Tardis Cake

Check this out a full size tardis cake.

This must have taken absolutely ages to make and a few minutes to destroy.  The detail that went into this is incredible, how its creator could have been able to destroy it when it was finished i'll never know.

Frost Youself

My sisters website has been up and running for a few weeks now, and while I'd like to say she took onboard some of my design ideas, Miss I Change My Mind Every Five Minutes did no such thing.  Oh well she got something she liked in the end, and thats all that matters.  Even if she kept trying to do designs in powerpoint *shudders*

Vanity Barcodes

I stumbled across a link for Vanity Barcodes on The Die Line.

The thing with most packaging is that no matter how great the design is, the barcode will always let it down.  Its like an ugly black blemish.  However Reuben and Yael Miller have set about changing that by turning barcodes into quirky designs in their own right.

Hopefully with these two leading the way, other designers will cotton on to the fact that just because there are rules which must be followed to ensure a barcode works, they can still be altered and incorporated into design.

Toyota Aygo

I took this photo a while ago but updating my blog hasn't been top of my list of priorities.  Anyway its a Toyota Aygo and I want it.  Who wouldn't want a puzzle car?  Its colourful, quirky and gets your attention.

The Vide and the Marrow

An interesting video done by a friend of mine.

Graffiti

More pavement decoration.  I'm starting to think I should spend more time staring at the ground.  Who knows what else I've been missing.

Its surprising what you find on the ground these days

Its surprising what you find on the ground these days.  The guerilla advertising Alfa Romeo have used for their MiTo ad campaign certainly makes it far more interesting.  And why not do it? Its eco-friendly, cheap and eye catching.  And from what I can see this legal graffiti has been placed in student heavy areas, targeting exactly the right people.

Proof of good advertsing, does anyone know who came up with the idea?

Yes yes yes!

Finally got my D&AD entry sorted!

For future reference make sure work is completed way way way in advance with application sorted and everything.  That way if there is a problem there's time to sort it and don't start to panic.  Oh well at least I know for next time.

Design Museum

While at the design museum I came across pieces from the Design Bugs Out NHS project that David from The Design Council spoke about in the 4 Designers conference earlier that day

4 Designers Day 2

The second day kicked off with a talk from David Kester from The design Council.
Leading Innovation by design.


'Double Diamond'

Creativity - Generation of ideas

Innovation - Commercialisation of ideas

Design - Turn ideas into reality

David talked about how the The Design Council helps connect clients with designer.  One such example was a project for the NHS (Design Bugs Out) to redesign items in the hospital to make them easier to sterilize.  This created jobs for many designers and manufacturers to come up with solutions.

The following presentation was by Simon, Gary and David from SomeOne.

Google say 'Don't be evil.'

SomeOne say 'Don't be boring.'

SomeOne showed us this triangle and told us that it is impossible to fulfill all three of the above.  They said to pick two of them instead.

SomeOne follow three rules:

1. Do good work
2. Have fun
3. Make money

SomeOne believe that a logo is waste of money, that a brand world should be created instead because the logo is dead.

The final speaker of the 4 Designers conference was Mike Dempsey of Studio Dempsey.  I am sorry to say his was the biggest disappointment to the whole conference.  I found the other speakers to be interesting and engaging but Mike presentation was far more monotonous and seemed more about showing off his own work than giving us any real advice.

He spoke of a Graphic Journey and 12 words which help him on it

1. Look
2. Read
3. Ideas
4. History
5. Passion
6. Curiosity
7. No
8. Rules
9. Words
10. Voice
11. Ego
12. Rejection

I am sorry to say in my opinion Mike Dempsey was a dissapointing end to an otherwise excellent conference.

Recommended reading: Change by Design by Tim Brown

                                      Design of Business by Roger Martin

4 Designers Day 1

4 Designers looked set to be far more interesting this year with the first talk by two guys from Thoughtful. They were engaging and entertaining, giving useful advice. They told us about their experiences and linked it to work they've done. Thoughtful seem like a company who work hard but also have fun with what they're doing and their colleagues.

They went around questioning a variety of designers and from that came up with the own 'thoughtfulisms' as to what a graphic designer needs to be

• To be interesting you have to be interested.
• Only work with the best. Even if you don't get paid.
• You must earn the right to do great work.
• Learn to make connections.
• The chair is your enemy.
• Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
• Never, never, never give up.
• Always remember to say thank you.

The following speaker was Lise Brian from The Chase.

She started the talk with a quote which seems to be integral to The Chase

'There was once an old Indian craftsman who carved elephants from blocks of timber. When asked how he did it, he would simply reply, "I just cut away the wood that doesn't look like an elephant".'

Following this Lise gave us her Top 10 Tips when attempting to get a job

1. Get a name and spell it correctly
2. Don't attach to many folders
3. Follow up with a call
4. Be nice to receptionists
5. Got an interview? Try not to be to nervous
6. Know something about where you're going
7. Be enthusiastic
8. No jobs? Ask about placements
9. Turn up unannounced
10. Can I help?

She then went on to give us her Top 10 Tips for folders

1. Don't like it? Take it out or redo it
2. Have a good mix of work
3. Keep your folders spotless
4. Treat it like any other layout job
5. Mock-ups are lovely
6. Don't put foamboard in your folder
7. How much time have you got?
8. Given advice? You don't have to take it all to heart
9. Practice
10. Start and finish with your strongest work

Recommended reading: The Art of Looking Sideways by Alan Fletcher