Film- Corpse Bride

Tim Burton again, this time with a film in stop-motion animation. I like the attention to detail with the Victorian costumes and gothic architecture of the town. Like many of Burton's films, this is set in winter time and deals with another world- the world of the dead. A pretty dark theme, but dealt with in a light-hearted way that makes this film so enjoyable.

Film- Edward Scissorhands

I loved everything about this film. It is a classic Tim Burton film about an eccentric outsider, this time a man created by an inventor who died before he had chance to give him hands. Edward is sweet, quiet and completely naive about the way society works. He is taken in by a perky 1950's housewife and falls in love with her daughter.

The visual language in the film is very strong- the gothic castle of the benign professor who uses his great machines to make cookies is a direct contrast to the pastel coloured neighbourhood of the bored and bitchy housewives. Burton demonstrates the damage caused by narrow-mindedness and the sheep mentality in society and proves that outsiders can be loveable.

Film- This is England

This film is set in the north of England in the 80's and follows a young boy who becomes invloved in the National Front. The acting from a group of unknowns is amazing and really brings home the disturbing reality of skinhead culture in Thatcher's Britain. The locations used are often bleak- generic housing estates that could be anywhere and stretches of wasteland that make the film unmistakably English. On a lighter note, the wardrobe department have clearly had a lot of fun recreating the era that taste forgot!

It is interesting that although the film is rated an 18 (understandable considering the language used and graphic violence), some local councils decided to overturn this in order to reach the target audience of teenagers. Although set in the 80's, the theme of racism is very much relevant to teenagers and Im sure many won't be strangers to swearing and violence.

Ray Fenwick

http://www.coandco.ca/ray/

Some more hand rendered type! I also like Fenwick's illustrations which are often quite funny as well as featuring his quirky lettering.

Aubrey Beardsley

I was reading the blog of a deisigner (http://www.wiwimu.blogspot.com/) who mentioned Aubrey Beardsley as an inspiration. I was reminded how much I love Beardsley! Some of my favourite work of his is the illustration and typography in the book 'Le Morte D'Athur'.

Although this was published in Victiotian times, the stylistic devices used clearly reference medieval ideas. Monks used to make intricatley decorated manuscripts such as these in the middle ages, although they often used colour. Beardsley uses black and white to make his pictures dark and atmospheric, the high level of detail adding to these characteristics. I love the heavily gothic calligraphy of 'Book 1, Chapter 1' and all the details in the main body of text, such as using 'v' instead of 'u'.

This work was inspired by styles centuries before it's time, so there is no reason why it can't still be appreciated now.

tigerprint Website

Although Im not too sure about the products made by this company (they supply cards and gifts to Marks&Spencer), I do love their website. It has lots of nice moving bits and the menu is found by hovering the mouse over the spots on the various sized circles. The black and white colour scheme (with the odd bit of red) allows the childlike colours in the images to stand out, and I like the calligraphic logo. This is a high-tech but very friendly site which reflects the design of the company's products.

Credit to Cal, whose blog I found this site on!

Thou Shalt Always Kill

I heard this song by Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip on the radio a while ago- the lyrics are absolute genius. I think it's a fantastic satire of popular culture and I can identify with nearly every line (although if anyone understands the line about spelling the word phoenix, please explain!)

See the video on youtube at the link above, here are the lyrics:

Thou shalt not steal if there is direct victim.
Thou shalt not worship pop idols or follow lost prophets.
Thou shalt not take the names of Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer, Johnny Hartman, Desmond Decker, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix or Syd Barret in vain.
Thou shalt not think that any male over the age of 30 that plays with a child that is not their own is a peadophile… Some people are just nice.
Thou shalt not read NME.
Thall shalt not stop liking a band just because they’ve become popular.
Thou shalt not question Stephen Fry.
Thou shalt not judge a book by it’s cover.
Thou shalt not judge Lethal Weapon by Danny Glover.
Thall shalt not buy Coca-Cola products. Thou shalt not buy Nestle products.
Thou shalt not go into the woods with your boyfriend’s best friend, take drugs and cheat on him.
Thou shalt not fall in love so easily.
Thou shalt not use poetry, art or music to get into girls’ pants. Use it to get into their heads.
Thou shalt not watch Hollyoakes.
Thou shalt not attend an open mic and leave as soon as you're done just because you’ve finished your shitty little poem or song you self-righteous prick.
Thou shalt not return to the same club or bar week in, week out just ’cause you once saw a girl there that you fancied but you’re never gonna fucking talk to.

Thou shalt not put musicians and recording artists on ridiculous pedestals no matter how great they are or were.

The Beatles - Were just a band.
Led Zepplin - Just a band.
The Beach Boys - Just a band.
The Sex Pistols - Just a band.
The Clash - Just a band.
Crass - Just a band.
Minor Threat - Just a band.
The Cure - Just a band.
The Smiths - Just a band.
Nirvana - Just a band.
The Pixies - Just a band.
Oasis - Just a band.
Radiohead - Just a band.
Bloc Party - Just a band.
The Arctic Monkeys - Just a band.
The next big thing - JUST A BAND.

Thou shalt give equal worth to tragedies that occur in non-English speaking countries as to those that occur in English speaking countries.
Thou shalt remember that guns, bitches and bling were never part of the four elements and never will be.

Thou shalt not make repetitive generic music

Thou shalt not make repetitive generic music

Thou shalt not make repetitive generic music

Thou shalt not make repetitive generic music

Thou shalt not pimp my ride.
Thou shalt not scream if you wanna go faster.
Thou shalt not move to the sound of the wickedness.
Thou shalt not make some noise for Detroit.
When I say “Hey” thou shalt not say “Ho”.
When I say “Hip” thou shalt not say “Hop”.
When I say "he say, she say, we say, make some noise" - kill me.
Thou shalt not quote me happy.
Thou shalt not shake it like a polaroid picture.
Thou shalt not wish your girlfriend was a freak like me.
Thou shalt spell the word “Pheonix” P-H-E-O-N-I-X not P-H-O-E-N-I-X, regardless of what the Oxford English Dictionary tells you.
Thou shalt not express your shock at the fact that Sharon got off with Bradley at the club last night by saying “Is it”.
Thou shalt think for yourselves.

And thou shalt always kill.

Ruth Rowland

http://www.illustrationweb.com/RuthRowland/

Red and white make for a very striking image. The colours here are very appropriate because of the make up worn by the Geishas of Japan- by using only the lips, the picture is anonymous, whilst being intantly recognisable from a distance. The way Geisha's paint their lips make them even more heart shaped than is natural, although the image still retains the rough edges of the slightly imperfectly applied line. I also love the expressive typography used, which clearly references Japanese brush painting whilst retaining the modern element of the first 3 words of the title. All these elements express perfectly the themes of the book itself, so a very successful design.

The rest of Ruth Rowland's work is similar to this image in that she often uses a few bold colours, and always uses expressive, hand rendered typography. I was very inspired by Rowland's portfolio as she has worked for some very high profile clients (such as BBC1) whilst using hand rendered techniques and not being particularly 'trendy'.

Film- American Beauty

This film is not only visually stunning, it also has an amazing, original soundtrack and subject matter that is relevant to everybody. Throughout the film, the rose is used to great effect. The colour red signifies danger, blood and passion; everything lacking from the main character's (Lester) life. Below is a perfect example of it's use in a dream sequence, where a white bath full of red rose petals covers Lester's daughter's naked best friend. She is a forbidden pleasure- somewhat like the apple in the garden of eden (a red apple?).

Roses are also linked to beauty and perfection, which is why they are shown at the beginning with Lester's wife, Carolyn. They sum her up perfectly- beautiful to look at, but high maintenance and prickly beneath the beauty. Maybe the symolism is a little too blatant, but it does make for some very striking imagery.

Hellmann's Squeezy

www.hellmannssqueezy.com

I saw this advert on TV and was intrigued by the idea of a website. Do people really use things like this? I realised that it is actually a competition, so given the incentive, there are plenty of people willing to take part and upload clips of their skills.

The two men in the TV advert (and featured in the website demonstrating different tricks) are professional flairers who have transferred their skills from cocktails to sandwiches. I found the site amusing and I like the brand identity given to this product. It appears youthful and trendy- quite a feat for a brand of mayonnaise! While the packaging isn't particularly youthful, the website uses the bright yellow and blue to full effect, adding some funkier typography (Im a big fan of 'Hellmanns Squeezy' written across the top in mayonnaise).

Overall, I think this is a successful attempt to make Hellmanns squeezy trendy. Why buy any mayonnaise when you can buy a cool mayonnaise?

Zara Clothing Label

This really stood out amongst all the boring, high street clothing labels. The informal letter shapes re-inforce the idea of being environmentally friendly, whilst the capitals make sure the message is taken seriously. The reversed out lettering draws your eye to the most important part of the text and the textured stock feels like it could be recycled, further backing up the message.

New Designers- Self Promo

These are some of the more interesting business cards (clockwise from top left)

Phil Bowell: a humourous play on his own name which works because he has followed the concept right through, using the materials, typography and imagery to back up the coffee theme.

Rob Jelly: the outside is very simple, but the typography intrigues you and invites you to look closer. He is lucky to have an interesting surname otherwise this wouldn't be nearly as effective! When you look closer, it says 'squeeze me' in very small type, the result of which can be seen in the photo below. This unusual design makes Mr Jelly more memorable, even though there are no images on the card.

Taena Uemura: this card is great because it reflects the artist's style so well. The natural string on the natural-brown coloured card is like a personal tag on a present. The typography is hand-rendered and fits well with the line drawing of the rodent. Even without the illustration, the materials and typography give a real sense of what Uemura's work is like.

Fatime Szaszi: admittedly, I only chose this because I like the illustration, but it is an unusual size. She has also comitted the cardinal sin of leaving a white border round her work! I still like the illustration though...

Lucy Hill: another interactive card, there is a small folded illustration inside the brown paper sleeve (seen below). The hand is cut out of the paper, giving you an idea of the hand-rendered nature of Hill's work. I also like the typography- simple, printed caps with widely spaced letters.

Amy Lewis: uninspiring typography and a lack of anything unusual about the card itself. However, I think the artist has done a great job of cropping a piece of her work to raise interest without giving too much away. I probably only chose this one because I liked her style as well!

New Designers Exhibition- Illustrators

The exhibition was over a month ago, but I've finally got round to photographing the postcards I collected from my favourite illustrators.

Clockwise from top left:
Abi Hollman- taken from her work that is actually a textiles piece where the black lines are threads and the colour sections are pieces of material. Very striking with the bright colours and mix of textured and in a style that seams suited to the subject matter.

Cate Howes- I like her quirky collection of brightly coloured animals, which would probably be popular in a childrens book.

David Bennison- a pencil illustration of a medieval castle viewed from the ceiling. All Bennison's work is very detailed and uses unusual perspectives. I have a lot of respect for the skill involved, but I felt it was perhaps a little to similar to some of Escher's work to be truly original.

Man in a hat- I chose this for the fantastic hand rendered typography (it reads 'illustration to a different beat'). Very sixties flower-power, but given a modern twist with the black and white colour scheme.

Taena Uemura- Another illustrator of animals suited to childrens books. These are much more realistc and executed in much softer colours than those of Cate Howes. I chose this card because of the materials used- childlike watercolours and crudely scribbled colouring pencils which work because of the accurate forms.

Louise Dean- This illustration really stood out because the paler colours look amazing against the background of brown packing paper. I also like the strong middle-eastern feel carried through all elements of the illustration.

Pat Morley- I liked the black, white and grey and the simple forms of this work. Again, simple animal shapes that had been made into a children's book. Very sweet, but is there room for this number of children's illustrators who only draw animals?

AOI- Tim Ashton

I don't know how this has been created- is it a photograph or an illustration that has been combined with computer trickery? If anyone knows, please comment!
I like that at first glance, it could be a photo, but when you look closer everything is slightly surreal and looks strangely still for someone standing in front of a breaking wave. The seagulls in the skirt work well as they mirror the seagulls in the sky.

AOI- Vicky Newman

I love this advert for the ice rink at Somerset House. Without being over-sentimental, the artist has conjured up the image of Christmas with a winter wonderland scene that also incorporates the architecture of the building. Im not too sure about the stars, which look suspiciously like a simple photoshop brush, but I think they work when combined with the large blue area that looks like a ink splodge. The whole poster is very textural, but the limited colours prevent it looking too busy.

AOI- Vault 49

www.vault49.com

Im sure many people are aware of the design collective Vault 49. Even if they arn't, they have done a huge number of high profile jobs including material for McDonalds, the New York Times, GQ Magazine, Nike, E4 and loads more. Their style is quite similar to that of Sophie Toulouse where stylised photographs are combined with fantasy elements of swirls and plants. Some pieces look like Kaleidoscopes, placing products in this perfect fantasy land of flowers and butterflies. I think Vault 49 are so popular with companies because their style is modern, trendy and edgy whilst retaining a positive feel much of the time (although the two images I have chosen use quite dark colours, other work is much lighter and brighter).

AOI- Sophie Toulouse

Heavily digital, these illustrations are a little different to the usual, more hand rendered styles I tend to go for. I like the abstract flowing lines and floral forms, which don't appear too feminine because of the heavy use of black and white.

Association of Illustrators

www.theaoi.com

A great site to visit if you're interested in illustration as they have a section where you can browse through different portfolios then follow the links to the artists' own sites. The following posts are a few of my favourites.

Studio MIKMIK

I came across Studio Mikmik on somebody else blog and went to check out the website. I admire the eco-friendly aims of the designer- as pointed out on the site, improvements in technology now means that you can get a wide range of good quality recycled papers. There were a couple of different styles in the portfolio, but the simplistic flower designs were my favourite. The two posters have a definate Japanese flavour, but are very modern. I like how similar elements from the posters have been used in the identity for the 'Area' catalogue- I like to see companies using illustrative elements for their promotional material instead of simply photos of the products.

Book- No Cake, No Jam. Marian Hughes

I found this book quite shocking as it is the true story of the author as she grew up in London during World War 2. She starts in an orphanage but goes back to her mother who seems to have mental health issues that affect her ability to care for her children. There are tales of running away, abuse, shoplifting, getting arrested and being evacuated to the country. What I found unsettling was how accepting Marian is of everything that happens to her. She is incredible wilful and resourceful and never gives up her dream of 'happy families'. This book really made me realise just how easy my life is in comparison.

Sarah Coleman

Having used hand rendered calligraphy in my D&AD award work, I was interested to come across the illustrator and typographer Sarah Coleman. I think the images above demonstrate how wide ranging the application of quirky typography can be. I particularly like the 'chips' image, combining the messy, childlike lettering with the minimalist photography to give a modern yet friendly feel.

The apple shows several different types of lettering and is a nice piece of self promotion. Apples are very symbolic- the first thing that comes to my mind is the poisoned apple in Snow White. The calligraphy makes me think of fairy tales, so I think the image is really effective.

I chose the 'ten' image to show the contrasting styles from the same artist. Here, formal lettering is decorated with hand rendered patterns, giving a different feel to the other images.

Fourtet Website

I love the colours and typography used in this website. The sugary shades of the letters contrast well with the bold, block serif typeface to give this band a playful visual personality. The band name is written at the bottom of an image that refreshes with a new image layed down strip by strip. The images are all colourful and intriguing, but without any people in- I think this works well given that the band uses no vocals in their music. Over the top of these photographs are random letters that fade in and fly across the image before fading out again. If the mouse pointer touches the letter, they turn white and fade out. I found this interactive element fun and slightly mesmerizing!

Zara Home Website

www.zarahome.com

I came across a nice little piece of interactive web design on this site. When browsing the catalogue, the corners of the image fold over like a real page when you hover the mouse over it. Depending where you put your mouse, the page folds over more or at different angles. It is quite realistic, but the page doesn't turn until you click, so you can't accidently progress to the next image just by moving the mouse. Pretty and practical!

Yellow Pages TV adverts

I really like the current TV advertising campaign for yellow pages. The slogan is 'here's to the people behind the numbers'. I think it's a really nice sentiment- being grateful and also respecting all the professions that are, while perhaps not looked down on, at least undervalued. The people included in the adverts are involved in manual work like plastering or cake decorating; things you take for granted as standard without thinking about the care and craft invlolved.

The workers are shown demonstrating their skills in extreme slow-motion, while their voice-overs give a background story. The adverts feel very intimate and personal, while the gentle piano music, clean and simple surroundings and slow-motion footage work together to give a serene atmosphere. Watching the adverts makes me feel calm amidst other, more high-tech and frenetic advertsing, so that it really stands out and is memorable.

Radio Station Audio Branding

In my last post, I mentioned how much I liked the innocence of the e-on TV advert.

At the opposite end of the scale lies the self proclaimed 'alternative' radio station Xfm.
When advertising shows and features, a young-ish male voice-over is used. The tone of voice of the advertising is sarcastic, smug and self-satisfied. It credits the audience with insider knowledge as it assumes they will understand in-jokes about certain DJ's and bands. Sometimes these announcements are quite amusing, but the most recent one I heard showed great self-awareness. The phrase 'smart-arsed station branding' was used, followed by 'Im not a smart-arse, Im a genius'. Brilliant- the advertising industry taking a swipe at itself is always good for a laugh!

e-on TV advert

My favourite thing about this advert is the backing music- the playfullness really backs up the concept of the rest of the ad. People are shown laughing and enjoying the unusual weather (rather than the typical British response of complaining about it!). Seeing this on TV always brings a smile to my face because it is so joyful and innocent- two attributes that I find unusual for a power company, but fitting seeing as e-on is trying to sell itselt as 'green'. The camera work makes the viewer feel like they are in the scene being blown about by the wind as well, giving a sense of inclusion. It's quite refreshing to see something so warm and friendly when there is such a climate of cynicism around advertising at the moment.

Patrick Gannon

I think Patrick Gannon's style of illustration is quite unique, and shows how hand rendered techniques can still look fresh and modern. The artist uses cut and torn paper of different colours, textures and patterns against backdrops of either more paper or wood. I love the jagged edges and the 3D quality of the different layers. In the top example, the black ninja is a strong and modern element, influenced by urban/street styles. The dainty, patterned ninjas as well as the delicate, washy background form quite a contrast and I really like the combining of these two stylistic ideas using such an unusual process.

I think Gannon's illustrations are a great example of how you don't have to be a slave to technology to produce work that is new and different.

I don't mean to be a feminist killjoy, but...

There has been a lot of hype around the American drama series, Heroes (I know many people will have seen it already but I watched the first 2 episodes on BBC2, so that's what Im judging it on). It's an interesting concept for a program, and the filming is quite impressive considering the relatively small budget for all the stunts. What struck me most, however, was the blatant stereotyping, inparticular the portrayal of the female characters. As the show is supposed to be about a global phenomenon, the makers have had a stab at representing other nationalities, although I wonder whether there are any European, African, Australasian or South American Heroes? But back to my main point- the women.

The male characters have such noble professions as University professor, member of congress and nurse. After two episodes, there are two female heroes and they are...wait for it... a stripper and a cheerleader. Is this a joke? Where did the 21st century go with sexual equality, women in high powered jobs and respect between the sexes? Of course, the two women are both slim, blonde and attractive. I don't have so much of a problem with that (sex sells afterall), nor do I have a problem with stripping or cheerleading. I just can't believe that such a high-profile program set in the present day can get away with ther lead female characters being such blatant sex objects.

Am I wrong? Am I on my high-horse of political correctness at the expense of creative freedom?
Get debating...

New Designers Exhibition- Business Design Centre

On the 13th July, I went to the New Deisgners Exhibition in London. It featured displays by graduates from univertsities throughout the country in the fields of furniture design, graphics and interactive media, illustration and animation, product design and spatial design. There were also talks given by several employees from the visual communications and marketing department at Nike.

I listened to one talk, given by Alvin Chan, a senior brand designer. He gave a background to his career- from working at design agencies in Australia to becoming involved in designer exchange programs in Europe and finally accepting the job at Nike. He explained that he was at first apprehensive of taking the job at Nike because it might mean compromising his integrity by working for a global company, and also that he would be bored designing for a single brand. These fears were unfounded, he said, as he was able to work with some of the most talented people in the industry, and there were many projects running alongside each other that he had the opportunity to stamp any number of different personalities onto.

Unfortunately, Chan did not give much insight into how the design team at Nike works- the rest of the talk became something of an advert for Nike products! However, I did find his career path and his reasoning behind wanting to work at a big brand very interesting and informative.

Finally, I took the above photo because I really liked the entrance to the centre! The large glass atrium is very obviously art deco-inspired, and these shape are repeated throughout the building in the other windows and also by the structures inside.

TV Advert- Carphone Warehouse

Although the Graphics here are very simple, I really like the idea and the way it has been executed. This is a great example of both the successful use of music and the extension of a brand identity. The Carphone Warehouse have used the animated character 'mowbli' for several years, usually placed in real footage with actors. Here, they have kept the essence of the character, but gone for a completely different approach. 'Mowbli' multiplies, and the simple form is seen wearing many different outfits in order to illustrate the wide range of phones available, while the non-specific outline demonstrates the fact that the company is independent of the phone networks.

The music is instantly recognisable- I would think most people old enough to buy a phone would know it! The simple melody dictates the rhythm of the dancing phones, which makes an entertaining and amusing spectacle. The fact that you are not immediately sure what the advert is for (I didn't realise the character was 'Mowbli' at first, and the colours are not usually used by the carphone warehouse) is intrigueing and make me want to watch until the end. A simple message with simple graphics- I think it works.

Wall Piano

This is an example of student work from Hon Lam Li (or Patrick as he is known) who graduated from London College of Communications with a BA in Interactive Design.

Patrick used sensors that 'hear' when people touch the wall. When the wall is hit hard, a computer translates this into low notes, whereas a soft touch produces higher notes. The full range of a piano (88 notes) can be produced. I think this is a great idea, and it is really inspirational to see a student produce work that seems quite technically advanced. By doing some research into the relevant technology, I expect many students could have achieved something similar.

Although I think it's a great idea (and I've seen the video, it really works!) I would like it to have been a little more designed- perhaps some colour on the wall, or some typography either introducing the wall piano or giving instructions. It is such a fun idea, I think it should be visually fun as well.

Dove Campaign for Real Beauty- Evolution Film

A fascinating short film showing the transition from 'normal woman' to model.

A woman sits down in front of the camera, then the sped up process of her transformation is shown, with lighting, make up artists and hair stylists, followed by the airbrushing using computer software. This is to promote the self-esteem fund and encourage girls to feel beautiful in their own skin. The message here is simple, backed up by this simple concept. Some feminine, curved typography completes the video, and is in keeping with the overall simplicity, using white lettering on a black background.

As advertisers, I recommend any student have a look at this, purely to see what is expected of us technically, whether or not you support the message.

Jodie Marsh

No, not a rant about Jodie Marsh, glamour model, party girl and dubious role model, but about the advert for her show on MTV.

Despite trawling the internet, I couldn't find any images, so above is the promotional picture from the website marrymejodiemarsh.com. The advert for the program is actually very stylistically interesting, treating video to look like stop frame animation. The footage is given an old fashioned feel and made to look jerky and clumsy. I like this quirky style, and like the fact that the aged feel is deliberately contrasted with the idea behind the show (Marsh being a one of the new breed of celebrity famous for doing nothing much)

TV advert- Freya

These images show the style used in TV adverts for Freya underwear and swimwear in sponsorship of 'The Clothes Show' on UK Style. Models are seen wearing the brand while walking through a fantasy landscape of 2-dimensional black and white illustrations with areas of
softly graduating colours. Elements of the landscape move, for example when a woman looks at her (illustrated) reflection in a pond and it ripples when she touches it.

I really like this style of animation, mixing hand drawn, still elements with video and stop frame animation. The flowing, feminine lines and feminine colours give the brand a strong personality, and one that is suited to an underwear label. The black and white allow the bright colours of the product to really stand out, and I like the fact that the models (in the TV advert at least) are not stick-thin catwalk types. This backs up the brand's message of making underwear in larger sizes than most high street labels.

I think the fantasy landscape makes sense, seeing as wandering around outside in only underwear isn't really an everyday occurance! It also gives the impression that this is for women- there are no other people at all, communicating the message that this brand is not for impressing men, it is personal. This is in stark contrast to many other underwear advertising (for example wonderbra, see below) which makes full use of the tried and tested phrase 'sex sells'. It's nice to see a company be a bit more imaginative!

Controversial Advert- Royal Ballet

Critics of this advertising campaign by the Royal Opera House to promote the principal dancer of the Royal Ballet have called it 'appalling and tacky'. I disagree with their view that it is unnecessarily 'sexy' and think that it is impactful without compromising the image of the company. I've never been to the ballet, but surely watching groups of athletes move round the stage wearing skin-tight costumes in a darkened hall is quite erotic? Why not use this element to sell it? Yes, the man in the advert is attractive, but the copy is about his strength, not his looks. Also, the colours used are quite masculine with the dark grey of the background reflected in the eye colour and the simple yellow and white of the text. The coat of arms gives a formal and official edge to this poster, although the wording is less formal, using the word 'he's'. I think the word 'Fact' is unnecessary and spoils the shape of the copy and more formal wording might work better for a poster promoting a serious subject matter. However, I really like the concept behind this campaign and it has certainly worked on me by raising my interest in ballet.

Book- After you'd gone, Maggie O'Farrell

I thought this book was brilliant- incredibly moving but without being soppy and overly sentimental. The story is about three generations of a scottish family, focussing on Alice who is in a coma after what is either an accident or attempted suicide. The stories of Alice and her mother (Ann) and grandmother (Elspeth) are cleverly told in fragments so that their histories are gradually pieced together and we find out how they came to this point.

Unfortunately, there are some clichéd details in the book (for example, Ann and her other two daughters are very fair while Alice has a dark complexion. We later learn that Ann had an affair... surprise, surprise). However, the focus here isn't really the scandal and mystery, it's about life and the impact of our decisions on both ourselves and other. Love is also a major theme, but this is NOT just trashy chick-lit with a fairy tale ending!

Photo

Taken by Lauren Garland, 16.04.07, Somewhere in London

It doesn't really need much explanation- I just found in amusing and very much a sign of the times. Every high street looks the same with branches of the same chains, here the workmen are reassuring the public without the need for the new business to use any elaborate advertising campaigns. The extreme contrast between the slick, corporate machine that is starbucks and a note written with a finger in dust is an important part of the message.

Film- Garden State

Another not-so-new film, but one of my all time favourites that I watched again recently and remembered how good it was! Zach Braff's dysfunctional character, Andrew, comes off medication for the first time after coming home for his Mother's funeral. A series of wacky situations (including this image above of the shirt made for Andrew by a relative out of offcuts from his mother's 'gorgeous' design) lead Andrew to discover what life is about now that he is no longer numbed by drugs. Visually, there are many strong images in the film, including the rich friend who has an enourmous house empty of furniture signifying his empty existance dispite the wealth (the old chestnut 'money can't buy you happinness'). I like the simplicity of the story- it allows the imagery and soundtrack to paint the picture of Andrew's personal journey, which I think is relevant to everyone and the way they live their lives.

Film- The Thomas Crown Affair

Not a new film, but I watched it recently on DVD and really enjoyed it. A relevant film for visual communicators because it features several famous paintings by Magritte, Monet, Van Gogh and Pisarro. It is also a good example of lateral thinking- the way in which Thomas Crown pulls off the theft and subsequent return of the painting is ingenious. My favourite scene deliberately references the above painting (Magritte's 'Son of Man') where the gallery becomes filled with the stereotypical businessman in black suit, white shirt, red tie, bowler hat, trench coat and carrying a briefcase. This is a powerful image with connotations of trustworthiness and monotony, the irony being that Thomas Crown is a thief who craves excitment.

Film- Bobby

One of those films with several storylines going on at once about characters who do need seem to be connected. Here, a hotel forms the backdrop to all the stories during the American vote of 1968, where Robert F. Kennedy is running for president. All the characters are dealing with difficult personal situations, until the assassination of Kennedy puts everything in perspective. The slow motion scene of the aftermath of the shooting is particularly effective, especially with Robert Kennedy's moving speech about inclusiveness and fighting opression in the background.
I found the film very poignant and the message about war (RFK was opposed to the war in Vietnam) is still relevant today. The soundtrack of emotive 1960's songs is also a big selling point- including Simon and Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson and Demi Moore as the alcoholic cabaret star singing 'Louie Louie'.

Ginkyo Print Advert

This is a clever piece of advertising that caught me out!

There I was doing the puzzles on the back page of the newspaper, when I was hijacked by an advert for Ginkyo supplements. The banner suggested that the answers would be found at www.ginkyo.co.uk, which I hadn't paid much attention to until I couldn't finish the puzzle and wanted the solution. I had been tricked! The site is just a product website advertising the brain-boosting properties of ginkyo supplements. I was annoyed that I had been taken in, but Im sure many other people were as well, so the advert is quite effective for raising awareness.

Perhaps it would be more effective if it really did give the answers, so that I didn't feel annoyed. It just goes to show that there are so many different places to advertise besides the obvious.

Dream Boy, Jim Grimsley

The story of two teenage boys who fall in love, set in the rural south of America.
The book is at first very sweet, attaching little importance to the unusual fact that it is a love story between two boys. Throughout the book, more and more signs point to a dark undercurrent- the reader becomes more and more uneasy as the story builds to the truly shocking climax. I think it's a good book, although it is quite unsettling and at times downright disturbing, although I did find it an interesting look into people's attitudes and reactions towards homosexuality in this notoriously conservative, Christian part of the world.

If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things, Jon McGregor

I absolutely loved this book! The chapters alternate between past and present, where most characters are not referred to by name, giving them some degree of anonymity despite their lives being described in great detail. All the situations seem so everyday and normal, but so many people have secrets- nobody speaks of their 'remarkable things'.

The characters are shown intimately while remaining anonymous. Not much happens in the book but at the same time, so much is going on in the background. The story is subtle yes intense and it is definately something I could read again and again.

The Old Man and the Sea, Earnest Hemingway

A short story set in a fishing community near Havana, Cuba about an elderly fisherman who has a run of bad luck until he becomes locked in a battle with a giant fish and nature itself.

Although I do not usually choose to read short stories, I found this enjoyable and inspirational and can see why Hemingway is such a celebrated writer. The old fisherman is brave in the face of his pain and remains hopeful and optimistic until the very last moment. He is a simple man who does not question his place in life, a refreshing thing considering our wealth and status obsessed society. The loyalty of the young boy trained by the elderly fisherman is both admirable and touching. Even though he has to obey his parents wishes in working for someone else, the boy is selfless in his actions towards his mentor.

The Seven Pillars of Britishness

From a newspaper article in the Daily Telegraph by Stephen Pile, 18.06.07 (full article can be seen through link above)

The author argues that the TV show 'Britain's got talent' goes against recent reality TV trends and re-affirms some old stereotypes that perhaps we should be proud of...

1. "after years of market-led streamlining, the British are still a nation of cheerful eccentrics who do not give a damn (along the lines of Charles Dickens)"

2. "[the contestants on the show] were all unfashionably modest in an age of spin and self-promotion"

3. "nobody was interested in money... the real reward was the chance to appear before the Queen at the Royal Variety Show"

4. "our love of failure still lingers beneath the recent obsession with pseudo American success"

5. "British democracy has reasserted itself in the sort of robust mob behaviour first depicted by Hogarth"

6. "alongside our fiercely outspoken side there is a gentle tolerance and a good humour about us... that enables us to take criticism and rub along together on a small island"

7. "it has reminded us that there is such a thing as society"

This article really struck a chord with me because the issue of 'Britishness' is always in the news, especially regarding multi-culturalism and immigration. The meaning of the term 'Britishness' was never really clear to me and I havn't felt particularly proud to be British in the way that other nationalities really value their country and culture, so Im glad this journalist at least has decided to celebrate the qualities found in the national stereotype and change my slightly apathetic view of my country.

Also, from a design perspective, you need to be familiar with stereotypes in order to subvert the norm. Like the HSBC adverts that stress the importance of local knowledge, an advertiser needs to be aware of how a target market thinks and feels in order to influence those thoughts and feelings- whether that campaign is launched on a regional, national or international stage.

Southern Comfort TV Advert

Although Im not too sure about encouraging people to order southern comfort by asking for "SoCo" (mainly because several people have said it sounds ridiculous), I love the visuals. The concept is obviously to popularise Southern Comfort amongst a younger target audience than currently buys it, and for this I think the outcome is successful.

This is a TV advert which combines film and animation using various effects. The black background allows the neon signage to stand out as well as the patterns created by the drinks and people. The story of the advert is very simple- some friends go to a bar and order Southern Comfort- hardly a ground breaking concept for an alcohol advert. However, the visuals are reminiscent of 1960's psychedelia which combine with the guitar based soundtrack giving the brand a strong and easily recognisable visual identity that will translate easily into other media.

(The still is from visit4info.com, the white rectangle is a link to the whole advert on YouTube.)