Badges!

Badges and cards

Lovely new promotional badges and cards on the way in the next few days. I still get very excited when I know that there’s print on the way!

It could be Paul Paper, but it’s actually me.

After being featured on 1983 this month, I was lucky enough to be spotted by photographer Paul Paper. After seeing my work at Nineteen_Eighty_Six, Paul contacted me asking me to be a part of his ‘could be me’ project. Contributors are asked to create a piece of typography, photograph, illustration or any other creative representation of the sentence ‘It could be me, but it’s actually Paul Paper’.

My submission revolved around the concept of prayer. The piece was hand rendered, before being scanned and coloured in Photoshop.

The artwork was submitted on Friday, and posted on the site soon after. Many thanks to Paul for the opportunity to be a part of the project, with my work being featured alongside artists who’s work I really admire.

It could be me is an ongoing project, with artists, photographers and illustrators contributing regularly. It’s well worth a look in my opinion, if only for the eye candy alone — check out Alison Richards’ stunning submission — all done in blue Biro. Oh, and mine too.

Speak soon.

Bruno Maag type poster featured on 1983

I was pleased as punch to see my work featured on 1983 this week. The site hosts links to pieces of innovative, original, or just plain cool design and art direction. My recent type art poster, designed for the next Group Hub event was featured on the site, with a link to my homepage. Big thanks to Kenny Wan for featuring my work.

Check out the site {here}

{click to enlarge}

Pass it on: Jamie’s Ministry of food.

I’ve been a social marketeer for a while now, and I’m really starting to get into the principles behind Social Marketing. It sounds cliche, but my approach to design and creativity has shifted tremendously since leaving University. I always thought that I wanted to be an Advertiser, but since working for a Social Marketing firm, I’ve really begun to embrace the ‘good’. Think about it — we’re talented people with a real passion for design — Why shouldn’t we use our ideas, skills, and commitment to creativity to make our little island that much better?

I try to view life as one big opportunity for positive change. It’s sad to say, but my approach to client work has had a tendency of spilling over into my private life, it’s infectious. So, it’s a relief to see that I’m not alone in my battle for a Greater Britain. Flicking through the TV guide last week, it was a joy to see that floppy haired, housewives favourite, Jamie Oliver was back with his latest crusade for a healthier nation. Jamie’s Ministry of Food is Oliver’s latest baby, he’s travelled to Rotherham in a bid to teach a town the basics of healthy cooking, so that we might trade in our margherita’s for a mousaka.

All this sounds great (Social Marketing in action), however, its Oliver’s grasp of the concept of ‘peer to peer’ transmission which has really left an impression on me as a Social Marketeer. The campaign uses one of the fundamental principles that I try to live by, ‘each one must teach one’.

Social Marketing isn’t just about engaging audiences, it’s about empowering people. Social marketeers believe that the most effective way to bring about positive behaviour change is to create the conditions that allow people to take control of their lives. As such, the strength of the ‘Ministry of Food’ campaign lies in its core message. ‘Pass-it-on’.

Oliver, speaking on Radio 1 today, described the concept as ‘romantic’, I agree, but just because an idea is romantic, doesn’t mean it isn’t realistic. We’ve seen the power of peer-to-peer influence and wish Oliver the very best of luck.

A lesson for all of us perhaps? Making a change is only half the battle, be a peer, pass it on.

Jamie’s Ministry of Food airs on Channel 4, Tuesday’s at 9pm and is repeated on Wednesday at 11pm. Set the Sky+ and get cooking.

Say no to shopping.

‘Can we go shopping in Preston on Saturday?’ – six words that make my heart sink. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a shopper, I buy design books that I can’t afford, curious trainers that no one appears to like, but me. And somehow – I’m still not sure how – I even managed to convince myself to buy a brand new imac, even though the bank balance was screaming NO. But, when it came to traipsing around several shoe shops in search of that ever so elusive ‘right colour purple’, I ran a mile, well, around the corner – to the Harris Museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found sanctuary. I hadn’t been to the Harris for about six years, and always remembered it being a bit stuffy, and traditional, filled with lots of trinkets and pots that I’ve no doubt had lots of significance, but completely passed me by. That said, I’ve always had a real soft spot for the place. It was surprisingly busy for a Saturday, which was refreshing – I had visions of me pottering around looking all a bit sad. On offer were the aforementioned trinkets and pots (toilet water bottles? – anyone?) amongst ‘Dan Dare’ comics and Victorian busts. But what really got me going, was their exhibition of Gordon Cheung’s recent show, ‘Technophobia’.

I can’t tell you how pleased I was to see such a refreshing and contemporary show sitting in such a traditional building. Turning the corner, you’re greeted by a huge canvas, (3 meters high, by 5 meters wide), covered in the financial times stock listings and adorned with ink, acrylic gel and spray paint. On the surrounding walls, smaller pieces, using graph paper, marker pen and inks. Cheung’s work creates fantasy dreamscapes with an interesting blend of Chinese, and British iconography, a sort of ‘East meets West’, punctuated with rainbows, mountains and cowboys.

I have a real interest in digital illustration and image making, so was delighted to hear from Cheung (playing on a DVD around the corner) that his work starts on the Mac, and in Photoshop, where he creates a ‘blueprint’ of the finished work. The work itself however is all created by hand, from scratch – no digital prints – just a brush and a can of paint. The work I saw at the Harris had real shades of Stanley Donwood and Jasper Goodall – two of my favourite illustrators. A sort of psychedelic mix of spray paint rainbows, outlined figures and crumbling architecture, but I’ve no doubt you’ll make your own comparisons.

‘Technophobia’ isn’t around for very long, so now is the time to check it out before it moves on. If you’re other half is anything like mine, you’ll get the chance to sally around the galleries, whilst earning big brownie points for telling them to ‘take their time’ – everyone’s a winner.

‘Technophobia’ is exhibiting at the Harris Museum, Preston,
from 27th September, to, 13th November.

For more information about the artist, visit his website.

Guilty.

I’m so guilty of this one. I jump online to have a quick browse, and check my email, then — bam. It’s three in the morning and I’ve killed four hours of my life mincing around on wikipedia. 

Not good.

 

Nineteen_Eighty_Six — New site goes live: 17/11/08

Welcome to the Nineteen_Eighty_Six weblog. I’ll be using this space to post lots of juicy creative tit bits that I’ve either found, or made myself. Keep an eye out for updates.

Just a quick note to let you all know that my webiste, freelance sister site, and blog, all went live today. There’s lots to see, including a peek at my latest and greatest pieces of work. Head over to Nineteen_Eighty_Six for more information.

Speak soon.

Steven.