Tribute to Alexander McQueen

I remember the first time I saw a documentary of Alexander McQueen some six or seven years ago. I was mesmerised at his amazing ability to create a beautiful item of clothing out of one sheet of material. He would literally drape the material around the model, make a few snips to tailor in the waist, then place in some pins. Though this was never for a finished item, it was still just as incredible. The speed in which he could create the rough item and the accuracy was awe inspiring. Through his talent, I was almost influenced to pursue a career in fashion rather than graphic design. It is with great sadness, therefore, that this Friday 11th February we mark the year anniversary of his passing. He was a true inspiration to young fashion designers, which will live on for years to come.

Here are a few of my favourite items from his last collection, winter 2010:

Put a lid on it!

It's time for a little rant as it is becoming a great annoyance that many people are still ignorant to the scientific fact that the toilet lid was invented for a very good reason. Now, before all you ladies move the focus onto the men; we are talking about the lid here, not the seat.

Obviously, we are all subjected to bacteria everyday and have an immune system which naturally fights these off. However, basic cleanliness is still needed to avoid having dangerous levels off these bacteria. Further, it is depended on age and health according to what level one can tolerate. Therefore, cleanliness should be adhered to for other people's well being, not just our own. When a toilet is flushed, droplets of water containing bacteria from the bowl are thrown approximately six to eight feet in the air and can travel a distance of around twenty feet before they settle; sometime up to an hour after a flush. This is why public washrooms often have toilet paper encased in a plastic or metal structure to prevent contamination.

The types of bacteria which can spread are that standard one's associated with faecal matter, such as e-coli; but it can also spread cold and flu viruses. The very simple way to prevent this is by putting the toilet lid down before you flush. Yes most of us will be fine if we don't bother doing this, we may pick up the occasional stomach bug which goes unnoticed by us, or we may pick up a cold; but a prevention is better than cure. Some people are more prone to illness and others are not always able to fight off infection.

It is also of great annoyance when this type of subject is raised, because many people dismiss it is 'paranoid cleanliness'. This is not cleanliness to a high standard, it is cleanliness of a basic standard!

Science Article

Dead Design

I am a couple of months behind finding this, but I just have so am blogging it now. I truly love this and am relieved to see that you are allowed to design your own headstone! It's always disappointing when visiting a loved one's grave side to see an ugly gravestone marking where their body, or now bones and a box, lay. Gravestones seem to predominately adopt a very similar layout, which I presumed was some sort of grave yard standard or default template which the gravestone markers adhered to. Well, no more to the those disgusting centre justified block clutters of type, or those afterthought and often pointless images squashed into the corner, while there is this awkward space left on the remaining area's of the stone. Instead, hats off to Peter Saville and Ben Kelly on this beautiful headstone designed for Anthony H Wilson.

Creative Revie Article

Apostrophe

Started in 2001, this restaurant not only has a lovely selection of food and a great company brand but also excellent relations with customers and information seekers. It is so refreshing to know that this is clearly a company who is not just interested in taking your money and running, but will take time out their busy schedules to assist with other matters related to their business. I would highly recommend this as a lunch time choice whenever you are in town.

Apostrophe

Time Flies

It's hard to believe that five days ago we arrived back from a seven night holiday in sunny Malta. The holiday was over far too quickly and shows it really is true that time flies when you're having fun; it's quite ironic, though, that it drags something rotten when you are on the aeroplane.

Malta really is a destination to visit if you haven't already. Good food, wonderful people and plenty to see. I have returned to England approximately half a stone heavier than when I left; though I am adamant that the extra weight is pure knowledge acquired and has nothing to do with the amount of food engulfed.

While on the topic of food, Malta really does score highly in the quality of what they eat. Being a small island surrounded by very clean and clear waters, they are very big on their fishing. A personal favourite they serve is tuna fish, with tomatoes, capers and olives in a Ftira; which is a traditional Maltese bread. To top off each meal, they have a wide selection of beautiful and delicious cakes. Thanks to our half-board hotel, we had an open buffet style dinner to which we could help ourselves to as much cake as we liked. All the cakes were brought in from the local bakery, freshly baked that day.

Dinner would commence at half past six, so without delay we would be at our table eating. At around seven fifteen a large group of around twenty Italians would appear. This was the point where the room would become very loud, the food would disappear rather quickly and the British order of the queue would go out the window. After around the third or fourth night we realised the stark difference between British and many other Mediterranean nations. You can spot the British from a mile off, miserable sods sitting in the corner, in silence so really might as well be on their own. Yet the Italians, along with a few other nations, just seem to be very interactive, full of life and very conversational. Personally, I concluded maybe they just have a constant monologue with themselves to inform everyone what they are doing.

I was amazed at how friendly and helpful the Maltese people are. I'm not sure if this has something to do with the history of the island being part of the British Colony until only forty years ago, or whether they truly do just embrace the tourism. Whatever the reason, it certainly puts a vast number of people and their attitudes to shame. It seemed, every person in Malta is willing to go out of their way to help. Observing the drivers on the road, they didn't seem possessive of the like some road hogs we see in England. Rather they worked together like a flock of birds, all moving individually as one body. This was beautiful and a breath of fresh air to see. It also brought to mind about the tolerance of people in England. Many say that the British are a very tolerant nation, to which this may be true. Yet, if we were less uptight and particular there would be no need to be so tolerant when things are not how we want or expect them.

From this holiday I have learnt about the country's amazing history and seen its beautiful land and clean water. From now on I am going to remember the courtesy and love I witnessed among these people and try to become more like them. This would be a lot easier if most people just kept out of my way... Ha ha, I am of course joking... okay, half joking :D Instead of tolerating people, I will strive to accept that each person is to their own and we all have a unique way of walking through our lives.

Five hundred and seventy four printed pages

The end of semester one has final come. With hand-in day, tomorrow, approaching I have finally finished, checked, rechecked, proof read, checked again and printed all my work.

Eight module books for four projects, one research and one development for each, reaching a grand total of 574 A3 printed pages. Further, all final designs are printed. Three of these designs are shown through the blog; the 'Three Little Words', 'TCM posters' and 'Pocket Poems' book.

It is a relief that after 15 weeks, or 105 days, or 2,520 hours to be exact, the marathon is temporarily over. Now to start planning for semester two with the collaboration project. I sense maybe a posh cake shop, tea room, or patisserie may be in urgent need of branding. Some baking must be researched in order to solve this new project... Obviously, I suppose, these cakes and goodies will have to be eaten after they have been baked.

Pocket Poems

For a project relating to time, I decided to design a poetry book which can be used when one is waiting or passing time. It has a sense of irony about it, as some of the poems inside are relating to how time can only pass for a set period until you have no more. Below are three page spread samples of the book; three of sixteen page spreads.