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Dara de Siún

@dara.graf

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Graphic Designer ☘️
aka @dara___young & @dara.inc

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Had such a lovely time last month at the @nationalprintmuseum making a wood block type poster as part of a workshop with @maryjplunkett ! I wanted to make something for my mam's birthday; The Beatles are her favorite band so it only felt natural 🌞
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#letterpress #letterpressprinting #woodtype #woodletter #thebeatles taken in National Print Museum by @dara.graf

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3 months ago

Some Gaelic street sign lettering in Dublin I've had my eye on for years, and always wanted to take for a spin.

I've spotted it everywhere from Ranelagh to Drumcondra, and I reckon it's probably from the 1940s/50s. Potentially hand-painted based on a rough template, but there's slight variation between different signs.

It's an absolute monster of a lettering style, and I can't wait to try and turn it into a full typeface!
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#gaelictypography #gaeliclettering #irishtypography #clógaelach #typedesign taken in Dublin, Ireland by @dara.graf

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7 months ago

In February 2024, broadcaster and DJ @louisemcsharry selected and introduced John Waters' 1988 film 'Hairspray' for the IFI's monthly strand The Bigger Picture.
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I only caught the intro for this one (I was responsible for setting up the mic stand), but I remembered that I had created a poster for John Waters' other film 'Polyester' for the NCAD Film Society back in 2019; and wanted to make something in a similar spirit.
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My main inspiration here was ska/2-tone graphics from late 70s/early 80s Britain, because I felt that they also embody the energy and fun of classic dancing music but also because I think 2-tone represents working-class solidarity and racial equality—which I believe are themes in this film as well!
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#hairspray #johnwaters #johmwatersfilm #irishfilminstitute #irishfilm #filmposter #posterdesign #graphicdesign #biggerpicture taken in Baltimore, Maryland by @dara.graf

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10 months ago

In December 2024, the IFI asked William Reynolds @william_909 – freelance writer and film programmer for Queer Asian Pride Ireland, to select a film to screen as part of their monthly strand called 'The Bigger Picture'. He chose 'Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters' (1985); a film based on the life and work (and death) of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima, directed by Paul Schrader.
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I remember being really excited to see this one, and got the chance to watch it alongside many friends and colleagues from the IFI. Unfortunately, it was in the evening immediately following a 9-hour shift in the very same building; a full Cinema 1, alongside a deeply serene, visually-striking film with an unconventional 4-chapter structure succeeded in lulling me to sleep for 2 of those 4 chapters... BUT, I did catch the first 40 minutes, and the last 20; enough to appreciate the sheer artistry and deeply impressive production design. I'll have to watch it when I'm a little less tired sometime soon.
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When designing this poster, I was mainly inspired by two things; the elegant modernist visual identity of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics (plus its beautiful typeface—Schmalfette Grotesque), and this cover of the 1948 book 'The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese Culture' by Ruth Benedict (mentioned in the 'Mad Men' episode of the same name). I felt that the aesthetics of both these mid 20th-century designs fit perfectly with the vibe of the film, alongside Mishima's own complex personal sensibilities. Like with the other posters in this series, I had a lot of fun designing this one—can't wait to share the rest!
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#mishima #paulschrader #irishfilm #irishfilminstitute #filmposter #mishimaalifeinfourchapters #posterdesign #typography #japan #cinephile #cinema #graphicdesign taken in Irish Film Institute (IFI) by @dara.graf

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a year ago

In September 2024, I had the chance to design a poster for the @irishfilminstitute screening of 'Tampopo'; selected by my colleagues and I in the Box Office, and introduced by @robertinhappyland — as part of the IFI's monthly strand called 'The Bigger Picture'. I was so excited with this opportunity that I've created a poster series celebrating each month's selected film screenings for 2024; just for the craic! I was lucky enough to see a few of them on the big screen, and creating film posters is one of my very favourite aspects of graphic design.
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After 2 years working in the IFI Box Office, I'm leaving later this month so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to share this fun little self-initiated project, and each of the posters I designed (in no particular order)!
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Last October, the IFI asked stand-up comedian and author Colm O'Regan to select a film for this strand, and he picked the Werner Herzog film 'Aguirre, the Wrath of God' (1972); an historical epic starring the unnerving Klaus Kinski as the ruthless conquistador Aguirre on a search for El Dorado, the legendary city of gold; only to find madness. With this one, I really wanted to highlight Klaus Kinski's intense performance, along with the film's strong sense of foreboding. Stay tuned while I share all of my other Bigger Picture posters over the next few days!
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#aguirre #wernerherzog #irishfilm #irishfilminstitute #filmposter #aguirrethewrathofgod #posterdesign #typography #cinephile #graphicdesign by @dara.graf

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a year ago

Cuimne (Memory). This summer I was researching Gaelic typography in order to revise my college typeface Parish Sans, and discovered the Castlebar 1798 memorial. I’d never seen Gaelic lettering in an Art Deco/Bauhaus style before, but something about it felt really special.

Unveiled in 1953, this beautiful metal lettering (along with the memorial itself) was designed by Frank Hourigan; an art teacher and sculptor who worked in Ballina for many years. The text on the memorial reads "A Mhuire na nGael guidh orainn", and "i gCiumne 1798" which translates to "Our Lady of the Gaels pray for us", and "in memory of 1798".

I'd love to adapt this lettering into a digital typeface in the future, because it's rare to see Gaelic lettering dovetail so well into a completely different style of typography!
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#font #typography #typedesign #gaelictypography #gaelictype #clógaelach #irishtypography taken in Castlebar by @dara.graf

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a year ago

Lá Bealtaine Shona Duit! 🌞 It's been a while since I last posted, but having recently put together my portfolio (at long last) and feeling ready to take on the design industry, I'm hoping to share some work I've recently created with everyone.

Here's a little celebration of Bealtaine — known in other parts as May Day — the first day of summer! Last month, I wanted to create some designs that celebrated each of the four annual Gaelic quarter days (Imbolc, Bealtaine, Lughnasa and Samhain) along the same lines as my previous Ancient Roots/Modern Shoots work.

The two I've shared are simplified versions of separate ideas I had; one using the typeface Medieval Edition by @elias_hanzer and the other using my favourite grotesque PP Neue Montreal by @pangram.pangram — I might post the full concept festival poster versions in the future 👀

For now, enjoy the sun and stay hyped! :)
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#posterdesigns #irishdesign #celticart #moderndesign #irishgraphicdesign #graphicdesign #posterart #pixelart taken in Summer by @dara.graf

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a year ago

After more than a year, I'm back 😄 Recently I designed the poster for a very special screening of Jūzō Itami's 1985 classic, TAMPOPO, at the @irishfilminstitute as this month's Bigger Picture event!
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Selected and introduced by the IFI Box Office (led by the venerable @robertinhappyland), TAMPOPO is a celebration of food and life in the best possible way. Described as the world's first "ramen Western", the film follows an earnest chef, aided by a swaggering cowboy trucker, as they embark on an adventure to create the best noodle shop in all of Japan. The film is interspersed with quirky vignettes that follow a cast of eccentric characters in unusual situations exploring our human connection with cuisine on many different levels.
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My fellow Box Office staff and I had the opportunity to choose a film to screen in September that we felt encapsulates cinema's universal appeal, and ultimately voted for this one. I had never seen it before, but thanks to the one and only @juliette_cathleen and her Criterion Channel subscription, I was able to watch this last week and it absolutely blew me away. If you happen to be free for a couple of hours next Tuesday 24 September, I implore you to come to the Irish Film Institute in Temple Bar and get a ticket for this one-of-a-kind masterpiece – you won't regret it!
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#tampopo #ramen #ramennoodles #noodles #irishfilm #irishfilminstitute #filmposter #posterdesign #criterioncollection #graphicdesign taken in Irish Film Institute (IFI) by @dara.graf

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2 years ago

Graft.
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Poster series I created back in June for the lads at @graft.coffee and had a lot of fun creating something minimalist and playful!

My idea for the Work/Rest/Play motif was inspired by the writings of Robert Owen, a 19th century Welsh textiles manufacturer and social reformer. Living during the peak of the Industrial Revolution, Owen championed the working class by developing co-operatives and supporting the trade union movement. This led to him being labelled the “father of British socialism”, and he formulated the concept of a work-life balance for industrial labourers at a time when people were expected to work from before dawn until well into the evening with no time to pursue personal endeavours or leisure activities.

Owen conceived of a daily 8 hours working, 8 hours at leisure and 8 hours rest; something that has remained in the cultural zeitgeist to this very day. For Graft Coffee I wanted to create a triptych that encapsulated a wholesome application of this work-life balance concept and incorporate coffee; a vital aspect of daily life for many people around the world.
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#posterdesign #irishdesign #moderndesign #ireland #irishgraphicdesign #graphicdesign #minimalism #posterart #coffee #coffeedesign #graft #graftcoffee taken in Deansgrange by @dara.graf

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3 years ago

Lugh.
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The Celtic god Lugh is a prominent figure in Irish mythology, known for his multifaceted nature and immense skills. A member of the magical Tuatha Dé Danann (the tribe of the gods), he is frequently portrayed as a warrior, high king, master craftsman and saviour. He is associated with mastery in many disciplines, including the arts. Lugh is connected to the widely celebrated harvest festival of Lughnasa; the Irish name for August. Lugh Lámhfada (Lugh of the Long Arm) is the father of the legendary Ulster hero Sétanta, better known as Cú Chulainn. Lugh corresponds with the continental Celtic god Lugus, who was interpreted by the Romans as a version of Mercury. Like several other Celtic gods, Lugh/Lugus is affiliated with the sacred number three. He is often depicted with three faces, and it has been theorised that Lugh is a composite god comprising the chief Gaulish deities Esus, Toutatis and Taranis. Lugh was frequently attested to in placenames across Western Europe as a tribal protector; County Louth in Leinster, the French city Lyon and Lugo in Galicia all come from markers honouring the god.

Because we've almost reached August, I wanted to create a poster that celebrated Lughnasa. I enjoyed working in the style of my previous design, so I thought it would be cool to make a series about Celtic mythology using a similar approach. This design is based on a stone carving found at an ancient shrine in modern-day France and is believed to depict Lugus or Gaulish Mercury.
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#posterdesign #irishdesign #celticart #moderndesign #ireland #irishgraphicdesign #graphicdesign #pixelart #posterart taken in County Louth by @dara.graf

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3 years ago

Ancient Roots, Modern Shoots.
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Because our government would rather cater to big business and building hotels than address the housing crisis or the cost of living, I have seen younger artists and designers increasingly delving into the rich history of Irish cultural heritage to create new forms of expression, celebration and protest. This isn’t only nostalgia but a search for genuine meaning in an era when change has become so rapid that it can help to pause briefly and reflect on what came before. Our history is filled with ideas ripe to be preserved, adapted and reimagined.

I wanted to design a billboard that reflected this by re-interpreting the carved patterns on the iconic entrance stone of the Neolithic passage tomb Newgrange in a way that connects to modern technology in an urban environment. The meaning behind these carvings may never be truly understood, but experts believe they were a means of relating important cultural and spiritual information to others; my poster deliberately evokes the angular form of pixel graphics or a QR code – digital tools for storing and imparting knowledge. I hope this message encourages others to continue exploring the past to build our creative future; ancient roots, modern shoots.
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#posterdesign #irishdesign #celticart #moderndesign #ireland #irishgraphicdesign #graphicdesign #pixelart #posterart taken in Ireland by @dara.graf

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3 years ago

Banshees of Inisherin fan poster I created for @sofarsogood_studiomag with @dflynn_art and @oran_fitzpatrick – we’re huge fans of Martin McDonagh and felt that his newest film deserved celebration in light of its recognition during the awards season. The animated version of the poster created by @dflynn_art elaborates on the film’s narrative by showing one pint gradually draining to reveal a severed finger at the bottom; we felt that this comically macabre imagery really embodied the atmosphere of the film. Sadly we felt that Banshees was absolutely robbed at the Oscars, but we believe that the movie will endure as a classic for decades to come. We’re also hoping to riso print this design in the next few months, so let us know if you’re interested in getting one!
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#posterdesign #irishdesign #illustration #bansheesofinisherin #martinmcdonagh #guinness #graphicdesign #posterart #irishgraphicdesign #irishfilm #irishfilminstitute taken in Conemara by @dara.graf

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3 years ago