Am; Animation

As seems to be the general trend these days, no real time to comment, but watch this, is nicely animated:


"The Owl" by I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.

Al; Your Lucky Day

Very good short film on Vimeo about a winning lottery ticket.


Your Lucky Day from Dan on Vimeo.




Playing with a new camera; working on something for a new project. Just thought this photo might make you smile...

Ak; Music & words

Evening,

First, remember when I half-heartedly made this one morning? well, I had vague intentions to expand on that idea, but it seems someone already has... and much better than I ever would have. Check it:

Your favourite books, as a text poster but, illustrated with white space. Brilliant.

Then take a peak at the Levi Pioneer Sessions. Some really nice tunes, and another example of brands recognising the cultural power of music. Red bull are very well known for this, and who could ignore O2. At the agency I'm interning at at the moment this is something that recent pitches to "cool" brands almost always seem to include. Cultural groups are so often defined by the music they listen to. When I was younger, the "Grunge" (Skater-ish) kids listened to certain music, while "Indie kids" are a force unto themselves these days, with the core unifying source that groups them together being the music they listen to. Getting at potential consumers via music is all over the place, and on the up, regardless of any fears of a suffering music industry (a fear which, for different reasons, I believe to be entirely unfounded).

Aj; Japanese subway posters

Mad busy, not a lot of time to post clever ideas and musings, so for now you get this link. Some of these old subway etiquette posters from Tokyo are just brilliant:

What not to do on the subway - rude monsters.

proper posts when I can find the time!

Ai; Social Networking Map

Clever & well executed

Ah; Nice animation

Insert usual apology for not being true to "ant every day".


This Vimeo user has a really nice little collection of his animations. This is my favourite. Only 52 seconds, but I think it's really very sweet:


coExist from Eran Hilleli on Vimeo.


Trying to teach myself how to make a proper website at the moment, and struggling for free time, so that's all for now.

Ag; National Geographic & Graboids

There's a really nice look at the design of National Geographic here. I think that magazine shows how incredible longevity and consistency can lead to an international acceptance of a certain character. However, for me, the main reason the brand has been able to be maintained so well over time is it's consistency in quality. I was a subscriber of National Geographic for a few years, and looking at recent or the very old issues on the web, you can see the standard of presentation and photography has been maintained unwaveringly.

Consistency builds trust, and when that is coupled with a clear visual identity maintained over time, great things happen.

I like educational but inventive videos. As a semi-scientist, I love it when people can find a creative way to teach. I'd like to see more of this (although is this great only because it's about Graboids, instead of something real...):

Monstrous Wildlife from Frank Robnik on Vimeo.

Af; Bad Handle, nice logo

First, a complaint. I saw this on one of those "interesting design" sites, with the title "creative toolbox handle design":

I usually really like the things that follow titles like "creative handles, chairs, lamps, coathangers" etc, because they show a fresh and exciting or useful new approach to something. This initially seems the same, but for me the fact that as soon as you remove the hammer you lose the handle makes this totally ridiculous. I love a good toolbox, but it seems to me that very often you might not have the hammer inside the box while you move it. This layout doesn't particularly save space, and is a gimmick that will ultimately make the box less practical. As soon as you try to move it without the hammer in it, it becomes harder to carry than a normal box. Rubbish.

On a totally separate note: Interesting debate going on over at Brand New about this logo:

I personally really like it. I agree with some of the comments that the circle hasn't been formed in the most careful or considered way, and may have benefited if the bubbles made the circle naturally, rather than being cut off at the edges, but I think it is in general powerful, nicely executed and attractive. I'm a fan. What I'm not a fan of is "Year of Youth". That seems to shout to me "Events organised by adults, for other adults to make their "youths" go to". One of the commenters makes the point that no young people call themselves youths. I think that's true. I get the feeling that as soon as the organisers spotted a bit of potential alliteration they got all excited and didn't consider that if they want to appeal to young people, Youths isn't the best word. 

Maybe that's just me. I've never liked that word - maybe it's just personal. I still like the logo. 

(actually, a look at the associated website changes my opinion of the whole campaign... It may be that the whole thing isn't aimed at kids at all, but is really for the decision makers and grown-ups, judging by the tone of the website design. That would mean my complaint about the "Year of Youth" title is a little less valid. Either way, relatively nice main image, but the rest of it -website, typography etc - lets it down).

My uneducated ramblings for the day are done. To make up for all of that twaddle, check this out for more of this:

'Till tomorrow (or the next day... I concede that "Ant Every day" is a slight exaggeration)

Ae; Sweetheart

Long, tiring day means a short, unexplained music video:


The Wave Pictures - Sweetheart from Ben Reed on Vimeo.


Also, in sad news, Lindsay Lohan is out of jail, so gets no more letters.

Ad; Toilet Magic

Apologies for lack of posts.

Great creativity (stolen from BrainPickings, where there is much more info):

My laziness and lack-of-posting will be fixed soon. Honest.