My Birthday Present!

It was my 21st birthday on the 19th February and my parents got me a 13 inch Macbook Pro! It's really supposed to be used for when I'm on my year in industry (it will be impossible to drag my iMac around!) but I couldn't resist taking it into university today. The glowing keyboard and Apple logo is amazing!

I also decided to treat myself to a bag specifically designed for the 13 inch Macbook Pro. It's a bag designed by Ally Capellino and her bags give us a chance to carry our macs in a protective yet stylish way. I got the Satchel in Charcoal. Check out her selection of laptop bags on her website.

Free People Graphic Design

I regularly check the Free People website just to look at the ever-changing Graphic Design. I’ve always been a fan of biro art and I think the biro typography used for the website gives the brand a young and quirky image. It’s very reminiscent of biro design by Billie Jean.

This Free People store sign is very similar to flocked/baroque and rococo pattern design, influenced in my cover design for my Illustrated Book.

Check out the Free People website now; there’s a really cool rolling slideshow of fashion shots on a photograph negative strip.

My Corner of Inspiration

 

I came across this site the other day Inspiration: PingMag's Desk Project and I thought that I'd give you a glimpse of my desk in my room at university. I do believe that the environment you work in can have a big impact on the way you work. My desk must always be clean and tidy but filled with influential design. 

I transformed a horrible brown desk to what I like to call my 'corner of inspiration'. (I ran out of white paint for the doors!). It's quite a high desk so I bought a swivel bar stool which is actually really comfy when I'm on my imac, giving the corner a slight retro look. On the desk surface, I stuck a load of music flyers for Ministry of Sound, Leeds University Union and clubs around Leeds and then covered over it in sticky-back plastic. The walls around me are covered with cards from different A5 Magazine issues. I look at these A5 visuals every day and I admit that I do get a lot of inspiration from them when in my initial ideas process of thought. My magazine rack holds a few of my issues of Grafik Magazine, Creative Review, Idn, Plastique, Design Week, Computer Arts and Digital Arts which I regularly look at.

My books include Tricia Guild's 'Pattern', Victionary's 'Musikgraphics' (my favourite book), Alan Fletcher's 'The Art of Looking Sideways', Andrew Hasam's 'Type and Typography', Catalog of Type, Hand Job by Michael Perry and Illusive Volume 1. 

My shelf displays a few of my favourite CD packaging: Keane 'Under The Iron Sea' which includes designs my Sanna Annukka, A5 Magazine 'The Remix Issue', Spiritualized 'Let It Come Down' designed by Mark Farrow, a sampler CD by Virgin and two of my own packaging- Justin Timberlake 'I Think She Knows' and my limited edition 'Karen' packaging which holds 9 visual song cards.

Above my desk is my A2 Phobia Poster. 

Illustrated Book

A recent Digital Design brief required me to produce an ‘Illustrated Book’ about myself to potential employers. Music has always been a big part of my life and music CD artwork is very inspirational to me, so I decided to present the book in a CD/Record case form. 

 

The case holds 9 carefully cut mountboards representing a song; one side, a vector image and the other side, a few lyrics from the song. I chose 9 songs that are relevant to the present stage in my life, my personality and hopes for the future. I made the case out of black card and flocked crushed velvet material.  

The design of the case is very ‘baroque’ style, a decorative pattern that is almost always used with flocked material. It’s a ‘limited edition’ case- limited edition book and limited edition me! The colour scheme is very vibrant with all of the vector images consistently in black. The case can then be fastened with black velvet ribbon.

I love my book. It’s now on display at my desk :)

2x4 packaging design for Nike- Exhibition in China

Check out this Nike packaging- it’s brilliant! 2x4 Design are responsible for this clever, environmentally friendly packaging, designed to hold a pair of trainers inside.         

The packaging is made from recycled cardboard with minimal graphics printed on. The packaging was designed based around China’s desire for ‘lightness and sustainability’. You can view more work by 2x4 on their website.

iPhone VS Blackberry

So I’ve been debating over whether to get an iPhone or a Blackberry when my phone contract expires. As I’m a fan of the Apple brand, I was sure that I’d be getting an iPhone, but that was until I saw the Vault 49 advertising campaign for Blackberry.

Vault 49’s designs have managed to attract ‘creative’ customers as well as their usual target, business customers. The campaign has put a young and modern twist on what I viewed to be a black business phone for the older generation. Vault 49 has carefully considered their target group of what I assume is the younger, creative generation, including features of Youtube and Flickr in their designs. Vault 49 have cleverly chosen different illustration designs and colour schemes to reflect the features of the different models, making it easier for customers to choose on a visual basis which is the best handset for them.

Although I am impressed with Vault 49’s campaign, the look of the actual handsets doesn’t really appeal to me. I’ve always loved Apple’s simple and sleek design and of course the Apple logo plays a big part in my decision. I’m always intrigued by the work of Vault 49 and I do believe that their advertising campaign will help Blackberry a lot, but I would say it’s more about the brand, and I believe Apple is the ultimate brand and the iPhone is for me.

Mike Perry- Girls Nike Look Book

Check out this girls look book for Nike designed by Mike Perry. 

The photographs highlighted with quirky illustration and injected with vibrant colour reminds me of the summer time and being full of energy. Particularly love the bold turquoise colour and the hi-top trainers! 

 

 

You can see more of Brooklyn-based Mike Perry’s work on his website. If you're unfamiliar with his work then you'll most probably recognise his infamous book 'A Catalog of Type, Hand Job'.