Creative Review articles from November 2003

Creative Review archives from November 2003

You were missed.(Editorial/Letters)
November 1, 2003... The organisers of the first World Creative Forum (reviewed by Patrick Baglee on p82), which took place in London last month, are entitled to feel satisfied at its encouraging start. It provided high level speakers prompting some enlightening...

Abbey insult.(Editorial/Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... The new Abbey logo is quite frankly an insult to designers. Up and down the land people will have choked on their cornflakes at yet another ridiculous rebranding exercise. We all know good design is essential to any business, at best it can add...

In sympathy.(Editorial/Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... After reading last month's letters regarding the employment of graphic design graduates, I feel that I can fully sympathise with Paul Allen and the other hundreds of students searching for their first jobs. Only five out of 60 students in my...

A reply would be nice.(Editorial/Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... Re: Students, stop whining, Letters, September: I agree with Dave Horwood's comments regarding the importance of hands-on experience. I myself benefited from two weeks working for the excellent Nottingham based Output. I improved dramatically,...

Face off.(Editorial/Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I hope I'm not alone when I say that the redesign of the Face is totally aver-rated? [POTM, July] Once it was the bible for many an aspiring creative, its photography, typography and attitude were all cutting edge. Now I feel it just ain't...

Correction.(Editorial/Letters)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2003... In our review of Images 27 last month, the spread shown was the work of Ian not, as we said, Martin Whadcock. Apologies to Ian.

1 Recessional (the leaf label).(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... Jon Forss and Kjell Ekhorn, of design duo Non-Format, spotted the photography of Tony Ellwood (CR Sept) whilst looking for talent at degree shows this summer. Here they've incorporated one of Ellwood's shots, taken at Shoreham-by-Sea, into...

2 Cyriack parasol (Skam).(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... Skam act Quinoline Yellow's new EP sleeve was created by one of Skam's regular sleeve designers, bhatoptics. Intriguingly ambiguous, the sleeve appears to show a modular door with a dark plastic panel bearing an embossed, alien-looking symbol....

3 Lead us not into temptation (thrill jockey).(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... David Byrne, composer of this soundtrack to recent film release Young Adam, came up with the idea of creating type using twigs for its sleeve. Designer Danielle Spencer at David Byrne's New York company, Todo Mundo, created each letter by hand...

4 Stitches (city rockers).(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... Lead singer of The Boggs, Jason Friedman came up with the concept for this sleeve. The photograph of the band was taken by Melissa Fatto in a loft apartment in New York earlier this year. The word Boggs is painted on the wall while the album...

5 Tim Berne tour poster.(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... London based Cog Design worked with illustrator Stephen Byram to create this vibrant poster for the latest Contemporary Music Network tour using a double hit printing technique. Byram's scruffy line drawings appear in black and are particularly...

6 Meccano mind (illustrious).(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... A combination of simple design and art direction by Mat Maitland and Gerard Saint at Big Active and unusual sleeve material makes this first release from band, Syntax, instantly appealing. The outer sleeve is rubberised flexible plastic with...

7 Redone (lo-recordings).(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... More clever design from the Non-Format duo for Red Snapper's remix album, Redone. The text is woven into a piece of fabric which sits in the bed of the jewel case. Lift out the CD and you can read the track listings which have been stitched...

8 Warp T-shirt by TDR.(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... For the last seven months Warp record label have commissioned a designer a month to produce a T-shirt for them. The results so far were exhibited in West London's Eclectic Gallery recently as part of Wrapt in Warp--a nine day event featuring...

9 Zoot Woman (wall of sound).(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... Simon Gofton at Tom Hingston Studio art directed this beautiful sleeve for the new, eponymously titled, Zoot Woman album. Derived from the Zoot Woman logo, Carton commissioned set designers to construct the individual 3D letters in coloured...

10 Spokes (warp).(First Sight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Plaid's striking new album sleeve by TDR incorporates an abstract work by artist and friend of Plaid, Elena Copenkova. The typeface was created specially by TDR to complement the vibrant painting: nine inch high white letters in the same type...

1-3 ICO campaign.(First Sight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Information Commissioners Office is a government funded body that acts as guardian for the data protection act and the freedom of information act. In this press and poster campaign driving people to website therighttoknow.co.uk, the ICO...

4 Skoda viral commercial.(First Sight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Earning the unlikely respect of fellow drivers is the theme of this new viral Skoda spot for the Fabia VRS. Written by Rob Potts and Andy Jex of Fallon London, the documentary-style ad features Brian, a suburban Skoda driver, who likes to spend...

5&6 Amsterdam City Council campaign.(First Sight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Tackling bike thieves is a subject close to the heart of Amsterdam City Council. This campaign from KesselsKramer directs people to website bicycletheft.nl, a site offering advice on the best ways to prevent theft. The campaign includes print,...

7 Radiohead promo.(First Sight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Creative Future Ed Holdsworth has shot the latest video for Radiohead. The promo, for track Sit Down, Stand Up was actually developed as part of the Radiohead.TV project, which invited fans to make films to accompany tracks on the new album....

8 Dolce & Gabbana commercial.(First Sight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Monica Bellucci stars in this emotionally charged ad for Dolce & Gabbana's new Sicily fragrance. The film, directed by native Sicilian Giuseppe Tornatore, who won an Oscar in 1989 for Cinema Paradise, is a mini-love story full of Mediterranean...

9 Playstation commercial.(First Sight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Gorgeous Enterprises director Frank Budgen has shot the latest PlayStation2 ad, Mountain, through agency TBWA\London. The spot continues the "Fun Anyone?" strategy and was shot in Rio de Janeiro. It features hoards of people bustling through...

10 Philips campaign.(First Sight)(poster campaign)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Remember the scary monsters you imagined when the bedroom light was switched off as a child? Leo Burnett, Singapore have paid homage to them in a poster campaign for electrical company Philips. The three posters, which run on the MRT,...

Not-so-Grimm fairytales from DGV. (Die Gestalten Verlag).(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... When most of us think of classic stories such as Cinderella or Snow White images of chiselled princes and labour-intensive dwarves who sing, and indeed whistle, while they work come to mind. But it wasn't always so. When the folk tales were...

Spin's Visuell treatment. (Deutsche Bank's art magazine).(First Sight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Spin have completed the second edition of Visuell, the art magazine for the Deutsche Bank. The 148-page magazine aims to highlight the numerous events that surround the bank's vast art collection: through looking at its travelling exhibitions...

Mau mag for V&A. (Bruce Mau Design creates Victoria and Albert Museum member magazine).(First Sight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Toronto-based Bruce Mau Design have created the Victoria and Albert Museum's now members' magazine. Issue one, which goes out this month, will feature interviews with architect Frank Gehry as well as new writing by novelist Michel Faber. ...

Ones to watch: AllofUs.(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... After seven or eight years of working together, we had the 'What do you want to be doing in five years time?' conversation," says Simon Sankarayya, one-fifth of newly formed design group, AllofUs. "We'd had quite a few like that in the pub and...

I made the PS2 human mountain: how The Mill's Jordi bares created a seething mass of humanity for the latest Playstation spot.(First Sight)(Interview)
November 1, 2003... CR: What's your job title? JB: Senior animator. CR: How did you get into animation? JB: While studying architecture. Creating 3D models using a computer was a way to visualise things and then play with lighting and viewpoints. I...

Reborn slippy: an Underworld re-release gave Tomato the chance to have fun. (Born Slippy).(First Sight)
November 1, 2003... THOSE WHO THINK Tomato take themselves too seriously should check out the promotional material for a series of new releases from Underworld. The band is in the process of releasing an anthology of their music from the past ten years: a double...

This is showcase, produced in association with Zefa. Each month we explore a different theme bringing you the latest and best work produced in that area from around the world. This month's theme is sport.
November 1, 2003... A woman made of water stars in this spot for Lucozade Sport Hydro Active. Written by Colleen Philips and Kit Dayram at M&C Saatchi. Directed by Philippe Andre. Production company: Harry Nash Written and directed by Peter Arnell of US agency...

This year, our creative futures were each given a window in London's Selfridges for three weeks in which to "express themselves". This is what they came up with windows of opportunity.
November 1, 2003... CONTAINER Women's beauty regimes came under the spotlight in Container's window. Languorous illustrations featured witty details of women being meticulously maintained by an army of male minions (including a crew hoisting a bucket of varnish...

The future print? The latest generation of digital presses open up intriguing new possibilities for print.
November 1, 2003... TO SAY THAT DIGITAL printing has so far failed to excite the design community is something of an understatement. As research for this piece, a sample of the UK's leading designers were asked whether they had done anything interesting with...

Reading pictures: if designers and art directors wish to place their work in a wider social and political context, an understanding of semiotics is essential.
November 1, 2003... AS A GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENT IN THE early 80s I diligently attended my "liberal" studies lectures. They included little bits of film theory, some art history, snippets of psychology and a little media studies. For the most part it was enjoyable...

BBH comes of age: Bartle Bogle Hegarty has been responsible for some of the most memorable images produced by British advertising. As it marks its twenty first birthday, Paula Carson talks to founder and chairman, John Hegarty.
November 1, 2003... THE IMPLICATION WAS THAT BARTLE Bogle Hegarty's twenty first birthday celebrations would be low-key. "Not the usual supplements, or parties in random night clubs," I was assured. Instead, a simple book, with a cross-section of vintage work...

Photolibrary catalogues are increasingly sophisticated. Gavin Lucas has the latest library books.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... 1. Spread from CROP, a large format Corbis catalogue which shows images at almost A2 size on a selection of different stocks. Design by Segura Inc. 2. The Designers Republic, Pentagram New York and Addison Madrid all contributed to the...

United artists: Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry and Chris Cunningham have joined forces on a series of DVDs featuring their best work and more.
November 1, 2003... ONCE UPON A TIME THE role of the promo director was, in the simplest sense, to create a vehicle to market a product. Pop promos helped flog records. The bands got the attention: outside the industry, the directors were largely unknown. ...

War diaries: Kerim Rissin has drawn on Iraq's long tradition of book art as a means of documenting recent conflict.(Before After Now - Visions of Iraq, Deluxe Gallery, London, England)
November 1, 2003... KERIM RISSIN HAS JUST been to the private view of an artist who, like him, is also showing his work in a gallery in East London. But while Damien Hirst's exhibition opened to the usual media fanfare, the show Rissin is part of at the nearby...

Double edged graphics: Adrian Shaughnessey gets to grips with Rick Poynor's No More Rules.(Reviews)(Book Review)
November 1, 2003... Graphic design has come a long way since its early years as a craft-based skill practised quietly and anonymously by men with pipes and leather elbow patches. It is flow a global business and cultural phenomenon employing tens of thousands of...

At the digital cutting edge: Ross Cooper explores the weird and wonderful world of Ars Electronica.(Reviews)
November 1, 2003... The Ars Electronica festival takes place on the river Danube in the picturesque town of Linz, Austria. The largest and most influential international festival of digital art. Ars is divided into two main events: the symposium and the Prix Ars...

In search of creativity: Patrick Baglee attends the World Creative Forum in London.(Reviews)
November 1, 2003... Let me start at the finish. As with many design conferences (though there have been few with such ambition and scale) judging the impact of The World Creative Forum, held at Bloomberg during September was best done afterwards. Early on the...

Discover commercial. (Discover Card).(Pick Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FROM GOODBY SILVERSTEIN, SAN FRANCISCO That most dreaded of characters, the ambitious parent, is used to illustrate the true benefits of the cash-back bonus award scheme enjoyed by customers who use the Discover card. The spot basically...

St Mungo's cardboard sofa. (charity publicity).(Pick Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FROM SAATCHI & SAATCHI The St Mungo's charity aims to alleviate the problems of London's homeless, providing a roof over the heads of more than 1000 people a night who are down on their luck. Its latest effort to publicise the plight of...

Livesexy website. (from radio station Kiss 100).(Pick Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FROM POKE Sick, but funny, www.Livesexybeforeyoudie.com is part of an ongoing campaign for radio station Kiss 100, developed by agency Mother. The idea is that life is too short and that with the help of the radio station, you should make...

The Independent tabloid.(Pick Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Rumour has It that most UK broadsheets have a tabloid version of their title ready designed but locked away deep in the art room. Many readers prefer the smaller format--especially those struggling to read a paper on a crowded train--but the...

David Blaine game. (US magician David Blaine).(Pick Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FROM BRIAN MUNG You have to laugh at the Brits' reactions to US magician David Blaine. The man suspends himself above the River Thames in a glass coffin for 44 days without food. Do his antics inspire speechless awe and wonder? Do they...

Hand-painted street ads. (Hand-Painted Street Advertising, Stables Gallery, Orleans House Gallery, Twickenham, England).(Pick Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FROM LOUIS SHELDON-WILLIAMS Louis Sheldon-Williams has trod the advertising boards himself over the years: an actor, he starred in numerous ads from the 1950s onwards. It's possibly this heritage which informs his passion for hand-painted...

Adidas campaign.(Pick Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FROM 180 AMSTERDAM There's a subtlety to the performances and direction of this campaign, featuring footballer David Beckham and rugby player Jenny Wilkinson that lends it a gentle appeal. The series of spots features the two sportsmen...

VW Passat commercial.(Pick Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FROM BMP DDB This is the latest spot in the "you'll want to keep it that way" campaign, which explores the outrageous lengths that VW Passat owners will apparently go to in order to keep their motors in mint condition. The action begins...

White Stripes promo. (promotion).(Pick Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FROM XL RECORDINGS Last month, we gave a bit of a kicking to the White Stripes' I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself promo--perhaps it was just the shock of seeing a video which fell below their usual standards. Thankfully, normal...

Royal Mail Special Stamps 20.(Book Review)
November 1, 2003... Royal Mail, 33.95 [pounds sterling] The Royal Mail first issued Special Stamps in 1924 and have since released sets to commemorate important anniversaries, celebrate national events and reflect the varied aspects of the British way of life....

Both.(Book Review)
November 1, 2003... Bloomsbury, 7.99 [pounds sterling] Combining their previous releases, First and Second, Both (cover shown, 2) contains some of the best work of comic artists Tom Gauld and Simone Lia. This new collection features Gauld's astronauts,...

100 Habits of Successful Graphic Designers.(Book Review)
November 1, 2003... Rockport, 27.50 [pounds sterling] Looking at both the practical and creative aspects of graphic design and the elements needed to run a successful studio, 100 Habits brings together 11 designers from North America, Japan and the UK to...

American Music.(Book Review)
November 1, 2003... Jonathan Cape, 45 [pounds sterling] In her travels across America, photographer Annie Leibovitz has captured some of the world's most talented musicians and documented the people and landscapes that have shaped the country's musical...

Paper Engineering: 3D Design Techniques for a 2D Material.(Book Review)
November 1, 2003... RotoVision, 29.99 [pounds sterling] Natalie Avella's book is a great example of how to make what appears to be a niche subject applicable to numerous creative disciplines. Paper Engineering aims to show that graphic design isn't confined...

Pixel World.(Book Review)
November 1, 2003... Laurence King, 24.95 [pounds sterling] Wrapped in a blister pack, the design of this blocky, square-shaped book successfully intimates the aesthetic of the work within. From its origins as the standard graphic form for video games in the...

Jethro Marshall has worked on "special projects" for adidas for the past three years.(Gallery)
November 1, 2003... Jethro Marshall has worked on "special projects" for adidas for the past three years. When the company collaborated with A Bathing Ape on a limited edition range of trainers (see p36), Marshall was called in to produce some appropriate...