David Rothwell
davidrothwell96.wixsite.com/design
@theundavided
Throughout my studies, my practice has developed and changed. Despite this, there aresome things that do not. I have always been a passionate artist, and illustrator, and take great pleasure in incorporating this into my work, whether painting in acrylic and oil, lino printing, or sketching, art is key to my practice. Art was my inciting incident for become a Graphic Designer. It was in college, that I came upon the subject, as a way to diversify my skillset. It has now become my primary pursuit, with art as a hobby, which I have developed into a minor pet portraiture business.
My Problem With ADHD
Final Major Project
Print Design
This project was personal in nature. The idea originated from my own diagnosis as ADHD. Once I was diagnosed, I was given something to call it, but no idea what ADHD was, or how to manage it. Online clinical definition and pages were often lists of symptoms without nuance or an explanation of the experience of the condition. Combined with this, is a poor general understanding of the issue, and subsequent stigma for sufferers who cannot perform as effectively in some areas as others.
At some point, I discovered a video lecture on Youtube, by a clinical psychologist, who specialises in ADHD, Dr. Thomas E. Brown. His dissemination of the life impacts of ADHD, clarified things for me, in a totally new way. The comments were filled with similar views, with dozens of ADHD individuals, expressing their gratitude.
Using his transcribed lecture (with permission), I created a book, which brings together his words, with my experiences, in a personalised, and unique way. The illustrations were intended to be exclusively lino prints, however given current circumstances, some compromises had to be made. They key to this project, is that it is exactly the book that I would have benefitted from, on finding out that I had ADHD, and my research suggests I am not alone in that. What has been most difficult about ADHD, is not the condition itself, but the inability to explain the issue to others, and myself. This is that book.
They key to this project, is that it
is exactly the book that I would have
benefited from, on finding out that
I had ADHD.
I have created a series of parody
magazines, each representing a
discussed social media platform
and its head.
Old News
Critical Design
This project was a three-week design challenge, in order to create a piece of critical design which complimented our dissertations. My dissertation focuses on the prevalence and impact of social media in modern society, from personal privacy concerns, to mental health impacts, and political extremism.
As such, I have created a series of parody magazines, each representing a discussed social media platform and its head. The choice of magazines to emulate, relates directly to their journalistic style, and its connection to the given platform. As an example, Glamour Magazine, is used to reflect Instagram’s perpetuation of pseudoscience, and unrealistic standards of beauty.
