Miyelle

Fashionair Design Work

2010-05-05T04:39:00.001-07:00

Please take a look at the following posts to see my design work at Fashionair. To start off, here are some of my designs for the weekly homepage.

Fashionair Design Work - Fashion Bites

2010-05-05T04:33:00.000-07:00

Fashionair Design Work - Product Finder

2010-05-05T04:31:00.001-07:00

Fashionair Design Work - Product Finder Banners

2010-05-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

South Korean Street Style

2009-10-11T05:32:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of South Korean fashion. Walking through the downtown streets of Seoul, it's like a catwalk show. Young hipsters provide a source of endless inspiration with their forward thinking style. Koreans are fashion crazy and even have clothes stores in their subway stations!

You can find Korean designers selling clothes in Camden market and Portobello Market. It would be great to see more Korean clothing in the UK or at least more coverage about Korean fashion. To see more street style, visit Street Peeper. It's a great site for looking at street fashion from all over the world.

Fashion Cupcakes

2009-10-11T04:02:00.000-07:00

So, I'm back! I've emerged from the depths and am back to blogging. Since my last post, I've become the domestic queen and have discovered two new hobbies- baking and knitting. I've been going baking crazy and I discovered these fashion cupcakes when looking for inspiration. Fashion and food don't normally go hand in hand, but here the two combine beautifully.

These gorgeous cupcakes were styled by Lisa Edsalv and shot by Theres Aldgard. My favourites have to be the Agent Provocateur cakes as they're just perfectly suited to the brand- saucy, fun and oh so glam.

Waves Of It

2008-11-03T07:59:00.000-08:00

This is an astounding film by acclaimed director (and my good friend) Christopher Attaway. It's the story of one guy, his cheating girlfriend, his Korean stalker neighbour (I play the crazy one) and her fish. Hilarious and heart-warming, it's a must see.

Pes Films

2008-10-01T05:03:00.000-07:00

"Western Spaghetti" is the new stop motion film by Pes. Using fun household objects as ingredients, the film is a feast for the eyes and ears. My favorites are the pick up sticks (as spaghetti), that turn into rubber bands when cooked and post-it notes as butter. Satisfying sound effects enhance the whole experience, making a truly bizarre meal.

Overall, the film took two months to make with 35 shots, 35 days of filming and a week of editing and sound design. It's been a huge hit and made it to the front page of YouTube.

As well as other quirky short films, Pes has made films for ads, for brands including Orange, Nike and Tic Tac. One of my favourites being the collection of 4 Bacardi ads below.

Check out his website at www.eatpes.com

Battle Of The Broadsheets

2008-09-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

I was sitting on the Tube just over a week ago, when I got distracted by a series of ads without any branding. On my carriage, six different images appeared on a black background in place of the usual train advertising. These included Barack Obama standing in front of 10 Downing Street, a boy in swimming trunks, a golden football and the image above of a portrait of Winston Churchill looking over David Cameron. Unbranded ads are something you never see, so being a curious cat, I tried to get a closer look to get any hints as to what these mystery images were. But nothing gave them away.

Only last Friday, it was revealed that it was the new campaign for The Times. All the same images were re-posted sitting behind "The Times". The campaign has been a big viral hit, with lots of other confused bloggers, like me, questionning what it was for. The Times said,

"The purpose of the campaign has been to encourage readers to question and challenge, to think again about our times and to think again about The Times. The same rationale was behind the decision to drop the end line, Join The Debate. The paper wants its readers to make up their own minds about what the paper means to them."

The campaign has been a big success and getting people talking is what all brand want. However, the same day the campaign was revealed, The Times got out-trumped by it's competitor, The Independent. Using the same format The Times had used, with three images on black backgrounds, a copy line reads "Ahead Of The Times", using the same typeface as The Times. The idea was to represent "The Independent's reputation for tackling news stories ahead of the pack". Ha!

The Independent ran the billboards for 24 hours, in order to counteract The Times' campaign. The editor in chief of The Independent said, "The Independent has always had a reputation for innovation and quick thinking and these adverts are another example of that."
There's nothing better than a media cat fight to get us all talking. Miaow!

Advertising Is Dead. Long Live Advertising!

2008-09-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing book for anyone into ambient media. It's full of cool alternative advertising campaigns that have made people stop and take notice of brands. We're so overwhelmed with above the line communication messages that it's got to the point where people stop taking them in. Brands need something fresh, clever and witty to stand out from the crowd. Ambient media campaigns often allow brands to get closer to consumers and target them more specifically. And by catching them off guard, they're less likely to block out the messages as people do with traditional advertising. I could go on about the perks of ambient media but it'll take a while. If you want to learn more about it and see some amazing ideas, take a look at the book. It's a great source of inspiration.

Frida

2008-09-29T15:39:00.001-07:00

When I saw the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Moder Art, I was fascinated by her work and personal life. Her art is so intriguingly honest, autobiographical and at times painful, that I wanted to learn more about her. This film tells the story of her life and the struggles and achievements she goes through.

At 18, she was involved in a serious bus accident that caused serious injuries. She was temporarily unable to walk and although she eventually recovered, she suffered relapses of pain for the rest of her life that would leave her bedridden for months. She would pass the time painting and it was this ordeal that created the birth of her career. The film documents the tempestuous relationship between her and her husband, the artist Diego Rivera. Being hurt by his many affairs, she too was promiscuous with both women and men (including Leon Trotsky). As her life goes on, you learn about her political involvement in communism and how her health eventually deteriorates while her career escalates. The film is beautifully shot, integrating colourful scenes and animated sequences that bring her thoughts and art to life.

Visionaire

2008-09-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Visionaire is a magazine with a difference. In fact, I don't know if you can even call it a magazine. It's described as a 'multi format album of fashion and art produced in exclusive numbered limited editions'. Whatever it is, if you buy it, you're officially too cool for school. It's published three times a year and each issue features a different format and theme. Famous artists from the fashion, design and art world collaborate with each issue, making each one completely unique. With a volume costing around £135- it doesn't come cheap. But they always sell out fast.
Issue 26 (above) had the theme 'Fantasy'. A round box held pieces of round, unbound artwork. Featuring work from Tim Burton and Victor & Rolf, it also included a mask designed by Hermes.
To celebrate the 50th issue, 'Artists Toys' came as a collection of ten toys by ten different artists that sat in a white tray with a silk screened clear cover. Each toy took the form of a Russian doll, housing another two, within it.
Issue number 54 'Sport', is now available and you can you actually wear it. Using special printing technology, photographically printed Lacoste polo shirts feature work by artists including Nick Knight, Phil Poynter and Karl Lagerfeld to name a few. This issue is available in four different sets, each housing three collectable shirts.

Click here to visit the website, where you can see more of its amazing issues.

Brand Spanking New Banking

2008-09-29T11:09:00.001-07:00

A trip to the bank is usually a pretty dull affair. But if my local branch of the Abbey looked like this, I'd defintely be making excuses to open every type of account they had. This is one of the new CheBanca! banks in Milan. CheBanca! means 'What a bank!' and the design reflects their whole concept of simplicity, transparency and innovation. I'm surprised more places haven't done something like this. Good design doesn't just look nice, but is essential in giving a good impression of a brand's values. By putting this much time and thought into the decor of their branches, you'd assume that they'd treat their customers with even more care and efficiency. With the rise of online banking, banks need to be pulling out all the stops to get customers into their branches. I say they get off their bottoms and take a leaf out of this banks book.

Little People

2008-09-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

In one of my earlier posts entitled 'Mini Polaroid People' I found some cool photographs of tiny figurines, but I didn't know who the artist was. I'm chuffed as I think I've discovered who it is. The mystery artist is called Slinkachu.

He's a street artist who positions these little people around London. He creates amusing situations, photographs them then leaves them to survive in the big wide world. Slinkachu says, "It should be a universal kind of feeling that you get living in any big city when you're just one tiny person living among millions of people. It is that kind of feeling that most people feel at one time or another, where they feel a bit lost." He says, "I don't often check back on them once I've placed them on the street. If I do, I usually find that they have long gone." I'm not surprised- they're so tiny, I wouldn't mind betting that half of them get stuck to the bottom of people's shoes. It's a real shame as they'll either be destroyed or most people will walk by without noticing them. But I guess that's the charm of it. For the few people who do discover the real life situations, it's a rare wonder.

Luckily for us, Slinkachu posts the photos on his blog, allowing us to appreciate them, thereby making them immortal. Check out his blog at http://little-people.blogspot.com

Pantone Colouring Pencils

2008-09-19T02:49:00.002-07:00

I discovered these Pantone colouring pencils in Korea. Their clean, simple design is beautiful and displayed together they look amazing.

Gregoire Alexandre

2008-09-19T02:49:00.001-07:00

I've recently discovered the work of Gregoire Alexandre and I'm already a huge fan. He's a French photographer who's work features in various fashion, design and music magazines. These include, Wallpaper, Esquire, Liberation, and GQ, to name a few. His work is playful and composition is always his main focus. Experimenting with scale, natural and man made objects, clutter and clean, his work often resembles large scale art installations.
To see more of his work, click here.

Quirky Korea part 5: Fabulous Findings

2008-09-19T02:49:00.000-07:00

Here's some final little gems to round up my weird and wonderful discoveries in Korea:

You've seen padded bras, but padded pants are the way forward. They're the best way to get you an ass as hot as Jennifer Lopez.

Spam gift sets. The perfect gift for your loved ones.

Dolled up dogs. This little pooch is actually a boy- can't you tell from the blue outfit? I think it must be a little confused.

Amazing night life. The cities come alive after dark. With most shops staying open till midnight and 24 hour restaurants and clubs, there's no time for sleep. The neon signs, decorated shop fronts and big screen adverts are a feast for the eyes.

And after a hard night on the town, what better to make you feel better than a steaming bowl of hangover suop.

Quirky Korea part 4: New Media

2008-09-18T04:27:00.000-07:00

"Turn and Widen" is an international exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art. It explores how new forms of media are turning into art and the influence this has had on the art world. The exhibition focuses on three different areas: light, communication and time.

The light part of the exhibition was my favorite as it was so visually striking. This exhibit is called Reincarnation by Li, Hui. In a dark room you find this bed covered in glowing red lights. It's quite eerie, but somehow the atmosphere creates a sense of calm.

This is a video of an installation called Augmented Sculpture Series by Pablo Valbuena. Different light patterns are beamed onto the white sculpture, showing how the light changes its appearance.

This hanging neon sculpture is from the time section. It's a piece called Sin Lugar (Nowhere) by Carlos Coronas. I'm not quite sure what it has to do with time but it was really impressive.

This is a collage from communication. It's made up of hundreds of video clips of newsreaders all over the world. It's intriguing watching these tiny heads chattering away, each voice blending into a blur of noise. The changing images create moving patterns of light that dance across the screen.

Overall, the exhibition was a mixed bag. Some of the exhibits were really magnificent and a lot of the interactive ones were good fun. However quite a few were rather wanky and a bit too 'experimental' for my liking.

Quirky Korea part 3: Metro Advertising

2008-09-18T03:31:00.001-07:00

Seoul is a commercial paradise- it's an advertisers dream! You can't escape from advertising wherever you go. In the metro stations alone, you're bombarded with different types of media.

There's TV screens on the tracks playing ads...

...while at the same time, there's different ads being shown on the platform screens. And they're not silent either, so you'll be listening to one while the other's playing a different jingle. Someone obviously didn't think that one through very well.

On the trains themselves, there's your typical posters, plus TV ads on loop...

...and walking through the stations there's adverts winking at you everywhere you look.

And when you think you can't face any more messages, you discover a tranquil framed painting to lift your spirits. How pleasant! Then you look up close and realise it's an advert for a holiday company. Ha!
Although I'm someone who's fascinated by advertising, overkill can defeat the point as all the communication becomes one big blur. It's not until you come across a fresh idea like the one above that your attention is really captured.

Quirky Korea part 2: Vending Machines

2008-09-18T02:21:00.000-07:00

In Korea, vending machines are everywhere! They pop up more often than a Starbucks (and that's saying something). They're reasonably priced and beautifully designed. They display their products in a way that makes them look like works of art. Here's a few that I found...

This is your typical vending machine selling soft drinks. It sells a wide variety of products from chilled green teas, iced coffee, juices and fizzy drinks. The clean, white design with decorative touches is a lot more appealing than the brash Coca Cola branding we tend to get in the UK.

I found this one selling books at Busan station. The covers of the book open and close so you can have a peek inside.

This type of vending machine was often found at the entrance to a public loo. It sells all sorts of handy things from chewing gum, mouth wash, painkillers, wet wipes and feminine hygiene products. Everything you want in life at the touch of a button!

Quirky Korea part 1: Brilliant Bogs

2008-09-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

I've just got back from a trip to Korea in which I discovered all sorts of innovative and crazy things. Koreans are very much into their high-tech design and I was constantly impressed by their forward thinking. Being half Korean, I though I'd dedicate my next few posts to my second home.

Everywhere I went, I was pleasantly surprised by something, often in a place I least expected. This leads me onto my first post, dedicated to the wonderful toilets I came across. Never has going to the loo been so exciting!

I discovered this little gem at a department store in Seoul. A special little loo has been built so that mother and child can pee at the same time. Now that's what I call bonding...

I came across this clever device when I made a trip to the ladies at Seoul City Hall. It's called an 'Etiquette Bell' and you use it when you want some err, discretion. At the press of a button it creates the sound of flushing so you can poop to your hearts content.

This digital pad is a toilets best friend and I found them everywhere. Even my Grandma has one. You can control the temperature of the seat so your cheeks are nice and toasty. If you press the wash button, a little nozzle pops out the basin and sprays water so you're sparkly clean down under. Naturally, you'd blow dry afterwards.

This is the hygiene king of toilets. The seat is covered in plastic wrapping and when you press a button , it revolves so it's all fresh and new. You won't catch anything from this bog. As you can see, I had fun playing with this one. I think I need to get out more...

After all this modern design, I breathed a sigh of relief when I discovered this classical style loo at the Deoksugung Palace. It even came with male and female signs dressed in traditional attire. Brilliant!

Wild Beasts Video

2008-09-13T05:27:00.000-07:00

This is the crazy video for Wild Beasts new single. It was directed by OneInThree and is a kaleidoscope of imagery. The never ending maze like effect is hypnotic, but will leave you a bit cross eyed at the end. Here's a bit about it:

"It pioneers an amazing mind bending visual technique called the 'Droste Effect' which is based on an uncompleted lithograph that Escher made in 1956. The maths behind the lithograph was so complicated that Escher was unable to finish the centre of the picture and so left it blank. OneInThree developed the technique from Josh Sommers code so that it could be applied to moving images and apart from a grade & online at The Mill did all the VFX themselves."

What clever chaps they are!

Typographic Artworks

2008-09-10T06:56:00.001-07:00

Here's a collection of impressive images created from typography. I'm in awe of the time and precision it must have taken to create each one. To see the rest, click the link below:

http://www.designflavr.com/resources/21-Inspirational-Typography-Artworks--from-DeviantArt-i116/

Four Letter Word

2008-09-10T05:28:00.000-07:00

This book is an inspiring collection of 21st century love letters. Joshua Knelman and Rosalind Porter have given forty of today's most celebrated writers a simple brief: to write a fictional love letter. This form of communication seems to have been neglected in modern society. But I think it's one of the most powerful and honest pieces of communication there is.

When I first picked this up, I looked at the phrase "love letter" and my first thoughts were: soppy, romantic, gush. But after reading the back, I thought I'd give it a go. I'm so glad I did as it's brilliant. It's fascinating to see how the writer's have given these love letters a modern twist. Each letter is unique: there's a set of emails from an obsessive stalker, a letter from Bigfoot to Santa, a missing persons ad... Each writer has tackled the brief in their own way; it's a great example of seeing how these creatives think outside the box. Some are so far out of the box, it looks like a dot to them. Reading this book will make you laugh, touch, feel pity, cringe, and shock you. It's well worth a read.

Kapitaal

2008-09-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

As you're taken on a journey through this branded city, you open your eyes to the amount of messages that are forced upon us in the urban environment. This animated film highlights the typography and signs in a typical city, yet this alone is visually overwhelming. It makes you wonder how much you're actually taking in, and how much rushes past you. The execution of white type on black is simple, sexy and powerful. It's a good example of how simplicity is what really makes you take notice.

It was created by Ton Meijdam, Thom Snels and Bela Zsigmond and was financed by De Beyerd Museum of Graphic Design, in Breda, Holland. It's won a load of awards which I'm not surprised about- I think it's fantastic.

Cool Calendar

2008-09-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

I thought this was an interesting take on calendar design. It was used as a self promotional piece for the designer Jonathan Davies. Each month is represented by the colour associated with it- January being blue, July being orange etc. It's a shame this summer hasn't quite lived up to his positive cover descriptions...

Foot Pedalled Mini Coopers

2008-09-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

OK, so the Olympics might be over, but I came across this great little piece of branding used in Beijing. As one of its sponsors, Mini Cooper transformed traditional Chinese rickshaws into

contemporary bike powered Minis. I love the golden dragon embellishment and dangling ornaments. These little touches have kept the vehicle in tune with the culture. The brand doesn't over dominate the tradition, but works with it in a light hearted tone.

Photography Takes On Art

2008-09-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

I came across this extraordinary fashion shoot by the photographer Michael Thompson for Italian Vogue. He's incorporated photography with 2D painting, using the style of Matisse as his inspiration. I was looking through Matisse's work and came across his piece, Odalisque's, 1928. The image below, must have been inspired by this piece as the resemblance is striking.

Odalisque's, 1928

I'm not quite sure whether these were created using Photoshop or if they were cut out and hand painted. Whatever the method, the bold colours and brush strokes of the paint combined with the detail in the photography creates a surreal and striking effect.

Odalisque In Red Trousers, 1924-1925

You can see more of Michael Thompson's work at: http://http://www.jedroot.com/

Migration

2008-09-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

Migration, a piece by Hellovon- a London based illustrator, is taking place across two cities. At the end of August a " flock of abstracted birds" first appears at the Truman Brewery in London. They then fly to New York, where they will reappear in September at the Espeis gallery in Williamsburg. It's a stunning piece and a great way to convey its meaning.

Robert Deyber Paintings

2008-09-02T08:27:00.001-07:00

Rock and Roll

My Ass Is On The Line

The Chick Magnet

These are some pieces by the artist Robert Deyber. I discovered his work when I was in San Francisco looking around the Martin Lawrence Gallery. His work is all about visually interpreting well known cliches and euphemisms. He says, "In creating these works the challenge is to take whimsical imagery and attempt to render it in a contemplative and elegant manner without being obtuse. My goal is also to take something common and elevate it to the uncommon and create theater, an unfamiliar and unexplored scene."

It seems ironic, but by painting words as their literal meaning, he's thinking laterally. We're so used to these phrases that they just skim over us- we don't see them. When you look at his work, it makes you realize how quirky the English language is. You can see his work at http://www.martinlawrence.com

Sell Yourself

2008-09-02T05:19:00.000-07:00

Go to http://www.fubiz.net/blog/index.php?2008/04/15/1692-70-amazing-business-cards
to see a selection of 70 inspiring and original business cards. These are a few of my favourites!

Cinematypography

2008-09-02T05:01:00.001-07:00

This A1 poster by September Industry features 70 film titles and typefaces. The names of the films have been cleverly combined with typeface names to create a witty poster for any film and typography enthusiast. It's had creative input from some of the UK's best designers and agencies. Only 50 have been printed and are being sold at £15 each with 25% of the proceeds going to Oxfam.

Somers Town

2008-09-02T03:55:00.000-07:00

A brilliant brilliant film. It's the story of Tommo, a 16 year old from the Midlands who comes to London in the hope of a new life. On his first night wondering the streets, he's robbed and left with nothing. He then meets Marek, a shy Polish teen who lives with his construction worker father. The pair strike up an unlikely friendship and both vie for the affections of Maria, a beautiful French waitress. It's touching, funny and gives you an insight into the lives of different cultures, surviving together in the big city.

The House of Victor and Rolf

2008-09-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

The exhibition at The Barbican is a fascinating showcase of the fashion designer's work. It's based around a giant dolls house where the dolls model miniature versions of their key pieces. Surrounding this, the exhibition is divided into sections representing each season of their work. Life size dolls display the clothes and in the background their catwalk shows are projected on the walls. At first it seems a little creepy- the dolls and their blank expressions can look a bit disturbing. But as you wonder round, learning about the inspiration behind each collection, you start to appreciate the theatrical nature and master craftsmanship of their work.

One of the most impressive collections is from A/W 2002-2003 entitled "Long Live The Immaterial (Bluescreen)". The designers adapted bluescreen technology into their work to "go beyond the product, to design something that is immaterial". The clothes contain elements of chromakey blue which when combined with a live video feed, seem to come to life. The models become walking screens, displaying moving footage from the urban and natural world, making them look almost 2D. You can see it below (it's 18 minutes long and gets better towards the end so it might be worth winding forward if you don't fancy watching the whole thing).

Viktor & Rolf Fall 02 Fashion Show (Full)
Uploaded by FBK1976

Among their other talents, I discovered that the duo are masters of self publicity. In 1996, early on in their career, Victor & Rolf were feeling frustrated with their status as novice artists. So, to gain some publicity the pair launched a fake fragrance entitled "Le Parfum". In the fashion world, a perfume is the symbol of a fashion houses success. They produced 250 limited edition bottles, that were sealed shut, with a publicity still to accompany it. Later that year, they rebelled against the dictatorship of the fashion industry by refusing to stage an A/W collection. During fashion week they plastered the streets of Paris with posters announcing "Victor and Rolf On Strike" which were also sent to magazine editors. There's nothing like kicking up a bit of a fuss to get you noticed...

Face Food

2008-09-01T04:51:00.000-07:00

I came across this amazing little book yesterday that I'm really excited about. Being a complete foodie, I was hoping that I could write about something food related on my blog. "Face Food" is a collection of images of Japanese bento boxes that are more like works of art than your average packed lunch. Parents have literally created visual feasts for their children's lunches. I think it's a brilliant way to make kids enjoy their food and encourage them to eat healthily. Most of the components are made from rice, vegetables and fish cakes so not only are the meals nutritionally balanced but great fun too. They make ham sandwiches and a packet of crisps seem somewhat pathetic...

Street Art

2008-09-01T03:48:00.000-07:00

Each time I walk past the Tate Modern, I can't help but be blown away by it's outdoor exhibition of street art. It's the first time they've used the facade of the building as a canvas for artists. The sheer scale of it alone, is impressive. My favourite piece is by JR, of the black man holding what on first impressions seems to be a gun, but when you look closer is a video camera. It's not only technically brilliant with it's photographic quality, but it also challenges your negative assumptions.

You can also take the Street Art walking tour, but I wouldn't recommend it. I started it with my friends, feeling positive about the combination of culture and exercise the walk would bring. But it was a big disappointment. The first few pieces were nothing to write home about, and you could easily walk past them without a second thought. The walk then took us through Borough, one of the most depressing, nondescript areas of London I've been to. After that, we gave up and went in search for a cup of tea which was much more rewarding.

Forever 27

2008-09-01T02:27:00.000-07:00

I saw this exhibition at the weekend when I was wondering through Camden. It's at Proud Galleries and is about the "27 Club"- a group of rock stars who have all tragically died at the age of 27. Apparently it has over 30 members- all musicians that have died at that age. The exhibition focuses on the five most notorious rock stars: Kurt Cobain, Jimmy Hendrix, Brian Jones, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Featuring some of their most iconic images, the exhibition celebrates their extraordinary, short lived lives. As you learn about each artist, you can't help but feel dispirited by the tragedies surrounding these talented people.

What is it about the number 27 that has such a mystery around it? I did a little Google research on it, and it is quite the strange one, with lots of meaning around it. It's the cube of 3 (3x3x3), if you add up the numbers between 2 and 7, the sum is 27, there's 27 letters in the Hebrew, Greek and Spanish alphabet, 27 books in the New Testament, the moon takes 27 days to orbit the earth...the list goes on and on. Anyway, it's quite bizarre and keeps popping up in all sorts of unexpected circumstances. Google it and have a look.

An Eggs-traordinary Toilet

2008-08-31T15:40:00.001-07:00

If you want a toilet experience that's out of this world, you must visit Sketch. It's a gallery, restaurant and bar located on Conduit Street in London's West End. But the best part about it is the loo! To get there, you walk through the restaurant, into a spaceship-like zone. You then walk up the stairs- ladies go right, guided by the pink lights, gents go left, guided by the blue (obviously).

Once you get to the top, you feel like you've arrived on another planet. The cubicles are egg shaped pods to which you enter at your peril! As you sit on the loo, you're greeted with strange noises, to enrich your err, sensory experience. I've come across the tinkle of cattle, baa-ing sheep, coughing fits and hysterical laughter. It's all very surreal and you emerge out of your egg, like a little chick.

It's not to everyone's taste- I know some people who couldn't get out of their pods quick enough. But as far as I'm concerned, anywhere that makes a trip to the toilet exciting is pretty impressive!

Wallace and Gromit: The New Stars of Fashion

2008-08-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Wallace and Gromit have been chosen as the face of the launch campaign for Harvey Nichols in Bristol. Looking slick in Dolce & Gabbana and Paul Smith, they've been joined by Lady Tottington who models an Alexander McQueen dress. It looks like Wallace is enjoying his new role as a fashion icon, while it's nice to see that Gromit's familiar quizzical expression suggests he's taking the fashion industry with a pinch of salt. It's always nice to see some humour injected into fashion advertising and it's something that Harvey Nichols does well. The campaign was created by DDB London.

Chinatown Art

2008-08-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

When I was in San Francisco, I was taking a stroll through Chinatown when I came across this fantastic building. It's been covered in murals that depict the cross culture in the surrounding area. On one side, are traditional Chinese characters and motifs and on the other are symbols of American life. But it was the clothes hanging to dry on the balconies that I found the most charming. It's nice to see people living, doing normal activities within this eye catching structure. Sometimes it's the most ordinary, real things that make you smile.

A Clockwork Orange

2008-08-28T12:52:00.001-07:00

I know most people have seen the film, but if you haven't read the book yet, it's a must. I read it recently and it's already one of my favorites. For me, the charm was all in the language. Anthony Burgess writes using an Anglo-Russian slang called Nadsat and it's these words which make it so unique. A few of my favorites being 'goober' (lip), 'gulliwuts' (guts) and 'toofles' (slippers). The almost comic style of writing makes an interesting contrast to the violence in the book. There's a whole glossary at the back so you know what's going on, but generally, you get the idea. It's good to look at just for inspiration, especially when needing copy writing ideas. Sometimes English just doesn't convey meaning as well as a bit of chepooka language...

Mini Polaroid People

2008-08-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

I found these images on http://www.ffffound.com and I think they're really intriguing. They were an entry to a polaroid competition, but I don't know who the artist is. The shallow depth of field creates an obscure feel, focussing your attention on the miniature characters. The person that made these wee little people must have had tiny fingers- they're microscopic!

Green Graffiti

2008-08-28T08:25:00.001-07:00

I think the concept of environmentally friendly graffiti is really interesting. Graffiti can be seen as damaging our environment, but when using a biological medium, it can only be seen as a positive thing. This was created by Anna Garforth, an illustrator. You can see more of her work at:

http://www.crosshatchling.co.uk

Transamerica

2008-08-28T03:58:00.000-07:00

Hmm...I seem to have started a bit of a transsexual/transvestite theme in this blog. Anyway, I saw this film last night and it's brilliant. Felicity Huffman (woman) plays a man, trying to become a woman. Her performance is so convincing, you really start to believe it. A week before the big operation, she discovers she's the father to a son from her only sexual experience. In her attempt to rescue the runaway son, she goes on an unexpected journey with him to LA. The film follows the start of their relationship that becomes all the more hilarious as new characters come in and secrets become revealed.

Nokia Music Almighty Campaign

2008-08-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

The microsite for Nokia Music Almighty is worth a look for a bit of fun. The interactive site allows you to choose from 5 sets of headphones, each representing a different genre of music. Once you plug a set into the phone, the headphones come to life as the music starts to play. You can then upload your own picture and wear the headphones. Your face can be transformed to look more like the stereotype associated with that genre of music (yes, that's me looking bling with a beard). It can become more of a caricature and be made to look older/younger and happy/sad.

http://europe.nokia.com/musicalmighty

This is the second part of the Music Almighty campaign by Wieden + Kennedy. It was created by Ida Gronblom and Fabian Berglund who I met a few months ago at a book crit at the agency. After meeting them in person, it's inspiring to see their work in action. The TV ad is visually stunning and also celebrates the diversity of music.

Black Cab Sessions

2008-08-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

The concept of this site is simple. An artist is put in a black cab and driven round while they sing a song or two. The focus is on the raw essence of the music which is encouraged by the intimate back seat environment. The London cabbies introduce each session, adding to the charm of the whole thing. It's a great way to see the artists you love up close and personal and to discover cool new music.

Have a look at:

http://www.blackcabsessions.com

Photo of the Day

2008-08-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

http://photooftheday.hughcrawford.com/

This website records the life of Jamie Livingston, a filmmaker, who in March 1979 decided to take a polaroid image for each day of his life. It's a fascinating visual diary that captures images over 18 years. It's intriguing yet you can't help but feel a bit voyeuristic, looking through his personal photos of friends, family, holidays and ordinary days. Images range from happy snaps, to abstract, all changing with the times and fashions. But throughout is the constant, reliable frame and fuzz of the polaroid. In 1997 the photos start to take a dark turn when images of the photographer in hospital start to appear. Then, on October 25th the photos end- he has died from a brain tumour. Although, the series ends on a shocking, sad note, the overall feel of the album is fun, heartwarming and moving. It's a beautifully simple way of recording life with each image saying so much.

Philips Satinelle Ice

2008-08-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

I think this ad by DDB London is brilliant. I came across it today but it apparently came out a few months ago (I guess I'm a bit behind the times). It's a refreshing change from the typical ads for beauty products and their shiny, happy, unattainably beautiful models. What better way to promote the fact that this product is gentle and pain free by using a man (yes, men can't handle pain like us girls) to promote it. And can I say, this man is one hot mamma. A memorable, real and inspirational ad- bravo DDB!!

PingMag

2008-08-20T03:12:00.001-07:00

A cool website that's should be checked out is http://www.pingmag.jp

It's an online design magazine based in Tokyo that covers a whole range of subjects; from illustration to product design to advertising to traditional crafts. Articles and interviews with artists and designers are added every couple of days so it's a great source of inspiration. The feature on Visual Kidnapping is worth a look. It's about the French street artist, Zev, who distorts the logos of big brands. http://pingmag.jp/2008/08/11/zevs-visual-kidnapping/

Bela Borsodi

2008-08-19T08:16:00.001-07:00

One of my favourite artists of the moment is the still life photographer Bela Borsodi. He looks at objects in a whole new light, challenging our perception of them by giving them personality.

His work is always imaginative and often humorous. Being in the world of fashion, it's a refreshing change to see some fun injected into a fickle industry that takes itself so seriously.

In his series "Foot Fetish", featured in V Magazine (above), he visually explores the way high heels change the shape of the female body and sexualize it. He looks at how the body fits the shoe in an exaggerated way by playing with shape and proportions. Rather than doing it on Photoshop, he shot the nude models, cut out the prints then placed them within the shoes. I love the way he's transformed shoes into these surreal, striking images and brought attention to the connotations associated with shoes.

You may recognize the image above which was shot as part of a series of ads for Selfridges. If you want to check out his work go to:

http://www.art-dept.com/artists/borsodi

Psycho Buildings- Artists Take On Architecture

2008-08-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of those brilliant exhibitions that's fun, fascinating and people friendly. It's not too wanky as far as modern art goes. There are 10 exhibits in total, ranging from an eerie village of 200 lit up dolls houses to a room frozen in an explosion.

The exhibition takes place both within and outside the Hayward Gallery, with the outdoor exhibits being more interactive. The first is a boating lake that's been built on one of the terraces. It's a surreal experience rowing above ground looking down on London. The downfall is that we queued for almost an hour to have a go, which wasn't exactly worth the time. So if you go and there's a long queue, just take a peek as you'll get the idea.

My favourite outdoor exhibit was the "Observatory, Air-Port-City" by Tomas Saraceno. It's a transparent dome with a roof that allows people to walk about, giving the illusion that they're floating. Inside, is a space that's protected by an air lock door which keeps the atmospheric pressure balanced. You lie down, looking up at the people floating above being supported on the pillow of air. The best way to describe it is to imagine yourself as an ant trapped inside a transparent ball. A pretty cool experience for £10 I think...

ChickPizz

2008-08-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

I was in Stoke Newington on Friday night and came across this delightful restaurant. Now this is a prime example of signage that's straight to the point. There's no confusion about what they sell here.

And to illustrate the point further, they've added a cute little picture of what's on the menu. Mmm appetizing...

Frieda Kahlo

2008-08-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

During my time in San Francisco I couldn't help but notice images of Frieda Kahlo's work all over the city. Publicity for her exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art was plastered everywhere. So being the sheep that I am, I thought I'd follow the crowds and check out what all the hype was about. The queues were huge to get in and you had to get in with a special timed ticket. But it was well worth the wait.

Although her work isn't something I'd necessarily want hanging up in my room, it is amazing. Her folkloric style is influenced by her Mexican roots and many of her paintings have a Surrealist feel to them. Although she denied she was a Surrealist, stating "I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality". It's this reality about her life and thoughts, that makes her work so intriguing. It's shockingly personal and you can't help but get sucked in by the tragedies in her life, wanting to discover more about her.

Doritos Collisions

2008-08-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

Continuing my work for Doritos, last Thursday I went to the most random event to launch their new line called "Collisions". It's basically 2 flavours in one bag (Crraaazzy!!). And to launch it, they had a wrestling night. First of all was some Lucha Britannia action, then the flavours got down and dirty in the ring to fight for champion. I was supporting "Tenacious T" (representing the oh so tasty T Bone Steak flavour). He's the brown cuddly bull in the picture above, about to get squashed by "Feathered Fury". He eventually made it through the trauma and won the championship- hurrah! The event was a great way to promote the new product as it was entertaining, different and perfectly suited to what the product is about.

Beggars to Exiles

2008-08-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

While I was in San Francisco, I popped into this great little art gallery called the San Francisco Art Exchange. It's located on Geary Street which is crammed full of lots of lovely independent galleries (and obviously a dozen Starbucks- you just can't get away from them!!) This exhibition follows the Stones' evolution and captures the rock n roll lifestyle that you can only dream of having. It's based on the photography of Michael Cooper and Dominique Tarle. Michael Cooper captures images from 1966 to 1970, while Tarle's images are from 1971 when the band recorded "Exile On Main Street".

The exhibition not only features The Stones, but the women that influenced them including, Marianne Faithful and Anita Pallenberg (seen above). While we were looking around the gallery we got chatting to one of the art dealers who kindly showed us parts of the gallery that weren't available to the general public. We were taken to the store room that had stacks and stacks of original artwork from bands such as Pink Floyd to Yes. It was amazing!! The stuff in that room must have been worth millions. If only I could afford a square inch of one of those prints...

Slick Design in Seattle

2008-08-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

These magazines caught my eye when I was in Seattle last month. They're free weeklys about the city, providing info about what's on that week. I was quick to scoop up a copy of each as I love the design, particularly the covers. The artwork, colours and typography really grab attention. They're printed on newsprint which gives them a raw, down to earth feel, which works well with the retro designs. I like the way the two magazines compliment each other, especially in that both cover headlines are attractively morbid!

Doritos Ad Competition

2008-08-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

So, over the past year I've been doing bits and bobs of work for a company called Face. They're a youth marketing agency and they get young people to think of the ideas behind big brands. So far I've done work for Sure, Lynx and I'm currently working with Doritos for the next year. A couple of months ago they had this national competition to get the public to make their next ad. I think it's a pretty genius idea as it's fun and it gets the consumer involved in the brand. They also offered a whopping £20,000 for the winning ad which was to be aired during the World Cup and it was also the first ad to be beamed into space!! I helped judge the entries, and week by week we whittled them down. Unfortunately I couldn't make the final judging session but this is the winning entry:

Personally, this wasn't my favourite. Considering over 900 people entered, I thought this was a pretty disappointing choice. It's been well executed but it lacks edge and excitement. One of my favourites was this one, which I think is hilarious:

I think it's quirky and witty. I love how they've elevated Doritos to being currency- something that's of value. They're selling Doritos from a different angle to your typical snack advertising which I think would have made this ad stand out on TV. If you want to see more of the ads go to

http://www.doritos.co.uk/

Found Magazine

2007-07-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

I popped in to The Photographer's Gallery and came across this cool exhibition by Found Magazine. The idea behind the magazine is pretty simple. They collect things that people have found such as letters, photos and all sorts of objects. There's an entertaining mix of wierd, hilarious and beautiful stuff. You get to see snippets of stranger's lives and it's fascinating! I don't think the exhibition is there anymore but check out the website at http://www.foundmagazine.com/

The Overture

2007-07-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

I went to this really great event earlier this month at the Southbank Centre. It was a weekend celebration welcoming back the Royal Festival Hall after a couple of years of restoration. It was full of cultural entertainment celebrating art, music and dance. And it was completely free!

My favourite part of it was getting drawn on the wall of memories. Once these massive pieces of paper were filled, they were used as decorative pieces around the Southbank Centre. It's a fun way of recording the event for both the organisers and the public who attended. There were also some amazing floor paintings that you could watch being created. They were copies of masterpieces but given the location and the fact that they were like street performances gave them a contemorary twist.

I was dragged along by my friend Chris (he's the guy with the ginger beard who's drawn next to me) to see a folk singer called Frank Turner perform. I didn't know what the event was about but so glad I went along. Events like this make you appreciate London and all the cultural things that you can do and see.

Surreal Things: Surrealism and Design

2007-06-14T05:36:00.000-07:00

This exhibition at the V&A museum is fascinating. It shows how Surrealism transformed from an art movement into the commercial world of theatre, film, fashion, interiors, architecture and advertising during the 1930s. Most of the pieces are truly bizarre, such as Salvador Dalí's famous Lobster Telephone and Oscar Dominguez's silk cushioned Wheelbarrow. There is an ongoing sense of wit and fantasy throughout the exhibition which I love. The highlight for me was the final section on advertising and magazine design. Some of the old covers of magazines such as Vogue and Harpers Bazaar are real works of art and so different from the typical magazine covers we see today. With work from artsists such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, René Margritte and Man Ray, to name but a few, this exhibition is a real treat for any art and design lover.