Type and Grid - Vickie Simpson

We've been paired up with fellow designers. Our brief is to produce a 3 double page spread which is to appear in an appropriate publication, with the content focussing on our partner. My partner is none other than Vickie Simpson. Our first task towards this project was to have a Q&A session and find stuff out that we didn't already know about our partners. Following this we had to write 500 words about them. And also choose some imagery.
So this post is dedicated to Vickie Simpson. Maybe you will learn something about her you didn't already know.

482 words about Vickie Simpson

Vickie describes her own work as an “eclectic mix of media experimentation and illustration” and proudly states that she likes to “cut and stick things”. Anyone familiar with her work will be aware of her love for collage and that soft spot she has for anything second hand. Using collage means that Vickie can brainstorm her ideas as they are generated in a visually engaging away, which in turn inspires her and develops said ideas further. The “hands on” approach is something that she personally values very highly and prefers this method of image making to using just type or being software focussed. By routing through charity shops, car boot sales and old bookshops she has managed to find all sorts inspiration for her favoured way of working – and continues to do so. While in her room she is surrounded by these intriguing objects. Tins, lunch boxes, brass monkeys, sweet dispensers, a tea caddy and the list goes on. Her most treasured find from her hunts is a sewing machine, although, unsurprisingly, it is missing bits. Considering these factors it is no surprise that when asked what her favourite piece of work she had produced her music box topped the list. For anyone who doesn’t know what this was read on. For those of you who do, feel free to carry on reading anyway (no pressure). Designed to look like a stack of old books – actually structured by using bits of old covers and spines of books – the music box held inside it a collection of information about charity shops in Stockport and 100 items that Vickie herself purchased from these shops. Not only does this demonstrate to people the possibilities these kind of places hold, but it also reflects Vickie’s personality and interests quite aptly. It is a combination of second hand items, books, illustrations and music – a quite accurate summary of this young graphic designer. Although there is a strong sense of second hand items, and the re-use of imagery/type (in the form of collage), it is delivered in quite a contemporary way. Whether this is due to certain images used within work or specific messages, there is a definite modern way of thinking behind the work. It is probably this mixture that makes her work stand out from others and why it gains such a wide and varying range of interest. Vickie is clearly confident in the way she works and demonstrates a strong set of skills. As well as using found images from books and magazines, she likes to use fabric, pens and watercolours and has been known to produce some very gripping visuals from this media. When she’s not busy treasure hunting, or drawing birds, she can occasionally be seen riding her bicycle. Possibly to an art gallery, perhaps round York (one of her favourite and recommended places), or maybe even to the next car boot sale.

Some pictures