Malvin Karlsson | Graphic and Exhibition Designer

I've experienced everything in my life

2010-12-28T00:01:00.003+01:00

This picture, an FP gravyr, is my contribution to a group exhibition taking part in Gröndal, Stockholm. The text was quite difficult to translate to English; I got several proposals from experts in English. "I’ve experienced everything in my life" is an enunciation that has been in my mind for many years. From time to time people complain over their dull lives. Today one is supposed to fulfill oneself, express oneself, we want great experience and in that context is not strange that people complain when day after day just passes as ordinary days. But then, when you feel your life is grey and boring just think; "I’ve experienced everything in my life" and you will bring back a flood of memories.

Role-play

2010-05-10T10:21:00.001+02:00

Wedding hype is in the air

2010-05-03T17:22:00.004+02:00

Unna design is currently working on an exhibition about weddings. Our client is The Royal Coin Cabinet, a national museum with special responsibility for areas such as the history of money, the history of finance and the art of medals. The exhibition will focus on economic aspects on weddings. It will be a light and beautiful display with a new music piece by Kim Hedås. On Wednesday we’ll meet with composer Kim Hedås to listen to her work so far. Film from people’s weddings will be shown. The music, films and several beautiful wedding dresses in different styles and sizes are the stage design to talk about economical aspects of weddings.

Above is the logotype for the exhibition.

The museum is located a stone throw from the Royal Castle. The exhibition opens the 26th of May. Welcome!

Wallpaper

2010-04-18T16:41:00.004+02:00

I made this Illustration for a client who wanted to have a wallpaper in his hall.
I couldn’t find a photo that was suitable for the six-meter long hall, but I saw a chance to use some of the threes I had vectorised in illustrator. The synthesizers relates to my clients interest and work. And the Trabant also relates to his background. Time to deliver my file to the printing-house.

You never too old for democracy

2010-01-23T15:35:00.007+01:00

Fictive party icons

2009-11-07T13:27:00.005+01:00

Most parties in Sweden use flowers as an icon. How the established Swedish parties icons looks like are well know in Sweden.

The creative company Fabel Kommunikation, has created a game for The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR). It is a role-play game. The participants play representatives from different political parties and their task is to govern a fictive municipalities.

Unna design has co-operated with Fabel Kommunikation in several projects and we were assigned to do the graphic design. Here are a few examples of characters cards. Different colours and different fictive icons (flowers) make up the cover for each in the game. On the back the graphic design associate to the Swedish ballot paper being used in Swedish elections even though we used another font (A font from SALAR' s graphic manual).

Burned out car

2009-10-12T22:40:00.001+02:00

Ice cream vendor in Copenhagen

2009-08-26T22:14:00.000+02:00

Vespa

2009-04-26T22:08:00.003+02:00

From the start it was a quite dull photo of a house façade and the shadow of a vespa. Then it became something else, it has a nice comic feel.

I love vector graphics

2009-04-16T22:06:00.005+02:00

On the Internet I have found many cool free fonts. I used some of them in my design. A colleague told me about http://www.iheartvector.com/ and there was plenty of cool stuff and some for free. I got so inspired and during my Eastern Holiday I took photos in a forest. This is my first attempt trying to make cool vector graphics. The image is still in progress, there are some minor adjustments to do, and the final result will show up in a few days.

Tuc-Tuc

2009-04-08T17:49:00.006+02:00

Forget seatbelts. Forget airbags and a comfortable ride.
Tell your three year old and four year old to hold on to daddy or mammy.
"Please don't lean out of the windows."
"There are no windows daddy".
"I wish there was, so please, SIT DOWN!!!"

We experienced no incidents with tuc-tucs. We enjoyed each of the many rides. Also we saw many cool tuc-tucs. I'm not sure but I think the photo was taken in Trang (Thailand).

A downtrodden place (Hornstull, Stockholm)

2009-04-03T21:10:00.009+02:00

This photo was taking at Hornstull (Stockholm) near our office at Unna design. It was one of several first sketches for the artwork for the Susa Duo CD debut. I don’t know if the still play but the duo was made up by Linda Edsjö (vibraphone and Marimba) and Christina Larsson (vocals). There are many great melodies and harmonies on the CD. The music tends sometimes to Swedish folk music, sometimes jazz and other times to art music. Some of the song are really heart racking and it’s almost impossible note to associate the music to beautiful natures and fairy tail worlds. But I didn’t want to follow clichés. Instead I wanted the cover and booklet to be in an urban context. One reason for that was that both the musicians by that time lived in Copenhagen. So I looked for downtrodden places where I later could take photos of Linda and Christina. This was one of the places I found. Then I made the collage, letting the nature in form of tree make a shadow on the walls.
None of my first sketches did show up in the end. Instead the talented photographer Adam Haglund was involved and took many great photos.

You can se some of the final result at www.unna.se/Sidor/cd.htm

Noodles

2009-03-29T18:02:00.002+02:00

I’m often restless.
A few egg noodles were left after a dinner and there were also a clean plate at the table. I often tell my children not to play with food while eating. But this Japanese inspired nonsense text was made after dinner so I guess it’s was OK.

Museo my new friend

2009-03-21T22:26:00.007+01:00

My colleague disapproved my first choices of fonts for the graphic design for the exhibition “Smal” (“Thin”, read more at www.arbetetsmuseum.se).
I realized that we needn’t a font which could be associated with fashion and youth, but also a font that wasn’t too strict. I spend time searching the Internet and reading MyFonts newsletter. And then suddenly I saw the font I was looking for, Museo. I fell in love at first sight. It was truly inspiring to use the font.

Jos Buivenga designed Museo. Thanks for a beautiful font!

Travel abroad VII (Indian Ocean)

2009-03-20T15:11:00.006+01:00

Imagine that you only could travel abroad once in your lifetime?
Where would you go? Sail in the Indian Ocean?

Travel abroad VI (Andalusia, Spain)

2009-03-18T12:22:00.001+01:00

Imagine that you only could travel abroad once in your lifetime?
Where would you go? Andalusia?

Travel abroad V (Thailand)

2009-03-14T14:01:00.002+01:00

Imagine that you only could travel abroad once in your lifetime?
Where would you go? Go for a bus trip in Thailand?

Pushing the limits | Museum of World Culture

2009-03-13T22:14:00.008+01:00

Today I visited Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg in order to take a look at the exhibition Pushing the Limits that Unna design created. The exhibition opened in September 2007 but I was unable to participate. So today, two days before the closing I finally saw what my colleague Anna Edsjö and I created. I was thrilled and proud

In the exhibition Pushing the limits young activists in conflict areas talk about the conditions for young women and how the like to change the society. Pushing the limits is aimed at anyone who is interested in issues surrounding activism and feminism.

Pushing the limits is a travelling exhibition and next place will be Umeå (Sweden).
Hopefully many more museums want to show this important and exiting exhibition. Our client was The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation which supports women's organising in conflict regions.

Travel abroad IV (London)

2009-03-13T08:42:00.003+01:00

Imagine that you only could travel abroad once in your lifetime?
Where would you go? London?

Travel abroad III (Unguja, Zanzibar)

2009-03-10T21:56:00.002+01:00

Or is the Island Unguja your choice?

Travel abroad II (Fårö)

2009-03-09T21:08:00.004+01:00

If you're not from Sweden than maybe Fårö, a small island near the big island Gotland, could be the once-in-a-lifetime-place to visit.

Travel abroad I (Rome)

2009-03-08T22:42:00.004+01:00

Imagine that you only could travel abroad once in your lifetime?
Where would you go?

Logotype

2009-02-17T20:47:00.002+01:00

Logotype for the exhibition Smal opening in March 2009 at Arbetets museum in Norrköping, Sweden.
Unna design is currently working with an exciting exhibition project about the ideals of beauty and how it affects young people. The content, research and ideas for the exhibitions come from young people from four different cities in Sweden.
Our role has been to help them develop their design ideas, outline the planning for the exhibition and making the graphic design. Smal (thin) is a travelling exhibition.

All those designers dressed in black

2009-02-09T20:26:00.010+01:00

“It’s impossible to find black clothes for my child”.
I’m told that a famous Swedish furniture designer once said this. He is of course most often seen in public wearing black clothing, like many other designers and architects in Sweden. In the design world that’s cool and safe. Then it might be a problem if your child likes to dress in a colorful way, not to mention clothes with all kind of childish patterns.

I once asked my son, (at the time six-years old), to wear black trousers with thin grey stripes for a wedding. He protested, saying: “I don’t want to look like an old man”. And he totally refused the black shoes I had bought him, despite my exiting voice saying: “Daddy bought very cool shoes for you!”

“It’s shoes for grown-ups.I will never use those”, he answered. He was really offended. I had to buy him a pair of red shoes, and then he accepted to wear the trousers for the wedding, but never after that. He loves his gold trousers, glitter shirts and his shirt with a big Asian inspired dragon print.

And what about me? Well, I have to be honest. There are some black and grey shirts and trousers in my wardrobe, even though I really like bright colors. Like my son, all my favorite garments are colorful or full of patterns.

Wabash Street, Chicago, Illinois

2009-02-04T22:07:00.006+01:00

Ages ago I studied music at Roosevelt University. Wabash Street was one of my favorite spots.

Swedish arms exports

2009-02-01T16:20:00.002+01:00

Sweden with a tiny population of about 9 million people is today the world’s eighth largest arms exporter. Four years ago I designed a folder about the Swedish arms export. It been up-dated once and now it is also published in English.

A quote from the folder:
“But maintaining a leading role in the international arms market is not without its share of consequences. To be precise, there are four: Swedish arms help fuel wars and conflicts, contribute to violations of human rights, contribute to poverty and strengthen dictatorships.”

Our clients are four Swedish NGO:s: Amnesty Sweden, Diakonia, Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation, Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society.

Back to work

2009-01-05T17:32:00.002+01:00

Back to work after more than two weeks vacation. Most of the day I have been sketching on graphic design for an exhibition. And my wife and colleague has been busy with the planning.

Frostbiten

2008-12-30T01:17:00.004+01:00

It's winter in Stockholm. Cold and sometimes windy. I have been skating and enjoying my winter vacation. No snow yet but last morning I found frost. I don't think I ever seen frost like this. Totally amazing and I was out for hours taking photos.

Almost an ultrasound experience

2008-12-26T21:57:00.002+01:00

I once had a wonderful teacher when I was taking evening courses in drawing and painting. I guess my old teacher is a good painter but he told us he doesn’t paint anymore. He teaches and spends time just observering light. He can sit for hours in his kitchen, looking at how the daylight changes.

When I saw this doll at a toy store I was amazed how real it looked, and also I was fascinated by the daylight that reached into the package.

Big Calm

2008-12-26T08:50:00.002+01:00

A summer evening at sunset. A nice break at a rest area on our way back home from the summerhouse. Inner calmness.

My own shadow

2008-12-25T22:48:00.004+01:00

An old archive CD is like a diary, part II

I found this image on an old archive CD.
Once again I had been taken photos without any clear purpose. This was originally quite a dull image, a photo of my own shadow. But when I started to play around in Photoshop something happened.

I really love this image. It has been hanging on my wall from time to time.

Folder ready

2008-12-15T11:31:00.005+01:00

Unna Design just finished our work with an info folder (eight pages) for Fritidsforum. Art direction and copy by Unna Design. Helena Bergendahl made the illustrations. It is always easy and fun to co-operate with her. In my links you'll find her website.
Now it’s up to the printing-house to do an excellent job.

Fritidsforum is a Swedish, non-profit organisation which organizes approximately 400 youth clubs and their over one million youth club members. Fritidsforum, with associated neighbourhoods, youth, and community centres etcetera, is an important part of society’s social, cultural, and democratic infrastructure. Since the 1940’s, Fritidsforum has been pursuing the line of open youth club work with the aim to reach out to young people who have an expressive leisure activity style.

Pemba

2008-12-12T20:05:00.004+01:00

Jondeni Guest House is wonderful. It' s a small guest house, only eight room. The view from the terrace, when sunset, is great.
From our room its was possible to walk directly into the garden. Pempa was an unbeatable experience and if you go there, don't miss Jondeni Guest House.

And the living is easy

2008-12-12T11:00:00.007+01:00

There are many highlights to remember from 2008. One is definitely my first solo exhibition labelled “and the living is easy”. Most of the images were in the size 1000 x 700 mm.

I’m now looking for other galleries to show my work.

Christmas and gifts are equal

2008-12-10T22:59:00.003+01:00

The Christmas season is fast approaching. In the rich part of the World, where Christianity is the dominating religion, many people are spending both a lot of money and time buying Christmas gifts. Every year you can hear a few people complaining. “Christmas is not about gifts” they say, “it’s about the birth of Jesus and love”.

Well. No doubt there is a hysterical shopping frenzy surrounding Christmas. I don’t argue that. But Christmas is about gifts. And it has been from the very beginning. Listen to Johannes 3:16:

“For God so loved the World, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life”.

Well, Christians must consider this the most valuable gift ever given in the history of mankind.

And Matthew 2:11 tells us what happened shortly after Jesus was born:

“They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Sounds like pretty expensive gifts to me.

One might argue that commercialism and the focus on Christmas shopping went out of control a long time ago, but don’t argue that gifts doesn’t have anything to do with the birth of Jesus.

Not being a Christian, I don’t care that much about the intention of Christmas. I just try to keep the gifts to a minimum.

Art book hits the bookshelves

2008-12-05T08:51:00.002+01:00

Unna Design has been working with Hälsinglands Museum in Hudiksvall since 2006.
The design of two exhibitions, interior design of the museums café, shop and reception and a new concept for the Museums visual identity, is some of the projects we been involved with. And no lately, graphic design of a book about Albert Blombergsson, a productive Swedish artist in the 19th century. Blombergsson is most famous for his altarpieces and oil paintings depicting romantic landscapes.

Today, the 5th of December is release date for the book.
Author is Lars Nylander, since 2003, employed by Hälsingland Museum in Hudiksvall. We hope he will be satisfied when he receives the copies today.

An old archive CD is like a diary

2008-12-02T23:17:00.003+01:00

I have started many diaries, especially as a teenager when you are supposed to write diaries about your hard and meaningless teenage life. I have a stack of them in the basement. They were never completed, but there is a new diary for every second year, because I kept on trying until I reached the mid- twenties.
A few nights ago, I wanted to find an image I once created. I ran through approximate 150 CDs and DVDs in order to find it. While I couldn’t find it, I learned something. I recognised that old CDs with stuff from work is really like a diary. One starts to remember old clients, colleagues and other things related to the projects saved. I laughed, felt both embarrassed and proud as I looked through some of what I created in the past.

I found a lot of nice stuff. The picture above is an example. It was made during a period, when I tried to find out everything I could about Photoshop. After a successful fishing trip, we had just taken out the guts from the fish we caught that summer day, and I saw that the business section of the morning paper was used to cover the table. I took a photo and worked with it in Photoshop. Today it seems to be a comment to the current financial crisis.

A project for the coming month is to transmit the content of all these CDs and DVDs to a portable hard drive. Diaries should be kept for the future.

A delicious taste

2008-11-28T21:02:00.010+01:00

My favourite fruit is mangosteen. Covered by a smooth, dark-red-purple and black skin, mangosteens look much different from other fruits. When widely opened, the extremely white flesh is revealed in segments.

The street vendor in Zanzibar Town told me that the mangosteen also is called European Mango. But why it is named so he couldn’t tell.

The Cold War is history now

2008-11-28T17:28:00.011+01:00

At The Maritime Museum in Stockholm you can now see Göran Forss masterpiece, a model of the Swedish Navies biggest destroyer HMS Halland. Göran Forss started during the Cold War and finished his work when the Cold War was over. It took him over 10.000 hours to finish the model that was built at 1:50 scale and is 242 cm long.

Unna Design was commissioned to design the exhibition and the graphic design. Working together with the skilled Exhibition Producer Elin Harland at The Maritime Museum, was a great pleasure.

Reflections on the Nature of Water

2008-11-26T20:13:00.005+01:00

In March 2008 I opened my first solo exhibition. Copenhagen-based percussionist Linda Edsjö talked to me during the opening and asked me if I wanted to make a photo projection for the staging of her diploma recital. One of the pieces she will perform is Reflections on the Nature of Water, composed by Jacob Druckman (1928-1996). It is said about Druckman that he “Devoted himself to the exploration of sound and colour, both instrumental and electronic”.

Linda Edsjö is studying in the soloist class of the Royal Danish Academy of Music and also currently working with contemporary music, electronica, storytellers and choreographers. Regular ensembles: LeLe (flute, percussion and electronics) Harpcore (electronica) Susa (song, marimba/vibraphone and doublebass) and Tesco Value (Cabaret-Punk).
Visit her spot at Myspace.

Anyhow I was thrilled to jump into another photo project and I have been working on the project from time to time since March. Above is one of the photos that may appear in the final projection. It is also fascinating to work with a project without a tight time-schedule. It requires discipline, (of course) but also stimulates my imagination and give me possibilities to explore the colours and different images of water.

Linda Edsjö´ diploma recital is scheduled to autumn 2009.

Not yet

2008-11-24T14:52:00.002+01:00

It´s not a big step för the blog community,

but it is a giant leap for me to start this Blog.

I guess I´ll be struggling with the blog tools in the start but the idea is to show some of my work. Both already published work and exhibitions but also some of my private stuff.

I guess I´m here now. But I cant say I really been here yet, or have done it.