London is ready for Christmas

Last Monday night, the famous Christmas lights on Oxford Street were switched on by Robbie Williams. I wasn't there on the actual night, but I was there on Thursday night and noticed that the brand Marmite (you know the product that you either love or hate) have become part of this years Christmas lights. As an interactive installation, shoppers can submit a photo of their 'love it or hate it' facial expressions, and their face will appear at a designated time on the high street. It's definitely a smart and fun campaign.

Oh Mr Lewis

Oooh Mr Lewis, or should I say the creative minds behind most John Lewis Adverts, sure do know how to tug at people's emotions. The ad below sets out to convey the message that although time may change and frivolous trends may change but the age old experience of love is a timeless and universal experience that every generation can relate to and its importance never changes. I posted previously about the creative use of split screen which is also used here; cleverly conveying three love stories and the brands message.



Christmas is quickly approaching so Mr Lewis just recently pumped out this new heartfelt Christmas ad (below). I was waiting and waiting, trying to figure out what the final reveal would be, and though only a small gesture, the small gesture speaks volumes, making the anticipation worth it. See for yourselves....I was all like 'n'awwwwww'...



...and I promise I'm not a romantic!

Technology & Fashion

With most things converging in our visual culture, digital and information age, it's interesting to see what type of developments arise as different fields combine together. Cultural Studies writer Pamela Church Gibson, finds that in order for us to gain a better understanding of our time, it is necessary for scholars and theorists alike to take on a ‘sideways’ view on cultural phenomena.

In this case pop star Nicole Scherzinger, was rocking this LED dress, aka 'twitter dress' last week, at EE's 4G mobile network launch in London; how relevant. I suspected that it may have been a new Hussein Chalayn piece, as he is renowned for incorporating technology in his designs (see this post), but the dress was actually made by fashion design company Cute Circuit. The dress is eight meters of French silk chiffon, infused with Swarovski crystals and over 2000 LED lights. When people tweet with the relevant hash tag, the LED lights on the dress display the tweeted message; pretty cool huh?

I doubt people are going to start walking around in LED dresses and suits (or will they? o_O ), but it does make me wonder how future developments and innovations like this could potentially change and open up more ways to communicate. I can definitely see something like this working in an advertising/PR campaign, well is this not one. What are your general thoughts?

Design Goodies Haul

Friday night I met up with a couple of mates at Zizzi; just because! To my surprise, Brenda (also a creative) presented me with goodies 1 & 2, which she said were (very) belated birthday gifts. It was a very nice gesture =) . They're on my design book list, so you can only guess how excited I was, and I can't wait to get into them. Goodie 3 was also a gift I received at the actual time of my birthday from another friend. Read on to know my initial thoughts and where to buy them.

1. Lettering & Type: Creating Letters and Designing Typefaces by Willen, B & Strals, N (2009)

How-to, meets visual typeface candy, with relevant design history, theory and short sporadic exercises.

2. Typography Sketchbooks by Heller, S & Talarico, L (2012)

This book is a visual feast of all types (pun not intended) of typography and a look into sketchbooks from a broad range of graphic designers and type artists. If you're looking for type-spiration, then this book ticks that box.

3. Fifty Dresses That Changed The World by Design Museum (2009)

Starting from the 1915 Delphos pleated dress, ending at Hussein Chalayan's 2007 LED Dress, this book looks back at design history's most signature dresses. It showcases each dress and gives us a short summary on what made them so iconic. It's almost an A to Z of well known dresses & styles.

Will hopefully do another one of these more often!

American Pancakes Recipe

I love pancakes; especially American pancakes, and don't get to make them often enough. During the summer I came across this recipe, but tweaked it a little to my taste. Wondering how to make these bad boys? Well here are some of the items and ingredients you will need:

Swan Lake

Credit: Sian Trenberth

I had always wanted to see a ballet production and took interest long before the success of the film Black Swan made it somewhat, commercially appealing. So seeing that there were a few shows on during the summer and that they were showing around my birthday, I took the opportunity to buy tickets for the opening night of Derek Deane's production of Swan Lake at the London Coliseum, performed by the English National Ballet.

With three tiers above the stalls, the interior of the Coliseum is very beautiful and majestic. My seats were right at the very top, on the balcony tier. Though it wasn't a bad view, I have to say that the seats on that tier weren't very comfortable.

The performance itself was an atmospheric spectacle; thanks to the set production, minimalist effects and the wonderful live orchestra who played very well; im kind of a sucker for Tchaikovsky. The dancers also held their own, the formation and precision of the corps dancing in the lake was beautifully done. Some of my favourite performances were when principle dancer, Erina Takahashi performed her solo as the Black Swan and when the four swans performed the well executed and much loved 'dance of the little swans/cygnes'. My only disappointment was that the last few moments leading up to the finale could have been built up a little more.

Eventually I would like to see The Nutcracker and an Opera production. What has been your favourite ballet, opera or theater production?

Diamond Jubilee

Credit: Taken by Ham at londondailyphoto

It is the Diamond Jubilee weekend and parties and celebrations are in full swing here all over in London and the UK. The Union Jack, in its red, white and blue glory has saturated every major and minor brand, store front and high street. It's a souvenir and merchandise galore on steroids. I think its now safe to say that we have seen the Union Jack fit every possible form, shape and size known to man; haha.

So I was down in Oxford Street on Saturday and keeping to the theme and occasion, I came across this awesome wall mural outside Selfridges side entrance by Graffiti Artist Paul Don Smith.

With all eyes on the UK this year as the Olympics also draw near, no doubt we will see (and have already been seeing) fashion, music, art and design being heavily influenced and inspired by the UK and its culture.

And on that note, hope everyone is enjoying their Jubilee weekend / holiday! :)