Organic Ornaments

With a full-spectrum colour palette now brilliantly available to all, it is felt that restricting oneself in black-and-white must be a kind of masochism and that the outcome is bound to be more boring than a fully realistic approach. Yet many directors still relish the atmospheric effects that only B&W can achieve – and the technical challenges that go along with its use. In these exclusive interviews, three of today’s leading exponents of what might be thought of as a dying art explain the attraction of this apparently limiting technique – and the sense of fulfillment it can bring.

Ornamental Design has moved from the pure-art/architecture fields to more commercial usage and is now a staple of graphic design, albeit sometimes rather looked down upon as a “secondary” discipline. Is this kind of design “merely” decorative or can it play an important role in the overall impact of an illustration when it comes to selling a product? We look at the work of eight leading creatives who specialise in this kind of art. They all agreed that it is impossible to separate the purely ornamental from the functional. Both aspects serve a purpose and putting them together can result in a doubling of effectiveness.

Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, with a recorded history going back at least 7,000 years. Situated in the south of Greece, it sprawls across the central plain of Attica, and has long been considered as one of the foundation pillars of Western civilization. The fine arts of this ancient city have exercised an enormous influence on the culture of many countries throughout the world. And historical landmarks such as the Parthenon are still revered for their iconic contribution to global art and architecture.