Ffffound in kitchen.

Click here for some other inspiring examples of how to communicate with your colleagues...

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

With the feel of one of Salvador Dali's crazy paintings this film is definitely an experience. Some of our time's most famous actors celebrate their friend Heath Ledger with completing the film he was meant to finish, a move that gives the story more than one twist. This film is like nothing else. Go see it, and be prepared for a colourful trip.

All you fans of Gill Sans... get yourself down to the RA!!

The exhibition Wild Thing: Epstein, Gaudier-Brzeska, Gill is on from 24 October 2009—24 January 2010
explores the body of work executed by the three outstanding young sculptors; Jacob Epstein, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska and Eric Gill and draws on the major themes that impressed upon the men, namely sex, fertility, the human condition, the machine age and the impact of war.

The works convey the momentous sense of change taking place in London and the world at the start of the twentieth century.

It is the first time that the three artists have been shown together in this revolutionary context and many of the works have not been exhibited in London before.

The exhibition contains more than 90 works featuring mainly sculptures, drawings and pastels. No mention of type design but I'm sure it will be really interesting all the same!

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/wild-thing-epstein-gaudier-brzeska-gill/.

Editors make the most of Google Street View

To promote the Editors new album, Sony has cleverly hacked a version of street view which allows users to listen to tracks in the areas of London in which the band found inspiration - opening up areas which are usually unavailable on the regular street view with some new band photography too.

the app can be found at editorsofficial.com/streetview

Click here to read the full CR article

Spanish energy boost at Design Museum!

Spanish designer Javier Mariscal's illustrations and graphic work are shown at the Design Museum for another couple of weeks. Not only is the work inspiring, the entire exhibition is playful and fun. Well worth a visit!

Have a look:
http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2009/mariscal

Finally they arrived..yay!!

Our shiny brand new Vivid Brand bikes finally arrived! We should be out on the road soon, just waiting for our matching red helmets to come...safety first team Vivid!!

Christmas is here!

It has all begun, Superdrug is first out with their christmas range.
Buy 2 christmas gifts, get the 3rd for free!

Totally Brilliant Like

Genius!!

Don't miss the BFI film festival!

When picking up the program for this year's BFI Festival I was adviced to start booking tickets immediately. Interesting films like Sam Taylor Wood's feature debut 'Nowhere boy' about John Lennon's early years and Wes Anderson's stop-motion animation 'Fantastic Mr Fox' based on a Roald Dahl story will most likely be sold out by the end of this week, so start booking today!

Check out the complete program at:
http://www.bfi.org.uk/lff/

Retail Director at Vivid Brand tells us how its done.

8 October 2009 | Design Week
Give them a
reason to stay

As the economy slowly picks up, clients should be guided to make the most of more limited budgets to influence consumer behaviour, says Paul King.

It’s that time of the year when clients start preparing their thinking and building cases for the new year’s budget process. On the other side of the fence agencies are looking at overheads, forecasts, margins, where new business is coming from.

Marketing directors and brand directors will not be increasing budgets back to 2008 levels, that’s for sure. But they will have creative activity and possible slightly increased budgets, though most will be maintaining 2009 budgets.

Too many clients are becoming anxious that this stagnant marketing approach is, in fact, loosing market share to competitors and that consumers’ new buying patterns will remain, even if the economy picks up. So inactivity is starting to become an issue in some markets, especially retail.

So how can clients and consultancies survive and progress? Only by dialogue, by honesty and with a mutual understanding of each other’s needs and objectives. I know of one client which is actively supporting its rostered groups by being unflinchingly loyal to them and supporting them through tough times.

But, in general, if clients trust their consultancy they should be talking to them now, giving the next three, six, nine and even 12 months activity and required involvement by that consultancy.

Working together may help the client to spread costs and identify and realise savings, which in turn can fund further projects. For the consultancy this gives some reassurance, because retaining the client is a battle in these times, especially when potential competitors are banging on the client’s door with offers of better value.

This open approach can only be achieved by like-minded partners working together.

From a client perspective, marketing or commercial departments should look at all their activity from research to advertising, PR, digital and marketing, and evaluate where saving be achieved and where that new-found funding would be better spent.

Design groups can help by looking at the way they manage their clients’ projects. This is especially relevant when looking at external costs – brought in costs such as photography illustration, production and print. It is also worth considering if the mark-up is excessive.

Every fee is negotiable. Even photographers and stylists will reconsider fees against a further work commitment. But there again, there must be a basic honesty and mutuality.

Then look at internal costs. Is each 4 hour meeting necessary, for example, and do all delegates have to attend? Is that flight really worthwhile and who really needs to go?

All projects must be measured against overheads. Effective project planning is essential to ensure each project runs smoothly, doesn’t overrun or impact adversely on the consultancy’s other projects. Accurate resource timing is crucial and each member of the team needs to know and understand their involvement. In most cases, this thinking should be shared with the client as they too have a responsibility for the effective running their project.

Keep financial management in the forefront of all projects and keep ‘surprises’ to a minimum. If there are extra requirements make sure the client understands the extra cost implications on the project and budget. These may all be small amounts, but it can be the difference between keeping a client or loosing them.

Also I think clients appreciate design groups that understand the realities of doing business in this depressing climate. It’s not the time to be ostentatious.

But clients also have a responsibility to the design group involved. Prompt payment is vital, cash-flow problems can and do starve any consultancy. Clients need to check invoices are being paid on time and not being shifted from signatory to signatory – someone in the finance department may think they are being clever by ‘sitting’ on the invoice.

Another way for clients to use their sparse funds more viably is not to ask for free-pitches. This has proved to be wasteful of resources and finance, but the unenlightened still think this produces free ideas. What this produces in reality is pretty pictures, not design solutions.

If large fees are involved it, may suit both parties to break them down into more manageable chunks. If agreed, payment terms must be adhered to.

Clients can also help by recommending consultanies to other departments within their company. The market will pick up, but it’s not just consumers who may continue with new buying patterns, so we all have to work smarter, be realistic – and accountable.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
FLIGHTBACK TACTICS

• The client-consultancy relationship must be honest
  
• Clients should be planning ahead now with their consultancy
• Look at how your group handles client projects– every fee is negotiable
• Don’t let clients ‘sit’ on your invoices
• Encourage clients to recommend your services within their company
• Be realistic: the market has changed, possibly forever

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Paul King retail director at Vivid Brand

Waitrose is diversifying!

Last week DesignWeek revealed that Waitrose is just about to start a collaboration with Boots, introducing their food products in the high street chemist. In the future we will also be able to find Waitrose's products in convenience stores and in some petrol stations. Latest news is that they're giving their cafes a make-over with design made by interior consultancy Mellor & Scott.

Stay updated on DesignWeeks webpage:
http://www.designweek.co.uk/waitrose-in-store-caf%C3%A9-redesign-plan/3004956.article