Visual Communication

Aoife Kelly

I am a multidisciplinary creative based in Drogheda, working at the intersection of illustration, typographic design, and tattoo artistry. My practice is rooted in a deep appreciation for subculture, style, the politics of identity and self-expression - themes that consistently emerge in my work. At the core of my practice is a belief in design as a lived experience, something worn, shared, and deeply personal, integrated into the core of our being. 

/ Instagram / Instagram 2

Rooted In Resistance

The punk subculture was rooted in resisting law, order and the oppressive ‘straight society’ of London in the 70s. Today with the rise of fast fashion and consumer culture the style has been co-opted by mainstream media. 

The aim of this project is to communicate the significance of the subculture and the music and politics which surround it. Punk isn’t something you can just buy; punk is a lifestyle and a belief system. It aims to reinvigorate the values that the subcultures had, encouraging young people to take political agency. The outputs produced include a zine used making traditional zine making techniques which are true to the spirit of punk, and a vinyl with a track list made up of punk anthems. 

The Marks We Carry

The Marks we carry is a project which aims to de-mystify tattoo culture and explore the semiotics of tattoos. This project explores the politics of tattoos and how they can ground us in our identities. 

The semiotics of tattoos are constantly in flux, what a rose tattoo on your forearm may mean to you today is ever changing, its meaning growing as you do, and open to alternative interpretation from others. This project aims to explore the relationship between semiotics and tattooing in a way that is accessible to those outside tattoo culture. It also explores how tattoos can have an anchoring effect, grounding us in our identities, a few distinct anchors which remind us of who we’ve been and who we are becoming. As the tattooed person’s collection grows, their life, their story is visually represented in their flesh. 
The project takes the form of a magazine, illustrated with different tattoo designs.