London-based graphic designer and animator Stanley Plowman is revolutionizing digital art by creating animated graphics that draw inspiration from electronic music and embrace creative imperfections. His work represents a unique fusion of print-based design and computer animation, resulting in pieces that burst with sound and visual energy.
Plowman's creative process centers around the relationship between sound and image, exploring how different combinations create distinct emotional responses. When he encounters a particular sound that captivates him, he follows his curiosity by investigating how to translate that auditory experience into visual form. This approach pairs naturally with animation, allowing him to create work that feels both digital and human.
The animator describes his relationship with his computer as a collaborative partnership similar to that between musical artists. He creates space for randomness and generative processes that feel natural and emerge from experimenting with ideas. "I love the interaction between sound and image and how different pairings create different emotional responses," Plowman explains. His work is heavily influenced by music videos, particularly those created for electronic artist Max Cooper, which he credits with inspiring his interest in combining sound with video.
One of Plowman's most notable collaborations is "Typewriter Horse," created with Paul Plowman and Ewoudt Boonstra for luxury brand Hermes. The project showcases brilliant typewriter-based concrete poetry graphics, enhanced by Plowman's original sound design using samples from an actual typewriter. "I sliced the samples into a sampler and I used Ableton to randomly swap between the different sounds and then loop some of the rhythms which felt like the repetitive sound of a horse gallop," he describes.
Another standout piece, "Bubble Sort," demonstrates Plowman's technical innovation through a 30-second animation featuring scanned monoprints. The project uses a bubble sorting algorithm that compares two adjacent elements and swaps them until they reach their intended order. Despite its digital nature, the piece plays with grainy print textures and creates erratic movements that feel satisfyingly organic.
Plowman's additional works include "XYZ," created in collaboration with Anthony Burrill, "DDHL," and "Polyrhythm," each showcasing his ability to merge traditional design elements with cutting-edge digital techniques. His portfolio also includes projects like "Wallplanner," demonstrating his versatility across different creative formats.
What sets Plowman's work apart is his open-minded and adventurous approach that prevents his digital creations from feeling purely technological. Every animation reveals evidence of human involvement – the human hand is visible in the visual elements, and the human ear is audible in every click, tap, and electronic sound. This emphasis on maintaining human touch within digital processes reflects his broader philosophy about creativity and technology.
Plowman's innovative approach to animation and graphic design positions him as a significant voice in contemporary digital art, particularly in the intersection of music and visual media. His work demonstrates how traditional design principles can be enhanced rather than replaced by digital tools, creating experiences that are both technologically sophisticated and emotionally resonant.
