Dalston-Dubai

Go see Viktoria Modesta tonight at the Hoxton Bar & Kitchen and while you're there, check out Jon Burgerman's contribution to the Hoxton Window Project- a sneaky way for some free interior design and self promotion by unit9 - excellent work chaps!

In the meantime, or if your in Dubai, watch this vid, I know a few illustrators here, what an inspirational and down to earth bloke, the last 'Sketch' event at JamJar was on 11st november... right, I must work on my website instead!

Check out 1973 for beautiful cards and prints. At only £2 for an Sanna Annukka card its a cheap way to decorate your home- too nice to give away!
Even the screen prints are only £70, they're going on the top of my christmas list...
http://www.nineteenseventythree.com

An article in the guardian last week showcased the new velodrome being built for the Olympics in East London. Why the need to name these beauties after objects? I've been away for a while now, but my visiting friend told me that Londoners now have not only the 'Gherkin' but the 'Cheese grater' and the 'Phillishave'

Anyway, I think the new 'Pringle' velodrom is awesome and a brilliant new addition to the Olympic buildings. Apparently inspired by the tautness and energy of cycle racing, I can't wait to see it for real.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/nov/14/2012-london-olympics-construction

Ok so perhaps I didn't dig hard enough last week! Poster competition entries are high- so get yours in asap!
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/November/theuae_November304.xml&section=theuae&col=

I've been following the fun theory website for a wile now. Working for a waste management company, creating ideas to encourage recycling and waste management in a fun way was part of the design communications job. As designers I'm sure we have all referenced the Bottle Bank Arcade Machine or The World's Deepest Bin.

I had a crazy idea to bring human reverse vending machines to the Grand Prix this year, creating a fun way of visitors recycling their waste cans and water bottles in exchange for a game, token or sustainable gift... A similar stunt with a human drink dispenser was very successful at the Mirdif City Cenre opening and so I figured a reverse vending machine creates the buzz and spreads the message about recycling ad waste management. (you'd think) Sadly getting something like this organised in this region is difficult and Yas Island's strict 'no advertising at the F1' policy didn't help. Not many companies in Dubai are willing to invest in an initiative with no direct return. Luckily the clever men and Volswagen can see the bigger branding picture and have created The Fun Theory.

"The winning idea of the fun theory award, submitted by Kevin Richardson, USA. Can we get more people to obey the speed limit by making it fun to do? This was the question Kevin’s idea answered and it was so good that Volkswagen, together with The Swedish National Society for Road Safety, actually made this innovative idea a reality in Stockholm, Sweden."
http://www.thefuntheory.com/

DIFF Poster competition

Unless you go digging, this is the sort of opportunity we miss out on in Dubai, competitions don't seem to be advertised well here and so deadlines pass before anyone realises, and the standard of entries stay low. So here's a chance to up the design level and perhaps get your poster displayed across the region and tickets to the Dubai International Film Festival...

http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/index.php/en/particiapte/dubai-international-film-festival-poster-competition/

The DIFF Poster Competition is part of the Festival’s community outreach, and is intended to give the UAE’s creative community – including designers, advertising professionals, artists and other committed Festival- goers – more and deeper linkages to DIFF. The juried competition is open to any individual practicing art across the UAE, whether student or self-taught, full-time or part-time, professional or hobbyist, working in any medium or style.

All entries should be submitted prior to December 3, 2010


Drawing fashion, Design Museum, London

03 November – 06 March 2011
http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2010/2010-drawing-fashion

Drawing Fashion celebrates a unique collection of some of the most remarkable fashion illustrations from the twentieth and twenty first centuries. These original works define the fine art of illustrating fashion, from the collections of Chanel, Dior, Comme des Garçons and Poiret as well as Viktor & Rolf, Lacroix and McQueen.

My friend Georgina passed this on to me last week, I couldn't resist sharing. Quite harsh and scathing but I've got to admit some of the photos are so funny and the comments even funnier.
http://hackneyhipsterhate.tumblr.com/

A few days off for Eid Al Adha, visits from the UK and many birthday celebrations this week, enjoy your break from work, we're off to Ravi's for dinner. yum!

I have been so impressed with the Sharjah Art Foundation. I first saw their brandmark at ArtDubai this year, I so liked their collateral I bought a bag designed by them to support their cause and spread the word. They now have a really modern website and are pushing the foundation across the globe, establishing themselves as a leading voice on art in the Middle East. Very impressive, it all seems more grassroots than the fine art scene of Abu Dhabi, perhaps its the new dalston of the gulf! I look forward to seeing more.

Tomorrow- Thursday November 11th 2010. Doors open 19.00. Village Underground, Shoreditch.
16 designers battle it out in 2d, 3d and motion design in this digital design tournament.