Bowerbird

New branding

2010-03-02T15:01:00.005-05:00

I've been playing about with the Bowerbird branding, it's all very work in progress, but here's how it looks over on my main blog. As you can see, I've applied the same design to this blog too. Be sure to keep up to date with my island adventures at Bowerbirdwords.blogspot.com

This blog (Bowerbird-illustration) will remain inactive while I'm abroad.

Sketchbook: Grand Cayman

2010-01-14T19:15:00.003-05:00

Here's a sketch that I did earlier today, then I played about with the colour after in Photoshop which is sketchy to say the least, but it's definitely better with something more on top.

So, I've not posted to here for a little while and that's because I've been a little busy leaving the country! For this coming year, I'm seeing what the Cayman Islands have to offer, well that's the plan at least. Expect island illustrations and observations, and for more Caribbean goings on, check out my other blog:

www.bowerbirdwords.blogspot.com

Runaway success of animation

2009-12-01T07:18:00.003-05:00

If there's one thing that people love it's stop-frame animation, it's an all round winner, as is slow-motion footage, actually that's two things. But it shows that in this crazy go-go-go society we live in, there is still admiration for the slow and the crafted.

'Going West' is a paper caper stop-motion film animated by Andersen M Studio, for the New Zealand Book Council, the very last scene 'where books come to life' is the stand out part for me. Enjoy!

Via Designboom

London Shop Fronts

2009-11-16T10:24:00.003-05:00

Does exactly what it says on the tin. Now celebrates its first anniversary, a lovely collection of photographs by Emily Webber. Just goes to show, that personal obsessions and observations can lead into a surprisingly beautiful collection/project.

London Shop Fronts
Emily Webber's Flickr

Colour film of 1927 London

2009-11-09T05:59:00.003-05:00

Fascinating footage, even better after a weekend of wandering those very streets. Over 80 years later and some of the ambiance is unchanged. Magical!

Watch it through to the end and be rewarded with a coy appearance from Claude Friese-Greene the inventor of the Friese-Greene Colour Process. This entire piece of footage is a personal project of his to bring "the Colour of the Mother Country to the screen".

Oh and there's an adorable teddy-like pup at the very end for those who persevere.

Free typography

2009-10-06T06:23:00.003-05:00

owerbird returns with salutations and fond wishes to you and yours. I bid you good day and apologise for the archaic tone. There's something about this embellished Drop Cap which professes to steer me towards the flouncier language in my lexicon.
This typographic treasure is delivered daily from typographical extraordinaire Jessica Hische. You yourselves may pilfer her designs at her behest, and recreate this experience within the confines of ye own fair Blogge Poste. Good day to you gentle folk of the world's web.

Mind boggling projections on buildings

2009-10-01T07:22:00.003-05:00

Projection on Buildings from NuFormer Digital Media on Vimeo.

A truly astonishing display of 3D video mapping. It really does blur all dimensions and realities. I imagine it's breathtaking in person. It looks like the days of of words spelt out in fireworks are soon to be over.

How to promote a brand to perfection

2009-09-15T07:08:00.009-05:00

Bouncing on a Tom Dixon rubber band chair in the magical light of dusk, sipping on Bombay Sapphire cocktails in good company. There are worse things I could do on a Monday night.

We, (a collection of London bloggers and Twitterers) gathered at the Dusk bar at Somerset House overlooking the Thames to learn all about the 10 botanicals which make Bombay Sapphire a "mixologist's" choice.

The evening was held inside a perspex wonder designed by Tom Dixon with falling evening light, at one point the dusky sky was a truly gorgeous Bombay Sapphire blue, clever those marketing people huh?

Under the tutelage of Sam Carter, buoyed along with delicious cocktails and nibbles, we constructed Martinis and Berry Spice cocktails. All the while learning about the brand's heritage and the world of gin at large. Information that would be very useful when we given a gin quiz later on in the evening.

I tried to be gracious in victory, but all I can say is that the gin revealed my true competitive colours and my lust for academia was rewarded with a bottle of the blue stuff.

We parted ways quite a while after dusk and as we walked off in search of a bus stop, clutching our spoils (a Gintelligensia goody bag including ANOTHER bottle of the blue stuff, cocktail shaker and gorgeous branded tools of the trade) I was very grateful to impulse, a new London friend/partner in crime and the amazing nights that can occur when you say 'yes'.

My thanks to Miss Robinson, fellow bloggers and the delightful Bombay Sapphire team. Visit them while you can and indulge in an expert drink at the bar until October 18th. Dusk will become your favourite time of day too.

More pictures to follow.

Lexical loveliness

2009-09-11T10:42:00.001-05:00

Typophile Film Festival 5 Opening Titles from Brent Barson on Vimeo.

Sit back, enjoy and start wishing you were an animator.

The importance of punctuation

2009-09-08T10:28:00.002-05:00

Commas are wonderful little creatures, allowing us to take a pause, a breath and most importantly not to have this happen to us:

What is the New Energy Future?

2009-09-04T06:46:00.008-05:00

Digit have been busy working on the latest installment of Shell.com with four great animations which are part of the work to illustrate the New Energy Future. Have a look, more to come.

**UPDATE, here are all four animations, click on the four icons in the bottom right to navigate to the site. Or visit the new energy future to find out more.

Clicking cursor oven mitt

2009-08-25T11:25:00.005-05:00

What's on the menu? I hear you say. A cursory glance around the kitchen will have you pointedly picking up the Clicking 2.0 oven mitt to handle your wares. (Sorry they were the best puns I could muster)

If these were on sale, I'd buy one, but then I am a cake-baking geek, so I'm their target audience.

Via Bazar Design.

Weesay hello!

2009-08-18T08:28:00.002-05:00

WEESAY ABC from Digit on Vimeo.

Welcome to the latest iPhone app from Digit, the video will explain everything. Joss Brook gives a professional and unbelievably cute voice over too, enjoy!

AppShopper review here.

Food air miles are hard to swallow

2009-08-12T06:11:00.007-05:00

Here's a piece of hard hitting and crisply designed messaging from Kingston graduate James Reynolds. I'd previously admired James' boarded up work but in the same week that the inaugural M&S Plan A newsletter is launched. This is a message close to my heart.

Speaking of which, be sure to sign up to receive more Digit designed (and Bowerbird written) Plan A goodness in your inbox.

A perfect wedding video

2009-08-12T05:58:00.003-05:00

I stumbled upon this video on a cinematographer/photographer's blog and I was spell-bound.

The perfect choice of song, fluid filming, I kid you not I shed a tear at my desk. I had to share this. I don't know the couple, but I hope they're bowled over by this incredible memory of their wedding day.

Josh Goleman, I know nothing about you, but you may have just ear-marked yourself as my future photographer of choice.

2009-08-07T06:34:00.001-05:00

It is 12:34:56 7/8/9

Happens once every 100 years

Thanks for this fact Joe. I'm suitably impressed.

Bowerbird featured in Anorak magazine

2009-07-30T08:20:00.003-05:00

I have a full page illustration in this season's Anorak magazine. If you don't know it, it's simply the most fabulous children's magazine, touted as 'The happy mag for kids', it really is so jolly happy, it's a quarterly and cheap as chips at £3.50 because it's packed full of stories, games and fun.

If you know a little person 4-7, you and they are missing out if you've not discovered Anorak.

Follow them on Twitter, it will make you happy too.

What Britain eats: 30 years of food habits

2009-07-29T04:24:00.003-05:00

What Britain eats: three decades of grocery shopping Times Labs Blog
Follow the link to interact with the chart and see the trends in our eating habits.

Shared via AddThis

Building projection, dreams meet reality.

2009-07-28T04:55:00.004-05:00

555 KUBIK | facade projection | from urbanscreen on Vimeo.

Unbelievable projection onto a geometric building, it bends all reality, it must have been breathtaking to experience in real life. This is the stuff dreams are made of!

"How it would be, if a building were dreaming"

More info here.

Toyota IQ font is wheely good!

2009-07-21T11:40:00.002-05:00

iQ font - When driving becomes writing / Full making of from wireless on Vimeo.

What happens when typographers and a pro racing driver get together? A free downloadable font from Toyota IQ which is pretty cool, with a great video to boot.

Via Happiness.

credits:
Client: Toyota Belgium
Pleaseletmedesign : Typographers
Stef Van Campenhoudt: Race pilot
Zach Lieberman: Interactive artist
Happiness-Brussels: Advertising agency

WWF ambient paper towels

2009-07-17T09:50:00.004-05:00

Great idea, does what it says on the tin. Sometimes we can be so detached from our environment, this is a stark reminder that we can each do our bit. Save paper. Save the planet.

Advertising Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi, Copenhagen, Denmark
Creative Director: Simon Wooller
Art Directors / Copywriters: Cliff Kagawa Holm, Silas Jansson
Release: April 2007

Tour de force photographs

2009-07-15T09:43:00.007-05:00

Spectacular photography from Brent Humphreys, a photographer by trade with a life long passion for cycling. He migrates to France each summer to capture the carnival atmosphere along the Tour de France route. Breathtaking scenery meets fanatic lunacy.

See the whole collection from his work in progress book.

www.projectletour.com

Let the Nightwatchman de-jargon cricket

2009-07-14T12:24:00.004-05:00

You may have noticed that cricket season is upon us. I know I have, it seems to be all over the papers, pubs and tv. So here I was thinking, I'd like to understand it, I can certainly get down with the fashions, white is so summery, and the picnic liquid lunches, Pimms anyone? But where do I start?

Well bowl me over with willow and leather and LBW your googlies, there is a website which helps the complete cricket novice understand the fine art!

Vodafone's Nightwatchman is just the right mix of informative, entertaining and bitesize. Let Dougie Anderson (complete cricket novice) guide you through the rules, jargon, and banter that makes Cricket quintessentially English, oh and you can win tickets.

I've signed up, hopefully by the time I win (positive, mental, attitude) I'll known my seams from my creases, or something like that. Howzat?!!!.

www.nightwatchman.vodafone.co.uk

Also, sweet simple cricket animations in-between the video clips. Pretty.

Beautiful music video

2009-07-13T05:01:00.001-05:00

"This music video was shot for Sour's 'Hibi no Neiro' (Tone of everyday) from their first mini album 'Water Flavor EP'. The cast were selected from the actual Sour fan base."

Quite a logistical tour de force here, I don't envy the organisers behind this heart warming video.

Latest painting commission

2009-07-08T04:58:00.002-05:00

This homage is occupying my evenings of late. It's a painterly impression of the classic GNER Victorian poster. I've struggled with, for want of a better word copying, but I've added more depth to the landscape and decided to take the poster as a guide. It's getting there, more detail and time needed on the typography.

Why Free is the future of business!

2009-07-07T12:46:00.003-05:00

"Every industry that becomes digital eventually becomes free".

Great article over at Wired, how Gillette made his fortune with freebies. Get your business models altered NOW! Offer it for free and cash in.

This post was brought to you, for free, by your friendly local Bowerbird, all donations gratefully received.

Dear HOUSEOFFRASER

2009-07-03T05:41:00.003-05:00

(My genuine email to House Of Fraser, after seeing the above, awaiting response...)

Dear HOUSEOFFRASER.

DoYouDislikeSpace?

IsThereSomethingWrongWithThisEmail?

HaveYouHeardOfKerning?

Surely, this is not following Brand Guidelines?!

I'd be interested to know if you're aware of this shop frontage in Leicester.

Sincerely, Curious Customer.

Post-it animation is appealing...

2009-07-02T05:26:00.002-05:00

Got a deadline? Procrastination to the extreme as demonstrated by Bang-Yao Liu in this epic post-it note stop frame animation. I genuinely forget it's made from post-its half way through, fantastic immersive piece of animation!

It's all about perspective

2009-06-29T08:58:00.005-05:00

The scale of this video will knock your socks off, a very designer retro piece of film by Charles and Ray Eames, the clever, multi-disciplinary husband and wife duo.

This just in...

2009-06-26T11:59:00.003-05:00

Funny 'cos it's true. News saturation has occurred less than 24 hours after MJ's death. Twitter, breaking news and live text updates have made us flighty and unable to concentrate on anything for more than...

Anyone want a backie?

2009-06-24T12:27:00.003-05:00

So what's the deal? This hot little bike from Madsen is up for grabs, head over to their site to find out how. Aside from that it's gorgeous and I could picture myself riding one. Although I know I'd fill the 'tub' up with rubbish, cool for a picnic and giving a mate a lift huh?

Harry Pearce inspirational talk at Pentagram

2009-06-22T11:03:00.005-05:00

A magical thing happened last Thursday over at Pentagram. Stepping inside a little yard, Pentagram Yard no less, we were welcomed in to the hub of their London office where we sat and listened and smiled our way through Harry Pearce's talk, the latest offering from 26.

It was everything you'd expect from a Pentagram partner, a person of notoriety and acclaim yet with humility, humour and childlike wonder at the world around him. Listening to touching anecdotes of Pearce's relationship with Alan Fletcher, we all took pleasure in the disarming simplicity of his work, but mostly his playful way with words.

His upcoming book Conundrums is a collection of witty wordplay, Pearce must be a devil to try and beat at Dingbats! He introduced us to his 'Schizophrenic Roads', a collection of photographs of road signs that are the ultimate in paradox: 'Avenue Road' and 'Pink 'Green' as well as his almost prescient use of typography highlighting the issues in Burma. Pearce's work for Witness, clearly a pursuit of passion and integrity stands head and shoulders above the existing charity and good causes publicity. 'Infantry' is a stark attention grabber.

We walked away from the talk buzzing with ideas, wordplay and the connections we can make with words and images. There are truly magical things all around us if we can only see them, as Harry muses on one of Alan Fletcher's wondrous thoughts, a take on the Matisse quote, the world is full of flowers if you just have eyes to see.

So whether we're seeing humour in the miscommunication of predictive text, faulty signage, dreams or Schizophrenic road signs, as long as we're seeing, we'll all be enjoying.

Images courtesy of Pentagram, Conundrum answers available here.

We Have Band stop-frame animation

2009-06-16T09:08:00.002-05:00

Incredible animation for We Have Band's single 'You Came Out' made by the mighty Wieden + Kennedy, seems like our neighbours are branching out into music videos, tricky, time consuming ones at that! Bravo.

D&AD: I'll be there

2009-06-11T04:49:00.006-05:00

I am so part of this industry, look my face, there in that wall of 'industry type' and student faces. Oh yeah, I have officially made it. Sarcasm aside, it's a good idea, in an age of apathy and redundancy a little bit of solidarity and community spirit is welcomed. Sign up now for D&AD New Blood

Private View, Monday 29th June, 6pm.

See you there!

My First (dark) Dictionary

2009-06-08T10:32:00.004-05:00

I've always found these kinds of illustrations a little creepy, more so after Mark Slack used them in an NSPCC Loughborough University project five years ago. In any case, Ross Horsley has finally put 2 and 2 together and gone slightly too far, so depending on your morals you may love or hate this.

I shall remain impartial but it's a good use of words and pictures to create an emotional response.

:-)

MyFirstDictionary.com

Get Help Here!

2009-06-08T09:37:00.009-05:00

After a little stall in the launch process, I'm proud to announce the launch of our latest Directgov application, it's called Get Help Here, it's like an interactive flow chart to get help for those out of work, worried about redundancy or wanting to study.

It's my first project where I've done all the copywriting, it may seem small but there are over a hundred different end-lines in there. On the upside I have a full working knowledge of my redundancy rights and childcare benefits...

Have a play with the application here or download it/blog it/share it if you want to spread the information and help.

Vodafone Taxi Grand Prix

2009-06-08T09:07:00.004-05:00

Here's an exciting little competition for any racing fans, create a racing team from two taxi drivers, then get live stats as they pick up fares throughout the country and clock up the miles you need to get F1 prizes.

The site explains it all, team Bowerbird consists of cabbies Robert (Manchester) and Colin (London), go on get involved, see you on the podium.

Taxi Grand Prix

Welcome to Bing

2009-06-04T11:10:00.002-05:00

Now that Bing has launched, I'd just like to suggest you to try it out. I've been working on something associated with this project for a little while and have been excited to see it up and running.

Although frankly, it doesn't recognise this blog when I search for it... (Google does, top hit)

MTV risqué ads for Skins

2009-06-03T05:20:00.005-05:00

MTV Portugal have just made my morning! These daring adverts touch on the explicit nature of the show and I'm still chuckling. Illustrations courtesy of Bruna Guerreiro.

Congratulations to the copywriters too, "Parents can't forbid things they don't know exist. Skins. Don't let them know about this show."

Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett Lisboa, Portugal
Creative Director: Horacio Puebla
Art Director: Luciana Cani
Copywriter: Pedro Ribeiro
Illustrator: Bruna Guerreiro
Creative advisor: Tura
Published: April 2009

Egg box painting

2009-05-27T08:06:00.003-05:00

Enno de Kroon describes it as 'eggcubism', it's an interesting technique and I'm sure it's harder to do than it looks. He's an artist based in the Netherlands, although I wouldn't be surprised if a few cash strapped English students adopted his style of canvas...

Enno's website.

52 Poems

2009-05-27T06:01:00.001-05:00

Ode to National Express

2009-05-26T09:51:00.003-05:00

17.57 to London Kings Cross

Nestled down in the vestibule
Wedged against the fire extinguisher’s nook
I sit and sway

It’s an interesting vantage
Athletic male legs are much of my view
Along with the luggage, baggage of varying size-age

Vestibule 12438 in our temporary transit
3 girls, 2 boys, 3 seated, 2 standing
Suitcase, rucksacks, hold all, handbag and canvas tote

Denied a seat on a £40 ticket
So I jot down while we squat down
It may be Bank Holiday but it’s really not cricket.

Kittens in Mittens!

2009-05-18T12:12:00.002-05:00

Lovely lady Lauren Beard has opened her very own Etsy shop, go and purchase all your high quality illo based brilliance now. Thank you.

Can you give me a hand?

2009-05-18T09:53:00.004-05:00

We are starting a caption competition over at the Digit Blog, and to keep it I need to prove that people will actually use it.

Get your puns and witty words at the ready for the above image and post it here.

Thanks!

www.blog.digitlondon.com if you want to add it to your RSS feeds and have a convo with those clever thinkers...

Tell me how you're feeling

2009-05-15T10:19:00.002-05:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking and writing for Digit this week, so in a self serving manner, would you like to look at one of my posts and tell me how you are? Thank you.

I'm in a tangle over this clip

2009-05-12T06:14:00.001-05:00

Spaghetti Western, by PES, winner of a Sundance 2009 award, it's simply genius.

Watch over and over...

Playful is the way forwards

2009-05-11T08:59:00.003-05:00

Illustrator Zara Picken strikes again with updates to her blog, and some playful self-promotional pieces including the two above. Have a little scroll through her blog, there are some really beautiful tactile pieces.

Take a peek at her entry to the AOI/TFL competition and her editorial illustrations, they look great in situ.

www.zaraillustrates.blogspot.com

Life is beautiful, work can be too

2009-05-08T08:04:00.000-05:00

EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment from Eepybird on Vimeo.

Blog in a blog, this is how mad cow's disease started...

2009-05-06T12:13:00.002-05:00

So, I've been sneakily moonlighting, well, doing my day job really. The Digit blog is finally live! So check it out, add it to your RSS feeds and soak up all that great thinking from a bunch of great thinkers. Well I would say that wouldn't I? Please comment if the urge takes you, join the conversation.

www.blog.digitlondon.com

He's behind you, he's got swine flu

2009-05-05T10:53:00.003-05:00

This Streets track is dedicated to a lady with all the symptoms, catch it, bin it, kill it as the adverts say! Get well soon. Catchy track by the way...

This isn't just any farmer...

2009-05-05T08:32:00.004-05:00

Hello!

I'm back after a relaxing week in the sun, and in my absence Digit have launched a wonderful new section on the Marks and Spencer's website called 'Meet Your Farmers' it's a lovely insight into the people who farm the produce and the lengths they go to to produce top notch grub.

I helped out on the copy side of this project so it's lovely to see Brad and Elise's design come to life. Top work Digit. If you aren't familiar with M&S's Plan A, it's a long-term 100 point plan, over five pillars (categories) and they're totally committed to it, it's impressive. I was part of the original team to win this business nearly three years ago, and the site is a beauty.

Lots of rich animation, beautiful photography and useful information. Have a play with Plan A.

The sun is shining...

2009-04-24T09:30:00.004-05:00

...and I'm jetting off for a week of hopefully even more sunshine. In my absence, I leave you with Hoxton hipsters, I wonder if you'll be as disappointed as I was when I reached the end of the posts, I never wanted it to end.

I've just had a lunchtime walk around Spitalfields and I have seen pasty, skinny men in teeny weeny shorts, girls with pink hair and ironic t-shirts, lots of BIG hair and truly tiny skirts. The sunshine brings out the best of the British.

Have a lovely weekend.

To boldly go wrong

2009-04-23T10:44:00.003-05:00

Dear Trekkers, there is much hype around JJ Abrams' latest film but maybe cast an eye over their official website and raise your designer eyebrow in Spock-style shock!

What is this? "Font Size 13"? Ugly content boxes? Bizarre widget box, oh dear.

Reminds me of this superb blog of cake wrecks.

I can NOT believe my eyes

2009-04-23T10:10:00.001-05:00

This is one of the weirdest things I've seen for a while, but I can't not look. This is my Halloween costume, I'm bagsying it now.

More New Math

2009-04-21T12:27:00.002-05:00

wit + words + math = Bowerbird's approval

Weekly updates from morenewmath.com

Don't look now!

2009-04-21T10:33:00.002-05:00

Problem: gorillas can attack/cause incidents when you make eye contact

Rotterdam Zoo's answer: specs that make you look like you're averting your eyes

Tie in: sponsored by a local health insurance company

Result: brilliant photo opportunity, gorilla goes bananas from all the flash photography. (This is a joke of course)

And the crowd goes wild....

2009-04-21T10:27:00.002-05:00

OK, so it's an oldy, but the idea is still bang up to date. The crowd cheers as you open the box to your new football boots, dreams are made of this sort of stuff! Oh to be a child again.

Cannes Lions 2007 Promo Winner
"A limited number of Nike shoeboxes were transformed to house a stadium within by inserting a printed sheet of the stadium interior with embedded sound chips. So you could hear the crowd go wild when the box was opened."

Agency: Publicis, Singapore
Regional Creative Director: Calvin Soh
Creatives: Loh Weicheng, Yvonne Chia
DI Artist: Jimmy Leow
Project Manager: Gwynn Wong
Associate Account Director: Jason Tan

Jargon buster

2009-04-21T09:22:00.004-05:00

Here's a little tool that Digit has made for Directgov, you can see it online here, and post it where you like. It's a handy device, especially with the Budget looming...

Wheely nice coasters

2009-04-20T12:30:00.004-05:00

I spotted these a while ago over at Ella Doran's website, there's a treasure trove of lovely stuff that countless designers have paid 'homage' to, such a nicer way of saying ripped off right? I particularly like the route-master button, alight here for cool coasters. Ding ding.

Piggin' stop frame animation

2009-04-15T12:22:00.003-05:00

Outstanding stop frame animation from Japan.

Directed by Takeuchi Taijin.

You will be transfixed!

Can you imagine the time it took?!

Where is my career going?

2009-04-08T11:11:00.003-05:00

If this diagram is anything to go by, casting a quick eye over what I've done today, I'm at Assistant Creative Director level! Woohoo, some days I'm even at Creative Director status, champagne here I come. Thanks Igor, for this find.

Write from the heart

2009-04-07T10:28:00.000-05:00

Innocent have a lot to answer for, it has spawned numerous chatty, friendly styles of writing. I like to think their hearts are in the right place, after all, they are selling fruit in cute little bottles, the man from Del Monte is doffing his hat in admiration, everyone likes fruit right?

So it's good to know that even though Coca Cola are putting investment into this smiley 'little' company, those three fellows who started it all can still pen a convincing letter to explain to all their "drinkers and veg-potters" that they are not being swallowed by a massive corporation.

Here is a lesson in authentic and engaging writing. I'd still like to work for them...

Read the letter here.

Photo credit: clspeace with a Bowerbird overlay

Snow White's Apple

2009-04-02T11:44:00.003-05:00

Sometimes an idea just fits, perfectly. I am in no way suggesting that Apple are poisonous or misleading. Think Different.

Image credit: via Ffffound.

Ready, set, GOAT!

2009-03-30T05:05:00.006-05:00

East London went all countrified on Sunday in the inaugural Oxford Vs Cambridge Goat Race. It was timed to coincide with the boat race, so while the reporters were giving pre-race coverage of the teams on the river bank, we were treated to pre-race feeds and bleats inside the city farm's enclosure.

It was a wonderfully surreal afternoon, with the feisty and somewhat vertically challenged Cambridge working the crowds and the serene and remarkably clean Oxford patiently eating with a sock puppet sat on his back. I told you it was surreal.

The event's logo was designed by Cookie, and I presume the sock puppet jockeys were the handicraft of his girlfriend, Nicky Gibson.

More photos and the winner revealed on my Flickr.

Ben Javens strikes again

2009-03-26T11:29:00.004-05:00

I blogged a little while about this Vetiver poster that I coveted, well I will covet no more, I'm the proud owner of edition 11/20, and it's a beaut. I'm waiting to frame it, but it's on the most delicious thick watercolour paper, it seems a shame to place it behind glass.

Further to a lovely email conversation with Ben, I was also pretty chuffed to find a screen-printed tote book bag inside my poster tube! It's all about the personal touches.

I've also noticed a few updates to his blog, and spotted this chunky little people typeface, 'Alphabetty' which made me smile, I apologise if I've misused/abused your typeface, but I wanted to say a personal thanks. Thanks!

On yer bike!

2009-03-26T10:25:00.002-05:00

This was a surprise birthday present and it's just beautiful and suits my Brompton down to the ground. It's a great piece of classic English design, so I thought I'd share the packaging.

The Brooks website is worth a peek too.

The reason I have a sweet tooth...

2009-03-26T05:45:00.002-05:00

It's in my genes of course! Great little Chupa Chups advert by DDB Spain, although it clearly works in any language, found via the appropraitely named Inspire Me Now tumblr

Wild thing I, I think I love you

2009-03-26T05:01:00.002-05:00

It's much anticipated and if the trailer is anything to go by, Spike Jonze's interpretation of Maurice Sendak's classic book 'Where the Wild Things Are' is going to be sensational.

View the trailer here.

LESS IS MORE

2009-03-25T11:08:00.003-05:00

I stumbled upon the ‘FOUR LINE LONG POEM’ recently and it got me thinking, are we heading towards a succinct world? Is less, more? Or are we just getting lazier? Is brevity the new brainy? No flowery prose or verbose dialogue needed now, just tell it to me straight.

“HATE BEEF LOVE TOFU”, “KNOW TRUE LOVE ONCE”, “BALD DOGS LOOK PINK”

OK, so you could interpret these ‘poems’ as deep, ridiculous or just plain bizarre, but this montage of four liners is also telling of our concentration span. Tweets and Facebook updates have to be engaging enough to stop us in our tracks at least long enough to LOL back some kudos.

Perhaps this is merely the latest fashion of story telling, but currently we are actively encouraged to make clever use of limited characters. Hemingway toyed with telling a complete and very short, short story in six words, that’s 32 characters to you Twits out there. “For sale: baby shoes, never worn”, he claimed it was his best work.

The best use of Twitter I’ve seen to date aside from Towerbridge’s personable, informative and human Tweets, “I am opening for the FGS Brandenburgh, which is passing downstream.” is the creatively succinct tales of TimKeyPoet. Key manages to paint a world in a few brush strokes and leave us asking questions and frankly wanting more; “Poem#171. “I’m not marrying that pig!” I said to mother. She continued to leaf through the portfolio.”

Short, short stories are not a new phenomenon and I’m not claiming as much, but haikus must be sagely nodding at Twitter and waiting for all the fuss to die down. In the mean time it concerns me that we might lose the ability to converse in more than 140 characters.

I think I'm suffering from mild Neighbourphobia!

2009-03-25T07:53:00.007-05:00

I wish my neighbours would take off like in this clip, I was woken at 5am, yes 5am, by a drum kit and a bass guitar and the raucous party next door. And where was my invite?! Anyway, I've realised I badmouth my neighbours a lot and found this, I'm not alone! I'm just suffering from neighbourphobia.

The website has some sweet illustrations, especially in the quiz, including David Attenborough (the nicest man in the world). You can take the test and see how affected your area is too, it's a bit 28 days later on a serious budget, but nice sentiment.

Neighboursanonymous.com

After a bit of digging and emailing, the illustrator is a Mr. Pancaldi, although it seems he's quite the talented painter too!

Test Tube Tulips

2009-03-25T05:39:00.003-05:00

Simple idea, nice execution, a potential DIY project. Let me know if this inspires you to make something similar, I'm going to be on the look out for an old test tube rack now...

{I can't find the original link that these came from, apologies.}

Burger bun

2009-03-25T05:27:00.002-05:00

I have a moral dilemma, it's a cake so that's good, but it's in burger form so that's... oh, good. Ah, no dilemma at all it seems, just double delicious.

This incredible creation was made by caketime for Jon Burgerman, it was a welcome to New York cake for her visitor who ironically is named Burgerman but is a vegetarian.

You have to admire the attention to detail, read about the ingenious use of ingredients at the caketime blog, The use of mango as cheese and dyed desiccated coconut as lettuce. 10/10

Image credits: close up details: caketime, full burgerbun: Jon Burgerman.

Happy miniature land

2009-03-17T11:13:00.003-05:00

I've shared tilt shift images before but it makes me so happy, so here's the latest installment from Keith Loutit, from Sydney's Mardi Gras parade. Happy sunny Tuesday! Also check out his bath tub animation, look out for the falling fisherman, great spot Henry!

Mardi Gras from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

The Periodic Table of Typefaces

2009-03-12T06:34:00.003-05:00

Popular, influential and notorious. A geeky pleasure, if I were a typeface I would be Bembo or Bodoni, what would you be? Now there's a conversation stopper.

Designer chocolate

2009-03-12T06:23:00.003-05:00

What a great way to start the day, I can only imagine how satisfying this chocolate tastes, look at it in all it's archaic splendour.

I did a little digging into the Mast Brothers and was delighted find them to be real, and don't they look exactly how they should? Mr. Wonker would be proud. Saccharine salutations to Messrs. Rick and Michael Mast.

Mast Brothers Chocolate, now could someone explain why it's not Brothers' please?

Found via lovelypackage.com.

See you on Facebook

2009-03-11T05:36:00.001-05:00

Great animation, "What Facebook Is For", couldn't have said it better myself.

Beware: lemmings!

2009-03-09T13:35:00.003-05:00

I have always been creeped out by lemmings, am I alone?

This is an incredible animation by a group of fourth year 3D animation students at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Vantaa, Findland.

It's lengthy, but worth the watch, I like the tiny detailed observations, like the wine box, the windows and Lemming sounds. Bravo!

More information on the making of, over at Make, thanks to Elly for the find.

Eli, no!

2009-03-09T10:51:00.002-05:00

My parents have a dog called Kip. Kip is very naughty and has picked up the pseudonym Kippy no no! Such is the regularity of his naughtiness, it turns out he is not alone, introducing Eli, better known as Eli, no!

Created by the very talented Eighthourday check out their other work too, I get the feeling Eli, no! is an imminent book success as the images have been removed from Flickr, and they are getting much coverage of late. Let's hope it sees the light of day.

Head in the clouds

2009-03-06T13:08:00.002-05:00

I'm a little preoccupied with pitch madness at the moment, normal service will resume shortly. Until then, imagine me like this grey lady, with a face full of cumulonimbus. Via Booooooom

Naughty but nice

2009-03-04T09:37:00.002-05:00

A small but perfectly formed batch of 25 pop up books, Pop Up Porn, have been hand made by Michele Chun and Miya Saito, those little minxes. Available to buy from Sometimes Books for $50 or a card for $5.

Sexy!

The subject matter may be a little risque but it's still a crafty and clever project. Documented on their Flickr stream.

Link via Book by it's cover

Banner band

2009-03-03T13:51:00.002-05:00

I saw this interesting banner ad the other day, good use of space and context. Reminded me of this job site advert.

Hello scrubber

2009-03-03T13:42:00.005-05:00

Some interesting objects inspired by the mundane, don't they scrub up well? More product design goodies by Jason Taylor

When will this playful advertising bubble burst?

2009-03-02T12:18:00.005-05:00

New Aero advert, I prefer the makings of though:

To be honest, I'm glad JWT have repositioned themselves so it's not just housewives perving over semi-clad men (wow I'm officially getting old), it does feel a bit JWT but at least it's positive and a bit phantasical and it's a lovely Spring day so I won't slate it. I think the full 60second clip is aired tonight on channel 4.

"Feel the bubbles" more info here

EDIT:

Oh JWT, why, why??!! I hope Davetheknave got some credit, he's had over three million views.

His video has an energy that is somewhat lacking in the tv ad, ah well. Still a great idea.

Red alert

2009-03-02T10:59:00.004-05:00

The ginger gene is dying out. In 100 years there will be no more strawberry blondes, gingas, carrot tops, copper knobs, flamed haired beauties, no nothing!

I went along to the Idea Generation Gallery on saturday to view Jenny Wickes' exhibition cataloguing, questioning and realigning our opinions of the endangered ginger in an aptly named exhibition called Root Ginger.

It was a strangely alien collection of vibrant orange on stark white walls, but there is a beauty in it, undeniably and to my good friend Sophie who is a profound supporter of the ginger, I salute you.

More pics here

An ordinary life

2009-03-02T09:54:00.004-05:00

Do you ever see something that just makes you reflect for a moment or makes the world seem to pause?

These two birds were swooping along the road and caught my eye, I followed their path upward and saw this scene. Welcome to my filmic life. My filmic, ordinary life.

EDIT: Now available in a Poladroid version

Dictionary corner

2009-03-02T06:17:00.001-05:00

For visual stimuli other than google images, check out the fledgling photographic dictionary and watch it grow. Let's hope the quality of images stays constant.

Screen test scatter cushion

2009-03-02T06:14:00.002-05:00

Retro cushion with the screen test pattern, perfect for weekend sofa surfing. Available to buy for £27 here.

Brooch the subject

2009-02-27T12:31:00.001-05:00

The subject of beautiful monogram badges, yes please, M please.
Buy them here.

By Anita at Bena Clothing

Chocolate shavings

2009-02-27T05:43:00.003-05:00

It's chocolate in pencil form with a pencil sharpener, now I usually hate pencil chewers but get me one of those pencils to gnaw!

I'm a little skittish with excitement, this post came from an unbelievably fabulous blog that I've just discovered, style-files.com

Vetiver

2009-02-25T05:12:00.003-05:00

I have been hoarding this poster on my desktop for weeks and decided to track down its illustrator and do a little investigating.

It comes from the creative talents of Ben Javens, Vetiver are a folky band who are in the country at the moment supporting among others, Fleet Foxes, who I happened to see on Sunday night at the Roundhouse. Sadly, Vetiver were not there and nor was Ben's lovely tree poster.

(PS Fleet Foxes were great!)

Life on the slant

2009-02-25T05:03:00.004-05:00

Presenting the Italic Poster, quirky idea from Eivind Søreng Molvær,

www.eivindmolvaer.com

You can buy it for 35 Great British Pounds here. Take a look around the site, some interesting ideas, especially the cross-eyed clock on the home page. Cross your eyes et voila!

Ain't life grand?

2009-02-23T09:50:00.003-05:00

This happens to be true, which is not a laughing matter, and I'm not making light of it, but I just found it accidentally at Aintlifegrand.co.uk and it tickled me. Do you ever have conversations where your opposite number manages to pull out a conversational killer (so to speak, I'm not being deliberately morbid).

The point of the post is to nudge you in the direction of aintlifegrand, because (i) it's a great sentiment and (ii) it has jolly good, light-hearted stuff.

His name is Chris Gray and you can also see his stuff over at TOY illustration

Painting process

2009-02-18T13:10:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I did some painting, but I was set Valentine's as a deadline. I really enjoyed the process, always hard to know when to stop, I think I prefer some of the work in progress images.

Today I am enjoying green

2009-02-18T12:48:00.002-05:00

Sage, mint, lime, leaf, grass, verdigris, olive, pea, sea, emerald and jade. All greens, recent finds on Ffffound

A* for Zara

2009-02-18T09:26:00.003-05:00

I'm a little jealous, ok very jealous of the skills of Zara Picken, I found her work featured on Cookie's blog and it's beautiful. Muted colours and lovely textures illustrate quirky ideas. Zara is a recent graduate and is already picking up accolades and commissions.

The nodding woman in no way represents my current state, but let's say I can relate. The idea of x-raying beards to find out what's harbouring inside is inspired. Keep up to date with Zara's blog here.

www.zaraillustrates.com

Close to my heart

2009-02-18T07:46:00.004-05:00

My friends over at Sennep have just launched this petition campaign for British Heart Foundation, it's a good cause, sign up and enjoy the beautiful origami animation.

Hold your breath

2009-02-16T09:25:00.005-05:00

VIEW LARGE

Spectacular images by Narelle Autio capturing swimmers in a foamy struggle with the water. The middle one in particular looks like a giant effervescent hand grasping his body. Simply magical.
More premium images over at the Stills Gallery.

Love poetry

2009-02-16T09:08:00.003-05:00

I spotted this image over at estupipedia, which despite not quite understanding the spanish lingo, it's fast becoming one of my favourite sites for inspiration.

Anyway, love the love image, images/fonts in bookshelves is quite a la mode and it also illustrates the Feist lyrics that have been playing on a loop in my brain recently. Perhaps by writing them down I'll exorcise them.

Intuition - Feist
"And you choose, you chose
Poetry over prose"

Breaking news!

2009-02-11T10:05:00.006-05:00

I posted a while back about slings that tell stories, well they should make one for my friend who did her arm a mischief playing Korfball. Don't worry I don't know what korfball is either and Jemma's explained it to me several times now...

In short I thought I'd show some of Jemma's latest work, so that when the cast comes off you may commission her and her nicely rested drawing hand.

Jemma has many diverse clients but her latest spell of editorial illustrations for The Independent is high on my radar at the moment. Did you spot the Gordon Brown in the cliff face? Magic.

www.jemillo.com

While you're waiting...

2009-02-11T09:55:00.003-05:00

My latest read, The Book Thief is with me at all times, it's a great story narrated by Death, no less, anyway I'm taking my sweet time over it, because it's excellent and I don't want it to end.

Interestingly I was in a Post Office queue for 30minutes the other day and it was lovely because I read the whole time. Queuing, so ordered, so British. Why am I uttering this drivel? Oh yes, books are great for swallowing you whole, as this advert neatly shows. The fact it happens to be Penguin is merely a coincidence, although as you know, I love them too.