pet hates
Bad Design. grrrr
Numero uno pet hate: There is absolutely no need for it!
Effective creative design, in it's simplest form, will build a brand and understand the client / customer relationship and communicate a message, inspire trust, and ultimately, invoke action.
As a company with a passion for high quality creative design, this might seem obvious; but it needs saying, and I am more than happy to say it.
The world is full of fantastically effective creative design and designers. However, there is a glut of very bad design out there too. With the rise of the internet far too many unqualified, untalented individuals are offering a design service they are not capable of fulfilling.
Interior design, photography, web or print design, if you are investing in any creative project, spend your money wisely.
Creative talent need not be more expensive, infact, in most cases, the results make it much more cost effective.
Good design looks good, creates image, performs and sells.
Pot Noodles.
Euch! Why would you? The world is full of so many delicious & exotic things to eat and drink. Yet some choose sand & rubble with added E4232526259383727 to create the foul smelling gloup we know and "love" as Pot Noodle.
On a personal level, I'm worried my son has developed an unhealthy appetite for these awful things ... It's a gateway food. Before we know it, he'll be drinking bright green fizzy juice, microwaving vacuum packed burgers, and watching Hollyoaks! Where have I gone wrong?
Much, much, so much more to come ...
Things We Do Like
Media and the internet are littered with an awful lot of trash as we all know. However, if you look in the right places, it can make you open your mind, ease your work load, save you money, and most of all, empower and inspire ...
Here, you'll find a bunch of random lists, links and explanations. It's basically things that we like, things we use, and stuff that we think is worth sharing. Enjoy!
+ On The Web ( resources + cool stuff )
BBC iPlayer + Radio 4
It's an obvious one, I know, but the BBC's iPlayer is now officially (probably) the best way to watch TV and listen to radio. And I don't know whether this is an age thing, but Radio 4 has become a staple of my morning and working day. An inspiring mix of news, debate and the best comedy anywhere on the UK airwaves. I draw the line at the Shipping Forecast and the Archers though; at least for another 10 years.
Google + Google Docs
Google, much more than just the most popular search engine. Google is one of those companies that do everything so well; and persistently surprise with new innovation. If you're not already using them, Google Docs are a free resource for document creation and storage; word, excel, powerpoint, calendars that sync with your computer, definitely worth a look. Not to mention, completely free!
twitter + Flickr
Genius, utter genius. Social networking passed me by until these two services arrived. Twitter, an excellent resource if you use it well. It's not just Stephen Fry and Jordan on there you know! There are some really useful tweeters too, if you take the time to find them.
Flickr; if like me, you are at all interested in photography, this is a great web app. I use it in conjunction with Google Earth to scout possible locations for landscapes ( I know, lazy - but what a saving on time and petrol ).
Sitepoint + W3C
Need more information about how the web should work? Sitepoint has some excellent resources and articles. For the novice or the advanced techie. There is something on there for anyone who is either planning to have a website, has a website, or anyone who builds or writes the text for website.
W3C - World Wide Web Consortium. W3C was created to ensure compatibility and agreement among industry members in the adoption of new standards. Their website is full of useful info and will explain all the technologies involved in building your site.
Spotify
Free music! More to the point, legal free music! What a wonderful resource for both Mac and PC users. Download and install - open a free account and you're off. You can't download tracks yet, but you can search for almost anything and stream high quality audio directly to your computer. ITunes is always there to buy and download music for on the move. But for home or office music, it cannot be beaten.
+ Music - what we're listening to ( while working, of course )
Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted to Sin
Tori is back on form. Not that she every really went away!
Krista Detor - Mudshow
Many a design has been inspired by this album.
Josh Rouse - 1972
Smoooth. New York Jazzy.
Billy Bragg - Must I Paint You A Picture
A man with a lot to say.
James Taylor
Never far from the list.
Dan Bern
If you like Dylan, that's all I'm saying ...
Regina Spektor - Far
Towards the end of a busy day, energy is dropping, pop this on ... Quirky, unusual, and always entertaining.
+ Art, Design + Photography
UK Design Council
The source of advice on how to make good design an essential part of good business. Some great articles, blogs, facts and figures too. The strap line on their site sums them up very well "Helping businesses become more successful, public services more efficient and designers more effective"
Their goal is to help UK managers become the best users of design in the world ( that's you ), supported by the most skilled and capable design professionals ( that's us ).
Joe Cornish + Helen Dixon + Colin Prior
Three of our current favs on the UK landscape photography scene. Check out their portfolios and be inspired. What a beautiful country we live in! How lucky are we?
Magnum Photos + National Geographic Photography
If I am not designing for you, or out taking my own photos, I'll be browsing these pages, looking in awe and wonder at the power an image captured in a camera can covey. Whether worldwide wildlife and culture with National Geo, or the images documenting and creating a living library of great events in human history from Magnum, these pages force our eyes open, and bring the world to life for us. Check them out.
Tate Modern + National Gallery
Great to see galleries making the most of the web. All the creative culture you could ever wish for online. If you haven't visited these galleries on foot, then by mouse is a good second best. Go on, visit the tate on your lunch break.