Departures takes illustrative route to Welsh assembly task

Cardiff-based design consultancy Departures has worked with illustrator Gaku Nakagawa to create a mural and educational resources for the National Assembly for Wales.

The mural (pictured) will be installed in Siambr Hywel, the assembly’s former debating chamber, which now acts as youth debating chamber for visiting school children.

Nakagawa began working on the illustration for the project in October 2009, after Departures – the assembly’s preferred consultancy – appointed him via London-based illustration agency Dutch Uncle.

Departures creative director Aled Phillips says, ’Gaku’s work had the right blend of informality coupled with true sophistication, which would work well within the intended environment.’

Departures worked with the assembly’s media, publications and Web manager Iwan Williams to develop a brief for Nakagawa.

Williams says, ’We wanted a piece that could be used as an educational resource and brought devolution in Wales to life.’

The illustration, which will be printed on to the chamber’s back wall, shows a scene featuring areas that legislation passed by the assembly covers. Williams says, ’The scene echoes 1950s naive illustration, but it is firmly rooted in the 21st century in terms of design aesthetic.’

Phillips says, ’Using an illustration rather than photography provided opportunities to introduce humour and convey the right tone and personality that we felt was needed to engage the youthful audience.’

Elements of the illustration have been used by Departures to produce the assembly’s learning resources (pictured) and may be used for merchandise in the future, says Williams.