Tube Map

Recently the London Underground pocket tube map has had a new cover designed for it, this was designed by Barbara Kruger. The new cover has took away the station names and replaced them with one-word words that relate to that part of the city for the artist.

This is a nice idea to have for instance Embankment has been replaced with Brilliance. This is probably down to the amazing architecture around that part of London . . . that's how I see it anyway.

Overall this is a good idea for a new cover, it could lead to more opportunities. You could get the public sending in their own versions of this and the most popular ones could lead to another new cover.

Ambient Media

These are a collection of some ambient media that I have come across and I think are really powerful.

These are all strong pieces of work, which have made me go . . . 'I wish I was the one who came up with that idea.' The animal piece which looks like that the pole has stabbed the animal to kill it is a very powerful piece of work which gives such a strong message out even if you don't read what the ad is about.

The Vix bus shelter ad is a very clever idea. I like how they've made out that when the the person breathes up/in it's that powerful and clear the whole ad moves.

Graffiti Snake

Recently I was researching into graffiti as this is something what appeals to me.

Upon my search I came across this image of a snake what someone had done in America.

When I stumbled upon this, I was like wow, I really like this. No, it's not the best drawing of a snake or the most detailed, but how many times do you see a snake interacting with a stair case?

I really like how this person has interacted his art into an element what's around everywhere. This makes the piece more fun and creative instead of a simple painting on a wall.

Crazy Old Spice Commericals

Whilst on Facebook recently a friend of mine shared this video with the Facebook community.

When I watched this video I actually thought what the?!

What kind of commercial is this?

Who would actually want there product being promoted like that!

I've never seen something so bad in my life, I don't know who actually came up with the idea for the body wash to be promoted like that but if it was me I wouldn't be proud to admit to it.

If I was Terry Crews I would of asked myself, what made him do that commercial. Are you that skint to want to do it?

Maybe it was because he's an ex-American football player, and an actor (he's been in the film White Chicks, Friday film series and Everybody hates Chris) that the only reason the commercial got done like this is because he's somebody people already know.

I don't know what it is but this is something what is actually horrendous!

Lemonade Illustration Agency

On my FMP (Final Major Project) I'm doing some work which involves illustration.

Whilst researching into some illustration I came across an agency called Lemonade Illustration Agency.

On here there's over 40 different artists portfolio who all do illustration. All of these are of a high exceptional standard. They vary from cartoons, to illustration vehicles, to illustrated people, to illustrated objects.

The one's that stood out to me (just for the relevance) was the work of David Swang, Todd Graveline (he's got an awesome website!) and lastly Gary Swift.

Decathlon Ads

Whilst researching into typography I came across these Decathlon Ads.

These to me where something different, we don't usually see these type of ads around so it's great to see something different. I really like how they use the word to exaggerate the object.

Overall I like how the typography links into sports venues/objects to make the word more powerful, and the actual ad more powerful.

Moving Typography

Whilst researching for moving typography, I came across these video's on youtube.

The reason I like this video is because I like how a story/conversation is being spoken yet the typography movement is giving it that extra special element.

This video was really impressive. How this person has created something like this out of just typography (and obviously software of some sort) is something unbelievable. This is something I wish I could create.

Dew Gibbons

Whilst in London a few of us went and visited Dave from Dew Gibbons.

Dew Gibbons is a brand design company.

Whilst there Dave took us on a tour of the whole office area (consisted of three floors,) he went through a slide-show of the work the company create, he shown us what awards the company has won as well.

Dave also went on to talk about what it's like moving away from where you've grown up and moving into a whole new area of living not knowing anybody. He mentioned the average salary for a young designer to be on in London and how it works up with time.

Whilst visiting Dave I was really impressed. Soon as he answered the door we felt welcomed, he greeted us shook our hand etc, really warming. I was really impressed with the quality of work the company has created the amount of awards they've also won as well is something special.

Even when we met all the other staff who worked there, they was all warming and welcoming saying hello, shaking our hands as well, none of them was stuck up which was something I like seeing. At the end Dave gave us his card saying how he would look at our portfolio's and give us some feedback if we liked to do so.

Overall it was a great experience, and I'm glad I went and visited Dave when I had the chance.

MOSI - London

Whilst in London I went and visited the M.O.S.I in London. I did this because I wanted to compare this one to the one in Manchester due to research purposes for my final major project I'm currently doing in University. Whilst visiting the M.O.S.I straight away my first impression was how much of a better museum this is compared to the one in Manchester. This was due to straight away the security there was much more secure, the quality of the whole exhibitions themselves was an improvement on Manchester.

Each exhibition space was well lit, they was all very spacious and the quality of the objects there was much more impressive than Manchester. When in the Manchester museum, there was a barrier around all the objects being exhibited which to me was a let down, but yet you can understand because there's always that chance that the object can get damaged or stolen.

Over all I enjoyed visiting the MOSI in London much more than the Manchester one. Yes they both was free, yes they both had trains in them, yes they both had rockets or space objects in them, but the London one was just more enjoyable.

The interacting events which was thrown were enjoyable and funny, you wasn't surrounded by kids or anything like that so you wasn't frustrated with how compact how the space was. The London venue just had that extra something with everything which means a lot in end.

V&A London - Decode

Whilst on a University trip in London, I went and visited the V&A in London (Victoria and Albert.) Whilst there I went and viewed the exhibition Decode.

Decode is an exhibition that has been collaborated between the V&A and OneDotZero, a contemporary arts organisation.

The exhibition is explores three themes;

Code presents pieces that use computer code to create new works and looks at how code can be programmed to create constantly fluid and ever-changing works.

Interactivity looks at works that are directly influenced by the viewer.

Network focuses on works that comment on and utilise the digital traces left behind by everyday communications and looks at how advanced technologies and the internet have enabled new types of social interaction and mediums of self-expression.

When I visited Decode, I was partially interested with what I saw, but on the other hand I felt down a bit. This was due to how people was saying how good of an exhibition it is, and how I should go and see it, but when I was there all the build up was for that. Yes it was interesting with how art can be created for technology and I'm glad I visited it, but on the other hand I didn't find it inspiring in one bit, I couldn't generate any ideas from it to do with my work.

Chiquita Bananas

Chiquita bananas have recently had a re-brand done for them. The brief was to make bananas more cool.

When I first starting looking at the new designs for Chiquita, I wondered what they first was. When I looked into it further I realized each sticker was a good/bad cartoon character. The bad characters are supposedly meant to represent the idea of not letting your idea go bad, and the good characters are suppose to meant be a good banana.

When I read this it actually didn't make sense to me, too me they were just stickers which would attract young children to eating more fruit. Also they bring a bit of fun and laughter to the older age group who buy fruit.

Overall I'm sure people will like the stickers on the bananas due to the humor in them.

Fairy Liquid Anniversary

As we all know recently Fairy Liquid have celebrated there 50th Anniversary.

With this they decided to bring back out the old design for the Fairy Liquid bottle.

When you see the anniversary bottle, it makes you think to yourself, is the old bottle better than the actual new one?

The original bottle had the simple, distinctive look. The simplicity of the design on the bottle meant that it was very simplistic and very easy to notice. Although some people might prefer the up to date design, what the children will like most, is the fact that they can go back to making rockets out of there empty Fairy Liquid bottle.

In my opinion, I prefer the original bottle design for Fairy Liquid, washing up liquid isn't to do with how good the bottle looks, but with the original design for Fairy Liquid everybody knows what to expect, just the simple white bottle with the baby on and the word 'Fairy.' This is something the customers buying it couldn't miss, also the fact they brought the bottle back out brings back memories for people from back in the day.

Lynx Postcards

Recently I went to the pictures for Orange Wednesday's, whilst there I came across these Lynx postcards for Lynx Bullet.

The reason these stood out to me because initially they made me laugh with what's being implied - basically some sort of sexual activity.

The only concern would be, is it right to have these in a cinema? There is children who won't understand the image, maybe the location of where these are used would work better.

Anagrams

An idea I had for a poster for the Kitchen of meaning brief was based upon the idea of using anagrams.

When I did this for the title 'The Kitchen of Meaning,' there was over 52,000 results. Most of these didn't make sense but yet on the other hand some of them had a bit of humor in them.

Anagram website - link

Exploiding Type

Whilst working on The Kitchen of Meaning brief, I had an idea of type exploding on the poster.

I researched into this, this are a few examples I came across.

With this piece the question is can you actually realize it's exploding text? It just looks like things cramped together in the centre of the page.

This piece of type I like. It's clean and with the added effects (like the blurred edges) it represents movement. This is also good for the readability - it's clean and easy to read.

This piece I really like. Also it's not the text exploding itself, something is going into the text and then exploding I still like it. I love how powerful it looks, my only concern is how far could you push this with it still being possible to read.

Poster Research

During the brief The Kitchen of Meaning I came across a poster, which I found very clever.

This was the poster;

The poster is for a Greek Literature even with Irvine Welsh.

The thing I like about this is how they've repeated a simple word, but from that word they've made another word (porno) which is more powerful and moving. What was the reason to doing this?

Invite Research

A few examples of types of invitations.

This was for a brief called The Kitchen of Meaning.

The reason why I researched into invitations, was because I had the idea of to create a poster in a posh/stylish way, basically like an invite. This to me represents a good sense of style and swagger.

A very basic design for an invite. If this was handed to me I wouldn't be that interested due to the style of the flyer, doesn't make me feel excited, there's no real 'WOW' factor about the design just very basic.

On this flyer, I like the chosen typography. This represents a posh event. With this type of font I always presume it's a wedding invite which is straight away a special day, which is also something people would be interested in and looking forward to.

A museum invite, never seen anything like this before, was very nice idea. From the small shots lucks a very basic and clean design, nothing to complicated gets the point across straight away. Only criticism is in my opinion the logos are too big especially the one in the bottom

right corner.

Another wedding invite, the downfall to this one is that there's too many type fonts being used in it. On an invite I'd only want to see one type font being used. Also the use of imagery in this design is very basic nor appealing.

Finding Myself On Google

Recently I was searching a topic on Google, when the results came up I noticed that I came up on the results, due to my blog.

When I realized this I was rather impressed because for two reasons,

1) It was on Google's first page of results

2) It was through my blog that I was getting promoted.

This links in with my debate 'Blogs - Good or Bad?' because this shows how you get publicity from having a blog - even if you don't think you do.

WKD Adverts

WKD adverts and promotions are always something that make me laugh.

I love the humor to them how they always make me laugh no matter how random they are at times. Even when you read the poster campaigns what have been done they manage to be humorous and put a smile on someones face.

As you can see even the video's are humorous, but the only thing what gets me is why are they all aimed at lads? Is this a marketing thing due to mainly women drink them on a night out?

JK Wedding Dance

Recently I came across this video on the ASABailey blog.

Although it's not an advertisement for anything this made me laugh. I love how different it is from what you expect to find at a wedding. You just usually expect the bridesmaids to walk down and then the bride to follow after, but with this the bridesmaids, the groom the bride herself all take part in a dance which in turn would reflect the couple themselves.

With the response what has been received from viewings of this video (over 31 million hits on YouTube to date) they have given any sort of money received to a charity of there choice, which in turn is a good thing to do. For more information regarding the video itself, or even donating money just visit the website - www.jkweddingdance.com