FRENCH CONNECTION : Man or Woman?

I love this Campaign - it has been featured everywhere, and more recently the latest version was released in early January and it is just as good! The design has kept consistent with the earlier work - a slight change in art direction digs deeper to allow the viewer to question and answer what the copy does not...

The campaign is also featured on the website - (see screen shots above) where viewers can watch videos and participate in discussing what it means to be a Man or a Woman. The SS11 Lookbook also is a really nice piece of design - using stunning imagery to capture the clothes and create situations that compliment how they are worn.

See the campaign here Man or Woman?

Diesel SS11 Campaign

Diesel's latest Spring/Summer 2011 Campaign is very impressive - the 'look and feel' takes form on-line and off-line encouraging the viewer to access it within all areas. The design of the campaign is quite daring - the stunning graphics and photography really do stand out, the vibrancy of the colours complete the look - but what I love about it is that I am drawn to it...

The graphics keep me wanting more, it has become more than just a Look Book - it creates desire for the products, and for the brand. It has really nice visuals that provoke your senses - wanting you to want more, and importantly dress better!

To see the campaign for yourself (please do!!) just visit their website here.

Northwich Salt Museum & Artist Michael Hitchens

Northwich Salt Museum is not a place where I would normally visit - however I did, and whilst it was not a particularly stimulating experience ... I found myself appreciating the typographical posters and packaging a whole lot more!

The packaging and posters of the salt was typical of that time - clean, bold and oversized. It was these that drew my attention to how it was packaged and promoted - many of us will take salt for granted, however the heritage of how it was made will remain an important part of history for the town.






Whilst at the museum - passing the toilets - I stumbled across a piece of art that did not fit entirely with the decor!! That is because is wasn't - and looking closer I found out that in fact it was the work of Michael Hitchens (Artist and Screen Print Technician at MMU) - his work mainly revolves around water-based screen printing and acrylic painted canvases. It was quite interesting to see, and I felt proud to see his work as I had never seen it in this way previously.

You can see Mike's work here and below are a few images of his work.

"Made for Evenings"

You may have seen the recent launch of the Horlicks 'Made for evenings' campaign - a huge success to say they haven't advertised in over four years! The campaign is aimed at celebrating tea and coffee that people love to drink in the day, whilst reserving the evenings for Horlicks - Grey London have created the campaign which is backed by off-line and on-line promotions to get more people involved.

It is a pleasant watch - I myself do not drink Horlicks but I do appreciate adverts that make me stop. And want to know more - and this satisfies just that. It is nicely executed and paired with the soft undertones of people actively busy in the day, it makes me desire the moment I sit down after a long day! A perfect match!

My two favourite things ...

The Best Thing Ever ... cheeseandburger.com literally could (and would) satisfy every temptation. Not only a visual treat but a bloody good excuse to make them!!!

A Beautiful Appeal

As I am using the internet on a more regular basis - I want to come across sites that not only deliver grand entrances, but entice me to enter and feel like I want to click past the homepage.

In rare cases the visual appeal makes me want more, and it is then that I am hooked ... note all you web designers - there is a need to design and create the passion in what the consumer is looking at! In my example I present Established & Sons - one of the few that deliver throughout their site. Correct me if I am wrong (as I know there are plenty, plenty of amazing sites that deliver all this) but let it be a lesson to those who don't/want to notice.

A Must See ...

At the weekend 'Black Swan' was released and there has been a lot of talk about the films success in all the media, some negative, but mostly positive - and it truly lived up to all that I expected!
From the first scene you enter the dark, wonderful and lonely world of Nina - an oppressed ballet dancer that fights off the deeper side of life to succumb to those around her.

It was truly griping and intense - I think that it simply cannot fit into one genre as it covers horror, thriller, romance and many more ... The ending will come as a surprise, so without ruining it, please go and see it - Enjoy it!

Just some of them ...

A few of my favourite finds over the last few days.
Sources unknown but they provide me with a great source of inspiration when I am working and in my personal work - I will always be inspired by other peers, people, designers as there is such great creative design undiscovered ...

The latest in ... Fashion

ASOS

:: They have won numerous awards for their website, not only is it superbly designed - but it has great advice & tips on the latest fashion. I particularly love the simple yet aspiring visuals that are used as promotional tools - as in the examples, the photography works beautifully with the solid and profound font. A great combination.

If you haven't, do explore as there is lots to do & get involved with at http://www.asos.com/






Topshop

:: Who can not admire Topshop? For all their flaws, joys & over-priced clothes (to some maybe ..) they have great design taste. The SS11 Look Book is at the tip of trend setting this season and I am mouth watering at the bold, block colours paired with pale lustrous tones that are oozing summer. It captures my attention and makes me want more ... their website also is an experience - from the latest trends, features and blog you can literally live in Topshop if need be! Enjoy

MORE TH>N FREEMAN

You may have noticed the recent release of the MORE TH>N Freeman TV adverts, such excellent copy and art direction needs a massive round of applause! They create a new wave of complete motionless advertising that captures the attention of the viewer straight from the word go ... you are totally absorbed in the voice and moving image (most of what many of us will take for granted, i.e. car tyres and roof tiles).

It also seems that MORE TH>N are branching out in terms of social media and have created interactive and engaging ways that you can experience the brand, check out there "I'm MORE TH>N Freeman" Facebook page http://on.fb.me/MT-Y .

Their mission is "We do More", and they have captured it beautifully!

18-2120 ... A New You?

"Pantone's fortune cookie for 2011 tells us that "Energising Honeysuckle Lifts Spirits and Imparts Confidence to Meet Life's Ongoing Challenges"."

What a difference a colour makes ... the new Honey Suckle 18-2120 has high expectations for the coming year, the start to a New Year, a New You and all that we (I) may achieve ...

I feel that this is going to be a challenge - 2011 will see me taking my first steps into the big wide world of real life, an actual pay cheque and an opportunity that I had not predicted, so lets say its going to be ... fun!

Santa brought me a very special gift this year - my very own Pantone Mug (I adore 2010's turquoise 3272 c and it is my favourite colour in the whole world!!) which will serve me magically - thank you Santa!! I also thought I'd share another special gift - my very own Upside Down Press Notebook courtesy of Anna and Maaya.

L/ADY WARHOL

A Lady indeed!!
This one of a kind exhibition at the Fotografiska Museum in Stockholm was a true delight!
Some background on the exhibition;

"It´s 1981. Andy Warhol is to be 53 years old later in the summer. He and his old friend Christopher Makos visits an elegant wig shop in the 57th Street. The two friends heads off to the photo studio with eight wigs. 48 intense hours and 349 images later the result – Lady Warhol – is completed.

”Andy and I were relaxed enough to let his grace and his awkwardness show. I see in these images openness and vulnerability and Andy’s need to express himself. These were parts of Andy that he rarely exposed in public, but I remember them well.” explains Makos.
Magnus Naddermier"

The superb essence captured within the images is so unique, and portrays Warhol in a completely different manner - a softer secret emerging. The stunning photography and art direction drives the images further and allows the mind to wonder.

See more info here.

A visit to Hyper Island, Stockholm.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of going to visit Hyper Island - somewhere I had wanted to visit since learning more about the opportunities available and the amazing career paths that would open doors in the creative industry.

I organised to meet with a current student and the recruitment manager whom made my stay even more pleasant - I seemed to fit right in and became one of the students (something very similar to uni life) and it felt really good! The atmosphere was busy as they all had strict deadlines, but the working environment was more like agency life than university and it was interesting just to listen, offer my advice and be consumed by it all.

In the images you will see the three different courses on this floor; E-commerce, Interactive Art Director and Digital Motion.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself - a totally new experience and one that I may consider with the new school opening in Manchester, which is an incredible opportunity for professionals and students in this industry!

Hyper Island in Manchester ... Yes Please !

I regularly update myself with news from Hyper Island, as I have been keen to visit the school in Sweden. This nice surprise of it locating in Manchester's Northern Quarter was a treat! The school operates a program developed by the US Military in 1960s which required leadership skills and life/death decision making.

"The programme's creators realised that the leadership and communication skills were the best way to train personnel for the rapidly changing environment in which they found themselves."

It sounds exciting, with 92% of graduates getting a job before they've finished school - sounds more impressive than ever as it widely recognised across the creative industry.

I am visiting Sweden at the end of this week and I hope to meet the fabulous David McCall, this will definitely be a talking point not to be missed! Just hope he is free ...

A Visual Treat !

Exactly that.
A Visual Treat.
Truly Magical.

Enjoy.

http://www.jimcarrey.com/

Present and Correct

Present and Correct - should bring all the happiness and joy to every office in the world - their bespoke goods and vintage products are designed to bring a smile to mind and influence all ages.
The website is particularly user friendly - nice icons (right-hand side) navigate you through the pages and information, whilst the style is simple and easy going - something which reflects P&C's nature.

"Since 2003, when we were not being graphic designers, we have been cutting and pasting from our front room in London. Making paper goods and selling them far and wide. It reminded us of being small; sticking tin foil to cereal cartons and the dog, but hopefully with more professional results.

A long-term obsession with stationery has culminated in a constantly evolving store. A selection of P&C products mixed up with handmade goods, vintage items and work by designers from all over the world.

Sourced from Seoul or picked up on the bus from Peckham: we hope that our designs, and finds, bring some fun to your desks, walls, friends and children. It might spark a distant memory, make you smile or look at the most mundane in a new, and fonder, light."

There are some lovely inspirational finds - you must take a look! I in particular love 'the office in a jar' - something we all could do with!!

P&C - http://www.presentandcorrect.com/index.php

Who's Blushing ?

Certainly not me .. But Blush Publishing was recommended to me by a friend and their work is just oh so beautiful. Such attentive detail and accuracy (see the bottom image - a business card design) throughout their extensive range - the quality and design seem to be irresistible and although it is not a local printers I would definitely keep them in mind.

Drifting where ...

Article Magazine have produced a very interesting read on topical debates - discussing graduate unemployment and "why you must move to London" and how to effectively drift through life.

The free magazine is well worth a mention - nice typographical layout and composition flows nicely throughout each story - and to say the least, it includes the fantastic reviews of OWT and The Mill Press.

So ... I am not much of a drifter, nor would I ever want to be - however, if you fancy a life less ordinary, take the back seat and enjoy a bit of Article's top tips, including get a call centre job, do a masters, move back home or go to gallery openings for of course the free booze!
Not only do 'Drifters' drift through life, they can also drift through places - Have you ever gone somewhere ... with no intended destination, no planned route to take, or followed someone off the bus? Obviously not - because who has time? But what if we did? Every now and again just allow ourselves to have no objective, and experience the world in another way. Well now you can, by escaping to the virtual world of Google earth - duck tape the windows, lock all doors and travel cities with the click of a button, experience life without making a single step!

The second important story, which will interest most - the shocking fact that only 4% of jobs were offered to graduates in the North West, compared with he 50% offered in London. The need to uproot and move down south hits home that there is no opportunities available at this time. Although London has never been at the forefront of my career goals - it seems that now we have no choice ... it has to be a consideration, it will be the only way. After all it's where 43% of all design jobs are ...


Article magazine http://www.articlemagazine.co.uk/

AD of the month.

This months 'AD of the month' goes to French Connection - The Woman, created and designed by London agency Fallon. It is to no surprise ...over the last few months I have seen it being critiqued and recognised on a global scale - as a piece of advertising that gets straight to the point.

I love the feeling of the story being only half told - the pondering thoughts that run through your mind, and the stunning angles of the varied shots of each ad. The language speaks to the audience, but the lack of interaction with the audience can also be noticed ... some say a recognised trait of work by Fallon or Saatchi London ... I say let go, and be consumed!

Magical Manchester ...

Dinosaur, Manchester's creative Design agency have launched the Christmas campaign in the city centre and it truly is just that - Magical ! The festive gift wrap celebrates the true spirit of Christmas and captures the minds of all ages.

At first sight I thought it had an added depth, 3D aspect to it - but at closer look it hasn't, but it doesn't need to. Lets hope its captures your attention.