Quick evening sketches

Just a quick couple pen sketches I drew this evening. The seahorse got a little smudged and the gazelle wasn't too neat. Glad to get my drawing tools out again!

I'm Back!

For quite a few months this year I have been travelling around Asia. Throughout all the exploration and activities, I've had so much inspiration from the many styles of design. I'm back on the hunt for a full time design job, and I've got so much energy and passion to be doing as much designing as possible in my spare time.

hEYElight

I've been looking at silhouettes and at the relationship between what is not seen and what you believe should be in that place.

Freelance - Gemini Business Card

I was commissioned to design a business card for a new cleaning company. The client had a logo, and a specific idea of how they wanted the card to look, which I followed, but I also suggested some alterations which they were very pleased with. The outcome can be seen below.

All the 12 Brands of Christmas

The complete 12 Brands of Christmas.

12 Brands of Christmas - Partridge in a Pear Tree

And an Alan Partridge in a pear tree. 

I know he's not really a brand, but I love watching him at Christmas. I like to have time to sit down and watch all the series and just laugh. 

I hope everyone liked my 12 Brands of Christmas, and had a fantastic Christmas and New Year! I love Christmas so I'm sad it's all over, but lets hope 2013 is a brilliant year with new challenges and opportunities.

12 Brands of Christmas - 2 Turtle Doves

Toiletry gift sets are everywhere at Christmas. You cannot get away from them! Dove is usually a brand I wouldn't particularly think of to give as a present but at Christmas they do some nice sets. I got quite a few sets of toiletries this year, a couple of them being Dove. It is very nice quality, and I appreciate that some people can be hard to buy for - which is why you can't go wrong with toiletries.

http://www.dove.co.uk/

12 Brands of Christmas - 3 French Hens

I'm not a particular fan of ales, but I do appreciate the flavours of Old Speckled Hen. I can't fully explain why it reminds me of Christmas - it just does. I like that the brand sponsors the tv channel Dave, and I think that it is becoming more recognised with younger audiences - of a legal age to drink!

http://www.oldspeckledhen.co.uk/

12 Brands of Christmas - 4 Colly Birds

Christmas pudding is rubbish without brandy sauce. Custard just doesn't taste right. I've tried cheaper version of the sauce, other than Birds, and have found there is no suitable alternative. Birds is a perfect sauce for people who are unable to eggs, because it was created specifically for Alfred Birds wife, as she was allergic.

I think it's a slightly strange logo - the birds on the left side are quite child-like and maybe something that would be seen on a kids toy. Nonetheless, it is memorable, recognisable, and I won't eat anything other than their delicious brandy sauce!

http://www.birdscustard.co.uk/

12 Brands of Christmas - 5 Gold Rings

Parties, celebrations, events. Party rings are generally a staple for any party. I'm not really a fan of them that much, but I still have to have one just because they remind me of parties from when I was younger. 

Party rings were first made in 1983 by Fox's Biscuits, and you can see that the colours and designs certainly reflect that era.

http://www.foxs-biscuits.co.uk/

12 Brands of Christmas - 6 Geese-a-Laying

Drinking responsibly - always a good idea. Often it doesn't happen at Christmas though. So many excuses to meet up with friends and family, and sometimes it's the only time of year people arrange to see each other. When meeting up, can't go wrong with a nice tasting vodka. in my opinion, there's a big difference in the tastes of vodkas, and when available, I prefer Grey Goose.

It's a simple logo with quite close kerning. I think it rather masculine, but that is because of the 2 colours. The bird is a good extra, which is becoming recognisable as Grey Goose, even without the name. Much like the nike 'swoosh' logo, or the Apple logo.

http://www.greygoose.com/

12 Brands of Christmas - 7 Swans-a-Swimming

A lot of candles are bought and sold at Christmas. Table decorations, advent candles, and a range of scents including cinnamon, spices, vanilla and berries. The only time we light many candles in my house is at Christmas, which makes the festive season even more special. I often find myself referring a smell as 'Christmas smell'. Most likely, it will be a candle - or turkey!

Swan matches have been around since 1883, and have very original packaging. I think it has the power of being so memorable because it is traditional and recognisable. Simple block colours, plain and not busy or cluttered. 

http://www.houseofswan.com/

12 Brands of Christmas - 8 Maids-a-Milking

Chocolate is a popular Christmas gift. Boxes, bars, selection packs, tubes, bags - they come in many different varieties. Snacking on chocolate is a general Christmas Day activity, making sure I don't spoil my appetite for the big roast!

The Dairy Milk logo is now so familiar that if I see the colour I immediately think of this brand of chocolate. It's smooth, soft and luxurious.

http://www.cadburydairymilk.co.uk/

12 Brands of Christmas - 9 Ladies Dancing

A lot of the time, Christmas is be about children. They get so excited, with all the decorations and presents and or course, Santa dropping off some toys. There are so many presents available, electronic games, consoles, things that talk and walk, but it's still important to get kids more traditional things, like books. At the end of a long day, kinds need to wind down, and at bedtime reading a book is more important than them still playing on some playstation game. 

Ladybird books are known worldwide, with the first book being printed during the First World War. There is an extensive range of books - something for everyone, and even books that adults love. There has been quite a number of variations on the Ladybird logo. All show a ladybird in some way, starting off as a plain illustration, and progressing on to the red ladybird that is seen now.

12 Brands of Christmas - 10 Lords-a-Leaping

The epic trilogy is being shown on Channel 4 over Christmas. All 3 are very long films, so make sure you sit down with plenty of food and drink. The films were originally released in December which makes them even more Christmassy, even without any Christmas theme - apart from a bit of snow!