Tag: blogging

1. What has working in Kaizen Brand Evolution taught you about the design industry?
In the few months that I’ve been at Kaizen Brand Evolution, I have learnt about presenting for design and how to present a client’s brief back to them and the best way to show outcomes. While working in Kaizen Brand Evolution I have learnt a lot about print and setting up different documents for print. I feel this is invaluable as it is something that will be used in all aspects of design.

2. Desert Island Design Studio, which typeface would you bring with you?
Helvetica, it’s my go to typeface as it is reliable, bold and can be used in all different weights for everything.

3. What do you use for motivation inside the studio? 
On a Friday here at Kaizen Brand Evolution we have a boojum, haha that keeps me motivated throughout the week. More motivation around the studio is the showcase of Kaizen Brand Evolutions work on our walls, seeing the brands that we have worked on and the creative solutions is very inspiring to see.

4. Any designers you have been stalking online recently?
My favourite designer is Jessica Walsh, I first heard her speak at OFFSET in my first year of University and I follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

5. What are you listening to in work today?
I listen to a mixture of everything, usually a bit of Beyoncé.

6. Any exhibitions in Belfast recently that are worth checking out? 
David Sherry at the Golden Thread Gallery, looks like an interesting exhibition I’m hoping to go to it this weekend.

7. What’s your pet called? Tell us about them.
I have a dog called Buddy, he’s old and quite stupid, I live on a farm and he likes to chase cows around the wrong direction.

1. What has working in Kaizen Brand Evolution taught you about the design industry? 
Reputation is everything, building a good reputation across industry in invaluable and keeping the creative momentum simply nurtures the reputation.

2. Desert Island Design Studio, which typeface would you bring with you? 
Helvetica Neue – the family. I know! But stranded on a desert Island, a neutral typeface with great clarity, no intrinsic meaning would be of great comfort to me.

3. What do you use for motivation inside the studio? 
An eclectic mix of playlists on Spotify, caffeine and surfing Behance.

4. Any designers you have been stalking online recently? 
I love the work coming out of Barcelona at the minute, particularly Mucho. Check ’em out.

5. What are you listening to in work today?
Nirvana – Nevermind as it’s the 25th anniversary.

6. Any exhibitions in Belfast recently that are worth checking out? 
Keith Wilson: Calendar, at the Mac. Looking at the cultural status of sculpture, considering how ideas develop from studio to public presentation.

7. What’s your pet called? Tell us about them.
I have a crazy cockapoo called Riley and a very chilled cat called Obi. They’re best friends, oddly.

1. What has working in Kaizen Brand Evolution taught you about the design industry?
KBE has taught me to always push myself to do the best – What I personally think is best for the design project I am undertaking.

It has also taught me that every day, every client will be different in the design industry.

2. Desert Island Design Studio, which typeface would you bring with you?
Why is there a design studio on a desert island? That’s what I am wondering first of all? …But if I was to bring a typeface with me it would be Futura. I would bring this because it works well with most design projects and is very reliable. It always has a slight retro feel to it, which I love.

3. What do you use for motivation inside the studio?
When I want to get motivated in the studio, I will plug in my headphones and zone out from the rest of the world, however the odd sweet or two also helps me, my favourites is Squashies incase anyone would like to know.

4. Any designers you have been stalking online recently?
I wouldn’t say stalk, but I love the web designer Sarah Parmenter, I love everything she creates, it is always so lovely!

5. What are you listening to in work today?
We usually have to listen to whatever Ryan puts on in the studio… Sometimes I will request the occasional Disney number but at the moment we are listening to the playlist Throwback Thursday #nostalgic.

6. Any exhibitions in Belfast recently that are worth checking out?
Oliver Jeffers was in the Ulster Hall recently doing a book signing who does lovely, cute illustrations (examples Lost and Found book). Also, Belfast Design Week is coming up in November which should be interesting and filled with lots of talent and creativity.

7. What’s your pet called? Tell us about them
As most people know I am a bit cat crazy – so of course I have a cat. She’s called Nala, she is the cutest thing ever, but also very crazy. Sometimes she will follow me to the bus on my way to work and try to get on with me (which is so embarrassing) or even just sit on top of my head just when she feels like it. I have plenty of stories about her which I talk about a lot in the office, but that’s for another time!

1. What has working in Kaizen Brand Evolution taught you about the design industry?
Probably how to manage time more effectively. There are so many things going on in the studio ranging right the way through from client graphic design work, photography and our own internal brand that I always try to take a step back from the work and ensure that what is being done is in the best interests of the client, whether that is ourselves or someone else.

2. Desert Island Design Studio, which typeface would you bring with you?
Garamond Premiere Pro! I don’t know whether this typeface would be particularly useful on a desert island but it is definitely my favourite out there. Its classic shape works equally well in lower case for body copy or in the small caps case for detail text and sub headers. I always find that it gives a real sense of class to whatever publication or project it’s used in. I suppose in that sense if I were stranded I could imagine it was part of a big adventure book all set in the classic typeface.

3. What keeps you motivated?
The sheer range of clients that we work with means that we can experiment a lot with different styles and ways of communicating as we try to find the unique voice of a brand. I suppose this means I never really get bored as every job presents a new problem or task, which needs to be overcome in a visually pleasing way.

4. Any designers you have been stalking online recently?
There is a company from Argentina called ‘Hola Bosque’ who are really inspiring for me because of how the use colour. Everything they do is bursting off the screen with ingenious combinations that always seem so obvious until you try to do it yourself. They are primarily an illustration studio, which means that their style is very handmade and organic, which, combined with the colours make for a brilliant result.

5. What are you listening to in work today?
I really love music, and having played in a kind of post-punk band for a few years I developed a taste for the heavier guitar riff bands like Queens of the Stone Age and Refused, but both my Dad and brother have great taste in music and send regular recommendations my way. Most recently I am going back to what my Dad played in the car when I was younger, a mix of Steely Dan and Sting. But I will listen to anything that catches my ear. One of my new favourites is ‘Dreams’ by Beck from the new FIFA 16 soundtrack.

6. Any exhibitions in Belfast recently that are worth checking out?
The most recent exhibition’s that I have seen were all on Culture Night 2016. There is always a plethora of events, shoes and performances to go and see so I don’t think I could choose my favourite from the night, but if I had to say it would probably have been the people from Flamenco Fino. Brilliant dancing and music.

7. What’s your pet called? Tell us about them.
I have a cat and a dog, Evee and Catty… Try to guess which one is which. They are both very old now but still in great shape, Evee especially. She is 15 years old and still going strong, but the best thing about her is that she is just so well behaved. Only barks when she needs let in from outside and loves a good hug. Catty is like any well respected cat would be, totally aloof until she needs something, then she’s all over you.

1. What has working in Kaizen Brand Evolution taught you about the design industry?
That it is the team that you build around you and the studio culture that you craft that can be credited for the success of a studio. It’s that, that helps cultivate creativity. Clients then feel the passion and positivity toward their projects in pitches, gaining trust in the process. At Kaizen Brand Evolution, we have an amazing team!

2. Desert Island Design Studio, which typeface would you bring with you?
Helvetica. Sounds standard, but I love a bit of symmetry and it would bring a bit of order to the island, born fixer!

3. What do you use for motivation inside the studio?
Diet Coke! The real thing that motivates me most is being engaged in a client meeting when I know we can really help make a difference to their business, when I can see a solution using design intervention to create change.

4. Any designers you have been stalking online recently?
I’ve mainly been creeping on Wayne Hemmingway as I’ve been furniture shopping. Also been checking out D.A.D.D.Y. to stalk at OFFSET 2017.

5. What are you listening to in work today?
I only had a chance for a brief headphones moment today before the studio day started, it was to listen to and watch the trailer for the documentary ‘Oasis: Supersonic’. Nostalgic old footage and a very young Kate Moss. The studio today has mainly played Nirvana to mark the 25 years since Nevermind. New Warpaint album for the journey home.

6. Any exhibitions in Belfast recently that are worth checking out?
The Hockney exhibition at the Mac was a must for me after seeing the documentary at QFT a couple of years back. Turned out expensive for a free exhibit as I’d been looking for a sofa at the time and it led me to buy a Hockney inspired range. It’s very true in what he says, that there are ways of looking, it’s just a question of how hard.

7. What’s your pet called? Tell us about them
Currently two cats named Mickey and Mallory, after M&M Knox in ‘Natural Born Killers’. More often, they get called ‘the black one’ and ‘the other one’, as they are more natural born scaredy cats. Rescued from a centre after spending their first 7 months in a cage they hadn’t been used to human contact or touch, and so are taking alot of time and patience to become domesticated. ‘The other one’ is now brave enough to be stroked, but only in the dark.

1. What has working in Kaizen Brand Evolution taught you about the design industry?
You need to be fast, accurate and very, very good. I learn so much each day in the studio, and thankfully have a supportive and talented and patient team to teach me. 

2. Desert Island Design Studio, which typeface would you bring with you?
Century Gothic, nice, friendly and versatile font. I feel if ‘Wilson’ had been written in Century Gothic, he would have been more lively!

3. What do you use for motivation inside the studio?
Coffee, some more coffee, oh and some more coffee.

4. Any designers you have been stalking online recently?
‘I love dust’ I enjoy the biker persona they have and everything they do is loud and proud. I have a real soft spot for Chip Kidd, who doesn’t love the guy who created the Jurassic Park logo! His Ted Talks are really helpful and inspirational. I mostly stalk illustrators, mostly. Such as Steve Simpson (who I am a little obsessed with and literally stalked at OFFSET) Oliver Jeffers who just had a book signing at the Ulster Museum. Love local guys like Stephen Maurice Graham and Peter Strain. And a big fan of Chiara Bautista’s sketching. Her mix of music lyrics and emotionally charged imagery is delightful. I still check in to Deviant Art every now and again for a nosey too. 

5. What are you listening to in work today?
A mix of Eminem – ‘Rap God’ and Childish Gambino gets me motivated in the studio, and in the gym. For a calm down session I love Blood Orange – ‘Cupid Deluxe’ and anything by Devotchka. 

6. Any exhibitions in Belfast recently that are worth checking out?
David Hockney in the Mac, first time his work has been exhibited here, and marks a major turning point for art exhibits in NI. Late Night Art is always fun for free wine and a look at what’s happening each month. 

7. What’s your pet called? Tell us about them
Henry the cat. He had a bad tummy when he was young and a bad name ‘Henry’, named after some footballer. We just pronounce it differently now. He is all better and eats constantly, has a little extra flab to carry around.