Wednesday, May 30, 2007

WORK IN PROGRESS

BodySystems-WIP

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT ON THE 'BODY' THEME. I'm using a strong Red, Black and White color scheme, which is really STRONG for a change... I want to make a statement. But Linus has got me all paranoid about color theory. Maybe I'm venting me anger through the design. Or maybe it's just a nice combination of color. True it is something new, but maybe that's what is required here.

Okay, so at this stage it's still not finished. But I'll upload the full PDF onto my website, when it is done. I've still got to write a cover letter, and address each version to the company individually. Taloring each application to a specific company. There is still one unresolved issue I need to work out, and hopefully Linus or anyone else can help me with; typographic choices. I wanted something strong, possibly medical, maybe hand drawn (as in quirky letter forms, not handwritten) and generally making a statement. The problem was I couldnt figure out what that typeface was, AND what body face to combine that with. Any suggestions? Otherwise I'll just stick with Avant Garde, it's what I used in the folio, so it'll link back easily... Brand cohesion and all that nonsense.

IESSO

PS. Should the slogan be 'Look deeper?' It's suitable. But is it too obvious?
PPS. This image is larger, click and follow through for a larger size...

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

ALL PLAY AND NO WORK MAKES JACK A VERY DEPRESSED BOY

THAT'S RIGHT, OUR OLD PAL 'PRESSION IS BACK, and with a vengance. And a thirst for knowledge (?) Anyway, this is the longest I've been without work, and let's just say it's not fun. I can't sleep at night anymore (oh insomnia, how I missed you) and my days are spent staring miserably at my screen without enthusiasm or concern for a future. Soryi has been very supportive and understanding, but I think she's getting both annoyed and worried. And frankly so am I. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I put in a lot of effort to promote myself in a fun, clever and hopefully memorable and eye-catching way. I sent out postcards with the 'magazine' theme, as well as posters (A1 size ones no less!) to 15 of the best studios in London. How many replied? NONE. How many would even let me talk to the boss? Well, two. But still, that's not very much.

And now I'm forced to lower my standards. And that is what is making me feel really bad. I feel like I've failed. I feel that by not aiming for the best, and achieving I really am mundane. Sure, I joke about being mondayne, but I really do have very high expectations for myself, and I guess it's just hard realising maybe I can't acheive everything I want, even if I do put my mind to it. Maybe I'm just not good enough to work for the best.

Sigh.

Well, like I said, I'm going to have to lower my standards, BUT at the same time, I'm gonna try and lift my game even more. Last time I felt I gave it 100%, this time it'll have to be 110%. (I know, platitudes are lame) But seriously, maybe if I can get any job for now, something that doesn't make me want to inhale spray glue through my eyes, while not entirely giving up on my dreams, and my lame struggle to be a good designer. If I can pay the bills, that'll be a good start, but I mustn't settle for too long.

Okay, so with that in mind I present to you this, the latest in a series of struggles in attempt to promote myself in a humourous, positive, humble and proactive light. I'm trying to say 'I'm so great, I'll be perfect for your company, but I'm not a cocky wanker, see?' It's been a giant challange. I tend to downplay myself (if you hadn't noticed). So it's been hard to say nice things without sounding made-up, or just plain lies.

Scenster

So the theme is a medical examination of the different systems that make my body, like the circulatory system, nervous system, skeletal system, etc. But instead of showing organs, which would be pointless and gross, I will be showing things that relate to design. For example my nervous system will be a metaphor for all the technical skills I have, so instead of nerves and a brain, there will be a hard drive, cables, circuit boards, etc. It sounds very 'first-year', but if I can pull it off it'll work. The captions won't just say 'brain' and point at the HDD either, it will say 'proficient in Adobe Creative Suite' or something along those lines. Basically it's just summing me up in point-form, without just looking like a series of bullet points.

I'm only showing you the title page, because that's all I've done so far. I do have a funny looking sillouette of me looking sideways with my mouth open (like though medical diagrams of the digestive system), it's funny just by itself, so hopefully the whole thing will be humourous, rather than tedious.

If you have any suggestions on a BETTER idea, I am more than happy to take them on board. At this stage, I am only doing this idea because I am desperately clinging onto the last remaining sliver of a somewhat sane idea. And if I let go of it, maybe I won't have anything left. Seriously, it's been 3 weeks trying to thing of something. Trying. and failing.

IESSO

PS. On the upside though, because of all the walking around I've been doing, and the lack of eating huge meals, and possibly from stopping smoking too, I've lost a buttload of weight. Literally. I don't know if you noticed and were too polite to say anything, but I've been steadily gaining weight for the last 2 years. At first is was good, I was probably a bit too thin on the arms and legs, and face, but then I grew a big fat gut. All the Guinness helped too. But yeah, the stomach is nearly gone, there are even traces of what may be abs (but just as likely rolls of skin) and I'm just generally more toned. Soryi has noticed too. Which is nice. Even though I'm not doing super great mentally, at least I'm feeling physically a lot better.

PPS. It's been nearly a month without a cigarette. I certainly do miss them. I don't think it's the cravings talking either, I really enjoyed smoking. It was fun. But I've promised Soryi I'd quit, and so far I have kept my promise. I plan on keeping it forever too. I'm not just doing it for her, I feel a lot healthier, I'm breathing better, and am a lot fitter, but mostly it's for her. I guess everyone has to find a reason right?

PPPS. I typed this post, and then played around changing the masthead and profile. And I like the black and white, high contrast look on the profile, so I think I'll do that instead of the quasi-real color yo see above. It's more 'graphic' and therefore makes it look like I did it on purpose, rather than covering up my inadequate illustration abilities. Right?

GO APE



Instead of shopping or watching TV, we went to the XTREME!!!! by going to Go Ape outdoor adventure park. High-wire stunts, rope bridge, tightropes, swinging on vines, flying foxes, all in the tree tops, 20m from the hard, hard ground. It was loads of fun! And I'm petrified of heights! Petrified.

Plus, we did a lot more this week, and I promise, I'll post it all very soon.

I'm STILL Elliott Scott, and I will be signing on, and off again, very soon.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

MIND THE GAP



HERE'S A SHORT VIDEO TOUR OF LONDON. It's very rough, amatuerish and the compression levels are poor. But it should be still watchable... I can send you a CD with the full size file if you really want... I had to edit it in iMovie, which doesn't allow you multiple video channels and only 2 sound channels, so it's all a bit abrupt. The music fades in a bit weird... Despite it being so crappy, I'm really proud of it, especially the ending. It was a lot of fun to do, although it did take 4 days to finish.

IESSO

PS> I'm chewing gum throughout the whole thing because I've been off cigarettes for 2 weeks, and on the nicoteine gum instead. So far so good.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

PLEASE BE PATIENT

SO I HAVE THE INTERNET NOW. I'm posting up a video tour of London soon. I've shot some footage, and gonna shoot some more today. And then wednesday editing, so hopefully thursday it'll be up! It started out as a general tour, but is turning into a quest for dinosaurs. Stay tuned!

IESSO

Friday, May 04, 2007

UPDATES

Hello. Like I said, I can't be blogging so much these days without the internet and all, so you'll just have to be patient for a little longer.

Anyway, to make up for my lack of interesting posts I've got a bunch of dumb photo's taken in London of various things, nothing special, just taken on my phone's camera. honestly when I think about, there's really nothing special, and I've not been very interesting at all. Ok, I admit it, I'm a bad blogger.

London-stuff

So, in case you actually are interested, here's what each photo is... (assuming top left is 1): 1. Soryi wearing a police hat, 2. The Tube, 3. A Banksy, 4-6. Cool posters, 7. Sand castles on the Thames banks, 8. In Leicester Square, 9. The Apple Store on Oxford Circus (where I practically live), 10. Baker St. station, 11. Ikea, 12. Underpass at Kilburn station, 13. Bond St. sign, 14. Stickers placed everywhere (part of the 'I HEART' project*), 15. Soryi in sillouette through window, 16. West Hampstead station platform, 17. Gee St. sign**, 18. Cool car, 19. Lame car, 20. Front of Selfridges department store having a design exhibition with the V&A, 21-22. Cool posters, 23. Angel St. station, 24. Me dressed as a trendy wanker, 25-26. Original Apple computer in the Science Museum, 27-28, 30-32. Jewish foods, 29. Elvira's sister in the paper, 33. Panorama of the room unfurnished and messy.

So what have I been doing with my time?

Well, I've been developing some promo peices to send to prospective companies. I've got postcards, posters, an informal cover letter, my new resume and business cards. I want to look like I'm eager and dedicated and keen to work, but I'm terrified that it's still not enough. It's not really 'clever', more casual.

I'm genuinely terrified about this new stage. I've never applied to a world-famous studio. Everywhere I've worked had been half because I wanted to work there, and half because I needed the money. This time it's 100% because I want to work there, and why wouldn't I? But I'm really really scared that I'm not good enough. And I'm not saying this just to get sympathy, I'm just saying it. I don't know if I'm ready for the rejection. I'm just nervous.

Anyway, screw that, I need the money now, I'm really really running out, London isn't cheap. So I need a job.




Ugh, I don't know what to say. I'm not feeling very confident or happy, I've been left worry for too long. Going crazy. HOORAY!

Also, it's my birthday on mondayne. 24. Hooray! ? I'm not sure what I wanna do, maybe something, maybe not. I dunno. I've got more grey hairs. I find a new one or two every few days. Hooray.

Ok. Anyway, hopefully next time I write something it'll be something worthwhile. I've got some silly photo projects to put up. I've got collections of 'I HEART' stuff, KFC lookalikes, silly street names and a few other things. Most of them are Soryi's ideas of course.

All right, untill me meet again,
IESSO