Blow by Blow: A Political Commentary Through Design

Paul Gawman's Award-Winning Design Marries Politics and Medieval Weaponry

Paul Gawman's inspiration for "Blow by Blow" came from observing politicians using news stories as weapons in their media battles. Gawman was particularly struck by issues such as the refugee crisis, housing affordability, and renewable energies. These topics, which have a significant impact on the nation, were transformed into brutal medieval weaponry in Gawman's design, creating a powerful visual metaphor.

The unique properties of "Blow by Blow" lie in its ability to merge modern political issues with medieval weaponry. At first glance, the viewer sees a striking image of a weapon. Upon closer inspection, the underlying political message comes to life. This campaign was created to promote coverage of the longest-running Australian electoral campaign in a generation, focusing on key political issues.

The realization of this design was achieved through digital modeling using Pixologic’s ZBrush, a digital sculpting app that allows artists to build, refine, and add detail to 3D geometry. The weapons were initially modeled from digital primitives, such as a cylinder or a cube. Additional 'digital clay' was added to build up details like wood grain, human characters, and chains. The final images were produced at 420mm x 297mm and displayed on digital smart screens.

The interaction with the design is as unique as its creation. The viewer's interest is immediately captured by the striking image of a medieval weapon. As they inspect the weapon's intricate detail, a powerful double meaning about political 'warfare' is revealed. This striking imagery invites viewers to subscribe and gain further information on the political scene.

The "Blow by Blow" project was used in a subscription-driven media campaign in Adelaide, Australia, in July 2016. The project faced initial challenges in creating the foundation structures and modeling. It also required complex research for accuracy of the final images, both from a historical and political perspective, all against an extremely tight deadline set by the media schedule.

The design was awarded Silver in A' Computer Graphics, 3D Modeling, Texturing, and Rendering Design Award in 2018. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. Gawman's "Blow by Blow" campaign certainly fits this description, showcasing a remarkable level of excellence and introducing positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.