tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53214967065307589812024-03-17T20:00:07.638-07:00BOOTHblogBOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-39833742812811903202012-03-07T02:13:00.006-08:002012-03-07T03:16:43.837-08:0025 years down the tube<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--KZTWLm71e8/T1c9_5NQS9I/AAAAAAAAACY/k221o3Qbe5o/s1600/mind_the_map_logo2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--KZTWLm71e8/T1c9_5NQS9I/AAAAAAAAACY/k221o3Qbe5o/s400/mind_the_map_logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717106419867601874" border="0" /></a><br />I was flattered to be contacted late last year by the curator of the Collections Department of The London Transport Museum, who wanted to interview me on the inspiration and motivation behind the 'Tate by Tube' poster which will be featuring in their major 2012 exhibition - Mind the Map.<br /><br />Reaping a number of industry awards and accolades back in the days of its first issue, 'Tate by Tube' is reportedly the best selling poster in The London Transport Museum Shop. A great testament to a simple witty idea, well executed and created the year after I graduated in my first job at The Fine White Line, (happy days).<br /><br />My 'Old Faithful' has always been a great door opener, conversation starter, (and job getter) and I'm proud and delighted it's appeal has not dwindled over the years as it approaches its 25th anniversary. The curator informed me that it had even been a major influence on a second, more recently commissioned poster, the Rorschach Test map by the artist Cornelia Parker.<br /><br />Mind the Map opens 18th May - 28th October 2012 at The London Transport Museum where the original three dimensional map model will be on display as part of what will be a fascinating exhibition. Try to squeeze in a visit.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21HfrLPy2VQ/T1dByfOveoI/AAAAAAAAACk/R7txpS_YyI4/s1600/TatebyTube.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21HfrLPy2VQ/T1dByfOveoI/AAAAAAAAACk/R7txpS_YyI4/s320/TatebyTube.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717110587602729602" border="0" /></a>BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-86444874111404029992012-02-24T01:40:00.010-08:002012-02-24T04:47:48.135-08:00Lost in navigationI had the great pleasure last night to attend a talk by Tristan Gooley, (explorer, writer and navigator) on the subject of 'natural navigation'. This was the first event organised by the new SEGD, (Society for Environmental Graphic Designers) branch for Edinburgh, chaired by my friend Lucy and sponsored by Napier University who provided the wonderful 'Egg' lecture theatre as venue.<div><br /></div><div>And what better subject to kick-start the series of talks, than taking us back to the very roots of wayfinding, literally in some instances, and to the navigational techniques that our ancestors used for millennia but are sadly now a dying art across all cultures. In our increasingly satellite guided GPS world, he took us back to nature and showed how to interpret the wealth of information around us in the landscape. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Tristan Gooley is on a one man mission to keep these skills alive, though I think he may have gained some willing new disciples from within the auditorium. He unpretentiously introduced the simple art of looking. The clever bit is then translating what we see into navigational clues that can accrue into practical directional knowledge. Using a crescent moon to find south, what asymmetry in the countryside is saying and what the timing and flight paths of certain seabirds can tell us on the open sea regarding land. This was fascinating, inspiring stuff and will I'm sure feed intuitively into the design of future wayfinding projects. </div><div><br /></div><div>Gooley has a couple of books out, both now on my reading list, <i>The Natural Navigator</i> and <i>The Natural Explorer. </i> Now I know what I'm looking for, a walk in the country will never be the same again - especially for the kids as I casually introduce my new found expertise.</div></div><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmJFQjuQuqQ/T0d7ERDzSfI/AAAAAAAAACM/IkScA4id3zc/s1600/Book1_.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 77px; height: 110px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmJFQjuQuqQ/T0d7ERDzSfI/AAAAAAAAACM/IkScA4id3zc/s320/Book1_.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712669965571803634" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOGm7IdS1G8/T0d64dNbMyI/AAAAAAAAACA/-DFi2DQq4OA/s1600/Book2_.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 77px; height: 110px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOGm7IdS1G8/T0d64dNbMyI/AAAAAAAAACA/-DFi2DQq4OA/s320/Book2_.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712669762674963234" /></a>BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-81858892424101453722012-02-22T05:14:00.005-08:002012-02-22T06:04:37.056-08:00Let sleeping blogs lie - not anymore!Well it's been a while - I admit it - but the return heralds news of a couple of new identities for the local market and a branding presentation to a Scottish Enterprise networking event. This latter occasion gave me a valuable snapshot into the entrepreneurial ambitions of a cross-section of young businesses and a useful insight into the very mixed levels of brand appreciation and investment expectations of start-ups. A good experience and a friendly bunch of people - I wish them luck in their ventures and hope they consider my words of branding wisdom as they pursue their business dreams.<div><br /><div>As a proud holder of a DBA Design Effectiveness Award, it still strikes me as a great shame that design seems increasingly reduced to a commodity in a race to find the cheapest supplier and where true originality, ideas and quality have been left by the wayside. Great design should not become the preserve of the Apples and matching megabrands of this world but be a demand of every creative brief issued. It must however, be justly rewarded when delivered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Almost sounded grumpy then. To lighten things up a little, here's the new North Berwick Kayak Club identity, soon to be appearing on the rash vests and vessels of East Lothian's paddling finest. </div></div><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNlthtktDTQ/T0T1BFG8ZGI/AAAAAAAAAB0/guFDwSrxeSM/s1600/NBKC_LargeLogo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNlthtktDTQ/T0T1BFG8ZGI/AAAAAAAAAB0/guFDwSrxeSM/s400/NBKC_LargeLogo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711959626312606818" /></a>BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-15500492967172065942011-08-31T03:10:00.000-07:002011-08-31T03:37:41.476-07:00The Space is Ace<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A9a92ZAuZxU/Tl4O4Da5D8I/AAAAAAAAABs/uaR29Uo_lqg/s1600/TheSpaceBlogPic.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A9a92ZAuZxU/Tl4O4Da5D8I/AAAAAAAAABs/uaR29Uo_lqg/s400/TheSpaceBlogPic.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646967338922741698" /></a>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The Space identity was created for Uprising East Lothian to brand and launch a new multi-dimensional activity centre </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">in North Berwick.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> A hand-built, 'old skool' skate park lies at the heart of this new community hub, amazingly transformed from a disused golf club factory with a crew of volunteer support. It will be run as a social enterprise by, and for, the young people of the region. The brand identity and launch material needed to provide a communication framework for a vast range of activities but retain genuine youth credibility</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> The problem ultimately provided the solution with the multiple activities forming a dynamic typographic cluster, including a hierarchy reflecting use, with a single silhouetted skater performing on the abstract shape. A membership recruitment call to action of</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">, 'Get in there'</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> completed the piece. And in they have got. </span></span>BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-33616103610169431212011-08-16T06:15:00.000-07:002011-08-16T06:49:19.273-07:00The cream will rise in Glasgow...No, it's not the Dairy Product of the Year finals but the South West, Wales, Midlands and East of England creative awards - Cream 2011. I'll be joining a panel of esteemed industry judges on Thursday 18th in Glasgow when we will convene at one of the city's premier hotels to peruse and ponder over the range of entries. Good luck to all the participating agencies and hopefully we can whip up something to celebrate with some deserving winners. BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-91960029362900486772011-03-17T09:13:00.000-07:002011-03-17T10:56:12.331-07:00Can you smell chips?<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Rm7zBmAXfY/TYJJVTTZi0I/AAAAAAAAABg/S3ZUqvGvPX0/s1600/Result.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Rm7zBmAXfY/TYJJVTTZi0I/AAAAAAAAABg/S3ZUqvGvPX0/s400/Result.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585107118200556354" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div>I've gone and done it - entered the Drum's <a href="http://www.chipshopawards.com/">Chip Shop Awards</a>.<div>Nothing ventured... and all that.</div><div><br /></div><div>'Result' is a dark entry to the Public Awareness category inspired by the statistical evidence revealed of the deeply unpleasant, wider social impact of the 'Old Firm' football matches.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Fair game?", "Injury time", "Shocking result" and "No winner" were all contending headlines beneath the discreet scoreline but the execution always felt strongest without any additional words - so that's what's gone in. </div><div><br /></div><div>Please view 'Result' on the Chip Shop website and if you consider it to have merit, then please vote <a href="http://www.chipshopawards.com/categories/223/1853/result/">here.</a></div><div><br /></div></div>BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-36924226827867629112011-01-24T08:09:00.000-08:002011-01-24T09:31:29.897-08:00Crowdsourcing/Schnoudsourcing<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Another media buzz word or a new dynamic and collaborative creative process? Community-based design or creative exploitation of the desperate?</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The subject was raised in a recent Radio 4 programme where the best example a protagonist could evangelise about was a Corporation getting a new logo 'done' for only $200 and chosen from a frighteningly large number of 'sourcedcrowd' participants. Sadly it was radio so there was no visual evidence of the device but I truly hope they </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">got</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> what they paid for. This is no way for corporations to think about brand identities, as mere logos knocked-off for them on the cheap - progress this is not.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The industry may have one or two expensive and embarrassing skeletons in its branding closet but not enough to reduce a skilled profession to mainstream free mega-pitching. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The concept is clearly not without value and works for some project types and for community and charitable organizations but I will need an awful lot of convincing that brand identity is one of them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">CLIENT WARNING:</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Please be respectful of the discipline and craft of the qualified design professional, the relationship and depth of service they provide and value them for it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">CREATIVE WARNING:</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Consider carefully what crowdsourcing is doing to your industry and if you do choose to 'crowdsource' your talents, please ensure the recipients are worthy and you are not being exploited by a thinly disguised 'fashionable' initiative by a 'rip-off' corporation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The crowd has a reputation for following not innovating and brands need to innovate if they want to be followed by the crowd.</span></div>BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-52443267369995013812010-11-01T14:19:00.000-07:002010-11-01T14:47:55.767-07:00Proper Tweeting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v6HFf88EJLI/TM81McjcJCI/AAAAAAAAABI/3sSt84gLTtI/s1600/TopBirds.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v6HFf88EJLI/TM81McjcJCI/AAAAAAAAABI/3sSt84gLTtI/s400/TopBirds.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534700955001168930" /></a><br />The 'top birds' at the East Lothian Cage Bird Society 146th Annual Open Show.<div>Tweet that.<br /><div><br /></div></div>BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-47298913146458701662010-10-11T02:19:00.000-07:002010-10-11T03:16:09.843-07:00Coming up Roses in Manchester<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A rosy evening of creative celebration awaits in the city of my early artistic education for the Roses Design Awards do. Flying in the face of austerity, the bibbed and tuckered will enjoy the warmest hospitality Piccadilly has to offer, launching traditionally with something French and bubbly, then indulged at the table with the North West's finest produce, specially selected and slaughtered for the occasion as gongs are distributed to the worthy and deserving by an aspiring young entertainer.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And why? Because it's worth it - a well deserved pat on the back never did anyone any harm. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Congratulations to all the winners and let great creative work triumph through constraint and adversity. </span></span></div></div>BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5321496706530758981.post-9966015789669398872010-06-24T13:20:00.000-07:002010-06-24T13:57:42.537-07:00Here comes the judge...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v6HFf88EJLI/TCPDOxBEmSI/AAAAAAAAAA4/7E2VVD2I0rU/s1600/Picture+1.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 418px; height: 103px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v6HFf88EJLI/TCPDOxBEmSI/AAAAAAAAAA4/7E2VVD2I0rU/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486443429510813986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm delighted to have been asked to join the judging panel for the 2010 Roses Design Awards.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">These awards celebrate creative excellence in design and architecture outside the M25. This could not be more appropriate for me as the judging takes place in Glasgow in July, four days after me breaking free from the grip of the 'London Orbital' and relocating to Scotland, (I might even get out of some unpacking).<br />I'm very much aware that there's great work out there and I'm keen to meet the rest of the judges, then knuckling down to some serious judgementalism and hopefully being wowed by some regional creative magic. The award ceremony will be held at the </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Manchester </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ramada in October where we'll meet the deserving winners.</span></span>BOOTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03453397460316455248noreply@blogger.com0