Marina Diamandis Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw0zRsBnMCI&feature=youtu.be

at this stage in starting to take a direction with our presentation for brief 3, we were encouraged to watch other talks and presentations to see different ways of approaching the brief. Aswell as viewing a TedTalk by Stefan Sagmeister today who is such an inspiring innovative designer, I stumbled across an Oxford Talk with one of my favourite musicians ever, goes by the name of Marina and The Diamonds.

One of the reasons I adore Marina is that she isn't a conventional 'pop star' and actually rejects this term, and is a true artist who develops concepts and ways round being the traditional mainstream radio played artist. This goes from developing special packaging concepts around the album name 'Froot', having a froot of the month attached with a single release and scratch and sniff vinyls being with the single. Also on her second album, Electra Heart, she performed and wrote as an alter ego writing lyrics relating to female archetypes. Rather than being a traditional, commercial success hungry pop star she is very passionate about writing to reflect the states of our times and creating a strong image for each album she releases from her performance costumes to the packaging of her music.

I feel strongly connected to this approach, especially not being completely sure of what creative direction to take in the next few years, but that it does not have to be linear and straightforward in one creative practice. Concepts can span throughout so many different creative mediums and engage people in an exciting way. Although I am a music lover and not talented musically in any way, being an artist like Marina would be the most satisfying route to take as she is lucky to have to control and not write for commercial success. This reminds me, aswell as Sagmeisters talk on 'happiness', you have to do what makes you happy in order for it to be satisfying work you can take pride in. Also being in university and not in the professional world yet, this is the time to be developing this.

One small aspect of my work I am realising is I can be quite bold in my work, through colour especially, and on the same track Marina speaks of her music production being quite pop which is seen as frivolous and superficial, being bolder in this way has a strong hold of defining mood and spirit of our times and gains the attention but the message conveyed can still be serious and not superficial at all. She references pop culture icons, although they are often quite vapid and sometimes rarely have much individual talent at all, they are paid attention to and this is important to recognize. She is clever in this way of using 'pop' ideas but not being the traditional pop star, which can also be done through design and not being easy to categorize can be an advantage and reel in very dedicated people who are genuinely/loyally admiring of your style and work.