End to Design Movements?

After an exciting lecture from Katie Taylor from Greenspace, a graphic design based company based in London, I was not only inspired by the content and ideas expressed in the lecture, but also from a question asked at the end. 'Some of your new font is still Modernist in style, where do you think font style is going from now and in the future?'

Answer - interesting. Katie agreed with this statement and had an interesting answer. An ongoing project of Greenspace is for Zaha Hadid where the are creating a new typeface, including a website and book of projects they have done, but similatiniuosly expressing how the company works and more importantly them as individuals and their feelings. This inspired Greenspace to create not one particular font, but a variation of one main font that each employee has their own idioscincratic version, for each of their business cards. This font is made using a simple set of scrollers that you drag right and left to create maybe not a 'new style' but individual to you for you to be recognised by. An intriguing answer. And another question.. Is this where design is heading? That we no longer live through artist and design movements, our lives dictated by what they choose, that we are all designers? That everyones point of view is viable and can be listened to? Extreme idea but how far will this go? Our interaction with the digital world is growing constantly which encourages new activity and design in a different way.

The other side of Katie's answer was also that some designers were now going full cirle, embracing the Arts and Crafts, making one of truth to material ideas, carving new font etc.

Funnily enough, when I got home from the lecture I caught a glimpse of the news - a story of how Manola Blanik, the shoe designer, is creating shoes individual for everyone - online. You can go on, choose your specifics and have your perfect pair of heels... although it didn't mention how much it will cost you...

Eruption - all bad?

Eruption in Iceland freezes all air traffic over Britain to and from all countries. The largest disruption to air travel since 9/11. Initial thought - 'Oh no, this is not going to be nice!'... and yes, of course this isn't good. But how bad really is it?

People are stranded on holiday, on work trips away, or at home. I know of someone having to extend their holiday in Barbados, one in Frankfurt but best of all my fellow Scottish Exchange Student's boyfriend who is now stuck here for an extra week and a half, and consequently her 21st birthday! After not being able to spend the past four birthdays with him due to him being in the marines, this is like a small miracle for her!

Not that this makes this eruption a 'miracle'. But, we could look on the bright side.. I mean take a look at this video;

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F5D324185EE73FEC

This is the usual air space above Britain and now it is silent. The skies are clear just to stars (minus the ash thats littering it). Millions and millions of pounds this is costing but think how much it is doing for the environment, we are saving millions and millions of litres of gas, of dirt that destroys our ecosystems and causes global warming.

It seems to me like nature is fighting back to our greediness...

Image thanks to http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1719818-Volcanic_eruption_in_Vatnajokul_glacier-Iceland.jpg

Video thanks to the BBC

The middle of green.

As we know New Zealand is the youngest country in the entire world. And there are equivalent of 12 sheeps per person, remembering the population is small anyway. This population includes Mouri people, British (especially Scottish) settlers, many Asians and travellers, not forgetting these sheep and now almost as many cows (this is due to the Kiwis' new found love of dairy which they also call all of the grocery shops). 

'The one and only road'

Being separated from the North Island, the South Island of New Zealand is remote, silent and beautiful. The green of the Silver Ferns amongst palm trees and rolling mountains against the icy blue water that flows between these is a sight you cannot miss as you wind through them on the only road in the country.

Castle Hill - natural huge boulders cover the land.

After hours and hours of fresh air, fresh water and fresh greenery, you quickly forget that cities even exist. The biggest 'city' in the South Island of New Zealand is Christchurch, and actually as soon as we arrived there we instantly wanted to leave. Not because it is ugly or untraditional or any such like, it was just a city. And with that meant cars, busy roads, McDonalds... and no sheep. After a bowl of nachos we were out.

The stark beauty of the nature soothed and inspired me, glaring out of the car window for hours forgetting the icicles growing on my nose in the sharp wind. Such beauty that this country is graced with is unique and becoming so scarce throughout the world. The problem is is that it's virtually impossible to appreciate until you can experience such a place and feeling for yourself. Maybe if we could we would stop abusing this beauty and start loving the simple, natural things that 'should be' on our doorstep.

Abel Tasmain Natural Park

walk down the street in Wellington