Intriguingly, graphic designer and illustrator David Gaskarth does not really practise what he preaches. His mantra is visual clarity, his idols such practitioners of Swiss Modernist typography as Josef Müller-Brockmann. Müller-Brockmann’s socialist ideals also greatly appeal to Gaskarth, who did a BA in illustration at Bristol University, followed by an MA on ‘graphic propaganda’ at Birmingham University. In 2005, he co-founded the collective Cyrk – the name Gaskarth, who grew up in Birmingham, also trades under as a freelance. His work ranges from promoting film and music events to animation, Web and snowboard design.

(Via @flatpack)

Over the past couple of years he’s amassed an impressive client list that includes 7 Inch Cinema, Flat Pack Festival, Supersonic, Birmingham Uni, Jibbering, Moseley Folk Festival, New Art Gallery Walsall and others.

As well as traditional design and illustration he’s also designed DVD interfaces, built websites and sold his own original artwork.  You can see some examples on the Dave Gaskarth website and including these portraits, from a set of 12 produced for 7 Inch Cinema’s showing of Gangsters last year: