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Inspiration… where do you find yours? Cardiff, Wales.

Landscape.... into the unknown.

Landscape.... into the unknown.

Isaac Newton found his in an apple.

It's a funny thing, it can strike at any time and in any place, often when you least expect it. We thought you may be interested to find out how the guys at GoCreate Media find theirs.

If you ever find yourself short of it, you are more than welcome to share some of ours!

You will notice random images dotted around the site. These are the things that inspire us here at GoCreate Media.

Inspiration - stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity. Something, such as a sudden creative act or idea, that is inspired.

www.gocreatemedia.co.uk

Top Welsh Tweets

Thought I would see how many of you are out there that have twitter accounts. If you are constantly on the pulse of Welsh Art + Design and tweeting about it we want to know, list your account as a comment below and later in the year we will be launching a top ten of most influential Welsh Art + Design twitterer's.

PLANNING FOR CARDIFF DESIGN FESTIVAL UNDERWAY

Planning is now underway for Cardiff Design Festival 2009, for anyone who wants to get involved, check out the Cardiff Design Festival website for further details, or comment below and we will send your thoughts on... On behalf of NakedWales happy early fifth birthday.

Helping us to help you!!

We have now been operating for over two years now, with one of our main goals being to highlight Welsh art & design to an national and international audience. Over the last few months we have been busy working on new opportunities for NakedWales to work on this goal further and go beyond the website and events that we have provided previously.

To this end we want your help, and your guidance. As members of the art & design world we want to hear from you as to what you would like NakedWales to do for you. While we all know a ferrari for everyone would be great, we are really wanting to know if there is anything that as a community we maybe able to bring people. That could fundamentally help you in your practice as designers and artists.

please comment below.

Cardiff Design Festival 2008 Launches at Senedd

CDF launch at the Senedd

CDF launch at the Senedd

Last night saw the launch of Cardiff Design Festival 2008. We had a great time looking around at all of the work produced by the design agencies, and the free wine went down very well. So what did everyone else think? And don't forget on the Tuesday 14th October we will be having a 'Get Together' at the Waterguard in the Bay. Hope to see you all there.

No bilingual Awards for 2008

We recently have been informed that there will be no bilingual design awards this year. The awards were setup in 2000 by the Welsh Language Board, and have become a yearly highlight for the design industry. Over the last few years they have consistently attracted over 1,000 applications. It is a shame that this year they will not be taking place but we have learnt that the Welsh Language Board is reviewing the awards and are hoping to launch it in a new format for 2009.

#2 - FREE to all visitors

#2

#2

So it has taken us a while but we have finally completed #2 to coincide with our first birthday (ok a bit late). Hope you enjoy and if you have any comments or feedback let us know by emailing us at hello@nakedwales.com.

To get your hands on the issue www.nakedwales.com/mag/ISSUE2_WEB.pdf

hope you enjoy and if you want to contribute next time get in touch.

Creative Wales Awards 2008

Creative Wales Awards recognise the very best talent and potential of individual Welsh artists. Funded by the Arts Council of Wales (ACW), Creative Wales Awards of up to £25,000 are available for Welsh artists every year and for 2007/08, 16 artists have been awarded nearly £300,000. The awards guarantee artists an income for a period, enabling them to take time out to experiment, innovate, and take forward their work. It's a chance to think, to branch out, to take risks.

Read more at http://www.wai.org.uk/index.cfm?UUID=AD649740-65BF-7E43-3B932CB6539BD815

We need you - contributions welcome

So #2 is in full swing we have already had a great response but we still need your help. We now have a deadline of May so about a month and a half until deadline. So if you feel you want to contribute in anyway by writing an article, taking some photos anything you fancy get in touch and we can place it in the magazine.

Thank you all form the Naked Wales team

Know your Online Consumer - targeted Advertising through Live Chat

Usually the goal of advertising is to persuade the potential consumer to do something, generally to buy a product or service. In this process, you are at one side of the picture and the consumer at the other and whatever happens in between will be your efforts to persuade the consumer to buy from you. To formulate an Online Advertising Campaign that works, it is of course; best to be completely familiar with the other side of the picture - that is - your online consumer. There are countless variables that can affect online consumer behaviour ranging from their demographics to social and cultural factors that influence them.

As an advertiser, you need to know why your online consumers are buying, what they are buying, and how they go about buying certain products.
In a Live Chat environment where Live Chat Agents are constantly monitoring your website, with enough training they know your online consumers' behavior like the back of their hands. From which geographical location are they coming in, which languages do they speak, which products/services are they most interested in, which price tags are affordable for them and which cultural or social constraints affect them.

In technical terms, Live Chat Agents can see the IP Addresses of online consumers to get their location, see the keywords they searched for to get to your website to find the product/service they are looking for and much more. Agents can tell which pages consumers are getting stuck on, what makes them abandon a shopping cart and which products could consumers not find easily on the website. By chatting with them - Live Chat Agents get to know the other side of the picture as intimately as possible. These agents can draw online consumer profiles for your company and help in data gathering of your consumer, knowing exactly on a personal basis what each online consumer wants.

This extensive knowledge of your online consumer's behavior will lead to targeted advertising, for small segments of online consumers with specialized advertising messages - even done on a one-on-one basis with a personal touch every time a Live Chat takes place between an agent and an online consumer. This knowledge base might change the way you display your products, the way you write content for your website and most of all, the way your advertise.

What Is Singularity?

October 24-26th promises to deliver the web event of 2008. The brainchild of Flash guru Aral Balkan, Singularity will bring together globally the greatest gathering ever of Designers, Developers and all round clever chaps in the worlds first Global online web conference.

“Singularity is a conference. A web conference. But not a traditional web conference. Singularity is the world’s first large-scale online web conference!” Aral Balkan - Conference Organizer


Singularity will be the first large-scale web conference ever to be attempted. Over 100 of the industries leading lights are going to attend, and you can participate too which makes it even more mind blowing!

Who is going to be there?


Expect to hear the likes of Andy Budd, Jeremy Keith, Molly Holzschlag, Paul Boag, Derek Featherstone and Richard Rutter share their words of wisdom. The singularity website has a full list of speakers which is being updated daily. Also if you have an idea for a session you can submit your proposals there too.

What If I Miss A Session?


All the sessions will be recorded and made available to all attendees for a period of six months under a creative commons license. So don’t worry if you miss something, you can always go back later and view what you have missed.

Cost


Aral has stressed that he is striving to make tickets as low and affordable as possible and details will be coming soon. As a ticket holder you will get full access to the recorded sessions for up to six months.

Why Should I Attend?


Singularity cuts out all the travel and hotel costs traditionally associated with travelling to web design conferences, and brings the action to your own home. So no planes, trains or automobiles, just you and your Mac/PC/Laptop thus making it a truly ‘green’ event. You can also ‘network’ as you would do at a live conference venue, and make lots of great new contacts and friends - no more lost business cards!!

The greatest thing about this global event is that it is going to be accessible to everyone no matter where you are in the world or what you are doing at the time, you can attend and participate.

Singularity will also bring in people who have never attended a conference in their lives due to cost or their working schedules, and give them a chance to take part in something that is going to be truly amazing and out of this world.

Spread The Word


If you have a Blog/Journal, tell the world about Singularity.

I hope to see you all there in October!!

Chapter wins £1.75 million lottery grant

Redevelopment plans for one of Wales’ most popular arts centres have received a major boost with the announcement by the Arts Council of Wales of a £1.75 million Capital Lottery Award.... http://www.chapter.org/11273.html

ARTS COUNCIL OF WALES LAUNCHES CONSULTATION ON DRAFT ART FORM STRATEGIES

The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) has released its draft Art Form Strategies today for a consultation period that will last until 25 February 2008.... http://www.artswales.org.uk/viewnews.asp?id=736

New Welsh arts body launched

Safle formed from CBAT, the Arts & Regeneration Agency and Cywaith Cymru – Artworks Wales. Has recently been launched.... further details

http://www.designweek.co.uk/Articles/136848/New+Welsh+arts+body+launched+.html

#1

#1 Magazine

#1 Magazine

Following a fantastic launch of the first magazine from Naked Wales: #1 at Glo Bar in Cardiff. It’s now available online…

http://www.nakedwales.com/MAG/ISSUE1_WEB.pdf

You also have the opportunity to own a piece of history, buy purchasing a limited edition copy of the magazine. Only 50 copies of the limited edition were printed most of which have now found there new home all across the UK, but there are still a few left!!!

Buy a limited edition for £10 per copy, please e-mail hello@nakedwales.com for more information.

Launch of #1 - Thank you

Naked Wales - launches #1 at Glo Bar, Cardiff

Naked Wales - launches #1 at Glo Bar, Cardiff

So what did everyone think? We had a great time and it was good to see how many people turned up. So thank you to everyone who came to the launch of #1. It was a great night for us and putting faces to some of the contributors was particularly pleasing. We must also thank our sponsor’s, glo bar for the hospitality and INKA for printing our flyers. It was a struggle but hopefully we got something out that everyone feels could go on and become a regular magazine representing the Wales Art + Design scene?

Let us know what you think about the magazine, and for those of you who could not attend the evening there are still a few limited edition copies of the magazine left, so if you want to know more about the Design scene in Wales or you just want to support Naked Wales for future events get in touch hello@nakedwales.com and we will send you a magazine out for £10.00 + postage.

Alternatively if you want to help on #2 then please get in touch.

Finally we must apologise for our mass emailing before the event. We learnt that our email system had a technical glitch so sorry if you got thousands of emails from us. We were just keen to see you all.

Almost forgot during the evening there was a prize draw for copy 1 of #1 and the winner was:

BLUE 68 – being Kutchibok.

We will get it in the post to you in the next few days.

Thanks once again

Naked Wales Launch #1 electronic issue

#1

#1

"Remember, remember the 5th November the Gunpowder treason and plot"

Following on from the success of the website launch Naked Wales brings you #1. On the 5th of November we will be hosting the launch of #1 which will be our first electronic art + design magazine for Wales. Informing and showing what has been going on in Wales’ design scene in the last three months. So if you would like to meet like minded people, talk about design problems over a drink or two!!! come along to the lanuch at Glo Bar Churchill Way Cardiff 6pm - til late. entrance free.

Everyone welcome, so if you want to try and get to know abit more about the Cardiff design scene, or if you would prefer to try and blag a job by selling yourself to one of the many design agency directors, then the launch of Naked Wales #1 is the place to be.

We hope to see you there.

Gothic fantasy castle inspires young furniture designer

A RANGE of furniture inspired by some of Wales’ most significant historic sites has gone on display at the London New Designers Show.

Up-and-coming furniture designer Cathy Evans, from Pontyclun, is displaying her first exhibition at the prestigious event.

To read more visit...

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=gothic-fantasy-castle-inspires-young-furniture-designer&method=full&objectid=19713010&siteid=50082-name_page.html

Pontypridd transforms with art

Vacant shops in Pontypridd have been transformed into art galleries in the All Over the Shop festival this week.

A unique blend of installation, film, painting and interactive digital media is being shown in shops, taken over by the artists, in the Taff Vale Precinct until Saturday, September 1 and in the Circle Gallery at the Muni Arts Centre until September 29 (paintings only).

CF37 Artists Network - a thriving community of artists - has recently been established in Pontypridd, and many of their new artworks are included in the exhibitions, which celebrate the diversity and high quality of work currently produced by local talent. Those participating include promising new graduates, emerging artists exhibiting internationally and critically acclaimed mid-career artists.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Digital Media Co-ordinator, Ann Hayes, said: "There is something for everyone in this stimulating and highly accessible festival, including figurative and abstract painting, sculpture, installation, and digital media.

"Themes explored include the absurd nature of domestic routines, human creativity verses Artificial Intelligence and (not forgetting) shopping!

The festival also features an interactive film installation by Inga Burrows, senior lecturer in Media at the University of Glamorgan and an innovative interactive screen-based game called SodaRace.

This project is part of the Arts and Town Centre Regeneration Programme for Rhondda Cynon Taf - a partnership programme between the Council's Development and Regeneration and Cultural Services departments and the Arts Council of Wales.

It was initiated by the artists' network and is supported by the University of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf Cultural Services Digital Media Programme and the Arts and Town Centres Regeneration Programme

Cllr Graham Thomas, Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: "The creative industries are a recognised growth sector in Rhondda Cynon Taf and we are delighted to be supporting local artists in presenting this exciting exhibition.

"We hope many people will drop in to see the works on show when they are in Pontypridd."

NakedWales magazine issue 1 - Deadlines

Firstly we would just like to thank everyone for all of their support from the design community over the last few months.

We have now started collecting the articles together from all of our contributors for the magazine which will be published in November. We have a deadline of the end of September for all articles to be in by. If you would like to contribute in writing an article then please email us on hello@nakedwales.com. So if you have recently been to a fantastic exhibition or you have just read a great book and feel that you would like to let other people know, then please get in touch.



Nice site

Hello, Your site is great. Regards, Valintino Guxxi

Speed of light broken

While slightly off beat we felt we should report that two German physicists have claimed to have broken the speed of light, as a possible Seminal moment in Human development the inner child within is ignited and we all start thinking about Star Trek and travelling through space to visit far far away galaxies.

The Two German Scientists conducted an experiment using microwave photons, which travelled instantaneoulsy between a pair of prisms that had been moved upto 3ft apart. the discovery came from their investigations in a phenomenon called quantum tunnelling, which allows sub-atomic particles to break apparently unbreakable laws.

The discovery has been covered in New Scientist magazine, and it seems we will see how this one develops.

Source

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/08/16/scispeed116.xml

Striking New Recycling Bins Developed by Leading Design Centre Help Smash Recycling Records at the Royal Welsh Show

Whilst the weather at this year’s Royal Welsh Show was a total washout, it has just been confirmed that public event recycling figures reached the highest on record in Wales. This has been put down to new recycling bins located throughout the showground, designed and produced by Cardiff-based design company, The National Centre for Product Design and Development Research (PDR).

The new bins, which can best be described as dynamic, engaging and bright, were designed to address the lack of event recycling in Wales. In a very tight timescale, PDR took the project from design to production using their in-house expertise and facilities, and successfully exceeded all objectives set out by their clients - Waste Awareness Wales and Cylch.

Clearly segregated through colour coded bin covers and eye-catching graphics, PDR designed bins to accommodate cans, plastics, compostables and residuals – leaving no excuse for event-goers to ignore recycling!

Ashley Bryant, Senior Designer at PDR commented “Whilst the design fulfilled all of the basic functional requirements such as ease of installation and consideration of storage when not in use, our main aim was to make it distinctive and easy to use, to engage the public and promote recycling”.

PDR, a design and development centre at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC), also cut production costs by an impressive 35% and implemented an effective new sponsorship scheme that was snapped up by top High Street Retailer Marks and Spencer at the show. Sponsoring companies are now featured on a raised flag, which creates more prominent exposure for the company, whilst making recycling points more distinctive. All cash generated from sponsorship will be used to support future recycling initiatives.

Ruth Llewellyn, Wales Recycling Manager at Cylch commented, “The distinctively eye-catching new bin covers turned the ugly metal oil drums into easily identifiable beacons of recycling. The amount of material collected for recycling has increased dramatically compared with 2006. It could be said this is a result of the new striking bin covers developed by PDR. The new covers will be used at other events to promote a consistent recycling message.”



Design opportunities - London 2012 Olympic

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee
of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) invites expressions of
interest for the following framework procurement:

Design, print, copywriting and distribution and storage framework

The ODA and LOCOG require a panel of suppliers specialising in a range
of marketing, design and communications services for internal and
external audiences.

The services are split across four categories:
- Design and creative services
- Print services
- Copywriting/proofreading services
- Distribution and storage services

Please note that ODA and LOCOG have mandatory pre-qualification
requirements, these are detailed in the Contract Notice and Part 4 of 4
- Project Information.

Further information:
Those expressing an interest must complete a pre-qualification
questionnaire (PQQ) via the eTendering section of the London 2012
website at http://london2012.net/re?l=evvvq1Ifthd1dI0

Interested bidders may only express interest via the eTendering section
of the London 2012 website. Expressions sent by any other means will not
be accepted. Suppliers are advised to submit expressions of interest
(EOI) at the earliest opportunity in order to allow sufficient time for
completion of the PQQ.

The deadline for expression of interest and completed PQQ submissions is
12pm (noon) on 27 August 2007 via the eTendering portal.

Those successful in qualification will be invited to tender.


Please continue to check the business section of the London 2012 website
at www.london2012.com/business for the latest information on the 2012
project.

Best regards,

The London 2012 Team

Design Festival gives grads job hunt advice

Design graduates have been showing off their skills to potential employers.

At a special portfolio clinic, organised as part of the Cardiff Design Festival, established and experienced designers from across Cardiff gave advice and guidance to this year’s design graduates.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=design-festival-gives-grads-job-hunt-advice&method=full&objectid=19520224&siteid=50082-name_page.html


Call for Entries - Ffres Awards 2008

Fress Awards logo

Fress Awards logo

Categories include:

Fashion Design
Textile Design
Graphic Design
Product/Industrial Design

The Awards
The Ffres Awards are open to all second and third year undergraduates studying fashion, textile, graphic or product/industrial design in Wales or second and third year Welsh undergraduates studying design outside Wales. Ffres 2008 is sponsored by IKEA, Peacocks, Rough Trade Records, HBOS and Gelert.

Prize
£1000 cash prize awarded by Design Wales in each category plus exciting prizes from the sponsoring companies.

Deadline for entries: 7 January 2008

For more information and to download briefs go to:

www.ffres.co.uk

or have a look at us on myspace

www.myspace.com/ffresawards

More women to design our towns & cities

An extract taken from the Western Mail 18.07.07 p.11

According to a new survey by engineering company Atkins, 88% of British adults think more women should be involved in designing our towns and cities.

Most of the people questioned believed buildings would be more user-friendly and practical and better places to live and work, if more women were involved in their design and construction.

we need YOU!! - part II

Here is abit more information as to how we think this is going to work.

Rules of engagement:

It is hoped that writers will work with photographers and these will then work with graphic designers.

The writers may have a design background and would like to bring up a general topic that would be of interest to people, or if they so wished they could write about something i.e. a design agency, a product or project.

Deadlines for submitting work will be the last day of October at 12 noon.

NakedWales is currently a voluntary community of people so there will be no payment for any contributions, however all contact details of contributors/credits will be listed in the PDF publication. The PDF publication will be sent to all subscribers, newspapers and all major design media outlets.

All work submitted is at the contributors risk in terms of copyright, NakedWales will not accept any responsibility for libellous claims etc.

Work to be produced on pages measuring 267 mm (h) x 180 mm (w), with 3mm bleed at PDFX quality each article can be no less than 1 page and no longer than 4 pages.

Sample subjects to be covered in this issue (very broad at the moment)

1. The Bay is the Devil, We wont almost a VOX POX on why you work in the bay and on the reverse side why other people don’t want to be in the Bay.

2. Round up of Cardiff Design Festival 07 and what is planned for next year.

3. Getting into the design scene, how people first got there first job etc.

4. book review (any suggestions?)

5. bar review (where do designers like o hang out?)

6. film review (any ideas?)

7. Round up of London Design Festival, The whole of the festival will be to big for one article so it is proposed that it be split into areas (Tent London, 100% Design, fringe events etc)

8. Social responsible design.

9. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS??

we need YOU!!

We are looking for people to contribute to a totally free publication. The pdf magazine is hoped to inform and show people what has been going on in Wales' design scene in the last three months. The magazine will be sent out four times a year to all registered users and also to all major newspapers and design related media.

If you would like to contribute through design, writing, photography, then please get in touch hello@nakedwales.com

We are also looking for people to write reviews on books and up and coming arts events. So once again if you are interested in contributing in anyway let us know.

One Hell of a party

NakedWales Set

NakedWales Set

So the Festival is over for another year. This time though it went out with a bang. Cardiff Design Festival's Recycled Ballroom was a great evening that shouldn't have been missed, great food, music and the longest table I have ever seen. The mixture of suited and booted and fancy dress really helped in creating an even more surreal feeling to one that was already up there, with the setting being a disused warehouse in the old NEG buildings.

The building was absolutely huge and when seen for the very first time is very impressive. The unique event brought together all aspects of the design scene in Wales. This year the festival also presented a few awards for the best within the showcase, awarding prizes for sequence and sda among others. So heres to next year, onwards and upwards. And who could hate an evening that was capped off with an ice cream vendor driving in to give us all a nice 99er for desert.

Catch 22 for Design Students

Catch 22

Catch 22

So how do design graduates, eager to take their first steps on the career ladder, obtain this illusive experience when every position they apply for demands the very experience they crave?

The problem for the studios is that taking on a student uses up precious time and resources, and with tight budgets and even tighter deadlines, this is not always a viable option.

At the studio I run we regularly take on students, and the benefits are huge and not just for the students.

Fresh ideas and an energetic approach are what make good design studios tick, and it is this which students bring to the table. What they lack in experience and technical know-how, they make up with innovative ideas and bags of enthusiasm.

The students, far from feeling taken advantage of, leave after a sharp learning curve; dealing with demanding clients, tight deadlines, printing techniques and other workplace skills. These are all essential tools for a successful designer to possess, but fall outside the remit of their university training.

Our local colleges and universities represent a huge resource of talent and potential that many companies across the sector can benefit from. By taking on students, firms can add a new dynamism to their output whilst investing in the future of the industry.

Launch Night - thanks to everyone

Credit: Graham Sanders

Credit: Graham Sanders

We would like to say a special thanks to everyone who attended and supported last nights launch of NakedWales.com. It was a great turn out with over 70 people attending, and was considered by many to be an event long overdue. We feel we achieved what we set out to with regards to bringing the art and design community together and getting everyone talking.

We would like to particularly thank Hartley Wilprint, UWIC, @Wales, City Canteen and AT Computers for their backing on the night, and also the Newpart gang for their love and support.

The feedback that we received from everyone for our Good, Bad, Ugly poll was great, and all you comments have been taken on board for our future work on NakedWales. Some of the responses we had were:

GOOD
"Great website, interesting comments / start for Cardiff and South Wales."
"It's nice to have somewhere for designers in Cardiff to talk. Hopefully gossip will spread among the site."
"It's a great site, well designed, with interesting, useful contentówell done guys!"

BAD
"The website is a bit slow and some information needed updating."
"Competitions, discounts, images to showcase, games and a bilingual e-news letter wanted."

UGLY
The site is excellent. We would love to artwork for magazines etc. Great chance to establish a dynamic design community. The site has lots of potential to expand if contributors flow regularly. The site is entirely reliant on contributions from browsers If the contributors die out the site could fade.

Now for the important stuff...the raffle winners!
In 1st place is BLUE 59 GISA NARRACOTT
In 2nd place is BLUE 40 OWEN SMITH
In 3rd place is BLUE 31 VICTORIA JONES

To collect your prizes please make arrangements (hello@nakedwales.com) to pick up the prizes from our offices in the bay. Please note that we will need 2 forms of I.D., passport and a utility bill with your name on. Just incase you try and pull a fast one!!!!!!

Many thanks also to Otley Brewing Company, Worn By t-shirts, jafor, ACID and Hoffi for contributing to the prizes! We love them all!

We will be looking into the responses and hopefully creating a list for people so sign up to to become regular contributors to the site so watch this space.

Because we love our place of work.

I’ve been around a while and worked in a few agencies in Wales and London. Over the years I have noticed a number of common factors within many studio’s, which I’m afraid to say extends past the lack of taste of good music and a somewhat thirst for jazz and blues music and the undying need for great visual stimulus that dawns every wall. Bright colours, brick walls and more often of not an MD with substantial hair loss problems.

I must say that when I awoke this morn, an interest was bestowed upon me: a thirst to find a common object that adorns the many studios across Wales or even the world. Here are just some of the common items I’ve noticed along the meandering path of my career to date.

- The Ikea glassware and cups.
- The iconic Aeron Chair, bequeathed to the longest staying staff member.
- Numerous copies of Design Week, who’s recruitment pages are ripped and torn.

I'm sure I saw a design agency here at some point....

What happened to Cardiff Agency 6721? Did I miss something? Where have they gone? have they turned into Cardiff Photomarathon, as the 6721 website would suggest?
Can anyone shed some light on this odd disappearance?

Adam Winstone
Concerned designer.

Photosynth demo

Now we were sent this by one of friends and we think it is really amazing. Take a look at the link below see what you guys think.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/129

Newport Graduate Show 2007

Most in design in the local area may have already received an invite to this, if not then I extend the invite to you now. University of Wales, Newport's Art, Media and Design department will be showcasing the work of this year's graduates throughout all the courses, from Graphic Design to Film.
http://artschool.newport.ac.uk/gradshow07.html

Here are scan ins of the invites/poster design which were created by a second year student from the Graphic Design course.

I believe that the private view is open to anyone to anyone from within or connected to the industry, give the AMD reception a call if you have any queries. Most departments will most likely be giving out free drinks on the opening night, so be there early to avoid any disappointment!

I shall be showing a font collection that I created for my final major project, along with some promotional posters and book from previous projects.

http://artschool.newport.ac.uk/gradshow07.html For more information

2x typographic exhibitions in Cardiff

Dalton Maag

Dalton Maag

Butetown History & Arts Centre
5 Dock Chambers
Bute Street, Cardiff Bay

Tuesday – Friday 10.00 – 5.00
Saturday & Sunday 11.00 – 4.30

Admission free

Speak to Me
15 years of Dalton Maag
6-13 June 2007
Dalton Maag (www.daltonmaag.com) have designed and engineered original fonts for some of the world’s largest companies and brands including BMW, Puma, BT, Mothercare and Wales Tourist Board. This exhibition showcases their work over the past 15 years. It discusses the subjects Brand/Emotion, Design, Screen, Language/OpenType, Inspira-tion and their relation to type.

This exhibition opens with a private view on Wednesday 6 June at 7pm.


The Emotional Type
Wednesday 6 June 2007, 6pm

Bruno Maag is emotional about type. He has lived and breathed it for most of his adult life. No surprise then that he gets excited about beautiful letterforms and upset about ‘crimes against type’.Bruno gives us a brief history of type; showing the contribution it has made to our civilization. With examples of good and bad type he illustrates its value to a brand and looks at the demands on type in the various media.

Bruno Maag’s lecture The Emotional Type will take place at 6pm on Wednesday 6 June 2007. There are a limited number of seats, to reserve a seat contact mkflynn@designwales.org

Conka Design takes two out of three awards!

Conka design, a new product design company based near Cardiff have scooped two prestigious awards at the Wales gala final stage of the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Conka’s continual push for sustainable design and environmental awareness has been acknowledged by Shell LiveWire, organisers of The Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards when the dynamic young team scooped two out of the three awards of the evening which included an additional award from the Welsh Assembly Government that recognized the wider contribution made by the company to society with best social, community and ethical objectives.

Conka Director Chris Facey said “Winning these awards is an amazing achievement for us, we have worked extremely hard over the past seven months and to get some recognition for this is great. To win the ‘Social Responsibility Award’ as well as being runner up for the main award is brilliant. Being part of a generation aware of the problems with the environment, we strive to make sustainable products for ourselves and our clients.”

Conka, who have recently been in the news with their unique outdoor cigarette bin designs, called the ‘cigibins’, started up only seven months ago and are going from strength to strength. The company already boasts an impressive client list, taking on project after project and they recently secured a large international design contract from a company based Dubai. Their own in-house product range is due for launch later this summer, and will be sold by many online retailers and on their own website, where you can also see their current and past projects: www.conkadesign.co.uk.

Nice site

Hello, Your site is great. Regards, Valintino Guxxi

NakedWales Launch Party 18th June 5:00 pm – 11:30 Cardiff Bay, City Canteen,

We will officially be launching NakedWales during the Cardiff Design Festival. If you are interested in the art & design scene and fancy meeting other like minded people come along for a chat and a few drinks. Register today to be entered into our prize draw.

Graduating Students/professionals - Cardiff Design Festival Portfolio clinics

As part of the design festival there are plans afoot for a portfolio clinic for graduating students.

The idea is that students from different disciplines submit CVs – those who get over that first hurdle then get a 15/20 minute folio session with a ‘professional’ giving them constructive criticism and advice.

Those whose cvs are not up to scratch get a group workshop on how to prepare a cv.

If you are interested in taking part either as a graduate or a professional who is prepared to give up a morning or afternoon (or both) of your time in June, then please email info@cardiffdesignfestival.org for further details

The venue is Cardiff Audi showrooms Cardiff Gate – date: w/b 18th June TB

Cardiff Design Festival - call for submissions for the 2007 showcase

Calls for the Cardiff Design Festival 2007 showcase have begun with the deadline for submissions being the 2nd May. This is the first time that people have been asked to pay to submit, it is hoped that this money will help with the funding for this years and also next years Cardiff Design Festival.

The categories this year are:

* Advertising
* Fashion and textile design
* Furniture design
* Graphic design, packaging, branding
* Interior design and life style accessories
* Product design
* Web, motion graphics, and new media design

To make a submission follow the below link.

http://www.cardiffdesignfestival.org/design

Cardiff Design Festival

Cardiff Design Festival 07 Logo

Cardiff Design Festival 07 Logo

It’s that time of year again when the design scene in Wales gets all of a flutter and starts to become a noticeable hive of activity, with the Cardiff Design Festival looming in early June.

Organisers of the annual event have teamed up with Cardiff design agency Hoffi to forge this year’s festival website. The website which can be found at www.cardiffdesignfestival.org will be the main route of submission for the 2007 design showcase, providing the chance for designers in Wales to glow, show off a little and be recognised for their work through 2006 - 2007.

Andrew Thomas designer and co-founder of Hoffi said: “For us the Cardiff Design Festival website encompasses the freedom and flexibility of the whole 18 day event, we wanted to show Welsh design in an environment that allows it to be appreciated; by enabling visitors to flow horizontally through the website as if they were strolling through a gallery setting, reinforcing this welsh showcase event.”

The Festival is convened and facilitated by Cardiff School of Art & Design at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) in collaboration with partners from the creative industries and other public bodies and private businesses.

“The enthusiasm for this celebration of good design has grown in the most exciting way over the last two years. This year’s festival promises to be more ambitious and wider reaching than ever before. The website designed by Hoffi reflects the intentions of the festival to be provocative and celebratory.”

Olwen Moseley, Festival Director and Director of Enterprise of Cardiff School of Art & Design, UWIC.

The Cardiff design festival takes place from the 7th – 24th of June 2007 in various locations in and around Cardiff city centre. Please visit the website for information on events and submission of design pieces.

Cardiff Design Festival 2007 dates confirmed

The Cardiff Design festival dates have now been confirmed. The festival will open on the 7th of June and run through to the 24th of June. It is hoped that the festival will build on the success of the last two years. Plans so far include:
- Best of Welsh Design showcase
- Student graduate shows
- an exhibition of the Design Wales ‘Ffres’ student
- competition winning entries.
- The bilingual design awards dinner
- School workshops
- WonderCulture Designers Markets
- Design students portfolio clinic
- Sustainable Design regional event in collaboration with Design Wales
- Design dining
- Typography exhibition
- Design Talks
- The Recycled Grand Ballroom Design party
- Design Austria – Austria’s Design awards exhibition
- Satellite events around the city and beyond.

If you would like to let people know about an event that you are hoping to hold during the festival then please let the festival know through their website www.cardiffdesignfestival.org

Hope to see you all there at some of the events.

Design Futures: Wally Olins & Martin Raymond - Ffres Awards 2007

It was quarter past 6 and with the roadworks surrounding Newport at the moment, really did not think we were going to make it there in time. We got there just, and even had time for a drink before the event began. I personally really enjoyed the evening and felt Martin Raymond views on current design and the emphasis on product and furniture really suited me down to the ground, the question of sensory design and emotional design being a really interesting if complex issue. Onto Wally this is the first time I have ever heard Wally speak and thought his views on attitude to be of great interest and one day wonder if there will be a brand that encompasses every part of ones life? The final section of the evening was the Ffres awards which I feel were a great idea to be attached to such a large event, I would have liked to know a bit more about the project briefs and maybe see the products, textiles themselves. To get a real sense of the work that had gone into them, I suppose though that is the case with all award ceremonies though.

So what did everyone else think of it?

Tendering for work - banding together

Its nearly the new financial year and so the marketing departments of the large commercial and government groups are asking for tenders for their new literature, brand, interiors and furniture. While I know it is an age old issue. naked wales maybe be the ideal vehicle to ask should designers produce work for free for these type of tenders?

any responses are welcome...

Welsh Language Board's Bilingual Design Awards 2007

The Welsh Language Board rewards the best in bilingual design yearly in 11 different fields. If you have created good design in the last year, remember to compete and fill in an application form.

Exhibition Panels


An award for the best bilingual exhibition panels. These panels can be part of a permanent exhibition or specially produced for an event or festival.

Signage


Big or small, internal or external - this prize is given for the best sign.

Welsh Brand


Whatever your brand – from food to fireworks, and from drinks to dolls – the best bilingual brand will come top in this category.

New Media


Websites, multimedia presentations, CD-ROMs and DVDs using both Welsh and English.

Corporate Promotion


From booklets to annual reports – the corporate promotion category awards the best in bilingual literature design.

Customer Promotion


From leaflets, booklets and posters of all kinds that targets customers – this category also awards the best in bilingual literature design.

Advertising


The competition for the best bilingual print ads – postcards, T-shirts, newspapers and posters of all kinds.

Food and Drink Packaging


Boxes, bottles, labels, and food bags – it’s the packaging that counts in this competition.

Environmental


We are looking for print materials that are produced in a sustainable manner in this category.

The One to Watch


We are looking for new designers and companies in Wales and beyond that create excellent bilingual design.

Designer of the Year


The main award for the very best of the best - we’ll be rewarding the greatest designer in the whole competition. This is an excellent opportunity for the finest bilingual designer in Wales to be recognised and rewarded.


www.bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.uk/cynnwys.php?pID=109&nID=2587&langID=2

Design area for Cardiff

Arts Council of Wales awards grant towards the development of a new Multicultural Arts Centre in Cardiff Bay… http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/news/newsdetail.asp?newsID=189

Cardiff Design Festival 2007 Planning Underway

Following on from the success of the Cardiff Design Festival 2006 planning for the 2007 event are underway. Watch this space for further details. www.cardiffdesignfestival.org

PROUD WINS S4C BRAND PITCH

S4C has appointed Proud Creative to undertake a wholesale rebrand of the Channel in readiness for digital switchover in Wales in 2009.
Established by former Kemistry creative director Dan Witchell in 2005, Proud was chosen from a shortlist of five companies following a competitive tendering process...http://www.s4c.co.uk/production/rm/news_view/newsid/192/language/eng/

Plans for Britain’s proposed national design centre have taken another turn

with the announcement that the Design Council is stepping in to help steer the project towards its next phase of planning... www.designweek.co.uk/Articles/134061/Plans+for+Design+Centre+move+on.html

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