https://kirstynbyrne.com Kirstyn Byrne Sat, 19 Jul 2025 12:58:53 +0000 https://kirstynbyrne.com en https://kirstynbyrne.com/Front-Page Sun, 27 Jan 2019 18:50:25 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/Front-Page <img width="1200" height="458" width_o="1200" height_o="458" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/050014a82a63402eefc462095f0afa443efdd3813a065c3b6ca7c4c9ed5f9bfa/header-image-v7-01.png" data-mid="48814291" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/050014a82a63402eefc462095f0afa443efdd3813a065c3b6ca7c4c9ed5f9bfa/header-image-v7-01.png" /> https://kirstynbyrne.com/national-agencies-event Sat, 19 Jul 2025 12:58:53 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/national-agencies-event <img width="1601" height="901" width_o="1601" height_o="901" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/eb3c48a3b272af972b00467aa9b129ffcbe2b7077584a410c9800c4dfbab7029/NA-visual-identity-idea-V3.png" data-mid="236021727" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/eb3c48a3b272af972b00467aa9b129ffcbe2b7077584a410c9800c4dfbab7029/NA-visual-identity-idea-V3.png" /> I designed a key visual for this European Commission event, held in Brussels in November 2024 which brought together national agencies from all over the European Union. The event discussed artificial intelligence among other topics. The idea was to have a visual that looked modern and remained somewhat corporate. I also presented at this event and outlined how artificial intelligence can be used in design software. I drew the audience’s attention to the key visual and explained that the hand holding the document in this key visual was itself in fact generated by artificial intelligence. <img width="3426" height="2154" width_o="3426" height_o="2154" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3149ed00096f69dcb46ad15ea517b63e0de4b41378d5940b5700aa9bb2db36ea/IMG_7109.png" data-mid="236021815" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3149ed00096f69dcb46ad15ea517b63e0de4b41378d5940b5700aa9bb2db36ea/IMG_7109.png" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b5f61e34f50e44360cc89132793fd8256b25563fd7d93ea32f930141c11c9a4e/IMG_7106.png" data-mid="236021814" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b5f61e34f50e44360cc89132793fd8256b25563fd7d93ea32f930141c11c9a4e/IMG_7106.png" /> https://kirstynbyrne.com/visual-identity-magazine-design Mon, 19 Aug 2019 08:20:26 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/visual-identity-magazine-design FoodUnfolded is a platform about food technology. The logo is based on an origami carrot, as are all other icons I designed for this visual identity. In general, people have negative associations with “technology” when it’s combined with food. I designed a friendly visual identity and created a limited colour palette that omits blues and purples, colours we don’t associate with ‘natural’ food. I paired GT America with Caslon. GT America is crystal clear and trustworthy, while also appearing friendly. Caslon has a more hand-molded appearance and it carries gravitas, which is necccessary for science communication. The information provided by FoodUnfolded is engaging, but it also has serious scientific sources backing it up. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bb9da2a08e446bde67f5d68b6f435f045fb645081d8e9ceb101c64217227d887/food_unfolded_logo.png" data-mid="49014122" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bb9da2a08e446bde67f5d68b6f435f045fb645081d8e9ceb101c64217227d887/food_unfolded_logo.png" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f1fd69dd279f0ead9dc7e1a0aff14c065637d705915189efb1d817c5bb02e3c6/IMG_1301.png" data-mid="236024321" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f1fd69dd279f0ead9dc7e1a0aff14c065637d705915189efb1d817c5bb02e3c6/IMG_1301.png" /> <img width="1710" height="1446" width_o="1710" height_o="1446" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7349403c4104429c52999f8daa0cd5fb7c9f7a2a6a198460683d99cbc11321d0/FoodUnfolded-Mock-Up-low-res.png" data-mid="49013841" border="0" data-scale="93" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7349403c4104429c52999f8daa0cd5fb7c9f7a2a6a198460683d99cbc11321d0/FoodUnfolded-Mock-Up-low-res.png" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1c60c8e805e36e0973c86cf4a706a1178bbe9b0e046c79a26f65f255f97b407d/IMG_1298.png" data-mid="236024320" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1c60c8e805e36e0973c86cf4a706a1178bbe9b0e046c79a26f65f255f97b407d/IMG_1298.png" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e7539f2d37f5a203f6cf88f5b8fd587c057f55f98e5024c7e8399288c312751e/IMG_1307.png" data-mid="236024323" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e7539f2d37f5a203f6cf88f5b8fd587c057f55f98e5024c7e8399288c312751e/IMG_1307.png" /><img width="772" height="1808" width_o="772" height_o="1808" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b012b9a33f3a6e661a17e7e46cf4db64460d05745822cd7424c89f8bfd31881b/plant-milks-FA-01.png" data-mid="49114567" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/772/i/b012b9a33f3a6e661a17e7e46cf4db64460d05745822cd7424c89f8bfd31881b/plant-milks-FA-01.png" /><img width="772" height="1678" width_o="772" height_o="1678" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7bb4119e3c9b78fdb5d819a378d3d107ff0a02db6e344b69490276a955d986d2/aquaculture-FA-01.png" data-mid="49115281" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/772/i/7bb4119e3c9b78fdb5d819a378d3d107ff0a02db6e344b69490276a955d986d2/aquaculture-FA-01.png" /> <img width="772" height="1335" width_o="772" height_o="1335" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d3465b74e37d03bb3a7a60f7ab068d581c8d4794dc6e33ef34faf4a5fd62dc2d/aquaponics-FA-01.png" data-mid="49114648" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/772/i/d3465b74e37d03bb3a7a60f7ab068d581c8d4794dc6e33ef34faf4a5fd62dc2d/aquaponics-FA-01.png" /> <img width="772" height="1881" width_o="772" height_o="1881" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/76f6568ea26fa3ebfa95e2494326d676c3ea63e5fbeb978737c6f4a0124a503b/coffee-FA-01.png" data-mid="49115269" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/772/i/76f6568ea26fa3ebfa95e2494326d676c3ea63e5fbeb978737c6f4a0124a503b/coffee-FA-01.png" /> https://kirstynbyrne.com/wholegrain-campaign Sun, 18 Aug 2019 18:14:57 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/wholegrain-campaign Award-winning Campaign to Encourage Consumption of Wholegrains I worked on a team with two nutritionists and a social media expert to conceptualise and design a successful campaign. The campaign won a prestigious award and resulted in invitations to speak at conferences on wholegrains. Below are a series of animations I created for the campaign using a combination of my own illustrations and characters illustrated by Laura Dixon. <img width="6227" height="4153" width_o="6227" height_o="4153" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/07b5526e80d7598cbae674d5e540d812ee233daad1c5cbc04303bae7c0565499/leaflet-mock-up-1.png" data-mid="48823419" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/07b5526e80d7598cbae674d5e540d812ee233daad1c5cbc04303bae7c0565499/leaflet-mock-up-1.png" /><img width="6227" height="4153" width_o="6227" height_o="4153" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/08cbcdb5fc29d3d2d5dd4cd9bf05d2e8efee81af680d7fc6bfb9189bb435e1d3/leaflet-mock-up-2.png" data-mid="48823420" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/08cbcdb5fc29d3d2d5dd4cd9bf05d2e8efee81af680d7fc6bfb9189bb435e1d3/leaflet-mock-up-2.png" /> Brochure psd created by freepik - www.freepik.com <img width="1600" height="1000" width_o="1600" height_o="1000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e162bf53b0bc9d3f8e435156a4a37cb22b7a5c8565942ed74c16235c52caf86c/Web.png" data-mid="48823818" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e162bf53b0bc9d3f8e435156a4a37cb22b7a5c8565942ed74c16235c52caf86c/Web.png" /> This is the award ceremony: Carlos Abundancia (social media) and Christina Sadler (nutrition) holding the leaflet and the award. In case you can’t read the small print: third and fourth place were The European Chemical Industry Council and Accountancy Europe respectively. It’s worth noting, given the fact that the winners EUFIC were a small organisation with a tiny budget but a lot of creativity!&nbsp;<img width="820" height="420" width_o="820" height_o="420" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dfc39e2e06a7859a5bfad1f32cf94606e9a613d18098fd5538331ee8844d98cc/Campaign-Summary-01.png" data-mid="48824202" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/820/i/dfc39e2e06a7859a5bfad1f32cf94606e9a613d18098fd5538331ee8844d98cc/Campaign-Summary-01.png" /> We comissioned a serious of illustrations from Laura Dixon to demonstrate how Europeans can still have their baguette/pizza/pretzels and eat them (wholegrain)! <img width="8583" height="4458" width_o="8583" height_o="4458" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3430080b37926a88cd242133f02608e9bb1e5dd869b737c697dfda27adaa5bea/Whole-grain-x6-08.png" data-mid="48824774" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3430080b37926a88cd242133f02608e9bb1e5dd869b737c697dfda27adaa5bea/Whole-grain-x6-08.png" /><img width="8583" height="4458" width_o="8583" height_o="4458" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9ccc8085d5ea00f3744d2b132e914429d065e5a6dc453580d4bef69defac1e64/Whole-grain-x6-04.png" data-mid="48824770" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9ccc8085d5ea00f3744d2b132e914429d065e5a6dc453580d4bef69defac1e64/Whole-grain-x6-04.png" /><img width="8583" height="4458" width_o="8583" height_o="4458" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a88451fc99c16276752abde11c42a77f860fbd2c39eff3d9f101562d13f2123b/Whole-grain-x6-02.png" data-mid="48824769" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a88451fc99c16276752abde11c42a77f860fbd2c39eff3d9f101562d13f2123b/Whole-grain-x6-02.png" /><img width="8583" height="4458" width_o="8583" height_o="4458" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b1542513753b9a31311404542f58a4e64e7d803fde2f44e23da9eb37de1d159b/Whole-grain-x6-05.png" data-mid="48824771" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b1542513753b9a31311404542f58a4e64e7d803fde2f44e23da9eb37de1d159b/Whole-grain-x6-05.png" /><img width="8583" height="4458" width_o="8583" height_o="4458" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4f607ff379ce81419dbc8358c947cabffd9c61c7a1ee1108d7991b2430057d03/Whole-grain-x6-06.png" data-mid="48824772" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4f607ff379ce81419dbc8358c947cabffd9c61c7a1ee1108d7991b2430057d03/Whole-grain-x6-06.png" /><img width="8583" height="4458" width_o="8583" height_o="4458" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1a0c3073245ade7deb1e7b1836e98367c050532f8c5b9f8c2cfa825a44cf0bfb/Whole-grain-x6-07.png" data-mid="48824773" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1a0c3073245ade7deb1e7b1836e98367c050532f8c5b9f8c2cfa825a44cf0bfb/Whole-grain-x6-07.png" /> https://kirstynbyrne.com/Black-Irish-visual-identity Tue, 17 Aug 2021 13:18:33 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/Black-Irish-visual-identity Visual Identity for ‘Black &amp; Irish’ ‘Black &amp; Irish’ aims to tackle racism in Ireland and to celebrate the black Irish community. The organisation has established wide-reaching platforms to share stories of black Irish people. I worked closely with the founders to reach a visual solution that respresented what being both black and Irish means. According to co-founder Leon Diop “an aspect that is core to our brand is identity. As black and Irish people, our identity can often be challenged. We often hear things like, ‘where are you really from?’” The logo demonstrates that Irishness is part of an Irish person’s identity, regardless of their skin colour.<img width="1500" height="500" width_o="1500" height_o="500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6264676ae53be84c1ff04d6983e6a07ec76f09c5eb64904144bc716b086cb9e9/1500x500-1.jpeg" data-mid="116656927" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6264676ae53be84c1ff04d6983e6a07ec76f09c5eb64904144bc716b086cb9e9/1500x500-1.jpeg" /><img width="1436" height="1000" width_o="1436" height_o="1000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/87aa282d81eca6dc76cf721b946a9a3c0383bad64ee668b1f8205bfbd307046b/kirstyn-byrne-02.png" data-mid="116653963" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/87aa282d81eca6dc76cf721b946a9a3c0383bad64ee668b1f8205bfbd307046b/kirstyn-byrne-02.png" /><img width="880" height="600" width_o="880" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/081e149176053ff19f1c9fa33635af7f6dacfb4d733859cdfb03d2b3e7e182e1/kirstyn-byrne-01.png" data-mid="116653962" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/880/i/081e149176053ff19f1c9fa33635af7f6dacfb4d733859cdfb03d2b3e7e182e1/kirstyn-byrne-01.png" /><img width="2336" height="2509" width_o="2336" height_o="2509" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e349bb27af75b9870c7c090e99e8ba3f472bca0e826d90a9bcf4aca74d0a4c30/kirstyn-byrne-03.jpg" data-mid="116653946" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e349bb27af75b9870c7c090e99e8ba3f472bca0e826d90a9bcf4aca74d0a4c30/kirstyn-byrne-03.jpg" /> https://kirstynbyrne.com/abortion-rights-brand Thu, 05 Jul 2018 18:23:52 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/abortion-rights-brand The X-ile Project aimed to take the stigma away from abortion. The project photographed Irish women who had had abortions, putting faces to an abstract idea.When I became aware and informed about the laws we had in Ireland regarding abortion I wanted to become an activist. I contacted The X-ile Project and met with one of the founders. We decided I would brand their campaign. The women behind The X-ile Project (three of which pictured here) were nothing short of inspiring to work with. They were poets, musicians, historians. They let me do my thing and offered only the most constructive and encouraging feedback. <img width="601" height="600" width_o="601" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/15f15477e13f5c28921787be5573b55cf0f10851738e2381fb4e0a1f82869a9d/x-ile_twitter-02.png" data-mid="33869424" border="0" data-scale="69" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/601/i/15f15477e13f5c28921787be5573b55cf0f10851738e2381fb4e0a1f82869a9d/x-ile_twitter-02.png" /> <img width="3143" height="2837" width_o="3143" height_o="2837" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ab9fa1a570986003eb09618e95b5f6a31109f663e030c2470cc9d4ac951e7647/Maser_mural.jpg" data-mid="33869426" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ab9fa1a570986003eb09618e95b5f6a31109f663e030c2470cc9d4ac951e7647/Maser_mural.jpg" /> <img width="1536" height="2048" width_o="1536" height_o="2048" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e15a5dfd4f7bc3b5af61ea59ac96e50742acceb2e9e83cc37dd8412d59bd72d3/CtHqnCnWgAAL-Fd.jpeg" data-mid="48826488" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e15a5dfd4f7bc3b5af61ea59ac96e50742acceb2e9e83cc37dd8412d59bd72d3/CtHqnCnWgAAL-Fd.jpeg" /> Regarding the design, this being viewed as a 'women's issue' did not sit well with me so I deliberately avoided any colours that could be perceived as feminine. It's a human rights issue, not a women's issue. I chose bold primary colours, Their project was daring so I felt the logo should be too. I chose futura as the typeface as it was having a moment at the time and could be seen in cool brands. The logo, I felt, should appeal to the youth and so a cool sans serif did the job. I wanted the logo to be fairly minimal so as not to draw attention from the subjects of the project, the women themselves. I designed badges, car stickers, posters, flyers, cover artwork and a series of GIFs leading up to the referendum which were shared on social media. There were three important outcomes for me; 1. We repealed the eigth amendment 2. Our prime minister was photographed wearing a badge I designed 3. The project was reported by an idol of mine Amy Goodman, on her news show Democracy Now <img width="1000" height="1300" width_o="1000" height_o="1300" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ca76e4fc9a2ba8ddfeb206b7c7cfafa233c5b20090957e55fec9e3c0e3e25619/Poster_Mockup_v2.png" data-mid="48813588" border="0" data-scale="82" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ca76e4fc9a2ba8ddfeb206b7c7cfafa233c5b20090957e55fec9e3c0e3e25619/Poster_Mockup_v2.png" /> <img width="900" height="1200" width_o="900" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/51b6aa70e81913b0c80535728a37f2013f72f32cc4610f5e291bff67b4c64f01/C9E11AE6-6EFF-41F2-A5CF-7D0B2E6F5930.jpg" data-mid="33869423" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/900/i/51b6aa70e81913b0c80535728a37f2013f72f32cc4610f5e291bff67b4c64f01/C9E11AE6-6EFF-41F2-A5CF-7D0B2E6F5930.jpg" />Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach (or Prime Minister) of Ireland supporting The X-ile Project during the referendum. <img width="800" height="800" width_o="800" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fb2956133df307caf130e98b73b25f50959612fdf9749154cfbb4ff545b5ad3e/3-yes.gif" data-mid="48790486" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/fb2956133df307caf130e98b73b25f50959612fdf9749154cfbb4ff545b5ad3e/3-yes.gif" /> <img width="800" height="800" width_o="800" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/af29b6ac71430ea8c06c68511187c937d54f43dda97235c747718c7304a7bcee/1-solidarity.gif" data-mid="48790485" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/af29b6ac71430ea8c06c68511187c937d54f43dda97235c747718c7304a7bcee/1-solidarity.gif" /> <img width="800" height="800" width_o="800" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/949c10898e6a3280bd8c101478b4e0dba3a2fd01a2e96af7dea8771f0909a029/2-signs.gif" data-mid="33869425" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/949c10898e6a3280bd8c101478b4e0dba3a2fd01a2e96af7dea8771f0909a029/2-signs.gif" /> <img width="790" height="790" width_o="790" height_o="790" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/954229ed78491b3f57dce70f76cf80f2489f7dfa41331c0a2577f543224adc42/4.-Conversation.gif" data-mid="48790487" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/790/i/954229ed78491b3f57dce70f76cf80f2489f7dfa41331c0a2577f543224adc42/4.-Conversation.gif" /> Kind words from the women behind The X-ile Project on their website... <img width="1224" height="678" width_o="1224" height_o="678" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/753993b460b8e3f03c1909572f9ebc193a89ff4e164f59c4b62c355189e65e25/Screen-Shot-2018-07-05-at-20.13.25.png" data-mid="33869427" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/753993b460b8e3f03c1909572f9ebc193a89ff4e164f59c4b62c355189e65e25/Screen-Shot-2018-07-05-at-20.13.25.png" /><img width="1328" height="446" width_o="1328" height_o="446" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/739e2ddc3153136b71d1960daad9f33f8e60d9d06c21aa99035b395f8b5866ed/protest-2.png" data-mid="48826494" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/739e2ddc3153136b71d1960daad9f33f8e60d9d06c21aa99035b395f8b5866ed/protest-2.png" /> On occasion I apply my design brain (without charging €) to something that I consider a worthy cause. The X-ile Project has been the most worthy cause yet and I burst with pride when I look back at the small role I had in a massive movement for social change. https://kirstynbyrne.com/theatre-poster Sun, 18 Aug 2019 12:41:51 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/theatre-poster <img width="600" height="574" width_o="600" height_o="574" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/86dcb0d878fbdd2c156b14a3bb4151b4d3348d0ebeddb40a9274b7e4e7aacd43/2019-thumbnails-06.png" data-mid="48810464" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/600/i/86dcb0d878fbdd2c156b14a3bb4151b4d3348d0ebeddb40a9274b7e4e7aacd43/2019-thumbnails-06.png" />A Life Sentence is a play written by Eleanor Byrne (my sister) telling&nbsp;this story, the story of our grandmother Rita McCann. I used a portrait I shot on film of my grandmother for the imagery. The photo was taken of her proudly talking me through her verdant garden in her home in County Monaghan, Ireland. In the moment I took this photo, Rita was thinking but I think her expression looks concerned, making it suitable for this play. The reason for the purple of the poster was that I know it to be her favourite colour. <img width="1818" height="1228" width_o="1818" height_o="1228" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b6710b05f2682d00893436ed0dd4af4df747befa66d24d482536106f77238946/FH010013.jpg" data-mid="48810538" border="0" data-scale="97" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b6710b05f2682d00893436ed0dd4af4df747befa66d24d482536106f77238946/FH010013.jpg" /> <img width="3150" height="1680" width_o="3150" height_o="1680" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/689678044057b677779b1e639d755b1659d4a62f43c8c23d88cfac4ea8c5e172/Advertising-Board-Mockup-v2.png" data-mid="48810461" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/689678044057b677779b1e639d755b1659d4a62f43c8c23d88cfac4ea8c5e172/Advertising-Board-Mockup-v2.png" /> <img width="1600" height="1000" width_o="1600" height_o="1000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4f69dfd944a54f0fa465c76a2a7f8962de4fc82cd8b1a284664145da681e4519/A-Life-Sentence_Web.png" data-mid="48810114" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4f69dfd944a54f0fa465c76a2a7f8962de4fc82cd8b1a284664145da681e4519/A-Life-Sentence_Web.png" /><img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4359214ad4c38692e83d3a1d38c6089a249ec8b93d34409999d4dc7cd4da782c/Snapseed.png" data-mid="48810436" border="0" data-scale="90" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4359214ad4c38692e83d3a1d38c6089a249ec8b93d34409999d4dc7cd4da782c/Snapseed.png" /><img width="400" height="400" width_o="400" height_o="400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5d46b97ae043e19a6c9a42d03cc2ce0fc80899c3eeecf14ea631cebe17dd7803/BdDnosqr_400x400.jpg" data-mid="48810527" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/400/i/5d46b97ae043e19a6c9a42d03cc2ce0fc80899c3eeecf14ea631cebe17dd7803/BdDnosqr_400x400.jpg" /> https://kirstynbyrne.com/interview-Nicolas-Decloedt Sun, 18 Aug 2019 16:21:07 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/interview-Nicolas-Decloedt I interviewed my favourite chef, Nicolas Decloedt in 2017. He works only with vegetables, never meat, never fish. He has recently gained huge recognition having had his restaurant named by Gault &amp; Millau the best vegan restaurant in the world<img width="682" height="1024" width_o="682" height_o="1024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3c1145010f6a4e3a7dde181630d1503066db3d86199efe360b05527facdecb07/46321718515_0a80c7dc79_b.jpg" data-mid="49015136" border="0" data-scale="62" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/682/i/3c1145010f6a4e3a7dde181630d1503066db3d86199efe360b05527facdecb07/46321718515_0a80c7dc79_b.jpg" /> <img width="2969" height="1290" width_o="2969" height_o="1290" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/38025f681965d78e793dac77fa50f65c6c0f3165c3c3209549685c1f12ca0ccd/spread-1.png" data-mid="48819794" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/38025f681965d78e793dac77fa50f65c6c0f3165c3c3209549685c1f12ca0ccd/spread-1.png" /><img width="2969" height="1290" width_o="2969" height_o="1290" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e7d0c7897b9fb6e3d6b13b7058e1ae495a47c84191cb9b4795ea270229e817f9/spread-2.png" data-mid="48819795" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e7d0c7897b9fb6e3d6b13b7058e1ae495a47c84191cb9b4795ea270229e817f9/spread-2.png" /><img width="2969" height="1290" width_o="2969" height_o="1290" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cc210caa7c9ae0756efc0d0fcc3009e2d1782bc384ae7cb4dca3f613ad196910/spread-3.png" data-mid="48820185" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cc210caa7c9ae0756efc0d0fcc3009e2d1782bc384ae7cb4dca3f613ad196910/spread-3.png" /><img width="2969" height="1290" width_o="2969" height_o="1290" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f1d3807d42e6b6a650cfa1da34c4a086bae17c0e2ec37ccb4c6c4283867f39c4/spread-4.png" data-mid="48820186" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f1d3807d42e6b6a650cfa1da34c4a086bae17c0e2ec37ccb4c6c4283867f39c4/spread-4.png" /><img width="2969" height="1290" width_o="2969" height_o="1290" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ec87393459e75d4b8be53b27a1c59f9bd889913e2781d46e0db93f3f50dafff5/spread-5.png" data-mid="48820187" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ec87393459e75d4b8be53b27a1c59f9bd889913e2781d46e0db93f3f50dafff5/spread-5.png" /> Nicolas Decloedt 23.02.2017 It’s a blustery February Thursday. ‘Le Mercerie’ is closed for business, much to the disappointment of the occasional punter who assumes it’s open only to be informed (in the kindest way possible) of the actual opening hours. Through the glass front of the premesis, three khaki-clad soldiers stalk cautiously up the street, guns in hand. They offer a stark contrast to the peaceful cosy environment inside the restaurant, albeit a typical sight in ‘The Capital of Europe’. Situated at a rather busy intersection of five roads, it’s somewhat surprising that one can forget the passing of time while drinking and dining in this haven of fine food. Nicolas’ collaborator, highly-respected barman Matthieu Chaumont is in the process of photographing an elegant cream-coloured dish. It’s immaculately presented. He takes advantage of the natural light, shooting the creation right next to the window. A cook is called from the kitchen to lend a hand (literally to hold a glass). After a satisfactory shot has been achieved, Nicolas gives me the dish, their new dessert to taste. It’s a stunning combination of burnt meringue, milk curd, Szechuan sorbet, oatmeal crunch and parsnip mousse. Perfectly balanced flavours, and a taste like nothing I’ve ever sampled before N: (Speaking Dutch on the phone...Dries, my vegetable guy) N: It’s nice to say that Brussels waffle doesn’t come from Brussels, Belgium. I don’t have the recipe here because it’s at home somewhere on the computer or in... I still have computer issues and Dropbox issues. I’m good at making sauces and stuff but not good at eh... Which I like a lot about the Brussels waffle is that it’s very low in sugar actually. It doesn’t have any sugar in it as far as I know. (aside: J’ai des nouvelles assiettes qui arrivent demain aussi.) (Shows me the photo they took for social media) K: Oh wow, beautiful! I love the leaves in the photo. It’s so cool. The light there is beautiful. N:&nbsp;Yeah the light is very good here. It’s a little bit nordic, from the north side. So we have some light that comes in directly but most of the light is like indirect. South-facing is more over there so we have little direct sunlight. The nicest sunlight there is comes from the north side, because it’s reflected. N:&nbsp;Yeah, no sugar. No sugar and very crunchy so that’s why I like it. K:&nbsp;Yeah it’s completely different. I’ve tasted both of them and yeah they’re completely different. N:&nbsp;You understand Dutch or not at all? K:&nbsp;No but my friend, you know my friend Eva N:&nbsp;Ah Eva yeah. I think Eva understands some Dutch. Yeah she might be able to, if you are lucky. N: (to the kitchen: Derrière il y a encore un sac de café blanc de parlour...) N: So it’s three eggs, 375 milk, one yeast, fresh one. 375 lukewarm water, 450 flour. 450 grams. 150 grams of melted butter but cold, not butter that you let boil, just melted. A nice decent pinch of salt. So you split the eggs... K:As in separate them? N:Yeah yeah you separate them. Then you beat the yolks with a whisk, just that they are like liquid. Then you add the milk with the yeast. For the milk as well, make sure your milk is lukewarm. Not hot, lukewarm. It’s important. Otherwise you kill the yeast. Then so you whisk again until the yeast is dissolved entirely. Then you add the warm water, then the sifted flour, then your melted butter. And then you beat the egg whites till they are stiff. Then you incorporate it, nicely gently. Oh and the salt you mix with the flour. And you let it rest for like twenty/thirty minutes somewhere where it’s nice and warm. You can serve it with sugar with eh, whipped cream. And then you can go loose. You can make whipped cream with herbs, which you gently sweeten but Yves Mattagne, from Sea Grill restaurant, two Michelin stars, his classic is a Brussels waffles with algues, seaweed. So you can make it savoury because there is no sugar in the batter. So you can serve it like a savoury pancake. K:Does anyone else serve Brussels waffles as savoury? N:I don’t think so. (aside: Soixante par litre, ouais) I don’t know too much actually. The only one I know is Yves Mattagne. I think it’s eh with caviar or whatever. And I think it’s interesting to have a look on the internet at where it comes from or whatever. The history. — K:I was interested to ask you about what it was like to transition from Michelin star cooking to specifically vegetable cooking. N:I don’t see any difference. It’s not because we are cooking vegetables that we can’t cook on the same level because actually that’s what I do. I apply the techniques that I learned there to vegetables with the same precision, the same care. So for me this is, what I do now is sometimes even more refined than what I did in the restaurants. K:And in your opinion does vegetable cooking get the respect it deserves? N:Slowly. We are getting there slowly. K:Slowly but surely. N:Yeah yeah yeah yeah eh for a lot of people it’s still considered as being secondary because there is no meat there’s no fish. But I don’t, I think it’s eh... More and more chefs, especially the younger generation of chefs are more and more into vegetables and even if they put it on the same plate as some fish or meat, they do pay more attention to it and they go further on than what is classic which is just like blanching or boiling a vegetable in some hot water. K:What do you think the future holds for cooking with vegetables? N:Hmmm. I think the easy answer would be that it’s the future and I don’t think it is the future. I think it is the now. So I think it is the thing that has to be done now in a very good decent way. So I think it’s like now or never so that’s why there are people like us who have to step up and bring the vegetable cooking to another level to show people that you can do crazy things with that. You don’t need to put fish or meat on the plate to create an interesting plate, to create some gastronomy. K:You’ve collaborated on several projects with plenty of other people. Here is obviously a collaboration, and the likes of Mary Pop-In. What are the benefits you find from collaborating with other people? N: Because you always get influenced by the other person and Matthieu (Matthieu Chaumont) knows techniques that I don’t know and vice versa and he comes up with ideas that I would never think of and vice versa. So I always believe in 1 and 1 is 3. So that’s why. It’s just very interesting. K: I read that travel has impacted on your cooking. In what way? N: Yeah because that’s when I realise that local cooking is the only good way. Produce is at its best when it’s used in season and local. So that’s why when I lived in Mexico, the produce you have there is so tremendous. It has nothing to do with the things you find here which have travelled for a few weeks. So it’s really the best, the best part is when you take it immediately. The Mexican products I find here do not correspond to the souvenir (memory) I have from over there. K: It seems that you put a lot of emphasis on your producers, your suppliers, because they’re even on your menu I think, who the suppliers are. N: Yeah yeah I try to. I did it and now I should put them again but there’s a little lack of space so. But yeah no definitely I always talk about them, because without them, I couldn’t do what I do. They are the basics, they are and they deliver the basics of my cuisine K: And what attracts you to wild and foraged food? N: Well first of all, it’s cool to be in nature. And second, it’s just a lot of other tastes, flavours, textures sometimes so that makes it very very interesting. K: And is it difficult to source? N: Yes and no. Nothing is difficult once you know. So no it’s okay. It’s just keep your eyes and your ears open and people tell you stuff and teach you stuff. K: How would you describe Belgian cuisine to someone who’s not familiar with it? N: (long pause) That’s a hard one. K: Or even more specifically Brabant, or Brussels. N: Belgian cuisine, the homemade stuff, you know? It’s very, it’s basically very based on three parts; potato, vegetable, meat fish. That triangle. It always shifts around that. K: It’s not unlike Irish food. I’m from Ireland and Irish food is pretty much like that as well. N: Yeah yeah of course. You have more or less a little bit the same produce. Climate isn’t so different. It’s a little better over here. K: Definitely, yeah. N: So yeah I think that it might be easy because describing restaurant food, then you tend more into very French actually. Especially if you get the Brussels and the southern part of the country. They’re very narrow-minded. And there’s a big difference with Flemish guys. We have the openness. We look to France, and I do it as well you know, I have knowledge of French cuisine and I use stuff you know; like making a mousseline, making Béarnaise, making whatever. But I have the openness to the other side, and see what happens there and then make my own version of it. That’s the huge advantage we have in Belgium because we live so central in Europe and we are really on the crossroads of different cultures so yeah, and that’s what happens in Flanders, and that’s what doesn’t happen in the French-speaking part. They’re still cooking like in the fifties, except two or three exceptions. K: Lastly what or who else influences you? We’ve talked about travel and the cross of cultures... N: Yeah my main influences are music like Sonic Youth and like Nick Cave. Writers like Peter Verhelst. Artists like Jeff Wall, Bill Viola because they all do something which isn’t totally out of the range, but there’s always some kind of a touch of genius in it and always a touch of difference, being different. It’s like when you listen to Nick Cave, he’s not as crazy anymore like thirty years ago so there is some certain accessibility but at the same time, we keep that kind of twist. Same with all the guys I just mentioned and there are a few more and that what I do with my cooking you know? I do serve celery root or asparagus or whatever but I always try to surprise people and for me people who get in here, get into our universe and we just take them by the hand and take them for a walk in our universe and at the end of the meal, we put them back in their universe and that’s what happens and we can only hope that they understand what we do. — N: Where do you come from in Ireland? K: From Dublin N: Oh from Dublin K: So I just came here for the Food Design masters N: Ah yeah so you’re just here for this one year K: Yeah, well we’ll see after this year. I quite like Brussels... N: It’s not too bad Brussels K: No it’s nice, it is really nice. Definitely from a foodie point of view, it’s a very interesting place to be N: Yeah yeah yeah. We had some nice time in Dublin last summer so K: Oh really? You were in Dublin N: Yeah we enjoyed it so. Yeah we got there because my girlfriend has a friend living one hour north of Dublin so we spent a few days in Dublin and she spent a few days with her friend. We ended up picking a huge amount of meadowsweet for dessert, a wild herb. I was just working with it and there was plenty everywhere just next to the house so I really stuffed my bag. K: And brought it back here?! N: And brought it back here yeah yeah yeah! K: Fresh from Ireland N: Fresh from Ireland, local food from Ireland! <img width="3360" height="2240" width_o="3360" height_o="2240" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/34818bc93f01f13878813c63ef0b27b7cf3407621a35048a1c0482f9fd088b3c/F1000011.JPG" data-mid="48819911" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/34818bc93f01f13878813c63ef0b27b7cf3407621a35048a1c0482f9fd088b3c/F1000011.JPG" /><img width="3360" height="2240" width_o="3360" height_o="2240" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/78e3e8d06271793a1f8d4a3046e3f16cb4eabd04088638ca1dbaf560427e37c7/F1000010.JPG" data-mid="48819026" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/78e3e8d06271793a1f8d4a3046e3f16cb4eabd04088638ca1dbaf560427e37c7/F1000010.JPG" /><img width="1000" height="1000" width_o="1000" height_o="1000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/452b92d0f85abf2392afe2e52c220baa68152c2c42aca24d22f1756051f41d23/2019-thumbnails-11.png" data-mid="48821543" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/452b92d0f85abf2392afe2e52c220baa68152c2c42aca24d22f1756051f41d23/2019-thumbnails-11.png" /> https://kirstynbyrne.com/bespoke-lettering Sun, 18 Aug 2019 11:30:34 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/bespoke-lettering <img width="851" height="699" width_o="851" height_o="699" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b3c430bd98d8c416027de73c01819717370a57245c405caee927498f0a1bd070/lettering-03.png" data-mid="48808881" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/851/i/b3c430bd98d8c416027de73c01819717370a57245c405caee927498f0a1bd070/lettering-03.png" /><img width="598" height="597" width_o="598" height_o="597" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/95492e9e98df8a230c66b2b12c0f4e5442538a02d6a6998cf17d9d27621c93d0/Screen-Shot-2019-08-18-at-13.25.41.png" data-mid="48807457" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/598/i/95492e9e98df8a230c66b2b12c0f4e5442538a02d6a6998cf17d9d27621c93d0/Screen-Shot-2019-08-18-at-13.25.41.png" /> I designed a flyer and programme for an original Irish ballet choreographed by Sylvia Behan based on the Irish mythology tale ‘The Children of Lír’. It tells the tale of four children who are turned into swans by their evil stepmother. <img width="851" height="699" width_o="851" height_o="699" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8be472756949ffce0806d73da20c16ba8ce0d743620752f4116deee5139ad1f2/lettering-02.png" data-mid="48807492" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/851/i/8be472756949ffce0806d73da20c16ba8ce0d743620752f4116deee5139ad1f2/lettering-02.png" /><img width="3000" height="2000" width_o="3000" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f148b8ff24c4e5dd342c80a95a2adfd0bc9cc7ea0cd7a758caff3c26d3f7b2bb/MockUp-For-Flyers-v3.png" data-mid="48808532" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f148b8ff24c4e5dd342c80a95a2adfd0bc9cc7ea0cd7a758caff3c26d3f7b2bb/MockUp-For-Flyers-v3.png" /> https://kirstynbyrne.com/type-design Sun, 28 Jun 2015 15:55:32 +0000 Kirstyn Byrne https://kirstynbyrne.com/type-design <img width="869" height="1280" width_o="869" height_o="1280" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/068ad35410f04b22af4caee2ef5f470fc900fe8b975f38daebc7be37cfc0ca3a/IMG_0006b_o.png" data-mid="33869666" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/869/i/068ad35410f04b22af4caee2ef5f470fc900fe8b975f38daebc7be37cfc0ca3a/IMG_0006b_o.png" /> <img width="854" height="1280" width_o="854" height_o="1280" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/42f916d3d18407649b7f4d519ca28af16d214aac229816060419c752fc9e7848/IMG_0016_o.png" data-mid="33869667" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/854/i/42f916d3d18407649b7f4d519ca28af16d214aac229816060419c752fc9e7848/IMG_0016_o.png" /> The Posters This is a project called ‘Formes Typographiques’ that I completed while studying in Geneva. Our brief was to design an alphabet, make stamps from it (with the material of the stamps influencing the letterforms) and then to design and print at least five 100cm x 70cm posters showcasing the type. I named the typeface Moitié-Moitié. It’s a famous Swiss delicacy and also means ‘half and half’ which is the way the type was designed; in two halves. <img width="1124" height="1568" width_o="1124" height_o="1568" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/132dea8ceda977ff3edbf1d2afba24b382a14b25cfb3be43292dd0037da6812e/Alphabet-01_o.png" data-mid="33869672" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/132dea8ceda977ff3edbf1d2afba24b382a14b25cfb3be43292dd0037da6812e/Alphabet-01_o.png" /> <img width="1740" height="975" width_o="1740" height_o="975" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/114d7c1e8125aa7524d4e89ee061a5049e2283804ff31d657b6a37e5c3c81436/1-01_o.png" data-mid="33869668" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/114d7c1e8125aa7524d4e89ee061a5049e2283804ff31d657b6a37e5c3c81436/1-01_o.png" /> <img width="1740" height="975" width_o="1740" height_o="975" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d9c138a37720735a6ebba8de4c2e466a1fc1dd86aea9d992c1ede69937b699fd/2-01_o.png" data-mid="33869669" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d9c138a37720735a6ebba8de4c2e466a1fc1dd86aea9d992c1ede69937b699fd/2-01_o.png" /> <img width="1740" height="975" width_o="1740" height_o="975" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9796d59a6ebb4cee019aecb61fdb4c30a6496aa95ff46d3b25176bd248b22534/3-01_o.png" data-mid="33869670" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9796d59a6ebb4cee019aecb61fdb4c30a6496aa95ff46d3b25176bd248b22534/3-01_o.png" /> <img width="1740" height="975" width_o="1740" height_o="975" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/aecec4fc7faff272e4bed3b5127223e2899025aa891ac03a7a1eb5ddf367ec9e/4-01_o.png" data-mid="33869671" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/aecec4fc7faff272e4bed3b5127223e2899025aa891ac03a7a1eb5ddf367ec9e/4-01_o.png" /> The Concept To begin designing my typeface I looked at the legibility of the upper half and lower half of letters in both lower-case and upper-case. In lower-case the upper half of each letter was more important and offered more legibility when isolated. With upper case letters however it wasn’t so consistent. I used this observation to inspire my typeface. I put emphasis on the more important half of the letter and I looked at which strokes are most important and unique to each individual letter. I came up with a system of using one, two and three-stroke lines. I used the thicker three-stroke lines to emphasize the most important parts of each letter. <img width="1280" height="960" width_o="1280" height_o="960" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/eb2d49cb53dba8781ffbc35d355431b89dc68359ec9d6c08b1d2b6bec6932d0e/process.png" data-mid="48811489" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/eb2d49cb53dba8781ffbc35d355431b89dc68359ec9d6c08b1d2b6bec6932d0e/process.png" />Process Here you see a machine laser engraving the letterforms into fretwood. Next the wooden board was cut into individual letters. Then I glued lengths of string into the grooves to create a relief surface in order to use the letters as stamps. To print, I simply used poster paint to coat the strings on the stamps.<img width="3264" height="2352" width_o="3264" height_o="2352" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/51ee626c6e4988dc215222c0a78cd5df99c682ce13fc149e3ebe0e05ad900705/IMG-8796.png" data-mid="48811601" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/51ee626c6e4988dc215222c0a78cd5df99c682ce13fc149e3ebe0e05ad900705/IMG-8796.png" /> Some years after I designed and made the typographical stamps, I decided to print a new poster for myself inspired by the quote ‘Tread softly because you tread on my dreams’ from Irish poet W.B. Yeats. I liked the idea of the poster having two layers. At first glance, you see only the request to ‘tread softly’, but on closer inspection, ‘on my dreams’ reveals itself. The reason behind the request. The colours are those od the Irish flag, which are often described as ‘green, white and gold’.<img width="1968" height="2598" width_o="1968" height_o="2598" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2d874ea2af06313bbe49b5b246517db47d1af38f2734b6a3933eb07cb02ae9a8/IMG-8789-v3.png" data-mid="48813126" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2d874ea2af06313bbe49b5b246517db47d1af38f2734b6a3933eb07cb02ae9a8/IMG-8789-v3.png" /> <img width="600" height="573" width_o="600" height_o="573" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/564a7ab90161071e53d4dcc4644429621b1e14518728c9a5180ecd28ffb0f867/2019-thumbnail-07.png" data-mid="48813746" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/600/i/564a7ab90161071e53d4dcc4644429621b1e14518728c9a5180ecd28ffb0f867/2019-thumbnail-07.png" />