"Graphic design for an experimental open-air opera dedicated to the world famous inventor Cornelis Drebbel." Katharina Pohlmann/Nivard Thoes/Jorn Thoes, photographers; Thé Lau, writer; Nachtwerk Foundation, client.
"A fist thick bilingual monograph on renowned Japanese graphic designer Hideki Nakajima." Nivard Thoes, art director; Hideki Nakajima, writer; Wang Xu & Associates Ltd., design firm; Dalian University of Technology Press, China, client.
"Architecture book series in three obese volumes dedicated to contemporary European architecture." Wang Xu & Associates Ltd., design firm.
"Web site and visual identity for Dutch opera singer Astrid Vrensen." Astrid Vrensen, client.
"Catalog design for the underground Chinese queer film festival." Beijing Queer Film Festival, client.
"Graphic design for a Tango festival in Greece." Nachtwerk Foundation, client.
"Graphic design and identity for an experimental opera." Nachtwerk Foundation, client.
"Book design for an experimental opera by Nachtwerk Foundation." Nachtwerk Foundation, client.
11.15.10
nivardthoes.com
Duration: Three years. Staff: Myself, in collaboration with freelance designers, photographers and programmers. Education: Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, The Netherlands (Graphic & Typographic Design). Cultural Influences: Cantonese ballroom dance and electro-pianos, Dutch china and Greek moonshine, Swip Stolk, Tadanori Yokoo, Anthon Beeke, Katsumi Asaba, Piet Zwart, MRVDV, botanical illustrations, Jan van Toorn, Philiph Glass, Gerard Unger, The Roots, Peter Bilak, First Things First Manifesto... Environment: Working nocturnally from subtropical Lamma Island, a small secluded island southwest of Hong Kong. Operating under unbearably poor conditions with a nocturnal manual work flow, daylight and sleep deprived, surrounded by loud, bombastic music, consuming moonshine and nicotine, instant noodles and unlimited fresh strong coffee. Preferably once a year, Nivard’s nomadic “Graphic Design Sweatshop” relocates to the (even more secluded) Mediterranean island of Kythira in southern Greece to work on self-initiated projects. Philosophy: Functional content-focused and narrative-based communication, zealous aesthetics and utilitarian ornamentation, evocative effective content and unconventional problem-solving visualization: feeding thought!