Joanne and myself in the absence of James who is skiing (alright for some!) met with Jules today to discuss his feedback on our proposal document and presentation and decide on the future steps in this project.
He said that our presentation and documents were "very good" and well presented both verbally and written. He felt that the weakness in the project was the business plan and that we had proposed a business without thinking of projections and future implications. Our answer was that we are Multimedia students and not Business Students!
We have a lot of work to do especially in trying to ensure that we have wide ranging projects and not a number of similar projects.
I spent a few hours working on these visualisations. The above picture (click for bigger) shows the original architectural elevation that I found online. Below that is the line drawing with shading and then fully textured and shaded. This is very similar to the work i produced on placement with Rio Architects.
A stunning image from a Sony Bravia advert. Aside from the concept, the quality of image is insane, especially with smoke and water effects. I would love to achieve something similar with my random obejct montage.
I would like to take the 85 random object i did (or maybe some new ones) and create a montage where they interact rather than being complete separate. Hopefully a weekend project!!
85 random objects is a graphic containing, well obviously 85 objects with no intentional connection. I did it as an excersise and found it to be very worthwhile and was good for thinking a little differently and streching my mind to think away from convention. Isuggest you try it!
S4C is the welsh language channel, broadcast across Wales, Internet etc. This week sees the launch of it's first re brand since 1993. The channel has been as much a part of my television viewing as any other (while in Wales of course!)
Here is one of the new idents and in my opinion, Oh Dear!! Firstly what does it mean? Why, apart from the locations does this represent a Welsh language channel? Previous idents have included dragons spitting fire and more recently, well know object acting like dragons. Secondly why use balloons, chairs and Frisbees, i can understand the buoys in a Welsh harbour. The Frisbees remind me of the BBC1 idents that use repeated similar shapes to created a circle. The music then, is horrible, it makes my skin crawl. Maybe it was because I listened to it through YouTube but i find it spooky, uncomfortable and un-inspirational. It works well with the pictures!
Then the new logo for S4C appears on the screen, which will be used on all S4C products etc. I think I need it explaining to me. Why the forward slash? Why lose the dragon's tounge? Other than that it's not bad. The typeface is a little unimaginative but I can understand it's use in shaping the new direction S4C (or should I say S4/C) is taking.
"The new S4C brand reflects S4C’s agenda for creative excellence." - Iona Jones, S4C Chief Executive
It will be interesting to see what viewers think of the new stuff.
I then visited the website to see what changes have occured there: http://www.s4c.co.uk/ The word unimaginative comes to mind. Its plain and reminds me of the webdesign from 3 or 4 years ago. It isn't even very clear to navigate and the striaght lines of images clash with curved edges of boxes. One great feature, even though it didnt work on my computer is the downloadable programmes and serieses. Now I can watch the nice idents while I'm in England too!! The RSS feature is also a nice touch.
I find it shocking that although the main Channel4 has it's own creative agency that does all of its' adverts exclusivly (4creative) produce such stunning work when this is all that S4C can come up with. Design in Wales and especially the creative industries have exploded over the last few years. Cardiff is now one of the places to go for jobs in the industry and some amazing webdesign and creative houses in the bay especially.
Having ranted at the music, I've just walked away from my desk and found myseld whistling it!!
I have just learned something interesting about one of my favourite drinks. The reason why the name which appears in Blackletter, which forms part of it's identity is because when 'stuff' was being shipped more and more around the world, more specifically from Europe to Mexico (homeland of Corona beer) in the 15th century, boxes, barrel ls or crates would have this lettering upon it, becasue of it's prior popularity since the 12th century in Europe. The Mexicans adopted this and it became an integral part of their culture. This lettering can now be seen all over Mexico. (Seen in Creative Review - Jan 2007)
The Swiss Army Knife, it was one tool that did everything you could possibly need. Some had an array of blades, saws, pincers, pliers a tooth pick, tweezers, compass, spoon, fork, even something to remove stones from a horse's foot! I could go on but you get the idea. There was no job that couldnt be done by the trusty penknife in your pocket.
I believe we have a similar we have a similar tool that almost everybody carries today. The mobile phone revolutionised our world and as new models are released, manufacturers cram more and more things into them as they get smaller and smaller. Granted, it would take a while to chop a piece of wood with a mobile phone and i'm sure it would come off worse, but phones are equiped with all we need for the modern lifestyle. Calculator, diary, contact list, game console, stopwatch are among some of the things that have appeared on mobiles for years. Now we see phones with internet access, torches, cameras, radios, mp3 players, video players and more. Oh and did I mention it phones or texts people too!!
I remember talking to a friend of mine in an airport queue some years ago about the iPod and were dicussing how boring it actually was... all it did was play music! We wondered why, when mobile phones were starting to have cameras why iPods weren't showing or even taking photos. Surly this wasn't beyond the Apple Wizards. We also commented on one day all of these things, music player, phone, camera and of course all the things that come on your phone would be one unit. We we'rnt predicting the future, it wasn't long before phones were doing all 3 and my phone now (Sony Ericsson W810i) has these capabilities. I guess we were just ranting about why Apple's iPod didn't.
However maybe we were predicting the future, either that or there was an Apple executive in the same queue because they have unveiled the iPhone. A widescreen iPod, phone and internet explorer in one with a camera and high resolution screen for watching films. WOW!
The story: Cows across America are being abducted by aliens who have a calcium deficiency and need the milk. Farmers and locals are getting worried at the alarming rate at which cows are vanishing. Some desperate measures are being employed from writing ALIENS GO HOME on the barn roof to disguising cows as rein deers!
Its yet another marketing idea from the American Dairy people, the same people who have done the Got Milk? campaigns. This is another example of how to market milk, something we're going to have to think about in the coming months.
This is a really beautiful video. It has been acclaimed by many design bodies as being one of the videos of 2006. I agree.
Its feel good music and a really quirky video to go with it, one that keeps you fixed to the end and even then, wanting to see where the train goes next!
It seems that I am 'finding Jesus' in more places than just a pint glass! I didn't notice how big this campaign would be from seeing the article in the guardian media section.
I was walking around Guildford and London and in many stations I saw the poster that I have based part of my research on, I even recieve text messages from friends who know that my research question is 'Would Jesus have a MySpace?' with querky answers and "have you seen this"! The photo below is Raynes Park station.
I am currently waiting for an answer to an email interview with Simon Jenkins at Re:Jesus, who has been heavily involved with the project in which I asked him about the response, the idea etc.
I'm Huw, I am a creative designer based in London. I am currently working with Emerging Culture and Pentecost Festival (see links). I am also a freelance designer.
Part of the work with Emerging Culture is dedicated to working with young people in South-West London.
