Wednesday 26 August 2009

'Generic canvas tote'

I recently came across the above canvas tote and thought it was a very refreshing design, since Anya Hindmarch released the ‘i’m not just a plastic bag’ tote the fashion market has been flooded with designs to rival it, but I cant help but think that most of them are over the top and the quality of slogans is dropping rapidly. Designers and consumers alike latched onto the idea of the re-usable tote as a tangible step they could take to help the environment but with the release of 'marc by marc for marc' jacobs tote and other designer canvas bags the whole point seems to be lost a bit. I think the the 'Generic tote' is a very to the point way of bringing back the original message of it just being a cheap re-usable environmentally friendly bag.

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Million the motivational campaign

Winner of the black pencil in this year D&AD awards, I have come across a few articles about the reward based campaign based currently in America which aims to present students with a mobile phone which they can then earn credit for through improved attendance, participation, homework and grades awarding them with airtime for their phone calls, texting, and music downloads. The idea came up by Droga5 was a response to a brief by the New York department asking ‘how do you brand achievement in the worst public schools in new York city’. The idea behind it is connecting with kids the same way that they connect with each other and to re invent the cell phone as a motivational tool.


Kids being the most fickle audience to pitch to the idea of the million phone seems to have the right attributes to inspire a desire to achieve, but how will this new scheme actually keep its initial buzz? The UKs response to the idea seems to be more negative, which I can completely understand as most youngster already own a mobile phone and with phone tariffs being so cheap how would this work to motivate them as an incentive to work harder, another problem that million may face is how to make the product cool whilst relating it to education. Initially I thought the campaign and the essence behind giving out free phones to encourage children to work harder was a great idea but upon thinking about it is bribery the best way forward when challenging youngsters to achieve it could easily be seen as setting the wrong example.

Never use white type on a black background and 50 other rediculous design rules


“the world of design is inundated with a seemingly endless list of rules ‘less is more’, ‘form follows function’, ‘keep it simple’, ‘dress your age’ and the list goes on and on, some designers consider these rules as valuable words of wisdom, which serve as a guiding line and source of inspiration, others perceive them as more restrictions: design dogmas and fashion formula that need to be broken altogether.”


Within the book each rule opens with the origins of the rule and a bit about it and then shows the evolution of it by chronologically placing other creatives quotes that relate to it. All rules are also accompanied by quirky and humorous images that either negate or supports the rule.


Overall the book is fun and enlightening its enjoyable to read and offers different perspectives on old and new design rules. The images are brilliantly done and add to the entertaining overtone of the book, although it does provoke some thought into the more serious design rules. The quotes used are inspiring whether you agree with them or not it’s a fulfilling book to read.


“Ultimately every rule related to. Or governing design is ridiculous…."

Tuesday 11 August 2009

Precious Metal


Coca cola have recently re produced one of their old 1949 summer poster campaigns using 200,000 crushed cans, The 50-meter artwork lies on top of the chalk cliffs of the Sussex coastline. Coca cola hopes that it will inspire consumers to recycle more this summer. The artwork is called precious metal and required a week to complete and can only be fully viewed from air. A brilliant way for coke to to create a stir and advertise recycling.

Guy Bourdin

I recently got handed a book showing a collection of Guy Bourdin’s Photography, since his death in 1991 he has been hailed as one of the greatest fashion photographers of all time.

His work even now is refreshing, provocative and sometimes even sinister, He narrates sensual, exotic, surrealistic stories in a snatch of a moment. Never being a self promoter of his work a collection of ‘unseen’ photographs have recently been exhibited in London.

I hope that his work and unique style will continue to live on, so those who have never seen his photographs here is a sample of his work.




Thursday 6 August 2009

The Gherkin - Eye catching architecture


30 St Mary axe also known as the gherkin and the Swiss re London building is a skyscraper located in London’s main financial district. Opened in April 2004 it stands proudly at 591ft with 40 floors. Its construction was said to symbolise the start of a new high rise construction boom in London.

As a Frequent visitor to London I find the gherkin always catches my eye its an example of how far architecture has come in recent years, its eye catching, different and gives of a huge sense of power. Designed by Lord Foster and partners its not only a popular example of modern architecture but also uses the latest energy saving methods which allows it to use half the power that a similar tower would typically consume, its sustainable credentials are impressive to say the least.At the top of the tower is a impressive bar and restaurant which is the highest in London and has a 360° view of the city.

Tuesday 4 August 2009

War Horse – A truly inspirational theatre production





The production is based on the novel by Micheal Morpurgo, the plot based at the outbreak of World War One tells the story of a cavalry horse and its owner who are shipped to France, soon caught up in enemy fire, fate takes ‘Joey’ the cavalry horse on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land, But Joeys owner Albert can not forget him and being to young to enlist, he embarks on a tremendous mission to find his beloved horse and bring him home.

The most inspirational aspect of this production apart from a completely different take on World War One are the astonishing life sized puppet horses used throughout the production. The movement of the puppets was incredibly life like, and the detail used by the puppeteers was truly brilliant, Each horse was controlled by three puppeteers manipulating the head, front legs and hindquarters movement work allowed them to use the animal frame to simulate equine breathing and movement with uncanny sensitivity.