NESHAN, The Iranian Graphic Design Magazine

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Neshan 25

Iranian Contemporary Design

Less is More; A glance at Saed Mashki's Works

Farshid Mesghali

Saed Meshki’s works, at first sight, seem to be quite similar. He employs limited and specific colors and his techniques are alike. One can see minimalism overwhelmed in his works, considering both the number and the kinds of employed elements and also the number of colors which are used. His works are not ostentatious. He tends to use ghosted visual elements, even the type of letters in most of his works, which carries his signature, comes from old typewrites which are scattered on the paper to escape from being pinpointed. I can say his Works are laconic, just like himself, while it is discerning. Despite the similarity, I can observe accuracy and perseverance in adhering to content and message in his works. In all his works, while using the same routine visual elements, he tries to approach the content and message as much as possible which is not an easy job.
Saed does not use common fonts for his work titles but rather his manuscripts. These manuscripts differ according to the work contents. His main capability here is his discerning power to select the manuscripts commensurate with the contents. For instance, if he writes about “calamity”, its form will also resemble explosion and fragmentation. One can assume he is an avant-garde typographer who preserves illegibility while employing modern type.

All in all, one can say that some poetic air exists in his works, a mysterious, fine and a little dark air. This has resulted from his tender nature. The combination of visual elements is very well-fitted in his works. This accuracy in both the sizes and distances are so meticulously arranged that you can not shift, minimize of maximize them.
Saed is one of the first Iranian graphic designers who have taken into book making as their main work. While most designers tend to work on poster or book cover, he is also inclined to work on the inside of the book. By using a minimum quantity of graphic elements and a maximum quality of letters, he has been able to produce attractive books for the young generation who are variety seekers. In addition to producing creative works in most branches of graphic design, he has filled in the gap of book making in our graphic design.

Farshid Mesghali

was born in Isfahan, 1943. HeStudying painting at Tehran University, he began his professional career as a graphic designer and illustrator in 1964. After his graduation, he joined the Institute for the Intellectual Development for Children and Young Adults in Tehran, in 1968. During years 1970-1978 he made many of his award winning animated films, posters for films and illustrations for children books for this institute. In 1979 he moved to Paris. In the next four years he worked as an artist producing a number of paintings as well as sculptures, which were presented at Sammy King Gallery in Pairs. In 1986 he moved to Southern California. He opened his graphic design studio, Desktop Studio in LA. During 1990-1994 he creates a series of digital artworks based on snapshot photos. They were exhibited in some galleries and later in L.A. County Museum of Modern Arts. At present he is working on a few sculptures and installation projects in his studio in Tehran. farshidmesghali@hotmail.com

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