Saturday 24 December 2011

Durex Advert



With advertising becoming a potential career path I would like to venture into, I've been playing
around with various advertsing ideas I could include in my portfolio. Here's one I thought of for Durex, targetting the younger audience a playful image and text highlight the importance of safe sex.

Thoughts?


Thursday 22 December 2011

QUIT

 
 
Saw this advert at the cinemas last week for the first time, thought it was quite a powerful piece of film.  Creative agency Hungry Man and post production house Framestore collaberated with QUIT UK to deliver a hard hitting cinema advert aimed towards teenagers.  Aswell as the 'age yourself' app which enables people to see the effects of smoking by blowing cigarette smoke onto an image of themselves on their phone and seeing it age instantly.  Really interesting way of targetting the youth audience, strong and effective strategy.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Branding Hunslet Hawks



I'm currently working on some branding for Hunslet Rugby club, with their new turnover, the club were looking for some graphics to promote new season. I played around with an idea for a poster, which they then posted on their online forum, which I have recieved some good feedback from. Along with that, they asked me if I would be interested in designing some products for the club, so I had a go and these are some of my designs. The marketing team were impressed with what I'd done and are now looking into selling them online after Christmas. I'm looking forward to working further with the club and hopefully getting more involved in their marketing projects.

Monday 19 December 2011

Ets Callatay


Whilst visiting LNCC store last month I stumbled across these amazing shoes. Of course I had to try them on and much to my surprise they werent terribly uncomfortable or hard to walk in. Instantly falling in love with them I came home and reviewed the possibilty of me purchasing a pair, however when priced between £600-£900, I'm not holding my breath. With each pair taking twenty five hours to hand make from start to finish in Paris, these shoes are worth the investment. Forget Jeffrey Campbell, the Ets Callatway collection are the ones to look out for this season.

Saturday 10 December 2011

Winter time


 Cape - Ebay £10, Hand thong - Lucky Sixpence company £8, Bag
Cow Vintage £25, Socks Primark £2 Leopard Print Boots £17

With winter soon arriving, I have styled my new cape which I have to brag at what a bargain
 it was, only £10. Not had a chance to wear it yet but will be perfect for my trip to Berlin in January. 

Photos by Josh Fisk

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Is this happiness?


Currently writing an essay on the way in which artists have criticized consumerism over the years, using Banksy as part of my case study, this is one of his images that I am analysing. This has to be one of my favourite pieces of art by Banksy, it highlights issue of pop culture icons and ideas which have been imposed upon society, and uses the analogy of the Vietnam War to make his point. It outlines so many things that are wrong in the capitalist society we live in and questions whether the american dream that is forced upon us really does make you happy.

Sunday 27 November 2011

Typography Portraits



I came across typography portraits a while back and I really wanted to make one,
but just haven't had time. Finally a weekend of no plans meant I have been stuck to my computer for the past two days. As a break from essay writing, I played around with creating my own typography portrait, I used a photo of myself and built up layers of the letter 's' and this was the outcome. Although it did take longer then I hoped, it has actually turned out quite well, could be interesting to use as a piece of self promotion for my university work.

Thoughts?

Friday 25 November 2011

Viagra?


I recently came across the work of Sarah Illenberger, a berlin based illustrator, creative director
and set designer. I first saw her work in a creative advertising book, her green vegetable dress stuck in my memory which led me to visit her online portfolio. I could literally spend all day searching through her work, from food faces to kitchen art she has a completely unique way of thinking when it comes to presentation. I think my favourite piece of her was the celebration of Viagras 10th birthday featured in Vanity Fair. A series of stratgically formed cacti which I couldnt help but be amused by the simplicity of the idea. If your stuck on inspiration Sarah Illlenberger's work will refresh you with abstract and inspirational ideas you cant forget.

Wednesday 23 November 2011

LDN: LNCC


A store recommended by our tutor for its visual merchandising was LNCC. Having to book an
appointment to visit the shop in advance meant we were up and travelling to Hackney pretty early, and how it was worth it. The underground store is made up of seven concept rooms that focuses on creating an experience like no other, touching all your senses, the smell, sounds and variety of lighting had somewhat of a soothing effect. I think the core to its stunning visuals is the architecture, the angles created by the raw materials have a way of directing you around the store and offers such a refreshing non generic setting. Aswell as showcasing a variety of designers products throughout the store, there is also a nightclub attached, which is used for the brands private functions. I can honestly say I have never visited a store that had such an effect on my mood, I left feeling relaxed and calm which is a rare experience. It is a must see for not only visual merchandising fans but anyone who is looking for something new.

Monday 21 November 2011

LDN: Dazed and Confused

 Fashion-able images September 1998 issue

Whilst we were in London we made sure we crammed in as much as possible, including the Dazed and Confused exhibition at Somerset House. Im really glad we made it to the exhibition because in true Dazed and Confused style they displayed some of their most contreversal pieces of imagery. The exhibition led you through the magazine decade by decade, along with two rooms dedicated to the memory of Alexander Mcqueen and the ideas he contributed to Dazed and Confused. The last room based on Fashion-Able, a concept by Alexander Mcqueen and photographed by Nick Knight was the most inspiring to me. The photos were of people with varying physical disabilities, a topic that many people would be scared to tackle in the fashion industry. Only a designer like Alexander Mcqueen would be brave enough to suggest and execute such a sensitive subject matter. I read further into this shoot and McQueens aim was to show that our "preconceptions of beauty are too narrow by far, and to prove that all those cast – painstakingly and predominantly through charitable organisations – were lovely in their own entirely individual way." It is work like this that demonstrates what a talented and inspirational designer Mcqueen really was. If you get chance I would definately recommend a visit to the exhibition.


Sunday 20 November 2011

LDN: Street Art


The first of many posts about my week spent in London is on Street Art. This seems to be my new fascination, without even looking for it, I was surounded by various types of wall art from the cookie monster to amazing portraits. These photos were taken in and around Shoreditch, and each one stood out to me, more so than the vintage sale signs on brick lane. I cannot wait to go to Berlin in January and continue to find these amazing pieces of art, I have also seen a couple of books I would like to invest in starting with Art in the Streets. I think this will be a new hobby for me so keep looking for more street art photos.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Yalook


New York based artist, Bela Borsodi designs these fantastic faces using fashion pieces for Yalook. Really nice and simple way of styling, I have seen this done before for other brands but this is a playful take on the idea. Today we were asked if we wanted to start a course magazine similar to Pigeons and Peacocks by the students at LCF, this might be an interesting idea for a styling article.

Monday 14 November 2011

Sketch.






Visiting London later this week, I am trying to do a brief plan of what I want to do
when I get there as keen as that may be. We were briefed on our visit and given a list of restaurants, shops and bars that were worth visiting. One that stood out to me was Sketch, a place for food, art and music located in an 18th century building in Mayfair.With its stunning lecture rooms, Swarovski encrusted woodland bars and an ever changing video restaurant, Sketch looks amazing. This is one of the many places I insist on going to, along with LNCC, Dazed and Confused Exhibition and Bubbleolegy.

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Bollocks.

 
After constantly being impressed with Volkswagen's latest advert I looked further into
their previous ad campaigns and found the "Bollocks" video on youtube. Forty seconds of humourous advertising gives Volkswagen the edge to stand out against other car brands and communicate their individuality. Simple but effective.

Tuesday 8 November 2011

The alternative to fur.


To crave my boredom on my four hour coach to London I bought a new magazine I had never seen before, Pigeons and Peacocks. Attracted by its nice quality paper and edgy imagery, I delved into the magazine and  despite the fact it was £5 it was such a good purchase. Articles on "Northernism", up and coming designers and even a surprisingly interesting article on Postmodernism kept me entertained for my journey.

One article that I really enjoyed was on London College of Fashion student Natalie Rae and her printed fur designs. Inspired by Ryan Berkleys animal portraits, the fashion design student, translates fur through print as she finds the idea of fur "grotesque". Her designs are absolutely stunning, I love the way that she has taken the simple idea of the texture of fur and made it into a print. It looks amazing and I would convert from real fur to wear her work.