Harry Bratt, a Graphic Designer based in Staffordshire, England. Since graduating from Leeds Arts University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Graphic Design, I have cultivated a design practice specializing in Branding and Editorial Design where I’m driven to produce visually striking and contemporary work that effectively develops and articulates the intended core message. My approach involves a significant emphasis on exploring different avenues and experimenting with emerging possibilities within the ideation process. This iterative approach enables me to identify the most optimal conceptual and aesthetic outcomes.
Project list01. Paul Nicholson Interview
02. Inner Exploration Outdoor Club
03. Vivian Maier’s Fashion Homage
04. Oripeau Competition
05. Apophenia Case Study
06. Santu Band Identity
07. Azure Salon Branding Identity
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Contact me05 Apophenia Case studyMay 2023
Fashion Graphics
Case study
This final year university project explored the visual communication of a chosen psychological phenomenon through design and a selected medium. The project aimed to create novel ocular cues that expressed the chosen concept. I focused on apophenia, defined as 'the tendency to perceive patterns, connections, or meaningfulness in random or unrelated events,' a common cognitive process that can, in certain contexts, be associated with early stages of delusion or schizophrenia. The project integrated primary and secondary research to inform the creation of unique visual work based on participant responses to stimuli designed to elicit apophenic perceptions. The medium chosen was fashion graphics applied to a cut & sew streetwear garment, selected for its relevance to the target demographic of the primary research.
Secondary research included an examination of the work of Klaus Conrad, a neurologist who, during World War II, studied the phenomenology of psychosis in soldiers, utilizing the Rorschach test (Inkblot test) to assess perception, personality, and emotional functioning as indicators of early psychotic phases. Inspired by Conrad's methodology, I conducted primary research involving the creation of original inkblot patterns through experimental watercolor techniques and paper manipulation. These patterns, chosen for their potential to elicit varied interpretations, were presented online to over 20 anonymous participants aged 18-25. The collected responses were analyzed to identify recurring themes, random associations, descriptive language, and instances indicative of apophenia, providing a contemporary perspective compared to Conrad's wartime research.
The visual outcome of this research was a series of fashion graphics for a button-up shirt. Repeated and notable responses from the inkblot tests were translated into silhouette-based boxed designs. This format aimed to impose a degree of order on the disparate interpretations, while a textured, vague linework style was employed to represent the fundamental visual descriptions of each response, intentionally mirroring the randomness and potential for misinterpretation inherent in apophenia for an external viewer. These boxed designs were arranged in a non-grid-based, all-over print pattern on the shirt, varying in size and utilizing the negative space. The checkered pattern of the base shirt in a contrasting red further facilitated visual connections between the black printed elements and introduced an additional layer of contrast in color and pattern. The resulting fashion graphics visually represent instances of apophenia derived from the primary research, aiming to evoke a sense of connection and potential confusion in the observer, reflecting the nature of the phenomenon itself. The button-up shirt, therefore, serves as a tangible outcome grounded in a body of original research, providing a unique visual interpretation of apophenia.