I was just watching the Hotel Inspector, yes whilst I should be getting on with something more productive.

Anyway I was watching an old episode with Ruth Watson as the inspector. The B&B was really quirky, a little bit eccentric perhaps. So they invited Alastair Sorbe(not sure if I spelt that right)  to the B&B, he’s an author of a guide book which features B&B’s/Hotels with character.

He spoke briefly about how people can get into his guide book, and why it’s important to him.

Unfortunately I cant remember what he said word for word, but he did mention, that he finds individualism so important as the world is so bland, he mentioned how we are all clones and that when he sees someone using colour and their character it is truly precious.

It really made me think about myself, not just about my Graphics work but other aspects of life, such as how I wont buy an item of clothing if my boyfriend doesn’t like it when I like it, or I may not dye my hair pink because I know I wont get a job with pink hair, and people may look at me differently. Its stupid really and I personally like to think I’m independent and I wear and I do what I like, but quite often I don’t sometimes because its not appropriate, but sometimes because I think what will others think of me?

From a Graphic design angle, I’m often told you need to have something different, something which will make you stand out so an employer will pick you. My only answer to that is to be yourself, put your personality into your work, that’s the only way I can see that you can be different. Because everyone different you cant sell a fake you cause in time it will just fall apart.

What am basically saying is, do what you want in your life, don’t get bullied into anything that you don’t want to do. Work how you like to work and don’t change, listen and respect other people’s thoughts and take them on board, don’t act like you know it all. BE HUMBLE, and belive in yourself (I’m finding this one tough) Don’t take anything for granted, dont let anyone treat you like rubbish just cause your a graduate doesn’t mean you deserve to be treated like rubbish. =]

Maybe these thought’s are the only thing I have learnt from uni but even if it is, I’m glad I went to uni. Stay true to yourself and your style, then your work will always have passion behind it, you are you and thats your brand. Don’t change for anyone.

I love this time of year though its magical, I’ve allready had a glass of wine whilst listening to some christmas tunes, sad I know. Oh and have decided that I’m going to go on a balloon flight for my 21st unfortunatly I’m going to have to wait till April before they fly again. And also I’m going on a ghost walk the Friday before my birthday so that should be fun too.

With the cold weather upon us I thought it would be appropriate to include these snazzy mittens,  I think there so clever and practical, sourced from: http://www.senoritapuri.com/

If only I lived in New York

My works coming along slowly, but I am getting there, I have decided on the theme of Charlotte potatoes for my identity, along with a royal theme, I’ve post the finals when there done in January, hopefully there be done before.

Misses potato head perhaps?

This is the one thing which has cheered me up 2day, found via http://szymon.tumblr.com/page/25 yes sad I know, but it made me smile and i’m seriously thinking of getting myself one. 

Still managing to stay at uni, its getting tough now. At the moment I’m trying to do my essay and its sooo hard, they want it to link to our final major if possible, oh and to our paper last year, its a nightmare and I’m struggling to get some good information on my topic of Ethics in Graphic Design I’m just looking at the subject in a broad sense right now, there’s plenty on the history but I’m struggling to find what I want on the current issues and future ect, our library has little selection on ethics, well within design anyway.

I’m just going to have to plod along I think. With relation to the essay in particular it seems to be one road block after the other. Nothing worth doing is easy I’m just going to have to keep motivated and get my arse in gear.

I’ve been given a maximum of 750 words to give a preface to this online blog, which is to include my values, principles and aspirations. Not an easy task. How to summarise this collection of what I’d call personal clutter? I feel a bit like a teenager who’s been told to tidy their room and explain how it got in such a state in the first place. This blog is my online bedroom where I’ve been able to place inspiring, emotive; images, music, and videos. Which are personal to me. Displaying your thoughts an opinion’s to the world is a very liberating but also a scary experience. I defiantly recommend trying it!

I’ve realised through writing this blog, it can be very rewarding to maintain and upkeep, there is something exhilarating about checking to see how many page views your site has received that day, and the thought that someone somewhere has read your latest post, it almost makes you feel famed and distinguished.

Above are some of the perks of the blog (excuse the pun), but to have longitivity with any blog you need to have stimulating content and an adaptability to the reader, weather they are familiar to your subject area or not. I’ve tired to make my blog as user friendly as possible although it is primarily design based, I hope that someone who for instance is not interested in design could still read this blog and be entertained. And although I have mentioned the viewers, it is just as important for the author of the blog to be as entertained and excited to produce the work as the viewer is to view it. Personally I have really enjoyed producing and maintaining this blog. I’ve learnt a lot about myself whilst on this journey. Mainly that I am inspired by almost everything the less design related the better sometimes. This did concern me at first. I thought to myself how can I expect to become a designer, when I find going for a walk along the beach or talking to a stranger more inspiring than looking into a design book. But my worries soon disappeared when I found myself collecting interesting imagery or when I felt envious of beautiful design work. I have realised that everyone is different, for me going travelling, seeing my friends, or painting with my three-year-old niece makes that creative part of my brain start moving. I cant design and think about design all the time, going for a walk is the break I need to get myself thinking again. This blog is a celebration of all the of various items I have came across that have in some way inspired me, not matter how unrelated.

I may wonder away from design sometimes but I do love Graphic design its something, which excites me more than anything else in this world. I love good design and I adore typography. I hope to one day be able to produce great design work, like the amazing work of Sagmeister, Pentagram, Why not Associates, and Alan Fletcher just to name a few iconic Graphic Designers/companies. These people remind me why I want to become a designer. I love seeing a piece of design which makes me jealous such as the innocent smoothie identity or the V&A logo for example, it reminds me of how far away I am from becoming a great designer, it makes me want to produce work to that standard. I know I still have a long way to go and a lot more to learn, but hopefully I will get there in the end, to become a great Graphic designer one to be remembered, I want to change the design world just a little, I want to create a more sustainable and ethical design environment, and lastly I wish for a world full of beautiful design.

Cd case designed by Build. 

I was reading through the diary entry’s, I came across this from Michael;  ”I love seeing the beauty in objects/places that to most people, are ugly or ignored. I think that’s the job of the designer, reacting to the environment, seeing beneath the crap of everyday life, seeing the beauty below.” He then continues on to say; “Someone asked me the other day what my other passions are and I couldn’tthink of a single thing other than design, and it made me really depressed…Is it important to have an outside interest?… should I/we be getting out more? Michael C Place.  

I think it is so important for designers to have interests other than just design. This is just my personal opinion though, I have no experience when it comes to working in the “real world,” please forgive me if I come across as-if i know it all, because I most certainly don’t! I see it now with designers being really up their own asses and acting as though they know it all, some have such a high opinion of their-self’s. It makes me so sad, how can they have that attitude? How can they be so ignorant and self absorbed? The only thing which comforts me is the saying “pride comes before a fall.”   

I really never want to become this type of arrogant designer ever! Bear with me this does have a point, so for me having interests out of the design world, such as cinema every Wednesday with my girlfriends, ice skating, dance, going down the pub with friends for a good catch up, or lunch with the parents. These things make me very happy and in turn make me produce better work, I personally need this kind of grounding, and I know my friends would knock me down a peg or two if I got cocky. I find having these interests invaluable to me, they bring me more inspiration than I would find looking at a screen, they bring a lifetime of happy memories, they give me a break from the consuming world of design and keep me from being “THAT” designer. And if nothing else it makes me a better communicator and is that not what design is all about?  

Home; so many memories, this is what makes me a better designer.