Metz
There really is not much to say about this that has not already been discussed already. But as well executed ads go. This one is right up there.
Same old story
http://www.27bslash6.com/p2p.html
Since Facebook wont let me post this link for offensive content its going here. As a designer, I found this very funny an think its well worth a look.
Comic Sans MS
Okay people its confession time, I have just found an old CV of mine, circa my 6ht form days, so can you clever rapscallions guess what font I had set the WHOLE thing in. That is right, you guessed it. Comic Sans MS is all its glory. How many of us are guilty of that I wonder. Back in my days of innocent youth, trying to be that little it quirky Comic Sans seemed like a good choice, of course now I’d kick myself in the nuts for using such a crass font but back then it seemed harmless, even dare I say cool to use. However this got me thinking, I had no issues with Comic Sans MS before I became a designer, am I simply being a snob, burdened by my education, unable to appreciate the simple things Microsoft Words provides us, or has my time in design saved me from a life time of bad taste decisions. Maybe we just do not like it because by the time we reach degree level its already been so overused we are sick to death of it. Maybe someday it will be worth another go, like an old girlfriend when your eager to use all the tricks you have learnt since you last met, photoshop, illustrator, reverse cowgirl, ect. But for now my newly ingrained snobbery of comic Sans MS is keeping me at arms length. Also is makes me feel dirty………..much likean ex girlfriend.
My photo-collage skills
I admit it, I’m going through a Vaughn Oliver stage at the moment.
Design education in Cardiff
Sagmeister tells us to act or forget, since complaining is redundant. I think in this case however the act of complaining is justified since it, it’s self is the action. As you might be aware complaints from students about their respective university has increased dramatically, some even getting their money back (if only). Damn well they should be as well. My old course in particular had grown fat and lazy (with the exception of a few members of staff) So I took steps to write to the board of governors and file an official complaint to make my opinion known. I know that order seems backwards, but I’m convinced the UWIC complaints department consists of a child labour force and a shredder. I made good friends on that degree course, who would not trade for the world, but academicaly it was a pretty rotten experience.
The 24 hour portfolio
I admit it, I’ve been stuck in a rut for sometime now. Hence my lack of blogging on both fronts. I’m not an extrovert by any means, but there is only so much seclusion a boy can take before it starts to do horrible things to your brain. Unfortunately since Airside have yet to come knocking at my door demanding I use my prestigious wit an talent for their services, it was up to me to get myself out of this hole. Fortunately however, inspiration was provided by a personal hero of mine Scott McCloud.
The concept of the 24 hour comic book ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24-hour_comic ) has always intrigued me, since I guess the process was so close to my own way of Cartooning, a good number of my cartoons from my student magazine days were done 2 hours before deadline in the office. So with my design hat on (that is a metaphor, but if I had a real design hat, it would be a pirate hat with a skull and cross bones on it) I though about a 24 hour portfolio, no preparation before hand, nothing planned, just me my Mac and my faithful elephant (Guatemalan Elephant, its a very goof very strong coffee). So at 8pm I begun my stationary odyssey and worked like a fiend.
To my own pleasant surprise, it wasn’t a total failure, around 2 hours after finishing a digital collage of royalty free stock a friend was asking for it to be commissioned as an A1 canvas. I was aiming for 8 finished peace’s, but managed 7, however there is a lot to work with and develop further. The self inflicted pressure blew away a lot of cobwebs that had been gathering. I think I could do with refining the rules of the game a little more, but this is something I would do again and would suggest people having a go themselves and see how they get on. I will upload the work to a page on my blog for all to see, comments more than welcome.
Marvel, goodbye old friend.
Marvel, love of my life has just been torn away by the mouse. In a move no one saw coming Disney snagged Marvel comics for about 2 billion pounds. Disney, home of tween fodder and mediocrity released statements about how it wanted to diversify. If that was the case then they would have diversified. Buying another company with lots of new copyrights to exploit is not diversification it is soulless profiteering. It is not all bad people say, Look at DC are they not owned by the mighty Time Warner AOL (lord of slow internet) yes DC are owned by Time Warner AOL, it is what facilitate mature comic book lines like Vertigo, allowing low selling titles to build up a fan base, and make a profit off TPB’s in the long run. But this is what made Marvel special, DC was always safer, an this was reflected in its stories. Marvel, had to be more dynamic, had to take risks and to be honest they did not always pay off (cough *clone saga* cough) but when they did, they changed things. Now Marvel has the wallet of that gutless shite factory penetrating its rear, will its stories ever be the same?
Nimbws
This is going to be the logo for my studio, I though about the cloud motif while on a bus. On record its because I like freedom and rising above things, truthfully, I get a kick out of raining of someones parade.
Airside
Airside, the company I probably most want to work for in the whole world, however I’m realising my personal style might be to opposed to their ‘house style’. Airside was founded in 1999 by Fred Deakin (one half of Lemon Jelly), Nat Hunter and Alex Maclean, though this team has grown bigger over the years. Their bright effective graphics and illustrations can lift even one of my moods. However do not just take my word for it have a peep yourself. Their blog is pretty good as well.
Brew Dog
Brew Dog make good beer and Punk IPA is a very very well designed beer. Back in the day when all the other kids were off playing doctors and nurses down the park with their bottles of white lightning or the the spar own brand gut rot, I was tucked in bed reading my comic books. So I guess lack of pier pressure led to me finding alcohol at the ancient age of 17. So, lager was out, it still taste like arse, Cider set off my asthma and I was yet to discover Rum. So I began my liver destroying oddesy of youth drinking with Bitter and Guinness. A decade…Christ on a bike its that long (I need a quick lie down) a decade later I’m a seasoned real ale drinker, though it can be something of a crapshoot, for every beer of hoppy loveliness, there is a beer that will rape your tongue with the taste of old socks and fairy liquid.
So there I was one afternoon in the beer aisle in Tesco browsing through the selection of brown bottles then out jumps Punk IPA. Small than the other bottles, but twice as potent, its brash single colour label antagonising the other beers, true to its name. I just had to buy it and give it a try. This is a beer I tried because, well I like trying new things, but mostly because I’m a designer and I loved the juxtaposition of punk aesthetics with a ‘real ale’ . If like me you appreciate things that have been crafted well, give it try.
leave a comment