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Temperature 2012  January 27
Plural is proud to have designed Volume Gallery's first publication—Temperature 2012—a diagnostic of contemporary American design. Released in collaboration with the Museum of Arts and Design. Stop by at the release party at Saturday / January 28
4:00–7:00 PM At the Andrew Rafacz Gallery 835 W Washington Blvd

Sonnenzimmmer + Winterbureau  January 25
Sonnenzimmmer + Winterbureau Slimventory Sale 3605 N Damen / Rear StoreChicago, IL 60618February 11 / 201210:00 am - 5:00 pm Chicago-based designers/print makers Sonnenzimmer and Winterbureau are opening the doors to their shared Roscoe Village studio for a one-day sale on screen printed posters, prints, and original artwork. For one day only, prices will be marked down to help make room... (read more)

SUPPORT  January 18
Hosted by the good folks at Chicago Artists' Coalition and their HATCH Projects, Twelve Galleries Project presents Quarterly Site #9: Support curated by female design collective Quite Strong. The exhibition presents a visual interpretation of Chicago's supportive community for artists and designers. Featuring HATCH Projects artists and Quite Strong Lust List... (read more)

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About


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Plural is a Chicago-based creative studio practice founded in 2008. With a focus on pursuing meaningful projects, Plural explores new approaches within the design process, experimenting in a wide range of media including print, web, video, sound, interactive and installation.

Awards & Exhibitions


AIGA : 365 / Chois Gallery issues 06,07,09,10 / Communication Arts / Creative Review / FPO Awards / HOW Magazine / PRINT Magazine / Newcity Breakout Artists 2011 / STA Archive 09 / KAK Magazine / Taiwan DPI / The Post Family / Gallery 400 / Typeforce / NEXT Art Fair / The Whistler Storefront / DePaul Art Museum / Backspace Gallery /

Relax Attack Jazz Series

Relax Attack Jazz Series is an ongoing music performance every Tuesday at The Whistler, Chicago. Each month a custom set of stencils is laser-cut and spray-painted onto the double-sided poster. The poster has been featured in Chois Gallery magazine Volume 07, Creative Review 2011 Annual, and the Society of Typographic Arts 2011 Archive.

Volume Gallery Catalogs

In conjunction with each Volume Gallery exhibition, a double sided foldout poster/catalog showcases the featured objects along with an interview with the artist. The Volume catalogs received both an 'award of distinction' and two 'Judge's Choice' selections in the Society of Typographic Arts 2011 Archive.

Lumpen Magazine

Lumpen Magazine is a free quarterly independent publication founded in Chicago. For 20 years Lumpen has served as an outsider opinion on culture, politics, art, music and action all geared towards todays extreme thinker. In 2009, Lumpen relaunched it's design in a larger 10 x 13" format, wider distribution and our refreshed art direction. Lumpen has received recognition by Communication Arts, The Type Directors Club, PRINT magazine, The Society of Typographic Arts, amongst others.

The Whistler Monthly

The Whistler Monthly is a monthly foldout newsletter highlighting events, cocktails, gallery exhibitions, interviews and additional cultural outpourings related to The Whistler Chicago. On the verso of each newsletter we create a poster exploring monthly themes, cultural topics, or new studio experiments. The Whistler Monthly has received recognition from The Society of Typographic Arts.

Bradley Lecture Series

Lecture Series posters for Bradley University Art Department, Fall and Spring 2010/2011. The Fall Lecture Series has been featured in Chois Gallery magazine Volume 09.

3 Sceenings

Exhibition poster for 3 part film series at Backspace Gallery , Peoria, Illinois.

Radar Eyes NYC

Radar Eyes NYC: A Survey of Hallucinogenic Printmaking is a show at Fardom Gallery and The Space in Long Island City. The exhibition showcases over 50 artists' experimental prints evoking altered states, perceptual distortions, and outright hallucinations. Radar Eyes NYC has received recognition from Chois Gallery magazine Volume 06 and the Society of Typographic Arts 2011 Archive.

EEMS

Poster for the Experimental Electronic Music Set at Maria's Community Bar in Chicago, IL. Each solo artist participating in the series is a member of another band, the poster shows the band information turned one direction, and the show date turned in the opposite direction.

Paper Worlds

A poster for Fischer Papier Company as part of the Poster Design Workshop, the Basel School of Design, 2009.

The Whistler: Installation Publication

As part of the installation, every object in the bar was photographed and illustrated. For the verso of the publication, some of the objects were used to create a dynamic poster expressing the rhythmic activity of the bar.

A self-initiated broadsheet documenting the process of Plural's storefront installation at The Whistler. Sections include and initial ideas, proposals, interview, inventory, and statistical information.

The Poster folds down to a nice take home after a night of fine cocktails.

Public Works 3

Public Works is a contemporary art gallery featuring artists whose work transcends the ubiquitous art/design dialectic.Public Works 3 is the latest installment of the celebrated Chicago annual art series featuring graphic artists at the hinge of contemporary culture and fine art expression.

Ravinia

A summer concert at Ravinia with performances by Seu Jorge and Cesaria Evora. Interlocking typography creates two layers of information on the poster. Green was used to remind the public to bring their picnic and sit on the lawn.

Visualizing Soundscapes

Poster showcasing different visualizations of sound in the environment. Attempting to diminish the negative connotations associated with noise, this project provides viewers with a multimedia interactive experience. See Visualizing Soundscapes in Experimentation section.

Each soundscape explores the level of sound and location of sounds in a given space.

(Con)Temporary Art Guide: Chicago

In collaboration with Proximity Magazine, Plural launched the annual (Con)Temporary Art Guide: Chicago. 156 pages perfect-bound with essays, maps, guides, event-calendars, and more. A single publication showcasing both mainstream and alternative spaces with contemporary art programming.

Shannon Benine: Selected Works

In collaboration with Artist Shannon Benine, Plural created a limited edition of hand-bound artist books and envelopes. 56-pages perfect bound. Shannon Benine

UIC Newsletter

The UIC 2008/09 Annual Newsletter includes highlights and essays from students and faculty of the College of Architecture and the Arts.

Belief

UIC MFA Studio Arts Exhibition Catalog, 2007. A collection of writings and images showcasing the work of the Studio Arts Masters graduating in 2007. Photos of flying artist and a dreamlike color palatte reinforce the idea that belief is something that is not proven as fact, so it belongs to the realm of faith, imagination and dream.

MFA Studio Arts Catalog

UIC MFA Studio Arts Exhibition Catalog, 2008. A collection of writings, poems, and images showcasing the work of the Studio Arts Masters graduating in 2008. A clean, elegant solution combines colorful images and simple typography. A color coding system makes connections between each artist and writer.

MFA Graphic Design Thesis Catalog

UIC MFA Graphic Design Thesis Show Catalog, 2008. Supporting materials also include a postcard and poster. Using the members of the 2008 class, varying sizes of letters were cut out of foam board and held by individuals at different distances creating an optical illusion captured through photography.

Summer Basel 07

A collection of travel experiences documented as a video and book. Making connections of color, typography, symbols, shapes, and experiences, a loose narrative follows 4 students through Germany to Basel, Switzerland.

Memories from the Seventies - 70/1801

A collection of short stories about growing up in the seventies. The cover and box set are covered in wallpaper from that time. Limited Edition Letter Pressed Book.

Here Then There

Mapping explorations based on the question: “How can we visually describe the directions from place A to B in a city?” Created in Michael Renner’s Inquiry by Design Workshop, Basel School of Design, 2007.

AIGA Chicago Design Week

Website/Identity/System for AIGA Chicago's first annual Chicago Design Week. Site design by Plural, developed by One.

Volume Gallery

Volume Gallery is an event-based gallery with a specific focus on American design, and a strong emphasis placed on emerging contemporary designers.

Blackbird/Publican/Avec Restaurants

Three of the finest restaurants in Chicago: Blackbird, The Publican, and Avec. Site design by Plural, developed by One.

Brian Ulrich

Brian Ulrich is a photographer working/living in Chicago, IL. He is a recipient of the 2009 Guggenheim Fellowship
notifbutwhen.com

Wanger Investment Management

Wanger Investment Management, Inc. is a boutique investment management firm dedicated to creating and maintaining wealth for our clients through a fundamental approach to long-term investing.
wangerfunds.com

Rosenthal Fine Art, Inc.

Located in the heart of the Gold Coast, this gallery displays work by prominent post-war artists including Robert Motherwell, Louise Nevelson, Joan Mitchell and more. Site created with Mike Bingaman.
rosenthalfineart.com

Renata Heinen

Having worked and lived most of her professional life in London and Amsterdam, in 2005 Dutch-born Renata moved with her husband and three young children to the woods of Upper Michigan. Attracted by the wilderness and the heritage of the Native Americans, she chose for a life closer to nature and closer to her heart.
Renata Heinen

DBE Software

DBE Software empowers data modelers, data designers and database professionals to design flawless database schemas to ensure the quality of the information produced by any application.

Lumpen Magazine

Lumpen Magazine is a free quarterly independent publication founded in Chicago. For over 18 years Lumpen has served as an outsider opinion on culture, politics, art, music and action all geared towards todays extreme thinker.

Backspace

Backspace artist collective, Peoria Illinois. Backspace is a center for new ideas in a radically changing world. Their space is a forum for exhibiting, discussing, and interpreting works ranging from traditional plastic arts to performance and new media.

NE Entertainment

NE Entertainment is a television production studio located in Los Angeles California. Identity created in collaboration with Katherine Walker.

The House Theatre of Chicago

The hottest young theater company in Chicago. The logo reflects the energy, charisma and excitement of the theater company and its' members while maintaining a professional, sophisticated charm. The House Theatre

The House Theatre's collateral system utilizes its' logo in abstract ways to familiarize people with the new identity by getting up close, seeing through, and creating new experiences the same way their shows engage new audiences. Letterhead with patterned verso & abstract logo.

Envelope and business cards with abstract logo. Each company member has unique business cards.

Isabela Capeto, Fashion designer

Identity system for a whimsical fashion boutique in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The typeface was designed based on the couturier’s handwritting.

AIGA Chicago Design Week

Website/Identity/System for AIGA Chicago's first annual Chicago Design Week.

Cool in the Pool

A record label in UK/Germany.

Volume Gallery

Volume Gallery is an event-based gallery with a specific focus on American design, and a strong emphasis placed on emerging contemporary designers.

The Whistler Storefront Installation

This site-specific installation transforms the window into a visual metaphor of the bar, consisting of two parts, the bar, and it's culture (or patrons). All of the objects within the bar were cataloged and displayed in black vinyl on the glass. An interactive projection displayed a spectrum of hues which were determined by the level of sound in the bar, (capture with microphone and custom software developed with Mike Bingaman).

In Motion

5 Channel video installation for Hyde Park Art Center. Filming from 5 CTA trains, this 15 minute video seamlessly loops as the trains travel towards Chicago’s downtown loop. At the Hyde Park Art Center January 26 - February 7, 2008.

Newsworthy

An interactive art project built for the public screens at the Hyde Park Art Center (HPAC) in Chicago that ran live from March 10 – March 23. A live RSS feed of headlines from the Chicago Tribune supplied streaming content, while visitors to the project’s website could post comments that would appear live on the website and at the HPAC. Collaboration with Gretchen Schulfer and Eric Mika.

The Thrush

Digital video in a series of videos for the Chandeliers synchronized live show. Video is manually triggered in realtime, corresponding the sound with abstract visual imagery.

Passing Time

A timeline displaying a sequence of musical instruments being played with the same set of hands over a period of time.

Thermochromatic Business Cards

Using Thermochromatic ink, the heat of your hand activates the ink. The card transitions from black to white, revealing the details on the business card. See the video. Special thanks to Joe Marola and Classic-Color for making it happen.

Albers XL Installation

Albers XL is a modular display face inspired by Josef Albers’ Kombinations-Schrift. It consists of three geometric modules: a square, a circle, and a quarter circle. When used in combination, these simple shapes form any letter, number, or symbol. Part of the TYPEFORCE exhibition, 2010. See the installation video. (Thanks for the photo, Luke.)

SHOUT

SHOUT is a single-channel interactive installation created in collaboration with Mike Bingaman.). The program is set to react to high amplitudes, allowing the text to remain frozen in its combination of typefaces until a viewer is compelled to shout. Once the sound reaches the threshold, the program produces a random flow of varying combinations of faces for each letter. Part of the TYPEFORCE. (photo by Luke.)

Balloona Lisa Installation

483 Balloons pinned to a grid creating a pixel image of the Mona Lisa. Part of the We Are Family exhibition at The Post Family, Chicago. May 21 / 2010. See the time-lapse video of the installation.

Wrapping Papers

1-color offset wrapping paper, 24x36 inches. based on experiments in the studio.

Visualizing Soundscapes: The Aestheticization of Noise

UIC MFA Thesis project documenting the process of formulating a visualization of sound in the environment. Attempting to diminish the negative connotations associated with noise, this project provides viewers with a multimedia interactive experience. Documented in a 57 page perfect bound handmade book.

Visual Timbre: Graphic Identities for Modern Music

UIC MFA Thesis project documenting the process of creating new formal identities for modern music.

There was a Stone

Experimental Typographic Exploration about language, poetry, and rhythm based on a poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade.

Chaos

A typographic study of the word Chaos, stop-motion animation.

NovaChicago, A New Typeface for the 2016 Chicago Olympics

UIC MFA Thesis project documenting the process of creating a new typeface that captures the spirit of the Olympics and Chicago. NovaChicago is a bold, sans serif typeface that exudes characteristics of Chicago while still maintaining the integrity and beauty of the Olympic games.

Gel Type

Part of a study in creating NovaChicago. A typeface attempting to capture the fluidity of Chicago’s lakefront.

Handmade

A typeface created using hands. Available only in Capitals... well, except for the r.