Things I see & do

13:45 11th August 2011

Hipstamatic

Photo-happy: After many months of dismissing 'hipstamatic' as a trendy bullshit photo filter, I relented and decided to download it and see what all the fuss is about. I've only taken a couple of pictures so far and already i quite like it.. how embarrassing. While the multiple lenses and films are difficult to navigate through I like the sense of mystery it puts back into taking a picture. The viewfinder is misaligned and much smaller than the actual picture taking area, as it used to be with double lens reflex camera. All in all while the user interface is a bit dodgy, its a fun tribute to the golden days of wet photography.

12:00 5th June 2011

Ex-ten-sion

Unlikely humour: I spotted this sign in the window of the immigration office in Vientienne, Loas. What interested me about it was the amusingly apt way the word had been broken to make it fit on a single sheet of A4. Of course the Loas government officials who stuck the sign up wouldn't of thought twice about it (english being barely a third of forth language in Laos). I somehow can't imagine HM's department of immigration printing something quite so inadvertently amusing.

18:00 28th February 2011

Drains drains drains

Jus'looking: Asia is a strange and brutal mix of rich and poor. The rich have the money to throw at problems and get quality products / work as a result. The poor don't have the money and, well, have to improvise. Now I know that the Thai generally have public funds for things like drain covers.. but in the mean time someone has improvised and as a result made something a little more bespoke.

16:02 9th April 2010

Cool vid! Pixel Stars invade NY

Jus'lookin: The end of the world as we no it! This vid illustrates the sort of feeling every designer (or any person who deals with pixels for that matter) has at 4:59 on a Friday afternoon before a deadline. Thanks to the lovely Jo for this link :) x

11:22 8th March 2010

Found typography collection

Jus'lookin: The joy of camera phones means I am delited to share my most recent collection of random bits of type from all-over. This little lot includes exhibition typography from the Decoded show at the V&A, a hostel in Bruges, a cleaver LED display at the Design Museum, signage from a massive German techno club, a cafe in Amsterdam (not a naughty one;) and the bottom of a pint glass at my local. Inspiration, reference, whatever, I love noticing little details and oddities which surround us - there easily over looked, but if we don't get the little things, what hope is there for the big'uns.

12:55th March 2010

Gentlemen, your attention please!

Curious moment: I strolled past this random bit of graffiti on a stroll in London. I'd never really looked in any detail at a 'gents bog' symbol, but the stickered lettering, in caps as is the the word 'Gentlemen', begins to create a block of type with a kinda strange higherarchy which rather than just informs of the presence of a bog.. illustrates the symbol like the lead copy on a poster or headline of a magazine. A rythm is built between the large lettering and the small - 'Gentlemen, prefere your sister' - then we get the symbol of a man, who stands proud with his hands on hips. Is it just me but be it in a cheeky way, is a little incest the 'new thing'? Theres something about this which reminds me a old WW2 posters.. Dig for victory... Mums the word... Prefer you sister... fortunatly I've got 3 brothers so won't be signing up just yet!

22:12 2nd March 2010

Found signs

Jus'lookin: On the left is the remains of an old sign I past on a late night in my old hometown Croydon. Like everything in Croydon on a late night, its been battered and assaulted by the locals. I'm not sure what it once said, but now it reads with a nervous stutter.. (perhaps from the beating).. "A..a.. now in Park St". Anyway loving the strang composition and the wooden type orniment type pointing hand... not quite AIGA's universal symbol system, but it certainly tells you something about the area.

Now, on the right we have something a little more fun. Whilst visiting a mate in hospital in Brum, I noticed the toad sign. It looked a bit like a stencil, so I thought it might be a sort of graffiti based piss-take commenting on priorities of the motorist perhaps. Later I discovered its an official Department of Trandsport road sign warning of possible 'migratory toads'...Ha! Sorry if your a frog.

15:45 27th February 2010

If only

Jus'lookin: What a great idea! If this applied to everything in life what a world it would be. Seriously thou what an amazing bit of copy this is. I couldn't think of anything better to be greeted by on the way in to a food place. This was an after pub trip to subway as well, so I was particularly enthusiastic about geting a picture - Thanks Subway guy! Another observation I made in Subway was that Police seemed to get free food, perk of the job or what! Apparently this particular store has to call the police out a lot, so by way of thanks they get free food.. Protection food if you will.. anyone smell bacon?