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

Jemma steers the way!

I never imagined myself on the high seas, well on the Broads to be specific but a few weeks ago I did just that! I sported a captain's hat and took to the water on the Norfolk Broads with friends for a fun filled long weekend!

Living and sleeping on a 6 man boat was certainly an experience, especially when hair dryers and straighteners weren't allowed to avoid blowing the low watt fuse!!

Our trip started at potter's Higham and we floated and partly steered all the way to Oulton Broad, home to amazing scenery, friendly people and one of the best fish and chip suppers I’ve had! Poker straight hair was long forgotten and I would certainly do it again (perhaps with B&B reservations though!)

Posted by: Jemma

Mine’s a pint of peas please!

Down in the big smoke, the latest snacklet to accompany your pint is the fabulous wasabi pea! Usually served in generous “pint of peas” portions, the peas are small and seemingly innocuous. BUT they pack a nose tingling punch that’ll make your eyes water. They’re dried peas coated in wasabi paste (normally to be found in Japanese cuisine like sushi). Sounds horrific doesn’t it, but there’s a good reason the packet in this photo is empty... I can feel a wasabi pea eating competition coming on...

Posted by: Clare

Oxfam’s Questionnaire Made Fun

Don’t you dread it when people ask your opinion for a questionnaire? Well, I do! However this approach from Oxfam really removes the drudgery from the process.

Approached at Latitude Festival, I was asked – from a range of options including ‘Doom Merchants’ and ‘Apathy’ – what annoyed me: that I thought was ‘pants’. All you did was fill out a small postcard, and you got a badge saying ‘I think that X is pants’. Involving and interactive – and my daughter liked the pink pants on the badge...


Posted by: Dan

Time to think about the ‘Unthinkable’

I like this book – ‘Unthinkable’ – about how and why some people save themselves from disasters, and others don’t. I know it sounds a bit macabre, but it is a compelling read, taking in stories from 9/11 and many more. It not only relates how people saved themselves, but gives pointers to your ‘disaster personality’ and how you can do things to improve your chances of surviving.

Think it’s a waste of time reading that Airline Safety Card...? Think again. You have more power to survive in those situations than you realise. Read this book.

Only the paranoid survive!

Posted by: Dan

The Police: gig at MEN Arena

Expecting a nostalgic night where me and my little sis could reminisce to well-known tunes from our Dad’s record collection, we got rather more than we bargained for, with Sting wowing the ladeez in a tight see-thru top and some WICKED performances from three men old enough to BE our Dad in fact. Everything they does is magic...!

Posted by: Clare

Street Performers

We recently had a day out in London to celebrate our 7th birthday. After having such a superb lunch at the Wahaca restaurant in Covent Garden, we decided to take a stroll along the side of the river by the London Eye where we saw some fantastic street performers. The ones that caught my eye were these still statues that just looked amazing! We ended the day in style by sipping cocktails at the very chic Sanderson Hotel.

Posted by: Richard

Daft Hands - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Hey check this out! Crazy… be patient, it takes about a minute to get into it but when the lyrics go really fast its crazy.

Posted by: Clare

Eat me if you can...

Chocolate letter press

Something for all chocoholic type fanatics...
or I'll eat my words!

Posted by: Yvette

Fifty Designers' Current Favourite Typefaces

I like this little book from create/reject. 50 great designers have submitted their current favourite typefaces which have been compiled and turned into this book. It only costs £3 and 100% of the cover fee goes to UNICEF's Burma Cyclone Children's Appeal.

Contributers include Stefan Sagmeister, Eboy and Experimental Jetset to name but a few.

It's available from http://www.createreject.com/ and you can also buy one using paypal if you want to and it's for a very good cause!

Posted by: Bew

Sex and The City

Sex and The City (2008) Official Movie Trailer

My favourite shopping pal and I (AND she’s actually called Cari...!) spent the ultimate girly day out together:

1 – Shoe shopping
2 – TopShop shopping
3 – Ladies wot lunch
4 – Ladies wot blow-out on Ben & Jerry’s
5 – Settle into our “superior” style seats at the cinema to watch Sex and The City in glorious Technicolor
6 – Sob loudly and uncontrollably throughout the film
7 – Quick visit to Boots to reapply ruined faces

Whew what a day!

Posted by: Clare

British Council Newsletter (2005)

I admire the dedication of the Belgian designer Sara De Bondt. The newsletter, images as well as text, are rendered entirely by hand.

Printed in one colour on newsprint paper, size A5, 16 pages.

Hopefully they went easy with the amends.

Posted by: Matt

Brains from Thunderbirds takes centre stage in Drench ad

This has to be one of the best adverts on TV at the mo. Brains from Thunderbirds doing a Napoleon Dynamite-style dance for a full 55 seconds before telling us that water is good for the brain (get it?). It doesn’t entirely compute, but it’s so artfully executed that it doesn’t matter. It’s a totally seductive piece of work.

The brief for this project was to build mass awareness of drench and position it as the smarter hydrator in the water category.

Love the soundtrack – Rhythm is a Dancer by Snap – classic! Bring back the 90s!!

Posted by: Bew

'The Power to Heal'

NSPCC ‘Power to Heal’ Mailer

I received this really powerful DM mailer from the NSPCC. The mailer is part of their ongoing 'Full Stop' campaign.

The theme is on 'crayons' and 'the power to heal' through art therapy.

When young children are abused they find it hard to communicate about how they are feeling. Through the therapy sessions they can express themselves and talk about the pictures they draw and the experiences they have gone through.

A real worthy cause and if you find the need to give a little then please visit: www.nspcc.org.uk/supporter

Posted by: Richard

TK Foo Fighting at Wembley

I was lucky enough to blag a ticket to see the Foo Fighters at Wembley Stadium last weekend, courtesy of our lovely clients at 505 Games. God bless em! What a gig!

Posted by: Tom

Amateur Transplants - when junior doctors get lyrical!

WARNING! Not for the easily offended, but as it says on their website - 10% of all CD sales goes to Macmillan Cancer Support, so you can feel a bit better about yourself whilst laughing at their evil jokes. A bit like making your soul carbon neutral - Karma neutral if you will.

Check them out on YouTube:

Amateur Transplants: Careless Surgeon LIVE

Posted by: Yvette

Charlatans hit Sheffield!

Went to see The Charlatans at the Carling Academy, Sheffield’s latest live music venue. Great fun to get mixed up in some proper sweaty moshing, been a while!


Posted by: Tom

The Pigeon Detectives

Went to see the Pigeon Detectives at the Carling Academy in Sheffield. Much crowd surfing to be had (not by myself of course), and they were fantastic live - great energy. Really enjoying the Carling Academy too, great venue.

Check them out on YouTube:

The Pigeon Detectives - Take Her Back




Posted by: Yvette

The latest instalment from GTA - Grand Theft Auto IV

Ok this game is the real reason why I bought a Playstation 3 at the beginning of April. In previous years I really enjoyed GTA Vice City and San Andreas so I knew IV would definitely be a winner!

It took around 2 and a half years to make, taking over 100,000 photographs of New York and using time lapse cameras to capture environments and weather i.e. rainstorm intensity and sunsets.

This game is incredible and hasn’t disappointed. In fact each time I play it I like it even more. It’s the attention to detail that amazes me, for example when the character’s footsteps reflect the terrain he’s walking on or when you hear a news story on the radio reporting on events that you did during a mission – it’s just incredible!!

Things to do in GTA IV when not causing mayhem…

Get drunk
Play darts
Go bowling
Go shopping
Browse and e-mail online
Go and see Ricky Gervais at the Comedy Club
Listen to the radio
Watch TV

Check out the trailer for GTA IV:

Posted by: Jemma

You're Fired! The Apprentice 2008

Sir Alan makes my day.

Making Wednesday evening a whole lot better. Quality viewing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice/

Posted by: Matt

Jason Miller's “Seconds” Dinner Plates

I've just bought a new dinner set, but I'll be getting a set of these purely for decoration - I might even mount them on my wall!




Jason Miller's “Seconds” series challenges the rules that surround modern day consumer items. Do decorations always need to be centered? Is a whole bird better than a half? Here, Jason’s elegant “mistakes” are artfully and carefully applied to porcelain dinner plates. Too cool to eat your dinner off.

Posted by: Matt