Orange-ade, aka Adrian Read, is an illustrator, graphic designer, and printmaker based in Aberdeen, Scotland. Through his pseudonym Adrian provides companies and businesses with branding solutions in both digital and physical form. Much of his inspiration for personal projects comes from a mixture of life experiences, travelling, people met, and stories shared. Adrian’s designs and ideas are brought to life through prints, greetings cards, writing sets, tote bags, and even enamel pin badges.
Orange-ade’s graphic design work predominantly focuses on the creation of bespoke logo designs, stationery, packaging, and promotional materials. However, with the illustration side of his business Adrian has the opportunity to work in a much more fluid way: “people commission me to create pieces with no limits or restrictions, giving the freedom to explore my ideas and experiment with concepts to push things that bit further”. For example, his piece, Attractive, was originally a commission to produce artwork on a public canvas, as part of Aberdeen City’s Painted Doors project. “The brief was completely handed to me as an independent illustrator to create something that was true to my signature style and subject matter,” says the designer.
All of Adrian’s work begins organically in sketchbooks; rough graphite drawings of multiple ideas and annotations then turn into more refined biro pen prototypes of the final outcomes to follow. These are then scanned in and brought to life through digital software using geometric shapes, block colours, typography, and various textures. His work utilises a variety of media and printing techniques including screen print and his newly acquired hot foiling machine. This crossover between digital and analogue processes is one of the main driving forces behind his work.
Although “many things” inspire Adrian’s practice, his most prominent influence comes from his love of community. His studio premises is within Deemouth Artist Studios in Torry, Aberdeen; “There is such a warm and open connection between all the makers and artisans within this group. We all support one another in our creative practices and have a strong focus on teaching others through workshops, sharing knowledge and skills to help build up the wider communities in and around the city. It feels pretty good to be playing part in Aberdeen‘s ever growing creative culture, from what was once known as the grey and gloomy oil capital of Europe.”
Adrian is looking forward to further developing his skills and techniques as a printmaker, and exploring different processes, all the while maintaining his signature combination of the traditional and digital. He is also hoping to expand on his own illustration and stationery products and host some hot foil printing workshops for those who are looking to learn about the process and the industry. He concludes; “I want to focus on pushing my brand; bringing a fresh, consistent array of vibrant designer products to my clients and customers”.
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