTIONS
INSTALLATION 2024.
As a part of the "HumanOid Act01: Was Here" exhibition at the Rodin Gallery in Tokyo presented by tomorrow. type.today, the visual artist and designer Nacho had multiple installations showcasing interactive elements and typographic displays. The installation explored the interplay between human consciousness and digital interfaces to reflect technology's influence on mental processes and perceptions. This exhibition
has inspired what I would do when exhibiting my work.
GRAPHICAL HOUSE STUDIO.
This Glasgow-based design consultancy aims to transform clients' futures through design, digital experiences, brand development, strategy and content creation. They have a wide range of clients, from start-ups to global brands, pitching design as an investment, not a cost and attention to detail creates impactful brand experiences. I discovered Graphical House Studio through its visual identity and brand development for Oberlanders, an architecture and design firm. A design overhaul that is focused, dynamic, adaptable and timeless.
ZHENMING KWAN.
Kwan is a graphic designer and book designer based in China. His work is modernist yet experimental. His designs incorporate a balance of form and colour, with deep thought into typography and composition to create work that organises work effectively. I found Kwan while looking for visual influences for this industry map project, and since then, I've been following his design journey, learning new ways of balancing form and function.
HARRISON FUN STUDIO.
Canadian creative agency Harrison Fun specialises in branding, space design and event production, challenging conventional methods to deliver projects from ideation to physicality. They centre their studio on the belief that branding should be joyful and limitless, branding should be thought about differently to create impactful and memorable experiences. Harrison Fun has a portfolio packed with funky, colourful, unique projects for clients worldwide. You can visibly see the fun they have with their projects, I'd love to work for a studio like this.
FOR&ST.
For&st, also known as Form & Structure, is an independent Hong Kong-based creative unit focusing on design and experimental printing. The studio's name stands for "form & structure", "forward & stand", and "for & story". Their portfolio is rammed with award-winning designs recognised by international design bodies such as D&AD, ADC and the Golden Pin Design Award. Their outstanding print works have influenced many of mine over the past few years and will for many more projects to come.
MASSIMO VIGNELLI.
Vignelli is one of the world's most influential Italian designers, mostly known for championing modernist principles, simplicity and timelessness, most noticeably in works such as his New York City subway map from 1972. Vignelli's NYC subway map embraced the clean, geometric approach for clarity and elegance. His work is always an influence on any minimalist yet colourful project I work on.
A24.
A24 is renowned for changing film forever. Not only through its quality of films and shows but also its distinctive visual identity that blends modernity with the golden age of Hollywood aesthetics. A24 developed its branding with creative agency GrandArmy to create a custom Art Deco-inspired wordmark that expands through to merchandise and collaborations. Beyond the sophisticated yet contemporary logo, the brand's visual identity extends to its film marketing materials and digital presence, establishing itself with the role of distinctive and influential within the entertainment industry. A24's visual identity has helped solidify its place in the industry, accumulating many awards and a dedicated fan base. Any creative project with film at its centre should be influenced by A24.
'VOIR L'INVISIBLE' - LES RENCONTRES
DE LURE GRAPHIC INDENTITY.
"Voir l'invisible" (Seeing the Invisible) was the theme for the 72nd (2024) Renqntres Internationales de Lure, an annual gathering that brings together typography, graphic design, and visual communication professionals and enthusiasts to explore the evolution and forms of writing. The 2024 program included conferences, workshops, exhibitions and roundtables. I chose to include this year's Rencontres Internationales de Lure due to the event and exhibition's visual identity. The identity reflects the theme, making the invisible visible, playful and dynamic typography through distortion and layering, graphic motifs that create illusions and suggest movement or discovery, and the blend between print and digital with interactive elements and static designs. The cohesive design is what got them on my map.
THEGREENEYL STUDIO.
The multidisciplinary design and research studio, with locations in Berlin and New York, specialises in exhibitions, objects, images, algorithms, installations and interactions, exploring language, technology, urban environments and vision to engage audiences. TheGreenEyl's "Bodies in Motion" light installation, created for Humanscale at Milan Design Week (2019) in collaboration with Todd Bracher, was a minimalistic representation of human form through immersive response lights. Visitors walk through the space and are scanned to create 15 motorised lights to be projected onto a large screen, highlighting key areas of the body, with each interaction triggering a unique visual and sound experience, creating a unique environment between the audience and installation. I want this project to guide all interactive projects I create in the future, visually and digitally.
PARKER STUDIO.
Discovered through the Myers & Briggs Foundation identity, Parker is a design and brand development studio based in Seattle, Washington. They produce brand identities, visual communication, print media, digital media and environmental and interior design using culturally relevant elements and strategies. The Myers & Briggs Foundation's identity landed them on this map from the ability to combine beauty and functionality with a tailored client-centred approach. The focus on context and story elevates the identity further, allowing it to stay relevant and aspiring.
_BEN