If you look to the left, you’ll notice this is the one hundred and first column I’ve written for Creativepool. I must admit I let my century pass by unnoticed, which is rather typical of my lack of attention. But it does allow me the opportunity to pinch an idea from the BBC and consign ten aspects of TV advertising to a virtual dustbin with a yank of a handle and a sickening thud. Should you wish to disagree, I’d heartily encourage you to use the comments facility at the foot of this piece, rather than hunting me down like a frightened hound. Now, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll begin …
Archive for the ‘Best and worst’ Category
Twenty & twelve predictions for 2012
Thursday, December 29th, 2011
As a new year beckons, I am very happy to take on the burden of predicting exactly what will be happening in the twelve months to come. Should none of these occur, please speak to my lawyer.
Help yourself
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
Merry Christmas? Times are as hard as a granite boulder, encased in steel, painted in superglue and treated with a rare carbon compound.
Broke is what we are.
Blame a multitude of politicians and stab an accusing finger in the direction of international bankers and I will be with you, brothers and sisters. Had the former been watching the latter, we may not be in this sorry situation. Add to this negligence a patchwork government hell-bent on hobbling the voluntary and public sectors and we’re staring down the wrong end of a long, bleak winter. But again, what’s to be done? In the creative industries, can we really lighten this crushing load in any meaningful way? I feel certain we can.
Strife is tweet – a top ten of Twitter scandals
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
1. Social sausage
Anthony Weiner (oh the irony!) denied everything and blamed hackers (they always do), when a photo of his genitals was tweeted from his account and sent to a woman in Seattle. The problem was that Weiner, at the time, was one of the nation’s most powerful congressmen and the favourite to become Mayor of New York in 2013. The global media wouldn’t let it drop – probably because there were so many gags to be cracked about his name.
Eventually he caved and admitted the weiner in the photo was Weiner’s weiner. It cost him his 12 year position in the House of Representatives and, of course, the mayoral election race.
Words are pictures – Craig Ward, master of typographic design.
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
Typography is not a dying art. It’s changing and evolving, and today we have a number of designers who are passionate about pushing type to its limits. Leading the way is Craig Ward, a designer who has a very special awareness of words.
The top ten business card designs
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
From the most intricate folding cardboard and metal business cards to contact details printed onto balloons, the humble business card has developed into an art form in itself. With different cards out there trying to stand out and grab your attention more so than ever before, there is a run down of ten of the most must-see business cards today.
The top ten USB gadgets
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
The USB ports in our computers have facilitated a wide range of different product and marketing opportunities. From guitars that can be plugged straight into our computers to nifty branded storage freebies that get handed out like sweets at IT conventions.
The true purpose and potential for our USB ports, though, has of course been found in the range of largely useless, yet somehow alluring, toys and gadgets. These USB toys are the perfect desk accompaniment for the professional procrastinator. Full of distracting potential, these toys may stop your train of thought but they make up for it in their undoubted awesomeness.
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I’m not with stupid. I am stupid.
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
As many of you will know Topman has recently got itself in a bit of trouble with some new T-shirt designs featuring some rather questionable slogans. But given that the emotional responses these novelty slogan T-shirts usually conjure up range from boredom and disdain to offense and resentment, the topman T-shirt debacle isn’t really a fall from grace for the world of ‘edgy’ slogan shirts. Rather, it is just another example to add to the collection of why provocative slogan shirt design is one of the less needed contributors to the area of T-shirt design as a whole. Join me here in my list of the most overrated, unfunny and all-round unwelcome designs.
Pretty vacancies. Are recruitment consultants letting us down?
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
Redundancies, renegotiations, restructuring and rotten revenues. Tough times in the creative industry. Tough times everywhere. Sorry folks, but there’s no longer any room for passengers in this business. So here’s a thought: why don’t we take a very large magnifying glass to the recruitment consultancies? Set up to match talent with opportunities, creatives with employers, I think some of these outfits have now become more of a hindrance than an asset.
Of course it’s important not to bundle all these firms together, put them in a sack and chuck them in the canal of condemnation. I won’t, but I could name a handful of recruitment agents who are consummate professionals, work hard for clients and candidates alike and take their responsibilities very seriously. But perhaps they are the exceptions. (more…)
Where have you bean? Heinz roll out new TV spot, copywriting saved.
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012(more…)
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