Meg O'Brien
MA Graphic Design and Art Direction
I am a Graphic Artist and Art Director specialising in editorial through publication & video formats. My practice explored themes of the current overconsumption of online culture and everyday mundanity through a fashion editorial lens. These concepts are exemplified through such amalgamation of Photography, Graphic design, Animation and Video.
Reconnected Network is a video & publication multi-media experience exploring the juxtaposition of my general use of technology/ social media against the reality of everyday living environments. Such notions were investigated through my aesthetical choices of contrasting blurred, pixelated images of digital references with my day-to-day surroundings to fuse reality and the digital. Inspired by short-form content like TikTok, my film integrates sound, speed and structure while merging trending meme culture with photography of my everyday surroundings to create cohesive film expressing themes of overconsumption of digital media. My publication continued this sentiment, depicting my video aesthetics through publication format. Integrating both video and publication outcomes helped reach a larger audience.
My previous project, Squelch Magazine, was an editorial interpretation of my everyday routine, romanticising topics like fashion, travel, food, plus the local club scene to implicate a creative space for escapism. Closely collaborating with MA Fine Artist Sandwich New Hampshire, digital and 35mm photography experimented within multiple art-directed environments, exploring more dynamic editorial styles and appraoches. Our collaborative magazine desired to cater towards an older Gen Z audience who engage or collect fashion editorial magazines.
