Design Debate

Extremely Cool Pantone iPhone 4 Cases

2011-09-15T16:54:00.000+01:00

My iPhone finally looks as cool as it should! When I at last got the iPhone 4 I had a sudden fear that I would scratch it, so bought a very dull case that made it look extremely drab. Thankfully I spotted a link to this superb Pantone iPhone Case!

As a graphic designer, anything to do with Pantone colours is an instant hit, so when I came across Case Scenario's website I had to get a case as close to our brand colours as possible. Make sure you take a look at their website, they have iPad covers and all sorts of very stylish designs.

I had to post this online as all my friends and family are getting bored of me showing them the cover now...

Carl Spencer
Pickle Design

Jean Shrimpton and David Bailey

2011-08-05T10:33:00.007+01:00

A new drama based on the relationship between Jean Shrimpton and David Bailey will shortly be airing on BBC4, and having two extremely iconic figures of the 60s in one programme is a very appealing prospect!

The drama focuses on an unpredictable 1962 Vogue photo shoot in New York, while defining the style of the Sixties along the way, but also tells the story of the pair falling in love. We''ll Take Manhattan is currently in post production and is set to air now in 2012. The director, John McKay, has previously directed episodes of Life on Mars and other television programmes. He also writes. Karen Gillan and Aneurin Banard will play Jean and David, and a recent Vogue shoot shows that they look the part.

Definitely something to keep an eye open for, and worth buying the latest edition of Vogue.

Banksy and Poussin's Work Painted Over

2011-07-19T12:38:00.007+01:00

Gorilla in a Pink Mask - Banksy
Photograph - Daily Mail

July has seen two pieces of art damaged, both in very different circumstances. The Banksy above was one victim, while Poussin's painting was defaced on the other side of the country.

Saeed Ahmed whitewashed the wall that featured Banksy's "Gorilla in a Pink Mask", while a man spray painted onto "The Adoration of the Golden Calf" by Nicolas Poussin. The result of Ahmed's DIY is below.

Whitewashed Wall - Saeed Ahmed
Photograph - Daily Mail

While Poussin's painting and its current state are here.

The Adoration of the Golden Calf - Nicolas Poussin
Photograph - The Guardian

Spray Paint - Vandal
Photograph - The Guardian

What struck me by these two parallel incidents is the similarity of the response by the art world. Yet Banksy's piece was created from the same media used to damage Poussin's, and in a similar manner, while Ahmed has probably painted over other graffiti as a means to tidy up inner city buildings.

Reactions to both acts has naturally been vehement, especially considering the cost of repair, but neither artist will pass comment due to anonymity and death. Banksy leaves his work to cope with the rigours of the British weather and populace intentionally, and surely decorating by someone unaware of his work falls into this category. I doubt he would approve of a work of art like Poussin's being damaged, but may appreciate the irony.

As long as we want to make art available to all to enjoy, we need to expect very sad damage like this. Either that or become ever more precious and prohibitive, and take them ever further from the public eye.

Zeitgeist 19th February 2011

2011-02-19T19:39:00.006Z

Natalie Portman - Vogue Germany by Alex Cayley, November 2005

Five new images from the internet to enjoy.

Pantone Chip Cookies from Kim Neill

Fashion Photography

SantaMonica Poster Design

Back To The Future Time Machine

Metropolis Restored to 1927 Original

2010-09-03T12:53:00.006+01:00

February 2010 saw the premier, in Berlin of a newly restored, near-as-damn-it to the original, version of Fritz Lang's Metropolis. The film is now enjoying a limited theatrical release. Perhaps it is an appropriate moment then, to put its influence and influences into context.

Metropolis and the earlier Russian film Aelita, which inspired it, explore the plight of the proletariat under a greedy, exploitative ruling class. Both feature an uprising, the catalyst for which is a love affair breeching the class divide. Metropolis also follows Aelita's suit in its adoption of a science fiction setting; both films project the tensions of the present onto a dystopian future. However, if Aelita was a conceptually original take the oppressive conditions of pre Revolution Russia, it is Metropolis that is the more cinematically accomplished.

The two films exemplify divergent tendencies. Soviet Cinema would be increasingly informed by Marxism. This was manifest in a Constructivist aesthetic and the technique of Montage, wherein short scenes are cut together, or juxtaposed - as used to conspicuous effect in Sergei Eisenstein's Strike of 1925. Symbolic power and meaning are thus built-up, or constructed through an aggregation of images. This animated Marxist ideas about clash and collectivism, opposed to the Western cult of individualism. Germany, in particular manifested a distinctive concern with individual, subjective experience through its engagement with Expressionism. Though a broadly European movement, it found its most potent interpretation in the art and film of pre Nazi Germany. Whilst the Russian artistic project was an ideologically informed protest against class inequality, Expressionism grappled with more abstract fears; the personal disorientation suffered in a dislocated society. Expressionism frequently describes a nightmare world where nothing is what it seems. Faces are distorted, streets disappear into infinity, buildings loom and tower, cities are labyrinthine.

While montage is an aesthetic interpretation of an ideological idea, in Expressionism, the aesthetic is the idea. Expressionism, particularly in film gives shape and form to primal feelings. Thus it is the aesthetic of Metropolis, rather than its plot that enjoys enduring and universal appeal. Moreover, this aesthetic donated a visual language to film that is still current. When Fritz Lang emigrated to Hollywood to escape Nazism, he took with him some of the most sophisticated cinematic techniques then available. His influence on the biggest movie stage in the world cannot be overestimated. The elongated shadows of Expressionist cinema found a new incarnation in Film Noir as well as the 'ray gun' aesthetic of so many Sci-fi movies. The imagery of Metropolis proved itself adaptable to a range of cinematic genres and its atmosphere of the uncanny continues to resonate.

The official website of the film, featuring the story of its restoration and screening details is www.metropolis1927.com.

Joseph Bouzaglo

Sphere Factor

2010-08-09T10:27:00.004+01:00

A football is not, it would seem, just a football. Every league and major tournament has its own ball. The 2010 World Cup, for example introduced the Jabulani, a revolutionary Adidas design said to fly truer than any other ball. However, with every new ball comes a new raft of complaints about how it plays. Speaking on Radio 5 back in the spring, England Goalkeeper David James said that the Jabulani would cause keepers a lot of embarrassment. Conversely, strikers complained that it was difficult to keep down, at least English strikers did!

How can different footballs, which by the way, have to conform to a regulation size and weight, contain so many surprises? The three factors most likely to affect play are how well the ball keeps its shape, the degree to which the slight weight in-balance caused by the inflation valve is minimized and lastly, visibility.

It is likely that commercial imperatives, rather than the pursuit of dynamic perfection drive the introduction of new and exclusive footballs. That aside, the humble football sits at an intersection of engineering, aesthetics and cultural iconography. Was there ever a more worthy subject of Design Debate?

I offer three personal choices that represent a trinity of technical excellence, striking aesthetics and cultural significance. Feel free to disagree.

The Adidas Telstar

In the number 1 spot, it has to be the Adidas Telstar. The official match ball of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Some say the most exciting tournament ever. The construction of the ball was based on American architect, Buckminster Fuller's ideas for geodesic construction. It was an innovative example of a technical and cultural crossover. Its alternating black and white panels make it an elegant and striking design, whether seen at close quarters, or via crude 1970s broadcasting; visibility to television audiences was a major factor in its design. Moreover, the Telstar has become iconic. Ask a disinterested party to describe a football and the chances are they will describe a Telstar. It is also the football design most often represented graphically, as a symbol of the game. The quintessential football.

The Adidas Tango

Secondly, designed for the 1982 World cup in Spain, the Adidas Tango. The same 32 panel construction as the Telstar, but with a variation in markings. Not quite as original, but still a biggie in my view.

The Pantofola D'Oro History Ball

Lastly, on a retro tip, from legendary footballing brand Pantofola D'Oro - The History Ball. At around £80.00, it is probably destined for life on a study, or bedroom shelf. Its blatant appeal to the heritage market illustrates the changed cultural status of football in the 21st Century; football has become chic. No longer hijacked by the philistine element, the sport increasingly appeals on the basis of its heritage, cosmopolitanism and creativity.

Joseph Bouzaglo

City Slickers

2010-06-19T14:45:00.004+01:00

Goldman Sachs Website

What do you picture when you think of the City of London - The Bank of England with its colonnaded fascade? Men in pinstriped suits and bowler hats? Traders frantically signaling instructions across the floor of the Stock Exchange? Or, perhaps computer screens animated by a dizzying array of charts and indexes?

The Blackstone Group Website

The persistence of such images is probably due to cinema and news media as much as to the city itself. Indeed, our most enduring impressions of the city are probably drawn from its history, rather than its present; crucially, from a time pre 1995. It was around this time that the city effectively reinvented itself to address the new economy created by dot.coms.

So, what is the contemporary face of the city? What do city institutions ask for when they work with designers? Below are the websites of three city heavy weights. Feel free to speculate on what the briefs might have been.

KBC Peel Hunt Website

To kick start the debate, I offer the following scenario:

Bank Chairman: 'I'm told we're due for a re-brand. We must ensure continuity. Something solid that reflects our history - oh, and a nice picture of head office.'

Head of Investment: 'Well sir, that doesn't really reflect the new economic power-base. We need to adapt.'

Bank Chairman: 'Our clients rely on our unchanging values. In fact, it might be good to involve some of our more influential clients in this consultation.'

Head of Communications: 'There's a problem with that, sir. They're all finishing their theses'.'

Bank Chairman: 'I beg your pardon.'

Head of Investment: 'They are science grads. The fact is, sir, we are moving into a knowledge economy. Ideas are the new currency and technology is the growth sector. The kids are making the future.'

Head of Communications: 'We need to reflect the values and practices shaping the economy now; networking, informality, intellectual capital, athleticism.'

Bank Chairman: 'How do we do that then?'

Head of Communications: 'We tap into the imagery of sport - to show that we're dynamic and performance oriented. We feature images of people, meeting up and working together - to show that we're collaborative and informal. And we work with the best designers to create a web sites that are extensive and interactive to reflect the range and sophistication of our capabilities.

Bank Chairman: 'Do you really think it will work?'

Head of Investment: 'We'll be laughing all the way to the bank- this bank!'

Joseph Bouzaglo

Zeitgeist 8th May 2010

2010-05-08T23:58:00.006+01:00

This Zeitgeist features illustration and obscure photographs, along with robot spies...

Great Design and Healthy Too!

2010-04-13T12:47:00.003+01:00

The latest excitement in our office has been the discovery of 'graze boxes', they are snack boxes that get delivered to you at work. They are ordered through their website www.graze.com and consist of fresh fruit and nibbles chosen to your requirements.

We just love the idea, its ethos (everything is made from recycled materials), and the the way the website and packaging are designed. The box fits through a letterbox so that you don't have to wait in or sign for it.

The postage paid logo and the graze logo are effectively displayed in white ink on the brown cardboard. Inside, the box is divided into sections that lift out, complete with a recipe card, nutritional information and a 100% recycled napkin. We at Pickle can't fault it, and all for only £2.99!

Marie Lawley

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Zeitgeist 4th April 2010

2010-04-04T21:37:00.003+01:00

This selection of images from the internet include intriguing illustration, dolls and captivating black and white photography.

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Inventive Presents at Suck UK

2010-02-14T21:02:00.005Z

How I take my tea colour match

Recently when searching for presents for my brothers I hit a loss. There is so much on the web, but I always seem to find the cliche tacky stuff that shows I was stuck for ideas! However whilst browsing today I noticed the company Suck UK. They have been running for 10 years and offer products that appeal to the design savvy.

The cardboard ghetto blaster eye pod speaker system

Suck UK have won countless awards for their innovation such as, Gift of the Year and Young Designer of the Year (Crabtree and Evelyn). Their main product designers are Jude and Sam, based in the East End of London. Although the set up is quite established now, in the beginning it was more along the lines of kitchen experiments and workshops in squatter's digs. This colourful beginning shows itself in the humour of the products on sale.

The carve your own wooden postcard

Not only showcasing their own talent, there are cherry-picked products from across the world. Some items that caught my eye are the "Who tall are you" wall chart (allowing you to see which celebrity you equal in stature), for the adventurous cat there are paper airplanes, wooden postcards for a heart felt message you can carve, and umbrellas that change colour in the rain!

Friendly Animal Carrier Bag Holders

It is industrial design that fits comfortably into our lives and the varied price bracket means no one is priced out. Definitely worth a look next time you are trying to find an effortlessly clever gift.

Emma Julian

Alphabet Ice Molds

Zeigeist 16th January 2010

2010-01-16T17:34:00.004Z

Our latest selection of images include classic black and white photography and vivid illustration.

Wall Tattoos

2009-12-20T18:08:00.005Z

This post is all about "Wall Tattoos" as they are known, a revelation in my book. I can never settle on painting my walls a particular colour, so I never get round to doing it at all and although I very much like wallpaper, it feels like a big job for a little person! So wall decals or tattoos seem the perfect solution. Supposedly easy to put up and to take down so perfect for any one who wishes to personalise a space like rented accommodation.

I like the idea of of art spilling out of canvases and onto the walls. I am inspired especially by this time of year, with it's silhouetted skeletal trees providing a theatrical backdrop against a static white sky. The idea of bringing some of that drama indoors in a alternative way appeals. Obviously interiors are no stranger to art on the walls, be this with naive murals or children's stickers, but this method some how integrates the illustration with the room.

In my moments of inner-child I fancy picking up a pen and doodling all over my walls but this solution is a little less permanent and for those of us that find it hard to commit it's perfect. The choice is varied with companies such as Surface Collective, WALLTAT and Blik offering designs. Blik say "Transfers can be used to jazz up your old and new tableware and glassware, your kitchen and bathroom tiles, laptop, iPod or any other "stuff" you want. So get sticky with it!"

Emma Julian

Polaroid and The Impossible Project

2009-11-12T12:18:00.003Z

Just consider Polariod film. It is instant happiness. This well loved photography process has been quite endangered these last a few years, but it seems with much lobby and support the campaigners may have snatched a victory.

In June 2008 Polaroid stopped producing their analog instant film, and although this feels like an inevitable conclusion to the way technology has evolved, some have fought to keep the dream alive. The Impossible Project have made it their mission to produce a new film that is compatible with vintage Polariod cameras. They have produced a slick website and a convincing campaign that seems to have got Polaroid sitting up and paying attention. As a result Polariod have announced that they will re-launch some of their most famous Polariod Instant Cameras. The Impossible Project have been commissioned to create these new Polariod branded films in the middle of 2010.

So some exciting developments. Savepolariod.com have also created public interest, eager themselves to save the invention of instant film by Edwin Land from being abandoned. On their website they have been collecting stories in praise of the Polariod instant film. One that caught my eye was from haybale.org - Joe of New York city will send you your own personal Polariod picture of anything from anywhere in New York City. For a few cost-covering dollars you can have "a tangible record of a single moment in time shared by two strangers".

Personally there is a space in my heart for the happy-snappy film. It was a constant companion in my early years at art college, and reading peoples stories has reminded me of seeing my compositions appear before my eyes. Now hopefully future generations can have this satisfaction too.

Emma Julian

Zeigeist 18th October 2009

2009-10-18T19:34:00.006+01:00

October's Zeitgeist has a selection of twelve images from the internet, and includes Victorian illustration, Japanese postcards and classic black and white images.

Zeitgeist 15th September 2009

2009-09-15T20:40:00.003+01:00

This month's Zeitgeist includes iconic imagery alongside fuzzy photographs... just how it should be!

Living Creatively

2009-09-09T11:00:00.002+01:00

We asked Graphic Designer, Emma Julian, what has caught her eye in the creative industry currently, she pointed us to an interesting website:

"When scouring the web for inspiration (which is always enjoyable and very distracting), I came across this Australian website: www.livingcreatively.com.au - a great online resource for everyday creativity.

Living Creatively present an online magazine once a month that's brimming with ideas. Currently on issue 10, it has regular features including the “Editor's Letter”, “What's New”, “Cool Hunting”, “Library Plus” and “Inspiration”. With informative articles, guides to the latest up and coming thing, lists of creative books, project sheets and soon to come will be a market place to buy and sell your own handmade items.

I especially like the section titled “Cool Hunting”, which this month features the 3D artist Julian Beever who conjures a 3D world from the flat, and well trodden, city pavements.

Although I enjoy the instant nature of online inspiration, there is something quite wonderful about a glossy magazine, and to its credit this website manages to maintain some of that feel. I like the use of mood-board collages and top ten lists.

Things that took my fancy in this month's issue are an article on Jacqueline Morony of Millicent & Frank, and the intricate paper art of Jo Neville. The website is a great spring board for inspiration, focussing mainly on the crafty but showcasing anything from tea cosies to pregnant chairs!"

Nerdoh T-Shirt Designs

2009-08-17T18:31:00.005+01:00

Looking through the movie paraphernalia available from the larger chains, I once again moved on, finding them overwhelmingly mainstream. I need a new wardrobe and have been looking at the movie related T-shirts, but even when these large concerns attempt to be edgy, they somehow miss the point. Companies that claim to be associated with films are just a short step away from the faux pop culture shirts your local Next stocks.

For the true film geek, something with a little more depth and obscurity is required. Most shirt designs, emblazoned with the name of a cult classic, are the clothing equivalent of going up to the cool kids at school and saying, “I like The Arctic Monkeys, can I be in your gang?”

True film lovers look for websites like Nerdoh, who offer a range of shirts carrying references only other aficionados will recognise, and for those who do not spot the connection, the designs are strong enough to stand alone.

The movies that have received this treatment include legends like Planet of the Apes and one of my favourite designs, Jaws. But do not over look recent pictures like 30 Days of Night and Iron Man.

Nerdoh’s styles tap into the retro look with distressed graphics and understated designs such as the Nostromo shirt above, alongside far more ostentatious images, like a life size Proton Pack.

The fit is good and the website’s claim of the shirts being high quality is honest. These are garments that will without doubt enhance your wardrobe. I have been wearing the Nostromo shirt whenever I go out, and although no one has guessed the movie it ties in with (anyone got an idea?), that has only made me consider getting new friends!

Zeitgeist 14th July 2009

2009-07-14T18:45:00.007+01:00

This month's Zeitgeist features an eclectic selection of images from the web. Within these ten pictures you will see pop culture illustration, fashion photography from the early sixties, and the two shots above that portray vivid pattern.

The Tub Chair Company

2009-07-01T16:53:00.003+01:00

Recently a new website and service was brought to my attention, The Tub Chair Company, an online business that specialise in selling simply that. One of the designers at my studio had a look at the site, and wrote the following about this company:

"Tub chairs. Perhaps not something you realised you needed in your life, but The Tub Chair Company has a great selection. I'm all for statement furniture and this site has a great selection. Italian designer, real leather, or my favourite (as I am quite pattern obsessed) the fabric ones. It's a nicely presented site with a good range of prices. I personally like the hugability of these type of chairs, quite a cosy feeling being surrounded by chair!

The site has some stylish classics, a great addition to any home or commercial place, definitely worth a look!" Emma Julian

Zeitgeist

2009-06-09T18:32:00.005+01:00

Here are five images for the first Zeitgeist post. I will scour the internet each month to find pictorial representation of the moment.

Limited Edition T-Shirts

2009-05-21T09:34:00.007+01:00

Pickle Design have just released a very limited run of uniquely designed t-shirts. Pictured above, there are two styles featuring the same design which designer, Emma Julian, talks about below...

"We have just received delivery of the Pickle t-shirts, standard and girl-fit. I was asked to use my illustration to create a graphic image that could work well for unisex t-shirts.

"Having just completed some illustrations for our self-initiated Calendar and Badges project, the t-shirt graphic certainly contains influences from the themes I used for my contribution into that project. For example, I used some aspects from the images I created for the Third Man badge.

"Really, the design is a graphic explosion of pattern, type and image. My thoughts came from doodles on my note pad and bits of inspiration from around the office. The overall effect is quite comic strip. I had created several designs which we put to the vote on our news blog, and this one won (thankfully my favourite!). After trying out many colour options, I thought that we would keep it simple with grey and white, so the pattern is quite subtle, but still striking." Emma Julian

The graphic tees are available to buy from the Pickle Design Shop, delivered only in the UK currently.

Glade, Mr Muscle and other Dubbed Adverts

2009-04-26T19:20:00.001+01:00

I need some assistance. After watching the latest Mr Muscle advert run once more, I have begun to lose faith in the British public.

I have not been able to locate the UK version, but this one fits the bill just as well:

I am not going to even begin to critically analyse this travesty, not even going to start to question the thought process that went into it, but will address the lack of respect we are being shown by all the companies involved in putting it on our screens. The fact that this is a foreign version of the advert we see on UK screens emphasises the point, going to YouTube will reveal the other nationalities it has been dubbed into, making it clear that this very brief spot has been intended to work around the globe.

S.C. Johnson, an American firm, and worth vast sums of money, own the brand Mr Muscle, as well as another offender, Glade:

Again, analysis of this spot defies logic, let alone taste, but it shows a lazy approach that has been becoming ever more prevalent, and will only get worse if we as consumers respond to it - producing one advert and then simply dubbing in languages to fit the nation. Considering they want our money, you would expect at least some interest in the individual cultures they are planning to sell to.

Perhaps a new business breaking into a multi-cultural market could be excused for such an approach, but this is a firm that has been dominating supermarket shelves for decades.

I am not proposing a mass boycott of S.C. Johnson products, but trying to engender some concern over these embarrassing advertising campaigns. Please comment on this article, and leave some suggestions of other badly dubbed adverts.

"Shared Experience" TV Adverts: Halifax "A little extra help"

2009-03-18T18:45:00.010Z

"Shared Experience" advertising; TV spots that are filmed in public places with, ostensibly, actual reactions from passers-by. They seemed to begin in earnest after the very successful Fallon adverts for the Sony Bravia.

I have written before regarding the affect of those award wining spots, and so much seems to stem from them when analysed. The halcyon photography, folk music soundtrack and vérité direction, has been endlessly emulated from Orange to Berocca. Some work, others are embarrassing.

Take a look at the latest from Halifax, their first advert to depart from the apparently troubled relationship with Howard, the previous face of the company:

Again, they have filled their advertising with actual members of their staff, and they should be commended for that, especially when those chosen are able to convey the required level of sincerity.

But they have altered the style and approach of their advertising campaign dramatically, approaching the established Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners to create something for these problematic times in the financial sector. The design agency's website contains this explanation of the project:

"Since 2000, the Halifax brand enjoyed huge success on the back of a range of strong, value-led propositions, high-impact, comparative advertising and an optimistic brand personality that differentiated it from the Big 4 banks. Over the last few years, the bank has been shifting the emphasis from a product to a customer focus and in 2009 decided to launch a new campaign to bring that change to life and demonstrate how Halifax looks after customers and rewards them for their business. The campaign powerfully dramatises the way Halifax colleagues work together to give their customers 'a little extra help'".

DLKW are familiar with working with large companies, but were hardly the agency to approach for anything challenging. Their clients include a list of Play Safers - Vauxhall, Opel, Burger King - brands that fit into the public consciousness inconspicuously by using attractive people and familiar settings. But nonetheless, Halifax chose them attempt to play in more off the wall territory.

The spot is not without its merits; well shot, with some imaginative camera angles, and undeniably good stunt coordination. What lets it down though is the saccharine sentiments, and insensitivity to those affected by the bank's errors of judgement.

We are expected to admire the smooth team work that produces such effortless communication with their customers, and yet are instead left wondering at the inefficiency of what appears to be an over staffed business. Their employees are reduced to a public spectacle.

The focus, according to DLKW, is the customer, but the interactions between staff and customers are contrived and syrupy, scuppering the supposed documentary approach. Extensive efforts have been taken to cause us to wonder at the fluidity of Halifax, as they run around with a peculiar, fervourous hivemind. Conversely, I was left musing over the enormous waste of energy used, especially considering there were abundant stairs available in the two human pyramid scenes.

I will mention briefly the issues that arise from the banking crisis, as to ignore them is pointless. Halifax is one of the many brands under the RBS banner, along with HBOS, now owned by Lloyds. Their well documented style of banking has contributed to the recession the United Kingdom has entered, and they have received a great deal of money from the government. It is for you to consider whether the five pounds they are offering customers is a worthy cause for celebration.

TITLE
A little extra help

CLIENT
Halifax

SOUNDTRACK
Born Ruffins - Little Garcon

LOCATION
Auckland, New Zealand

AGENCY
Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners

DIRECTOR
Garth Davis

Touch Screen Phone Marketing

2009-02-25T17:30:00.008Z

I have finally decided I can wait no longer and am going for a new phone. I have been waiting in the vain hope that Apple iphones will come down to a more realistic price, but now a mobile device with good quality internet access has become a necessity, not a luxury, forcing my hand.

The technology in the iphone is very attractive, but cost has always been an issue, prompting me to examine different options. The souped-up standard mobiles initially looked a possible alternative, and as I already had a Samsung I took a look at the Samsung Soul. I also speculated that a Blackberry may supply the functionality that I needed, if not the brand name. The Storm jumped out as an option.

But in the end, as a designer, I could not seperate the products from their marketing. The Samsung Soul for instance has been given a very feeble advertising campaign that absolutely baffled me as to the item itself. Take a look at the following spot:

This was an advert designed for a pan European appeal, and composed of very gaudy palette. The soundtrack seems very out of place, not gelling with the two very generic European actors, overacting in the way that only people in adverts can. The script even appears to have been poorly translated, or at least ill advised, and the sensation of a poor-man's-iphone is complete with dated CGI, and then realisation that the "magic touch" is only possible from a small panel, with limited controls.

So, onto the more plausible alternative to Apple; Blackberry:

A lot more work has been put into this spot, and at least some market research. But once again we are given an advert that is intended to work across several countries; a disappointing economising. There are strong lifestyle conceits in this advert, as we are presented with an exclusive party and well dressed twenty-somethings. But our focus is on the young - obviously successful - man, with people contacting him via his phone, even more important than the celebrities-in-waiting around him. He walks away to use his Blackberry, and then, to emphasise the touch screen, he interacts with the world outside the room by touching the window (possibly leaving grease marks; we are not informed).

Apart from the impression that his "great power" is limited to turning on and off lights, the spot does not tell us much about the product itself. It is far too busy using a stock, inoffensive, indie guitar track, and placing the phone in amongst attractive surroundings for their key demographic.

How does Apple fare? Here is just one of the adverts they have used:

What more do I need to say? They let the product speak for itself, placing it in a Marks and Spencer style setting, using sumptuous close-ups and well scripted dialogue. The tag line used in some instances (not here) of, "you'll wonder how you lived without it" is well thought out and accurate. My life changed after being given my first ipod (albeit in minor, music related, ways, but music is a big part of my life, and now the ipod contains photos of my baby boy as well!), so the addition of an iphone to ones possessions I would expect to make a fair impact on communication and media use.

There has also been consideration to the multiple markets that the iphone addresses, ranging from internet use, music, photos, and now the expanding gaming applications. The simple, understated soundtrack is used throughout the campaign and has become recognisable. Leaving an advert that does not take up too much of your time, but leaves a lasting impression.

I have not even mentioned the simplicity and practicality in its design, its "must have" marketing appeal, or its compatibility with my Mac at work. My only disappointment is that if I want white, the price goes up!

New Pickle Design Website Launched

2009-01-30T21:53:00.008Z

Pickle Design have launched their new website, and by all accounts are very proud. It has taken some time to get the look that they felt represented the company well, and also guarantee that the dynamic between company and client is clear. It was very much a team project, but Emma took on the task of realising the site, lending her unique style to a design that was a departure for her in some ways.

"The new website was designed to make work for our clients the main focus, so we ensured the image dominated the page, with only minimal typography in a very structured format. The toolbar consists of swatch style colours, as a fun way to reflect the tools of our trade, these lent themselves successfully to forming categories and sub-categories using a hierarchy of tones.

We also included our new, refreshed branding, consisting of a simplified hand-drawn logo to reflect our illustrative style." Emma Julian

As Emma brings out, the toolbar was integral to the site's success. While the minimal layout of the rest of the framework is pleasing to the eye, and fulfilled the parameters that Pickle set out; it failed to pass on to visitors the relaxed nature of the studio. Once the colour and individuality of the tools were added, the project came alive.

Pickle Design hopes that the new website will serve as an easy entrance into the work they have produced for clients, showing users the potential for their own companies.

Dolce & Gabbana Perfume Adverts

2009-01-10T21:37:00.002Z

Over the last month, the commercial breaks have been packed with adverts for perfume and cologne. There have been some dire offerings and a few great spots, the two that have really stuck with me have been for Dolce & Gabbana, advertising The One, male and female fragrances.

They are both constructed in similar ways, shot in opulent black and white with a classic jazz record as a soundtrack. Both focus on one attractive celebrity, their exposure to the press as a sign of adoration and compliment, and each conclude with a transformation into colour with the flash bulbs. Matthew McConaughey and Gisele Bundchen star.

McConaughey's follows him from the car as he looks weary (but still cool!), he enters his palacial apartment and, after removing his shirt, reclines on an expensive sofa. Colour floods the screen as suddenly he is photographed from what can only be a previously invisible group of paparazzi. His face breaks into a smile.

It is as if he can only exist with the affirmation of his importance. He is placed in a pose and situation that would never occur, simply to display his body. The overall affect is to portray him as a needy narcissist, perhaps living in his own imagination.

Bundchen is portrayed quite differently. Apart from an opening scene where she poses purely for the camera, the rest of the spot takes place as if on a stage. Her dressing room is lit against this black backdrop, and she continues a dialogue with the make-up artists around her as she fusses about her appearance. Finally she walks out into the photography and a similar wash of colour drenches the screen.

The impression is one of an insight into a model's life, glamourising it, centring her among a nameless team who's focus is on presenting her to the world, and when she is, that world revolves around her. She is placed in control, and the influx of colour confirms it.

The distance between the two adverts astounds me. There is such energy to Bunchen's, while McConaughey's is languid and voyeuristic, I wonder at how both can be advertising practically the same product within the same campaign.

Comic Book Art

2008-12-13T18:14:00.001Z

When planning our annual end of year project, we decided to focus on twelve influential aspects of the creative team's lives. We chose four items each to illustrate and print on badges. (They will be available for the beginning of January, feel free to request one). One of the four I selected was comic book art, a passion of mine since my teens, but I struggled to convince the other two designers in the team, Marie and Emma.

There is undoubtedly prejudice against comic books from some demographic groups, and easy to see why. When trying to engender the same enthusiasm in the rest of the team, I was hard pressed to show good examples of the stunning art form without picking out blood spattered scenes in the more credible volumes, or stupidly revealing spandex outfits on female characters.

There is a real need for graphic novels that bridge the gap between superhero books, full of characters that follow American foreign policy and resemble the Aryan ideal, and the direct antithesis in violent anti heroes. With a little effort, superb titles can be found, but if the style wants to be taken seriously, it must shed some of its negative reputation.

Fallon's Sony Bravia Advert

2008-12-05T17:59:00.001Z

Fallon's recent advert for the Sony Bravia, Play Doh, has just won the British Television Advertising Craft Awards. In fact, they have been awarded a lot of well deserved awards for their television work this year. It just seems a shame that it was this advert that won them the award.

Their previous two campaigns were outstanding, and altered way television advertising was formulated dramatically. The bouncing balls and exploding paint fireworks flowed seamlessly into the public consciousness, even spawning spoof campaigns by other companies such as this particularly well thought out homage:

Those advertisements worked through their understated audacity and exceptional use of soundtrack, and their Play Doh piece started with as much promise, hinting that the initial concepts were being reworked with imagination. But then the Rolling Stones kicks in and lets everything following down.

I happen to really like the track they chose, and it is very clear why "She's a Rainbow" was selected; but whereas "Heartbeats" from the original advert was, at the time, skirting the edges of popularity, and the second expertly choreographed Rossini's "Thieving Magpie", a piece of music than most recognised but could not place - Play Doh's was too obvious. Far too obvious.

The subtly had been lost, and this became more apparent as the ad progressed. The wonderful shots of rabbits was not enough. At the point where once we saw a beautifully shot frog leaping from a drainpipe, or a surreal clown placed without need of explanation, the rabbits merge and become a wave of play doh. The animation is impeccable, the concept well realised, the timing fits perfectly with the Stones classic... But it is too much, there was no need for the grandiose climax.

Perhaps Fallon where trying to up the ante, especially as so many other agencies were following suit. But they should have known that the ability to work wonders, does not mean they should always be worked.

So why did they get the award? Was it a case of Martin Scorsese receiving his oscar for The Departed and not Raging Bull - it was overdue to say the least. Take a look at the adverts and judge for yourself.

Stock Photography

2008-11-29T17:19:00.002Z

This week we put together an advertising campaign for a financial advisers, and purchased some stock photography as time was short and a deadline loomed. This has reminded me of all my concerns about using this service, yet again. The online image banks such as iStockphoto, are a useful resource, and when used selectively can produce excellent results. But the general standard of image is just shocking, take this shot for example:
To find the shots we needed for the campaign, we had to trawl through countless poorly posed, generically composed shots such as this, and although we were able to find the image we were looking for, it was a depressing task.

What compounded my irritation was the cost of the shots we wanted from such sites as Getty Images and Image Source. Both would have cost us around a thousand pounds for a single image, for the use we required. While the photograph in question was certainly of a high standard, and fitted the bill well, the cost made it unfeasible for the project.

If time had allowed, we would have had a photo shoot, infinitely more preferable, but there was no opportunity in this instance. To work with a good photographer that is happy to help realise the creative direction our studio is taking, is a very satisfying and exciting process, but also difficult to convince some clients to undertake. When there are off the peg solutions available, a few days working on something individual can seem daunting.

And yet, the end result is so much more personal and cost effective. We are in a situation where we will have to continue to look for shots that could have been used many times before, by any number of companies. Whereas, just one day of shooting would provide just what we are looking for, for, possibly, years to come.

Again, I am not arguing that stock photography should be ignored, but while it is so easily available, there are a lot of creative photographers that are not being used to their full potential. It is down to us to persuade clients to keep this resource in its proper context.

Space & Graphics

2008-11-22T18:27:00.002Z

Pickle Design have recently completed work on the Space & Graphics website. Working closely with Joseph Bouzaglo, they created the brand and carried it through onto stationery options.

Joe chose to work with Pickle Design as the style of their creative team matched his vision. He wanted to take advantage of the illustrative approach of Emma Julian and they minimalist layout of Marie Lawley. The result is a very tight website that hints at freedom of scope in its detail.

Cut Price Design

2008-11-15T21:55:00.002Z

As the downturn in the financial markets continues, and the media eagerly prophecies worse to come, we may see a worrying trend in graphic design. A few weeks ago, I saw an advert for Discount Brands at Tesco. What was significant was the packaging and style of direction, clearly aimed at rivals such as Lidl and Aldi.

These two companies have branding that reflects their roots, distinctly German. After having visited my wife's family in what was East Germany, I was surprised to see the dramatic differences in marketing. We would consider them outdated, as is often the case when looking at such brands as Lidl.

This is not to say these businesses are not valuable assets, not only are they well priced, but they offer products not available in many other stores. My concern is the style of package design. As I said, I was certain I was not watching a UK based supermarket's advert, especially not Tesco. This implies that they feel the British public associate cheap products with a low standard of design, take a look at the following images of their existing bottom of the range products:

These are items that, quite frankly, make me feel as if I would hate the food or drink within. Possibly the intention of the decision, but if that is the case, it is a cynical policy, reserving attractive design for those with enough money to pay for it.

Sir Allen Lane once said, 'Good design costs no more than bad design', and he was entirely correct. Why should we feel that being careful with our budget means that we are unable to enjoy such simple pleasures as a home cooked meal. I believe that all levels of the market can present themselves in a way which shows they have confidence and pride in their service. Careful use of a small budget can have exceptional results, we have always done our best to help clients with restricted funds to make the most of them, and intend to do our best to promote an emphasis on crediting target audiences with intelligence and taste.

Creative Review Photography Annual 2008

2008-11-03T11:05:00.001Z

The new edition of the Creative Review features their annual photography awards, and is an excellent collection of work. the current trend of photography to be merely "challenging" has left me cold for a number of years, and so I was excited to look through the shots in this edition.

Pieces that really captured my attention included Ernst Fisher's Datong Train forms, Janie Airey's shot for CEF and Tunnel by Nadege Meriau.

The Tunnel is easily my favourite in the book, with such wonderful use of colour and shadow. Its composition faultless, as your eye is drawn in succession to each focal point.

But I was still disappointed by some of the work displayed, such as the conceptual series by Diego Diaz, Redefining Fast Food - deemed worthy of one of the limited edition covers of the annual by Creative Review. I am very aware that appreciation of such pieces are matters of taste, but the contrived shots, intentionally didactic, felt drained of life. They are comprised of fruit and vegetables composed to resemble distinctive items of fast food, and yet they look less appealing than the plastic food burger chains use for their own advertising.

In the personal category, Afternoon Tryst by Frank Herholdt also seemed painfully staged. The intention obviously seems to be to create a film noir sensation, and even to compose the shot to hint at a stagy approach, but the irony is not successfully conveyed. What we are left with is a scene in which bold colours are overtly intended to convey emotions, and clichéd poses cannot help but ooze a cardboard, stock photography air.

Regardless of some of the overly worthy pieces, the annual demands reading, and is another reason for me to renew my subscription.

Microsoft's "I'm a PC" Campaign

2008-10-27T14:41:00.001Z

When companies have to resort to knocking the opposition you tend to worry about the quality of their own products. That was my initial thought when I saw Apple's "I'm Mac, I'm a PC" adverts, and it has been re-enforced by the latest from both Microsoft and Apple.

This post though is to analyse the current Microsoft advertisement. Is there an unwritten law that says, the larger the company, the more banal their advertising? I am certain someone has already made the connection between the "I'm a PC" slogan, and the hopelessly PC approach to its make up. We are presented with a series of testimonials from "quirky" individuals, conveniently made up of photogenic "characters" from all races, backgrounds and age groups. All with a musical bed stolen from Seinfeld, to emphasise the zany nature of the advert.

There has been some money spent on this campaign, with high production levels and impressive software on the accompanying website, but throwing money at a project has never resulted in quality. We start with a blatant pastiche of the Apple adverts, before being force-fed diversity, worthiness and credibility. There are supposedly challenging elements such as the graffiti artist, and the embarrassing moment when a bearded man claims his facial hair is his individuality. The music stops, we are given a beat to take in the hilarity of his claim, and to wonder if it shows just how conservative the company really is.

The art direction is also poor, following the American trend of placing a world renowned landmark in every foreign location shot. Although, I heard a very Kermodian remark recently stating that, "no one ever got poor underestimating their audience".

I've been ill these last few days, and the number of times it has been on the television has been shocking. There is no doubt that it will work.

The Mighty Book of Boosh

2008-10-21T11:47:00.001+01:00

So Bollo's a graphic designer!? And by all accounts, not a bad one. Dave Brown, who plays the ancient gorilla in The Mighty Boosh television and stage show, has designed and art directed their new book, The Mighty Book of Boosh.

It is good to see that the design has come from within the core of the show, and not farmed out to a publishers looking merely to cash in on the success of The Boosh. The book features work from a lot of the creatives that the writing team studied with, notably John Chandler, who created the excellent illustrations for the Dixon Bainbridge story.

Much of the book's style (as with the show, which I feel can be hit and miss) is not to my taste. I find that surreal art works better when subtly subverting reality, instead of leaping into the purely fantastic. But the cover design of the books within the book - such as Vince Noir’s Childhood Tales From The Jungle and Howard Moon’s A Trumpet Full of Memories - are expertly parodied by Brown.

I would be keen to see some more of his work, perhaps unrelated to the Boosh, and see how it compares.

"Burn After Reading" Poster

2008-10-12T16:13:00.001+01:00

I think that most people who have seen the Burn After Reading poster will inevitably make comparisons to the great Saul Bass, and one of his pieces immediately jumps into my mind, the poster above from One, Two Three, a Billy Wilder comedy set in Berlin during the cold war.

While there are a lot of his other poster designs that have been more readily compared to Burn After Reading's:

The design for One, Two, Three seems closer to the theme of the film - a dark, spy comedy. While Billy Wilder's picture was more than likely more light-hearted, it did touch on some sinister issues, such as Soviet torture and the West's overlooking of Nazi atrocities when it suited them.

Bass' approach has often wrong footed me when watching the films he worked on. His style seems out of sync with the subject matter of The Man With The Golden Arm and Anatomy of a Murderer. Both were pictures that I expected to be quirky, and instead were surprisingly hard hitting. This is not to say that I am not a fan of his work, but merely that I feel his influence is being used in a far more appropriate setting here on the Cohen brother's latest film.

They have a history of producing excellent posters, including Fargo and No Country For Old Men:

and this new artwork continues a welcome trend. I think it is Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo who voice the theory that you can judge the film by its cover, and to see such care and attention put into something often used merely as a way for distribution firms to invade your subconscious, is a pleasure.

When it comes to the actual design of the poster itself, we again see the attention to detail. The list of actors, guiding our eyes to who we assume must be our key protagonist, as he engages in efforts of subterfuge. While, occupying a vast amount of negative space, is a gun being levelled in his direction - implying that the attempts at clandestine pursuits will draw a violent response. This is great use of graphic design to match the two directors' approach of misdirection from the true meaning of their script. It is the unseen wielder of the pistol that commands the design, and not the comically posed character on the right.

Will "Burn After Reading" Suffer Without Deakins?

2008-10-08T12:17:00.001+01:00

Think of some of the most stunningly shot films of the last few decades, and there is a very good chance you will be including some of Roger Deakins' work. Let me run a few names past you: The Shawshank Redemption, The Man Who Wasn't There, No Country for Old Men and The Assassination of Jesse James - it is no accident that these are all considered classics.

The last two of these films have really stamped his name in the consciousness of the Western hemisphere, and bring me to my point; will the fact that his stock is so high at the moment take him away from his long standing relationship with the Cohen brothers? Since Barton Fink the names Cohen and Deakins have been practically synonymous, his distinctive style employed on the more comedic pictures such as The Hudsucker Proxy and O Brother Where Art Thou? as well as the broader canvas of Fargo.

Now we have an Ethan and Joel film, Burn After Reading, without his direction of photography, Emmanuel Lubezki takes up the roll. He is certainly not an amateur - with credits such as Children of Men and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events to his name - but his style is distinctly different to that of Deakins.

One of the aspects of the brothers' films that has always brought me back, time and again, has been the delicious visuals. I am in trepidation waiting for Burn After Reading's release date over here in the UK, and know that I will have to wait even longer to know whether it suffers, as the local cinema in Wadebridge is always a little behind when it comes to non-blockbusters.

This picture will show us clearly just how much control the Cohens have over the photography of the films, the cast has already implied that there can be no deviation from the script, so we will see how far this autocratic control reaches.

Another matter that is well worth consideration is the practically perfect poster:

But I'll wait until next week to gush over it...

GF Smith Sample Packs

2008-09-29T13:54:00.002+01:00

The latest sample pack from GF Smith was handed to us by our postman last week, Naturalis x 1-5, featuring Daniel Gustav Cramer, Lee Funnell, Sir Peter Blake, Wim Crouwel and Peter Saville. I have been very impressed with GF Smith's presentation since I first came across them, it is rare to find good design showing off good paper stock. For example, sample packs from some printers are often very lacklustre, when a little attention to detail would sell their work far more effectively.

This new pack has a lot to recommend it - branding, packaging, foil blocking, even the smell - but the A3 prints inside are outstanding. I have seen both Lee Funnell and Daniel Gustav Cramer's work previously in the books sent out by GF Smith, but this format showed them off in an unexpectedly good way. Cramer's photography is exquisite, and shows off the Naturalis stock admirably.

After endless corporate mail shots, oozing blandness, it is a pleasure to be given some credit. GF Smith show that they are in touch with the industry they work in, and engender a lot of confidence.

Orange "I am who I am because of everyone" Campaign

2008-09-22T12:04:00.001+01:00

First post on my new blog, might as well start with a moan! I have a feeling that most of my thoughts on design will be a rant...

Anyone who knows me will probably be aware that I am not a fan of Orange's television advertising campaigns, so this will hardly be a surprise, but I just cannot let my thoughts on their latest be left in my head - I fear for my already feeble grip on reality.

The title is so pretentious for a start, "I am who I am because of everyone"? My word, that is so trite. The implications from their latest advert - the one I have included a screen shot from, where a cartoon-ish ball of activity sweeps through an inner city estate tidying things up, and leaving some very media friendly graffiti in its wake - are certainly admirable, giving something back to the environment we live in, but just so far removed from real life it's embarrassing.

There does seem to be some effort to move away from the preened models that have been used for the last few years, but still we are left with the feel of a committee driven, help the community, advert. Despite the high production values, it still looks like it was dreamt up in the eighties, especially the terrible soundtrack. Then at the end we are presented with testimonials.

What I want to know is, who is drawn to an advert like this? Are there people out there that buy into this "concerned about people" approach? We are meant to ignore the fact that this is a large multi-national company, and believe that deep down, all they do is for us, the little people...

Maybe I am doing them an injustice, but the impression this campaign gives to me is that they have failed to connect with the people they are claiming to care about, and that implies a lack of care.