Cup of Tea 0050

Only one cuppa tea today! HORRAH! Not.

Anyways, only a quick post today to express my appreciation of this book.



Naomi Klein's No Logo.

Its a book that first introduces you to the concept of branding, how it is utilized, how it is market and how it exploits third world companies to create its goods and in turn, profits. It then goes on to tell about the people these companies left behind. The US and UK workers who were once apart of the brand but got left with nothing. But more importantly, it tells how people are fighting back, flipping the brands off with a rigid middle finger and screaming "FUCK YOU" into their Nike Air Jordans.

For a design, it's an insight into how effective branding can work, where it can stretch too and how it can become all powerful, while also showing how the world can come crashing down around the ears of those too greedy to care about anything other than their profits. For the average person, it's an view of a world we think we know so much about, but fail to see.

Of course, you need to form your own opinions, but this is a good place to get some unbiased insight into our capitalist society. There is no sensationalization, merely truth. And surely that's so much better.

M x

Cups of Tea 0046 - 0049

Didn't think I'd be back? Thought not. But I'm a master of disappointment.

It's been a slow day. I myself was disappointed by the lack of a free development tool for the Iphone. Why should I pay for a piece of software central to the core functionality of Apple's Ipod Touch, Iphone and Ipad? Sure, if I were to publish it for a profit I could understand the one off fee, but surely Apple should want to encourage the development of applications for it's devices? But apparently I'm going to be stuck paying $99 for the privilege when the Easter loan hits. Damn.

On the topic of mass uploading all my work... Well, I tried... I love design seems to hate me uploading PDFs to the site, and when I manage it not only are they of crappy quality, but the items are pretty small... I've included links too my favorite spread's of my Sins and Virtues (10 pages only in document uploads... wtf!) and my 20 CCTV cameras. For the most part, my Sins and Virtues can be found / read within the archives of this blog anyways.

Sins and Virtues (10 pages...)

On the 20 CCTV cameras, it helps to understand the project. We were simply asked to take 20 photos of 20 different similar objects. I choose CCTV cameras, a friend chose padlocks, Lights and I saw one example of Cows. Then we simply had too write 300 words to accompany it. The result is as follows. It didn't need to be clever, it just needed to work as a piece of design, letting the pictures do the talking.


Camera Obscura - I.e. 20 Pictures of Cameras.

Other than that, All i've really done is a Print Company's Corperate ID. I'm Not Very happy with it so I'll only show a little bit, I'm sure you get the idea :)



That's it for tonight. I've got a few ideas for tomorrows blog but I'll probably save them until the week so I can craft them better. As always, feedback is requested and encouraged. Remember, spread the word and thanks for reading :)

M x

Cups of Tea 0035 - 0045

Yes, it's been awhile, but alas, Not that tea has been drunk. Instead food has been consumed, caffeine has been sourced from coffee and the nights have been long and lonely for my own creativity. Yes kids, after Christmas I was burned out.

After the work pre-Christmas, combined with the work in Morrisons / the non-stop events for the rest of Christmas break, when I got back to Uni I had a mental block of sorts. I procrastinated, butting my head on my desk in frustration at my lack of drive and I was generally abit of a bastard tbh.

But I've had a wonderful week. I've not stressed about anything. I've eaten chocolate and pizza and in general, stuff not very good for you. I've watched films, I've played games, I've seen the woman I love (One Year Together on January 22nd, Love You Gem :) <3) and I feel good. I mean not because I've done nothing, but that the break was well needed and I'm ready to be creative again. Admittedly I'm probably going to need a kick up the arse to start freelancing / personal projects again (there seriously aren't enough hours in the day with how much sleep I need) but it's a start, I want to be the best again.

Tomorrow will contain a MASS upload of everything I've done for the past two months, hopefully I can upload the PDFs onto welovedesign but if not, I'm going to put uber-low res versions into a PDF and rapidshare them.

Other than that, I've purchased two sick prints, one of which is by Wonting, which I really want to post framed as she was so nice to sell me a spare she had lying around :) The other which I will post, is by Josh Keyes, entitled Totem II (Raven Steals the Light), which not only being very cheaply priced ($30 + $5 shipping to the UK...) but $15 from each purchase is donated to Partners In Health, the organization collecting money for the Haiti tragedy. It can be seen below, but I advise picking one up here, it's only available for a limited time and not only is it beautiful, but it's profits go to a good cause!



Until Tomorrow.

M x

Cups of Tea 0018 - 0030

A lot of stress and tea later I return...

Just a quick post to let you know I'm still alive and to let you know I'll be updating again from tomorrow, though maybe not trawler... that ship may have to stay in the port for a while! See you bright and early people ;)

M x

Cups of Tea 0007 - 0018

Lots of Teatleys!

Post purely exists to show Gemma designs really... thoughts please, I'm not sure if I'm fussed tbh.



Back to regular posting tomorrow and all will be revealed :)

M x

Cups of Tea 0002 - 0006

If this day had been any less productive, it would have involved me not moving those extra 3 inches from my bed to the computer chair. I've sat here for most of the day, paper in hand and nothing coming out. If I'm honest, I wouldn't have had it any other way.

The past two days have literally involved me catching upon TV shows, texting and drinking tea. These have been the first two days in the past 3 weeks that I've truly felt like I've been on holiday. At least 12 hours sleep each day and I think I'm all the better for it. Fully recharged and ready to return to the GLC.

On the front of graphic design, I managed to force out a few interesting ideas for Phil's "20.." project, I've just got to go out and hunt down the subject matter now, it should be fun and quite simple too do, just my ideas for the book itself will be a challenge. I'll talk to Phil about it on Friday. Dave's project might as well not exist, the mind map I've done for it was like repeatedly rubbing my head against a cheese grater. I'll come up with something. Hopefully.

But I'm not going to worry about that now, watched the rest of Dexter Season 4 (incredible), 4 Episodes of Scrubs Season 9 (which is rather lackluster), the rest of South Park Season 13 (also abit hit and miss)... but now downloading How I Met Your Mother Season 1, Lets get into it!

Back to the viewing, Happy New Year Again!

x

Vital Stats -

Tea :

Cups of Tea 0002 - 0006 = 5 Teatley, Milky w/3 Sugars.

Viewing :

Dexter Season 4 = Episodes 9 - 12.
Scrubs Season 9 = Episodes 3 - 6.
South Park Season 13 = Episodes 6 - 12.

Hearing :

Tegan and Sara - Sainthood.
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Pershing.
Dance Gavin Dance - Self Titled.

Cup Of Tea 0001 : 2010 - The Year of The Teasigner.

The absence of the blog over the last month or so was self initiated. It wasn't because I didn't have the time or the energy to write something, it's just I didn't want too, which in itself is a sad thought.

Those last months of November were stressful. I didn't manage my time properly and it really bit me (and practically everyone else I know for that matter...) in the arse when time got closer too the deadlines. Most designers who read this (being from the same course...) will understand, that after this kinda pressure, you just really need a break, so I took one. No shame in admitting when things get a little too much to bare the grunt of. But now I'm back, and God, I assure you I'm back.

While it wasn't so much a break (one and a half weeks of work, followed by Christmas, then boxing day, then a birthday, then a second quieter birthday, then an anniversary, then finally a break. Then New Year's Eve and today, New Year's Day. What Can I say? December is a busy month in my family (Christmas babies...) but if it has taught me anything, it's that now it's had a time to reflect on the hard work that came before, coupled with the spirit crushing world of retail and Christmas music, combined with the blessings and curses of family, my spirit is eager to be as ambitious as I can be.

That is why, after today, as well as the now daily (yes, every day... this time for real, I promise...) exploits of Teasign, I'm launching a separate music blog called Trawler, the aim of which will be to report on new artists and such, as well as looking at some beautiful music design (flyers, sleeve design etc.) that I come across in the hour a day now set aside for trawling the tinterweb for music. While this is only temporary to see how I go (hell, I'm hardly keeping one blog going at the moment), I've got a few exciting ideas for it should it take off.

But What of Teasign, I hear you ask? Well there are many exciting plans for Teasign, don't you worry... but that would be telling I'm afraid. While I plan to revamp this baby over the next month or so (I'm considering moving blog hosts...) hopefully the blog will be expanding in itself. I hope to cover not only design of other designers / things I've read, but start life tracking a little, ending the blog in a similar fashion to DA journal entries, including films / shows I've seen that day, music I've listened too, what I'm reading and what I've run as well as tea consumed. This is more self reflective than interesting I'm sure, but if it helps me run more, read more and allow myself a little more entertainment, why the devil not!

Bah, look at all this serious banter, live in the now children and rejoice in your hangovers, David Tennant is no longer Doctor Who, Gavin and Stacey are Married and it's the year 2010. Those misconceptions of 2009 are yesterdays news, go out and be who ever you want to be. And on that note... time too trawl!

Same Time Tomorrow? Cya Then.

x