Digital Design Advice

Sorry we have not been around much lately so much, we relocated offices which turned out to be a bit of a nightmare – people should realise that the internet is a priority. We are all settled now in our new offices and have the internet – which does help. It is a lot nicer than the ones we had before and now that we have some of the major projects out of the way we thought we would return to DDA.

I thought since we came back this week we would take a look at Typekit which has just come out of beta which is great news as it provides designers with a library of fonts which you can easily integrate into your designs and best of all you can currently sign up for free. (more…)

It’s that time of year again. The third annual Earth Hour is to take place on Saturday 28th March at 20.30, and it seems the organisers have stepped up a gear with both their online marketing campaign and branding.

Earth Hour was created by WWF and Leo Burnett advertising agency in 2007, and this year they have teamed up with Shepard Fairey (Famous for his “Obey Giant” a 1989 street-art project and the more recent “Obama Hope” campaign) to re brand for Earth Hour 2009 and you can immediately see Fairey’s influence in the design. (more…)

With social networks popping up left right and centre at the moment, and every mogul in the industry saying that social media and social networks are the way forward, what makes a social network unique? When Myspace first launched back in August 2003 it was pretty much the only social network available, and it had a monopoly on the market up until September 2006 when FaceBook opened it’s doors to the general public. Many people said that it would never catch on the way that Myspace did, but in April 2008 FaceBook overtook Myspace to claim the Social Network crown. (more…)

Hi, I know its been a while since my last post (sorry), after new year I took a few days off and have been really busy catching up and all the latest but I have had time to take a quick look around the internet and came across some inspirational photography.   I like to find designs that inspire me and I have always really appreciated the kind of design that incorporates both photography and design.  I recently came across some light graffiti – for those of you who are not sure what that is it is a mixture of photography enhanced by light graffiti.

Although a fairly simple concept graffiti art really works to enhance and sometime even transform images into so much more – almost bringing them to life.   This design by Eric Castro is a really good example of how simple but effective light graffiti is.

To create light graffiti you need a good camera with faster shutter speed, with the exposure setting around 10-30 seconds.  Knowing your lighting will help with the end effect of light.  I gave it a go once I do think it takes a little practice to understand how the light will work in the photograph but it is great fun.

I have found some other great light graffiti:

I think light graffiti can be used to create good design online.  I have seen Wordpress themes based around this design concept recently that really work to enhance the design and bring it to life.

For more information on light graffiti visit Awesome Light Graffiti or search the web.

We have been busy finishing projects before Christmas, and I am glad to say that we have managed to get them all done, which is great news.   So this afternoon we have had the chance to put our Christmas decorations up in the office and buy some treats in – yummy mince pies.  We have also exchanged our secret santa gifts, the budget was a fiver and I got an Air Zooka, we have had a lot of fun with it in the office this afternoon.  Just in case you aren’t sure what an Air Zooka looks like.

We have our Christmas party tomorrow night and we are all really looking forward to it, we looked back over party photos from last years, I cannot believe it has been a whole year since then.  Some of the photos are really funny and I nearly posted some on but didn’t think it was appropriate!!

I read a nice article on the BBC, which is a nice cheery Christmas article for the Friday before Christmas.

“A Sheffield man who lent a penniless Australian tourist £5 to pay for a ferry trip in 1969 has been repaid his debt nearly 40 years later.”

It is nice to see that Christmas spirit is still going strong and even after 40 years people still remember the kindness that was extended to them.

We have a bet on at work and I am betting on snow for Christmas so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas.