And the winner is............

In my blog entitled Visions of the future I mentioned a completion I entered entitled Paper City: Urban Utopias.

Well the winner has been selected and can be seen at the link below, along with other entries that were shortlisted. 

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/architecture/paper-city-urban-utopias/competition,1108,AR.html#photos=gallery_null

Trailer Trash....

If like me you occasionally pop onto the apple web site and check the latest movie trailers and are disappointed when certain movies still have nothing to show for themselves and yet you know they have been made and expect at least a little teaser.

Well I happened across two movie trailers which pleased me,

Clash of the Titans

http://www.comingsoon.net/new/moviesnews.php?id=60765

 

Prince of Persia

http://www.comingsoon.net/new/moviesnews.php?id=60559

Of the two, Clash of the Titans is the movie I'm more intrigued by, being a fan of the the Classic 1981 original, I'll be interested to see what's different apart from the obvious special effects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-r6YvB5vCI

Despite being a fan of the Prince of Persia games I'm not 100% sold on the movie, thats not to say it'll be a cinematic experience.

Take a look...

Until the next occasion....

Visions of the future

A few weeks back, I visited the Royal Academy of Arts to look at the latest Anish Kapoor exhibition, but thats not the reason for this blog.

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/anish-kapoor/

In fact its because of a much smaller and more intriguing exhibition that I'm posting this blog. Entitled Paper City: Urban Utopias,  it posed the question as to how we see the future of our cities, inviting individuals to illustrate their ideas and enter them into a competition.

After taking a look around the various ideas posted up on the walls I saw this as an opportunity to maybe give it a go.

Using my own illustrative style, I saw this as a pretty open brief and decided to run with a particular vision which as its title suggests (Daydream believer) to illustrate an idea which in its cartoon style depicts a futuristic city in the clouds.

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/architecture-on-the-ramp/paper-city-urban-utopias,290,RAL.html

I hold no hope that will win but felt inspired by what I saw in the exhibition and compelled to send in an entry and see what happens.

When it works, it works.....

Whilst on my way to work I literally stumbled across the stenciled message below.

Simple and clear....whether this is part of a set, I don't know and quite frankly don't care.

All i found myself doing was agreeing with the statement and moving on...possibly on Monday I will take a look around to the messages setting, maybe not.

Until the next occasion....

Some secrets aren't worth telling...

I consider myself of average intelligence and that's probably why I have never seen the point in mental tests to measure your sense of intelligence.

Showing no interest in my view is the first step to hiding ones genius, in choosing to separate yourself from those who consider such games as a necessary means to place yourself in the society we live in.

With this in mind, my curiosity got the better of me and I couldn't help but sit down for five minutes and ponder the questions being asked...

There is definitely something to be said for seeing the answer but quite frankly it only shows me I might have a wider vocabulary than most.

Reading between the lines, I'm glad to have some intelligence, at least enough to get me through my day and occasionally help others through theirs.

Rest assured I'll be reading a book on the way home and staying away from the sudoku crazed travelers on the tube.

Until the next time....

I HEART SIMPLE DESIGN SOLUTIONS

No this isn't an advert for creative review or even a sign of admiration for the publication but a printed napkin for coffee republic.

This took me be surprise as I thought they had gone bust and after a little research that maybe the case.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article6657881.ece

or not

http://www.coffeerepublic.co.uk/uk-bar-locations.php

As a designer (a term I broadly use) I saw this whilst out for dinner and immediately made the association to the publication mentioned above.

I obviously made the association as I on occasion read creative review and would do naturally.

This aside my point is that as a designer, one thing I have learnt if anything is simplicity works, if executed in the right way.

The example below, although visually strong in my opinion doesn't do its job in connecting to its audience and is lost in translation.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm in need of a caffeine hit but I'm not sure where to go....

Until the next occasion....

Design for life

For those like me who have in interest in the evolution of design and its effect on way we live our lives as consumers and the trend of popular culture, it was welcome surprise to see a single page in today's metro dedicated such a subject.

Despite being only a page it definitely made a change from the rest of headline news and more importantly the disposable rubbish that seem to fill the pages, which simply add the to early morning conservation before work.

I'll be making an effort to see how these 'Behind The Ideas' articles pan out to see if the D&AD have sold out or making an effort to reach the masses.

Until the next occasion...

A flash in the pan or something to look forward to!?!

For those like me who have been eagerly anticipating the season start of this years must see American drama to grace the programming schedule of channel 5, flashforward promises to bring back  the masses back to how I see it, a gap in the 'what the hell is going on, exciting, ridiculous story' market, that keeps the viewer fixed and excited about the next installment. 

I must admit I have slowly found it difficult to keep in touch or follow what has been a uncontrollable flow of american dramas to hit UK television in recent years. As a freeview viewer I haven't been able to keep track of dramas such as Lost and 24 and finding myself having to wait till their dvd release to unleash my viewing pleasure in one single burst.

So thanks to channel 5, for bringing us, the UK public a drama that will hopefully last the distance and re-ignite my pleasure in making time not to miss that next installment.

I won't go as far as writing a review as its too early, but I do have one question...who is the man in black!?!

Give it a shot, before you need a flashback...

Until the next occasion...

Ticket to ride....

Not usually the one to complain, but on occasion there are moments that really tick me off.

As an individual who has to commute to work everyday via London Underground its necessary for me to have an oyster card, which I regularly top as as it works out cheaper than buying a month ticket.

Anyway, the thing that ticks me off are those individuals who hang around at tube stations waiting for the moment when they can happily shimmy up behind the person in front to get through the entry gates and avoid paying.

I'm not against fighting the system, in fact I'm a supporter in the right circumstances.  All I'm asking is be honest about it.  What's more annoying is the fact that these individuals seems very pleased with themselves to the point you rubbing it your face. 

So, if reading this and recognise yourself as one of these people, be polite, ask for help and maybe those of us who obide to the system won't be so cheesed off.

Until the next occasion.....

Different strokes......

And so the 'learning to row' course has begun, and to my surprise its bloody good fun.

To be fair I haven't fully got my head around the signals and commands but I guess in time it'll come. After yesterdays training session in the gym it also occurred to me that all this time I'd been using the rowing machines (ergos) in the gym in completely the wrong way.

We'll see if on Sunday whether this has all sunk in or disappointedly find myself in position number 2, shouting "there are Klingons on the starboard bow".

Until the the next occasion....

An age of innocence

Approaching the weekend with a sense of hope that my theory of time surrounding these mystical days would stretch out and be enjoyed I come back to you now with a nostalgic look 

Venturing up into the loft, I happened across some old business cards I'd produced when finishing my HND in Graphic Design back in 1997. 150 to be exact and it brought back to me the aspirations I had as a designer who had not yet found his way.  So here we are, its 2009 and in all honestly this question has still to be answered, a path yet to be fashion.

Not long after finding these cards I promptly threw them into the recycling bin but did so with a sense of fresh drive to motivate myself into finding my way.

Until the next occasion..... 

Not as strong as they used to be....

Break out the crunchies, that friday feeling is here!!!

But before you know it, that dreaded feeling that overwhelms our Sunday evening at the thought that Monday is luming!!!

I question the theory that speeds up time over this holy two day period that makes Friday and Monday flow together without a second thought.

A theory I'd like to explore but unfortunately don't have the time, expect over the weekend, where ever they've gone.

Until the next occasion....have a good weekend

To row oar not to row....

Having the choice would be a start....

For those like me who occasionally fill the need to motivate yourself into getting fit through some form of physical activity.

I was happy to be informed about the possibilty of learning to row.

http://quintinboatclub.org/joining/learntorow.html  

Apparently not a widely open activity to those in their thirties.

Glad of the opportunity, to see if I've got what it takes... I'll be starting a 

four week course on Sunday.

Whether this leads me to racing fitness or up shit creek, we will see.

Until the next occasion...

Lets see how we go....

Afternoon everyone...who ever may stumble across this.

For me this will be my first step into the world of blogging, so as the title suggests I'll see how it goes.

Interested by the concept I'll use my blogs as a way of airing my views on common place issues to those with none what so ever.

As a person whose abstract view on life may make no sense to anyone, at least I'll live in the comfort of saying my piece.

Well, I'll leave it there...until the next occasion.