Computer for sale

My computer is for sale for any budding designers out there. Or just people who appreciate a well designed piece of technology! Ok, so it's a bit retro now. But it adds style to any room or office. It has had one careful female owner! Although used, it has been lovingly looked after and cared for and still comes in its box. There is an original wireless keyboard, but unfortunately, not the original mouse. It comes without the mouse, unless you would like me to include a replacement wired mouse at no extra cost. Please let me know upon purchase.

I have restored the factory settings so it is already to go when you get it. The screen has a matt finish but is bright and shows up colours very well. Would make a lovely home computer and easy to use for children as well. I will be sad to see it go, but unfortunately there is nowhere for it to go in my new home.

Bid for it on Ebay now!

Bird Blocks

Simple but effective, these birds are made from the simplest forms and subtle curves. Block colour enhances their impact whilst a gentle shades of the same colours are applied for softness.


Each print is "Giclée (digitally) printed on a high quality professional Epson printer, with pigment-based, Epson UltraChrome K3 inks, that will last up to 100 years. Printed on Epson Ultra Smooth (hot press) 250 g/m2 archival fine art paper."


There are tons more birds to be found on the lumadessa website which include the Red Crested Cardinal, Toco Toucan, Black-Capped Chickadee, Vermilion Flycatcher, Green Honeycreeper and Whistling Fruit Dove to name but a few.

Each print is one of fifty limited editions, signed and numbered by Maine based artist Josh Brill. They retail for $20 and 5% of profits are donated to Animal and Environmental charities.

Give Power to Designers

Jacek Utko (pictured above) talks about whether design alone can save the inevitable demise of newspapers as a form of media at the TED conference. Utko, a Polish designer and art director says, "Newspapers are dying for serious reasons. Simply changing the look cannot save them, but design coherent with strategy and content can be used as a tool to completely change the product, the process, and the future of the industry."

watch TED talk



"To be good is not enough"

Utko has won many awards for his ground breaking designs. He has increased the sales of many major newspapers in Eastern and Central Europe. He has the Midas touch when it comes to rejuvenation of tired newspapers.

His attitude to design success is an inspiration. He makes the point that he is from a small poor country and even working for a 'boring' company with low budgets and not much influence in the cultural world, you can make a difference. Everyone can create work to the highest possible level. Here lies a powerful message about personal best and striving for better when the odds are against you. According to Uteko, all you need is inspiration, vision and determination. I think this is a good life lesson, even if you aren't a designer!

Work Experience at Ascend

I spent three days at Ascend doing some work experience last week and hope to go back to do some more soon. Ascend are a small but smart team of creatives who are passionate about design and very driven. I was able to work on a rebrand project for a PR agency, which I hope to get to work on some more.

My time there was short and sweet, but I got a lot out of it already. A great experience all round.

Ascend Creative

The Man Who Couldn't Open Doors

Paul Arden unfortunately passed away last year. But he was and still remains, a great asset to the design world. His book
It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be is my personal bible. Full of inspiration and feel good factors, it helps you through creative uncertainty and gives you the positivity you need to go the extra mile.


Interestingly enough, I discovered that Arden made a film called The Man Who Couldn't Open Doors. This I feel is in the same vein as his bestselling book and something that is very relevant to my experiences at the moment. I am looking for a job after the company I worked for went into liquidation just before Christmas. This is exactly what I am trying to do: open doors.

In this industry it is not easy, many of these metaphorical 'doors' being firmly closed to new graduates and inexperienced newcomers. And in the current economical job drought that we find ourselves in, in Britain, it is much more difficult to cut the mustard...which I just googled and ironically is a graphic design agency! Showing how flooded the market already is.

The short film that Arden produced is beautifully shot, with a great soundtrack and a strong art house suspense to it. A good measure of humour is also thrown in which I find always helps with the witty narration. Enjoy it for yourself below.

The Man Who Couldn't Open Doors | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

Cinematographer: Alex Thompson
Director: Paul Arden
Written by Bo Fowler.

The Standard, Downtown

I endeavoured to stay at The Standard hotel, in downtown LA since it is well known as a design youths mecca. However, my recent graduate budget did not quite stretch to this and I ended up staying at the Wilshire Grand down the road for nearly half the price. I did go and have a nose around though to see what I was missing out on.

I didn't get to see any of the rooms, but after doing research, I found their information graphics to be both user friendly and amusing. I think these signs really capture the spirit of this hotel. It pioneers to be different, to be young, hip and with it as the upside down signage and logo suggests. The Standard hotels want to be seen as the last of the party hotels, still allowing smoking in some of their rooms. This would probably put me off staying there, since I can't stand the smell, especially somewhere you sleep!




Something I didn't expect to run in during my visit to The Standard, was Rudy's barbershop. One of my favourite graphic design firms in LA created the mural for this trendy budget chain and I just so happened to pass it. I took some photos with my disposable camera but they didn't come back, so here are the ones from National Forest's site, which can be accessed below.
nationalforest.com




LA is not a place I can see myself living, but there sure is lots to see and do if you have the money and the know how. It was an enjoyable, fun packed week.

P.S. If you want a really great haircut, you must look up my friend Rayzor on Melrose Avenue:

Gorgeous Hollywood

Clarks & Hewett's Alphabets & Lettering for Signwriters

I am currently freelancing, and am carrying out a project for a local Blacksmith. To help with research, he provided me with a book that was given to him by a fellow Blacksmith. It is called Clarks & Hewett's Alphabets & Lettering for Signwriters. It's a first edition from 1921 and I am honoured to be able to look after it for a bit. It contains traditional style typography as well as images which might be useful for anyone in the signwriting trade.

It has a variation of stock throughout and some pages are in full colour. It has slight damage and discolouration to the pages, but what I find the most interesting are the phrases throughout which aim to encourage the use of multiple typefaces and styles. One page reads, "Ideas for the treatment and manipulation of letters in various colours and shadings". Another "A patchwork page of colour effects and different styles". Much of the advice contained in the book is a modern graphic designers worst nightmare, however I was interested to see that some of the 'rules' still ring true.

"A good sign when it reads well"

"Surrounding space gives Prominence"

I think this book is a great example of fashions and trends within typography and whilst times change the hard and fast rules prevail.