2009 Winner – David Blaiklock

The 2009 Adelaide Fringe poster competition was taken out by David Blaiklock, a UniSA Illustration and Design lecturer. The idea behind the poster was about finding your ‘inner voice’ and what better way to do that than with the Adelaide Fringe!

What is you creative background (current)?
My ‘creative background’ is as a designer, illustrator and artist. I have been practicing in these areas for 18 years and am currently lecturing at The University of South Australia in the School of Art, Architecture and Design. I am the course coordinator of Illustration Design within the Visual communication program. My business, Ekaada Art & Design which I run with my partner, specialises in Illustration commissions and also undertakes design and art projects.

Visit my lecturer homepage and the course that I teach. My professional work and portfolio can be viewed online at: www.ekaada.com.au

What was your creative background (at the time of winning the competition)
As above

Why did you decide to enter the competition?
The Fringe is my favourite Adelaide Festival and I have always dreamed of winning the Fringe Poster competition since I first saw one of the festival posters as a Design student. I can recall the year, 1992, and remember I first saw the poster at Al Fresco Café on Rundle St.

How did you come up with your winning design?
My winning design was developed from an idea that I recorded in my most recent ‘art/idea’ journal.
I completed a series of small thumbnail drawings that explored the idea of the inner voice, a representation of the inner self that is expressive, brash, bold and colourful. I have been doing these types of small figurative thumbnail figures for sometime now, they help me to quickly examine and record an idea.

I thought this particular concept and image would be great as a Fringe poster because the Adelaide Fringe is to me, an expression of Adelaide’s inner self. I see Adelaide as normally quiet and reserved, the Fringe is a time when Adelaide comes alive, is expressive and celebrates artistic diversity.

Where did you look for inspiration?
I have kept these ‘art/idea’ journals / visual diaries since finishing my studies in 1992. Artist, Margie Hooper, a teacher of mine had a great influence on me and always encouraged the use of these journals to develop as an artist. The work within my journals is always based on visual ideas, drawing practice and visual experiments which I am doing all of the time. My journals act as a database of ideas and experiments that I can gain inspiration from at anytime.

Had you entered the Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition before?
I have entered the competition about 5-6 times over the past 10 years.

What did winning the Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition do for you/ your career?
Winning the Adelaide Fringe poster has enhanced my profile and reputation as a designer, illustrator and artist within the community. It also helped to inspire some of my illustration students at the University of South Australia by seeing their teacher’s work gain a high level of public recognition.

What was it like to be in Adelaide with the streets plastered in your image?
I was very excited to see the image absolutely everywhere. I found it very intriguing and was delighted to see how well it worked within so many settings, as a poster should. I even took and gathered as many photos of the poster in different settings as I could and started a group on Facebook called, ‘Spot the Adelaide 2009 Fringe Poster’, where anyone can see them. There are even photos of the poster on the Great Wall of China.

Do you have any advice for people entering this year?
Make sure that you have a strong and clear idea of what your poster is depicting and ensure that your design can be extended beyond the poster format. The poster is the catalyst for the Adelaide Fringe event; it becomes the image of the Fringe, which must be conveyed on and through a variety of media, formats and merchandise.

What is your favourite past Adelaide Fringe poster? (not including your own)
My favourite past Adelaide Fringe poster is definitely the 1992 poster.