The Craic we have...

Here’s some images of a job I am currently working on…

I’ve been hanging around with scalpel, ruler, sugar paper, sticky squares and prit stick for the past few days now and they’re great craic.

The truth is we actually have a history together, go way back. I was good friends with them for a while in playschool (except for scalpel of course, he was part of the cool crew, way too grown up for us). We fell out for a bit, I’m not sure what happened, but made up again in college and had a good few years of fun and frollicks. Then I don’t know we just drifted apart, except for the ruler we’ve always kept close contact, then a while back we all met up on a whim for a few drinks (scalpel is a little dangerous when he’s full) and that was it.

We’ve come full circle and are really enjoying our time together, creating and having fun. Who knows what the future holds for us but for the time being the crew have taken up refuge in my office. Had a bit of a panic last week, thought we had lost prit stick, her cap fell off and she was drying quick fast, but thanks to the clever thinking of sugar paper, a new cap was fastened and prit stick is back to her usual self. Phew!

Surfbox in Toulouse Airport...

My branding for Surfbox internet kiosks is now in Toulouse Airport and I’m delighted it looks great!

I know it’s supposed to be a recession but I don’t think anyone has told Tom and Declan from Surfbox, their kiosks are flying up all over the place. You can also get free printing from your laptop or mobile in Dublin airport with Surfbox for a limited period, have a look for the signs, it’s a handy option if you are venturing abroad.

Images of the area newly rolled out in Toulouse…

Hop Inn...

I came across a YouTube video today from The Hop Inn, Athenry, Galway and I have spent the rest of the morning trawling through everything they’ve uploaded as a way of keeping in touch with their customers. I have to say the videos are brilliant. Not only are they hilarious but they are also very informative, I picked up training tips on everything from running through to golf and also learned that there was an Irish man down the mine with those Chileans and not one news channel reported it!

Anyway have a look for yourself even Beyonce is a fan of The Hop Inn

What is Graphic Design...

Found this really good article on the Design Observer today, it explains exactly what it is a graphic designer does. Also has good guidelines on good and bad design.

Have a look at the article here

Marian Bantjes, Graphic Designer
The future of aesthetics lies in random generative software such as Processing, but which will become less random as designers gain control of its abilities. The digital will merge with the hand-made like electric guitar and bagpipes, and together they will break down the rigid tempo imposed by increasingly prescriptive and powerful template software.

Waterstones New Branding...

What is it they say, when it’s not broken don’t fix it!

I couldn’t believe when I saw this on Creative Review today (by the way I have a few posts last couple of days, you would think I wasn’t busy, funny thing is I am busier than I’ve been in a while, think it’s procrastination!) anyway back to Waterstones.

I don’t get it, their new branding is a modern version of the old and doesn’t fit their business at all. What happened to the old book shop aesthetic which the serif type fitted perfectly. The new “contemporary” style just doesn’t suit the business. I like to think of a book shop as a placed filled with dusty (I know they are not but it’s my imagination) books, wooden lob-sided shelves piled on top of lob-sided shelves and lots of hidden hollows where I can sit undisturbed and mull over a book, a book full of Times New Roman. This new look just doesn’t fit the dreamish qualities a book shop holds for a lover of books!

Anyway have a look above and decide for yourself, maybe I’m stuck in the bookshops of old!