My Book...

Right so loads of posts in not very much time - but hey, I've got a lot of catching up to do!

Anyway, just thought I'd give you a little taster of some of my work just as an encouragement for you to head to the finalcrit.com site.

The first few images are from my self-promotional book, and although fairly simple in their construction, they work really well as an overall composition, especially when put together in a book format...

So drop me a comment and let me know what you think...

Unkle - Heaven Remix

Unkle - Heaven Remix from We Love You So on Vimeo.

A friend sent me this video, and all can say is wow. It is beautifully filmed and I love the way it doesn't loose any of the chilled out vibe that the beginning gives off when moving on to the more dramatic shots. Full marks to the skaters as well - some of that must have hurt!

A nudge in the right direction...

Guys just a casual hint to look at my finalcrit.com site - where you can find and maybe even admire, some of my work that I've been doing so far this year.

http://www.finalcrit.com/graphic/simonnicholson

Appreciated as ever...

Festive Fun...

Sorry for the hold up in posts - my life has been particularly manic right now what with all these projects to complete and deadlines to make!

Anyhow, I was casually googling the web for adverts to inspire one of my projects when I came across these absolute gems, I mean, I would love to be the guy who proposes this concept to the boardroom!







The ads were done by Bartle Bogle Hegarty and apparently took 3 days to make. Absolute genius.

Tumbleweed in the streets of Leeds...

So I was casually strolling back from Uni today when I saw something that struck me as fairly odd. Two Mounted Policemen (sorry Police "Officers" - one of them was a woman) were taking details off a guy, who, judging by the rather stressed and animated appearance, I presume had just been mugged. Well, either that or I'm an awful judge of character and he'd actually just committed an offence but hey, benefit of the doubt and all. Anyway, I bet when he called the police he wasn't expecting a scene straight out of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.



Now it wasn't so much the fact they were taking details of him that I found strange, nor the fact that the police were using horses as a means of transport - it was the surroundings this was all taking place in that really struck me as odd. We've all seen mounted police at football matches and other situations where there are large crowds of people gathered in one place (there they are at riots, demonstrations etc, trying to be intimidating when really all people want to do is stroke the horses), but when was the last time you saw a mounted policeman riding to peoples rescue in a city centre(well, a park in a city centre if I'm being completely honest but nevertheless...)?



As I watched all this taking place, my mind was filled with various images of Police galloping after thieves, jumping fences Tony McCoy esq, charging down the roads in a way that would make Frankie Dettori proud, all in the pursuit of justice. I was also struck by where the notion of how they could possibly, should this man indeed be a criminal, transport him to the nearest prison. Would they sling him over the back of the horse a la The Good, The Bad and The Ugly? Admittedly, there was also the image of horses with red and blue flashing lights on their heads but hey the mind wanders...



While thinking all this I also realised just how unique this scene was in the days when the police are equipped with Helicopters, suped up BMW's, Yamaha motorbikes, Suzuki dirt bikes, even flash mountain bikes. In essence, all of the man made contraptions that deem horses pretty much useless, yet there they were, these keepers of the peace, astride their stallions, defying modernisation and bringing the Wild West to Leeds.

Now, any takers for quick draw duel outside the union?

Why the chicken crossed the road - and the benefits of the 'Blag'...

Why DID the chicken cross the road?

To get to the other side? Because it felt like it? To create a talking point? Because it wanted to be remembered it one of the most well-known (if one of the least funny) jokes in the world?

The point is, no one really knows why the chicken crossed the road, but no one seems to be able to let it lie - there has to be a reason. Just like there has to be a reason behind every design decision you'll ever make. This has become painfully obvious in my time studying Graphic Design at Leeds Uni, I can no longer just design something 'because it looks good' like I did in my A-level Art and Photography days. No, my decision to place this photo in that corner and that piece of text in the other has to be well thought out and easily explained should the question of 'why?' ever arise...

Of course, there are parts of my work which are designed because they simply look good, but after years of practice, be it at school to teachers explaining why my coursework is late AGAIN or at home to the rents who are enquiring why their new vase (broken whilst playing a 'friendly' game of football with the brothers) is now residing in the rubbish bin in several different pieces, my ability to 'Blag' my way out of these situations has become particularly noteworthy.

It has to be said, whilst it may not be looked upon particularly kindly, the ability to 'Blag' will serve anyone well, not just in design but in life in general. How do you think that guy who will quite possibly end up working next to you ends up earning more than you, despite being noticeably less proficient at his job and having been at the company less time than you? He's a damn good blagger.

So the next time you do something you can't really explain, and the inevitable question of 'why?' is asked, make sure you know how to blag it.

(By the way, I reckon the chicken just felt like it.)