The Design Conspiracy Blog

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Happy 12th Birthday The Design Conspiracy!

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So, 12 years. Wow.

Last year was a toughie, we have to admit, very quiet at Conspiracy HQ. It seemed everybody's budgets were low or non existent meaning there weren't many projects on the table. But we kept cracking on!

We've always prided ourselves on being flexible when it comes to charges and costing jobs. If a client has a budget, no matter how big or small, we always endeavour to get the most of out it for them. Whether that means researching a certain paper or binding method to keep costs down but quality high, or suggesting making use of social media as an additional outlet which we all know saves people a lot of money whilst potentially reaching a lot of people, and of course always sourcing at least 3 quotes for printing or technical stuff. That's just how we roll.

But still it would seem people need or want things cheaper. All the same stuff, value, attention, professionalism, knowledge - just cheaper, less money. Or they can get it cheaper elsewhere. And probably quicker. But somebody is doing it cheaper. How is that? Has the whole world gone freelance? Is it just us? Anybody else having these issues? I'd be really interesting to know, and how you're dealing with them.

Over in our 'shop' though, it's been a huge success. Our gift products on NotOnTheHighStreet having been selling like hot cakes and it's a lot of fun coming up with different ideas and seeing how they sell. So far so good, the personalised record label cards and prints have been really popular, as have the doorhangers. Who knows what the rest of the year will bring there, keep a lookout.

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Anyway, back to the birthday!

Birthdays are always a good time to reflect and reminisce, looking back over old projects. Whilst doing that recently we came to wonder which projects our clients, friends and fans rate as our best. That's you guys, if you're reading this. Want to tell us where we did our best work? If you're up for it, simply visit our home page and have a look over our work from 2001 to now, the best projects are all there to see. You can then let us know your favourite month here. Just let us know the month and year. Can't wait to hear what you think. We'll be in Byron celebrating with a burger!

Thank you for your support. Peace!

 

 

Posted by April on Feb 07, 2013 at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Say hello to Dora

When Ebay and Gumtree were still tiny kernels of ideas in the minds of their founders jumble sales were great places to find all kinds of old stuff. Shoot forward twenty years and I went along to a local jumble sale intrigued to see what would be on offer. Amongst lots of video cassettes, foot spas, radios, microwaves and glassware though not many clothes was this...

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A typewriter, an Olivetti Dora to be precise.

Is it working? I asked.

Dunno you'll have to take a chance mate, came the reply so for £3.50 I took it home.

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Now I used to have a typewriter many many years ago but has long since disappeared. I took it out of it's blue case and after winding the ribbon on a bit I started typing. It all worked beautifully, after typing on a computer keyboard it feels a bit strange - you become really conscious of not making any mistakes both spelling and layout but I absolutely love using it!  I should really have written this post with it but I'm in our studio and it's at home but I will add that this model was designed by Ettore Sottsass who designed the famous Olivetti Valentine from which this model the Dora is based. I'll upload some typewriting examples soon...

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Posted by Kingsley on Jan 28, 2013 at 02:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Christmas Craftiness

This weekend we took The Design Conspiracy products to the masses. We went on the road, taking this baby on tour. Well, we held a stall at Quorn Christmas Craft Fair in Leicestershire. It's fair that has been running for over 30 years and includes 40 stalls selling either handmade or homemade goods. 

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Quite a range of goods were on sale, jewellery, jams & chutneys, knitted items, prints & cards (us), paintings and cakes. It was a really nice atmosphere with christmas songs being played by a local musician, a Santa's grotto and craft tables with things for children to make and do.

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With a real trend for craft and the homemade going on in the UK at the moment, it was good to get out there and see what's going on and what people are into. Knitted items and chutneys were very very popular, hand screen printed typographic cards were not so, but we're not down hearted, our online orders are flooding in!

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We'd love to get involved with more markets and pop up fairs, so if you know of any that you think we'd be suited to, please drop us a line. Until the next time. Peace.

 

 

Posted by April on Nov 19, 2012 at 02:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Richmond Posters

Been meaning to blog this for a while now, but on my recent trips to Richmond to stay with friends I discovered the '80s advertising posters that still remain on the wall at Richmond station.

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There are some real gems that have been covered up for years by the newer advertising frames but were uncovered by staff when a refurbishment program at the station started. There are some more detailed and better writings about the story here and here and some great images here

What really warmed my cockles the last time I visited though, was seeing them now being framed! So they are now being preserved and respected, although not all of them are masterpeices of art or design, they are a moment in time and that's nice.

Plane

Jersey

Posted by April on Nov 19, 2012 at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

London 2012, worth the wait?

I remember the cold morning in London's Leicester Square some years ago (maybe 2003 or 2004?), when The Design Conspiracy gathered outside the Empire cinema with a whole host of other designers young and old, waiting to get briefed on a logo competition. A big logo competition. A very exciting competition. A competition to design the logo for London's bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012. Not the actual Olympic logo, but the bid logo. Quite different, but still very exciting.

Despite lots of tutting and sighing in the press and design world about such a big job being put out to 'free competition' we relished the opportunity that a small, young design agency probably wouldn't have got otherwise. Needless to say, we didn't win, despite our wonderful (?) efforts. A logo was chosen and the bid process continued. It didn't extinguish our hope of London hosting an Olympic Games, despite it being many many years off.

So then the day came when the outcome of the bids were announced, July 6th 2005. Scenes coming from Singapore were a sporting lovefest of congratulatory hugging, kissing and cheering between some of Great Britain's greatest sporting legends, all clad in beige suits and blue shirts. Their work had paid off and they were bringing the Games to London. Yes!!!! They were coming!!

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And then THUD!! We all know what happened the next day, 7th July 2005. It couldn't have been more heartbreaking. Such joy and excitement one day to utter disbelief and bewilderment the next. Terrorist attacks in London. Gorgeous, brilliant London. London that was just chosen to put on the greatest show on earth. How could we pick ourselves up after such a horrific event like the bombings, blasting our tubes, our buses, our people? Could we still do it?

YOU BETCHA!!!!!!!!!!

Oh. My. Goodness. We most definitley could do it.

Forget the rain, forget the haters, forget the rise in council tax to pay for it, forget whether the transport network could handle it, forget 'can we do it on time?' Forget things like this...

Stayathome
and this...

Sponsors

We have just had the best summer ever.

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were amazing. The torch relay! That opening ceremony! The flame!

The architecture was phenemonal, not just beautiful buildings, clever buildings. Buildings that can be dismantled, buildings that can be re-used, can be reduced in size. Some will remain and become icons like the Aquatics Centre, Velodrome, Olympic Stadium and not forgetting the awesome Copper Box. Not every sport or building is going to attract the same amount of spectators again so it makes super sense that they aren't permanent structures.

The look, logo, identity, branding whatver you like to call it (it differs from person to person, trust us) really came into it's own. Love or hate the Wolf Olins mark, we actually love it and have done since day one, it really worked. It was bright and in your face, unlike any other Olympic visual style I can remember. The jaunty angles in the logo were also applied throughout the Olympic park, whether on signage, seating, printed literature or tickets. 

Jauntypurple

Jaunty signage

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Inspiration

The colours, wow! The use of the hot pink and purple everywhere was really brave but also clever. No national flags that we can think of use either of those colours (please tell us if we're mistaken) making them pretty neutral for all supporters and spectators, but extremly eyecatching for directional signage! 

Pink and purple

Banners

 

My tv has never looked so good with all the bright colour clashes. Pink and red (so no, but so yes) at the gymnastics, positively glowing out of the screen. The bright blue hockey pitches with pops of pink, a million miles away from the usual dusty terracotta or green we usually get. The lights at the fencing, like something out of Tron. The boxers coming through the tunnels with all their lights, like something from a Hype Williams video.

Clash

The people, the games makers, the javelin train. All ace. I can't speak for all London's major train terminals but when you stepped off at St Pancras, it was like arriving at some surreal but perfect holiday destination. Handed a free strawberry split on the platform, greeted by people dressed as plantpots (yes) just doing their thing as you do.

Plantpot
Pianos scattered about for people to just rock up and play themselves, and people did, beautifully. I don't know if those pianists were 'planted' to look like average Joes but they could certainly play and they looked pretty normal.

Piano
If you didn't know where you were going because you somehow missed the fantastically obvious directional signage then there were people on hand just to help you out. I even saw them on occasions approach civilians who looked flustered but who probably too shy to ask. Unheard of in London, especilally with TFL.

Tfl
There was a sense of fun, care and happiness all around. This was even before you made it to a venue. And when you got there, that was feeling was quadrupled.

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All this is great but it's really about sport isn't it?

Yeah, it is. AND IT WAS FREAKIN' AWESOME! 

I knew I loved athletics, admired cycling and showed quite an interest in diving when little Tom Daley was in action but Judo, Handball, BMXing, Boxing, Rowing, Shooting, Triathaloning, who knew? Glued to the tv, whilst trying to buy tickets on the laptop with one hand and tweeting like I've never tweeted before with the other. Just watching the golds chinging up! Transfixed completely. In awe of such dedication and achievement. So proud of Team GB and ParalympicGB for an amazing performance throughout. And loved their posing in the adidas photobooth too.

We got to learn some new moves like these...

Moves

See some great Pete McKee images like these...

Petemckeejess

Petemckeemo
Some of us were lucky enough to attend events, I personally witnessed a bit of Bolt, Pistorius and think I contributed quite heavily to Jessica Ennis' success having screamed and cheered my heart out for five of her seven events. As you will see from the previous post Kingsley got to see the handball too. That game is tough!

Some of us were lucky enough to be in an event. Oh yes. Our very own Tom was in the closing ceremony. That's right. In it. He was in it.

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Sworn to secrecy for months while he went off to Dagenham every now and then for a practice. We knew what he was up to on that gorgeous Lambretta LI 125 Special 1967 of his.

Lambretta

Only didn't know how exciting it would be waiting for him to appear on my tv. Blasting in with the Kasier Chiefs singing The Who's Pinball Wizard. Brilliant. The feeling of being involved must have been so electric and special, as you can see in this video shot by one of his co-riders. He also got a letter from the Prime Minister thanking him. Nice. 

 

I could sit here all day and wax lyrical about so many aspects of the Olympics, what was good, who was brilliant, how I felt, what I liked, the legacy, the inspiration, the best campaigns (adidas takethestage)...

Louis

Trott

Tom

or who had the best kits (Team GB Stella McCartney/adidas by a long shot) and all that but I'll let you get on with your day. I'm going to watch this adidas Team GB video again.

 

So, there it was. London 2012. Well, well worth the wait!

Posted by April on Oct 09, 2012 at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

My Olympic Experience at London 2012

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A fantastic opening ceremony got me and the majority of the UK bursting with enthusiam for the Olympic Games. 

For a long time I thought I was going to miss out but following a computer error on the second release of tickets (long story) I managed to get some for Handball on Sunday morning not the most prestigeous granted but I only wanted to go to the newly built venues and this was at the Copper Box in the Olympic Park. Perfect. It was indeed and I and my seven year son loved every minute of it.

We got great seats with a fantastic view, yes there were empty seats but the majority was in the corporate/IOC block but it was full overall and created a great atmosphere.

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I've never seen Handball played before but I can say now it's a combination of basketball, netball and volleyball. Interesting to watch, it's very high scoring. We saw Iceland v Argentina and as you know or probably more likely don't unless you're Icelandic, Argentine or an uber fan, Iceland won 31 to 25.. 

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We had a wander around afterwards and it really is a fantastic once in a lifetime experience which I shall never forget.

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Posted by Kingsley on Jul 31, 2012 at 09:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

A much belated thank you!

At the beginning of this month we received a beautifully packaged print from the infinitely creative Inkymole who over the many years we have known her never failed to produce fantastic work. 

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So thanks Sarah, a very belated thank you!

Posted by Kingsley on Jun 25, 2012 at 01:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Making Things

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As current graphic trends go, the art of craft and actually making things is certainly one of the better and hopefully longer lasting ones. The paper manufacturers GF Smith certainly think so too as their latest exhibition, Beauty In The Making, shows. It takes you behind the scenes of paper making, letterpress, font creation and even envelope making.

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Held in one of the 22,000 sq ft basements below Victoria House in Bloomsbury, we went along and not only were we impressed but we learnt a few things too. We letterpressed some cards using 3 Adana 5x8s that had been set up and we also got collared by the ladies from Hull, who make the envelopes. It isn't new to us though as we have been getting our hands dirty since we started back in 2001 (as previous posts testify) from screen prints to our lovely vintage Golding Pearl No.3 Press.

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If you want to see the exhibition you'll have to be quick, it finishes this Friday 27th April.

Posted by Kingsley on Apr 24, 2012 at 09:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Letterpress Letterhead

We have been wanting to letterpress our new staionery since we moved into the new studio, finally as we needed a non digital file, we quickly set this (well, as quickly as you can set the bottom text in 6pt lead!).

It is printed on 140gsm GF Smith Pearl Plike on our 5x8 Adana, with brass rule from Stephenson Blake set in 10pt/6pt Gill sans. If you want to get technical...

Now we're not saying this is the definitive new stationery, but it certainly has a little something.

 

Lh

Lh-detail

Sorry for the less that perfect pics, all done on the phone.

Posted by Tom Shaw on Apr 20, 2012 at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

The Olympic Excitement Builds...

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We're looking forward to the 2012 Olympics and if the new venues are as good (and I'm sure they are) as the Aquatics Centre that we went to a couple of weeks ago then the Olympics is going to be fantastic and something which all of us in the UK can be proud of.

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Honestly when we walked through the door of the of the 2012 Diving World Cup test event it took your breath away. The original drawings of the Aquatics Centre looked fabulous and in the flesh it certainly lives up to expectations. I've only really wanted to see the newly built venues when applying for tickets so I've only chosen these regardless of the sport. 

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Unfortunately missing out on tickets on both occasions now my hope is that I can get some next time...fingers and er..toes crossed!

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Posted by Kingsley on Mar 13, 2012 at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

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