Creative bloke projects personality

Laurel Stowell | Wednesday, January 18, 2012 9:20

SO MUCH TO SHARE: Pat Monaghan sits among a roomful of his creations. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Seasoned old farmers are pitted against savage young bucks with high-powered rifles amidst a grim industrial landscape.

Does that sound familiar?

It's the trailer for Pat Monaghan's futuristic adventure video-game-to-be, Fate of Man.

The game and its live-action trailer filmed at the old Ravensdown fertiliser works in Aramoho were Mr Monaghan's final project for a Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design degree at Whanganui UCOL.

As a graduate he leapt at the chance for a sponsored exhibition at the Community Arts Centre. His name was put forward by his former art teacher Rei Hendry.

He's filled the largest of the galleries, mainly with course work from the past three years. The smaller gallery is to hold the work of his friends and fellow graduates, Josh Chamberlain, Graham Frost and Sean Johnson. The show, called Pat Monaghan & Friends, and runs until February 1. It opened on Monday night, which was when Mr Monaghan met the sponsor for the first time.

Work includes posters showing facets of the personality he uses in his designs, the branding for a fictitious restaurant, and designs for books, illustrations and photographs. Computer graphic design embraces a lot of media, Mr Monaghan said, with all of them having computer input. He's had to work across the spectrum, and at the moment, video appeals most.

The aim of graphic design was to convey a clear message, he said.

"It's not art. It's more purposeful than art. It's more commercial art, but it can be personal, too," he said.

Mr Monaghan's plan for 2012 is to look for a job, and he would welcome freelance work. He's designed four business cards, with the business name Bloke Creative.