The new guide to idnetity - Wolf Olins

This is a book that was on the first year reading list that i found highly interesting, its a concise yet comprehensive treatment of of corporate identity. The book deals with theory and practice and examines identity both as a strategic and a tactile tool in a wide range of contexts. Olins explains why all organisations need to regard their identity as a resource, after defining identity and exploring its benefits he uses examples drawn from his own experience to show how to create, launch and manage a successful programme in any type of organisation. Overall the book offers inspirational and practical advice on identities and written by such an experienced person its an incredibly insightful book and ideal for anyone who is interested in corporate identity.

Doritos Packaging concept.

I found a blog on this Doritos packaging concept and thought it was really original and very well designed. The project was based on one of the YCN briefs where they asked designers to create a totally new packaging concept for Doritos. The shape and the texture of the Doritos crisps are used as the base for the packaging concept, the packaging structure keeps the packet closed after opening.

Typographica exhibition (kemistry museum London)

Thypographica is the first exhibition of the famous graphic design journal, which was first published in 1947 and is now considered legendary, the journal was founded by Herbet Spencer one of the UK's most influential designers and typographers the journal brought together concrete poetry, avant-garde type and photo-documentary. On display at the exhibition are large spreads detailing the journal’s content as well as a series of full magazines on display. Some great vintage typographical designs also feature throughout the exhibition. Its definitely worth a visit.

Dunlop- Steel Boot Campaign

Dunlop have just released an ad campaign to promote a new industrial range of steel capped footwear. based on the B-Movies posters of the 1950s, this campaign proves that vintage advert designs are coming back in to fashion.

www.Malibu-rum.co.uk

Opening with an image of a sunset followed by a seagull flying across the screen with a banner saying ‘get your island on’ then a roll-over image taking you into the sea with moving waves with binoculars, a disco ball, a coconut and bottle of Malibu floating in them, acting as the websites buttons its hard not to continue to explore the site. Its bright cheerful and exiting, the background reggae music is uplifting and every so often the seagull makes humorous comments such as ‘get of your computer and come to the bar’ and ‘help I cant find my coconut’ and so on. I think Malibu have been highly successful creating this website which is unforgettable and also acts as a strong advertising tool every web page is different and fresh, although quite a small website Malibu have managed to get their point across whilst keeping it simple and uplifting.

Pencil: 45 years of creativity from D&AD Annuals

In march I went to the D&AD 45 years of creativity form the D&AD Annuals exhibition in Manchester, it was one of the most memorable exhibitions I have been to, an exhibition of the most outstanding advertising and design from around the world which brought together award-winning work from the prestigious D&AD Global Awards 2006.

From jaw-dropping billboard designs to comedic television adverts, the exhibition featured some of the most creative work produced by designers and agencies today.

The exhibition, shown in this format outside of London for the first time, included hundreds of works selected from over 25,000 international entries, and judged by 300 leading industry experts.

Tracey Emin

An artist I have always followed and have found truly inspirational is Tracey Emin, she is a English born artist and has produced some hugely popular work making her very well known amongst the general public. Well known for her confessional art she engages the viewer with a candid exploration of universal emotions, her ability to integrate her work and personal life enables Emin to establish an incredible intimacy with the viewer. Two of my particular favorite pieces by Emin are ‘My Bed’ (2002) where Emin shows us her bed in all of its embarrassing glory, Empty booze bottles, fag butts, stained sheets, worn pants and so on, by presenting her bed as art and sharing her most intimate space she reveals that she is as insecure and imperfect as the rest of the world.


The other of my favorite works is ‘I have got it all’ (2000) here Tracey depicts a rare glimpse of the happy, confident and successful person she is becoming. Its said that this piece is ‘a shameless two fingers up at her critics’.


Working across nearly every media Tracey Emin and her work are truly unique and inspirational they are blunt and in no way sugar coated she creates work that reflects her personality and her work always seems to shock yet amaze me.