Melton Mowbray Pork Pies

Last year one of the projects was to promote pork pies. This was in the news today which I thought was quite interesting. Apparently they are now protected in the EU and the name is only allowed to be used by the town and surrounding area.

If no countries objected to the idea then the legislation could be carried through. And surprisingly.......none of them did.

It sounds like the whole idea has been taken far too seriously, all reflected in the little sheet which is written in Comic Sans.

Promoting Tap Water

We've al heard about unnecessary packaging and eco-friendly products and everything we can possibly learn about recycling.

With so much (packaging) going to waste, the government has to find different ways of attracting consumers to join the plea and this is one of them. 

The whole concept of buying bottled water to me is unbelievable. So man people complain about scams and excessive pricing, yet they don't seem to attack this sector, the idea of buying water when clean, drinkable water comes for free (almost) out of a tap. I can understand that it is a good idea, to have water accessible to those that need it outside the home, but things have gone too far with the level of branding out there. How did it become such a big sector in business?

This company is dedicated to promoting tap water, selling reusable bottles for £6. Yes it is a little pricey but the money that would be saved in the long term makes it worth it. I really like the design of the bottle aswell, very contemporary and straight forward. I wouldn't be ashamed of carrying that around.

If you have the time visit their site, and if you have the money, buy a bottle!

Actually grumpy free cakes!

This could actually be the funniest packaging ever for cakes. The Fabulous Bakin' Boys have made this limited edition of cupcakes and claim they have “no artificial colours or flavours, no hydrogenated fats and totally grumpy free!”

This is a very bold statement to make but it has half worked for me- I cant stop smiling every time I think about them and I haven't even tried one yet!

Although I can see it is a marketing bluff, the way they make it more consumer friendly by claiming it to be grumpy free, is a marketing area which could be developed. I'm sure, as consumers, we are all tired of the scientific jargon that is thrown across labels but this is much more straight forward and understandable. However I can also see many people taking advantage of the situation and sue companies for false advertising. 

Ginger Beer/Beards....

Over the summer this series of ads were released into women's magazines. I never and still don't understand the link between the two but its very obscure and weird. Something to do with Ginger Beer and ginger beards but if it's caught your attention or you want to find out more then visit their site. 

However as it was released over summer, the adverts does remind me of the holidays- it's so wacky and surreal that my housemates decided to stick them up in our kitchen. Noone however feels the need to go out and try one though.

Gregor Graf

This Austrian designer mainly focuses on photography and what caught my eye was his work titled "Hidden Town". He took pictures of London, Warsaw and Linz but manipulated them so every hint of advertising and signage was taken out. The street became unrecognisable and looked uninhabited. This clearly shows how much design and advertising has crept into everyday life, so much that without it, places and streets look unnatural.  It's work like this that is so inspirational and mind-opening that makes me like design so much. It also creeps me out how affected the general public are, almost needing the signs to help recognise a place. The title emphasises this focus aswell as the lack of comparison to what it should look like.

Both the pictures are manipulated images of London. My curiosity naturally kicks in, wanting to know which streets they are. Does anyone know?

Graf also does illustration, although I don't find as catchy as his photography but definitely have a look on his website. Most of it is in German which is a little annoying but there are plenty of examples of his work to look at.

Interesting places nearby

This is quite a brilliant idea. The website is rather plain and dull but thats because it's mobile friendly which means it uses less megabytes to download on a mobile phone. But tap in a postcode and 5 interesting things are picked randomly from other sources on the internet in the surrounding area. 

It's really a great idea for those spontaneous moments or mini road trips for people to get to visit the area that's been rated already as interesting. And it's not biased because there aren't big companies promoting their products on it!

have a look here.

Shark on roof

This is a head turner! A massive shark seems to have nose-dived into someone's roof! But actually it was specifically built in memory of the atomic bombings in Nagasaki, 

“The shark was to express someone feeling totally impotent and ripping a hole in their roof out of a sense of impotence and anger and desperation….It is saying something about CND, nuclear, power, Chernobyl and Nagasaki.” Bill Heine (owner of the house) commented to journalist's.

It brought media attention from around the world, aswell as controversy from the locals. Council officials tried to bring it down in terms of health and safety but they found that the support system was well structured. They also tried to take it down because he didn't have any planning permission but an appeal to the secretary state for the environment won the case and the shark stayed. 

This was such a big statement and it still is now. It's reassuring that people still stand their ground on subjects that matter to them, and in a graphical sense, this is certainly inventive and different.

Bulfinch's Mythology

Remember those lessons in classic civilisation? Well this is the reference book about all those greek gods and goddesses compiled into one. Bulfinch was a professor at Harvard and found the need for a complete reference book which contained all the myths, hence this book. These myths, as far-fetched as the seem do actually relate to modern day life in one way or another, and it's a shame the connections aren't really exploited. So it's refreshing to be able to pick up a fantasy/fairytale and know it had a little part in history.

Although this is not the original by Bulfinch himself, it is an abridgment of all the fables, legends and myths put together. 

Type and Typography

Im currently reading this book and although it's quite a slow start, it is very useful for anyone that wants to get into typography. It gives plenty of examples when distinguishing the differences between the typefaces aswell go through the influences from where they came from. 

The only criticism I can give the book is that the writing style is very formal, which I tend to find harder to read.

Thomas Hardy

A while back I watch a documentary on BBC One about the writer and poet. As I had to study his work for english back in school, it was very interesting to be able to grasp a better understanding on his life. He was a very private person, so little was known about him, but Hardy had pretty much documented his life through his books and poetry, writing about his hardships and relationships. 

I really enjoyed watching the programme about him as some of his books were ahead of it's time. Books such as "Far from Madding Crowd" and "Jude the Obscure" brought may fans aswell as critics. The public loved the storylines and characters but others argued it was too obscene and offensive, the themes toyed with traditional beliefs of marriage and religion and instead of representing women as the stereotypical housewife, he often wrote them with a mind and freedom of their own.

Soco and Lime anyone?

Its freshers week so thats why I have alcohol on the brain.

Anyone remember when Southern Comfort tried to start a trend with "Soco"? No doubt that was a flop as soon as the commercial came out....but the interesting part is why?

Jack Daniels became J.D which seemed to flow naturally but Soco just reminds me of Soho in London and the way they repeated it on the advert made it annoying. Like some nerdy group trying to be cool but not managing it. I think they need to rethink their campaign, I love the drink but there's no way I'l serve anyone who asked for a "Soco and Lime" or even be caught asking for one. It may have worked in America but not over here.

iTunes Live in London

InMe

Pendulum

I was lucky enough to be part of this years iTunes festival. Tickets could only be obtained by winning the competition therefore making the event free and to be able to see one of my favourite bands just makes me respect iTunes that little bit more. 

I really appreciate it when big corporate organisations do things like this to give something back to the public. Although luck had to be on your side, it's still nice to see that large companys still have a soft side to them (even if the initial idea is to promote the company).

www.ituneslive.co.uk

The festival was on all month during July, 2 bands playing each night at KoKo's in London. If you haven't been there, then it's really worth a visit. It use to be a theatre, now a venue for gigs from all over the world. It's a surreal feeling as the interior is still the same-balconies and all, minus the seats. Very grand and very cool.

www.koko.uk.com

Probably the Best Lager in the World

I love these adverts because it gives viewers an 'ideal' life which I think all people strive for. It does it in a casual and light-hearted way making people feel the can really achieve this life. And the best part is, they link it with the brand associating all these good qualities to the beer making the beer look better than it is.

Very well done (not surprising though as it was created by Saatchi & Saatchi).

Where the Hell is Matt?

The amount of stuff that can be found on youtube these days are ridiculous.

This one, however is quite a good idea. This guy called Matt recorded himself dancing whilst on holiday, after the video being shared to his friends and family, it was passed around before reaching a company called Stride. They asked Matt to travel around the world and dance in each place (its not that good a dance but it's the thought that counts!). Thus a whole series of dances where made.

It started originally with the dance to keep his family updated of his whereabouts in the world but I think it's a brilliant idea to keep as a souvenir- no little tacky keyrings or t-shirts but a dance in the country to show you've been there aswell as a little comedy with the typical dance everyone recognises as yours.

He has a website here so have a look! www.wherethehellismatt.com

Daniel Eatock

A London based designer who I find inspirational. His work tends to be conceptual- doing what he wants in a surreal and odd way.

His latest book imprint has a couple of hand drawn pieces in every one, an example are the circles randomly inserted into each book, giving the reader a sense of confusion as well as adding a truly personal touch to each of them.

He also designed the Big Brother logos right from the very beginning.

Check out his website

Taxi Driver

Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Robert De Niro plays an unstable war veteran who works as a taxi man at night time in the streets of New York. Feeling disgusted and angry by the corrupt streets, he tries to take matters in his own hands, by trying to save a 13 yr old prostitute played by Jodie Foster.

The key focuses in the film caused a little tension, as it was seen as controversial at the time, however that did not stop the 4 Oscar nominations and a string of awards the following year.

This film encapsulates the audience as they get absorbed into the life of Bickle (De Niro) and the way he sees the people around him. It is a powerful movie, highlighting the "night time life" of NYC making it a promising watch.

Billy Connolly

“When something is 'new and improved!' Which is it? If it's new, then there has never been anything before it. If it's an improvement, then there must have been something before.”

This tagline is very common on food products and campaigns but like Billy said- which is it? Maybe these professionals need to start rethinking these taglines, they are overused and technically politically incorrect! 

Beer Mats

Not being too keen on beer myself, but my housemate started collecting them from everywhere he's been around europe. My interest kicked in, naturally having looked the different ones, promoting the different brands.

I thought it was a really effective way of getting information across, whether it be advertising or providing safety tips/facts on a night out. I thought it was well picked out to start promoting responsible drinking on these beer mats but many people disregard this technique straight away, making the conscious decision to ignore the little 'safer drinking' note but the message has still been taken in by the drinker at least making them aware of the effects of heavy drinking......which I think is the main aim of the campaigns.

I also like how some brands have steered away from the box standard square mats and started producing different shapes, a nice little touch whilst enjoying a drink at the local.

Banned iPhone commercial

Back in August this commercial was released to our tv screens only to be banned as the claims it made about internet access were misleading.

"you never know which part of the internet you'll need.....which is why all the parts of the internet are on the iPhone"

How did such a big corporate company get it wrong...

End of the World

Created by Fluid animators back in 2003, this is a very very funny flash animation. A lot of swearing and insults, but behind all that is some simple flash basics.

It just goes to show how easy it is to use the software...

there are also more funny flash stuff here www.albinoblacksheep.com

Terminal 5 is working

I believe many people have come across this tagline, especially after the massive problems the company faced during it's opening.

I was lucky enough to be part of the 2nd plane that arrived early in the morning, therefore able to experience the new terminal minus the problems that started during rush hour. 

This advert is very clever in the way that it takes advantage of the situation, using facts to promote the terminal. Very few situations would succeed with a campaign like this, as in my opinion people get bored with reading facts and figures, but it does work in this instance. After having a read through some of the different facts

"this week at T5 average time for bags to get from plane to carousel was 22 mins"

"last week at T5 average time to reach arrivals after the plane stopped was 26 mins" etc

it was amusing to compare my experience to the averages and although these adverts still doesn't persuade me to travel with them again (not until another year), it does project a positive image of terminal 5, and at least make people aware that it exists, if people happened to miss the huge media coverage on the lost baggage.

www.terminal5.ba.com

Dances With Wolves

Directed by Kevin Costner himself, it won 7 Academy Awards and 1 Golden Globe for best Motion Picture - Drama.

I first watched this film when I was about 11 or 12yrs old. I didn't even watch it from the beginning and didn't full understand the storyline but after watching it again several more times, I can say this movie is beyond brilliant. It's mind blowing!

Kevin Costner is this american lieutenant that befriends Sioux people whilst on duty at a neighbouring post, seen as a hero for locating a herd of buffalo's as well as helping defend the settlement from the Pawnee rivals. The relationship is odd, almost awkward at first from the different cultures that both the Indians follow and the way Costner behaves, however after spending time in the tribe, Costner becomes a key member, accepted as a friend and saviour to the people. It carries on to a more darker side, the harsh reality of life during that period in time, where soldiers wiped out everything in their way, whether it was valuable or not.

It is an epic movie based on friendship, family and trust, portraying the kinder side to native americans (compared to other films which showed them as harsh, selfish and unapproachable), which were constantly highlighted throughout the film. The portrayal of the Sioux culture was also very realistic and although the ending was sad, it was satisfying- making it one of those movies you have to see in your lifetime.

Judy Garland

“Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.”

This quote by Judy Garland has stuck with me ever since fresher's week from two years ago. It was handed out on a little leaflet to promote the Nightline at the Leeds University and I think it was really encouraging and suitable at the time. As a new student going into a different place from home can be emotional and the little quote just kept me going.

From a professional point of view, especially as a designer, I think this quote really does say a lot about someone's personality. I think as a designer, it's much more satisfying to have your own style and way of working rather than follow a set trend and try to please the client with something that already has been done. This road I'm guessing will take longer but I think it would be worth the wait at the end. 

(although not so keen on the typography. too much going on- it would of been just as effective if it was a simpler) 

Delicatessen

Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, this film is set in a post-apocalyptic french town where food is going scarce. It focuses on the lives and families that live in an apartment block, the bottom being a butchers who also owns the building. He hires an ex-circus clown to do odd jobs for the apartment, having ulterior motives. As the audience wonders where the meat is from, they are gently carried away with the individual quirks of each character that lives behind the walls to this surreal setting. 

The film provokes a strange feeling to the viewer as they try to grasp the serious and general gist of the storyline along with the black comedy throughout the film. A very surreal watch as it gives an insight to the french culture.

Emotional Design

A really great book for anyone who is interested in advertising, product design and psychology. It gives a very persuasive argument how aesthetically pleasing objects tend to be preferred even if the product is useless at its job because it is innate for people to be attracted to beautiful/pretty things. It also follows on to discuss how people can become emotionally attached to certain objects, usually for sentimental reasons as it represents/symbolises a memory or something special. It also analyses other areas of design, linking it back to the effects on people.

It is a delightful read, so can be enjoyed casually rather than an educational book that needs to be read.

St. Thomas Episcopal Parish church

The church was completed in 1914, displaying the classic gothic style from the french medieval period. The fascinating thing about this church is the fact that it is stone built upon stone. No steel reinforcements are used as Cram followed with the developments of architecture making it possible to keep the structure upright.

It is situation right in the heart of a busy typical street, in New York, emphasising how religion can be seen as a little out of place (literally and symbolically) but still popular in everyday life giving faith and hope to the modern age.  

Brussels...

Who knew how easy it was to get there, the Eurostar only taking around 1hr 30mins to arrive (thats quicker from Leeds to London). The Midi station is also very close to the centre, metro's and trams running frequently so I suggest even a day trip is absolutely worth it!

There is plenty of things to do and see, the comic museum showcasing strips of Tintin and Smurfs aswell as other artist's work. 

It was very inspiring to see many original pieces of artwork, from little notes to first drafts and the booklet helped guide us through the different artists aswell as production. There were also many different styles of drawing which I was surprised to see, usually associating comics with cartoon characters, but many were written for the adult reader aswell.

The Atomium, a massive structure of an iron crystal is also worth a visit. It was built back in 1958 for an expo, only meant to last 6 months but as it was so well received by the public it became a modern monument for Brussels, symbolising its development in science and discovery. 

As the Atomium is a little further out from the centre, its worth spending the day around this area. The Mini Europe is about 5 mins walking distance away, a little model village with all the famous monuments in europe. A very entertaining and interesting walk.....why not see all the famous buildings in one go!

You can't mention Brussels without mentioning chocolate or waffles. There is a very nice little chocolate museum right in the centre- in Grand Place. Costing only 4euros (for students) you get a biscuit dipped in chocolate as a starter, a quick demo of how they make their chocolate and free tasters of the range of chocolate they make. Flavours including cinnamon, ginger, apricot, lavender, thyme, rose, cherry, chili to name a few. Some are very delicious and some taste wrong (lavender tastes like air freshener and rose tastes like pot pourri). Following the crowd upstairs there is a display of toiletries that use cocoa such as leg wax and shampoo and the story continues of how cocoa is picked and mixed to produce chocolate. Lastly you have the dessert of fruit dipped in chocolate, which by then I was far too full to consume anymore. The chocolate museum, I consider is a very cheap and filling lunch!

I recommend not to buy waffles sold at little stalls on the street. They are all the same and some are served cold. I recommend to pay a little extra and get one from a proper restaurant. Waffles from La Rose Blanche serve the best in my opinion and the service is also top notch. Spend a bit of time looking for a decent restaurant because in restaurant valley (as i call it is an area packed full of restaurants on a winding cobbled road) they all serve the same menu which all cost the same. My first waffle was from one of these restaurants and it was very disappointing. Mussles are very popular around here, serving 1kg per person for the main course, so it was quite safe to give it a try.

Art around Brussels is awesome. In the Metro stations there are many different pieces, aswell as paintings on walls and around the streets. It makes these places much more pleasant aswell as give it some culture and background story. Wherever you go, there was always some art piece whether a sculpture or painting that attracted my eye, making the whole experience much more enjoyable.

 

This was a very different way of saying "welcome into the building" making it more noticable to passers by.

The little hole in the middle of the map showed which stop we were at on the Metro. Ingenius way of catching the eye at a glance instead of trying to find the red arrow or blob.

Some art on the walls inside the metro. It stretched along one whole side.

A beautiful sculpture called "de Bode" i saw as I walked through a park.

This also caught my attention along the way to see the Atomium. Very modern and funky. It included the 2 pillars into its design, creating a statement in the corner.

More paintings in the Metro, this one reflecting on the trams used in the past.

This odd piece of sculpture was attached on the ceiling. My guess is that it serves as an extra bit of lighting in the evenings but looks amazing either way.

The buildings are also full of history, all showing the different styles of the time they were built in, and their influences from either the french or dutch cultures.

This was an empty property but pasted with a photograph, now decaying after the years of rain and wind.

A very fancy building, which looked out of place on the corner of the street next to the other buildings.

This castle looking building was unexpected, showing how many different influences and styles were present in the country.

The concrete outer walls almost seem to hold the building up, the core structure on the outside rather than the inside. Again, very interesting but also quite intimidating.

A close up of the building in Grand Place, many parts were highlighted in gold making it stand out looking very grand and magnificent indeed.

The Manneken Pis in Brussels is like the Statue of Liberty in America. Although not nearly as big....a little statue of a boy in an alcove peeing.....it is very close to the centre so not too much hassle to go and take a look. 

The Sculpture Diaries

On sunday's channel 4 at 9.00pm

Waldemar Januszczak narrates a 3-part programme specifically on sculptures. This is very interesting for anyone who likes to delve into a bit of culture, as Januszczak wonders the world to show how they are made for sentimental reasons, symbols of power, to recognise a  great person or even as art itself.

The last one is on this coming sunday (14th sept) or you can catch up on 4od if you do not own a mac.

New Coin Designs

Revealed back in April this year, the new coin designs were created by Matthew Dent, and when they are all put together it makes the Royal shield of Arms. That's cool.

It's a shame it doesn't include the £2 coin, and separately they look a bit odd- maybe it just needs time to get use to the asymmetrical design but I'm already imagining scenes where everyone tries to "make the shield" by fishing around their pockets and wallets for the new coins.  

Styles, Schools and Movements

This is a really good reference book for most of the art movements through the past couple of centuries. Ignoring the name of the book (because it sounds rather childish), it has some really useful information for each movement as well as giving examples of the different artists that used those techniques.

Heineken Experiance

On the subject of beer, if you have the chance to go to Amsterdam, Go see the Heineken factory. For a small fee, you get a tour of the history of the beer, the processes they to make it aswell as many different interesting ways to make it more interactive. There is a funny video that you make which you can email to our friends, a few simulations aswell as a DJ room to break your own beats. Plus you get 2 free beers and a soft drink along the way. Well worth the visit.

A lot of the activities in the Factory aren't necessarily related to beer or even Heineken but they have cleverly incorporated simulations and interactions with the public, making the whole visit much more interesting and memorable. I don't think I can actually remember why their beer is different or special or even how it's made but the fact that the museum didn't have a standard tour has really made me appreciate the brand a bit more.

Mustard Magazine

A smaller niche magazine full of funny jokes, lines and stories. It's still quite a small establishment so the price is very cheap for a good read. You can buy it online or it's free from The Original Oak/The Library pub (in Leeds) on specific comedy nights.

Buy and try because I have a feeling it will get bigger and bigger.

www.mustardweb.org