If there's one thing JAMblog won't stand for - it's Wordart! Obviously we couldn't just stand there and leave it how it was... So we took things into our own hands.
Thursday 29 January 2009
OUT OF ORDER
Our water-cooler has been broken for the last few days. I just walked through to get a coffee and noticed the monstrosity of a sign being used.
If there's one thing JAMblog won't stand for - it's Wordart! Obviously we couldn't just stand there and leave it how it was... So we took things into our own hands.
If there's one thing JAMblog won't stand for - it's Wordart! Obviously we couldn't just stand there and leave it how it was... So we took things into our own hands.
Wednesday 28 January 2009
KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY
Another great piece of work found on behance.net
New year's healthy diet? Trying to eat more fruit? Like buying random posters to fill your already cluttered walls?
Me too (well, the latter anyhow). Check out this little doozey.
Fill the days with your little sticker, and track your progress. Awesome.
Here's there portfolio | And here's where you can buy one!
New year's healthy diet? Trying to eat more fruit? Like buying random posters to fill your already cluttered walls?
Me too (well, the latter anyhow). Check out this little doozey.
Fill the days with your little sticker, and track your progress. Awesome.
Here's there portfolio | And here's where you can buy one!
Monday 26 January 2009
NEW COLDPLAY VIDEO
I hadn't seen this until just now. I love it when a lot of effort goes into the music video. Especially at three and a half minutes in and the dad mouthes an obsenity
One of my all time favourite's is this flash version of creep
One of my all time favourite's is this flash version of creep
CYPHER
Head on over to behance.net and have a gander at Alex Goose's portfolio. Especially this!
"A 46 page collection of interviews and photographs of the people who've help shape the person I've become over the last four years. This book was created so that in 10-20 years, I can look back and remember some of the best moments in my life."
Nice typography. Nice photos. Nice idea.
"A 46 page collection of interviews and photographs of the people who've help shape the person I've become over the last four years. This book was created so that in 10-20 years, I can look back and remember some of the best moments in my life."
Nice typography. Nice photos. Nice idea.
INSIGHTFUL RANT
note: I did not write this, but I totally agree with what it has to say. I saw this on Digg.com today and Craigslist has already taken it down, read it and take it to heart.
The Post
------------------------
Every day, there are more and more Craigs List posts seeking “artists” for everything from auto graphics to comic books to corporate logo designs. More people are finding themselves in need of some form of illustrative service.
But what they’re NOT doing, unfortunately, is realizing how rare someone with these particular talents can be.
To those who are “seeking artists”, let me ask you; How many people do you know, personally, with the talent and skill to perform the services you need? A dozen? Five? One? …none?
More than likely, you don’t know any. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be posting on craigslist to find them.
And this is not really a surprise.
In this country, there are almost twice as many neurosurgeons as there are professional illustrators. There are eleven times as many certified mechanics. There are SEVENTY times as many people in the IT field.
So, given that they are less rare, and therefore less in demand, would it make sense to ask your mechanic to work on your car for free? Would you look him in the eye, with a straight face, and tell him that his compensation would be the ability to have his work shown to others as you drive down the street?
Would you offer a neurosurgeon the “opportunity” to add your name to his resume as payment for removing that pesky tumor? (Maybe you could offer him “a few bucks” for “materials”. What a deal!)
Would you be able to seriously even CONSIDER offering your web hosting service the chance to have people see their work, by viewing your website, as their payment for hosting you?
If you answered “yes” to ANY of the above, you’re obviously insane. If you answered “no”, then kudos to you for living in the real world.
But then tell me… why would you think it is okay to live out the same, delusional, ridiculous fantasy when seeking someone whose abilities are even less in supply than these folks?
Graphic artists, illustrators, painters, etc., are skilled tradesmen. As such, to consider them as, or deal with them as, anything less than professionals fully deserving of your respect is both insulting and a bad reflection on you as a sane, reasonable person. In short, it makes you look like a twit.
A few things you need to know;
1. It is not a “great opportunity” for an artist to have his work seen on your car/’zine/website/bedroom wall, etc. It IS a “great opportunity” for YOU to have their work there.
2. It is not clever to seek a “student” or “beginner” in an attempt to get work for free. It’s ignorant and insulting. They may be “students”, but that does not mean they don’t deserve to be paid for their hard work. You were a “student” once, too. Would you have taken that job at McDonalds with no pay, because you were learning essential job skills for the real world? Yes, your proposition it JUST as stupid.
3. The chance to have their name on something that is going to be seen by other people, whether it’s one or one million, is NOT a valid enticement. Neither is the right to add that work to their “portfolio”. They get to do those things ANYWAY, after being paid as they should. It’s not compensation. It’s their right, and it’s a given.
4. Stop thinking that you’re giving them some great chance to work. Once they skip over your silly ad, as they should, the next ad is usually for someone who lives in the real world, and as such, will pay them. There are far more jobs needing these skills than there are people who possess these skills.
5. Students DO need “experience”. But they do NOT need to get it by giving their work away. In fact, this does not even offer them the experience they need. Anyone who will not/can not pay them is obviously the type of person or business they should be ashamed to have on their resume anyway. Do you think professional contractors list the “experience” they got while nailing down a loose step at their grandmother’s house when they were seventeen?
If you your company or gig was worth listing as desired experience, it would be able to pay for the services it received. The only experience they will get doing free work for you is a lesson learned in what kinds of scrubs they should not lower themselves to deal with.
6. (This one is FOR the artists out there, please pay attention.) Some will ask you to “submit work for consideration”. They may even be posing as some sort of “contest”. These are almost always scams. They will take the work submitted by many artists seeking to win the “contest”, or be “chosen” for the gig, and find what they like most. They will then usually have someone who works for them, or someone who works incredibly cheap because they have no originality or talent of their own, reproduce that same work, or even just make slight modifications to it, and claim it as their own. You will NOT be paid, you will NOT win the contest. The only people who win, here, are the underhanded folks who run these ads. This is speculative, or “spec”, work. It’s risky at best, and a complete scam at worst. I urge you to avoid it, completely. For more information on this subject, please visit www.no-spec.com.
So to artists/designers/illustrators looking for work, do everyone a favor, ESPECIALLY yourselves, and avoid people who do not intend to pay you. Whether they are “spec” gigs, or just some guy who wants a free mural on his living room walls. They need you. You do NOT need them.
And for those who are looking for someone to do work for free… please wake up and join the real world. The only thing you’re accomplishing is to insult those with the skills you need. Get a clue.
(e-mailed to me, taken from here)
The Post
------------------------
Every day, there are more and more Craigs List posts seeking “artists” for everything from auto graphics to comic books to corporate logo designs. More people are finding themselves in need of some form of illustrative service.
But what they’re NOT doing, unfortunately, is realizing how rare someone with these particular talents can be.
To those who are “seeking artists”, let me ask you; How many people do you know, personally, with the talent and skill to perform the services you need? A dozen? Five? One? …none?
More than likely, you don’t know any. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be posting on craigslist to find them.
And this is not really a surprise.
In this country, there are almost twice as many neurosurgeons as there are professional illustrators. There are eleven times as many certified mechanics. There are SEVENTY times as many people in the IT field.
So, given that they are less rare, and therefore less in demand, would it make sense to ask your mechanic to work on your car for free? Would you look him in the eye, with a straight face, and tell him that his compensation would be the ability to have his work shown to others as you drive down the street?
Would you offer a neurosurgeon the “opportunity” to add your name to his resume as payment for removing that pesky tumor? (Maybe you could offer him “a few bucks” for “materials”. What a deal!)
Would you be able to seriously even CONSIDER offering your web hosting service the chance to have people see their work, by viewing your website, as their payment for hosting you?
If you answered “yes” to ANY of the above, you’re obviously insane. If you answered “no”, then kudos to you for living in the real world.
But then tell me… why would you think it is okay to live out the same, delusional, ridiculous fantasy when seeking someone whose abilities are even less in supply than these folks?
Graphic artists, illustrators, painters, etc., are skilled tradesmen. As such, to consider them as, or deal with them as, anything less than professionals fully deserving of your respect is both insulting and a bad reflection on you as a sane, reasonable person. In short, it makes you look like a twit.
A few things you need to know;
1. It is not a “great opportunity” for an artist to have his work seen on your car/’zine/website/bedroom wall, etc. It IS a “great opportunity” for YOU to have their work there.
2. It is not clever to seek a “student” or “beginner” in an attempt to get work for free. It’s ignorant and insulting. They may be “students”, but that does not mean they don’t deserve to be paid for their hard work. You were a “student” once, too. Would you have taken that job at McDonalds with no pay, because you were learning essential job skills for the real world? Yes, your proposition it JUST as stupid.
3. The chance to have their name on something that is going to be seen by other people, whether it’s one or one million, is NOT a valid enticement. Neither is the right to add that work to their “portfolio”. They get to do those things ANYWAY, after being paid as they should. It’s not compensation. It’s their right, and it’s a given.
4. Stop thinking that you’re giving them some great chance to work. Once they skip over your silly ad, as they should, the next ad is usually for someone who lives in the real world, and as such, will pay them. There are far more jobs needing these skills than there are people who possess these skills.
5. Students DO need “experience”. But they do NOT need to get it by giving their work away. In fact, this does not even offer them the experience they need. Anyone who will not/can not pay them is obviously the type of person or business they should be ashamed to have on their resume anyway. Do you think professional contractors list the “experience” they got while nailing down a loose step at their grandmother’s house when they were seventeen?
If you your company or gig was worth listing as desired experience, it would be able to pay for the services it received. The only experience they will get doing free work for you is a lesson learned in what kinds of scrubs they should not lower themselves to deal with.
6. (This one is FOR the artists out there, please pay attention.) Some will ask you to “submit work for consideration”. They may even be posing as some sort of “contest”. These are almost always scams. They will take the work submitted by many artists seeking to win the “contest”, or be “chosen” for the gig, and find what they like most. They will then usually have someone who works for them, or someone who works incredibly cheap because they have no originality or talent of their own, reproduce that same work, or even just make slight modifications to it, and claim it as their own. You will NOT be paid, you will NOT win the contest. The only people who win, here, are the underhanded folks who run these ads. This is speculative, or “spec”, work. It’s risky at best, and a complete scam at worst. I urge you to avoid it, completely. For more information on this subject, please visit www.no-spec.com.
So to artists/designers/illustrators looking for work, do everyone a favor, ESPECIALLY yourselves, and avoid people who do not intend to pay you. Whether they are “spec” gigs, or just some guy who wants a free mural on his living room walls. They need you. You do NOT need them.
And for those who are looking for someone to do work for free… please wake up and join the real world. The only thing you’re accomplishing is to insult those with the skills you need. Get a clue.
(e-mailed to me, taken from here)
Monday 19 January 2009
SELLING COLOURS
I recently noticed we've been linked on some french website (here), another link on there lead me to another design blog, and a post on there lead me to the portfolio of Adhemas Batista. Awesome little flash website similar to indexhibit layout (which I myself use), with a vast list of clients, numerous awards, photos of his workplace, and sketchs and screenshots of his work in progress. Some impressive bits of stuff. Here's a few of my faves.
Go have a look.
Go have a look.
Thursday 15 January 2009
DON'T FORGET
I like guerilla advertising, I also like (intelligent) graffiti... This is a cool idea. A lot of people probably don't realise how much work goes into making all those pretty girls in those trashy magazines and what not, actually look the way they do.
Not much info on it I'm afraid. If anyone has any leads, or more examples of this kind of thing - leave a comment! Found on ffffound. More pics HERE.
Not much info on it I'm afraid. If anyone has any leads, or more examples of this kind of thing - leave a comment! Found on ffffound. More pics HERE.
Tuesday 13 January 2009
LIVE SURFACE
Livesurface is a royalty free stock site which has a range of blank canvasses for you to paste your work onto.
For example this billboard image is a layered file which when you add your art work adds the lighting effects to make it look realistic without you having to put any effort in.
The images templates are high-res, pre-masked, multi-layered images with built-in 3D surfaces. They make creating finished photographic images from your artwork as quick as cut + paste.
Sign up to receive a free image and tutorial.
STAMPS
Stamp collecting isn't everyone's cup-o-tea, I've got a few kicking about. A first-day issue set of children's classic tv, and a set of ol Henry and his wives. Some of you avid jam readers will know I collect postcards - so I kind of appreciate stamps in the same way. Teeny bits of art or design. Anyway. A new set was released today, and it will definitely interest a few of you. British Design Classics. Here's whats included:
Supermarine Spitfire
The superlative Battle of Britain fighter with its distinctive elliptical wings was designed by R J Mitchell who sadly died before the plane went into production.
Mini Skirt
Mary Quant rewrote the fashion rules for women forever with her daring design.
The Mini
Sir Alec Issigonis made use of every available space in the small car that was as much a fashion statement as a means of transport.
Anglepoise Lamp
George Carwardine’s flexible design brought light wherever it was needed.
Concorde
Aerospatiale and BAC’s supersonic jet was capable of twice the speed of sound and beautiful to look at too.
K2 Telephone Kiosk
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s design bright-red phone box always stood out on the streets of the UK.
Polypropylene Chair
Found in public buildings throughout the world, almost everyone will have sat on a Robin Day chair at some time.
Penguin Books
Edward Young’s book jacket design was instantly recognizable as a Penguin edition.
London Underground Map
Harry Beck’s easy to understand design was based on an electrical wiring diagram.
Routemaster Bus
Once a symbol of London to visitors from all over the world now only a few of Douglas Scott and Colin Curtis’s remain on London’s streets.
Click for gloriously large image (stolen from EDP). Info taken from royalmail.com.
Supermarine Spitfire
The superlative Battle of Britain fighter with its distinctive elliptical wings was designed by R J Mitchell who sadly died before the plane went into production.
Mini Skirt
Mary Quant rewrote the fashion rules for women forever with her daring design.
The Mini
Sir Alec Issigonis made use of every available space in the small car that was as much a fashion statement as a means of transport.
Anglepoise Lamp
George Carwardine’s flexible design brought light wherever it was needed.
Concorde
Aerospatiale and BAC’s supersonic jet was capable of twice the speed of sound and beautiful to look at too.
K2 Telephone Kiosk
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s design bright-red phone box always stood out on the streets of the UK.
Polypropylene Chair
Found in public buildings throughout the world, almost everyone will have sat on a Robin Day chair at some time.
Penguin Books
Edward Young’s book jacket design was instantly recognizable as a Penguin edition.
London Underground Map
Harry Beck’s easy to understand design was based on an electrical wiring diagram.
Routemaster Bus
Once a symbol of London to visitors from all over the world now only a few of Douglas Scott and Colin Curtis’s remain on London’s streets.
Click for gloriously large image (stolen from EDP). Info taken from royalmail.com.
Monday 12 January 2009
WORDS ARE PICTURES
I was just skimming through a post on digg.com. 'Websites with beautiful typography'. On there, I found the porftolio of Craig Ward. We've posted a piece of his work before (good typography is invisible). He has loads of stuff worth checking out, alot of which is letterpress print, rather than purely digital. Which we like. Not only is the work good, but the website is also rather pleasing. Have a look.
Thursday 8 January 2009
TYPENUTS
Basically, a wordpress powered site, collecting free desktop wallpapers. There's even some for all of you iphoners. I've just bagged me a couple. You can either enter your own work for people to enjoy. Go get yours.
Tuesday 6 January 2009
BUCKLE
I usually try not to post stuff I've found on other design blogs - but sometimes it's hard not to.
Head over to the type junkie and you'll find a link to etsy. I haven't looked into it, but it seems to be a friendlier version of ebay. Anyway. Someone on there is selling this!
A belt buckle made from real letterpress! How cool is that?! Now, I'm into my geeky type clothes n that - but I think this might take it a bit too far... Although, I do like the idea of being able to have a miniature mobile print press, for all those impromptu ink stamping needs.
Head over to the type junkie and you'll find a link to etsy. I haven't looked into it, but it seems to be a friendlier version of ebay. Anyway. Someone on there is selling this!
A belt buckle made from real letterpress! How cool is that?! Now, I'm into my geeky type clothes n that - but I think this might take it a bit too far... Although, I do like the idea of being able to have a miniature mobile print press, for all those impromptu ink stamping needs.
Monday 5 January 2009
LOVELY PACKAGE
I've never really done much packaging work... I like the idea of it; moving away from 2d print, edging closer to the world of 3d product design (which is where I'd like to be - eventually)...
I've bought DVDs in the past - just because I liked the cover. Whenever I buy wine, it's usually the label that draws me in. And if I ever saw any of these - I'd want to buy them, before I even knew/cared what was in them!
It's good to know that some lovely people have set up a lovely packaging design blog. Lot's of decent examples, laid on a nice clean site. Bookmark it.
I've bought DVDs in the past - just because I liked the cover. Whenever I buy wine, it's usually the label that draws me in. And if I ever saw any of these - I'd want to buy them, before I even knew/cared what was in them!
It's good to know that some lovely people have set up a lovely packaging design blog. Lot's of decent examples, laid on a nice clean site. Bookmark it.
LETTERPRESS
Every now and then, you see something, and it doesn't really sink in. You have to go back to it a while later to really appreciate it... This is a good example.
"This letterpress poster was handcrafted character by character over the course of roughly 100 hours. Characters from the Bickham Script Pro, Engravers MT, and Epic typeface families form the edifice featured in the artwork, the Salt Lake Temple. Each poster measures 16"x24" and is printed on Crane Lettra Pearl."
Jesus.
"This letterpress poster was handcrafted character by character over the course of roughly 100 hours. Characters from the Bickham Script Pro, Engravers MT, and Epic typeface families form the edifice featured in the artwork, the Salt Lake Temple. Each poster measures 16"x24" and is printed on Crane Lettra Pearl."
Jesus.
12 in12
Over Christmas I received my copy of 12 in 12.
Craig Oldham's different approach on what he learnt in the first year after leaving University on his quest to become a graphic designer.
It's brilliantly written and witty and best of all FREE (well he askes for a contribution for postage)
get yours here
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