A hidden gem

http://www.designermakers.co.uk/

http://www.woodb.co.uk/products.php?p=22

Hidden amidst the Blubberhouses Moor in Yorkshire lies a small furniture workshop and showroom, owned by the company 'Designer Makers'. Not quite what you'd expect to come across in the middle-of-nowhere in the Yorkshire Moors....! The workshop is open to the public on most days, and is situated with the Mackenzie Smokehouse - a well-known butchers and restaurant; specializing in smoked meats (from which I'd recommend the smoked salmon!).

Back to a more design-based note; on my visit to the workshop this past weekend, there were contemporary kitchens on display - with everything from work tops, to sinks, to remote-controlled ovens, wine fridges, and several other quirky designs! I noticed that the most prominent style for kitchens being brought forward by this company is square and straight. Nearly every sink on display was square or rectangular shape; with harsh, cutting edges suggesting a very modern style and approach. I did come across some very original designs whilst walking round the showroom - for example, 5 simple grooves had been made in the work-surface of one display, in which 5 metal rods could then be laid into to place a hot pan on when needed. Very simple design, very clever. Unfortunately you weren't allowed to take any photographs of the displays inside the showroom, but take a look at the website for some examples of the types of furniture the company specialize in.....quite a modern surprise for a company based in the traditionally-styled area of Yorkshire!

Design for Life

As mentioned in one of my earlier blog posts about the "Ukraine's Got Talent" winner, and how we're finally being exposed to rarer talents which don't only involve the typical singing and dancing - I feel that BBC2's "Design for Life" programme explores a talent that the general public are not often enough told about. Perhaps this is because I am a 'design-person' myself and so would like to see more shows like this; but it still makes excellent viewing even for the 'not so design-oriented' viewers! "Design for Life" has been compared to the BBC1 show, "The Apprentice"....Philippe Starck vs. Sir Alan?! The two characters certainly share some similarities, and these make good, entertaining viewing for the public; with both of them being experts in their fields, their blunt comments to contestants keep the audience curious to see if anyone dares argue back!

"Design for Life" is based around the French product designer, Philippe Starck, selecting a group of young designers with potential to go far in the field. Over the duration of the programme, he - and his team of co-designers - pick-off the weaker contestants and send them home, until only 2 remain in the grand finale. The prize is a 6 month placement at Starck's company in Paris, and it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity - hence why the competition becomes so fierce during the show!

It wasn't the winning final design of the most recent series, however, that really caught my attention, but the product designed by Michael Cloke, the runner-up. He designed a lap-tray for the blind; where they could lace their dinner plate, a glass, and cutlery on a cleverly balanced tray. It uses magnets to hold the items in place securely when not in use, and the design includes braille to help the user even further. I felt that it was a very sophisticated design, and not overly-complex; meeting the brief - to design something to help people - very accurately.

The essence of the city?

It was during one of my A-level art projects that I stumbled across the photographer Christopher Holt; whilst searching for inspiration relating to the city and structures. As a London girl, I was drawn in by his images of England's capital straight away and felt that he had really managed to capture the essence of the city in his shots. Further research then taught me that he actually graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering, not photography or anything arts-related, and that he was able to join the two disciplines; stating that "the bond is simply society - a photographer reflects the society he sees, and a civil engineer builds a world for society".

Holt doesn't only photograph the city of London (although this is where he started out and is mainly based); he also branches to Japan, Portugal, Spain, France, and Vienna. This adds variety to his work and demonstrates how he is able to pin-point and capture the different elements of these places that make them unique and distinct from the rest. For example, his photographs of the Algarve in Portugal present the viewer with a very different atmosphere and vibe to those of the bustling city of London. The images that Holt produces are those that I can imagine being used for interior decoration, or perhaps even tourist advertising campaigns in some cases. He is a freelance photographer at the moment and says he hopes to continue his work and follow his love for travel for many years to come!

2012 thumbs up!

I won't hesitate to admit that I was a little skeptical on first hearing about this film and seeing the trailers; thinking it wouldn't be "my kind of film" at all. However, after having sat two rows back from the action on the big screen , I can safely say that my initial thoughts were very wrong!

Not normally being a particularly big appreciator of visual/special effects, I was thoroughly impressed with this aspect of the film throughout - I even felt a little unsafe in my cinema seat at some points! The earthquake effects, volcanoes, tsunamis, etc. were all done extremely well and - although perhaps a little over-the-top in parts - made the film seem scarily real. The concept on which the film is based - that the world will end on 20/12/2012, according to Roman predictions - is a strong idea, which people can begin to relate to and think about; creating great discussion and debate (particularly among my housemates!). The director, Ronald Emmerich, encorporates engaging sub-plots during the film which almost allow the viewer to relate closely to the 'everyday' characters. I did feel, however, that some parts were a little ridiculous - in the sense that they were virtually impossible to happen and so seemed a bit 'cliché' when they worked out happily! I'd definitely recommend seeing 2012 overall....just try not to think too much about our potential future....!

The Ukraine's Got Talent

What exactly qualifies as a "talent"? We've all seen auditions for Britain's Got Talent, and some (lots, in fact) of them really do make you cringe and ask what on earth possessed them to go on national television?! Occasionally, however, a rare talent will emerge that captures the nation's attention and allows it to move away from the typical singing and dancing acts that seem to fill about 80% of the show.

The winner of The Ukraine's Got Talent 2009 was Kseniya Simonova; a twenty-four year old who took up sand animation after her business shut down. She began drawing with sand on visits to the beach and progressed onwards from there. Her winning piece on the show was a sand-created story about life during the USSR's Great Patriotic War against the Third Reich in World War II. The overall performance is - in my opinion - very inspiring and engaging, and there's something almost calming and therapeutic about watching the sand form the images. What I found incredible was the way that the artist made it look so easy and natural to manipulate the sand in such a way that create clear, detailed images. The performance flowed at a steady pace and told a story that was easy to follow, and held my attention throughout - despite it not being a particularly short piece. I was pleased to see an arts-based talent win the show and inspire the nation (not to mention receiving over 7 million hits on youtube!), as I feel we're constantly bombarded with singing acts, dancing acts, etc. and it's about time that a more unique and original talent is recognized and appreciated.

Viva las vegas!

"Speechless" is probably the best word I can think of to describe how I felt on entering the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. On my travels around the States last summer, I was lucky enough to spend a few nights in the gambling capital and can't emphasize enough how 'surreal' the whole experience seemed! Along the strip of hotels you've got everything from dancing fountains, theme parks inside hotels, gymnastics shows....right up to being dangled 866ft above the ground on a ride above the Stratosphere hotel....I can safely say there's something for everyone!

While some (e.g. my mum) argue that the whole experience of Vegas is "tacky" and "over-the-top", I felt awe-inspired throughout my stay. The Venetian Hotel is just one of the hotels that I wandered around in, nearly mouth-open. Having visited Italy several times myself, I was amazed by the accuracy of the decor and the Italian atmosphere that has been produced in the hotel - the most famous attraction being the indoor gondola rides available for tourists (which - embarrassingly - come with a free singing gondolier!). In all honesty, I can see why people may feel that the whole experience is "tacky" and it may not be everyone's ideal holiday - however, I'd still say that it should be up near the top of the 'do-before-you-die' list....simply for the overwhelming grandeur that can be found in every corner.

The steps of advertising....

Ambient advertising has always been of interest to me, and I stumbled across this promotional campaign which used the novel idea of escalator advertising! With the bottom half of the man's face stationary at the end of the escalators, and the different hairstyles being placed onto his head as the steps flatten out, this is a very original example of the new media of ambient advertising. Rather than using more traditional methods of advertising, by placing the adverts in situations that the public are not expecting, it catches their attention and creates a curiosity to know more. This campaign is likely to be remembered for it's originality, which - over time, with more marketing - will help develop the brand's identity. The world of advertising is fiercely competitive in the current day, and the ways to get noticed are definitely straying away from the typical mediums of advertising. Unless the brand is already heavily established and trusted by the public, it must jump out to it's audience and shout about it's uniqueness in ways that distinguish it from the rest of the competition. Like this advertising campaign has done, by strategic positioning and placement of the promotions, the brand can capture maximum public viewing and interest - thinking about where and when their target audience is most likely to be exposed to the advertising.

Orange Unlimited website

http://unlimited.orange.co.uk/flash/go

I was shown this website at university and thereafter spent an embarrassing amount of time playing around on it. It's part of Orange's promotional campaign for their Unlimited contract package and definitely sums up the concept well! Designed to be a 'never-ending' website, you can scroll downwards for hours and along the way interact with various animations - ranging from having conversations with the cartoons themselves, to a drawing pad, to making bearded cartoons cut off their beards....the list goes on! The overall feel of the site is still fitting with Orange's brand identity - for example, the Dolphin, Racoon, and Panther tariffs that they offer had a similar 'craziness' in the way that they were advertised, and these too were the kind of promotions that people talk about and remember afterwards.

As an extra form of promotion, this site is a great way of emphasizing the "unlimited" part of the package being promoted, and something that will stick in your mind afterwards and most probably show to your friends when you've got a few minutes to kill!