TV Ads to watch out for...

I like these very cool and funny television ads!


Argos advert - Christmas present (2008)



Barclays Barclaycard Water Flume Advert



Posted by: Jemma

School Chaise Longue

This is what you need to get you through double-maths!

http://mydeco.com/product/school-chaise/ccd3145df3b222bfbb936ae0c290715019321efa/

Posted by: Dan

This Goes to 11

I have noticed that the BBC Web site allows you to turn the volume of streaming video to 11 – shades of the famous Spinal Tap scene??

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=d54UU-fPIsY

Posted by: Dan

The return of the Wispa

They say that some things are best left in the 80’s…I disagree.

It’s back and tastes every bit as good today as it did in its 80’s heyday.

The Wispa was first introduced as a trial bar in 1981 and proved to be highly successful, prompting a full national release in 1983. It was Cadbury’s answer to Nestlé’s Aero. Sadly, after declining sales throughout the 90’s, Cadbury’s pulled the bar from their range in 2003, replacing it with “Dairy Milk Bubbly”. A sad day for chocolate lovers.

The good news is that the Wispa is back, again in limited period, and if it proves successful, then Cadbury’s may re-introduce it fully into their range. A case of history repeating.

So Wispa lovers out there, get buying and let’s make sure the Wispa is back for good!



Posted by: Roz

Grace Jones New Album

I am a bit of a Grace Jones fan – and am loving the new album for various reasons:

1) Its great
2) The photography is shot in Thornton’s chocolate factory in Derbyshire
3) My mate Ants produced the majority of it

...‘I AM HURRICANE!’

Posted by: Dan

Books with a little je ne sais qua...

These book designs were designed for French publisher La Découverte by the Parisian designers devalence.

Love the look of these, using a very utilitarian approach, the design is simple with striking typography to accentuate the title of the book.

Works for me.

The websites cool too. http://www.devalence.net/

Posted by: Matt

Wedding Sculpture

I love this sculpture given to us as a wedding present by my Godfather – New York based artist Lee Tribe http://www.leetribe.com/

Posted by: Dan

the Power of a Simple Gift - Operation Christmas Child

For me, seeing Daisy's little face light up on Christmas morning is one of my most favourite things, so when I heard about Operation Christmas Child I decided to make it a regular Christmas charity donation.

The idea is simple, fun and immeasurable in terms of what it must mean to children from some of the poorest places on the planet.

1. Get a medium sized shoe box and wrap it in Christmas Paper.

2. Decide if your gift is for a girl or a boy and the age category (2-4, 5-9 or 10-14yrs)

3. Fill the box with gifts that will bring the most delight to a child of that age.

4. Drop off at a designated collection point.

The boxes are then delivered to some of the poorest kids in the world regardless of nationality, political background or religious beliefs, many of them have never had a Christmas present before.

It's not world changing and it's not going to help these kids out of poverty, but hopefully it will make their faces light up on Christmas morning.

Find out more at: http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/


Posted by: Bew

What’s Cooking?

I like What’s Cooking? Jamie Oliver for the Nintendo DS. This fun and interactive cooking game feature’s a whole book’s worth of Jamie’s fantastic recipes. The concept of the game is that you follow the recipes in one of the virtual kitchens, or with real ingredients in your own home. The game has a voice-recognition feature, which means your hands are free to concentrate on the cooking.

I particularly like the mobile shopping list function – making shopping hassle-free. Simply choose the recipes you want to make and the ingredients will automatically be added to your shopping list.

You can cook against the clock in a series of exciting challenges that will soon have you chopping, stirring and baking your way to the top. The game also allows you to get creative with hundreds of ingredients and utensils, but what’s brilliant is that you can come up with your own recipes then share them with your friends and family over Wi-Fi.

Definitely a more fun way to cook!

Posted by: Linda

Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite

I like this book by Paul Arden - Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite. This book is a daring attack on the way we look at our work and our world. Instead of the usual boring advice, Paul Arden offers daring quips, aphorisms and paradoxes – all seeking to revise what we hold as our ‘common sense’. Whether you sell, manage or buy, Arden inspires you with his original thinking, startling anecdotes, brilliant photographs and offbeat quotations from artists, scientists and philosophers.

Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite will force a rupture in whatever it is you used to think – even if you didn’t know you thought it. And it will give you the confidence to take bigger risks and enjoy your work more than you can imagine.

Posted by: Linda

Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

I like Whittlebury Hall Hotel Spa – this place is totally wonderful – not cheap, but absolutely the most relaxing place I’ve ever been, the facilities are beaut and you can choose from a wide range of relaxing activities or exercise, and the food is great too! They have a full range of massage treatments from Turkish Hamman to Indian head massage, along with Beauty treatments such as facials, hairdressing, mani/pedi etc. etc.

My Friday holiday went like this:
Lazing about in the following... Aromatherapy Crystal Steam Room... Caldarium... Experience Showers... Hydrotherapy Pool... Ice Cave (brrrrrrr!)... Roman Salt Steam Room... Sanarium... Tepidarium... Sauna

I also had some less lazy moments:
50 lengths in the pool... 30 mins in gym... 60 mins circuit training

The rest of the time I spent like this:
Eating & Drinking – fruit & water + healthy fish & salad buffet lunch + cream tea + 3 course gourmet meal + booze (so gradually ruined all the hard work)

Check it out:
http://www.whittleburyhall.co.uk/spa_index.asp

It’s near Silverstone (Milton Keynes, M1 Junction 14), and is where all the racing drivers usually stay, and is well lush!

Posted by: Clare

Scrambling in Wales

Squeezing in some last minute training for my upcoming trek to Everest Base Camp, I went to North Wales with a couple of friends to climb Mt Tryfan, which is just over 3,000ft. I did this route 6 years ago, and had forgotten 'the fear'. It was actually great fun in some sections, but pretty scary in others. Ended the day with a celebratory portion of chips and peas - perfect!

Posted by: Yvette

My Booky Wook by Russell Brand

You either love him or hate him - a bit like marmite. If you're a fan then it's well worth a read. He talks very honestly about his life, and with his inventive use of the English language it's incredibly funny - you can hear him reeling off his crazy dialect as you read.

Posted by: Yvette

Stasiland by Anna Funder

Stasiland was my holiday read. It is about The German Democratic Republic when the days of communism ruled East Germany and how the infamous "STASI" affected the people living in it.

Taking on the formula of a novel, Stasiland is a collection of peoples stories from this time, former Stasi officers as well as victims of the regime, both groups who look back on the days of the GDR very differently.

The book is a captivating read and a great way to learn a little about the subject, it takes a humanistic approach to a very uncompromising time in history.

Posted by: Matt

A cut above!

I like the papercut work of Peter Callesen.

Using the most commonly used media format - the humble A4 sheet of paper - he's created some amazingly intricate work.

Just a sheet of paper, a scalpel, a bit of glue and a whole lot of patience.

See lots more at http://www.petercallesen.com/

Posted by: Bew

That's why Matt's gone to Iceland…

Yep, expect the bad weather, but the charm of Iceland and its people make it very easy to fall in love with the country.

The views in Iceland are exhilarating; it was great to see all the natural wonders of the country, the huge waterfalls, glaciers, geysers and best of all, the geothermal blue lagoon set amongst the black rocks of the barren lava fields.

Our base was Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital and biggest city (Population around 120,000 of Iceland’s 330,000). It's no metropolis but that’s the beauty of the place. Thriving cafes, high-energy pubs and clubs, and a brightly coloured old town with rows of wood-and-corrugated-tin houses cluster together in the compact city centre. The place has a very relaxed atmosphere (except at the weekend, when the inhabitants indulge in some serious heavy drinking in the 15 or so pubs and clubs). A phenomenal place and the best fish and chips I have ever tasted!

Unfortunately the weather was that bad the pics don't do the place much justice. But check out http://gasperak.com/iceland/1/ which shows the place in its full glory (see if you can see the elf behind that rock!)

Posted by: Matt

All hail the print ad!!

I’ve been impressed recently by how many print ads have caught my eye with some even stopping me in my tracks! Whether it's magazine or outdoor I truly feel that a lot of company’s are going ‘back to basics’.

First up is Galaxy’s promoting Sex And The City on DVD showing NYC buildings made out of their chocolate - simple and effective.

Second is Lurpak’s where they focus on the quality of food which should go with their butter. In this instance it’s a classic baked potato but not just any, it’s a baked potato that is cooked to its best in an oven not a microwave – it’s clever and quirky.

Finally, a brand that always seems to get things right is Selfridges. Their ad ‘Treat Yourself’ works so well and is a great play on their key brand elements which are so recognisable and iconic now. Isn’t it great when you can sit back and let a brand work for you? Keeping it consistent with a sprinkle of freshness is the key!

Posted by: Jemma

Oh No! The Wire has finished!

I've just finished watching series 5 of The Wire, which has kicked The Sopranos off its perch as the greatest TV show I've ever seen.

It's hard to describe The Wire without making it sound like hard work, but I've found a review by Guardian TV critic and professional malcontent Charlie Brooker that does the job very well.

As he says in his summing up, just watch it - it's f***ing brilliant!

Monkey DJ

In Stockholm I saw this window display in the Old Town....monkey, headphones, what’s not to love?!


Posted by: Dan

My Wedding!

I liked my wedding – held on Sat 23rd August – it was great fun!! I also love this picture – from top photographer Scott Morrison http://www.delahoyaphotography.com/

Posted by: Dan

A little bit of design history...

It's been 30 years since the Lego mini figure was launched!

Since 1978 the design has only been modified by a matter of millimetres which is testament to the quality of the original work.

Here’s a gallery of how they've developed over the years.

http://www.iconeye.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3344:lego

Posted by: Bew

The Radical Architecture of Little Magazines 196X–197X

Clip/Stamp/Fold

I didn’t hear about this event until only recently although I did find the subject very interesting with a very comprehensive website to boot. Clip/Stamp/Fold covers independent architectural magazines in the 1960s and 1970s which instigated a radical transformation in architectural culture with the architecture of the magazines acting as the site of innovation and debate.


Clip/Stamp/Fold: The Radical Architecture of Little Magazines 196X – 197X takes stock of seventy little magazines from this period, which were published in over a dozen cities. Coined in the early twentieth century to designate progressive literary journals, the term “little magazine” was remobilized during the 1960s to grapple with the contemporary proliferation of independent architectural periodicals. The terms “little” and “magazine” are not taken at face value. In addition to short-lived radical magazines, Clip/Stamp/Fold includes pamphlets and building instruction manuals along with professional magazines that experienced “moments of littleness,” influenced by the graphics and intellectual concerns of their self-published contemporaries.

http://www.clipstampfold.com/


Posted by: Matt

Tinsley Towers

Best Video Tinsley Cooling Towers Demolitian Official

After a cracking wedding party in Bakewell (Dan Kirby’s by the way), me and my wife decided that it would be fun to see the Tinsley Towers demolished, it was late anyway so why not. We got home and changed, made a flask of tea and off we went to see the destruction. We arrived and it looked like everyone from Sheffield wanted to see the spectacle as well. The whole thing happened really quickly and was a fantastic sight - especially when it looked as though it was going to fall on the M1! We witnessed a bit of history, well for Sheffield anyway, and was well worth the late night stop out.

Posted by: Richard

The Little Book of Big Excuses

A print company sent me this and I really like it:

It's a selection of the best (or worst) excuses when print hasn’t arrived. In all my years so far as a buyer of print I thought I’d heard them all! A few are a bit far fetched but loved the concept.

Posted by: Richard

A Postcard from Tinsley

I like these postcards which are intended to represent the Tinsley Cooling Towers as viewed and experienced from within the community of Tinsley.

Photographer, writer and digital artist Ali White engaged local residents in lengthy and often heated conversations – on the streets, in the bookies, the Fox & Duck, the local library, Tinsley Youth Club and Tinsley Green – about how they perceive the towers, what they mean to them, and the place they have had in their lives. All the quotations emerged from these encounters, and many of the photographs were taken by local people.

Here are some of the quotes – spoken in a true 'Yorkshire man’s' tone of voice:

“I like them being there. I don’t know if I like them, but they give me a homely feeling. It’ll look odd when they’ve gone.”

“We used to mess about down there by the canal with the lads from Park House High School playing kiss-catch and tallyho and kiddin on the Irish navvies that were building the viaduct to come down the club for a babycham. We must have been about 14.”

“They’re just stood there doing nowt.”

“When I was a little lad running around in this pub, people knew what Tinsley was about and expected it to stay that way. But a little lad running round in here now – what will Tinsley be about for him when he’s 40? And what will he know of what it used to be? It’s not about the towers. To me it was a crime when the old 600 gates came down. There’s a lot of history here, and it mustn’t be forgotten.”

Posted by: Linda

Dubai Tower

I first saw this story on the BBC’s website a while ago and it brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘Residential Property’!

Currently in Dubai they are constructing the World's first moving building, the 80-storey tower design is made up of 80 pre-fabricated apartments which will spin independently off one another.

Architect David Fisher recently commented in New York and explains, "It's the first building that rotates, moves, and changes shape, this building never looks the same, not once in a lifetime."

The building's apartments will spin a full 360 degrees, at voice command, around a central column by means of 79 giant power-generating wind turbines located between each floor. The slender building will be energy self-sufficient as the turbines would produce enough electricity to power the entire building and even feed extra power back into the grid.

The apartments, which will take between one and three hours to make a complete rotation, will cost from $3.7m to $36m. The skyscraper will cost an estimated $700m to build and should be up and running in Dubai in 2010.

Posted by: Jemma

BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN

Taking place during Batman's early days of crime fighting, this collection tells the story of a mysterious killer who murders his prey only on holidays. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who Holiday is before he claims his next victim each month. This story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman's deadly enemy, Two-Face. A prominent story in the new batman movie. A real must read with phenomenal illustrations.


Posted by: Matt

Nick Cave on tour

In November the legendary Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are playing Sheffield for the first time ever, and thanks to DKPM’s ever-expanding Nick Cave fanbase a load of us will be going! Here they are on Later with one of my favourite tracks from their latest amazing album Dig, Lararus, Dig.




Posted by: Tom

The 1970s Scrapbook

I really like this book, The 1970s Scrapbook.

Compiled by Robert Opie, director of the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, it's packed full of images of everything that was great about the 70s. And a few things that are best forgotten!

Makes me want to get my tank top on and go bombing about on my Chopper. Then settle down and watch Charlie's Angels with a can of Cresta.

Posted by: Paul M

PopArt Sneakers

How cool are these PopArt sneakers...

“They look like they’ve been drawn right onto your feet in a comic book style – love em!”

Posted by: Clare