Hello
Thanks for visiting! I am a freelance graphic designer, also undertaking projects in art direction and illustration. I frequently collaborate with others to expand what's possible and I'm always on the look out for new exciting work. If you would like to get in touch to discuss a project or just to say hello, feel free to email hello@alexostrowski.com, I am quite friendly :)
*** THIS WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED. UP-TO-DATE DIGITAL CV/PORTFOLIO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. ***
Grafik Birds
30/05/09
As sponsors of this year's Free Range show Grafik Magazine commissioned Hattie Newman and myself to make something for the show. We decided to craft a flock of recycled birds using old issues of the magazine and recycled paper donated by Arjo Wiggins, as well as five bird houses which acted as post boxes at the private view.
YCN
28/04/09
Having had the pleasure of working with YCN a number of times over the past year, I'm currently based at their new home of 72 Rivington Street, working on a number of projects including the launch of YCN's new free creative lending library. Feel free to come and see for yourself and apply for your library card!
Affluenza
08/03/09
The book 'Affluenza' by Oliver James has inspired an exhibition questioning whether our bloated Western culture really makes us happy. From March 19th I will be displaying work alongside artists including Jonathan Barnbrook, and also taking part in a live discussion entitled 'Happy Designs For The Future'. Tickets can be bought here for eight pounds.
Exploration Begins
05/03/09
On Monday we met up with the twelve intrepid illustrators who will be exploring The Fedrigoni Mountains and set them bravely on their way, poster tube in hand, to each visualise their imaginary adventures on different B1 sheets of Fedrigoni paper. One explorer, Nicholas Saunders is also keeping a blog of his progress on the YCN site.
Cultural Stocktake
25/02/09
The other week I collaborated with Johanna Lundberg, Elin Svensson, Kristina Grundberg and Hattie Newman to create some fun carboard letters to accompany an article in The Guardian called 'Cultural Stocktake'. The piece is all about the value of the creative industries in the current economic climate - interesting and timely topic!
The Fedrigoni Mountains
08/02/09
This year I am art-directing an exciting project with Hattie Newman for the paper company Fedrigoni. We are using their papers to build a huge model mountain range inspired by the peaks surrounding Fedrigoni's original birthplace - Verona, Italy - which twelve intrepid illustrators will visually 'explore' throughout March. More details to come!
Tangible Book
21/01/09
Today I was notified that the new Gestalten book 'Tangible' has been released, which features some of my work. The book showcases the very best in 'high touch visuals' and provides the follow-up to the previous publication 'Tactile'. Many thanks to Matthias at Die Gestalten Verlag for the kind invitation to be included.
New Happy Year
19/01/09
After a hugely enlightening 6 months of experience since graduating I have decided to set myself freelance this year! Current projects include an exciting creation for Fedrigoni UK set to be revealed in March, and the Think Public RWE project. I am now available for hire, commission and collaboration so if you would like to chat about potential projects do drop me a line. Below is a close-up of the poster I have just finished for NB: Studio highlighting everything I learned there.
Situationists EP
08/12/08
The Situationists' EP 'Onwards and Upwards' has just been released by Tough Love Records. For the artwork, Chris Clarke and I (aka CO) convinced the band to stay awake for 24 hours, taking a disposable photograph of their surroundings every hour! The concept takes lead from the band's technical and precise command of time.
AMVBBDO Christmas Tree
30/11/08
This weekend Hattie Newman and I completed an alternative Christmas Tree for advertising agency AMVBBDO which will sparkle away in their ground floor reception throughout December. The festive foyer also features window illustrations by Tiptoe Collective. Merry Christmas AMVBBDO :)
RWE Workshop Success
28/11/08
Today I received some really exciting news - the idea Chris Clarke and I put forward for The Real Work Experience project has been chosen by ThinkPublic to be developed into reality! An enormous well done to everyone who attended the workshop and contributed to the idea, which we summed up in the above publication. More details soon...
YCN Book 0809
26/11/08
After much anticipation this year's YCN Book 0809 has been released! Showcasing the work of over a hundred bright young things, as well as commended work from YCN projects. I helped HudsonBec design it, and was given a particularly long leash on the back section of the book, documenting the construction of The World of YCN.
The Real Work Experience
21/11/08
Today Chris Clarke and I conducted a three hour workshop as part of ThinkPublic's initiative entitled 'The Real Work Experience'. The project encourages graduates to think how they may use their design skills to positive effect outside conventional studio roles, in the public sector for example. Thanks to all enthusiastic attendees!
After School Club
07/11/08
Tomorrow I will be taking a long trip up to bonnie Scotland to do a wee talk in Edinburgh as part of After School Club, a series of lectures organised by Lizzy Stewart. Other guests include Plats and Nous Vous collective so it's a real honour to be involved, I've also been promised cake!
Nomonotono Exhibition
04/11/08
This week I completed a collaborative submission with Hattie Newman for the Nomonotono exhibition at Madrid's Studio Banana, featuring creative work from a range of artists, designers and illustrators. We poured our sketchbooks out and let the drawings all tangle up which was fun! All work will be exhibited in colour order - cool idea :)
Original Format Exhibition
24/10/08
Today was the last day of the Original Format exhibition at The Viewpoint Gallery in Plymouth College of Art. The show exhibited heaps of work featured on the blog it's nice that, including my Note To Self book. Many thanks to the team for the kind invitation to take part!
CO Update
23/10/08
This week Chris Clarke and myself (CO) have been cracking on with some more freelance work for Tough Love Records as well as identity and editorial work for a new magazine called Gain, intended to help people make more of their money - quite apt timing you could say!
Swimming In The Rain
20/10/08
Over the next couple of weeks I'll be taking a bit of time to focus on freelance projects and some drawing, which I've missed lately, as well as working on some new stuff for Kotki Dwa. Here's a little illustration to warm the cockles of anyone sulking in the rain at the moment.
Popular Workshop Unleashed
11/10/08
I'm currently working on a few projects with Chris Clarke under the name CO, including Popular Workshop's freshly released album 'We're Alive and We're Not Alone', for which we convinced the band to hand duck-tape up the releases and conceal within them smashed shards of their previous records. Awesome band - get your hands on a copy!
Internships
10/10/08
Since YCN I am continuing my thirsty quest for experience at various London studios. Thanks to Hat-Trick Design for having me recently and now Thomas Matthews who are a delightful bunch! I'll be freelancing at The Guardian after TM, and then off to NB Studio for a spell. My eyes are wide and I'm learning lots :)
The World of YCN Forest
28/09/08
Last weekend everything came together for the World of YCN project. A two day shoot at Shoreditch Studios captured The World in a series of photos which will punctuate this year's YCN Book 0809. Thanks to everyone who made a tree for the forest, a shot of which will be featured on the cover of this year's book!
A Good Crop
14/09/08
This weekend I completed an illustration for the cover of a Norwegian compilation album featuring a range of 'warm autumn music', including a track from my band Kotki Dwa. The album is called 'A Good Crop' and will be available for download in the next couple of months.
YCN LIVE Tree
27/08/08
Illustrator / set maker Hattie Newman and I have been working for about a month on a collaborative installation for the YCN LIVE launch event. We resurrected a dead tree from East-London for one night and invited people to embellish a colourful new coat for it! Thanks to Hackney Borough Council for their wonderful help :)
It's Nice That
25/08/08
Thanks to blogger extraordinaire Will Hudson I will be be guest-posting on the blog 'It's Nice That' from next monday. Keep an eye out for my hot tips, including Hattie Newman and Chris Clarke. Thanks also to all the bloggers who have featured my work over the last few months, it's very kind of you!
Note To Self
23/08/08
Thanks to everybody who bought a copy of my Note To Self book, I'm afraid I have now sold them all! I might make some more if I get some time but they are quite laborious to produce so it's more likely that I'll have something else available in the not-too-distant future instead.
YCN Internship
11/08/08
For the next six weeks I'll be working at YCN headquarters, helping HudsonBec design the new YCN Book 08/09. I'm also sending out cardboard trees to creatives for The World of YCN, a big cardboard metaphor describing what YCN do. Check out my blog for daily updates.
CO Work
01/08/08
I've collaborated with graphic designer Chris Clarke a lot during my time at university. This summer we decided to take on some freelance work under the name CO (Clarke/Ostrowski) including Popular Workshop's album and 7" due for release in October. Keep an eye out for those.
V&A Fete
26/07/08
I went to the wonderful V&A Fete yesterday and enjoyed a crazy range of brilliant stalls and activities! Amongst many I bumped into HudsonBec at their 'Mugshot' stall, where passers-by are invited to decorate a mug and attempt to throw it onto a giant mug tree! Great way to spend a quid.
The Guardian
22/07/08
Not very long ago The Guardian pooled all their creative departments into one office and re-named it Guardian Creative. That's where I've been for a couple of days this week, helping out with some projects they're doing including a stall at the Frieze Art Fair this year. Thanks to Alexie for having me in :)
Think Public Internship
26/06/08
I've just spent a few weeks at Think Public in London helping out. They're doing fantastic work in the public sector, putting design skills to good use to actually help people. It's a refreshing approach to design and something I really want to find out more about. They also do a great lunch! Thanks for having me TP :)
Graduation
25/06/08
It's amazing how quickly three years can fly by. All the hard work paid off this week - I officially earned a first class degree in BA (Hons) Graphic Design. Thanks to my excellent tutors, friends and Bristol (the happiest place in the UK apparently) for all the inspiration along the way.
Bristol Design Festival
13/06/08
I have kindly been asked to exhibit at the Bristol Design Festival this week. If you fancy going along it's at the old fire station in the heart of town. Lots of interesting things on display, and the UWE Degree Show is also on at Bower Ashton campus this week if you would like to come along.
D&AD Nomination
12/05/08
Today I received an email from D&AD notifying me that I have been nominated for a D&AD Student Award for my book Note To Self! I created the book in response to Paul Davis' Illustration brief - to make an A3, hardbound, 16 page book about yourself. The book contains 16 perforated posters of advice to myself.
RSA Design Directions Award
04/04/08
For the last few months I've been tackling a competition brief set by the RSA called 'Engage!' focussed on using design to bring about a positive change. This week I was announced as the winner for my project 'I am here' with Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre!!! Whoohoo :)
Big Active Internship
15/06/07
This summer fits neatly in between my second and third years of graphic design at university, perfect timing for a taste of the industry I reckon. So I got in touch with London agency Big Active to ask if I could come in, and here I am helping them out for a couple of weeks!
